Chapter 52

Around the life-and-death platform, it was still bustling with activity. Many disciples who enjoyed the spectacle chose to practice here, sitting cross-legged on the ground.

"Everyone, get out of the way!"

A group of more than ten people approached from the distance, and the person leading the way rudely drove away the disciples who were practicing nearby.

Those who were not driven away wisely took a few steps back.

Zheng Song had a happy smile on his face. Although he tried to control his expression, the thought of the good days ahead and the idea of killing the annoying Zheng Shi Yi made him unable to stop smiling.

Finally, he was going to kill Zheng Shi Yi! Zheng Song's shoulders trembled with excitement. Every time he faced Zheng Shi Yi, he would inexplicably recall the day he betrayed Zheng Shi Yi, and the hatred and contempt in the eyes of the waste of a man who had his martial soul extracted.

The news that Zheng Shi Yi was going to fight Zheng Song on the life-and-death platform spread quickly. In a very short time, a large number of disciples gathered around the platform.

A disciple in a green robe, with a thin face and high cheekbones, led a group of people to Zheng Shi Yi and looked at him curiously, asking, "Are you Zheng Shi Yi?"

"Yes," Zheng Shi Yi replied with a bow. "I wonder what this senior brother needs from me?"

"Tian Kun." The green-robed martial artist returned the bow, but his eyes flashed with a hint of pride and arrogance as he introduced himself.

The two simple words from Tian Kun immediately caused a stir among the crowd.

"Tian Kun! The Tian Kun ranked tenth on the Outer Sect's风云榜 (Feng Yun Bang)!"

"Quick, look! Tian Kun has appeared! He actually took the initiative to talk to Zheng Shi Yi?"

"Does he intend to support Zheng Shi Yi? That would be going against the Xu family!"

Tian Kun, hearing the exclamations of the crowd, became even more pleased. A young martial artist standing behind him introduced Zheng Shi Yi, "Our Brother Kun is ranked tenth on the Outer Sect's Feng Yun Bang! He is the most promising candidate to advance to the Inner Sect within three years!"

Tian Kun smiled lightly, waving his hand with the air of a big shot, "Becoming an Inner Sect disciple is not that easy. I only have a chance because everyone gives me face. You saying this makes Junior Brother Zheng laugh..."

"Senior Brother Tian, I wonder if there's anything you need my help with?" Zheng Shi Yi bowed again, maintaining his politeness despite disliking the other's pretentiousness, appreciating his support.

"Help? Do I need your help?" Tian Kun's smile was tinged with self-satisfaction. "This time, I came because I heard you are going to fight Zheng Song to the death. I came to give you a hand, Junior Brother."

"Help me?" Zheng Shi Yi showed a look of surprise. "I wonder how Senior Brother plans to help me?"

"Cough..." Tian Kun cleared his throat, feigning mystery. "Junior Brother, do you know? In our Xuanming Sect, newcomers need the help of the elders. So, everyone forms small groups... I, though not very capable, have a small group. If Junior Brother is willing to join and become my little brother..."

Little brother? Zheng Shi Yi laughed, actually wanting to remove the 'brother' and become a little follower? After all this, the senior brother ranked tenth on the Feng Yun Bang was here to recruit followers!

"Senior Brother..." Zheng Shi Yi bowed and smiled bitterly. "My cultivation is poor, and my abilities are lacking..."

Tian Kun's face showed a satisfied smile, secretly pleased: Very good! He can still pass the three tests! He hasn't become arrogant and forgotten himself! He still knows how to behave in front of me! It seems I can recruit a good follower this time!

"Rest assured! As long as you become my little brother! No! My little brother! I will help you deal with Zheng Song!" Tian Kun's confident demeanor made Zheng Song, standing by the platform, feel uneasy.

Ranked tenth on the Feng Yun Bang! Zheng Song had already planned that if Tian Kun really stepped up, he would immediately kneel and beg for mercy, trying to get closer to him!

Many onlookers envied Zheng Shi Yi at this moment! To be favored by the tenth-ranked expert on the Feng Yun Bang, this... is really too lucky!

Little brother... Zheng Shi Yi laughed dryly, shook his head, and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother, but I really feel my abilities are lacking, and I might drag you down. Let's just forget it..."

Forget it? Tian Kun's proud expression quickly turned to shock. He personally came to recruit, and this was the result? This kid... looks down on me? His polite refusal was filled with deep pride!

"Ungrateful thing!" Tian Kun's face finally fell!

Being rejected by a new disciple in front of so many people was indeed a very embarrassing thing. Many of the martial artists who came with Tian Kun also looked coldly.

Zheng Song walked up to Tian Kun with a cold smile, saying arrogantly, "When did our Zheng family need outsiders to interfere!"

"Isn't it just being ranked tenth on the Feng Yun Bang? Give me a year, and I can enter too!"

