Chapter 3270: A Life-Or-Death Battle
“Hmm?” Duan Ling Tian raised an eyebrow when he heard Liu Jian’s words. Then, he looked at the Sword Trial Pavilion elder for confirmation.
The elder’s eyes widened slightly in surprise upon hearing Liu Jian’s words. When he saw Duan Ling Tian looking at him, replied, “Indeed. It’s as he said. Except for the prodigious disciples between the ages of 900 to 1,000, all prodigious disciples can directly challenge the top three disciples in their age group if they’re able to defeat a prodigious disciple in a higher age group. If you win, you can even directly challenge the top prodigy in your age group. Moreover, he or she won’t be able to refuse you.”
After the elder finished saying this, he shifted his glance to Liu Jian before he continued to speak, “The prodigy who loses to the younger prodigy not only have to hand in their identity token, but they wouldn’t be able to become a prodigious disciple for the next 100 years because they’re prohibited to challenge a prodigious disciple during that time.”
A huge grin appeared on Liu Jian’s face as he asked, “What do you think? Do you want to fight me, Duan Ling Tian?”
“Junior Brother, don’t fall for his provocations!” Hong Fei hurriedly sent a Voice Transmission when he saw Duan Ling Tian looking at Liu Jian, as though considering Liu Jian’s words. His expression changed drastically, worried that Duan Ling Tian would truly challenge Liu Jian.
At this moment, the Sword Trial Pavilion elder looked at Duan Ling Tian and patiently explained, “Duan Ling Tian, since this battle would rob the older prodigious disciple’s chance of becoming a prodigious disciple for 100 years, it’s a life-or-death battle. If the loser surrenders, then the other party won’t be allowed to deal the killing blow. However, if one’s unable to surrender for some reason, like being unable to speak, the end result is only death. This is also a rule of the Sword Trial Pavilion.”
“A life-or-death battle?” Duan Ling Tian cocked an eyebrow as he looked at Liu Jian intently. “What? Do you want to kill me, Liu Jian?”
Liu Jian said with a chuckle, “It doesn’t matter. What matters is if you have the guts to fight me…” A provocative smile appeared on his face when he finished speaking.
“Junior brother, since you’ve obtained the identity token of a prodigious disciple, let’s leave,” Hong Fei said to Duan Ling Tian. He was worried his junior brother would really challenge Liu Jian out of anger. It was quite obvious his junior brother had quite the temper. Otherwise, his junior brother would not have beaten Huang Lu Nan to that extent.
‘Hmm, what’s Duan Ling Tian going to do?’ Lei Jun, who was standing near Huan’er, narrowed his eyes as he looked at Duan Ling Tian. Naturally, he hoped that Duan Ling Tian would challenge Liu Jian so Liu Jian would be able to kill him. However, he knew he was expecting too much. There was no way Duan Ling Tian would really challenge Liu Jian since it was no different from seeking death.
Liu Jian was somewhere between 600 to 700 years old. Moreover, he was an Eight Trigrams Celestial Lord who has comprehended eight profundities from the law of metal to the mastery stage. He was much stronger than his junior brother, Huang Lu Nan.
Lei Jun turned to look at Huan’er and said with a smile, “Third Junior Sister, I think your Brother Ling Tian probably won’t dare to challenge Liu Jian. Liu Jian’s strength isn’t that bad even though he’s the weakest among his peers.” He had deliberately used Liu Jian to put Duan Ling Tian down. He was aware that if he had directly insulted Duan Ling Tian, it would only make Huan’er disgusted with him. At that time, the distance between him and Huan’er would only increase.
Huan’er did not bother responding to Lei Jun. She was no longer as naive as before. After experiencing so many things, she had also understood many things. How could she not know Lei Jun was trying to undermine Duan Ling Tian by using Liu Jian? For this reason, whatever little good impression she had of him had vanished without a trace. She no longer wanted to pay any attention to him even if he was Lei Ying’s son.
At this time, Duan Ling Tian asked the Sword Trial Pavilion elder, “Elder, if I decide to challenge Liu Jian, can I do it without having to go through registration?”
Upon hearing Duan Ling Tian’s words, not only was the group of Heavenly Pool Palace disciples nearby shocked, but even the Sword Trial Pavilion elder was shocked.
Did Duan Ling Tian’s question not mean he was planning to challenge Liu Jian? Was Duan Ling Tian tired of living?
The Heavenly Pool Palace disciples nearby discussed among themselves and shook their heads as they looked at Duan Ling Tian as though he was a fool.
“Can’t Duan Ling Tian see that Liu Jian is intentionally provoking him? Is he really going to fight Liu Jian?”
“Is he stupid? Liu Jian is a prodigious disciple in the 600-to-700-year-old age group. He’s an Eight Trigrams Celestial Lord who has already comprehended six profundities from the law of metal to the mastery stage. How can Duan Ling Tian possibly be a match for him?”
