Chapter 169: Boundlessly Arrogant Zhu Pingyong

Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Boundlessly Arrogant Zhu Pingyong

With Yu Haiyuan’s departure, Shui Zetian and Zou Yuting left as well. Though Hu Jishan was caught in a dilemma, he was far more shrewd and also made a swift exit.

As for the few Minor Sects that had followed them to cause trouble, they tucked their tails between their legs and scurried away faster than anyone else.

Chu Fan gazed at the now-quiet courtyard entrance, shook his head, and let out a cold sneer.

He walked back into the courtyard and said to Ji Bufan, "Before the Tengxing Grand Assembly is over, anyone who tries to leave alone—especially those from the Minor Sects connected to Red Blood Mansion—is to be killed without exception."

Sure enough, that very night, several Sects sent people down the mountain.

The next day—the third day of the Tengxing Grand Assembly—was when the final victor would be decided from among the four hundred prodigies, according to the schedule.

While Chu Fan and Yun Xi were having breakfast, Ji Bufan arrived in a hurry.

One look at his expression told Chu Fan that he had something important to report. Chu Fan put down his bowl and chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a towel, and said, "Whatever it is, just say it."

"My subordinates just reported that Li Mosheng is connected to Red Blood Mansion. Furthermore, I’ve reviewed the summary logs of secret intelligence among the Six Sects and Eight Gates from the past few years. Analyzing the subtle clues, it seems that in the battle at the Cloud Horse Jade Mine, Li Mosheng played a significant role."

Upon hearing this, Chu Fan shot to his feet, his gaze piercing as he stared at Ji Bufan.

"What did you just say?"

Ji Bufan repeated his words and took out a thick stack of volumes.

These volumes contained intelligence reports recorded over the years by Ji Bufan’s network, which had agents planted in the various powers of the Eastern Domain.

Of course, this was only a small portion.

"The dog-eared pages mark what I believe to be clues related to Li Mosheng’s secret collusion with Red Blood Mansion."

With trembling hands, Chu Fan took the stack of volumes and went through them one by one.

The more he read, the darker his expression became, and the more intense the killing intent grew in his eyes.

In fact, it wasn’t just Li Mosheng. The records also implicated Lingyun Sect’s current Ninth Elder and several Steward Elders.

Chu Fan had always suspected that there were too many questionable elements in the trap Red Blood Mansion had set for that battle. He had even suspected that Lingyun Sect had a mole.

But now that the truth was laid bare before him, Chu Fan still felt his heart go cold.

As he felt a deep sense of injustice for his master and senior brothers, he also realized that Lingyun Sect was truly beyond saving.

"Li Mosheng is on Taiyue Mountain, isn’t he?" Chu Fan asked.

"Yes. For this Tengxing Grand Assembly, Yu Zongding brought Elder Yun and Li Mosheng with him," Ji Bufan said.

"Keep a close eye on Li Mosheng," Chu Fan instructed coldly.

He then led Yun Xi to the Martial Arts Arena for the final day of the competition.

According to the tournament rules, the top six contestants would be determined in the morning. In the afternoon, four more matches would be held on the central ring to decide the top three.

After everyone had gathered at the Martial Arts Arena, the leading Elders were supposed to go up and draw lots for the matches.

However, Chu Fan beat them to it, flying onto the centermost ring.

As the crowd stared in confusion, Chu Fan began to speak. His voice was infused with Spiritual Power, allowing everyone present to hear his words with perfect clarity.

"To save time, I, Zhu Pingyong of Celestial Heart Hall, challenge the top fifty. Whether you come one by one in a gauntlet or all at once, I will take you on. If I am the last one standing, the champion’s title is mine. During this challenge, I will not be bound by any rules. If I die on this ring, it is because my skills are inferior, and Celestial Heart Hall will absolutely not pursue the matter."

The moment Chu Fan’s words faded, the arena erupted into a clamor.

Most of the noise was people cursing him—cursing him for overestimating his abilities, cursing him for his arrogance. Many were shouting for someone, anyone, to kill him.

