Chapter 135: The Duel, Teetering on the Brink of Death

Liu Lele’s determination was as steadfast as a mountain range.

“I didn’t take part in what happened with Howard last time,” she said with a hint of regret, but her eyes soon gleamed with undeniable resolve. “This time, it concerns the very survival of everyone in Huaxi City—I definitely can’t miss this!”

Her decisiveness made Liu Zhenhua, standing beside her, sigh deeply, a mix of helplessness and relief crossing his face.

“Forget it!” Liu Zhenhua shook his head, as if conceding to fate, yet also encouraging his daughter. “You’re bound to go through all this sooner or later.”

There was a subtle worry beneath his words, but more than anything, a deep trust and support for his daughter.

“Be careful when you reach the summit!” His brief yet weighty admonition was laden with a father’s profound affection.

Suddenly, Liu Zhenhua furrowed his brows, as if recalling something, and asked, “Jingjing doesn’t know about all this, does she?” His tone was protective, referring to his younger daughter.

Liu Lele gently shook her head, a tender light flickering in her eyes. “I’ve never told her about fights and battles. She just needs to focus on her studies.”

Such care for family moved those who witnessed it.

Nearby, Chen Shan’s thoughts were stirred by their conversation. Memories of moments spent with Liu Lele played through his mind like a film—those seemingly ordinary yet joy-filled times now felt incredibly precious.

“Honestly, thinking through the details, it’s quite thrilling,” Li Chao interjected with a smile.

When he learned that Liu Jingjing had returned to school in the provincial capital, a twinge of disappointment surfaced in Li Chao’s heart.

Yet Liu Lele’s next words made him both laugh and cringe:

“When Jingjing left, she even asked me to tell you to teach her kung fu. She said if you refused, she’d come find you at the Li family fortress!”

Li Chao’s mouth twitched involuntarily, already picturing Liu Lele’s spoiled and willful demeanor causing an uproar at the Li family fortress.

“Uh… don’t let her cause too much trouble. I’ll teach her when I have time,” Li Chao quickly assured, fearing Jingjing might really do something reckless.

However, Liu Lele seemed to sense something, giving Li Chao a serious look before asking with a hint of suspicion, “Why do you sound so strange? Nothing unpleasant happened between you two, right?”

Li Chao hastily waved his hand, forcing an embarrassed smile to mask a huge secret.

“Come on, how could I do that to Xuanyuan?” he thought with relief. He was thankful Liu Lele and Liu Zhenhua didn’t press further; otherwise, he wouldn’t know how to explain.

After all, spanking Liu Jingjing on the sofa to an indescribable degree as “family discipline”—if that got out, how could he ever survive in Huaxi City?

...

An hour later, the convoy arrived at the foot of Dushan Mountain.

Dushan, a solitary peak on the outskirts of Huaxi City, stood apart from the surrounding mountains, hence its name.

Though not particularly tall or steep, the winding mountain path snaked to the summit like a great dragon coiling upwards.

The convoy continued its ascent, soon reaching near the peak.

As dusk settled, Dushan stood empty, the occasional whisper of wind seeming to tell tales of loneliness and mystery.

Li Chao retrieved a divine weapon wrapped in red cloth from the car, securing it firmly on his back.

This weapon was crucial to his mission, symbolizing his confidence in protecting the people of Huaxi City.

Liu Zhenhua, Liu Lele, Yuan Yang, Shi Wanli, Old Zhou San, and others disembarked, their steps resolute as they advanced toward the mountain’s highest point.

...

After climbing nearly a hundred steps, they reached their destination.

Before them lay jagged boulders surrounding a roughly two to three hundred square meter flat area of smooth bluestone, as if nature itself had prepared a martial arena.

At the edge stood a well-maintained octagonal pavilion. Inside sat a lean man dressed in black, a gleaming sword resting quietly beside him.

The bright moon hung high, and the pavilion’s serene ambiance stirred the feeling of an ancient swordsman’s presence.

This was Sha Polang.

The group halted at a distance, forming a standoff with Sha Polang.

The air seemed to freeze; even the gentle mountain breeze carried a hint of deadly tension.

