101: Chapter 101 Tang An's Visit

"Chu Feng... Chu Feng! It's all because of you!"

Li Sen gnashed his teeth, his heart filled with monstrous hatred.

If not for Chu Feng, how could he have ended up in such a state?

His future was ruined, and he even had to go to the front lines to risk his life in a situation where survival was uncertain!

And then there were Deputy Hall Master Ren Tianxing and Deacon Tang Hao... Li Sen sneered in his heart: "They make it sound so simple! Borrowing momentum? Uniting? Are those extra-planar demonic cultivators wooden blocks just waiting for you to kill them?"

"Ten heads in ten years—they're clearly sending me to my death! These high-and-mighty big shots decide my life and death with a single word. How unjust!"

However, no matter how much resentment he felt, he could only bury it deep in his heart for now.

He didn't dare show the slightest bit of it to Deputy Hall Master Ren Tianxing or Deacon Tang Hao, so he could only pour all his fury onto the "culprit," Chu Feng.

"Chu Feng, you just wait! As long as I, Li Sen, do not die, I will repay today's humiliation a hundredfold in the future!"

Li Sen clenched his fists so hard his nails dug deep into his palms, drawing blood, yet he remained completely oblivious to the pain.

He took one last look in the direction of Chu Feng's small courtyard and departed.

...

The next day.

A piece of news quietly spread through the Duobao Sect and quickly gained momentum.

The Yellow-rank True Disciple Chu Feng would accept a formal challenge from another Yellow-rank True Disciple, Song Ming, on the Sect's Dueling Platform in two days!

This news was like a massive boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up layers of ripples.

Who was Chu Feng?

He had only recently joined the Sect and had already forcefully climbed to the top of the hidden dragon ranking.

He was the "man of the hour" who had slain an extra-planar demonic cultivator at Turtle Mountain and publicly stood his ground against the Earth-rank True Disciple Li Sen, leading to the latter's punishment!

And who was Song Ming?

An established Yellow-rank True Disciple with a Foundation Establishment level nine cultivation, possessing formidable strength and extensive dueling experience.

"Have you heard? Chu Feng, the top of the hidden dragon ranking, is going to duel Senior Brother Song Ming!"

"Senior Brother Song Ming is at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, while Chu Feng is only at the sixth, right? Isn't the gap a bit too large?"

"Hey, don't underestimate Chu Feng! Senior Brother Li Sen suffered a great loss at his hands! It's said that this person's lightning Divine Ability is extremely powerful!"

"I don't think so. Senior Brother Li Sen was restricted by the Sect rules and didn't dare to use his full strength. In a true life-and-death struggle, how could Chu Feng be a match for him?"

"Who cares who wins or loses, as long as there's a good show to watch! The Dueling Platform will definitely be lively in two days!"

Rumors and gossip spread everywhere.

Some looked forward to Chu Feng, the dark horse, continuing to create miracles, while others wanted to see Song Ming teach this "arrogant" newcomer a lesson.

Still others secretly set up betting pools, attracting many Disciples to place wagers.

As one of the protagonists of the event, Chu Feng was completely indifferent to these discussions.

After returning to his small courtyard, he first thoroughly checked his gains.

In the extra-planar demonic cultivator's Storage Pouch, besides the nine danyin fruits, there were some Demonic Path Materials, Spirit Stones, and several decent-quality demonic artifacts.

Additionally, there was the demonic cultivator's corpse, which needed to be handed over to the Law Enforcement Hall as soon as possible.

He organized the corpse and relevant evidence, then went to the Law Enforcement Hall early the next morning to complete the handover procedure and receive the corresponding demon-slaying contribution points.

As for the danyin fruits, he didn't mention a word, and no one at the Law Enforcement Hall asked.

The ownership of spoils was basically settled when Chu Feng collected them in public; as long as they didn't involve vital intelligence or taboo items, the Sect usually wouldn't interfere.

Having handled the trifles, Chu Feng returned to his regular life of Cultivation.

In the Artifact Refining Room.

Chu Feng was hammering metal; he was refining an impressive lightning-attribute Magical Artifact...

