155: Chapter 155 Taking Risks for a Friend

Leng Feng's life-and-death challenge, filled with killing intent, shook everyone to the core!

For the sake of the heavily injured Liu Ruyan, he was willing to throw away his qualification for the Grand Competition and even violate the Sect rules to fight Sun Xiao to the death!

This resolution and madness shocked everyone.

Locked onto by Leng Feng's icy killing intent, Sun Xiao felt a chill down his spine, and fear welled up in his heart for the first time.

He shrieked with false bravado, "Leng Feng! You're crazy! Elder, he's breaking the rules, take him down quickly!"

He only wanted to use the Sect rules to protect himself now; how could he dare to actually accept this life-and-death battle?

The Referee Elder had a solemn expression. Stepping forward, his True Martial Realm pressure spread out as he said in a heavy voice, "Leng Feng, step down immediately!

"Put down Liu Ruyan, and this seat can take your urgency to save someone into account and deal with you leniently! If you persist in your delusions, don't blame the Sect rules for being merciless!"

However, at this moment, Leng Feng's heart was filled with rage; Sect rules and consequences no longer mattered to him!

He only wanted to tear this insidious and malicious villain before him into ten thousand pieces!

"Rules? Hahaha!"

Leng Feng let out a sorrowful and angry sneer toward the sky, his laughter filled with endless mockery. "Such a vicious hand was dealt to a fellow Disciple, yet not a single Elder stepped forward to stop it! Where are the rules? Where is justice?"

"Today, I, Leng Feng, only seek to be Heart-Questioning without shame! Sun Xiao, give me your life!"

Before his voice had even faded, he ignored the Referee Elder's obstruction and gently pushed Liu Ruyan toward the arriving Ye Tian. Then, transforming into a sword light, he lunged straight for Sun Xiao's throat with the determination to perish together!

This sword strike was ruthless and resolute, condensing all of his fury!

It was his strongest ultimate move, the Self-Sacrificing Sword!

"Presumptuous!"

The Referee Elder was furious and was about to intervene to stop him.

"Wait."

From atop the high platform, a cold voice rang out; it was actually Elder Shuiyue who spoke.

Her face was covered in frost as her gaze swept over Sun Xiao. "Let this battle continue. This seat will bear all the consequences."

With Elder Shuiyue speaking up, the Referee Elder's movements stiffened. He looked troubled, but in the end, he didn't intervene again.

Most of the other Elders also remained silent, clearly finding Sun Xiao's behavior despicable as well. Although Leng Feng's actions were against the rules, they were reasonable.

Sun Xiao's soul almost flew out of his body in fright!

He never expected Elder Shuiyue to publicly support Leng Feng in breaking the rules!

Facing Leng Feng's life-risking and incredibly powerful sword strike, he felt a fatal threat!

In his haste, he let out a strange cry and pushed his movement technique to the limit. At the same time, he flicked both hands repeatedly, sending several streaks of poisoned black light toward Leng Feng's major acupoints in an attempt to thwart the offensive. This was his famous Scorpion Tail Needles!

However, in his great rage, Leng Feng's sword heart was clear, and those malicious hidden weapons were actually shredded one after another by the sharp Sword Qi erupting from around his body!

The sword momentum only faltered slightly before continuing to thrust straight forward!

"Puchi!"

Blood splattered!

Although Sun Xiao dodged with all his might and avoided his vital throat area, his left shoulder was instantly pierced through by the longsword!

The sharp Sword Qi rampaged through his body, causing him to let out a scream like a slaughtered pig!

"Ah! My hand!"

Sun Xiao clutched his blood-dripping shoulder and retreated in terror, his face pale.

He hadn't expected Leng Feng's strength to be so terrifying, nor that the other party would actually dare to deliver a killing blow!

Having succeeded with one strike, Leng Feng showed no mercy. With a turn of his sword blade, he was about to decapitate him!

"I admit defeat! I admit defeat! Elder, save me!"

Scared out of his wits, Sun Xiao no longer cared about his dignity and shrieked for help from the Referee Elder.

Seeing this, the Referee Elder sighed. With a flicker of his body, he appeared between the two. With a wave of his sleeve, a majestic force swept away Leng Feng's sword momentum while also sealing Sun Xiao's movements.

"Enough, Leng Feng."

The Referee Elder said in a deep voice, "He has already admitted defeat. If you strike again, it will be harming a fellow Disciple, and your crime will be even greater!"

Leng Feng stood with his sword, his chest heaving violently. His bloodshot eyes stared fixedly at Sun Xiao, but in the end, he suppressed his boiling killing intent and did not strike again.

He knew that with the Referee Elder's intervention, he would not be able to take Sun Xiao's life today.

But this strike had already crippled one of Sun Xiao's arms and completely crushed his dignity!

The entire venue was silent.

Everyone was shocked by this lightning-fast reversal.

Leng Feng, at the Early Stage of the Ningyuan Sixth Stage, forced the Condensing Essence Seventh Level Sun Xiao into a life-threatening situation with just one move!

This strength and ruthlessness made everyone no longer dare to underestimate this newly entered Disciple.

"Good! Decisive in killing and with a pure sword heart! Although he acts impulsively, he is still a piece of unpolished jade!"

On the high platform, that black-robed Discipline Hall Elder couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

Several other Elders, including Thunder Gang, also nodded slightly, with looks of appreciation in their eyes.

The talent, strength, and loyalty to his companion that Leng Feng displayed won their favor.

However, appreciation aside, the Sect rules could not be desecrated.

Elder Zhao Wuji's majestic gaze swept across the venue before finally landing on Leng Feng. "Leng Feng, your actions to save a fellow Disciple are understandable.

