Chapter 52

"Um!" Hearing someone stop him, Amu raised his eyebrows, and the people present were also startled.

At this moment, a blue-robed cultivator stepped out from the crowd. The blue-robed cultivator bowed before Mei Wangnan and Bing Immortal, and said, "I am Yang Yun, a disciple of the Heavenly Passage Peak, and I wish to challenge Amu. I hope the two elders will grant me permission!"

"Wow—" As soon as these words were spoken, there was a commotion. Almost no one present was unfamiliar with or hadn't heard of Yang Yun.

"Is Yang Yun the one who is known as the first among the cultivators below the fixed cultivation level on the Northern Cold Heavenly Passage Peak?"

"That's him. He is the younger brother of Yang Feng, who went into a mental frenzy during cultivation yesterday!"

"I heard that he achieved the great completion of the initial cultivation stage over a decade ago, and his cultivation is far above his brother's. He can break through to the fixed cultivation level at any time, but he has been delaying it to practice some secret technique!"

"Yes, I heard he is almost at the fixed cultivation level!"

"He is challenging Amu? That's outrageous!"

No one expected that a cultivator would challenge Amu at this moment. Challenges are allowed according to the Northern Cold Sect's rules, of course, provided that both parties agree voluntarily.

"Yang Yun, what do you want to do?" Tieyun couldn't help but ask sternly when he saw Yang Yun challenging Amu. Bing Immortal also frowned slightly.

Challenging Amu? Yang Yun really had the nerve to say it. A cultivator at the great completion of the initial cultivation stage challenging a failed root-nourishing cultivator—wasn't that too disrespectful?

However, Yang Yun was unmoved and just waited for Mei Wangnan's response. Among these people, Mei Wangnan had the highest status and cultivation, and his words carried the most weight.

"Forget it! Yang Yun, with your cultivation and skills, even ordinary fixed cultivators might not be your match! How could Amu be your opponent? Besides, today is the day when your Uncle Han and Uncle Mei are coming out of seclusion, so don't cause trouble!" Mei Wangnan looked at Yang Yun and said calmly, though he didn't entirely agree with Yang Yun's actions, his tone was surprisingly calm.

"Today is the day when Han Bingyi and Mei Lingfeng are coming out of seclusion, no wonder so many people are gathered here, with many from Wangnan Peak and Tianzi Peak. But why did these two come out of seclusion early? Weren't there still a few months left?" Amu, not paying attention to Yang Yun, was thinking about these things.

At this moment, Yang Yun said again, "Elder Mei, a few days ago, at Luoyun Cliff, Junior Brother Amu boasted that he could kill any cultivator at the great completion of the initial cultivation stage. At that time, my elder brother and Amu had a verbal conflict, and he was provoked, leading to a mental frenzy soon after entering the cave for cultivation. I am also at the great completion of the initial cultivation stage, so I want to seek justice for my brother and challenge Amu to a decisive battle."

"Nonsense! Your brother's mind was not right, and he went into a mental frenzy on his own. What does it have to do with Amu? You, a cultivator who can break through to the fixed cultivation level at any time, challenging Amu—aren't you shameless? If you have the skills, I will challenge you. Dare you accept?" The one speaking was none other than Ziyu from Tianzi Peak.

Yang Yun didn't expect Ziyu to really stand up for Amu and couldn't help frowning. "Senior Sister Ziyu..."

"Who is your senior sister? You wear a blue robe and don't know the seniority of the Northern Cold Sect?" Ziyu sneered.

"Hmm?" Yang Yun's expression changed. Those familiar with Ziyu knew that she was used to being called senior sister, and if it really came to a life-or-death situation, Yang Yun was confident he wouldn't be inferior to Ziyu. Now that Ziyu was nitpicking, how could it not be infuriating?

However, Yang Yun, being the first among the cultivators below the fixed cultivation level on the Northern Cold Heavenly Passage Peak, had some cultivation in self-control, and his expression quickly returned to normal.

"Senior Sister Ziyu, your instruction is noted. After I determine the outcome with Amu, I will be happy to receive your guidance!"

These words were soft but firm, making Ziyu's face turn pale with anger. Even Bing Immortal couldn't help but glance at Yang Yun, who had a big mouth.

However, Yang Yun pretended not to notice and waited for Mei Wangnan's response.

"Yang Yun, your brother most likely had a problem with his cultivation technique, and it has nothing to do with Amu. Moreover, a challenge must be agreed upon by both parties and should not result in death!"

As soon as Mei Wangnan spoke, those who understood the situation were moved. Bing Immortal and Tieyun both frowned, and Ziyu, who was about to speak, was silenced by Bing Immortal's glare, only to glare at Yang Yun and glance sideways at Mei Wangnan.

Mei Wangnan's words seemed to be defending Amu, but in reality, he was acknowledging Yang Yun's challenge.

Yang Yun naturally understood this and hurriedly said, "I understand. Let me ask Junior Brother Amu!"

Then Yang Yun took two steps forward and said to Amu, "Junior Brother Amu, are you willing to fight me?"

