"No."
Black energy surged through the Black Destiny Sword in Fang Chen's hand as he activated his Soul Heaven Demon Eye. Luo Ao believed himself hidden from view, but to Fang Chen, his exact position was as clear as day.
He spoke slowly: "This is something I can decide."
Chapter 23: The Three-Month Pact, A Fight to the Death
As his voice faded, a "Sword" character appeared behind him! It was a Dao Pattern!
Simultaneously, Fang Chen’s Soul Heaven Demon Eye locked onto Luo Ao. Luo Ao suddenly felt a sharp, stabbing pain in his brain! By the time he recovered, Fang Chen was already standing before him—and he saw the Dao Pattern behind him.
"How is this possible! This is the Dao—"
The words never left his lips; his head was already separated from his body!
Luo Ao’s head flew into the air, his expression frozen in utter disbelief. In his eyes, it was impossible for Fang Chen to have tracked his position, impossible for him to have awakened a Dao Pattern at the Spirit Gathering Realm, and even more impossible for him to be killed by a single strike.
As his head tumbled from the high altitude, his eyes filled with regret. Why had he provoked Fang Chen? Why had he agreed to a fight to the death? He had a brilliant future ahead of him, yet here he was, dying in such a manner. He had originally held no grudge against Fang Chen; it was all for the sake of Luoyun! Why did he help him and set himself against Fang Chen?
In this moment, he understood—but he was already dead.
Fang Chen retracted his sword, his pattern, and his gaze, his expression as calm as it had been at the start. As the black mist slowly dissipated, everyone realized the battle was over.
"How is it so fast? That Fang Chen must be too weak."
"He dared to challenge Senior Brother Luo Ao like this? He was just asking for his own death."
"Exactly. But it's better that he’s dead. A person of his caliber isn't worthy of..."
Just as they were gossiping, convinced of Fang Chen’s demise, the black mist cleared. The scene they expected did not occur. Instead, Fang Chen stood there unharmed, with a headless corpse at his feet and a shocked, regretful head lying in the distance—it was Luo Ao.
Boom!
The crowd was struck as if by lightning, staring at the scene in utter disbelief! Fang Chen hadn't died! Instead, he had killed Luo Ao! How could this be?
Bang!
Luoyun stood up abruptly, his eyes wide, staring fixedly at the sight. "No! How is this possible! My cousin is at the Peak Spirit Gathering! How could he die at the hands of this trash? This is absolutely impossible!"
"You must have used some sinister method! You definitely did!"
He refused to believe the reality, even if it killed him. The others didn't believe it either, but the result was laid out before them; they had no choice.
"Could it be that Luo Ao was injured from his battle with Senior Sister Lin?" someone suddenly suggested.
This remark was immediately accepted by many.
"Yes, that must be it."
"Damn, Fang Chen’s luck is just too good."
"Exactly, he was put into the finals and just happened to encounter an injured Luo Ao. What a stroke of dumb luck."
The crowd murmured, convinced that Ling Fan’s—Fang Chen's—luck was simply too good.
But one person did not think so: Meng Yao. Her alluring eyes were wide open, and her cherry lips parted in shock. Within her beautiful pupils, a faint golden light flickered. While others missed it, she had seen everything clearly with her own Spirit Eyes—including Fang Chen’s Sword Dao Pattern.
"My heavens! He actually awakened a Dao Pattern! And it's a Tier 2 Dao Pattern! He’s only in the Spirit Gathering Realm!"
She was deeply shaken. Even she hadn't comprehended a Dao Pattern until she reached the Houtian Realm. Someone who could comprehend a Dao Pattern character at the Spirit Gathering Realm was a monster among monsters! Her excitement caused her cheeks to flush, making her look even more mesmerizing. The best part was that with the monstrous talent Fang Chen had displayed, even the family wouldn't be able to oppose their engagement!
"You bastard! How dare you kill my cousin! I will tear you into a thousand pieces!"
Suddenly, Luoyun snapped out of his shock. His eyes filled with murderous intent, and he roared, leaping down from the high platform! The pressure of his Houtian Realm Level 7 cultivation erupted as he shot toward Fang Chen like a cannonball!
The presiding elder hesitated slightly but made no move to intervene. He didn't want to get involved in such trouble and pretended not to react in time.