"But publicly breaking the Grand Competition rules, forcibly intervening in a duel, and even intending to harm a fellow Disciple who has already surrendered—this trend cannot be allowed to grow! According to the Sect rules, your cultivation should be abolished, and you should be expelled from the Sect!"

"Abolish cultivation and expel from the Sect!"

A chorus of sharp intakes of breath immediately rose from below the stage!

This punishment was truly too heavy!

It was equivalent to cutting off Leng Feng's path of cultivation, which was worse than killing him!

Although Liu Ruyan's heart meridians were protected by Ye Tian's true essence, temporarily stabilizing her injuries, hearing this still caused her such distress that she nearly fainted.

Leng Feng's body trembled slightly, but he still kept his back straight, showing no fear.

He had already prepared himself mentally.

Zhao Wuji's tone shifted as he continued, "However, considering there was a reason for your actions and your extraordinary talent, the Sect is willing to give you a glimmer of hope.

"The Outer Sect Forbidden Ground, Wan Jian Cliff—do you dare to venture there? If you can pass the trial, your previous crimes will be wiped clean! If you fail... your body and soul will be extinguished!"

Wan Jian Cliff!

Hearing this name, all the Disciples present, including some deacons, instantly turned pale!

That was a Forbidden Ground of the Sect!

It was said that the cliff was filled with endless Sword Qi; those with insufficient cultivation or weak Heart-Nature who stepped inside would be instantly shredded into pieces, their Divine Souls destroyed!

It had always been used as a place to punish serious criminals, a place of certain death!

Either choice could be called a dead end!

Leng Feng's pupils constricted; he had naturally heard of the horrors of Wan Jian Cliff.

But he had a stubborn character; he would rather die standing than live kneeling!

He was just about to agree to this near-death trial...

"Elder Zhao!"

A calm voice rang out, interrupting Leng Feng.

Everyone looked toward the source of the sound and saw Ye Tian, who had been silent all along, gently hand Liu Ruyan over to a nearby female Disciple for care. Then, he stepped forward to the center of the arena and bowed toward the high platform.

"Disciple Ye Tian is willing to challenge Wan Jian Cliff on behalf of Senior Brother Leng Feng!"

As soon as he spoke, the entire audience was shocked!

Everyone looked at Ye Tian in disbelief!

Had he gone mad?

Leng Feng touch the Sect rules, and Being punished is a matter of course; why would he step forward?

Wan Jian Cliff was such a dangerous place that others avoided it like the plague, yet he was voluntarily charging in?

Just for a friend he hadn't known for long?

Leng Feng turned his head abruptly to look at Ye Tian, his eyes filled with shock. He said urgently, "Ye Tian! You can't! This is my business alone; it has nothing to do with you!"

Ye Tian gave him a slight smile, his expression calm. "Senior Brother Leng, since we are friends, there's no need to be so formal.

"You were willing to sacrifice yourself for Senior Sister Liu; how could I, Ye Tian, be someone who fears death and disregards friendship?

"Although Wan Jian Cliff is dangerous, it might not necessarily be a dead end. Besides..."

He turned to look at the high platform. "Senior Brother Leng has just finished a hard battle and is injured. If he ventures into Wan Jian Cliff now, it would be certain death.

"Although I am untalented, I am willing to risk myself to brave the danger for my friend. I ask the Elders to grant this!"

Ye Tian's words were powerful and resonant.

That loyalty to sacrifice himself for a friend and that courage to not shrink back in the face of a desperate situation deeply shocked everyone present!

Even the Elders on the high platform looked at Ye Tian with gazes full of wonder and appreciation.

This youth not only had startling talent and strength, but what was even rarer was this Heart-Nature of being loyal, righteous, and fearless!

In comparison, that Sun Xiao was simply like sludge in a gutter, disgusting!

Rules are dead, but people are alive.

Elder Zhao Wuji exchanged glances with several other Elders.

Elder Lei Gang was the first to speak, saying, "I think it's feasible! This boy Ye Tian's Heart-Nature and strength are both top-tier; perhaps he can try. Giving him a chance also shows our Sect's benevolence!"

Elder Shuiyue also spoke coldly, "Ye Tian is loyal and righteous; his courage is commendable. If he passes the trial, Leng Feng's fault can be pardoned. Although there is no precedent for this, the law is not without human touch."

Several other Elders who quite appreciated both Leng Feng and Ye Tian also spoke up in support.

Zhao Wuji pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Ye Tian, then looking at Sun Xiao, who was unwilling but unable to refute, and finally at the countless Disciples below the stage moved by Ye Tian's righteous act. He eventually nodded.

"Fine! Since Elders Thunder Gang, Elder Shuiyue, and others are vouching for him, this seat will make an exception this once!

"Leng Feng, you are spared the death penalty, but you cannot escape punishment. Your qualification for the Grand Competition is revoked, and you are confined to reflect on your actions. We will decide your fate once Ye Tian returns from Wan Jian Cliff!

"Ye Tian, if you can pass the trial of Wan Jian Cliff, Leng Feng's crime will be wiped clean! If you fail... you will bear the consequences yourself!"

"This Disciple accepts the command!"

Ye Tian bowed and accepted, his expression remaining calm throughout.

The gazes of the entire audience gathered on this youth in green robes with complex emotions.

No one expected the Grand Competition to have such a twist, and even less did they expect that this youth, who seemingly only had a Ningyuan Fifth Stage cultivation, would have such courage and loyalty to dare brave that place of certain death for a friend!

Leng Feng looked at Ye Tian, and in his cold eyes, something was quietly melting.

He opened his mouth, but in the end, it only turned into two words: "...Take care!"

Ye Tian turned back and gave him a reassuring smile.

With the chaos bead in hand, Wan Jian Cliff... might not necessarily be a dead end!