Long Hao vs Ye Xianya

A week passed, and Long Hao returned just as Gu Lingxin had expected.

Long Hao had spent this week rebuilding his foundation with the cultivation technique he got from the inheritance.

Changing to a different cultivation technique doesn't mean you have to cripple yourself or that you have to start cultivating from the start again; the higher-grade cultivation technique would use the qi from the lower-leveled cultivation technique as nutrients to grow. It would make the person's cultivation level drop since it's using qi from a lower-leveled technique and converting it into a higher-leveled technique; although their cultivation level would drop, their combat power would rise.

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(Ye Xianya's POV)

It's been a week since that mysterious figure appeared, and I've seen nothing related to Long Hao.

I didn't truly believe what the man had said, but why would a core formation cultivator go out of his way to mess with me? Plus, the way that man spoke carried confidence, as if he was sure what he said would happen.

As I contemplated my thoughts, I suddenly heard a shout, "Ye Xianya, you bastard, you actually tried to kill me!"

I recognized the owner of that voice; it was definitely Long Hao. I started to panic since if things went according to what that mysterious man said, I'd have to fight against him in a life-or-death battle, and I'll die.

I soon calmed down; that's right, that man had told me how to get out of this predicament; I just had to do as he told me to since he could predict things up to here; the things that he'd told me to do should work as well.

I quickly made my way out of my room before being greeted by the sight of my two subordinates beaten and bloodied on the floor along with a massive crowd; leading this crowd was Long Hao. I once again felt fear; I could feel that he had changed, and his entire aura had also changed.

If before he was like a candle that could be blown out any second, he was now like a raging inferno.

I took a deep breath and once again calmed myself down, "You're slandering me without any proof; although we've had our arguments in the past, I never held you accountable for such things, and now you've come here, and you not only beat up my subordinates but also slandered me for no reason?"

"Shut up; you're still twisting black and white. Do you expect anyone to believe it? Fight me in the life or death arena, do you dare?"

It turned out exactly as that man had said it would, both of my lackeys were beaten up, and he challenged me to a life-or-death battle. Once again, taking a deep breath to calm my thoughts, I said, "Sure, but if we're going to fight, then I want to fight within the city's life and death arena."

"Are you scared you'd lose and shame yourself in front of everyone within the sect? You don't need to worry; you will be dead after I'm finished."

He is truly arrogant, but this leads to the question of where such arrogance came from; he never acted this way before, even as the other servants abused him; if it's as that mysterious man has said, then he's blessed by luck, does that mean that he became stronger because I tried to kill him?

If my assumption is right, then he's definitely a threat, had that man not approached me, I would still be cluelessly walking toward my death.

"No, I merely want to take it into the city so that everyone has the right to see you get beaten like the dog you are." with this, he should agree to fight me in the city; I don't know why I have to fight with him in the city rather than within the sect, but so far everything has gone the way that man has said it would so there's no reason for me to do otherwise.

Although I don't fully trust that man, everything has gone just like he said it would.

"Sure, but it won't be me that gets beaten," said Long Hao arrogantly.

I quietly led the way toward the city's life and death arena, it hadn't even been twenty minutes, and a crowd could already be seen forming; it seemed that the news spread relatively fast.

We both made our way into the arena; we'd have to wait for an hour before we could officially fight; using this opportunity, I ate the pill the mysterious man had given me.

I could instantly feel massive amounts of qi entering me; it was a thrilling sensation; I felt my strength rise slowly from the second stage of foundation establishment all the way up to the nascent soul.

My power was overwhelming; I felt like I could flatten a mountain with a punch.

After the hour had passed, we were both led toward the arena; he casually took out a sword that seemed to be a treasure while staring at me with a predatory gaze.

"You guys may start the fight." announced the overseer.

As soon as those words were said, Long Hao moved extremely fast towards me; if it was the old me, I'd surely be in trouble, but to the current me, it wasn't much; he swung his sword downwards, which seemed to be moving in slow motion for me, I quietly moved to the side making the sword miss me and leaving a deep crack on the ground.

We kept fighting, and I kept dodging and taunting him.

"You bastard, do you only know how to dodge? Fight me like a man!" I could see that he was truly seething with rage now.

"Very well" as soon as I said that, I threw my sword to the side and burst towards him with extreme speed before slapping him sideways; since I said I was going to humiliate him, then I would naturally do so, and what better way is there than to slap him around like a dog.

And so the cycle began; Long Hao kept charging at me only to be slapped to the side over and over. Slowly some of his teeth fell out, and his cheeks got swollen, making him look rather pitiful.

I decided that this had gone on for long enough before quickly flashing in front of him and kicking one of his legs which broke his bones and caused him to fall onto the ground.

I was tempted to kill him, but every time the thought popped up, I could feel my instincts screaming at me, warning me not to do it; otherwise, my life could be in danger.

So far, everything had gone just like that man had predicted. He said that I shouldn't kill him but never said why; the man did say that Long Hao had luck; is it because of his luck? Does that mean that just like the first time I tried to kill him, this would become a blessing to him? Is this also where the feeling of death comes from?

As soon as I thought of that possibility, I realized Long Hao's true terror; the first time I tried to kill him, he got this strong then; what would happen if I attempted to kill him again?

Snapping out of my thoughts, I decided to do as the man had told me.

Looking at Long Hao plastered on the floor, I couldn't help but smile; I slowly stepped on his ribcage while applying more and more pressure until I could hear it crack.

I grabbed his sword and swiftly cut off Long Hao's arm, "I'll let you live for today as for the sword? I'll take it as compensation for sparing your life."

A wail of agony soon came from Long Hao's mouth.

I quietly left without looking back; it looks like I benefitted from this as well; I managed to get such a good sword after all.

I slowly made my way back into the sect before moving toward my quarters.

I told all my lackeys that I gained some enlightenment from the fight against Long Hao and for them not to disturb me until I came out from my seclusion.

I naturally didn't gain any enlightenment, but I needed to hide the fact that I lost my cultivation base for a month.