Xu Qing’s words rumbled like thunder through the city.

All cultivators who heard him trembled, especially the disciples from all the other random sects. It had been a very long time since a duel to the death had been fought here. Dueling challenges were common, and were generally tolerated. After all, when human chosen gathered, it was hard to avoid conflicts and hierarchical friction. Add in the rules of the Swordsage Court, and it ensured that duels were actually common. Virtually every sect present had either issued dueling challenges or been given them.

But on the eve of the Swordsage Court’s recruiting event, there hadn’t been any duels to the death. Because of that, Xu Qing’s words were a big shock. Never could anyone have imagined that Xu Qing, who had refused so many challenges, causing everyone to think he was weak, would be the one to utter such murderous words. It surpassed everyone’s expectations.

“He’s so ruthless!”

“Is he the kind of person who doesn’t do much when he’s not fighting, but when he does fight, he goes for the kill?”

“I was wondering why a quasi-dao child like this Xu Qing would be so weak. Turns out he’s actually got what it takes!”

“It’s hard to say at this point. Hopefully Xu Qing isn’t just suicidal. Li Ziliang isn’t an ordinary opponent!”

The city was already abuzz with conversation as numerous cultivators flew up into the air and looked in the direction of the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society’s garrison. Everyone wanted to see how Li Ziliang would respond to the challenge. That included coalition disciples. They knew Xu Qing a lot better than the other random cultivators, and weren’t worried at all about the situation. That was even truer of the Seven Blood Eyes disciples. More and more people turned their attention to the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society. Everyone was waiting for Li Ziliang’s response.

Even people climbing the Supreme Beginning Netherflight Pillar stopped to see what would happen. It was no exaggeration to say that, in the shortest of moments, Xu Qing’s words drew the attention of everyone present.

Xu Qing was the only person in the Eight Sect Coalition with dao child remuneration, and thus, he had a very unique standing.

Li Ziliang was the same. Though he wasn’t the Supreme Arbiter dao child, he was very well known. What was more, he had caused a big stir recently by issuing over ten challenges and winning all of them easily. He had four-palace battle prowess, and had consistently stayed at the head of the pack of the people climbing the pillar.

Some of the swordsages were paying close attention to him. It was no surprise that a fight between him and Xu Qing was going to be a big deal.

As more and more people focused on the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society garrison, Li Ziliang was there, his expression placid, but his eyes cold. At the moment, he was hesitating. The average person didn’t know much about Xu Qing, but Li Ziliang had looked into him and knew that he wasn’t as simple as he seemed. If it wasn’t a duel to the death, he wouldn’t have hesitated to accept. Without death on the line, he would have been fine putting his all into the fight.

What was more, he was confident he would win. He knew that fighting Xu Qing would attract a lot of attention. Considering Xu Qing’s standing in the Eight Sect Coalition, if Li Ziliang won, it would be a big blow to Xu Qing. And Li Ziliang’s reputation would get a big boost. Beyond that, showing off how talented he was would attract the attention of the Swordsage Court, and could potentially get him some bonus points in the standings.

Most importantly of all, a certain person had promised him big rewards if he took advantage of this opportunity to probe Xu Qing and get a sense of his limitations. He knew full well that person was eying Xu Qing’s life lamps. Also, that person was very meticulous in fighting opponents, and only did so when completely confident of gaining victory.

Truth be told, Li Ziliang was also interested in Xu Qing’s life lamps. That said, he wasn’t completely prepared for a duel to the death… and thus he hesitated.

He wasn’t back at home in the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society headquarters. And if he accepted this duel, the result would be death for one participant. And given the circumstances, neither the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society nor the Eight Sect Coalition would be able to interfere and stop the fight.

However, Li Ziliang had four heavenly palaces, and very impressive battle prowess. Based on the intelligence reports he had read, Xu Qing only had three heavenly palaces. Even if he did have an imperial-class technique, there was no way he was on the same level as Li Ziliang.

A duel to the death…. If I kill him and take his life lamps, the Eight Sect Coalition won’t be able to do anything about it. But the fact that Xu Qing is the one who issued the dueling challenge, he’s obviously confident in winning. It’s hard to say how this fight will turn out….

Li Ziliang was no idiot, and had already analyzed the situation from all angles. However, it was a situation of if you ride a tiger, it’s hard to get off. He was the one who had already issued multiple challenges. If he didn’t accept this duel to the death, he would lose all face, and all the prestige he had earned lately would evaporate.

Although there’s some risk involved, this is also a good opportunity. Besides, I have a trump card. Other than that devious psychopath Zhang Siyun, no one has ever countered my trump card.

Li Ziliang was taking his time making a decision, and thus the chatter out in the city grew louder. Eventually, the wind brought some of the voices to Li Ziliang, and it caused killing intent to flicker in his eyes.

He couldn’t hesitate any longer. Laughing coldly, he said, “You’re looking to get killed, Xu Qing. Don’t blame me for what happens!”

