Chapter 81

Given the various circumstances, it's no wonder outsiders would assume that this chess piece, Zhuang Wudao, had already been abandoned by the Beiting family.

However, it was only a surface appearance. At this time, inside the Sword Robe Hall's courtyard, the situation was actually relaxed on the outside but tense on the inside. Apart from Gu Yu, there was another cultivator at the Sixth Level of the Qi Condensation Realm. He usually practiced in seclusion and thus was unknown to others. Especially after breaking through to the Fourth Level of the Qi Condensation Realm a few dozen days ago, the number of crossbows in the Sword Robe Hall had suddenly quadrupled to guard against any unforeseen actions by the Gu Yue family.

Even two months ago, when it seemed that Zhuang Wudao had no chance of winning, Beiting Wan'er still kept her promise and did her best to protect the Sword Robe Hall. This was the reason why Zhuang Wudao's perception of her had changed so much.

However, Qin Feng, for some unknown reason, had no interest in the street that the Leilong Gang had given up. He did not take the opportunity to expand aggressively, even showing indifference to the Jade Bear Street. He only focused on operating the vegetable market in Dongchuan Alley and continuously recruiting members, training them with military methods.

Once, when Zhuang Wudao curiously asked, Qin Feng looked at him with a gaze that suggested he was looking at an idiot: "Wudao, are you really unaware or just pretending? Since the Lichen Sect is going to take over Yuecheng, this Jade Wash Street will truly flourish. When the Lichen Academy has thousands of disciples, the market value of the shops on this street will likely skyrocket by more than ten times. If the Sword Robe Hall wants to grow in the future, Jade Wash Street is the foundation. Besides, what do we have to defend the main streets? Just us, a bunch of ragtag people? A tall tree is easily broken; without solid foundations, the Sword Robe Hall will rise quickly but will also fall quickly if the situation changes. Am I the kind of person who seeks grand achievements and is ignorant? I see that you practice boxing all day and ignore everything else, so your brain has become dull."

Since then, Zhuang Wudao no longer paid attention to the affairs of the Sword Robe Hall. He was indeed hurt by Qin Feng's sharp tongue and felt ashamed. He indeed rarely thought about the Sword Robe Hall's affairs while focusing on his cultivation.

At this time, Qin Feng was trying to hide his strength, and Beiting Wan'er was also intentionally showing weakness to mislead the enemy. However, outsiders might not see through it clearly.

"After tomorrow, whether you live or die, the Sword Robe Hall will likely face a catastrophic disaster. How many people in Yuecheng are eyeing you with greed?"

Xia Miao said with a smile that was not quite a smile: "It's not too late to turn back now. My Xia family may not be able to protect your Sword Robe Hall, but we can ensure the safety of you and Qin Feng. You just need to serve as a slave in the Xia family for seventy years afterward. Do you, Senior Brother Zhuang, really believe that the Beiting family will still protect your Sword Robe Hall wholeheartedly after your defeat? Or do you really think you are someone who has the qualifications to compete with the eldest son of the Gu Yue family?"

Beiting Wan'er, who was already furious, finally couldn't hold back and turned around abruptly. Her eyes were like knives, staring at Xia Miao.

Xia Miao, however, paid no attention, seemingly not taking the Beiting family's direct descendant seriously. He said calmly, "By the way! I almost forgot to mention, one of the conditions Fei Xiushen agreed to with Gu Yueming was a late-stage Second Rank Earth Fire Red Scorpion. In two months, his Crimson Sun Yang Decision will have advanced further. About an hour before you came to the academy, he submitted a life-or-death challenge to the hall master. In three days, on the grand competition stage, he will fight you to the death. It seems Gu Yueming really hates you to the bone and wants to eliminate you."

Zhuang Wudao subconsciously looked in the direction of Fei Xiushen in the crowd. Seeing the faint red color on his hands, he was slightly startled.

Fei Xiushen's Crimson Sun Divine Palm had indeed reached a high level, and it was probably just one step away from the second level.

Fortunately, his *Tianxuan Zhaoshi Zhenjing* had already reached the initial stage, and he could condense the fire seed of the Stone Bright Essence Flame at midnight. Otherwise, with just the Bull Demon Body, it would be difficult to retreat safely from Fei Xiushen.

As if sensing his thoughts, Fei Xiushen also looked at him, his eyes cold and cruel. After a cold laugh, he made a throat-cutting gesture with his hand and then turned and left with Gu Yueming, walking out of the academy gate. His steps and demeanor were confident and domineering, as if he viewed Zhuang Wudao as a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

"Anyway, Brother Zhuang, take care! There are three days until the grand competition. If you change your mind within these three days, you can come to the Xia family at any time."

Xia Miao also walked away, laughing lightly, "In three days, I will prepare a fine coffin for you, so Brother Zhuang won't have to worry about your afterlife."

After he left and got into his carriage, Zhuang Wudao asked with a bitter smile, "Do you think this person hopes I win or lose?"

Beiting Wan'er's eyes no longer held anger, and she shook her head, "Who knows? I think it's fifty-fifty. The Xia family operates the Hundred Weapons Hall, and most of their strength is outside Yuecheng, spread across the cities of Dongwu. In Yuecheng, they are relatively weak. However, if the Xia family can one day replace the Gu Yue family's position in Songjiang, their strength will be even more terrifying than the Gu Yue family. The Xia family is wary of our Beiting family's dominance in Yuecheng, but within their clan, there are also many ambitious people."