"Luoyun! What do you think you're doing?" Meng Yao shouted, her figure flickering to stand before Fang Chen, striking out with a palm to meet Luoyun’s attack!
Bang!
Luoyun staggered back thirty feet, while Meng Yao only took three steps back before being steadied by Fang Chen.
"This person killed my cousin! He must pay the price!" Luoyun roared regardless.
"They were in a death match! Are you trying to violate the sect rules?" Meng Yao coldly interrogated.
Luoyun’s expression remained ferocious: "This kid is so ruthless! Even with Luo Ao injured, he still dealt such a vicious blow! A person like this will surely be treacherous in the future, the kind to stab you in the back! Such a person deserves to die!"
"Treacherous?" Fang Chen sneered. "What kind of treachery is that compared to you? Colluding with Su Wan'er, coveting the Heavenly Dao Bone in my body! Once the Heavenly Dao Bone took shape, you turned on me. You cut my flesh! You dug out my bones!"
"Who is the truly treacherous one? Who is the one who deserves to die?"
His words stirred up a thousand waves; everyone was shocked, and the site fell into an uproar.
"What? Did I hear that right?"
"Digging out someone’s Heavenly Dao Bone? That’s ruining someone’s entire life!"
"Digging bones? Senior Brother Luoyun isn't that kind of person, is he?"
The crowd buzzed with discussion. Meng Yao’s expression turned icy; digging out another's bone was morally inexcusable!
"You’re spouting nonsense! What kind of person am I, Luoyun? And what kind of trash are you, Fang Chen? Why would I need to covet your Heavenly Dao Bone?" Luoyun roared, his eyes flashing with cold intent. "Fang Chen! It was clearly you who were the failure, yet you push all of this onto me! How despicable and shameless!"
"That's right! Fang Chen, it was you who tried to molest me, which is why Brother Luoyun injured you! Stop trying to play the victim!" Su Wan'er added.
Fang Chen stared at the pair with cold eyes, sneering: "The Heavenly Dao Bone has only been in your body for a month, it hasn't fully fused with you yet, has it? Our sect possesses a secret technique; we only need a drop of blood from both of us to see whose bone it truly is. Luoyun, do you dare to be tested?"
All eyes shifted to Luoyun. Fang Chen was right—the sect did have a secret technique to determine compatibility. If there was a fifty percent compatibility rate with Fang Chen, it was undoubtedly his.
"Trash! Who do you think you are? You say test, and I test?" Luoyun argued craftily. He would never give Fang Chen such an opportunity.
Hearing this, everyone was practically certain: Luoyun really had stolen Fang Chen’s Heavenly Dao Bone. Otherwise, why would he be afraid to be tested? At this moment, everyone’s gaze toward Luoyun changed. Stealing another’s Dao Bone was like stealing their life—it was a major taboo in both the continent and the sect. It was truly despicable. Those who had previously idolized Luoyun felt their perceptions collapse; they never imagined he could be such a person.
Meng Yao’s expression darkened. She hadn't expected Fang Chen to have suffered such a thing. Digging out a Heavenly Dao Bone! What a ruthless method!
"Luoyun! You stole another's bone and violated sect rules! I will certainly report this! It won't end here! For the harm you caused Fang Chen, I will make you pay tenfold!"
Luoyun’s face turned livid, and he said coldly, "Senior Sister Meng, are you sure you want to meddle in this? What is so good about this bastard? Why go against my Luo family for his sake?"
Meng Yao said coldly, "I'll tell you: Fang Chen is my fiancé. Whoever dares to touch him, I will stand against them to the end!"
Luoyun’s expression shifted slightly. To be honest, his Luo family was no match for Meng Yao. He could only turn his gaze back to Fang Chen, shouting in a rage: "Bastard! Can you only hide behind a woman?"
"Isn't this the opportunity you wanted to kill me?" Fang Chen looked at Luoyun indifferently. "I’ll give you this chance. Three months from now, you and I will have a life-or-death battle. Only one of us walks away!"
Meng Yao’s expression changed slightly: "He’s at the Houtian Realm Level 7."
Fang Chen smiled slightly: "Don't worry, three months is enough."
Chapter 24: Don't You Want to Do Something to Me?
"Fine!" Luoyun didn't expect Fang Chen to be so eager for death. To ensure he didn't go back on his word, he agreed immediately! Then, still worried, he said, "Verbal promises are worthless. What good are they?"
