300: Chapter 300: Win and you'll be rewarded; lose and you'll have to practice your skills.

"Ah? I'm here!"

Qingyan was startled by Xu Ruyu's sudden display of authority and quickly stood straight.

"Pass on my Sect Master's order!"

Xu Ruyu's voice carried an unquestionable authority as he said, "Immediately go and notify Leng Ningshuang, Zhao Yan, and Ning Caihe. One incense stick of time from now, meet me at the top of the highest 'Wangyue Peak' north of the valley! Do not fail to do so!"

Stunned by the sudden serious Aura of Xu Ruyu, Qingyan subconsciously stood at attention and replied, "Yes! Sect Master!"

Although she didn't understand why, she still ran off quickly to find the others.

Xu Ruyu watched Qingyan's departing back, then looked at his own pair of hands, which seemed ordinary but contained the terrifying power of the "True Explanation of Taixu Source Energy".

"It seems it is time to let you all re-evaluate exactly how much weight this 'Qi Refinement Stage' Sect Master of yours really holds."

One incense stick of time later, at the top of Wangyue Peak.

This peak was steep, but the summit had a relatively flat platform of giant rocks, offering a wide view and swept by mighty winds.

Leng Ningshuang, Zhao Yan, Ning Caihe, and Qingyan arrived one after another.

Leng Ningshuang remained her usual cold and aloof self, though her brows were slightly furrowed, seemingly puzzled by Xu Ruyu's sudden summons. Zhao Yan and Ning Caihe also showed expressions of confusion.

Qingyan stood to the side, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Xu Ruyu stood in the center of the platform with his hands behind his back, his green robes snapping in the wind. He looked at the four of them and got straight to the point:

"I summoned you all here today for no other reason. I simply wish to ask the four of you to join forces and fight me."

Upon hearing this, all four were stunned.

"Sect Master, what is this..." Zhao Yan asked in astonishment.

"Xu Ruyu, there must be a limit to your nonsense." Leng Ningshuang's voice was cold, carrying a hint of impatience. "We don't have time to play these boring games with you."

Ning Caihe just looked coldly at Xu Ruyu, his hand already on his sword hilt, seemingly feeling insulted.

Qingyan said anxiously, "Sect Master Brother, how... how can you challenge Senior Sister Leng and the others all at once? It's too dangerous!"

Xu Ruyu remained unmoved. His gaze swept over the four of them, and he said slowly, "This is not a joke. It is a wager."

"A wager?" Leng Ningshuang's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Yes." Xu Ruyu nodded. "The four of you, join forces to attack me. If I lose, from this day forward, I will never mention the new Cultivation Technique again, and I will offer up my private collection of three bottles of fourth-grade 'Ningyuan Medicinal Pill' as an apology."

Fourth-grade Ningyuan Medicinal Pill!

That was a precious Medicinal Pill that was highly beneficial for Golden Core Stage Cultivators to consolidate their cultivation and increase their spiritual power!

It was rare even in the Taihu Clan.

Xu Ruyu's wager was by no means light.

"What if you lose?" Zhao Yan couldn't help but ask.

"If you lose," Xu Ruyu said, enunciating every word clearly, "from this day forward, you must unconditionally switch to cultivating the 'Qi Induction and Micro-Movement Art' that I created, and you must do your utmost to lead the other Disciples of the Sect to Cultivate it together!

How about it? Do you dare to bet?"

The four looked at each other.

This wager seemed to put Xu Ruyu at a disadvantage; he was challenging four people alone (one of whom was at the Golden Core Peak), and his chances of winning were slim.

But recalling the incredible rumors about Xu Ruyu passing the nine trials of the Taihu Clan, and the absolute confidence hidden beneath his calm gaze at this moment, the four of them felt a bit apprehensive.

"Sect Master, your cultivation is only at the Qi Refinement Stage after all..." Qingyan said worriedly.

"It is fine." Xu Ruyu interrupted her. "I have my own measure of things. You only need to answer: do you bet, or not?"

A cold light flashed in Leng Ningshuang's eyes.

She was already somewhat dissatisfied with Xu Ruyu repeatedly "neglecting his proper work" to mess around with some new Cultivation Technique. Seeing him so arrogant now, the pride in her heart, having been slighted, was also stirred up.

"Fine! I bet! However, blades have no eyes and Spells have no mercy; if the Sect Master is injured..."

"Life and death are irrelevant; each shall follow their own destiny." Xu Ruyu said indifferently. "However, I suggest that you had best use your full strength from the very beginning."

"Arrogant!" Ning Caihe finally spat out two words. His long sword unsheathed half an inch with a "zheng" sound, and his Sword Qi was awe-inspiring.

Zhao Yan was also provoked into a temper. Rubbing his large hands together, he grinned and said, "Sect Master, since you say so, then I, old Zhao, will not be polite! Don't blame me if my fists are heavy when you lose!"

Qingyan bit her lip. Looking at Xu Ruyu's firm gaze, she finally nodded, and a pair of small, blue-glowing butterfly daggers appeared in her hands.

"Since that is the case, then—let us begin!"

As soon as Xu Ruyu finished speaking, Leng Ningshuang was the first to strike!

She knew Xu Ruyu was strange and did not dare to be negligent. From the moment she struck, she unleashed the formidable power of the Golden Core Peak!

"Ice Seals a Thousand Miles!"

She waved her slender hand lightly. Without chanting any incantations, the temperature on the platform plummeted suddenly!

Countless ice crystals and snowflakes condensed out of thin air, sweeping toward Xu Ruyu like a storm!

At the same time, the ground was rapidly covered with a thick, slippery layer of hard ice, restricting movement!

This was a Spell that combined large-scale crowd control and attack!

Almost at the same instant Leng Ningshuang made her move, Ning Caihe moved!

His figure was like a ghost, merging with the sword light. Man and sword became one, transforming into a bleak and resolute sword rainbow. Ignoring the ice storm filling the sky, he thrust straight at the center of Xu Ruyu's brow!

This sword strike was fast, accurate, and ruthless, perfectly demonstrating the ultimate assassination of a Sword Cultivator!

Before the sword arrived, that sharp Sword Intent capable of severing the Divine Soul had already locked onto Xu Ruyu!

Zhao Yan roared, his whole body erupting with raging flames. Like a humanoid fire beast, he stepped onto the icy surface (the flames melting part of the hard ice). His two fists, like two burning meteorites, came crashing down from the left and right, sealing off Xu Ruyu's space for evasion!

The scorching high temperature and Leng Ningshuang's icy cold formed a strange opposition, adding to the chaos!

Qingyan's figure was elusive, like a butterfly weaving through flowers. She roamed the periphery of the battle circle, her butterfly daggers tracing arcs of ghostly blue blade light that carried paralysis and slowing effects. Like an invisible spider web, they attacked Xu Ruyu from tricky angles, engaging in interference and sneak attacks.

Although the four of them were not perfectly coordinated, relying on their overwhelming cultivation and combat experience, their opening moves were thunderous killing blows, sealing off all of Xu Ruyu's retreat paths, intending to defeat or even severely injure him in an instant!

Facing these attacks coming from four directions, with different attributes but equally lethal, Xu Ruyu's eyes were calm and waveless, and even... the corners of his mouth seemed to curl into an imperceptible arc.

Just in the split second when the ice storm reached his body, the sword rainbow neared his brow, the fire fists sealed his path, and the ghostly blue blade light struck—

Xu Ruyu moved!