"Li Yao," Li Yun said with a calm smile, "I know Zhao Xiaotian has already reached the peak stage of the Marrow Cleansing Realm. Don't worry, I have no intention of throwing my life away."
"But it's too dangerous!" Li Yao's voice trembled as worry clouded her eyes. "Fights in the Martial Arts Hall often end in death or crippling injuries. The Treasure Pavilion never intervenes…."
No matter what, she couldn't bear the thought of watching Li Yun fall to Zhao Xiaotian's hands.
Li Yun waved his hand casually, his expression indifferent. "Then Zhao Xiaotian had better pray for his own life."
His gaze shifted, sharp as a blade, locking onto Zhao Xiaotian. "Well? What are you waiting for?"
"Hahahaha! Excellent!" Zhao Xiaotian roared with laughter, his face twisting with both fury and excitement. "Li Yun, I didn't expect you to show such backbone. Good. Very good. Since you're willing to fight me, then this matter of your maid stepping on my foot is settled!"
His eyes gleamed with cruelty as he cast another glare at Li Yao and Xiao Wu. "Little slut, watch yourself in the future. Hmph! Not everyone is as generous as I am."
With a cold snort, he turned away. "Let's go!" He barked, striding forward with his two Zhao family guards close behind.
Li Yun followed without hesitation, heading straight toward the Martial Arts Hall at the back of the Treasure Pavilion.
From behind, Li Yao leaned close to her maid, her voice low and urgent. "Xiao Wu, go! Inform my father at once, tell him Li Yun is in danger!"
Li Yun wasn't just another clan youth; he was a pharmacist, capable of refining Bone Refining Potions. For that alone, the Li family would never allow him to fall. If her father, Li Jinyun, learned of this, he would rush to the Treasure Pavilion without delay.
Xiao Wu's face grew pale, but she understood the urgency. Nodding quickly, she slipped away into the streets.
Meanwhile, Li Yun, Zhao Xiaotian, and their entourage continued toward the Martial Arts Hall. Behind them, the clamor of footsteps echoed, dozens of curious onlookers trailing behind, eager to witness the clash that was about to erupt.
"How dare Li Yun accept Zhao Xiaotian's challenge? Wasn't it said that he couldn't even cultivate? If he fights here, Zhao Xiaotian might kill him outright!"
"That's true. Since Li Yun publicly accepted, even if Zhao Xiaotian kills him, the Li Family can't press charges. At most, they'll demand some compensation in gold coins from the Zhao Family."
"What a pity… Li Yun is walking straight into danger today."
"Maybe the Li Family's higher-ups will arrive in time once they hear about this. If they intervene quickly, they might be able to stop Zhao Xiaotian from delivering the killing blow."
"…"
The entire Martial Arts Hall buzzed with hushed discussions, whispers filling the air like the hum of restless bees.
Li Yun and Zhao Xiaotian finally stepped onto one of the fighting platforms. The atmosphere grew tense immediately, dozens of eyes fixed on the two figures. The staff on duty, having already heard about the impending duel, hurried forward. Four attendants quickly positioned themselves nearby, prepared to officiate the match.
Li Yun's gaze slid toward Zhao Xiaotian, calm yet sharp. "Zhao Xiaotian."
Zhao Xiaotian's eyes narrowed. "What is it, Li Yun? Don't tell me you're backing out."
His tone was mocking, but beneath the words was a flicker of unease. Until both fighters officially stood on the stage, he couldn't attack first. If Li Yun chose to retreat now, there was nothing Zhao Xiaotian could do.
"Back out?" Li Yun chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course not." His eyes gleamed with a trace of amusement. "But if it's just a simple fight, that's too dull. How about we make things more interesting, with a wager? That Dark Light Sword of yours… I rather like it."
The mention of the sword sent a ripple through the crowd. Many remembered the auction a month ago, where Li Yun had forced Zhao Xiaotian to bleed out over twenty-six thousand gold coins for it before dropping out of the bid.
"A wager?" Zhao Xiaotian was momentarily caught off guard.
"Yes," Li Yun pressed, his smile deepening. "Do you dare?"
"Dare? Hah!" Zhao Xiaotian burst into arrogant laughter. "What is there that I wouldn't dare? You think you can beat me, Li Yun? Fine. I'll wager the Dark Light Sword. But what will you put on the line?" His eyes burned, convinced this was nothing more than the naive bluff of someone beneath him.
Li Yun tapped the spatial ring on his finger, his voice steady. "Don't you want this? I'll use my ring as the stake. If you defeat me, it's yours. But if you lose, the Dark Light Sword will belong to me."
"Deal!" Zhao Xiaotian agreed instantly, waving his hand as though swatting away a trivial matter. He didn't believe for a second that he could lose to Li Yun. Compared to his precious Dark Light Sword, the spatial ring was slightly inferior in value, but victory was already guaranteed in his mind. To him, it was nothing more than a free treasure waiting to be claimed.
This wager was no trivial matter.
Both the spatial ring and the Dark Light Sword were treasures worth well over ten thousand gold coins. To stake either of them in a single duel was unheard of, such high-stakes wagers were a rarity even in the Treasure Pavilion's battle arena.
The crowd buzzed with restless excitement. Many cultivators licked their lips unconsciously, their eyes blazing with anticipation. Though none of the wagered treasures would ever fall into their hands, just witnessing such a gamble set their blood racing. A duel like this promised both danger and spectacle.
On the second floor of the Treasure Pavilion, within a private chamber, the news spread quickly.
"What? Li Yun and Zhao Xiaotian are about to fight in the arena?" Director Lan's beautiful face paled with shock.
Lan Yueli let out a helpless sigh, her expression caught between worry and exasperation. "What is this Li Yun thinking? Why would he fight Zhao Xiaotian? Doesn't he know Zhao Xiaotian has already reached the peak of the Marrow Cleansing Realm?"
A faint ripple of energy pulsed through her body. With a sharp whoosh, her figure flickered and vanished from the room, leaving the startled attendants behind.
As the director of the Treasure Pavilion, Lan Yueli had no right to interfere directly with battles fought on the arena stage. Still, she was determined. If Li Yun faltered, she could at least terminate the duel before Zhao Xiaotian struck a killing blow. That much the Pavilion's rules allowed.
When she arrived at the arena, the atmosphere was already electric. Li Yun and Zhao Xiaotian stood opposite one another on the raised stage, long swords gleaming in their hands, their auras colliding in silent pressure. The fight was moments from erupting.
"Director Lan! Look, it's Director Lan!"
"She actually came down to watch this battle!"
"Truly worthy of her reputation. Azure Wind City's number one beauty, how stunning…"
Gasps and admiring whispers rippled through the crowd as Lan Yueli's figure appeared. Draped in a flowing purple dress, her elegant bearing commanded attention, though many of the gazes directed at her burned with undisguised heat.
Ignoring them, Lan Yueli's eyes fixed on the stage. A soft frown curved her lips as she shook her head faintly. It was too late to stop the duel, both fighters had already stepped onto the platform. Still, her resolve hardened. No matter what happened, she would not let Li Yun die here.
Li Yun was no ordinary youth; he was already a senior pharmacist, with the potential to advance into a true alchemist in the future. His cooperation with the Treasure Pavilion was invaluable. Allowing Zhao Xiaotian to kill him would not only waste such talent, but also cost the Pavilion dearly.
Lan Yueli's gaze sharpened. 'I'll let them fight, but the moment Li Yun is in true danger, I'll end it.'