Chapter 204

Chapter 204: Life-and-Death Platform

After Fang Lie fully revived, he said resentfully to Old Bird, "Bird Bro, why are all Mo Ancestor’s bloodline descendants like this? I saved her life out of kindness, yet she slapped me to death! What’s wrong with these people?"

"It was just a misunderstanding. The girl had just woken up—how could she recognize you?" Old Bird chuckled. "All she knew was your shameless hand groping where it shouldn’t. If it were you, wouldn’t you slap back too?"

"Well…" Fang Lie fell silent before finally grumbling, "Guess I’m cursed with bad luck. From now on, anyone from the Mo family asking for my help will pay double the reward!"

After calming slightly, Fang Lie suddenly asked, "Bird Bro, when Mo Lanyun killed me, why did it feel different from previous deaths?"

"Did you feel yourself dissolving into water?" Old Bird inquired.

"Yes! How’d you know?" Fang Lie exclaimed.

"Simple. The Magic from her Water Guan Yin spiritual root is overwhelmingly potent. One strike turns anything into water—that’s the terror of an Immortal spiritual root. Why else would it be so revered?" Old Bird explained gravely.

"So this is the power of an Immortal spiritual root!" Fang Lie sighed enviously. "Meanwhile, my second-class Flame Dragon spiritual root only grants fierce Magic without special properties."

"No need for envy!" Old Bird snorted. "Your Innate Great Five Elements Nascent Fetus Classic cultivation can transform acquired traits into innate ones, even altering spiritual roots. Master it completely, and you’ll become an Innate Five Elements Dao Body—equivalent to merging five Immortal spiritual roots! Only ancient Chaos-era Great Demons could rival you. No other spiritual roots would compare!"

"Pfft!" Fang Lie scoffed. "That’s just empty fantasy! The manual requires five innate great five elements nascent fetuses. Do such things even exist? Reaching mastery? More like delusional daydreaming!"

"Whether it’s delusional or not, it’s your only path. Fail, and you’ll die within a hundred years!" Old Bird taunted. "Not my problem anyway—I won’t be the one perishing."

"It’s mine!" Fang Lie roared. "Curse that bastard who gave the Yuan family the twelve-layer Linglong Qi Locking Tower! Once I find them, I’ll exterminate their entire clan!"

He stomped forward, teleporting instantly outside the Ancestral Hall.

Mo Wanfang materialized before him, blocking his path.

Fang Lie glared and spat, "Ungrateful wretch!"

"An honest mistake!" Mo Wanfang grinned slyly. "You fondled my daughter—a slap was merciful. Why fuss over it like a petty child?"

"Mercy?!" Fang Lie exploded. "She murdered me!"

"Murder?" Mo Wanfang smirked. "You’re clearly alive and kicking!"

"You—" Fang Lie’s face flushed with rage. "Mark my words—your arrogance has consequences!"

"Oh?" Mo Wanfang jeered. "Planning to bite me?"

"Too foul to taste. But remember this—" Fang Lie hissed, "Next time the Mo family begs for my aid, I’ll make you regret it deeply!"

"Beg? Hah!" Mo Wanfang guffawed. "The mighty Mo family lacks nothing! This incident was a rare exception!"

"Enough talk. We’ll see!" Fang Lie turned to leave.

"Wait!" Mo Wanfang called. "Chi Hanshui accepted your duel—tomorrow at noon. Prepared to meet your end?"

"Tell him to ready his coffin!" Fang Lie shouted over his shoulder.

"Insolent fool!" Mo Wanfang muttered as Fang Lie vanished. "A Qi Sea level cultivator with mere miles of Qi Sea dares threaten Golden Pool realm experts? He’s truly lost his mind!" Shaking his head mockingly, he too disappeared.

The life-and-death platform, built by the Mo Sect to resolve internal conflicts, spanned ten square miles atop a mountain. Its Taihao stone surface, engraved with divine patterns, resisted damage from Third- or Fourth-Rank treasures and self-repaired when scarred.

Restrictions around the arena permitted battles up to Wind Tribulation Immortal level. Stronger combatants risked destroying the platform, forcing them elsewhere.

