Everyone present knew Sikong Zui was trying to make Ling Xiao look foolish with this request.
The Holy Emperor glanced at Ling Xiao, showing no intent to intervene, his expression one of keen interest.
Ling Xiao thought to himself, everyone here, except Long Chen, probably wants to see me fight. After tomorrow, the finals continue, and they want to know what cards I have left.
He had no interest in meaningless battles.
Bowing to the Holy Emperor, he said, “Your Majesty, I’m feeling unwell from the wine and a bit dizzy. I’ll have to decline this duel.”
The path of martial arts wasn’t for show, and he had no desire to perform.
Many sneered with disdain, thinking Ling Xiao was scared.
Though he had defeated Jian Wuji at today’s Martial Arts Festival finals, the fight ended so quickly that few saw what happened, leaving many suspicious.
Now, it seemed they were right. Why else would Ling Xiao use drunkenness as an excuse to avoid Jian Wuji’s challenge?
Was he just bluffing?
Had he exhausted all his tricks in the earlier fight?
Holy Son Ji Mingkong looked at Ling Xiao with a mocking smile, “So this is the spirit of a Moonlight Sect martial artist. I’ve seen it now.”
“Hmph, cowardly as a mouse, utterly laughable.”
Hua Yu snorted.
Ling Xiao glanced at Hua Yu, “You’re so eager to see me fight? Fine, I challenge you to a duel right now. What do you say?”
Hua Yu froze, unprepared for Ling Xiao to turn the tables on him.
He recalled their encounter outside the palace, still wary. Did he really want to fight Ling Xiao?
“I…” Hua Yu, unable to withstand Ling Xiao’s taunting gaze, stood to accept.
But Ling Xiao added, “I don’t hold back. We’d better sign a life-and-death contract, so if I kill you, there’s no trouble.”
“You!”
Hua Yu felt a chill.
If it was just a spar, losing would only be embarrassing, and he was long past caring about face.
But Ling Xiao meant a fight to the death. Losing meant dying. How could he dare?
“What? Scared? Didn’t you call me a coward? With so many here, even if you die, it’ll be for the Holy Son and the Emperor. Quite glorious, I’d say.”
Ling Xiao’s eyes gleamed with mockery and disdain.
Hua Yu seethed, fists clenched, face red as if bleeding, but fear of death held him back.
Ling Xiao scoffed, “If you’re too scared to fight, shut your foul mouth. No one needs your nonsense here!”
“Ling Xiao, stop targeting others. I’m the one challenging you, so don’t dodge.”
Jian Wuji said coldly, his words dripping with sarcasm and anger.
Hua Yu, seizing the chance to strike back, added, “Exactly. You dodge Jian Wuji’s challenge and provoke me instead. Clearly, you’re just a coward trying to muddy the waters. I almost fell for it. Want to fight me? Accept Jian Wuji’s challenge first.”
“Is that so? You mean if I beat him, you’ll fight me?”
Ling Xiao’s expression grew icy.
He’d been patient enough with Hua Yu today, but this man was relentless, likely involved in poisoning the wine.
After all, it was royal wine. Sikong Zui might find it hard to tamper with, but Hua Yu, close to the Holy Emperor, could do it easily.
This realization fueled Ling Xiao’s killing intent toward Hua Yu.
Hua Yu paused, then realized the poisoned wine would take effect. Whether Ling Xiao or Jian Wuji won, the poison would weaken Ling Xiao, making him an easy target.
Defeating someone even the six young masters of the Holy Dynasty couldn’t beat would bring immense glory.
With this in mind, Hua Yu nodded, “No problem. If you defeat Jian Wuji, I’ll fight you, a life-and-death battle with a signed contract!”
He was set on killing Ling Xiao.
Initially, he poisoned the wine for spirit stones from Sikong Zui, doing someone else’s bidding.
But now, he genuinely wanted Ling Xiao dead, simply because he despised him.
All eyes turned to Ling Xiao, most filled with jealousy and schadenfreude. The Holy Emperor suggesting Ji Mingkong marry this man? Unacceptable.
Long Chen was worried.
Not about Ling Xiao losing to Jian Wuji, but about the consequences of killing someone in the palace.
Ling Xiao took a deep breath and faced Jian Wuji, “Since you’ve regained your strength and gained a perfect half-puppet body, you should cherish it. Challenging me is suicide! Your Majesty, I request a life-and-death duel with Jian Wuji. Let fate decide!”
At the Martial Arts Festival, he spared Jian Wuji, his resentment having faded.
But Jian Wuji’s persistence in challenging and trying to kill him changed that.
Why keep such a person alive to provoke him endlessly?
Ling Xiao didn’t want to kill, but if someone sought death, he wouldn’t hold back.
The Holy Emperor glanced at Jian Wuji, seeking his consent.
“I agree!”
Jian Wuji’s eyes burned with killing intent.
He challenged Ling Xiao with confidence, not recklessly.
“Good, a life-and-death duel it is, witnessed by me and all present.”
The Holy Emperor nodded.
“Where shall we fight?”
Ling Xiao asked calmly, his voice cold and laced with intense killing intent, like a blood-stained sword.
Jian Wuji smiled, “This place is protected by an array and spacious enough. No need to go elsewhere.”
“Fine.”
Ling Xiao nodded. The location didn’t matter; he feared nothing.
But Sikong Zui, Hua Yu, and Ji Mingkong smirked with glee.
Jian Wuji chose this place not for convenience but because the array here resonated with his half-puppet body, drawing endless spiritual energy from the surroundings, doubling his strength.
