Chapter 29

The sudden intervention of the Ma brothers immediately silenced the discussions among the people present. Any discerning person could see that the Ma brothers were taking advantage of the situation, but no one spoke up.

"You two are really not being fair. Brother Gu just finished a sparring session and is still injured. How can you take advantage of someone in such a state?" The others remained silent, but Li Shuisheng was the first to speak up.

"Yes, Ma Ming, Ma Ke, you two are going too far. Wu Chang provoked others first, and now that he has been defeated by Xuyao, it is his own fault. Are you two his lackeys?" Bing Qi's words were sharp. Seeing that Gu Xuyao had avenged her and Miaomiao, she naturally supported him.

The three-person attack immediately made the Ma brothers' faces turn extremely pale. They exchanged a glance and then looked at Yulin.

At this moment, everyone's attention was focused on the Ma brothers and Gu Xuyao. Yulin, of course, would not show himself at this time. He remained calm, looking as if it had nothing to do with him, and did not even glance at the Ma brothers.

The Ma brothers and Wu Chang usually followed Yulin. When they saw Yulin provoke Gu Xuyao and suggest that Wu Chang spar with him, they knew Yulin wanted to give Gu Xuyao a taste of his own medicine. Now that Wu Chang had been defeated, they naturally wanted to show their support.

"Hmph, what nonsense. We didn't say that the sparring would only be one session. Gu Xuyao, now my brother and I request to spar with you. Do you dare?" The Ma brothers saw that only Li Shuisheng and the two women were supporting Gu Xuyao, knowing that most people were just there for the spectacle, so they continued to pressure Gu Xuyao.

Gu Xuyao looked around. When he suddenly defeated Wu Chang, he had indeed felt many approving gazes, but after the Ma brothers stepped in, those gazes had all disappeared.

"If you want to spar, fine, but sparring is always one-on-one. You two coming at me together would be against the rules. Or are you two afraid of this newcomer from the civilian district?" Gu Xuyao retracted his gaze and looked at the Ma brothers.

"If you admit it, then fine. I, Gu Xuyao, am not one to drag things out. If you want two-on-one, I'll go along with it!" As he spoke, Gu Xuyao's pupils dilated, and a wild aura emanated from him.

The Ma brothers, born in the cultivation world, had never seen the primitive aura that Gu Xuyao had developed deep in the forest, and they instantly lost their momentum.

"Hmph, one-on-one, then one-on-one. Do you think I, Ma Ming, am afraid of you?" The Ma brothers were in a difficult position, with so many people watching. If they insisted on two-on-one, they would never be able to hold their heads high in Taiheng Sect again.

Ma Ming was Ma Ke's older brother, and in such a situation, it was natural for him to step forward.

"Take this!" This time, Ma Ming learned from Wu Chang's experience and launched his attack as soon as he spoke.

"Fire Essence Technique, Wildfire Everywhere!" The Fire Essence Technique, like the Great Slash and the Five Roars of Thunder, was a cultivation technique for the lower disciples of Taiheng Sect. If the Five Roars of Thunder focused on a fatal blow and the Great Slash on continuous attacks, the Fire Essence Technique was a technique that emphasized the coordination of moves. Ma Ming's essence energy was quickly converted by the technique, and within a mile of him, everything turned into a sea of fire.

The burns on Gu Xuyao's body from his own lightning still hurt, so he naturally could not enter the sea of fire to fight Ma Ming. He quickly pushed Li Shuisheng away and began to dodge using the posture he had learned while hunting. The surrounding cultivators also gave them more space.

"Hmph, I'll see where you run!" Ma Ming inserted his hands into the sea of fire, the flames burning through his long robe, revealing his arms with veins bulging. However, unlike Gu Xuyao, the flames only burned his clothes and did not harm him.

"Flame Strike!" Ma Ming pulled his hands out, and two balls of flame burned fiercely on his hands. He struck with all his might, and the flames left his palms, chasing after Gu Xuyao!

This attack was not to be underestimated. If Gu Xuyao were hit by the flames, he would surely fall unconscious like Wu Chang. Realizing this, Gu Xuyao quickened his dodging, but after several dodges, he discovered that the flames were always chasing him, seemingly determined not to stop until they hit their target!

"Ha ha ha, Gu Xuyao, run as hard as you can. I'll see how much stamina you have left!" Ma Ming laughed loudly and launched two more balls of flame, chasing after Gu Xuyao.

Within a mile of Ma Ming, everything was a sea of fire. Gu Xuyao knew that unless he flew into the air, he could not get close to Ma Ming.

"Right now, I have no choice but to take a risk. If I keep dodging, he will release more flames. If the sky is filled with flames, I will be close to defeat." After seeing Ma Ming's Fire Essence Technique, Gu Xuyao immediately knew how to respond. The Five Roars of Thunder consumed a lot of essence energy, and in his current state, he could only use the Thunder Fist once more.