With a wave of his hand, a golden sheet appeared. He wrote a few lines on it with his finger and passed it to Fang Chen. "This is a sect Life-or-Death Pact; the time limit is written within. Once signed, you must abide by the promise. Anyone who violates it will have their cultivation crippled and be expelled from the sect! Leave your thumbprint."
Fang Chen did not hesitate, pressing his finger onto it. The pact was sealed and flew back into Luoyun’s hand. Luoyun was satisfied and said coldly to Fang Chen, "You have three months to live. Treasure them well."
With that, he left with his followers and Luo Ao’s corpse. Su Wan'er wanted to follow, but an old man stopped her. After the old man said something, she left with him.
As Luoyun and the others departed, the Seven Peaks assessment came to a complete end. Everyone had thought the protagonist would be Luo Ao, but they never imagined it would become Fang Chen. He had not only killed Luo Ao but had also become Meng Yao’s fiancé. Once this news spread, it would surely shake the entire Tianyu Divine Sect. However, ninety-nine percent of the people thought Fang Chen just had good luck; otherwise, he wouldn't have even passed the first round.
"Congratulations." Meng Yao personally handed the reward to Fang Chen.
Fang Chen accepted the reward: five Luoling Herbs and one Cloud Immortal Pill! With these resources, plus the remaining drop of Demon Sword blood, he could break through to the Houtian Realm in a short time! Afterward, he would certainly be able to open the third floor of the Little Pagoda. Killing Luoyun within three months shouldn't be a problem. There might be pressure, but pressure was motivation.
"Brother Fang, you can now choose to join any of the Seven Peaks of the Inner Sect. How about it? Come to my Second Peak; there are rewards, you know." She whispered the last four words enticingly, shooting him a seductive wink.
Fang Chen was silent, then shook his head: "Sorry, I promised my Master's wife that I would bring her back to the Seventh Peak."
Meng Yao was surprised by the answer, but she knew Fang Chen was originally from the Seventh Peak, so it was normal. Thinking of the current state of the Seventh Peak, she warned: "You might not know, but the Seventh Peak has become a wasteland. Aside from a few elders in seclusion, there is no one left."
"Five years ago, before your Master passed, the Seventh Peak could contend with the First. But after he fell, the spiritual energy of the main peak dissipated. The Seventh Peak is dead in all but name. You should really come to the Second Peak."
Fang Chen was stunned; he truly hadn't known the current situation of the Seventh Peak. After a moment of silence, he shook his head: "No, I still have to return to the Seventh Peak. This is what I promised her, and what I promised my Master. Since the Seventh Peak has fallen, I will make it rise again!"
His eyes were full of determination. Seeing his resolve, Meng Yao said no more. She summoned an elder in charge of registering disciples and had him register Fang Chen for the Seventh Peak. The elder was stunned but did not hesitate when he saw it was Meng Yao’s request and Fang Chen had no objections.
"You can report to the Seventh Peak in two days," the elder said.
"Thank you, Elder."
After everything was finished, Meng Yao said to Fang Chen, "Come, let's go back together."
Fang Chen did not refuse and nodded. Meng Yao wanted to find Lin Xueyan, but she couldn't find her anywhere. Seeing this, she stopped worrying and boarded a flying boat with Fang Chen toward Yu City, leaving behind only the envious gazes of the crowd.
On the boat, Meng Yao looked at Fang Chen with her large, watery eyes, causing his cheeks to flush.
"W-what is it?" Fang Chen asked, feeling at a loss.
Meng Yao smiled, seductively: "Playing dumb? We are a betrothed couple now. Don't you want to do something to me?"
"No! I don't want to do anything!" Fang Chen couldn't help but swallow hard, finding it difficult to even breathe. He then asked cautiously, "Are we really engaged?"
Meng Yao feigned anger: "What? You think I’m lying to you? We met when we were children! Have you forgotten?"
"Ah, this..." Fang Chen was once again at a loss; he had truly forgotten.
"Hmph!" Meng Yao grabbed his collar with her delicate hand and pulled him close. Their lips were only a finger’s width apart; they looked into each other’s eyes, seeing themselves reflected there.
"From today on, you are mine! Understand?" she said domineeringly, her cherry lips slightly parted. Fang Chen nodded hurriedly.
