Chapter Forty-Six: Do Not Think to Disturb My Heart of Dao!-I Have Lots of Revival Tokens(Spicy sauce served with salted fish)

Faced with Jiang Lin's provocations, members of the six great sects continued to collapse, coughing up blood, yet not a single person stepped forward to fight. Who would dare? The price for another match was already ninety mid-grade spirit stones, and the next would require a single high-grade spirit stone. A mid-grade stone was worth a hundred low-grade stones, and a high-grade was worth a hundred mid-grade stones. Even for the wealthy, this was not a sum one handed out so casually...

On the side of the Sun-Moon Cult, knowing there was no hope of winning, its members instead joined Jiang Lin in mocking the opposition. After this gambling match, Jiang Lin would surely be flush with winnings—and perhaps even enjoy a share of the profits. For a moment, chaos reigned, reminiscent of a turbulent battlefield in the northwest. If not for the elders of both sides still present, a fight would have broken out. Now, it was nothing but a standoff, each party glaring—"What are you looking at?", "I'm looking at you, so what?", "Try me," "Go ahead, try me"—a tense confrontation.

Jiang Lin was delighted to see the task completion bar steadily rising. At last, amid the mutual insults and Jiang Lin's relentless taunts, the task was completed. But simply staring each other down would not do—there were no spirit stones to be won, and that was unbearable.

Just then, as both sides exchanged heated words, Jiang Lin had a sudden inspiration. He used the Heart Lake Transmission to speak to Ye Liangchen, who stood across from him, sword gripped tightly, torn by indecision.

Heart Lake Transmission was a subtle technique. Unless one was a master of the Jade Purity Realm, especially those who cultivated the Dao of Yin-Yang and specialized in the human mind, most could only sense an exchange taking place, not know its content.

Why? Don't ask. It's simply the way things are.

[Brother Ye, I have a business proposition for you. Interested?]

[Jiang Lin?!]

Ye Liangchen was startled, glancing at Jiang Lin, who still gazed skyward at a forty-five degree angle.

The rough and imposing elder from the Fei Zhu Liu Sect noticed Ye Liangchen was conversing with Jiang Lin via Heart Lake, and frowned, intending to intervene. The Sun-Moon Cult was notorious for ruthless tactics, and famed throughout Wutong Prefecture for their psychological warfare. Jiang Lin was clearly a master of such arts. If Ye Liangchen fell victim to a heart demon, it would be disastrous.

Just as the elder reached out to tap Ye Liangchen's shoulder, the elder from the Xuejia Sect caught his hand.

"Brother Yang?"

"Brother Nima, this is an excellent opportunity for Ye Liangchen to temper himself. If things go awry, we can intervene then."

After a moment's thought, the Fei Zhu Liu elder nodded and withdrew his hand.

[Jiang the flower-thief! You dare use Heart Lake Transmission to disturb my Dao heart!]

[Not so, Brother Liangchen. As I said, are you interested in a mutually beneficial trade?]

[Deal with a member of the demon cult? Ha! Even if Ye Liangchen were to fall from here, even if I starved to death, I would never join forces with you!]

[That is truly a pity.]

Within the Heart Lake, Jiang Lin sighed.

[I had hoped Brother Liangchen might become the center of attention for all the sects of Wutong Prefecture, the object of admiration for countless maidens, greeted by fairy girls bearing flowers wherever you went. Recite a poem and the poetess-cultivators would blush, your junior sisters would worship you anew. But since you are so steadfast, I must not impose...]

[Wait!]

Just as Jiang Lin was about to break the ripple of the Heart Lake, Ye Liangchen called out to stop him.

[Let me hear your plan.]

Overhead, within the protective array of the Sun-Moon Cult, the verbal sparring continued. Clearly, the demon cult's disciples were more adept—perhaps a matter of cultural difference.

As the sun rose another degree, a sudden laughter echoed from within the six great sects.

"Hehehehehe..."

