Swoosh, swoosh...
One by one, the Houtu Sect’s higher-ups rushed in front of Ye Yunfei, scrutinizing him as if he were some bizarre creature.
Even Tao Wenzhi was utterly astonished.
“Su Ye, you’ve been inside the Earth Pagoda these past two days?”
The Sect Leader looked at Ye Yunfei and asked.
The other higher-ups were also staring at Ye Yunfei, waiting to hear his answer.
“That’s right.
I’ve been inside the Earth Pagoda these past two days.”
Ye Yunfei nodded.
“Which floor did you reach?”
The Sect Leader pressed.
“I stumbled upon the seventh floor by chance,”
Ye Yunfei replied casually.
On his way up from beneath the Earth Pagoda just now, Ye Yunfei’s perception had picked up traces that a group of fairly powerful martial artists had once descended to the sixth floor. He immediately realized these must have been the Houtu Sect’s higher-ups going down to investigate.
“Impossible!
These past two days, the pressure within the Earth Pagoda has suddenly intensified.
Even with my strength, I could only go down to the sixth floor; it was impossible to proceed any further.
How could you possibly have reached the seventh floor!”
The Sect Leader was shocked to the core.
The other higher-ups also found it unbelievable.
“But I truly did go down to the seventh floor,”
Ye Yunfei stated.
“Weren’t you afraid of the pressure on the seventh floor?”
asked the Sect Leader.
“I was.
But I gritted my teeth and went down.”
Ye Yunfei replied.
Upon hearing Ye Yunfei’s words, the Sect Leader and the other higher-ups were somewhat at a loss for words.
The pressure on the sixth floor of the Earth Pagoda was already overwhelmingly powerful. Was the seventh floor a place one could reach by just ‘gritting one’s teeth’?
“It seems this Su Ye is still holding something back. He’s not simple!”
Some of the higher-ups shot deep, scrutinizing glances at Ye Yunfei, thinking to themselves.
Even the sect’s higher-ups couldn’t reach the seventh floor. Yet this junior disciple had not only stayed on the seventh floor for two whole days, he’d walked out completely unscathed. Under these circumstances, even a fool would understand that this ‘Su Ye’ before them was far from ordinary!
“Haha! Good, very good! Su Ye, it’s excellent that you’re unharmed!”
The Sect Leader laughed heartily.
That Su Ye was still alive was a very good thing in his book.
“Heh, Su Ye, it seems you are truly blessed with great fortune!”
Yan Tianzong was also very pleased.
He already considered Ye Yunfei as part of his own faction.
“You brat, I just knew you couldn’t be killed!”
Da Di Daozhang also stepped forward and said with a smile.
“So you’re Su Ye!
Since you’re not dead yet, that’s great—it gives me the chance to teach you a lesson!”
At this moment, Xiao Liang fixed his gaze on Ye Yunfei and declared in a loud voice.
“Xiao Liang, stop causing trouble now!”
The Sect Leader’s face darkened as he reprimanded him.
“Sect Leader, I challenge Su Ye to a duel! On the Life-Death Arena!”
Xiao Liang roared.
“Enough!”
The Sect Leader erupted in fury, his voice dropping low and dangerous.
Boom...
A terrifying energy pressure, as deep as an abyss and as vast as the sea, erupted and surged towards Xiao Liang.
The Sect Leader was a Great Mystic Pill Realm late-stage expert. How could Xiao Liang withstand the energy pressure he released?
Xiao Liang was sent flying backward on the spot.
Luckily, the Sect Leader hadn’t intended to injure him.
Xiao Liang was thrown back several dozen *zhang* before he barely managed to steady himself, his face somewhat pale.
Under the Sect Leader’s pressure, fear finally took hold of him, and he dared not speak up again.
However, his eyes remained fixed deathly on Ye Yunfei, clearly still unyielding.
“I accept your challenge. On the Life-Death Arena.”
Ye Yunfei swept a glance at Xiao Liang and replied nonchalantly.
What?!
As soon as Ye Yunfei uttered these words, everyone was stunned. No one had expected Ye Yunfei to actually accept Xiao Liang’s challenge.
All eyes turned to Ye Yunfei in shock.