Sha Polang slowly rose, hands clasped behind his back, eyes blazing as he scanned the crowd with a commanding voice:

“Ten years apart, I have returned. What was lost back then, I shall reclaim with my own hands!”

His words brimmed with determination and dominance, imposing an undeniable pressure on all present.

After a pause, his gaze sharpened:

“Tonight, I aim to seize the pinnacle of Huaxi. Anyone who dares oppose me—come fight!”

His blunt challenge radiated overwhelming confidence, causing some powerful family heads to instinctively retreat, clearly intimidated by Sha Polang’s aura.

Liu Zhenhua remained standing, expression grave, bowing slightly to Yuan Yang, Shi Wanli, and Li Chao:

“This battle, I entrust to all of you.”

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yang laughed heartily, brimming with confidence:

“It’s simple! The three of us working together can take this guy down!”

As masters of the Mysterious Realm, their three-against-one odds were promising.

But Shi Wanli shook his head disdainfully:

“Both being cultivators, using numbers against one would bring ridicule from the Hidden Sect. Let Chairman Li strike first; you and I will back him up. If it’s truly insufficient, then we act.”

Though his words sounded proper, Shi Wanli’s true intent was cunning—he sought to test Li Chao’s strength and use this opportunity to regain standing for his disciple.

Liu Zhenhua and the others’ expressions darkened; they knew Shi Wanli was deliberately making things difficult but dared not intervene at this critical moment, watching the situation unfold silently.

Yuan Yang chuckled at Shi Wanli’s words.

All eyes turned to Li Chao, waiting for his response.

...

At that moment, footsteps broke the tension as three figures ascended the steps—one of them was none other than Duan Tian!

The trio were captains of the Dragon Squad from the provincial capital, a faction unto themselves, observing the situation calmly from afar.

Sha Polang’s gaze shifted to Duan Tian and his companions, a trace of skepticism in his voice:

“Today, Sha here has not violated the Hidden Sect’s rules, has he?”

Duan Tian, toothpick in mouth, appeared relaxed as he replied:

“We haven’t said anything! Just here on orders to keep watch! After all, you’ve stirred quite a commotion this time, and we want to avoid things spiraling out of control.”

Though casual, Duan Tian’s words carried an underlying message.

The Dragon Squad outwardly claimed non-interference, but their arrival clearly aimed to suppress Sha Polang’s momentum.

Sha Polang understood he lacked the power to confront the Dragon Squad directly and had to endure for now.

“Enough! Don’t mind us! Continue!”

His eyes narrowed, voice tinged with resignation and compromise.

On the mountaintop, the atmosphere grew unbearably tense.

Sha Polang’s gaze locked onto Li Chao like a sharp blade, his cold voice cutting through the night:

“You’re the one who killed my sworn brother, Di Shitian, last time, aren’t you? Tonight, your life will be the offering to his spirit!”

With that, Sha Polang seized his sword, drawing it with a resonant clang. Under the moonlight, the blade shimmered like flowing water, casting a chilling glow.

A deadly aura filled the surrounding space, freezing the very air.

Just as Sha Polang’s momentum peaked, a sudden shout broke through from afar:

“Are you guys crazy? At a time like this, talking about warrior’s honor? Just gang up and beat him! Besides, you must have been paid to come here, right? If so, why just stand and watch? Might as well give the money back!”

The unexpected voice came from Duan Tian, laced with sarcasm and provocation.

Sha Polang’s eyes narrowed to slits, murderous intent blazing.

He was astute enough to sense a rift from the words exchanged between Zhong Li and the others.

Their failure to unite worked in his favor.

Yet, he hadn’t expected Duan Tian to speak up at such a critical moment.

“Damn it!” Sha Polang cursed silently.

Though Duan Tian claimed non-involvement, he was clearly meddling.

Feeling toyed with ignited immense anger and frustration within Sha Polang.

Li Chao, however, looked at Sha Polang with calm indifference, not truly considering him a threat.

If he had to act alone, he believed he could kill him without difficulty.

He was also surprised by Duan Tian’s unexpected support.

The mountaintop’s atmosphere grew ever more complex.

Duan Tian’s disruptive words somehow fostered a slight goodwill from Li Chao.

