Chapter 6: Deciding Victory and Life

Chapter 6: Deciding Victory and Life

The three-day deadline had arrived, and at this moment, the Combat Hall was bustling with noise and excitement.

"Rumor has it that Chen Feng is a fierce warrior who cleared the first five levels of the puppet array."

"Twenty-two Body Forging Pills..."

For a time, many couldn't help but sigh in admiration, their envy palpable.

"Hmph, so what if he cleared the first five levels? His cultivation is still stuck there, while Ye Zheng is at the peak of the Sixth Level of the Body Forging Realm. With his cultivation alone, he can easily suppress him."

"Exactly. Besides, I heard Ye Zheng has mastered the Three Waves Breaking Blade."

"Chen Feng, are you confident?" Li Xinyue asked with a grave expression.

"Instructor, just wait to treat me to a feast," Chen Feng replied with calm assurance, smiling at Li Xinyue. Thanks to the Divine Talisman Of Creation, he had successfully refined all twenty-two Body Forging Pills in a short time.

Unfortunately, his progress halted at the peak of the Fifth Level. But his Wind Shadow Sword Technique had advanced by leaps and bounds, greatly enhancing his strength. What was there to fear from Ye Zheng?

A wave of clamor arose, and Chen Feng immediately turned his gaze. There, Ye Zheng strode forward with an upright posture, a Snake-Scale Silver-Sheathed Longsword hanging at his waist, his steps as imposing as a dragon or tiger. By his side were several youths from the Ye family—Ye Fei, Ye Wenjie, and others.

Behind them walked a young man in his early twenties with a small scar on his face. A longsword hung at his waist, his expression cold and stern. His narrow, blade-like eyes swept past Chen Feng before settling on Li Xinyue's face, his brow involuntarily furrowing.

Ye Zheng's gaze was as sharp and cold as a blade, slicing through the air to lock onto Chen Feng. Their eyes clashed like invisible swords crossing.

The atmosphere instantly turned frigid and murderous.

"Chen Feng, you're finished," Ye Fei sneered at him.

"Chen Feng, this time you're dead for sure," Ye Wenjie added with a vicious grin.

"Ye Wenjie, your kneeling and kowtowing posture was quite impressive. Why don't you give everyone a demonstration?" Chen Feng ignored Ye Fei and instead taunted Ye Wenjie with a mocking smile.

Countless strange gazes immediately focused on them. Ye Wenjie's face darkened, his teeth nearly grinding to dust.

"Chen Feng, today's battle will not only decide victory but also life and death. Do you dare?" Ye Zheng's voice grew even colder and sharper, his words instantly stirring up a commotion.

"Chen Feng, don't agree to this!" Li Xinyue's expression changed drastically as she urgently spoke, her voice reaching Chen Feng's ears.

But Chen Feng's eyes blazed with an icy, razor-sharp light as he stared at Ye Zheng.

Ye Zheng's gaze was frigid and ruthless, a trace of killing intent swirling deep within his pupils.

All eyes fixed on Chen Feng's face, breaths held as if time had stopped, waiting for his response.

"Decide victory... and life and death!" Chen Feng's eyes gleamed with brilliance, a cold smile curling at his lips.

"You're insane!" Li Xinyue exclaimed, her face pale with shock.

The surroundings erupted in uproar.

"Bold words," Ye Zheng sneered, striding toward the Combat Hall Elder and producing a pre-prepared Life-and-Death Contract. "Elder, please bear witness."

The Combat Hall Elder glanced at Ye Zheng before shifting his gaze to Chen Feng. "Are you certain you wish to engage in a life-and-death duel?"

"Certain!" Chen Feng's reply was resolute and unwavering.

To walk the path of martial arts, to hone his sword and strive for supremacy—compromise was never an option.

A battle?

Then let it be a battle!

Life and death on the line?

Then let life and death be decided!

What was there to fear?

Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Feng signed his name on the Life-and-Death Contract after reviewing it.

"Since the Life-and-Death Contract has been signed, the outcome shall be decided by life or death. No one is allowed to interfere in the duel. If one party is killed, the other shall not be held accountable." The Combat Hall Elder took the signed contract, his gaze sweeping over Chen Feng and Ye Zheng's faces as he spoke solemnly, "If there are no objections, let it begin now."

The Combat Hall was packed with spectators, their faces flushed with excitement. The elder stood to one side while Chen Feng and Ye Zheng took their positions in the center.

Li Xinyue unconsciously clenched her fists, her pupils constricting as her heartbeat quickened.

"Li Xinyue, do you have feelings for this brat?" A young man with a small scar on his face appeared beside her, sneering.

"None of your business, Ye Huai," Li Xinyue retorted sharply.

