Life and Death Pact
The Final Duel: A Battle of Fate
The first match of the day was supposed to be Ronald versus Lone Wolf. But as time ticked by, Lone Wolf was nowhere to be seen.
The crowd buzzed with speculation, murmuring theories and guesses.
After another brief wait, a young warrior from the Blood Wolf Clan hurried onto the stage, whispering something to the referee.
Moments later, the referee raised his voice, declaring, "Due to severe injuries, Lone Wolf has chosen to forfeit. Ronald wins by default!"
A collective sigh of disappointment spread through the audience.
Lone Wolf's withdrawal was unexpected but not entirely surprising. His brutal battle with Hong Ba had left him barely standing, while Ronald remained in peak condition. Had he fought today, it would have been a one-sided slaughter.
The referee pressed his hand down to quiet the murmurs. "Next match: Ye Xiaochi versus Murong Ying!"
But just as his words fell, another human soldier rushed onto the stage. A ripple of unease spread through the crowd—could it be that Murong Ying was forfeiting as well?
The referee listened to the soldier, his brows furrowing slightly. Then, with a soft sigh, he announced, "Due to urgent war matters, Murong Ying has returned to his homeland overnight. Ye Xiaochi wins by default!"
The crowd erupted in an uproar.
If Lone Wolf's absence was expected, Murong Ying's abrupt departure was nothing short of shocking.
Shouts of frustration and curses filled the air.
But with two forfeits, things had become much simpler. The final battle would be between Ronald and Ye Xiaochi!
As the audience settled, the city lord, Li Feiyun, strode onto the stage, his voice carrying over the arena. "I will personally oversee this match. Both of you, step forward!"
Ronald took a deep breath, adjusting the heavy sack slung over his shoulder before making his way onto the platform.
On the other side, Ye Xiaochi stepped forward as well, his expression unreadable.
Their gazes met.
In that instant, both men could see it—the unspoken wariness in each other's eyes.
Li Feiyun continued, "The winner of this duel shall become my son-in-law. If you are both ready, then let the final battle—"
Before he could finish, Ye Xiaochi suddenly raised his voice.
"City Lord! I request that we sign a Life-and-Death Pact!"
Silence.
Even Li Feiyun was momentarily taken aback. The audience, stunned for a second, quickly erupted into a frenzy.
Ye Xiaochi's eyes gleamed with sharp determination. "I have long admired Lady Luo. I will give this battle my all. But weapons have no eyes—if I accidentally kill him, would I be disqualified?"
"Life-and-Death Pact! Life-and-Death Pact!"
The crowd, always eager for bloodshed, took up the chant with enthusiasm.
Li Feiyun hesitated before turning to Ronald. "Ye Xiaochi has requested a Life-and-Death Pact. What do you say, Young Master Li?"
Ronald frowned, locking eyes with Ye Xiaochi. The deafening cheers rang in his ears.
Finally, he spoke, his voice steady. "Ye Xiaochi, we have no personal grudges. Must we really take this to the death?"
Ye Xiaochi sneered.
"Enough with the nonsense. If you're afraid, step down. If you want to fight—then be ready to die!"
Ronald threw his head back and laughed.
"Afraid? You think you can kill me? Fine! Life and death are determined by fate. Glory and ruin are written in the stars. I accept!"
Li Feiyun sighed softly before raising his voice. "Very well! For this battle, the 'no killing' rule is lifted! Let the final duel begin!"
With a flicker of his figure, he vanished to the side of the platform.
A deafening roar of excitement shook the arena.
Ronald drew his plasma longsword, its violet energy crackling menacingly.
Ye Xiaochi gripped his steel trident, his stance solid as a mountain.
Their gazes met once more.
Then— BOOM!
Both figures burst forward at the same time, their weapons clashing with a blinding flare of sparks!
Sword and trident clashed again and again, the sounds of metal meeting metal echoing through the arena. They moved with such speed that the audience could hardly follow their strikes, breaths held in suspense.
Ronald's cultivation had already reached the peak of the fourth realm, and with his Azure Cloud Mystic Arts, his true combat power was no less than that of a fifth-realm warrior.
"Thunderclap Dragon Dance!"
With a low shout, his plasma sword spun in a dazzling arc, each slash infused with electric surges, forming the shape of a coiling dragon.
For a moment, the tide of battle shifted— Ronald had taken the advantage!
"Impressive!"
From the VIP stands, Qin Ji exhaled in admiration. Ronald's strength had exceeded his expectations once again.
Down on the stage, Ye Xiaochi's pupils shrank slightly.
Though he had yet to unleash his full power, he hadn't expected a lower-realm human to push him back, especially with that infernal plasma sword—it radiated a high-temperature aura that made him, a Sea Clan warrior, highly uncomfortable.
"A human? I never expected you to be this strong."
His voice was calm, but his aura surged.
His trident flickered like a viper's fangs— three rapid thrusts in succession!
Ronald barely parried the strikes in time, his sword humming under the impact.
With his opponent closing in, Ye Xiaochi twisted his body, his movements blurring as he unleashed a whirlwind of attacks!
"Beautiful!"
From the VIP balcony, Mo Yan clapped his hands in appreciation. "The Nightshade Clan truly knows how to fight!"
This duel was crucial for him as well.
The moment Ye Xiaochi regained control of the fight, the audience erupted into cheers.
After all, in their minds, a low-ranked human should never surpass a high-ranked clan warrior—that belief had been ingrained in them for centuries.
On the stage, Ronald's brows furrowed.
His Thunderclap Dragon Dance was already being pushed to its limits, yet Ye Xiaochi was steadily overwhelming him.
A gap of one realm… was it truly impossible to bridge?
"If this continues, I'll lose for sure."
His foot pressed against the stone floor.
Qi surged within him.
In an instant, his Lightfoot Technique activated—
And the tides of battle were about to turn!