Chapter 24: Repaying a Hundredfold

Chu Xiaotian's words fell like a chilling winter wind, instantly lowering the temperature of the surrounding air. The young man in blue shivered involuntarily, fear evident in his eyes.

"Break!" he growled, trying to shake off his fear of Chu Xiaotian. His face darkened, his eyes fierce. He couldn't believe he had been intimidated by Chu Xiaotian, and this wounded his pride deeply. "Today, I must kill you," he declared. His pride was more important to him than his life, and Chu Xiaotian had thoroughly humiliated him. He saw no other way but to kill Chu Xiaotian to vent his anger.

"I am the seventh prince of the Northern Yan Kingdom, a direct disciple of the Yanhuo Academy, Baili Hui. Do you dare accept my challenge?" Baili Hui glared at Chu Xiaotian, his voice laden with anger.

"A seventh prince?" Chu Xiaotian was slightly surprised to learn of his adversary's identity. He had thought the man was just from another martial academy, not realizing there was another layer to his identity. Nonetheless, Chu Xiaotian was undeterred.

"Let's go," he agreed, his interest in continuing his meal dampened by the disruption. Moreover, Baili Hui had clearly set his sights on crushing Chu Xiaotian without any pretense.

As the news of the challenge spread, the patrons of the restaurant became excited and followed them out to watch the impending battle. Baili Hui's dual identity surprised many, and they speculated that Chu Xiaotian must be from another prestigious martial academy. This was seen as a clash between two academies, drawing even more attention.

"Saintess, shall we go and watch?" the young man in purple asked the veiled woman.

"Yes, let's see. But don't cause any trouble," she replied with an icy tone that seemed to keep others at bay.

In the Northern Yan Kingdom, there were strict rules against brawling in cities. Duels had to take place on the designated fighting platforms provided in each city. Those who disobeyed faced execution. The platforms were divided into ordinary duels and life-and-death duels, with Yao Feng City boasting ten such platforms.

"Are they heading towards the life-and-death platform?" the onlookers murmured in surprise as they saw the direction Chu Xiaotian and Baili Hui were heading.

The veiled woman and the young man in purple frowned slightly at this development. "Don't let this get out of hand. I don't want people to know I was here," the veiled woman said coldly.

"Understood. I'll inform Baili Hui right away," the young man in purple nodded and quickly caught up with Baili Hui to whisper instructions.

"What?" Baili Hui's face fell upon hearing the instructions. He had intended to take Chu Xiaotian's life but had to relent due to the veiled woman's orders. Her background was formidable, coming from a powerful martial academy that even the royal family and martial institutes wouldn't dare offend.

Chu Xiaotian, indifferent to whether it was an ordinary or life-and-death duel, was unfazed. He had already assessed Baili Hui's strength with his spiritual sense: a fifth-level Lingyuan realm practitioner. Impressive, but not a threat to Chu Xiaotian, who possessed 6% sword intent and overwhelming suppression and mental intimidation abilities. He could hold his own even against seventh or eighth-level Lingyuan realm warriors.

The duel shifted to an ordinary fighting platform, causing some disappointment among the spectators, but they watched eagerly nonetheless.

"Although I can't kill you, I will cripple you today," Baili Hui threatened.

"I'm looking forward to it," Chu Xiaotian replied coolly.

"Attack!" Baili Hui's face became colder as he launched his attack, his fist engulfed in flames, causing the air around it to explode continuously.

As Baili Hui unleashed his martial technique, aiming to cripple Chu Xiaotian, the onlookers realized he was truly enraged.

Facing the fiery assault, Chu Xiaotian remained motionless, standing calmly as if the approaching flames meant nothing.

"Has he frozen in fear?" the crowd wondered aloud, noting Chu Xiaotian's calm demeanor yet suspecting he was overwhelmed by Baili Hui's mid-tier Yellow level martial technique.

"Sword Draw Technique!" In a flash, Chu Xiaotian drew his Tianzhan Sword. The sword's movement was so fast that it was invisible to the naked eye, emanating a terrifying force and sharpness.

Baili Hui, feeling the dreadful power of the sword and the mysterious force suppressing him, was unable to dodge and struck with horror.

In a moment, a flash of sword light accompanied by a spray of blood illuminated the platform. "Since you harbored the intent

 to kill, today I will cripple your arm as punishment. If you're unsatisfied, you can seek me out anytime," Chu Xiaotian declared as Baili Hui screamed in agony, retreating with his right arm severed at the elbow, blood pouring out and staining the platform.

The surrounding area fell into stunned silence. Nobody could believe that Chu Xiaotian, who appeared to be at a disadvantage, not only won but also disarmed Baili Hui, severely diminishing his combat abilities.