196: Chapter 196 A Battle for Life

Just as he stepped out of the hall, Ye Tian was preparing to return to his Immortal Cave to carefully study the black tortoise spirit armor shield and begin comprehending the Taiyi Light-Splitting Sword Art, when an unusual commotion drifted over from the direction of the distant Martial Arts Arena.

Ye Tian paused in his tracks, his brow furrowing slightly.

Sparring and dueling among Inner Sect Disciples was a common occurrence, but this noise seemed far too intense.

He extended his Divine Sense toward the area.

In the next instant, Ye Tian's expression darkened immediately!

On the central arena stage, Lei Zhen was covered in blood, his face pale, his Aura weak and unstable. The black coloration on his left arm had clearly spread; his old injuries had obviously flared up or even worsened!

He held his Tyrant Blade, lightning flickering, but his Moves were scattered and his steps staggered; he was completely on the defensive.

And his opponent was actually Zhao Yan?

A True Martial Third Layer, he was one of Gao Ling's lackeys!

Zhao Yan utilized the Ghost Shadow Steps, avoiding a direct clash with Lei Zhen. Instead, he fought with sinister mobility, his palms glowing green with a vicious wind, every strike targeting the old injury on Lei Zhen's left arm!

His mouth continuously spewed insults: "Lei Zhen! An Outer Sect Prodigy? I see you're just trash! You can't even take one of my palms!"

"I heard your team was almost wiped out on your last mission? Did you get your courage scared out of you? Hahaha!"

"Be a good boy and admit defeat, kneel and beg for mercy. If I'm in a good mood, maybe I'll leave you with one arm!"

Every word of mockery pierced Lei Zhen's heart.

Lei Zhen had always been peerlessly domineering and fierce. Suffering such great humiliation, his anger boiled over. Ignoring his injuries, he forcibly channeled his Five Elements True Essence, causing the lightning Qi of his Tyrant Blade to erupt as he swung it violently at Zhao Yan!

"Mad Thunder Slash!"

The blade Qi was violent, but it lost its accuracy due to his agitated state of mind.

Zhao Yan gave a sinister laugh, his body skillfully dodging the blade's edge. He countered with a palm strike, hitting Lei Zhen's wide-open right shoulder!

"Pfft!"

Lei Zhen took a heavy hit and spat out a mouthful of blood laced with black streaks. He was sent flying to the edge of the stage, his Tyrant Blade skidding far away. His Aura instantly withered, and the blackness on his left arm had completely spread!

"Senior Brother Lei!"

Disciples on friendly terms with Lei Zhen cried out from below the stage, their eyes nearly splitting with rage.

"Zhao Yan! You despicable, shameless coward!"

"Taking advantage of someone's injuries! What kind of skill is that!"

"Stop! Senior Brother Lei can't take any more!"

The onlookers were incensed, but according to Sect rules, outsiders were not allowed to interfere in an arena duel. Everyone could only watch in desperate anxiety.

Exultant, Zhao Yan walked slowly toward the fallen Lei Zhen, a cruel smile on his face. "Flat on your face already? How boring! It looks like I'll have to leave you with a more 'memorable' souvenir!"

He raised his foot, condensing True Essence, intending to stomp down toward Lei Zhen's Dantian Qi Sea!

If this stomp landed, Lei Zhen's cultivation would surely be crippled!

"Stop!"

Suddenly, a cold, sharp shout rang out!

A figure in green robes moved faster than the eye could follow, instantly appearing on the stage and shielding Lei Zhen!

The newcomer was none other than Ye Tian!

His gaze was icy as it swept over Zhao Yan's descending foot. A surge of Sword Qi radiated out, causing Zhao Yan's movements to freeze!

"Zhao Yan,"

Ye Tian's voice carried a bone-chilling coldness. "Since when does an arena spar allow such a vicious hand? Are you trying to cripple his cultivation?"

Intimidated by Ye Tian's sudden appearance and his Aura, Zhao Yan instinctively withdrew his foot. But then, seeing that Ye Tian was only at the True Martial First Layer, he became incensed with embarrassment. "Ye Tian? It's you, you waste!

A mere True Martial First Layer dares to come up here and seek death? Get lost! Or I'll cripple you along with him!"

Ye Tian ignored his shouting and quickly knelt down to check Lei Zhen's injuries.

Lei Zhen's injuries were extremely severe; the old poison hadn't been cleared and new wounds had been added. His Meridians were damaged, and his Origin Qi was heavily depleted.

He immediately took out a Heart-Clearing Jade Dew Pill given to him by Elder Huang, stuffed it into Lei Zhen's mouth, and used Five Elements True Essence to help dissolve the medicinal power and stabilize the injuries.

"Junior... Junior Brother Ye, cough... you... you shouldn't have come!"

Lei Zhen weakly grabbed Ye Tian's arm, speaking with urgency.

"Don't worry, Senior Brother. I'm here."

Ye Tian supported the heavily injured Lei Zhen as he slowly stood up, his gaze locking onto Zhao Yan once more.

"Ye Tian! You actually dare to interfere in an arena duel! You're violating Sect rules! I think you're tired of living!"

Zhao Yan shouted with blustering bravado, attempting to use the Sect rules to suppress him.

"Sect rules?"

Ye Tian sneered. "Do the Sect rules allow you to viciously cripple a fellow Disciple's cultivation when they no longer have the strength to resist? Zhao Yan, you are the one who has violated the Sect's iron laws!"

As soon as he spoke, the Disciples below the stage chimed in: "Junior Brother Ye is right! Zhao Yan violated the rules first!"