Regarding the duel with Song Ming, he didn't make any special preparations.

Foundation Establishment level nine?

Truly not worth his concern.

Just one day before the scheduled duel, someone unexpected came to visit Chu Feng.

"Junior Brother Chu, I hope you have been well."

The visitor wore green robes, had a handsome face, and a gentle smile on his lips; it was Tang An, whom he had met previously at Wangyue Tower.

"Senior Brother Tang? What a rare guest, please come in." Chu Feng was slightly surprised as he welcomed Tang An into the living room.

He wasn't close with Tang An, so this visit was likely not just for a simple chat.

The two sat down as host and guest, and Cheng Sanniang served spirit tea.

Tang An took a sip of tea, offered a few words of praise, and then cut to the chase, his smile remaining gentle: "I heard that Junior Brother is going to spar with Song Ming tomorrow, so I've come to bother you."

"First, I wish Junior Brother a triumphant victory; second... I have a small reminder for you."

"Oh? Please speak, Senior Brother Tang." Chu Feng remained calm.

"Song Ming has a solid cultivation and is ruthless in combat. He will certainly use unconventional means, such as Spirit Pills that boost strength or a Beast Spirit Talisman," Tang An said slowly.

Chu Feng's heart stirred, and he cupped his fists with a smile: "Thank you for the tip, Senior Brother Tang. By the way, Senior Brother Tang, do you want to earn some Spirit Stones?"

...

Where there was a duel, there was naturally a betting pool.

This was a tacitly understood tradition within the Duobao Sect, and it had even become an important way for some Disciples to earn extra income.

Especially since this duel had such a high level of attention, the bookmakers had taken action early.

Under Chu Feng's instruction, Tang An became one of the public bookmakers for this betting pool.

He set the stakes quite high.

The odds were soon announced: Song Ming winning was 1 to 1.1; Chu Feng winning was 1 to 10.

This vast disparity in odds clearly reflected almost everyone's expectations.

Song Ming was a ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator, an established Yellow-rank True Disciple with rich combat experience and ruthless methods.

Chu Feng was at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment; although he was at the top of the hidden dragon ranking, that didn't represent actual combat power.

Therefore, in the eyes of most, there was an insurmountable chasm between his real combat strength and Song Ming's.

"Is there even a need to think? Bet on Song Ming! Although the profit is small, it's a guaranteed win!"

"Exactly! 1.1 is still a profit! Why would anyone refuse free Spirit Stones?"

"Chu Feng? 1 to 10? The odds are high, but you have to be alive to win! I don't want to throw my Spirit Stones away."

"Fighting above one's level? That's for dealing with Loose Cultivators or ordinary Inner Sect Disciples. Among True Disciples, who doesn't have excellent talent, resources, and Cultivation Techniques? Even a single minor Realm difference is extremely hard to bridge, let alone three! It'll be impressive if Chu Feng can last a hundred moves!"

The Martial Arts Field was packed with Disciples watching and waiting to place bets.

The discussions were clamorous, and almost everyone placed their bets on Song Ming.

Some even wagered more than half of their net worth, just waiting to make a "guaranteed" profit.

There were very few who favored Chu Feng.

Those who dared to bet on Chu Feng's victory were only Tang An, Fang Li, Senior Brother Zhao Tieshan, and a few Disciples with a heavy gambling spirit looking to "bet on the underdog."

"Dong! Dong! Dong!"

Three long and solemn bell tolls rang out from the center of the giant Martial Arts Field outside the Law Enforcement Hall.

This was the signal that the Dueling Platform was about to be put into use.

The Dueling Platform occupied a vast area, a full thousand feet square. The ground was paved with unknown green boulders, their surfaces mottled and covered with blade scars, sword marks, and scorched traces of thunder and fire of varying depths.

Furthermore, in some of the crevices and depressions of the stones, a dark reddish-brown color appeared—dried bloodstains left by generations of duelists that had long since soaked into the marrow of the stone.

Every mark seemed to tell a story of the tragic battles and grievances that had once occurred here.