It was important to know that Xiao Liang was a Minor Mystic Pill Realm mid-stage expert!
The third-ranked top expert on the Genius Rankings!
Although this ‘Su Ye’ had performed quite remarkably since joining the Houtu Sect, in everyone’s subconscious mind, Su Ye was ultimately still somewhat inferior to Xiao Liang.
“Su Ye, don’t be impulsive. You are only at the Fifth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm.
While Xiao Liang is at the Minor Mystic Pill Realm mid-stage.
You are no match for him.
With your talent, as long as you concentrate on cultivation, I believe it won’t be long before you catch up to him.
At that time, you can arrange a duel with him. It’s not too late.”
Yan Tianzong advised.
“That’s right.
Su Ye, you are now the Saint Disciple of our sect. Your status is exalted. It is not fitting for you to take such a risk.”
The Sect Leader also nodded in agreement.
“It’s fine. You don’t need to worry.
A mere Minor Mystic Pill Realm mid-stage is hardly worth my concern.”
Ye Yunfei said coolly.
“Su Ye, you truly accept my challenge?”
Hearing Ye Yunfei’s words, Xiao Liang couldn’t help but feel overjoyed. He pressed, “Are you sure?”
“Of course.
Let us go to the Life-Death Arena immediately.”
Ye Yunfei nodded.
“Haha...
Good!
To the Life-Death Arena right now!”
Xiao Liang laughed maniacally.
As his words fell.
Boom!
His figure burst upwards, shooting into the sky like a shell from a cannon, streaking towards the direction of the Life-Death Arena, the roaring sound echoing across the heavens.
Ye Yunfei, with his hands clasped behind his back, stepped leisurely through the air, walking step-by-step towards the Life-Death Arena as well.
“Su Ye, don’t act recklessly!”
The Sect Leader cried out in urgent alarm.
“Sect Leader, this is an enmity between disciples. Let them resolve it themselves.
I believe you should not intervene too deeply.
Showing favoritism to either side is undesirable.”
Tao Wenzhi said indifferently.
“Let’s go, a good show is starting!”
Numerous disciples immediately rushed towards the Life-Death Arena.
“Sect Leader, Elder Yan, rest assured.
Ye Yunfei will be fine.”
Da Di Daozhang said to the Sect Leader and Yan Tianzong.
Back on the Tianxuan Continent, five Minor Mystic Pill Realm mid-stage experts had joined forces and even self-detonated their Mysterious Cores, yet they hadn’t been able to harm Ye Yunfei.
Now, with just one Minor Mystic Pill Realm mid-stage cultivator wanting to harm Ye Yunfei, it was simply impossible.
Therefore, Da Di Daozhang was utterly unworried.
“Very well then.”
The Sect Leader sighed.
He knew it was futile trying to dissuade Su Ye.
“Let’s go and have a look.”
Yan Tianzong said.
Moments later.
Within a square, a crowd had gathered.
In one corner of the square stood a dueling platform.
This dueling platform was the famous Life-Death Arena within the Houtu Sect headquarters.
The Houtu Sect had a rule: Disciples were not permitted to fight amongst themselves, and harming or taking life was strictly forbidden.
If there truly was some deadly feud between disciples, then there was only one path: the Life-Death Arena!
Once on the Life-Death Arena, life and death were irrelevant!
At this moment.
On the Life-Death Arena, Xiao Liang and Ye Yunfei stood facing each other.
Xiao Liang’s gaze was sharp as a knife, fixed on Ye Yunfei as if he wanted to devour him.
Ye Yunfei, on the other hand, appeared utterly unperturbed, utterly unconcerned.
“Haha...
Su Ye, you’re far too overconfident!
You actually dare to accept my challenge!
Once we’re on this Life-Death Arena, your life and death are in my hands!”
Xiao Liang suddenly broke into wild laughter.
Boom...
Amidst his maniacal laughter, Xiao Liang suddenly unleashed his energy pressure, crushing it towards Ye Yunfei.
Immediately, a violent storm of energy swirled and raged wildly on the dueling platform.
The entire platform began to shake and tremble.
“He’s so strong!”
Everyone in the crowd secretly gasped in shock.