After thinking for a moment, Beiting Wan'er added, "He is indeed disappointed in you and has a genuine appreciation for talent."

Zhuang Wudao laughed, then turned to look at the main hall, his eyes equally cold and sinister.

Life-or-death challenge? Is it real or fake? How will the hall master of Chongzhen Hall handle it?

※※※※

To Zhuang Wudao, the encounter during the academy's name-drawing and lottery was just a minor episode before the grand competition. Regardless of Xia Miao's words and their intentions, they left no lasting impression on him.

What was most important to him was condensing the fire seed of the Stone Bright Essence Flame, not the life-or-death challenge. After waiting for over fifty days, he was already impatient.

Returning to his small courtyard, Zhuang Wudao did not practice boxing but sat in meditation with his eyes closed. For the entire afternoon, he used the cultivation method of the *Yun Jian Jue* to nourish his spirit.

When midnight arrived, both his spirit and physical strength were at their best. Zhuang Wudao then entered the back courtyard and sat in the Star Gathering Array.

At midnight, the Yin energy was at its peak, and the sky was clear. The entire Milky Way was visible in the sky, making it the perfect time to cultivate the *Tianxuan Zhaoshi Zhenjing*.

At this moment, a few people were standing on the nearby courtyard walls. Apart from Gu Yu and Qin Feng, Beiting Wan'er and Beiting Qin were also standing on a rooftop twenty zhang away, looking down. They all had serious expressions and were holding their breath to avoid disturbing the person in the array.

Zhuang Wudao was also focused, running the cultivation method of the *Tianxuan Zhaoshi Zhenjing*. A massive amount of star energy entered his body, gradually activating the Stone Bright Essence Flame in his spleen and stomach.

The forty-nine residual flames instantly exploded, scattering through his meridians. However, Zhuang Wudao's willpower forcibly controlled and gathered them back together.

Over the past two months, these residual flames had already merged with Zhuang Wudao's divine consciousness and true essence. As they gradually gathered, a complete red flame slowly rose.

However, as the flame's power grew, Zhuang Wudao felt as if his chest and abdomen were burning. His entire body even began to develop stone scales.

Even with the full power of the 'Tianxuan Zhaoshi Dafa,' he could not completely resolve the heat and fire toxins. The true essence in his body generated a massive amount of heat, which was then neutralized by the Yin star energy.

However, the consumption of true essence was also enormous. After about eight or nine small cycles, Zhuang Wudao had to take a break to consume a pill to accelerate his recovery.

Zhuang Wudao only then felt a sense of fear. If it weren't for the unnamed cultivator who had used the Lingming Divine Dew to resolve the accumulated fire toxins in his body, the situation would have been even more dangerous if they had all exploded at once!

He began to regret rejecting the sword spirit's offer to help him condense the fire seed. Insisting on doing it himself had led him into this desperate situation.

Each cycle of the 'Tianxuan Zhaoshi Dafa' was like walking a tightrope. Any mistake could lead to a fall into the abyss.

Fortunately, after years of street life, his character had been tempered to be resilient and unyielding. He and Qin Feng had fought on the streets, and even when they couldn't win, they would fight to the bitter end, biting with their mouths if their hands were broken, crawling if they couldn't stand, until they could no longer move. The spirit of perseverance was deeply ingrained in his bones. If someone hit him, he would stab them back. As a rogue and a desperate man with nothing to lose, he feared no death.

Initially, he was slightly panicked, but he quickly calmed down. The danger of being burned and turned to stone did not make him afraid; instead, it aroused the ferocity and ruthlessness in his nature.

Unable to completely resolve the heat and fire toxins, he allowed them to spread to his hands and arms, letting these limbs gradually turn to stone and become immobile.

If his hands and feet were useless, he would let them turn to stone. Even his internal organs could be abandoned, as long as he maintained the most basic life functions.

Just as his entire body was almost completely covered in stone, Zhuang Wudao suddenly felt a sharp pain in his spleen and stomach.

Zhuang Wudao was not alarmed but rather delighted. This feeling was the same as when he had successfully cultivated the *Yun Jian Jue* and the sword qi in his chest had impacted the pseudo-linguistic acupoint.

"Finally, it's done?"

As this thought arose, all the residual flames in his chest gathered into a single grayish-white flame.

At the same time, a massive amount of star energy gathered from the surrounding space. The earth qi below was also disturbed, causing the ground where Zhuang Wudao was sitting to rise by three feet.

The stone covering on Zhuang Wudao's body rapidly dissipated, almost instantly returning to his normal skin color.

The blood and qi in his body boiled, surging toward a certain area in his chest and abdomen. A thunderous sound echoed in his ears.

It felt as if a door had opened in his spleen and stomach, not only completely absorbing the Stone Bright Essence Flame but also drawing in his blood, qi, essence, and divine consciousness.

Zhuang Wudao had experienced this situation twice before: once when he first opened the pseudo-linguistic acupoint and once when he entered the Qi Condensation Realm.

"Indeed! This pseudo-linguistic acupoint has opened!"

In Zhuang Wudao's mind, dozens of secret techniques and spiritual methods recorded in the *Tianxuan Zhaoshi Zhenjing* flashed by, but he hesitated to decide.