Amu glanced at Mei Wangnan, then at Yang Yun, and smiled. "No!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned, especially those who knew Amu's character, who were even more surprised.

"Hmm?" Yang Yun knew that Amu was usually strong-willed and never backed down. Today, he proposed a challenge in public, expecting Amu not to refuse, to give him a harsh lesson. But he didn't expect Amu to directly and firmly refuse.

"Coward!" Yang Yun looked at Amu and sneered.

"Yang Yun, you, a fake initial cultivator who forcibly suppresses yourself at the great completion of the initial cultivation stage, challenging me, a failed root-nourishing cultivator, is the real hero?" Amu countered.

"Whether I am a hero or not is not for you to say. But you yourself boasted that you could kill any cultivator at the great completion of the initial cultivation stage. I wear a blue robe and am indeed at the initial cultivation stage. What is fake about that? Instead, you made a boast and now refuse to fight. What are you if not a coward? And a reckless and ignorant one at that! Such a person would disgrace the name of the Northern Cold Sect's master." Yang Yun was also eloquent.

"Heh heh!" Hearing Yang Yun mention Han Qianli, Amu had no interest in arguing with him and his face turned cold. "That's right! Yang Yun, but listen carefully. I, Amu, only kill cultivators at the great completion of the initial cultivation stage, not just casually challenge them! Understand?"

Wow—

As soon as these words were spoken, there was a commotion throughout the Northern Cold Sect's Luoyun Cliff.

Almost everyone's face changed, including Ziyu, who supported Amu, and Mei Wangnan and Bing Immortal, whose faces also changed.

The Northern Cold Sect's rules were very strict, prohibiting private duels, and even challenges could not result in death, or the punishment would be severe. Amu's words to his fellow disciples could be said to have touched the Northern Cold Sect's taboos.

Moreover, no one believed that Amu could really kill a cultivator at the great completion of the initial cultivation stage. Although Amu had killed initial cultivators before, Yang Yun was different. He was not an ordinary initial cultivator.

The Northern Cold Sect was one of the three major immortal sects in the Northern Wasteland, with a foundation far beyond that of smaller sects. Yang Yun, known as the first among the cultivators below the fixed cultivation level on the Northern Cold Heavenly Passage Peak, could defeat even a fixed cultivator in the Northern Wasteland with his techniques and magical treasures. Now that Amu said these words, he was walking to his own death, and others could only think of his arrogance.

"Ha ha ha!" Yang Yun was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Everyone says you, Amu, are arrogant, and it's true! How do you want to fight to make you willing?"

"Life and death are determined by fate, and wealth and honor are decided by heaven!" Amu spat out these cold words, and at the same time, a heavy killing aura suddenly erupted from him.

Hmm? Those with sharp divine senses instantly felt it, but this was not the pressure of a cultivator, but a killing aura from the depths of the soul, a killing aura with hands stained with endless blood, an instinctive release.

Such a killing aura should not come from a teenager, and perhaps no one in the entire Northern Cold Sect could possess such a killing aura.

"What a heavy killing aura!" Yang Yun was startled. How could a mortal have such a killing aura?

"What, are you afraid?" Amu looked at Yang Yun coldly.

"Ridiculous! How could I be afraid of a mere cultivator? Even if you have a heaven-defying magical treasure, it would be useless. In the face of absolute strength, everything is meaningless! I only refrain from killing you out of respect for the sect's rules and our fellow disciples!" No matter what, Yang Yun's words were always watertight.

"Amu, the Northern Cold Sect's rules prohibit deadly duels among fellow disciples. This fight is unnecessary!" Tieyun said.

Nominal responsibility for Amu still rested with him, and if Amu really had an accident, he couldn't explain it to Han Qianli. It was obvious that Amu would lose to Yang Yun, and a life-or-death situation would be like a mortal fighting an immortal.

"Amu, don't take it to heart. Such a guy isn't worth it! If you really want to fight, I'll do it for you!" Ziyu said with concern.

"Heh heh! Senior Sister Ziyu, I never take things to heart!" Amu smiled at Ziyu, but the smile seemed to carry a sinister killing aura.

Ziyu was startled and couldn't help but feel frustrated, glaring at Amu. For a moment, she was alluring, thinking, "This dead man! If it really comes to it, I'll have to suddenly intervene to protect him."

Yang Yun, on the side, sneered. If it really came to a life-or-death situation, he would definitely kill Amu. But he might not be able to pass the test with Han Qianli.

"The fight can happen, but it must not be to the death! Fellow disciples killing each other is against heaven!" Mei Wangnan said sternly, not expecting Amu to propose such conditions.

"Then forget it, the fight is meaningless!" Amu sneered and turned to leave. Ziyu let out a long breath, and others felt bored. Many even thought that Amu was using the Northern Cold Sect's rules to avoid the fight.

"How can a cultivator fight? Amu is smart?"

"Heh heh! One less good show!"

"Isn't Yang Yun being too overbearing? A ninth-stage cultivator against a cultivator? Ridiculous!" Everyone was discussing.

But at that moment, a solemn voice suddenly came from the void, "Fight if you want, what's the harm in life or death?"

Then a figure gradually materialized in the void.

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