Ye Huai's narrow eyes glinted like blades, as if trying to slice through her, but Li Xinyue met his gaze fearlessly, her heroic face curling into a disdainful smirk.

"Li Xinyue, care to make a bet?" Ye Huai gripped the hilt of his saber, his voice icy. "Let’s wager on how many strikes Ye Zheng will need to finish his opponent."

"Defeated trash," Li Xinyue scoffed, staring at Ye Huai without hesitation. "I bet on Chen Feng’s victory."

"Fine, then—" Ye Huai’s sinister grin was cut short by a piercing screech that echoed through the hall.

Ye Zheng had struck.

The blade howled, its momentum unstoppable as it cleaved through the air with a chilling, murderous intent, aiming to split Chen Feng in two.

"Second Form of the Wave-Splitting Saber Technique!"

"Ye Zheng isn’t even testing the waters—he’s going all out from the start!"

Chen Feng’s eyes narrowed, reflecting the cold gleam of the blade. His brows lifted slightly as he drew his sword, its edge swift as the wind. In an instant, three sword shadows shot forth.

"Three Shadows Sword Technique!"

Blade and sword clashed, a tremendous force reverberating through Chen Feng’s arm. He staggered back three steps to disperse the impact.

The difference in power between the Fifth Level and the Sixth Level of the Body Forging Realm was indeed stark.

Having forced Chen Feng back, Ye Zheng pressed forward.

The cold blade light erupted again, transforming into three overlapping saber shadows like crashing waves, slicing through everything in their path.

"Three Waves Breaking Blade!"

"Ye Zheng actually mastered the Three Waves Breaking Blade—he’s guaranteed to win!"

"Wrong. More like Chen Feng is guaranteed to die."

Li Xinyue couldn’t help but show a trace of worry, while Ye Huai smirked.

The Three Waves Breaking Blade was on par with the Three Shadows Sword Technique, but Ye Zheng’s cultivation was clearly superior to Chen Feng’s.

Through the overlapping saber shadows, Chen Feng clearly saw the vicious killing intent on Ye Zheng’s face.

Without hesitation, Chen Feng erupted with his Tendon and Bone Force. The sword hummed as it shot forward, followed by multiple sword shadows that made onlookers’ eyelids twitch uncontrollably.

"Five sword shadows in one strike—am I seeing things?"

"Five Shadows Sword Technique!"

"Chen Feng only started practicing the Wind Shadow Sword Technique a few days ago, and he’s already mastered the Five Shadows Sword Technique?!"

"A genius—an absolute sword prodigy!" The Combat Hall Elder’s face was alight with shock, his eyes gleaming with excitement as his mind raced.

Li Xinyue was utterly stunned. She knew Chen Feng’s sword talent was extraordinary, far surpassing her own. Mastering the Three Shadows Sword Technique was expected, but the Five Shadows Sword Technique was several times more difficult.

And Chen Feng had only been practicing the Wind Shadow Sword Technique for three or four days…

The thought left her emotions in turmoil.

Ye Huai’s expression twisted violently.

The Five Shadows Sword Technique sliced through the air, instantly neutralizing Ye Zheng's Three Waves Breaking Blade. Chen Feng's expression was as cold as iron as he surged forward once more, the Five Shadows Sword Technique flashing through the air toward Ye Zheng in the blink of an eye.

Ye Zheng's expression changed dramatically. With a quick criss-cross of steps, he executed a Graded Movement Technique, retreating at lightning speed.

Chen Feng's sword strikes fell like rain, layers of sword shadows relentlessly pursuing Ye Zheng, forcing him to continuously dodge with his movement technique while desperately parrying with his blade—completely suppressed.

"Ye Zheng is actually at a disadvantage..."

"Unbelievable!"

"If Chen Feng also masters a Graded Movement Technique, wouldn't Ye Zheng be..."

Exclamations erupted one after another.

Chen Feng frowned slightly.

It seemed that after this battle, he should learn a Graded Movement Technique.

Ye Zheng steadied his footing, blocking Chen Feng's relentless sword pursuit before fiercely unleashing the Three Waves Breaking Blade once more.

Chen Feng's eyes sharpened. Originally, he had intended to hold back, but now... His tendons and bones trembled in unison as he unleashed his full Tendon and Bone Force without reservation, his speed increasing slightly. His sword cleaved through the air, transforming into six consecutive sword shadows that surged toward Ye Zheng without pause.

"Six Shadows Sword Technique!"

The exclamations erupted like thunder, driving everyone to the brink of madness.

The Combat Hall Elder clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with excitement, his entire body trembling.

The Three Waves Breaking Blade was completely shattered as a single sword shadow slashed forward, piercing through defenses like splitting gold and shattering stone, aimed straight at Ye Zheng. Everyone widened their eyes, fists clenched, their breaths quickening.

A sudden twist erupted!