He flew up into the sky, becoming the center of attention of the countless cultivators in the city. As the crowd watched, Li Ziliang became a stream of bright light that shot toward Xu Qing outside the city.

Xu Qing was dressed in violet. He had long hair and bewitchingly attractive features. His eyes were as cold as ice, but his expression was placid.

Seeing that, Li Ziliang’s eyes narrowed. However, he didn’t slow down. Then, just as he was about to pass out of the city limits, he suddenly accelerated to double the speed as before. He had already been moving quickly; doubling his speed was a tactic to catch his opponent off guard. What was more, he had never tapped into this level of speed during any of his previous duels.

He transformed into a series of afterimages that shot out of the city and toward Xu Qing. As he closed in, he extended his right hand.

Four heavenly palaces appeared behind him. The palaces all looked similar to each other, and were different from ordinary heavenly palaces. Collectively, they resembled a ladder made from crystal, covered with glittering magical symbols.

When Li Ziliang extended his right hand, his four palaces vibrated and then shifted position to hover directly above Xu Qing. Then they superimposed over each other, turning into what appeared to be a crystal pagoda that dropped down toward Xu Qing. It all happened in the time it takes a spark to fly off of a piece of flint. Coupled with Li Ziliang’s speed, this was definitely a trump card of an attack.

As the heavenly palaces dropped, Li Ziliang projected a message to Xu Qing via divine will, something that only Xu Qing could hear.

“I’ve been looking for you for a long time, Xu Qing. Do you remember the grudge we have with each other…?”

Xu Qing didn’t react to the words. He didn’t recognize this person, and was certain they’d never met. Anyone who he actually had a grudge with would be on his bamboo slip. Instead, he focused on the four heavenly palaces which were currently dropping down on him with full force.

Rumbling sounds echoed out as the composite pagoda swept over Xu Qing. Lightning bolts crackled on its surface, connected it to the ground and pulled it downward at a rapid rate. However, before it could move very far, it suddenly lurched to a stop, vibrating and emanating a deafening rumbling. Then the pagoda began to collapse, crumbling into chunks that fell down toward the ground.

Xu Qing appeared, surrounded by a huge sea and nine successive tsunami waves. As the waves swept outward, they made Xu Qing seem like a sea god in the middle of all the water. Then a piercing cry rang out as a golden crow rose out of the sea behind him, sending down dazzling golden light. Within the golden light, the crow was black, and it had nineteen multi-colored tails that spread out like a burning fan.

Li Ziliang’s expression flickered. He knew that Xu Qing was strong, but it was only when he launched his attack just now that he got a sense of the explosive power Xu Qing had at his disposal. In fact, it didn’t feel like four-palace battle prowess to him, but rather, something akin to five-palace power.

Dammit, why didn’t my Will Implantation work on him?

Even as he assessed Xu Qing, Xu Qing took action. Tsunami waves rushed toward Li Ziliang, and the golden crow followed, its wings spread wide.

Li Ziliang’s pupils constricted. Dashing backward, he performed a double-handed incantation gesture.

“Immortal Magic: True-Spirit Ice Spears!”

Numerous ice spears materialized around him, all of them shining with crystalline light. They shot toward Xu Qing, blocking his path. However, the golden crow quickly wiped them out of existence.

“Immortal Magic: Inflammatory Omen!”

Instantly, a huge sea of flames appeared around him, which transformed into a fiery palm. It shot toward Xu Qing to stop his progress, but was quickly destroyed by the furious tsunami waves.

“Immortal Magic: Four Palaces Divination Trigram!”

The shattered fragments of the heavenly palaces blurred, then coalesced back into the form of four palaces. This time, they were arranged with two in front and two behind. It looked like a partial divination trigram which blocked Xu Qing’s forward path and seemed to be in the process of analyzing him and divining information about him.

That wasn’t the end of it, though. Li Ziliang waved his hand, causing a huge mirror to appear below Xu Qing. It was illusory, and was filled with countless shadowy forms that were impossible to see clearly. It contained a bizarre power that prompted the gaze to focus on it. And the less clear the figures in the mirror were, the more one wanted to see them.

Next, Li Ziliang’s right hand flashed in an incantation gesture, almost as if he were performing a divination to find out information about Xu Qing.

All of a sudden, the shadowy, indistinct forms in the mirror became completely clear.

Meanwhile, Xu Qing battered his way through the heavenly palaces. As he did, Li Ziliang’s face fell, and blood sprayed out of his mouth. A look of disbelief covered his face as he gasped and projected, “I know why you don’t recognize me! I can’t believe they did THAT to you….”

Looking like he’d seen a ghost, he spun in place and fled at top speed.

Xu Qing’s expression remained calm as he suddenly grabbed something.

Shockingly, he didn’t reach out in the direction of the fleeing Li Ziliang, but rather, he reached behind his back!