Chapter 51

Roxu has already slain seven out of the fifteen snowfield demon wolves.

For the remaining eight snowfield demon wolves, with his true qi nearly depleted, Roxu has little confidence in passing the third level of the Flying Dragon Tower.

"Hum!"

The Shadow Sword trembled, emitting a clear and crisp sword cry.

"Life-Stealing Sword!"

This sword technique is the strongest move Roxu can currently perform, the second form of the Aurora Sword Technique.

A snowfield demon wolf lunged with its claws, and with a splash of blood, it let out a painful howl as one of its claws was severed, leaving a bloody mess.

"Kill!"

Roxu roared, his aura bursting forth, a wave of overwhelming killing intent surging out. The eight snowfield demon wolves were momentarily intimidated by his killing intent and dared not advance.

"Snap!"

With a swift movement, his body left no trace on the snow, a series of seven afterimages appeared. Roxu's body moved like a rainbow, appearing near the injured demon wolf whose claw had been severed.

"Ao!"

The snowfield demon wolves roared, lunging with their sharp claws and fangs. Their claws were as sharp as a low-grade human-class soldier's weapon, and their teeth, capable of tearing through anything, would not let go once they bit down.

Puh! Puh! Puh! ...

The seven afterimages left by his movements were torn apart by the other seven snowfield demon wolves.

A black sword light swept across, Roxu landed, half-kneeling, his chest heaving as he panted heavily.

The corpse of the snowfield demon wolf fell to the ground, its head rolling away, blood spraying out.

"Seven more left!"

Roxu shook his long sword, shaking off the blood, his eyes narrowing. His body moved swiftly as he charged forward.

The seven snowfield demon wolves roared in unison.

...

"That Roxu has been inside for so long, why hasn't he come out yet?"

"Maybe he's hiding inside, not wanting to come out. It's almost noon, and I heard Lin Jingyun is already waiting on the life-or-death battle platform."

"Do you think he might have died inside?"

"That's impossible! The array restrictions in the Flying Dragon Tower will instantly teleport a martial artist if their life is threatened. No one has ever died in over a thousand years!"

As the outer sect disciples outside the Flying Dragon Tower discussed, a white light suddenly flashed, appearing from the tower.

"He's out, he's out!"

The scene changed, and Roxu appeared outside the Flying Dragon Tower, the snowfield demon wolves no longer in sight.

His face was slightly pale, his clothes torn in several places, but his eyes shone with a fierce light, and his body still exuded a sharp and deadly aura from the battle inside the tower.

He ultimately failed to pass the third level of the Flying Dragon Tower. After slaying thirteen snowfield demon wolves, his true qi was completely depleted, and he could no longer use martial techniques or body movements. As he was about to be torn apart by the last two snowfield demon wolves, he was teleported out.

This trial battle gave Roxu a deeper understanding of his own strength.

"Quick, see where Roxu ranks!"

"Judging by his exhausted state, he should be in the top 500, right?"

Many people turned their attention to the ranking stone next to the Flying Dragon Tower, their eyes scanning the dense list of names, searching for Roxu's name.

But after a long search, no one could find Roxu's name.

"How... how is this possible?"

At this moment, someone pointed to the top 200 names, the most prominent section.

Seeing this, everyone's hearts skipped a beat. Could it be...

Sure enough, at the 130th rank, Roxu's name was clearly listed!

The original 200th rank was pushed down to the dense list of names below.

Roxu! 130th rank!

"Heavens, how is this possible? He's only at the third level of the Qi Sea realm!"

Everyone couldn't help but draw a sharp breath, as this had never happened in the outer sect of the Free and Easy Sect.

Generally, to enter the top 150, one must be at least at the seventh level of the Qi Sea realm. The highest record was set by a genius at the fifth level of the Qi Sea realm.

Today, Roxu broke this record, achieving the 130th rank with only the third level of the Qi Sea realm, rivaling many at the seventh level!

Not only that, but ranking 130th among the seventh level of the Qi Sea realm also placed him in the ranks of the experts!

"His cultivation is at the third level of the Qi Sea realm, there's no doubt about that."

"But cultivation doesn't fully determine a martial artist's strength."

"Roxu's martial arts realm must be very high. I heard his body movements are very refined, especially his sword, which is as fast as lightning!"

"But he probably didn't pass the third level, otherwise his rank would be even higher."

Almost everyone looked at Roxu with shock, a newcomer to the outer sect, at the third level of the Qi Sea realm, achieving such a result on his first entry into the Flying Dragon Tower.

This is truly terrifying!

Compared to the Flying Dragon Tower, the most bustling place in the outer sect of the Free and Easy Sect at the moment is the life-or-death battle platform.

Yesterday, the news of Roxu and Lin Jingyun's life-or-death duel had already spread among the outer sect disciples.

For a new disciple to challenge a well-known senior, this is a rare occurrence in the thousand-year history of the Free and Easy Sect.

The life-or-death battle platform is located in the center of the training ground.

The ordinary sparring platform is two meters high, ten meters long, and ten meters wide.

The life-or-death battle platform, however, is five meters high, five meters long, and five meters wide.

Standing in the center of the training ground, it stands out like a crane among chickens, a unique peak, highlighting its special status.

The five-meter space is not large, and once on it, the battle is short and decisive, with life and death determined quickly!

As time passed, the sun hung high in the sky, gradually approaching noon.

"Where is Roxu? Is he afraid to come?"

"A life-or-death duel, once officially recognized, must be fought. If he's afraid to come, he will be stripped of his cultivation and expelled from the outer sect."

"Whether he comes or not, he's dead, hehe."