A fat and big-eared guy immediately jumped out from behind Tian Kun and said coldly, "Are you talking to our Brother Kun?"

Zheng Song glared at the person and said coldly, "A waste of a man who has been in the sect for many years and is still below me, what right do you have to talk to me!"

"You're asking for death!" The fat and big-eared martial artist clenched his fists and stepped forward, ready to climb onto the platform.

Tian Kun stopped his angry subordinate and said calmly, "What's the rush? We have our status..."

"Damn!" Zheng Song clenched his fists in anger, as Tian Kun, ranked tenth on the Feng Yun Bang, offered to help Zheng Shi Yi on the life-and-death platform.

Fortunately, Zheng Shi Yi refused, or he would have been in trouble today!

A dark-skinned, yellow-toothed, and emaciated disciple walked up to Zheng Song and suggested, "Brother Song, why use a big knife to kill a chicken? Let me, Zheng Si, take care of this guy."

He, Zheng Si, had the lowest cultivation among them and rarely had the chance to show off in front of Zheng Song. He wouldn't let this opportunity pass.

The three other Zheng family disciples also wanted to show off and vied to speak, "Brother Song, Zheng Si is only at the sixth level of the Qi Wheel Realm, which is not enough to demonstrate the prowess of our Zheng family. Let me, Zheng Qi, do it!"

"Zheng Qi, your cultivation is too high. It's a waste to use you against this waste. Let me, Zheng Hui, do it!"

"You three, stop arguing. This waste should be dealt with by me, Zheng Yong."

All four wanted to show off, arguing fiercely, none willing to back down.

Zheng Shi Yi glanced at them and said coolly, "Aren't you tired of arguing? Come on, all of you... I just want to clean up the family today!"

"All of us?"

The four, who were still arguing, suddenly had their faces turn dark.

A newcomer who hadn't even been in the sect for three months dared to challenge all four of them on the life-and-death platform?

Zheng Si's face was as dark as water. Although their cultivation was not the strongest among the Outer Sect disciples, the combined strength of the four was enough to match a peak ninth-level Qi Wheel Realm martial artist!

All of you? This is blatant contempt!

Zheng Song, resting his chin on his right hand, looked at Zheng Shi Yi with a playful expression and said, "Yesterday, I still thought you were someone. You managed to infiltrate the sect even when you were supposed to be crippled. But... now it seems... I overestimated you."

"Overestimated?"

"Yes, overestimated!" Zheng Song shook his head lightly. "Losing your cool so easily, losing your reason when slightly provoked. Wanting to fight all four of us alone, what else is this but foolishness?"

"Ha ha..." Zheng Shi Yi walked onto the platform with a light laugh.

A simple "ha ha" instantly made the veins on Zheng Song's forehead throb. Being "ha ha"ed by someone he once trampled, and in such a situation, was infuriating!

In just a moment, the superiority Zheng Song had built up was completely shattered by that simple "ha ha."

"Unhappy?" Zheng Shi Yi shrugged, still maintaining that infuriatingly indifferent expression. "You can join them if you want. I don't mind."

"Brother Song! I'll go!" Zheng Si leaped onto the platform, looking at Zheng Shi Yi with a mocking expression. "A waste who can only walk onto the life-and-death platform! I'll clean up the family for Brother Song today!"

Zheng Song clapped lightly and said to those around him, "Zheng Si's cultivation has improved! That leap was quite impressive!"

"Zheng Si!" Zheng Song suddenly raised his voice. "I like to see people being tortured to death bit by bit. Don't kill him with one strike."

Zheng Si's lips curled into a smug smile, and he responded, "Of course!"

"Swish!"

Zheng Si drew his long sword, pointing it at Zheng Shi Yi, locking him in place. His body bent like a snake, and he shook his cold, gleaming sword, aiming for Zheng Shi Yi's chest.

Zheng Shi Yi looked at Zheng Si coldly. As the other approached at high speed, he finally moved!

Zheng Shi Yi placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. When the long sword was less than a foot from his chest, his wrist suddenly flicked, and the long sword was drawn! It sliced through the air, leaving a dazzling blade of light that stung Zheng Si's eyes.

Zheng Si reflexively raised his arm to block the light, but he only blocked the dazzling blade shadow, not the real blade!

The broad war sword had already landed on Zheng Si's throat before the long sword could be raised! It was so fast that when Zheng Shi Yi sheathed the sword, Zheng Si only then felt the pain in his neck.

Blood spurted from the thin, paper-like cut on his neck, and his head rolled to the ground.

Thud... Zheng Si's body fell to the ground, his still warm limbs twitching slightly.

Dead!

Zheng Si was dead!

The crowd around the platform held their breath, staring in shock at the scene.

A guy who almost crawled onto the platform had, in the blink of an eye, beheaded a sixth-level Qi Wheel Realm martial artist. How did he do it?

The crowd was stunned, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.