Seizing the moment, Liu Zhenhua spoke to ease the tension:

“Mr. Yuan, Sect Master Shi, tonight is a matter of great importance. Let’s set aside other concerns and unite against the enemy.”

Yuan Yang couldn’t remain aloof any longer and stepped forward:

“To earn money by solving others’ troubles—then we shall join forces!”

Shi Wanli nodded with a sly glint in his eyes:

“Let’s strike together!”

Liu Zhenhua finally exhaled in relief.

Sha Polang shot Duan Tian a cold, resentful glare but dared not divert attention as his aura surged.

With a soft humming sound, he leapt forward, sword sweeping toward the three.

Gale-force winds spiraled like tornadoes, his strength enough to make one’s blood run cold.

“Watch this!” Yuan Yang shouted, forming hand seals as a cluster of flames materialized in his palm.

The fireball rapidly grew to the size of a soccer ball, which he hurled like a cannonball, tongues of flame dancing fiercely.

The famed fire-controlling Yuan family lived up to their reputation.

Yet, just as Yuan Yang expected Sha Polang to struggle against the assault, the latter’s lips curled into a cold smile.

With a flick of his wrist, Sha Polang’s sword emitted a silver radiance like a dragon surging from the sea, instantly dispersing the fireball and continuing his assault.

His blade struck the fireball with a thunderous crack, shattering it into sparks.

Yuan Yang’s heart jolted, surprised by Sha Polang’s formidable strength.

In his momentary daze, Li Chao closed in swiftly, sword in hand.

Panicked, Yuan Yang drew a crimson-glowing dagger, barely parrying Sha Polang’s strike while retreating under the residual force.

His pale face revealed the shock he endured.

Seeing Yuan Yang falter, Li Chao’s figure moved like the wind, fingers forming a fist to strike Sha Polang’s body.

His fist shimmered with light and pierced the air with a sharp sound—a powerful blow.

Sha Polang, however, remained unimpressed, withdrawing his sword and suddenly kicking out with his right foot, colliding with Li Chao’s punch.

The muffled impact rocked the stones beneath their feet.

Both staggered back seven or eight steps, evenly matched.

Sha Polang steadied himself, eyes hardening as he faced Li Chao more seriously.

At that moment, a black energy stream slithered like a serpent toward Sha Polang’s leg, attempting to bind him.

It was Shi Wanli’s secret technique, stealthy under the night’s cover—truly insidious.

Sha Polang’s expression changed, caught off guard by the timing.

He adjusted swiftly, struggling against the binding energy.

But Shi Wanli’s magic was not easily broken.

From afar, Yuan Yang, a seasoned fighter, dashed forward again, dagger flashing cold light, aiming to gut Sha Polang.

Li Chao seized the opportunity, striking again with thunderous force, unstoppable.

He knew better than to unleash the divine weapon on his back lightly—the aftermath was too severe. After killing Di Shitian before, he had felt utterly drained.

Thus, he held back until absolutely necessary.

The three united in combat, their power surging.

Liu Zhenhua, Liu Lele, and the others’ faces brightened, sensing the dawn of victory.

However, Duan Tian and his companions remained grim, clearly doubting the current situation.

...

Sure enough, when Yuan Yang attacked Sha Polang with his dagger, he noticed a faint cold smile at the corner of Sha Polang’s mouth.

A chill ran down Yuan Yang’s spine.

Suddenly, Sha Polang’s aura exploded again, shattering the black energy binding him.

As he regained freedom, his wrist flicked, sword darting like a serpent—fast, precise, deadly.

Yuan Yang dared not continue attacking, swiftly retracting his dagger to clash against the blade.

With a crisp clang, a sharp pain shot through his abdomen, forcing him to retreat hastily.

Looking down, a bloodied cut marred his stomach, luckily not severe due to quick evasion.

Still, it was enough to raise alarm.

Disappointment flickered in Sha Polang’s eyes.

After being restrained, he planned to kill Yuan Yang first to weaken the enemy, but Yuan Yang’s alertness thwarted this.

As Sha Polang prepared to press his advantage, Li Chao charged again.

With battle experience fresh in mind, Sha Polang remained cautious, slashing his sword behind him, releasing a crescent-shaped sword aura.

Li Chao dodged nimbly, refusing to clash head-on.