"Roxu must be crazy, challenging a seventh-level Qi Sea realm with a third-level Qi Sea realm. Does he think he can defy the heavens?"

Though many people had gathered at the life-or-death battle platform, no one was optimistic about Roxu's chances, as this was a battle with a significant disparity in strength.

To be fair, so many people came to watch because Roxu, a new disciple, had a significant reputation.

Being the top of the entrance exam is not unusual, but there were already rumors in the outer sect that he was close to the sect leader's daughter, Lu Mengyao. During the exam, he was challenged by the steward Zhang Luliang, and the sect leader Lu Feichen personally intervened, not only saving him but also imprisoning Zhang Luliang in the water dungeon. If not for connections within the inner sect, Zhang Luliang would have been dead.

Not far from the life-or-death battle platform, an old man with a white beard sat on the top floor of a pavilion, a cold smile on his face.

"Young people are too impulsive and inexperienced."

The old man with the white beard took a sip of tea, his cold smile deepening.

This old man with the white beard is the outer sect steward responsible for overseeing the duel, and he is none other than Zhang Luliang!

In fact, this time, Lin Jingyun and Jiang Dongqing's trouble with Roxu was orchestrated by Zhang Luliang in secret.

After the last incident, Zhang Luliang dared not act openly, so he had Lin Jingyun and Jiang Dongqing use Lu Mengyao as an excuse to attack Roxu.

The situation escalating to a life-or-death duel was exactly what Zhang Luliang wanted.

"Think you can rest easy with the sect leader's protection? In the outer sect, I have many ways to get rid of you!"

Zhang Luliang sipped his tea, hoping Roxu wouldn't come, as that would give him an excuse to act himself, strip Roxu of his cultivation, and then decide how to kill him.

"He's here!"

Under the scorching sun, a black-clothed youth with a sword on his back attracted the attention of everyone present.

"He actually dared to come?" Many people looked surprised.

"Since Roxu dared to accept the challenge, he might have some special means." A few people thought Roxu wasn't that simple, knowing he would die but still daring to accept the challenge, there must be a reason.

"That's true. In a life-or-death duel, any means can be used. If Roxu has a life-saving treasure or a one-time attack array treasure, he might really be able to defeat Lin Jingyun." Someone realized this and made such a guess.

As Roxu approached, the crowd saw that his body was covered in blood, his clothes torn in several places, as if he had just been through a fierce battle.

The scene suddenly became quiet, and the crowd around the life-or-death battle platform made way for him.

Roxu walked forward, his expression calm and composed.

On the life-or-death battle platform, Lin Jingyun stood with his sword, a proud look on his face.

Just as everyone thought the life-or-death duel was about to begin, Roxu walked onto the platform, sat cross-legged, and took a pill.

What is he doing?

Everyone looked at each other, stunned.

But Roxu paid no attention, immediately beginning to refine the pill's energy, quickly restoring his depleted true qi.

Lin Jingyun frowned, sensing Roxu's true qi being restored. What did he do before the duel to deplete his true qi?

Looking at the sun in the sky, it was not yet noon.

On the pavilion nearby, Zhang Luliang put down his tea cup, his eyes fixed on Roxu, his killing intent unhidden.

Suddenly, the crowd below erupted in a commotion, like water poured into a hot oil pan.

"What? Roxu went to the Flying Dragon Tower before coming to the life-or-death battle platform and ranked 130th?"

"My goodness, he's only fifteen years old, at the third level of the Qi Sea realm. Are you sure this isn't a joke?"

Doubtful voices rose, the news from the Flying Dragon Tower spreading to this place. Everyone who heard it found it hard to believe.

"Absolutely true! If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it either, but it's the truth. If you don't believe it, go check the ranking stone at the Flying Dragon Tower!"

"Lin Jingyun ranks 137th, and Roxu ranks higher than him!"

"This is a monster. Lin Jingyun is in trouble this time..."

Standing on the life-or-death battle platform, Lin Jingyun heard such comments, his eyes wide with disbelief, just like everyone else.

His true qi was depleted because he went to the Flying Dragon Tower?

Ranking 130th, higher than me?

I'm at the seventh level of the Qi Sea realm, and he's at the third level!

Though hard to believe, Lin Jingyun knew this news couldn't be baseless.

After all, those who enter the outer sect of the Free and Easy Sect are all geniuses, and geniuses are proud and wouldn't deliberately praise others. The ranking stone of the Flying Dragon Tower wouldn't fake it either.

In the outer sect of the Free and Easy Sect, the ranking of the Flying Dragon Tower is a testament to one's strength!

Although various factors can influence a life-or-death duel, a higher rank doesn't necessarily mean a win over a lower rank, but the gap can't be too large.

Lin Jingyun took a deep breath, touched the storage bracelet on his left hand, and looked at Roxu, who was restoring his true qi, his killing intent growing stronger.

No doubt, this is a genius with great potential. Since we've met, I must use all my strength and any means necessary to kill him, not letting him grow.

"Last night, Steward Zhang gave me two treasures, ordering me to kill Roxu. Even if he ranks 130th, I will definitely not lose!"

After weighing his options, Lin Jingyun calmed himself. His seventh-level Qi Sea realm and the array treasures given by Zhang Luliang restored his confidence.

"The time has come!"

Suddenly, Zhang Luliang on the pavilion slowly stood up, using true qi to amplify his voice. "The life-or-death duel between outer sect disciples Roxu and Lin Jingyun begins now!"

In an instant, everyone's attention focused on the life-or-death battle platform. Through the sensing of true qi fluctuations, they discovered that Roxu's true qi was not yet fully restored.

And the time for the duel had arrived...