(Many thanks for all the recommendation tickets; yesterday alone saw a surge of over six thousand, which is incredibly encouraging, truly motivating. Thank you all. I shamelessly ask for an even fiercer surge of support to stay firmly on the weekly recommendation list—it would be terrible to be pushed off~)

"Fine then. If you like it, I'll accompany you."

Lei Dong walked with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression utterly indifferent, as if agreeing to go for drinks rather than a life-or-death struggle.

This sudden agreement caught Bai Li Yun off guard, making his expression falter. He had initially planned to heap further insults upon Lei Dong if he refused, seeking to provoke him. To his surprise, Lei Dong agreed so readily and casually. For a moment, Bai Li Yun was filled with doubt and apprehension. Could this brat possess some hidden trump card?

Though generally cautious, Lei Dong was fundamentally a decisive person. Knowing that only one of them would leave this confrontation alive, he cast aside all psychological burdens. Analyzing the preceding incident with Yan Mo's telepathic message, Lei Dong deduced that those old ancestors had placed substantial wagers on this match.

The fact that a being like Yan Mo had issued a threat, instructing him not to lose, suggested their stakes might involve a significant portion of their fortunes. Since even Yan Mo, who was not directly related to him, was involved, Patriarch Wan Gui had undoubtedly placed a heavy bet as well. If he lost this duel, even if Patriarch Wan Gui, out of sentiment, merely exiled him to the frontier to fend for himself, beings like Yan Mo would never let him off easily.

It was better to face the challenge head-on than to cower. Success would not only lead Patriarch Wan Gui to regard him as a truly trusted disciple, but even Yan Mo, who stood to win money, would look upon him with a new perspective. A few further interactions might even secure another powerful backer. Yan Mo being in the same camp as Patriarch Wan Gui indicated a deep connection between them.

Furthermore, cultivation itself was an act of defying the Heavens. If he couldn't even overcome the hurdle presented by Bai Li Yun, what right did he have to speak of cultivating or defying the natural order?

When two sides face off, the momentum often dictates the tone. If one side is spirited and the other dares not respond, the latter’s morale invariably plummets.

Bai Li Yun's expression flickered between uncertainty and a touch of guilt. However, he knew he could not lose face after initiating the life-and-death challenge. If he backed down now that the opponent had agreed, Patriarch Ku Gu would never forgive him. With this thought, Bai Li Yun managed to force a sneer: "Lei Dong, you finally crawled out from under a woman's skirt. But today, you are certainly doomed."

"Are you finished cursing? If not, I can wait a while longer for you to continue," Lei Dong said, crossing his arms and smiling with composed ease. "I never hold grudges against those who are about to meet their end."

"Hmph." Seeing that verbal attacks were ineffective, Bai Li Yun snorted coldly, his face grim. "Please bring forth the Death Pact."

In the Ten-Year Grand Competition, this was not the only pairing to sign a Death Pact. Since ancient times, whenever irreconcilable conflicts arose between personal disciples, they often opted for a decisive battle during the Grand Competition. The deceased simply vanished, all scores settled. The victor, conversely, would instantly gain renown, leave a deep impression among the upper echelons of the sect, and find their path of cultivation significantly smoother thereafter.

Thus, the Foundation Establishment stage referee solemnly retrieved the Death Pact from his robes. He first presented it to Bai Li Yun, who had initiated the challenge, for signing. Then, presenting it to Lei Dong, Lei Dong glanced at it only briefly before signing his name with a flourish.

"Arena Stage C, Second Match. Bai Li Yun of Ku Gu Peak versus Lei Dong of Wan Gui Cave, upgraded to a mutual Life-and-Death Duel."

The referee announced this with solemn gravity, suddenly his gaze flashing with a sharp glint: "Life-and-Death Duel, commence."

As the word 'commence' faded, both figures moved simultaneously, each dissolving into a faint shadow, ghost-like, elusive, and unpredictable. The only difference was that Bai Li Yun continuously tried to close the distance, while Lei Dong strove to maintain separation.

The two quickly ascended from the ground to several dozen feet in the air, chasing and weaving, leaving behind countless afterimages that ordinary eyes could not possibly track.

