Chapter 234: Xu Xiaoshou, Charge!

Two figures soared through the sky, one tall and one short, like an old father carrying a baby.

"I'm absolutely furious, truly furious!"

Ye Xiaotian's white hair and beard fluttered wildly, making his airborne figure wobble unsteadily.

"Ah, come on, he's not a traitor, so why get so worked up? We got all those town boundary treasures, and that shows the kid's got some real talent, doesn't it?"

Qiao Qianzhi held onto the fuming Ye Xiaotian, afraid he might lose his balance and crash. Once he steadied the other man, Qiao Qianzhi shrugged and said:

"Think about it the other way around—this kind of outstanding disciple coming from Ling Gong just proves that our sect is thriving and full of vitality, right?"

"So what if it's four town boundary treasures? No big deal."

"When Bai Ku opens, we can have a few clashes with the surrounding major sects, and that'll make up for it..."

"Don't mention 'four' to me!" Ye Xiaotian couldn't hold back and roared out loud. Four town boundary treasures! That brat had practically looted a third of Tianxuan Men's small world and shattered the trial secret realm—who could put up with that?

"Xu Xiaoshou..." Ye Xiaotian muttered unconsciously, then said coldly, "Over the next few days, make sure someone keeps a close eye on him. We can't have any more trouble!"

"Of course, of course." Qiao Qianzhi patted the head of the irate white-haired "baby," signaling him to calm down. As they passed E Hu, he casually grabbed a few terrified fat geese.

"Come on, let's go roast some geese!"

But Ye Xiaotian's mind was nowhere near food; he was still dazed and muttering to himself.

"No, I have to find a way to kick him out of Ling Gong—even Lao Sang showing up won't stop me!"

"That might be a bit extreme, it really might." Qiao Qianzhi waved his hands quickly. He was about to say more when a hurried black shadow landed in front of them.

"Dean, Elder Qiao!"

Ye Xiaotian instantly composed himself, his face expressionless as he asked, "What is it?"

"Huff..."

"Xu Xiaoshou..." The black-clad figure was out of breath from rushing, speaking in halting bursts.

"What's wrong with Xu Xiaoshou?" Ye Xiaotian's heart skipped a beat. It couldn't be! How long had they been away? Had that troublemaker caused more chaos?

"Xu Xiaoshou... he—he's gone up against Zhang Xinxiong on the life-and-death arena!"

This statement hit like a bolt from the blue, leaving the two men stunned and speechless. Ye Xiaotian stood there in a daze for a moment, question marks forming on his face. The next second, his white hair flew wildly as he exploded in rage:

"What did you say?!"

The life-andath arena was a massive platform, even larger than the one used for the outer court's Fengyun Contest finals—more than twice the size. It was the only one in the inner court! Stepping onto it meant there was basically no turning back or admitting defeat. It was kill or be killed!

A large crowd surrounded the arena, made up of the inner court's disciples—there weren't many, just over a hundred, but nearly all who could come had arrived.

"This is the big event of the year—outer court senior brother versus inner court senior brother? Tsk tsk..."

"This Xu Xiaoshou has some nerve. I thought he was just talking big, but he actually stepped up. He doesn't look nervous at all?"

"Maybe his legs are shaking, and he's just putting on a brave front!"

"Hmph, what nonsense are you spouting? If you were in his shoes, would you dare? Just for that, I'm impressed with Xu Xiaoshou!"

"Huh? Zhou Tianshen? Aren't you friends with Xu Xiaoshou? Why not go persuade him?"

The one-armed Zhou Tianshen leaned on his great saber with one hand, his freshly cut short hair blowing in the wind. He had snapped out of Xu Xiaoshou's apocalyptic talk and was now completely clear-headed. Gazing at the elegant young man on the arena, and hearing the comments around him, the tall man fell silent.

Back then, when Zhang Xinxiong had pressured him, Zhou Tianshen hadn't bent his knees even if it meant kneeling in the dirt. Instead, he had secretly vowed to grow stronger within a year and cut Zhang Xinxiong down. That was why he had gone all out in the Tianxuan Men, charging into the killing corner without a second thought to temper himself.

Yet now, less than a tenth of that year had passed, and Xu Xiaoshou was already standing against Zhang Xinxiong!

Regardless of the outcome, that defiant spirit alone made Zhou Tianshen feel... admiration!

"Xu Xiaoshou, survive this!" he cheered inwardly.

"Hey? Why aren't you saying anything?" The person next to him nudged him. "Go advise him to cool off—maybe he can still back out and avoid disaster!"

"Heh!"

Zhou Tianshen sneered. Back down? As if! He recalled the scene of his fight with Xu Xiaoshou, and a surge of excitement and bloodlust rushed through him. He roared loudly:

"Fearing the fight before it starts is the greatest taboo in battle; fleeing without fighting is the shame of cultivation; surrendering without resistance is the stain of life!"

"Xu Xiaoshou, charge forward!"

His shout silenced the chatter below the arena in an instant, even startling Xu Xiaoshou, who was facing Zhang Xinxiong on the platform. Xu Xiaoshou turned his head and saw Zhou Tianshen leaping up, short hair flying. The tall man thumped his right fist against his chest, then pointed at him with a look that said, "I'm with you."

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned.

"Good... so chuuni..."

But why did it feel so exhilarating? He quickly turned back, afraid he might get infected by that guy's vibe. This battle demanded total focus! Zhang Xinxiong wasn't your average opponent—if he could have broken through to Zongshi three years ago, his combat power couldn't be judged by cultivation level alone.

"Are you ready?"

Zhao Xidong glanced between the two, his eyes lingering on Xu Xiaoshou's face as his lips moved, wanting to give one last word of advice. But just then, Xu Xiaoshou spoke up boldly: "Zhang Xinxiong, are you ready to die?"

This...

Zhao Xidong stumbled slightly but ultimately chose to say nothing.

Zhang Xinxiong glanced at his opponent, then back at Zhou Tianshen, and muttered with a cold laugh: "Two idiots."

"Begin!"

Zhao Xidong waved his hand and immediately retreated. This fight didn't need a referee!

"Take this!"

Xu Xiaoshou charged forward like a madman, fists raised without a word.

"Is he crazy? Trying to match Zhang Xinxiong in physical strength?"

The crowd below was shocked. They had assumed Xu Xiaoshou had a plan to challenge Zhang Xinxiong. But from the looks of it, that wasn't the case at all? It seemed like he had just gotten fired up and jumped onto the arena!

"Damn, he's done for!"

"Xu Xiaoshou might have an innate physical body, but Zhang Xinxiong has the Zhang family's once-in-a-millennium 'Ancestral Bear Bloodline'—even in raw strength, he probably doesn't lose to Xu Xiaoshou..."

"And if he activates his bloodline, this fight's over?"

Zhang Xinxiong watched Xu Xiaoshou rush at him with fists flying, his face turning cold.

"Ignorance!"

After a quiet scoff, he slowly raised his hand, and a massive illusory black bear shadow appeared behind him. The shadow was enormous, several zhang tall, roaring toward the sky. With this black bear looming behind the already giant-like Zhang Xinxiong, the intimidation was overwhelming, making the crowd instinctively step back.

As Xu Xiaoshou reached the midpoint, Zhang Xinxiong clenched his fist, and the black bear shadow roared instantly.

"Roar!!"

The arena exploded with a boom, shattering and sending rocks flying everywhere!