Of course, some people cursed Celestial Heart Hall right along with him.

"Celestial Heart Hall is truly arrogant beyond belief! The people from Fiery Fire Sect died because of them last night, and now one of their disciples dares to challenge the top fifty of the Tengxing Grand Assembly? They’re just a Second-class Sect! If they became a First-class Sect, would they look down on the entire world?"

"In my opinion, this Zhu Pingyong—no, the entire Celestial Heart Hall—should be disqualified."

"Forget it. He thinks just because he has a little skill, he can look down on all the other prodigies. Just you wait. If he dares to take on fifty, he should be prepared to leave his life behind."

"Yeah, yeah! There’s no need for honor when dealing with someone so arrogant. All fifty of them should attack at once and kill him!"

"’To save time,’ my ass! If they kill him, the others will still have to compete. Isn’t that just a bigger waste of time?"

"I’ve couldn’t stand the sight of that brat for a while now. In fact, I can’t stand anyone from Celestial Heart Hall. If I hadn’t gotten unlucky and been eliminated by a stronger opponent, I’d be up there killing him myself right now."

The couple, Shi Qingren and Ni Wanping, heard plenty of these comments. They hadn’t known Chu Fan was going to cause such a scene and were now at a loss for what to do.

Many of the Sect Elders stared at Chu Fan on the ring, both surprised and confused. They couldn’t quite figure out what he was trying to do.

After all, they couldn’t see through Chu Fan’s true Cultivation, but they guessed he was at the Soul Emergence Realm Early Stage at most. His victory over Master Ni, a Soul Emergence Realm Tier One cultivator, had certainly surprised most of them, but to take on forty-nine others by himself?

Even if you excluded the other female disciple from Celestial Heart Hall, that was still forty-eight people!

Among those forty-eight, there were still seven or eight at the Nascent Soul Realm!

Where did he get this confidence?

"Nonsense!" Liu Huaguang, the chief judge, bellowed. "Get off the ring now, and I will pretend this never happened. The Tengxing Grand Assembly is a momentous occasion for the Eastern Domain Cultivation Realm! How can we allow a youngster like you to disrupt the order?"

Chu Fan simply pulled out a piece of paper marked with a handprint and tossed it toward a nearby flagpole. The paper stuck fast to the very top.

"This is a life-and-death waiver. I’ve already signed it. I just want to save time and take first place. Or could it be that none of you dare to fight?" Chu Fan added, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with blatant provocation.

"Life or death will truly not be a factor?" Liu Huaguang asked.

"That’s right! I imagine many of you want me dead, don’t you? Then bring your skills to bear," Chu Fan said.

"You are not to injure anyone," Liu Huaguang said.

"Minor injuries are unavoidable. I’ll do my best not to inflict any serious ones. The condition is that anyone I knock off the ring is considered defeated. If someone I’ve already defeated tries to run back up and take advantage of the chaos, well... I can’t promise I’ll be able to hold back."

"No limits? A gauntlet or a group assault are both fine?" Liu Huaguang asked again. He was actually trying to give Chu Fan a way to back down gracefully.

But of course, Chu Fan had no intention of accepting the favor. ’Otherwise, how could I carry out my plan?’

"No limits. They can fight however they please."

"Fine!" A flash of displeasure appeared in Liu Huaguang’s eyes. He immediately gave the order, "Since this young friend has such daring, it would be inappropriate for me to interfere. The Assembly accepts your request."

As Liu Huaguang’s words faded, many of the gazes that fell upon Chu Fan were filled with ridicule and malevolence.

And yet, for a long moment, no one stepped onto the ring.

After all, the image of him repelling Master Ni with a single palm strike yesterday was still fresh in their minds. Of the forty-eight remaining contestants—not counting Chu Fan and Yun Xi—who among them was confident they could defeat this Zhu Pingyong?

But as for ganging up on him all at once, they weren’t quite shameless enough to do that.

"What are you all waiting for? He’s so arrogant he clearly has no respect for you prodigies of the Eastern Domain! Get up there together and kill him!" the Second Elder of the Celestial Sect yelled at the contestants.