"They're fighting? They're fighting!"

"Qi Lin'er ambushed and killed Red Cotton Peak's people, and Chu Liang went straight to Penglai to challenge him in a battle to the death!"

"The Penglai Supreme Sect has always been sinister and domineering. I support Chu Liang!"

"Justice lives on in the hearts of the people. I support Chu Liang!"

"Red Cotton Peak sells cheap but good quality stuff. I support Chu Liang!"

"I like Jiangjiang. I just want to see a fight between two people I dislike!"

"Indeed."

"Seconded!"

Unlike The Seven Stars Gazette, which published about major events that had happened in the month just passed, the Circle of Immortal Friends had the major benefit of immediacy. Chu Liang had shared the news beforehand. So, before the two main characters even took their places, the crowd was ready for the show, and they even called their friends over and dragged their families there too.

"Esteemed teacher! Chu Liang of the Mount Shu Sect is going to fight Qi Lin'er of the Penglai Supreme Sect in a battle to the death. Let's go watch!"

"What? Mount Shu is going to war with Penglai? Let's go watch!"

"What? The Divine Nine and the Terrestrial Ten are about to throw the world into chaos? Second Aunt, let's go watch!"

"What? The human world is going to be destroyed? Husband, I might as well tell you the truth… The child is the neighbour's…"

News of the battle spread much faster and wider than Chu Liang had expected. His original intention was to use the Circle of Immortal Friends' extensive network to draw interest, ensuring Penglai wouldn't dare overlook the injustice and intervene forcibly. However, he had underestimated the passionate interest that people had in drama. Once these normally ascetic cultivators got interested in something, they exploded with immense energy to join the fray.

By the time Chu Liang and Qi Lin'er took their places on an island near Penglai, thousands of cultivators had gathered around them, resembling a grand assembly of immortals. A small number of them were acquaintances of the two people involved, but most of the cultivators had likely traveled there from near and far after hearing there would be a good show to watch.

Nevertheless, this worked to Chu Liang's advantage; now the Penglai Supreme Sect wouldn't be able to use force to suppress the matter. On the surface, it appeared that only the Yang brothers and a group of the younger Penglai Supreme Sect disciples had come to watch the battle, but it was very likely that many powerful elders were watching from the shadows.

Under the gazes of so many onlookers, Qi Lin'er became even more excited.

His eyes were filled with murderous intent as he glared at Chu Liang. "I'm truly very glad you didn't die. This way, I can return the humiliation you gave me a hundredfold…"

Now that they'd completely shed all pretense of cordiality, Chu Liang was no longer polite.

He said coldly, "Do you have some kind of serious illness? I've always thought there was something wrong with you. As a kid, you were a young psycho, and now that you're older, you're just an older psycho. I heard you emerged from a split stone. Was the saber strike crooked? Did it knock out half your brains? I defeated at least eighty, if not a hundred, people at the Assembly of Immortal Sects. Why are you the only one that feels humiliated? Why are you the only one that has so much crap to say? Are you some demon that was born from a weasel's fart? All I did was step on your face once. Honestly, I think you even looked better afterward. It's like I gave you a free makeover, and yet, instead of thanking me, you're holding a grudge? You're a really ungrateful and vicious person, rotten to the core. No wonder your parents died when you were a fetus…"

"You—" Qi Lin'er uttered, stunned. He had never experienced such a barrage of insults.

"What about me?" Chu Liang raised his chin. "Do you think I look like your father? Let me tell you, I don't have a habit of falling in love with stones. Go find someone else to be your father. I think Daoist Chi Niu from your sect fits the bill pretty well. He looks like someone who sows seeds by the riverside and seems to share a bloodline with you and your missing brain cells. Maybe you two really are related…"

Qi Lin'er's eyes widened in rage. "I—"

At the same time, there was the sound of an almost imperceptible cold snort in midair.

Chu Liang raised his eyebrows. "What about you? Even if I were the result of twenty generations of cow and horse crossbreeding, I wouldn't devolve into someone like you. If you kneel and beg me, maybe I'll be merciful enough to step on your face again. It might make you look less hideous…"

"Aaaarghhhh!!" Qi Lin'er roared, his chest heaving. "I'll kill you!"

Before he was even done talking, he lunged at Chu Liang.

A cold glint flashed in Chu Liang's eyes. He took half a step back and swiftly dodged Qi Lin'er's attack.

Swoosh.

Considering Chu Liang's personality, he wouldn't usually waste time saying that much nonsense in a battle to the death. The main reason for his verbal tirade was to provoke his opponent. Against a foe with a not-so-great brain, this was the perfect way to throw them into disarray.

Chu Liang could now use minimal movements to control Qi Lin'er's movements. He had obviously gained the upper hand.

Qi Lin'er missed his target and landed with a loud crash, smashing a deep pit into the ground. Meanwhile, Chu Liang moved past Qi Lin'er in a flash, appearing behind him.

Chu Liang unleashed his heaviest punch. His fist was imbued with Divine Dragon Fire and surrounded by crackling violet lightning, carrying the full might of a killing blow.

However, Qi Lin'er reacted quickly. After his failed attack, he swiftly turned around to defend. He crossed his arms to block Chu Liang's powerful punch. The collision produced a thunderous boom.

Qi Lin'er successfully blocked the punch, but the impact caused him to tremble badly, and his feet sank uncontrollably into the ground.

Chu Liang had the advantage, but he did not show Qi Lin'er any leniency. As he pulled his right fist back, he threw out his left fist. Wrapped in lightning and fire, Chu Liang punched downward with a devastating Lightning-Fire Killing Strike!