To discourage internal bloodshed, activating the platform demanded ten million spirit stones—a sum even Purple Palace Masters balked at paying. Thus, the platform seldom saw use.

Battles were rare, but when they occurred, they were always spectacular clashes.

One day, with the east wind blowing and war drums thundering, the life-and-death platform reopened. Skilled fighters from the Mo Sect flocked to witness the event, and within moments, hundreds of thousands had gathered.

Though the duelists hadn’t yet arrived, the crowd buzzed with heated discussions.

"Did you hear? Fang Lie is challenging Chi Hanshui this time! He even staked the Arhat Immortal Fruit tree."

"Is that boy out of his mind? His cultivation’s pitifully low! Chi Hanshui’s an Inner Elite Disciple with a Qi Sea spanning dozens of miles and Golden Pool attainment. He crushes Purple Palace realm cultivators from minor sects effortlessly. What makes Fang Lie think he can face him?"

"Who knows? But Fang Lie’s no fool. Daring to issue this challenge with such heavy stakes means he must have a plan!"

"Why would Fang Lie challenge Chi Hanshui anyway? They’ve never crossed paths before."

"Actually, Fang Lie didn’t start this. Rumor says Chi Hanshui tried murdering Fang Lie’s sworn brother – that Ice Second Brother fellow – triggering this confrontation!"

"Now it makes sense! They say Ice Second Brother was Chi Hanshui’s illegitimate half-brother, abandoned in the Ice Pond. I thought it was gossip, but turns out it’s true!"

"The Chi family’s disgraced themselves. But how’d they slip up? Fang Lie’s weak in cultivation and despised by sect Higher-ups. With no connections, how’d he pinpoint Chi Hanshui?"

"Whispers say Mo Wanfang aided him."

"Has the Clan Leader’s faction gone mad? This doesn’t concern them! Meddling like this violates the family clans’ unspoken rules!"

"Who can say? Perhaps the Mo family wants to recruit Fang Lie for his talents?"

As debates swirled, both combatants arrived.

Fang Lie cut his usual bizarre figure – golden wings sprouting from his back, one eye shrouded by black cloth, clad in the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams Dao Robe.

The wings evoked a bird-man, the eyepatch a bandit, the robes a Taoist priest. Altogether, it was a bizarre and mismatched sight.

Unbothered, Fang Lie swaggered forward.

His followers Ice, Fire, Poison, and Dragon marched proudly behind him, heads high with unshakable confidence.

Chi Hanshui presented a far nobler image – a man appearing around thirty with commanding presence, his three beard strands fluttering like an exiled immortal’s.

Had Fang Lie not known the truth, he’d never believe this dignified figure would murder his own brother.

Observing Chi Hanshui’s Immortal-Style Appearance, Fang Lie inwardly scoffed: "Typical family clan hypocrisy. Rotting inside yet maintaining saintly airs."

Chi Hanshui arrived flanked by family disciples waving ornate fans, their cultured speech and scholar’s poise radiating righteousness.

Compared to Fang Lie’s ragtag group, they resembled honorable champions – much to Fang Lie’s irritation. He pondered revamping his bandit-like image.

As Fang Lie hesitated, Chi Hanshui floated onto the platform, sleeves billowing. After saluting the crowd, he clasped hands behind his back and taunted: "Fang Lie! Since you’ve come, hurry up and die. Our spectators’ time is valuable!"

Snorting, Fang Lie ascended the platform. "Their time’s not my concern. I didn’t invite them to watch monkeys perform!"

The crowd roared with laughter.

Trembling with rage, Chi Hanshui snapped: "Do Fang Family men only know how to bark?"

"Hardly." Fang Lie’s voice turned glacial. "I specialize in killing treacherous scum."

"Empty boasts! You think your meager cultivation can defeat me?" Chi Hanshui sneered.

"Absolutely. Why else would I stake the Arhat Immortal Fruit tree?" Fang Lie grinned sharply. "You’re dead."

Chi Hanshui’s bitter laugh echoed. "So certain? Then let’s raise the stakes…"