"He wanted to cripple Senior Brother Lei's cultivation! We all saw it!"

"We ask the Deacon Elder to uphold justice!"

Zhao Yan's face turned shades of blue and white; his actions just now had indeed crossed the line.

However, relying on Gao Ling's backing, he argued stubbornly, "Hmph! Fists and feet have no eyes; I just couldn't pull back in time! On the other hand, you, Ye Tian, what is your crime for stepping onto the stage without permission?!"

"My transgressions will be decided by the Deacon Elder."

Ye Tian said coldly, "But your sins will be settled right now!"

He gently helped Lei Zhen to a safe spot at the edge of the stage, then turned to face Zhao Yan directly, a heart-palpitating Aura slowly rising from him.

"Settled? By you?"

Zhao Yan acted as if he had heard the world's greatest joke, his True Martial Third Layer Aura erupting completely. "Since you're looking for death, I'll grant it to you! I'll just take care of you as well, saving Senior Brother Gao the trouble!"

Conflict was on the verge of breaking out; the atmosphere was tense and explosive!

"Stop!"

A majestic, cold shout rang out as an old man wearing the robes of a Deacon Elder leaped onto the stage with a serious expression.

He first checked Lei Zhen's injuries, then swept a cold gaze over Zhao Yan and Ye Tian.

"Zhao Yan, you used excessive force, violating the original intent of sparring. You are sentenced to half a month of solitary confinement and a fine of five hundred contribution points! To be executed immediately!"

"Ye Tian, you interfered in the arena without permission. Although there was a reason, you are also fined three hundred contribution points! Let this be a warning!"

"This duel ends here!"

The Elder cut through the mess quickly, punishing both sides, clearly wanting to settle the matter.

Though Zhao Yan was unwilling, he didn't dare defy the Elder. He glared fiercely at Ye Tian and left resentfully.

The Elder then said to Ye Tian, "Take your Senior Brother back and tend to his wounds properly."

Having said that, he turned and left.

Ye Tian helped Lei Zhen up and walked off the stage under the complex gazes of the crowd.

He understood clearly that while the Elder's punishment seemed fair, the penalty for Zhao Yan was actually too light.

Behind this, there was surely the shadow of that True Disciple.

Just as he was about to leave, a cold voice sounded from behind: "Ye Tian, you're quite something. Ruining my plans time and again."

Gao Ling appeared out of nowhere, blocking the way, his eyes staring gloomily at Ye Tian. "It seems you're determined to oppose me."

Ye Tian stopped and looked back at Gao Ling. "Senior Brother Gao overstates things. I, Ye Tian, act only to have a clear conscience. If someone harbors ill intent and oppresses fellow Disciples, I naturally won't sit idly by if I see it."

"What a fine 'clear conscience'!"

Gao Ling laughed out of extreme anger. "A mere True Martial First Layer dares to talk so big! It seems the lesson I gave you last time wasn't enough!"

He took a step forward, his powerful True Martial Fourth Level Aura pressing down on Ye Tian!

"Three months from now, the Illusory Sea Secret Realm will open—a great Opportunity for Inner Sect Disciples to train! Do you dare enter the Secret Realm with me and settle our life and death there?"

The Illusory Sea Secret Realm!

The surrounding Disciples broke into an uproar upon hearing this!

"The Illusory Sea Secret Realm? That's a place where you've only got a one in ten chance of surviving!"

"Gao Ling actually wants to settle their grudge in the Secret Realm? This is a fight to the death!"

"Ye Tian is only at the True Martial First Layer. Isn't going in there just seeking death?"

Ye Tian's pupils constricted slightly.

He had heard of the Illusory Sea Secret Realm; it was an ancient Secret Realm within the territory of the Liuli Xuan Sect. It restricted entry to Cultivators below the Sea Transformation Realm. Inside, space was distorted, Yao Beasts ran rampant, and there were many unknown dangerous lands. It had always been an asura field where Inner Sect Disciples fought and scrambled for opportunities.

Gao Ling's Move was an attempt to use the Secret Realm as a legitimate way to eliminate him!

After all, there were all sorts of dangers in the Secret Realm, and even the Sect Elders couldn't intervene.

If Ye Tian died in the Secret Realm, who would dare say it was Gao Ling's doing?

Facing Gao Ling's life-and-death provocation and powerful Spiritual Pressure, Ye Tian's Five Elements Sword Body operated naturally, quietly neutralizing the pressure.

His gaze met Gao Ling's without fear. "Since Senior Brother Gao has such an interest, I, Ye Tian, shall accompany you. We'll have a final reckoning in the Illusory Sea Secret Realm!"

Without the slightest hesitation, he directly accepted this life-and-death engagement!

Of course, the premise was that he had to obtain the qualification to enter the Secret Realm first. After all, the number of Inner Sect Disciples was not small; although not as massive as the Outer Sect, the competition was much more intense.

Gao Ling hadn't expected Ye Tian to agree so readily. He froze for a moment, then began to grin savagely. "Good! You have guts! I hope when the time comes, you won't be too scared to enter the Secret Realm!"

Having said that, he gave a cold snort and walked away with a flick of his sleeve.

Ye Tian watched Gao Ling's departing back, his eyes deep.

Within these three months, he had to master the Taiyi Light-Splitting Sword Art as quickly as possible, become proficient in using the black tortoise spirit armor shield, and raise his cultivation by another layer!

Time was incredibly tight!

Supporting the heavily injured Lei Zhen, he left the Martial Arts Arena under the sympathetic gazes of the crowd.