“Well, Liu Jian’s tactic to rile Duan Ling Tian up is clearly successful. Look, Duan Ling Tian’s so angry that he’s really going to recklessly challenge Liu Jian!”
On the other hand, Liu Jian’s eyes brightened as soon as he heard Duan Ling Tian’s words. He really did not expect his provocation to work.
After all, his intention was rather obvious. How could Duan Ling Tian not see through it?
“Junior Brother?” Hong Fei’s expression was indescribable at this moment. He really did not expect his junior brother would fall for Liu Jian’s provocation and challenge Liu Jian. He hurriedly sent a Voice Transmission to dissuade his junior brother.
“Sixth Senior Brother, don’t worry.” Duan Ling Tian only reassured Hong Fei. It was obvious he was not going to back down.
At this moment, the Sword Trial Pavilion elder glanced at Liu Jian and said, “If the person you challenge agrees to it, then there’s no need for registration of any sort.”
Liu Jian hurriedly agreed, afraid that Duan Ling Tian would change his mind. Then, his eyes brimmed with disdain and ridicule as he said, clearly trying to further provoke Duan Ling Tian, “Duan Ling Tian, the only thing that matters now is if you have the guts to challenge me…”
“Elder, I want to challenge him,” Duan Ling Tian said nonchalantly to the elder.
The elder’s expression was grave as he warned, “Duan Ling Tian, think about this carefully… Once he removes his ownership on his identity token and passes it to me, you won’t be able to back out of this.”
If it had been an ordinary person, the elder would not have bothered giving such a warning. However, Duan Ling Tian clearly had a close relationship with Huan’er who was the student of Lei Ying, the Pavilion Master of the Sword Trial Pavilion. It was only for this reason he had warned Duan Ling Tian.
“I’ve thought it through.” Duan Ling Tian nodded slightly.
Upon hearing these words, Liu Jian wasted no time in bringing his identity token out and removing his ownership of them. Then, he hurriedly handed it over to the elder. “Elder Qin, since he’s so confident, there’s no need for you to warn him. He probably won’t even thank you for it.”
Liu Jian had readily handed his identity token to the elder. After all, as long as he beat Duan Ling Tian, it would return to him anyway. Naturally, if he lost, which he thought was impossible, he would not be able to become a prodigious disciple over the next 100 years no matter how strong he was.
This rule was created by the Sword Trial Pavilion to stop people from cheating and deliberately losing.
After the elder accepted Liu Jian’s identity token, he looked at Duan Ling Tian and said, “Duan Ling Tian, you’ll now enter a life-or-death battle with Liu Jian. Naturally, if you’re able to surrender, he won’t be allowed to kill you…”
Swoosh!
As soon as the Sword Trial Pavilion elder finished speaking, Liu Jian flew up impatiently toward the battle ring in the Prodigy Arena. Now that there was no way for Duan Ling Tian to back out, he was no longer anxious like before. He wanted to kill Duan Ling Tian, but it was likely that Duan Ling Tian would surrender very early in the battle. Although many people would understand if Duan Ling Tian surrendered, Duan Ling Tian’s reputation would take a huge blow in the Heavenly Pool Palace. After all, there was a huge difference between surrendering as soon as the battle started and trying your best before surrendering at the last moment.
Duan Ling Tian was not in a rush. He sent a Voice Transmission to the elder, “Elder, for this life-or-death battle, you implied that no blame would fall on him if he kills me without giving me a chance to surrender. Does this hold true for me as well?”
The elder was momentarily stunned when he heard Duan Ling Tian’s question. Then, he replied through Voice Transmission, “That’s correct.”
Inwardly, the elder really could not help wondering what Duan Ling Tian was planning to do. Did Duan Ling Tian really think he could kill Liu Jian?
The elder was still in a daze when Duan Ling Tian teleported into the battle ring, standing across Liu Jian.
“Junior Brother!” At this moment, Hong Fei’s expression was incredibly terrible. He had not stopped trying to dissuade his junior brother at all, but his words seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. Apart from a short message telling him not to worry, his junior brother no longer replied to him.
‘Duan Ling Tian actually challenged Liu Jian?’ Lei Jun’s eyes widened imperceptibly in surprise. However, there was a hint of delight flashing in the depths of his eyes as well. After all, this was the outcome he wanted the most. As far as he was concerned, Duan Ling Tian’s death was certain the moment he challenged Liu Jian!
‘I won’t have to personally act now that Liu Jian is going to kill him for me…” Despite his thoughts, Lei Jun, naturally, did dare to show it outwardly. He looked at Huan’er and shook his head as he said, “Huan’er, your Brother Ling Tian is too reckless… Why didn’t you dissuade him? Liu Jian is rather strong so your Brother Ling Tian might not be a match for him.”
Alas, Lei Jun did not receive any response from Huan’er at all. Her eyes were fixed on Duan Ling Tian as though Lei Jun and everyone else did not exist.