Chapter 49: A Duel to the Death

Over a thousand disciples filled the Outer Sect, each one a part of the elite younger generation of Xandoria County. The news of Dustin Li, the top scorer from the recent entrance examination, and Lestir, a well-known yet lesser disciple, engaging in a life-or-death battle quickly spread, causing a stir among the sect.

"Is that Dustin Li out of his mind?" Rocco Xu and DenCan exchanged shocked glances upon hearing the news.

It had been a while since they entered the Happy Free Gate, and as newcomers, they had endured their share of bullying from the older disciples. It was the way of things—newcomers swallowed their pride. But Dustin Li was different. He didn't back down when provoked. He fought back fiercely.

A life-or-death duel required notarization at the highest level of the Outer Sect. If someone died in a private fight, the consequences were severe. Because of this, Dustin Li's duel with Lestir was scheduled for noon the following day.

After returning to his quarters, Dustin Li was soon visited by Maeve. Her face was clouded with concern. "Why did you agree to this duel, Dustin? You know your strength, even though impressive, is still limited. Lestir is at the seventh level of Energy Gathering, and he's ranked 137th among the Outer Sect disciples."

Maeve's worry was understandable. Although the rank of 137 might seem modest, among the thousands of disciples in the sect, those who ranked in the top 150 were considered powerful masters. Maeve herself, with her cultivation at the fifth level of Energy Gathering, ranked somewhere outside the top 500. Even she could see the danger Dustin Li was walking into.

Dustin Li smiled softly at her concern. "I know what I'm doing," he reassured her, his tone calm. "I've fought stronger opponents before, and I've come out on top."

Maeve looked at him with disbelief. "You killed a master at the seventh level of Energy Gathering?" Her voice trembled with shock. She would have never believed anyone else if they had said the same.

"It's true," Dustin Li replied with a chuckle. "If I wasn't sure I could win, why would I be walking into this duel?"

Maeve took a breath, her initial anxiety beginning to subside. She understood now that Dustin Li wasn't reckless—he was confident, perhaps to a fault. Despite being fourteen, Dustin Li's mind had been shaped by years of hardship since he started cultivating at the age of ten. His mentality was far beyond his years.

Dustin Li reached out, gently touching her pale cheek. "Don't worry," he said, his voice tender. "I'm not doing this just for myself."

Maeve's heart fluttered as his hand brushed against her skin, and for a moment, all her worries seemed distant. She looked up at him, her gaze softening.

"If you really want to be with me, you still have a long way to go," Dustin Li added with a smile, his words carrying a deeper meaning.

Her lips twitched into a playful smile. "Oh? Are you afraid I'll outpace you?" she teased.

"Afraid?" Dustin Li grinned. "Not at all. If I was afraid, I wouldn't be standing here, would I?"

In a swift motion, Dustin Li leaned forward and kissed her—his lips pressing against hers before she could respond.

The kiss, though sudden, was gentle, yet the heat between them flared instantly. Maeve froze, her body tense with the unfamiliar intensity of the moment. A flush crept across her face, and the sensation of his breath on her skin left her breathless.

But as quickly as it had begun, Maeve pushed him away, her hands firm against his chest. Her voice trembled with both confusion and desire. "No... no, Dustin, don't..." she stammered.

The air between them grew heavy with unspoken words. Dustin Li took a step back, disappointment flickering in his eyes. He had thought they were closer, but now, a feeling of uncertainty lingered.

Maeve's hand instinctively reached for the hickey left on her neck by his kiss. She looked away, her gaze soft but conflicted. "I'm not ready for this," she murmured, her words a quiet plea.

Dustin Li's heart sank. He had not expected rejection, yet he knew she spoke the truth. She had her reasons—reasons he might never fully understand.

"I love you, Maeve," Dustin Li confessed after a long, uneasy silence. His voice was low, raw, full of emotion. He stepped forward, arms open as if to embrace her, to hold her close.

But Maeve stepped back, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and affection. "Don't say that," she whispered, her words almost breaking him. "You're still so young. You're not ready for... for all of this."

Dustin Li stood there, stunned, his mind reeling with confusion and hurt. Was it a rejection, or was it simply that she wasn't ready? He didn't know, but her next action left him even more perplexed.

Maeve, with a soft laugh, reached up and kissed his lips again—this time, a delicate, fleeting touch. Then, without another word, she turned and left, leaving Dustin Li standing in the middle of the room, still feeling the warmth of her kiss.

He touched his lips, his thoughts a whirlwind. "Was I... molested?" he muttered to himself, half-laughing, half-shocked by the events that had just unfolded.

Despite the confusion, a smile tugged at his lips. He was still young, but his desires were clear. He would grow stronger, not just for the duel ahead, but for the future he hoped to build with Maeve.

In the hours that followed, Dustin Li focused his mind. There was a battle to be fought. The life-or-death duel with Lestir loomed large in his thoughts. As the top 137th-ranked disciple in the Outer Sect, Lestir was a formidable opponent.

Dustin Li had already experienced the harshness of the sect, but he wasn't about to back down. His cultivation had reached a stable third level of Energy Gathering. It wasn't enough to match Lestir's seventh level, but Dustin Li had more than just raw power at his disposal.

He spent the rest of the night refining his cultivation. Using a high-quality vitality stone and the fifth-order Spirit Gathering Formation, he ensured that his cultivation progressed at an accelerated rate, stabilizing his foundation.

The next day, Dustin Li awoke early and made his way to the Flying Dragon Tower, where the most significant battles were fought. This tower, which towered nine stories high, was where the outer disciples were ranked based on their combat abilities. The higher you ranked, the greater the resources and cultivation benefits you earned.

Dustin Li had been waiting for this opportunity. The Flying Dragon Tower was a testing ground for strength, and it was time to prove that he belonged among the elite of the sect.

As he arrived, the crowds were already gathered. Whispers filled the air as another disciple, DenCan, staggered out of the tower, covered in blood but still standing. The crowd murmured, speculating about his rank.

"DenCan, ranked 936th!" someone shouted, as DenCan grimaced and wiped the blood from his face.

Dustin Li could only nod. In this vast sect, the competition was fierce. But he was determined. His duel with Lestir was just the beginning.