The goblin-like cackle silenced everyone, who then looked at Ye Liangchen as if he were a mischievous dog.

Ye Liangchen shook his sleeves and strode forward.

"Jiang the flower-thief! I challenge you to a duel!"

With that, Ye Liangchen drew a cherished high-grade spirit stone from his storage pouch and handed it to Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin, though inwardly thrilled, maintained a calm expression as he stowed the spirit stone.

"So, you are the famed Ye Liangchen of western Wutong Prefecture, known for the 'Ghostfire Roars, Ashes Scatter'?"

"Indeed! You remember me. Today, I will avenge your ambush in the Lost Mysteries!"

"Hahaha! If you've got the guts, come at me!"

"Here I come!"

"Liangchen! Wait!"

"Senior Brother Ye!"

Ignoring the others' attempts to stop him, Ye Liangchen soared into the air.

Unlike the Confucian, Daoist, or Buddhist cultivators, Fei Zhu Liu Sect mainly trained self-invented Qi warriors. Its direct disciples specialized in 'Ghostfire Roar' and 'Alpaca Battle Formation.'

In less than a breath, Ye Liangchen's fists blazed with fire, and beneath his feet, two spirit beasts shaped like alpacas charged toward Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin did not retreat, sword in hand, stepping forward to meet him.

"I strike, I strike, I strike..."

"Ora ora ora..."

In the sky, ice and fire intertwined, waves of heat and cold clashed, fierce fists collided with dazzling flying swords—neither side retreated, both enduring each other's attacks.

Such blows made men close their eyes in silence, and women weep quietly.

At last, the two drew apart. Ye Liangchen's fiery fists clashed, sending twin dragons roaring forth. Jiang Lin raised his sword in a stance reminiscent of 'Yi Shui Chill'—a crystalline layer of ice enveloped the blade.

Everyone was momentarily dazed, for behind Jiang Lin appeared a giant woman in white robes and dress, her eyes silver-white.

She smiled gently... then, at Jiang Lin's back...

She delivered a vicious kick...

It lasted but an instant; everyone thought they were hallucinating. Jiang Lin noticed nothing, though as he prepared to use flatulence for momentum, he felt his body surge forward.

"Jiang Lin!"

"Ye Liangchen!"

Flaming fists and frost-covered sword collided.

"Boom!"

Another thunderous crash. The two separated once more.

Jiang Lin's life-bound flying sword returned to its sheath; Ye Liangchen's flames extinguished.

Both knelt in mid-air, wiped blood from their lips, and stood.

"Jiang Lin, though this bout ends in a draw, one day we will fight again!"

"Ye Liangchen! I never imagined your 'Ghostfire Roar' would be so masterful. I, Jiang Lin, acknowledge you as the strongest of the Ghostfire!"

"Though it's a draw, you are wounded. For the sect competition, consider yourself victorious."

"If Brother Ye had led the charge, who knows how things might turn out!"

...

"Senior Brother Ye!"

"Wait, wasn't it a draw? Why are we cheering?"

"A draw? Then you try!"

"A draw is impressive enough—just cheer along!"

"Senior Brother Ye!"

Though it was a draw, the six sects cheered with joy, the scene lively and jubilant.

The two clasped hands and exchanged smiles. Ye Liangchen turned away.

Just as Jiang Lin turned as well, suddenly, from the cheering crowd, three swift flying swords shot forth.

"Jiang Lin!"

The Sun-Moon Cult elder, still stunned by the vision of the woman behind Jiang Lin, came to his senses and tried to intervene, but the slender, needle-like swords were too fast.

Jiang Lin too sensed the danger, but after expending so much spiritual power on flashy moves during the 'life-and-death duel,' and having genuinely injured himself for realism, including that self-inflicted blood-spraying palm, he was in no condition to dodge.

"Jiang Lin!"

The three needle-sized flying swords flashed past, their sword energy slicing through Jiang Lin's neck...

Jiang Lin... his head fell...

...

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