Boom!

Qi Lin'er blocked again, but Chu Liang immediately followed up with another punch. His fists rained down, forming an unrelenting string of attacks!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Qi Lin'er was driven lower and lower into the ground with each strike until only his torso remained above ground.

The scene, reminiscent of Di Nufeng's brutal combat style, was an excellent display of Chu Liang's offensive power. The Penglai Supreme Sect disciples that Qi Lin'er had offended couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction, wishing Chu Liang would smash this troublemaker to bits.

In the clouds above, Chu Liang's brothers in the Great Astral Sect cheered loudly. "Brother Chu, hit him in the middle!"

In terms of popularity, Chu Liang held an overwhelming advantage in this battle to the death. If the outcome were decided by audience votes, Chu Liang would wipe the floor with Qi Lin'er a thousand times over—back and forth, and around corners.

But it's not that easy… Chu Liang thought, gritting his teeth.

He often mocked his teacher, inwardly and outwardly, about how she transformed into a phoenix, but in serious battles like these, he hated that he couldn't do the same.

His teacher could rely on the indiscriminate destructive power of the Samadhi True Fire. His Lightning-Fire Killing Strike simply couldn't compare.

Qi Lin'er had been born with bronze skin and iron bones. After years of tempering, he had the strength to rival the top prodigies of the various immortal sects. He had only been twelve years old then, so there was no doubt he was much more powerful now.

Although Chu Liang's relentless strikes appeared imposing, he didn't actually inflict that much damage on Qi Lin'er. Despite his arrogant demeanor, Qi Lin'er was indeed extremely experienced in combat. When Chu Liang had the upper hand, Qi Lin'er didn't counterattack. Instead, he focused on defense, waiting for Chu Liang to exhaust his strength.

Seeing that, Chu Liang deliberately showed a slight opening. He smashed down with his left fist and then hung his right fist in midair.

Noticing there was an opportunity to attack, Qi Lin'er swung his arms wide in a stable, open stance. He launched an explosive counterattack, punching with both hands like an overlord lifting a cauldron![1]

Nevertheless, Chu Liang was very ready for Qi Lin'er's attack. Instead of clashing directly, Chu Liang retreated a few steps and flung out three orbs of light with his right hand.

They were Bewildering Beads!

Whoosh.

The Bewildering Beads could affect anyone, including Qi Lin'er. Caught off guard, he fell victim to the enchanted tool. His senses were instantly thrown into disarray.

The Bewildering Beads were a game changer. With Qi Lin'er's defenses down, Chu Liang couldn't let this opportunity to attack slip away. His right arm transformed into a dragon claw, and he ruthlessly slashed Qi Lin'er!

Squelch.

Blood splattered everywhere!

The dragon claw had ripped Qi Lin'er's belly open, and the force of the attack hurled him back into the deep pit. When he regained his senses, an excruciating pain overwhelmed him!

"Raaaaar!!!"

The agony made him let out a beast-like roar, fully awakening his feral nature. There was a flash of azure light, and then he became covered in scales like he had put on armor, forcibly sealing his gaping wound.

However, before Qi Lin'er could get back on his feet, Chu Liang descended from the sky, stomping down hard.

Boom!

With Chu Liang's foot on his chest, Qi Lin'er was once again driven into the earth by Chu Liang. Qi Lin'er summoned all of his strength to resist but found that the power of the Dragon Soul he had activated was ineffective against Chu Liang.

Every time he had the impulse to kill Chu Liang, the power of the Dragon Soul resisted his will.

Qi Lin'er realized, He's protected by the Dragon God!

"Aaaaaahhhhh!!!!" Qi Lin'er cried out angrily.

He broke into a fit of rage and radiated azure light all over.

Seeing that Qi Lin'er was about to explode, Chu Liang leaped back at once.

Boom!

It was just as Chu Liang had expected. In the next instant, there was an explosion in the deep pit. Countless beams of azure light shot out like a barrage of arrows. Chu Liang leaped hurriedly, dodging them just in time.

Qi Lin'er climbed out of the pit, dripping wet with blood. He resembled an evil spirit that had crawled out from the depths of the netherworld.

Even Chu Liang was quite startled by the sight. He actually detonated the power of the Dragon Soul within him! From now on, he won't have even a trace of that power—just to ensure that his duel with me today wouldn't be negatively affected by it.

Devoid of the power of the Dragon Soul, Qi Lin'er looked utterly pitiful, but his gaze grew even fiercer. He gritted his teeth, raised his hand, and then stuck just his index and middle finger out, folding the rest. Treating his fingers like a saber, he swung his hand swiftly.

However, his attack wasn't aimed at Chu Liang but himself!

The same question arose in everyone's mind. "He's trying to kill himself?"

Only Yang Shenlong narrowed his eyes and muttered, "What nonsense!"

Squelch!

Qi Lin'er slashed his neck with his hand-saber, actually severing it. Blood sprayed everywhere… He died on the spot?!

1. This seems to be referring to Xiang Yu, a powerful warlord that became the Hegemon-King of Western Chu. He was famous for being able to lift a cauldron, a show of his strength. More info here. See translator's thoughts for a photo of a statue of him in the pose that the author is referencing. ☜

GLTD Alternate Universe's Thoughts

Translator: LD

This is a photo of a statue of Xiang Yu. Presumably, the pose Qi Lin'er was something like this, but maybe more like diagonal upward punches.

https://baike.baidu.com/item/霸王举鼎像/6659528

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