"Hmm? This kid Lei certainly has some skill. His Ghost Shadow Evasion is much better than in the previous match; he was indeed concealing his strength," Yan Mo remarked, slightly surprised and pleased to see both employing the Ghost Shadow Evasion to an evenly matched degree. "The foundation of his basic technique is even more solid than I estimated."

"What use is solid basic technique?" Patriarch Ku Gu remained unmoved, snorting coldly. "Bai Li Yun's cultivation is higher; he will eventually wear this brat down."

"If mere words could kill people, this seat would have died countless times already," Wan Gui scoffed dismissively.

...

Below, Bai Li Yun felt a stifling frustration. Despite possessing Peak Eleventh Layer cultivation, using the Ghost Shadow Evasion, he could barely keep pace with Lei Dong. Had this kid spent all his time practicing only evasion techniques instead of cultivation? He was mistaken. While Lei Dong’s spiritual root aptitude was slightly above average, his comprehension was exceptional, and having crossed over, he understood how to master skills more rapidly. Of course, extensive practice was unavoidable.

Lei Dong, too, was feeling the strain. Bai Li Yun was proving terribly difficult. He had pushed his Ghost Shadow Evasion to its absolute limit, yet no matter how he darted, twisted, or shifted rapidly high and low within this confined space, he could not shake off the clinging presence of Bai Li Yun. However, maintaining the Ghost Shadow Evasion at full capacity made it nearly impossible to gesture and cast incantations to summon ghosts. His lower cultivation meant his true energy would surely deplete first if this continued. A gap was a gap; even though Lei Dong’s true energy was purer due to a year of tempering in the Minor Yin Fiend Cave, allowing for conservation in battle, a gap of three full layers, almost four, could not be bridged by mere conservation.

It seemed this was the only way. Lei Dong's fluid, flickering movement paused momentarily. Just as Bai Li Yun prepared to seize the opportunity to close in, he was horrified to see a dark bead shooting toward him. Bai Li Yun instantly recognized it: the Yin Fiend Thunder, a devastating weapon among lower-level disciples.

Having suffered from the Yin Fiend Thunder before, Bai Li Yun abruptly halted his elegant movement and sharply dodged sideways multiple times, narrowly avoiding the incoming thunder. Lei Dong took this chance, exploding forward, seemingly creating seven or eight feet of distance in an instant. He then slightly paused his speed, quickly formed hand seals, and summoned the Bloodthirsty Ghost Soldier.

The moment the Bloodthirsty Ghost Soldier materialized, the Yin Fiend Thunder struck the transparent barrier outside the arena, exploding with a deafening roar that sent shockwaves through the air and a surge of baleful energy outward.

"Hiss~" The Bloodthirsty Ghost Soldier, without hesitation, activated the Bloodthirsty Art. Its body flushed red, its aura soaring, and it swept toward Bai Li Yun, leaving a crimson fiery tail in its wake.

Bai Li Yun's expression darkened. Now that Lei Dong had summoned his first ghost soldier, coupled with Lei Dong's mastery of the Ghost Shadow Evasion, he could use the ghost soldier as a shield to impede Bai Li Yun’s pursuit. The remainder of the fight would have to proceed conventionally. Seeing the snarling Bloodthirsty Ghost Soldier charging with imposing momentum, Bai Li Yun thrust his right hand diagonally downward. A flying sword enveloped in blazing flames appeared inches from his palm, its edge angled sharply outward.

With a fierce shout, he violently swung his right hand forward. The flame sword sliced through the air with a piercing shriek, its imposing aura aggressively thrusting toward Lei Dong. Over a mere few feet, the flame sword's form expanded several times over.

Lei Dong’s expression remained unchanged. Wasting no time, he formed hand seals again, summoning the Shadow Ghost Soldier, which was currently in stealth mode. Following his usual tactic, the Shadow stealthily circled behind him.

"Boom~"

Meanwhile, the Bloodthirsty Ghost Soldier hurriedly contracted its body, formed of pure energy, into a compact sphere. With a slight sidestep, it intercepted the path of the flame sword, gripping a shield forged from superior materials firmly to shield its body, enduring the full force of the blow.

A top-grade offensive flying sword, coupled with Bai Li Yun's full-strength strike—the power was not insignificant! The shield immediately shattered into four fragments, shards scattering outward. The condensed, spherical Bloodthirsty Ghost Soldier was also sent flying backward by the violent impact force.

...