Sha Polang’s sword strikes didn’t relent; he plunged his blade into the ground, then struck forcefully.

The stone beneath shattered, spewing countless fragments like bullets toward Zhong Li in the distance.

Shi Wanli, sect master with Mysterious Realm cultivation, could likely block the stones if fully engaged.

But he chose to dodge swiftly instead, conserving strength for the fight ahead.

The flying debris headed toward the powerful family heads watching far off.

They hadn’t expected the battle to reach them, panicked and scrambling to evade.

The stones flew too fast—any hit would cause grievous wounds.

Liu Zhenhua and the others were shocked; Sha Polang’s attack was sudden and fierce, and no one was there to shield them.

Li Chao stood too far away to assist in time.

Just as panic set in, a figure swooped down, intercepting the stones with a flurry of short blades.

All eyes focused to see it was Duan Tian of the Dragon Squad.

“Thanks for the assist!” Liu Zhenhua and the others expressed gratitude while retreating.

They felt both thankful to Duan Tian and angry at Shi Wanli’s selfishness.

Shi Wanli remained calm, as if detached from the chaos.

His only thought: no matter the world, his own life mattered most.

Li Chao’s gaze hardened as he looked at Shi Wanli.

He found Zhong Li’s selfishness intolerable; if Liu Lele were hurt because of it, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill the old man.

This revealed the fragility of their temporary alliance.

A slight shift in winds could change everything.

Li Chao knew this battle must end quickly.

With that resolve, his aura surged again, fists glowing with stellar power as he charged Sha Polang.

His blows rained like relentless waves, each stronger than the last.

Sha Polang dared not underestimate him, meeting Li Chao’s fierce attacks with swordplay.

Nearby, Liu Lele watched curiously and asked Liu Zhenhua, “Dad, doesn’t Xiao Chao carry a weapon? Why hasn’t he used it yet?”

Liu Zhenhua shook his head, equally puzzled.

“Maybe it has some special purpose,” he guessed.

On the battlefield, Li Chao intensified his assault, while Yuan Yang followed suit.

His dagger burned fiercely, leaving trails of red light in the air—ferocious and deadly.

Shi Wanli stayed back, weaving his dark energy to disrupt Sha Polang’s rhythm.

His conduct was fitting for a sly schemer.

Li Chao took the main offensive, blocking most attacks to give Yuan Yang more opportunities.

Though Yuan Yang was not as strong as Sha Polang, his enchanted dagger amplified his power.

With Shi Wanli’s interference, the trio gained the upper hand, cutting multiple wounds on Sha Polang.

The onlookers cheered, eager to see Sha Polang defeated.

Even Yuan Yang and Shi Wanli felt victory was within reach.

Yet Sha Polang’s eyes darkened with anger and gloom.

He roared, pulling out a red pill and swallowing it.

Suddenly, his eyes glowed blood red, and a brutal murderous aura radiated fiercely.

Witnessing this, Shi Wanli shouted in alarm:

“Blood Fiend Pill! Damn it!”

He immediately dispelled his magic and retreated hastily, clearly fearful.

This left Li Chao and Yuan Yang in a difficult spot.

They hadn’t expected Sha Polang to use such a dangerous pill, which greatly boosts power temporarily but drives the user into a berserk frenzy, losing control.

Now, they faced not only a vastly strengthened Sha Polang but also the threat of his wild, uncontrolled attacks.

The Blood Fiend Pill was an expensive purchase Sha Polang made years ago at an auction.

It could maximize one’s vital energy quickly, skyrocketing combat ability at the cost of severe damage to the meridians.

Originally, Sha Polang had no intention of using it, but Li Chao’s unexpectedly high power forced his hand—prolonged fighting would likely spell doom for him.

As the pill took effect, Sha Polang’s cultivation surged several levels.

Meanwhile, Shi Wanli’s sudden withdrawal altered the battle’s balance dramatically.

“Phantom Sword Technique!” Sha Polang growled, spinning his sword swiftly to create multiple afterimages that stabbed at Li Chao’s body from all angles.

The blade’s sharpness and deadly intent were overwhelming.

Li Chao felt a strong threat and avoided direct confrontation, pushing off with his feet to narrowly evade the attacks.

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