However, things did not go as Gu Xuyao had planned. After launching four fireballs, Ma Ming stopped and began to curse and provoke Gu Xuyao.

"Just like I can only use the Thunder Fist twice, it seems Ma Ming can only launch four fireballs at a time..." Understanding Ma Ming's limits, Gu Xuyao felt more confident about his next move.

"Roar!" Gu Xuyao shouted, lightning snakes entwining his arms, and at the same time, he flew into the air.

"Ha ha ha, Gu Xuyao, I knew you would do this. Fall into the sea of fire!" Seeing Gu Xuyao fly into the air and enter the range of the sea of fire, Ma Ming laughed. A fierce flame flashed in his eyes, and the sea of fire under Gu Xuyao's feet instantly boiled. As the number of fireballs chasing him decreased by two, the sea of fire surged, instantly engulfing Gu Xuyao!

This was the subtlety of the Fire Essence Technique. Although the Ma brothers were willing to be Yulin's followers, their strength was undeniable. The fireballs that chased Gu Xuyao were able to keep up because Ma Ming had infused his thoughts into the fireballs and controlled them to track Gu Xuyao. When Ma Ming dispersed his thoughts, the fireballs naturally disappeared in the air, and the extra thoughts could control the sea of fire, causing it to surge!

However, Ma Ming knew the trick, but Gu Xuyao was not a fool. As soon as the wave of fire surged, Gu Xuyao moved the lightning from his arms to his entire body, forming a lightning net that enveloped him.

The flames enveloped Gu Xuyao, making him look like a giant fireball. The scorching flames climbed up his body, and the lightning resisted the flames' erosion, but the burning pain still penetrated the lightning net, tormenting Gu Xuyao's nerves.

This sudden change was unexpected, and he was now in a very passive position. All he had left was the final Thunder Fist!

"First Roar!" The lightning on Gu Xuyao's body responded to his command, emitting a thunderous roar, ready to explode!

"Ma Ming, I advise you to stop immediately. Lightning and fire will cause a terrible explosion. Even if I die, you won't be left unscathed!" Gu Xuyao endured the intense pain and spoke.

Ma Ming knew that what Gu Xuyao said was true, but he had the upper hand. If he stopped because he was afraid of mutual destruction, it would be a draw, but in the eyes of others, he would be the real loser!

"Bullshit! Gu Xuyao, if you have the ability, use your Thunder Fist. I want to see if your thunder is stronger or my fire is!" Ma Ming gritted his teeth. He was actually very afraid, but at the critical moment, he liked to put himself in others' shoes. If he were Gu Xuyao, he would never dare to use the Thunder Fist in the flames. After all, they were still young, and no one wanted to lose their life.

Gu Xuyao's face remained expressionless as he frantically channeled essence energy, making the lightning on his hands roll even more wildly!

"Gu Xuyao, are you crazy?! What are you doing? Quickly cancel the lightning, I won't hurt you!" Feeling the movement of the Thunder Fist, Ma Ming panicked. The fear of death made him slowly give in.

Gu Xuyao ignored Ma Ming's words, and the lightning on his body became even more fierce.

"Gu, Gu Xuyao, stop! If you stop, I'll cancel the Fire Essence Technique, and we'll call it a draw, okay?" Ma Ming's voice began to tremble.

Gu Xuyao seemed to have not heard Ma Ming's words at all, continuously increasing his essence energy. His eyes were already bloodshot!

"Crazy, crazy, you're a madman!" Ma Ming wailed, imagining the scene of his body being shattered, and he finally could not bear to cancel the Fire Essence Technique, the sea of fire instantly retracting into his body.

"Don't come near me, I surrender, I surrender!" He had canceled the Fire Essence Technique, but the lightning on Gu Xuyao's body still roared.

One step, two steps, Gu Xuyao slowly walked to Ma Ming, the collision of lightning creating a strong wind, making his black hair dance. With his bloodshot eyes, Gu Xuyao looked like a fierce demon.

"Kneel down." Gu Xuyao's voice was unyielding. Ma Ming heard it, and it seemed like another voice was saying, if you don't comply, you will only have one path to death!

Ma Ming's legs trembled. He knew that he had provoked Gu Xuyao first, and many cultivators could testify. With Bing Qi definitely supporting Gu Xuyao, even if he were killed by Gu Xuyao, the punishment for Gu Xuyao would not be too severe.

"Kneel down!" Gu Xuyao repeated, his fists clenched, veins bulging, as if ready to burst with power.

Ma Ming was stunned. He was afraid of death, and his legs gave out, falling to his knees in front of Gu Xuyao with a blank expression!