Chapter 96

Feng Zhilin's eyes were filled with a cold smile. He brought his five fingers together again, ready to chop off Zhang Shaochu's other arm.

"Enough!" Zhang Ruochen said.

Feng Zhilin's hand, which was about to strike, paused. He sneered, "Your Highness, the Ninth Prince, have you finally come to your senses?"

Zhang Ruochen's eyes were cold and stern. He loosened the scythe that was pressing against Nie Xuan's neck and threw it to the ground. "Let go of my Fourth Brother!"

Even if he used Nie Xuan's life to threaten Feng Zhilin, it would be useless because Feng Zhilin did not care whether Nie Xuan lived or died.

"That's right!"

Seeing Zhang Ruochen release Nie Xuan, Feng Zhilin's lips curled into a sinister smile. His hand still ruthlessly struck down, breaking Zhang Shaochu's other arm.

Then, Feng Zhilin threw the unconscious Zhang Shaochu to the side and stared at Zhang Ruochen with a mocking gaze, saying with satisfaction, "Your Highness, the Ninth Prince, this is the Wu Shi Academy, not the Yunwu County. Everything is decided by strength. When it's time to bow, you must bow. Let's all work together to cripple his hands and feet."

More than twenty students simultaneously attacked Zhang Ruochen, as if they were trying to tear him apart.

Zhang Ruochen did not even look at those attacking him. He stared coldly at Feng Zhilin and walked over step by step.

He extended his arm, grabbed the arm of a late-stage Xuanji Realm student who was attacking, and with his other hand, struck out forcefully. With a slap, the student's arm was broken by Zhang Ruochen.

"Bang bang!"

Zhang Ruochen extended both palms, catching three swords that were slashing towards him. A jade-white true qi burst from his body, sending the three students flying and rolling the three swords into his sleeves.

With a flick of his sleeves, the three swords flew out, piercing through the thighs of the three students and pinning them to the ground.

"Ahh..."

The three students cried out in pain simultaneously.

"Bang!"

A student at the small extreme position of the Xuanji Realm slashed a knife on Zhang Ruochen's back, producing a metallic clanging sound.

Zhang Ruochen was wearing the Ice Fire Qilin Armor, which blocked the blade, preventing him from being injured.

The student at the small extreme position of the Xuanji Realm was slightly surprised and saw Zhang Ruochen turn around, his eyes fixed on him.

The student's eyes turned fierce, and he slashed again, aiming for Zhang Ruochen's arm.

"Bang!"

Zhang Ruochen struck him in the chest with one palm and grabbed his wrist, snatching the war knife from his hand.

With a swing of his arm, the war knife was swung horizontally, hitting the left face of the student at the small extreme position of the Xuanji Realm. With a bang, the student was knocked unconscious.

Zhang Ruochen's use of martial techniques was indeed very skillful, but he was facing more than twenty students, including many seniors. After a series of battles, Zhang Ruochen's body was also covered with several bloody wounds.

This battle attracted many students.

They looked at Zhang Ruochen, who was surrounded by more than twenty students, all showing pity. It was clear that the top-ranked new student, today, would likely face a grim fate.

In the Wu Shi Academy, martial duels were not prohibited; in fact, they were highly encouraged. Of course, the condition was that no one should be killed.

Whoever dared to kill intentionally would be executed by the Wu Shi Academy. No matter how talented you were, if you intentionally killed another student in the Wu Shi Academy, it was a capital offense.

This was why Prince Huoxing did not dare to show up personally; he had to use Feng Zhilin to eliminate Zhang Ruochen.

Because, the Wu Shi Academy had another rule: if two students had a blood feud, such as a close relative being killed by the other, they could seek revenge within the academy.

Feng Zhilin's younger brother was killed by Zhang Ruochen. In his deep grief, Feng Zhilin avenging his brother was not wrong.

Therefore, even the elders of the academy could not intervene.

Grudges and killings must be resolved by oneself.

Just as everyone thought Zhang Ruochen was doomed, a beautiful and petite figure walked out from the crowd.

She gently supported her chin with her white hands, staring at Zhang Ruochen, who was surrounded by more than twenty students, and smiled, "Interesting! Truly interesting!"

Seeing the petite figure walk out from the crowd, all the surrounding students were terrified and immediately bowed to her, "Greetings, Senior Sister Duanmu!"

Duanmu Xingling did not even look at the students bowing to her. With a smile on her face, she walked towards the group of students who were fighting Zhang Ruochen.

Seeing Duanmu Xingling approach, the students stopped fighting, and even Feng Zhilin showed a hint of fear. He hurriedly walked over, bowed respectfully to Duanmu Xingling, and asked cautiously, "Senior Sister Duanmu, what brings you here?"

Duanmu Xingling extended a delicate finger and pointed at Zhang Ruochen, "I'm here for him!"

At that moment, Zhang Ruochen was still surrounded by more than ten students, with over ten wounds on his body, and his white robe was almost dyed red.

However, on the ground lay eleven students, some with broken arms, some knocked unconscious, and some with their thighs pierced by blades, creating a very gruesome scene.