Seeing this, Meng Yao smiled and released him: "That’s better. I’ll forgive you."
She turned and entered the cabin. Fang Chen didn't see it, but Meng Yao’s face was flushed red, looking beautiful and moving. Soon, they returned to Yu City, got off at the gates, and walked the rest of the way. Not long after entering the city, someone called out: "Meng'er! I didn't expect to run into you here!"
A handsome man in blue and white attire approached them, smiling at Meng Yao. He was followed by two lackeys. Seeing him, Meng Yao frowned and said coldly: "Senior Brother Yu Yuanwen, please call me Junior Sister Meng. Our relationship isn't close enough for such familiarity."
Yu Yuanwen’s smile remained: "Fine, fine. Junior Sister Meng it is. Why be so distant? When you turn eighteen, I will come to propose. You know your mother has always supported us."
Meng Yao’s expression remained icy: "That was my mother’s promise, not mine. Furthermore, I already have a fiancé, so please stay away from me."
"A fiancé?" Yu Yuanwen’s smile froze, and he noticed Fang Chen for the first time. He looked him up and down and sneered: "Junior Sister Meng, he isn't your fiancé, is he?"
Before Meng Yao could speak, Fang Chen held her hand and said: "I am. So please, Senior Brother, keep your distance from my fiancée."
The moment Fang Chen held her hand, Meng Yao’s body trembled slightly. She felt a sense of security she had never experienced before.
"What are you? Are you worthy of Junior Sister Meng? What qualification do you have to command me?" Yu Yuanwen looked at Fang Chen with cold contempt.
One of his lackeys looked at Fang Chen disdainfully and said haughtily: "Do you know who this is? He is the top genius of the younger generation of the Fourth Peak! The young master of the Yu family, the number one clan in the Shendong Domain’s southeast! You don't even know how you died if you offend Young Master Yu! And you dare to touch Young Master Yu’s woman! You’re courting death!"
Yu Yuanwen scolded, "Watch your mouth. We are members of a great family; we must have decorum. Don't lower ourselves to the level of people like this, understand?"
"Yes, yes." The lackey nodded respectfully.
Yu Yuanwen looked at Fang Chen again, haughtily: "I don't care what sinister means you used to bewitch Junior Sister Meng. I’ll give you one chance."
Light shimmered in his hand as a brocade box appeared. Opening it, a crystal-clear medicinal pill lay inside. "This is the 'Heavenly Enlightenment Pill,' a Tier 3 pill! After taking it, one can comprehend the laws of heaven and earth, and there is a great chance to awaken a Dao Pattern. Take this pill, get lost, and never appear before me again. A person like you is never worthy of Junior Sister Meng, understand?"
Finally, his expression was filled with scorn. Fang Chen glanced at the pill and couldn't help but sneer.
"Trying to swindle people with a fake pill? Is this the so-called Young Master of the Yu family?"
Chapter 25: Calling You an Idiot
Hearing this, Yu Yuanwen was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "You’re killing me. Are you such an idiot that you call a Tier 3 pill fake just because you haven't seen one before? Let me tell you! I bought this pill at the Wanxing Auction House for a full two thousand spirit stones! Do you even know what the Wanxing Auction House is? A bumpkin like you wouldn't have a clue."
Fang Chen remained calm: "I indeed don't know the Wanxing Auction House."
"Then stop making people laugh at your stupidity!"
Fang Chen looked at the Heavenly Enlightenment Pill and said lightly: "The Heavenly Enlightenment Pill is primarily gold with silver luster spots. It should be surrounded by spiritual light and have a fragrant scent. This pill indeed looks like that, but its silver luster is exceptionally dim, and there are faint cracks on the surface. It looks like a minor flaw from the heat, but it’s actually a mark from the forgery process."
"If I’m not mistaken, this should be a different pill wrapped in a layer of fake pill skin."
As his voice fell, Fang Chen reached out and tapped the pill!
Crack!
The surface of the pill shattered, revealing another pitch-black pill inside. Seeing this, the crowd around them was stunned! It really was a fake pill! What made it even more absurd was that the inner pill had words written on it: "Idiot."
Fang Chen chuckled, saying: "See? That person is calling you an idiot."
Yu Yuanwen went from shock to livid fury!