Hearing Duanmu Xingling's words, Feng Zhilin's face changed, and he bowed again, "Senior Sister Duanmu, Zhang Ruochen killed my only younger brother, and this enmity is irreconcilable. If I don't kill him, where is justice? If I don't kill him, my brother's soul will not rest in peace. If I don't kill him, am I still a man of honor?"

Feng Zhilin's words were half true and half false, deliberately feigning grief and anger.

In reality, although Feng Zhilin and Feng Zhiyi were brothers, their relationship was not good. They had long been at odds over the succession of the Feng family, hoping the other would die soon.

When Prince Huoxing approached Feng Zhilin, he had already promised that if Feng Zhilin killed Zhang Ruochen, he would help Feng Zhilin become the head of the Feng family.

Avenging his brother was just an excuse.

Feng Zhilin continued, "Moreover, before I prepared to seek revenge, I had already reported to Elder Situ. Elder Situ also said that during the first round of the academy examination, Zhang Ruochen was too ruthless, causing the deaths of nearly a hundred candidates. Even if his talent is high, his character is too poor, and he is not suitable to be a student of the Wu Shi Academy. He has already allowed me to seek revenge on Zhang Ruochen!"

Duanmu Xingling nodded, "I understand. Are you trying to use Elder Situ to pressure me?"

"I wouldn't dare! Even if you gave me the courage, I wouldn't dare!" Feng Zhilin was greatly alarmed and said with great fear.

Duanmu Xingling extended a hand and patted Feng Zhilin's shoulder, scaring him so much that his legs bent, almost kneeling on the ground.

"Why are you so afraid?" Duanmu Xingling asked curiously.

Sweat dripped from Feng Zhilin's forehead, "In front of Senior Sister Duanmu, Feng Zhilin dares not be afraid."

Duanmu Xingling nodded in satisfaction, "I understand your feelings. After all, if your younger brother is killed by someone, anyone would seek revenge. To be honest, it's not that I want to make things difficult for you. It's just that Sister Chen asked me to bring him. She said no one can touch Zhang Ruochen, and if anyone wants to kill him, they must leave it to her."

Feng Zhilin's face changed. Zhang Ruochen was actually associated with the female demon Huang Yanchen.

This was bad! If he killed Zhang Ruochen today, he would offend Duanmu Xingling and Huang Yanchen.

Offending two female demons, how could he continue to stay in the West Courtyard?

Duanmu Xingling walked towards Zhang Ruochen and said with a smile, "You killed him, and you caused the trouble. Why don't you come up with a solution?"

Hearing Duanmu Xingling's words, the students understood. Duanmu Xingling was clearly on Zhang Ruochen's side, so she was giving the decision-making power to Zhang Ruochen.

With Duanmu Xingling present, even if Feng Zhilin invited a hundred more students, they could not kill Zhang Ruochen.

For a Xuanji Realm martial artist, no matter how many there were, they were like chickens and dogs in front of a Xuanbang martial artist, easily defeated.

Faced with such overwhelming strength, Feng Zhilin had no choice but to bow.

Zhang Ruochen's eyes fixed on Feng Zhilin, "Feng Zhilin, your brother was indeed killed by me. If you want to avenge your brother, I will give you a chance. One month from now, on the Life and Death Platform, we will settle this."

Feng Zhilin's eyes showed a smile, "Senior Sister Duanmu, these are Zhang Ruochen's own words, I did not force him."

Everyone was very surprised, not expecting Zhang Ruochen to make such a decision.

The Life and Death Platform of the Wu Shi Academy was similar to the Wu Shi Arena. Martial artists signed a life and death contract, and if they were killed on the platform, outsiders could not intervene.

"Since Senior Sister Duanmu is protecting him, Feng Zhilin definitely won't dare to touch him. Why would Zhang Ruochen do this?" a student asked, puzzled.

Another martial artist laughed, "What do you know? As a man, he is not willing to be protected by a woman. If Zhang Ruochen does not fight Feng Zhilin, he will be looked down upon by everyone even if he stays in the Wu Shi Academy. Besides, Zhang Ruochen is a top genius, and geniuses have their own pride."

"Indeed! But a mid-stage Xuanji Realm martial artist fighting a late-stage Xuanji Realm martial artist on the Life and Death Platform, what's the difference from seeking death? On the Life and Death Platform, even Senior Sister Duanmu can't help him, and Feng Zhilin will definitely kill him."

"Zhang Ruochen, one month from now, we will meet on the Life and Death Platform. Don't be a coward then!" Feng Zhilin said.

Zhang Ruochen replied, "Don't worry, on the Life and Death Platform, you want to avenge your brother, and I want to avenge my Fourth Brother. I will break both your arms."

"Hehe! I'm waiting! Let's go!"

Feng Zhilin waved his arm, and the injured students left one by one.

The Life and Death Platform is not a place to play around. In just one month, it's impossible for Zhang Ruochen to defeat Feng Zhilin!

"Are you sure you've thought this through? Once you step onto the Life and Death Platform, your life is not in your own hands!" Duanmu Xingling said.

Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly, "Senior Sister Duanmu, thank you for helping me out of this situation. However, the grudge between Feng Zhilin and me must be resolved by ourselves. The Life and Death Platform might be a good place."

Duanmu Xingling looked at Zhang Ruochen with a bit more respect, suddenly finding this top-ranked new student somewhat more appealing.