Chapter 5: You Experienced Everything I Have

As soon as Elder Dong announced the start of the duel, the clash of long swords echoed on the wooden stage!

Before the duel, Fang Pengju made every excuse to avoid it. But once the duel truly began, he showed no hesitation. His sword strikes were extremely steady, accurate, and ruthless, leaving no room for error. He had risen above all other outer disciples of the Maple Leaf Dao Academy and earned the respect of Jiang Wang and others, so he was certainly not just a name.

But Jiang Wang was faster, steadier, and more resolute than him!

Because he had waited fifty-seven days, because in these fifty-seven days and nights, he had imagined this scene countless times.

Even with serious injuries, even enduring a weak body, even on the verge of death several times.

He accepted the sword-to-sword combat with enemies, be it injury or death. But the pain and suffering he endured from being betrayed by the most trusted person far exceeded physical torment.

What supported him through that time, besides the boundless desire for life, was also an unforgettable hatred!

One sword, breaking through Fang Pengju's sword stance.

As the sword entered, so did he, directly slamming his abdomen onto Fang Pengju's long sword. As blood splattered, Jiang Wang indifferently swung his sword horizontally, severing Fang Pengju's tendons!

The two wounds appeared almost simultaneously, but one was proactive and the other passive, which already determined the outcome.

Jiang Wang advanced again, using his elbow and body, slamming forward violently. He crashed heavily into Fang Pengju's chest.

Fang Pengju had just lost control of his sword in the face of intense pain, and the next moment he heard the distinct sound of his bones cracking.

His whole body was slammed into a shrimp-like shape, crashing off the high platform, and bounced back from the swaying branches before falling to the ground.

In just one exchange, Fang Pengju was defeated!

"How is this possible? The gap... is so big?!"

There was an uproar below the stage.

Everything happened too fast. The Qi Opening Pill, mixed with Jiang Wang's blood and tears, allowed Fang Pengju's Dao Meridian to emerge, his momentum soaring.

The sword, mixed with Jiang Wang's hatred and pain, also caused Fang Pengju to fall into the dust.

"He lost to himself, lost to fear," Zhao Rucheng said in a low voice, "If it weren't for fear, he wouldn't have chosen to harm Third Brother and seize the Qi Opening Pill by despicable means. He knew he had no other way to surpass Third Brother, and once the gap widened, he would never catch up."

Linghe couldn't help but sigh, "When Third Brother first came to the academy, his strength was still at the bottom, far inferior to Pengju. Over the years, his swordsmanship has become recognized as the best in the outer sect, and Pengju has always been proud..."

Du Yefu roared, "In the end, isn't it because of incompetence and shamelessness?!"

Clang!

Jiang Wang slowly pulled out the long sword that had pierced through his abdomen and casually threw it aside.

The bloody long sword fell to the ground with a clatter, as helpless and panicked as Fang Pengju, who was spitting blood.

With the long sword hanging by his side, Jiang Wang walked forward slowly.

"Help! Dean, save me! I am a member of the Fang family, the Fang family is one of the three major families in this city!"

Fang Pengju shouted in panic, with no trace of a wealthy young master's demeanor left.

Dong A said with no expression, "Since it is a Dao Witnessed Death Duel, it is naturally a fight to the death. The only one who decides your life or death is your opponent."

"Third Brother, Third Brother!" Fang Pengju supported himself on the ground, retreating constantly, "Spare me, spare me! Spare me this time!"

"The Fang family is a century-old family! But no cultivator has pushed open the Gate of Heaven and Earth in twenty years! One step slow, every step slow! How much time do I have to wait? I can't stop, I carry my deceased father's earnest hope, I can't stop!"

He looked at Jiang Wang with tears in his eyes, "Your Qi Opening Pill, tell me, would you have given it to me?"

Jiang Wang was silent.

"My uncle went to the Yun Kingdom, but he couldn't buy a Qi Opening Pill at all. Even if he bought it, he might not give it to me. The control of the Qi Opening Pill is getting stricter and stricter, only awarded to the most promising outer disciples. You were the only one in the entire Maple Leaf Dao Academy who obtained such merit, I had no choice, I had no choice!" Fang Pengju cried bitterly.

Jiang Wang narrowed his eyes, "Actually, I understand you. I understand your anxiety, unease, and fear. The Fang family is a large family, giving you a superior environment, but the competition is also fierce. I knew long ago that people's desires are endless. I also know how much you want to prove yourself, how much you want to win glory for your father who died young, you said it all, I remember it all. You were eager to succeed, possessed by a ghost, actually I can understand."

In the sudden glimmer of hope that flashed in Fang Pengju's eyes, he continued, "But understanding doesn't mean forgiveness."

After saying this, Jiang Wang had just walked in front of Fang Pengju.

The long sword drew a clear arc in the air, accurately and without a trace of hesitation, piercing into his chest.

"Repay kindness with kindness, how to repay malice?"

"So, I once died once, and you need to repay with your life."

Jiang Wang said slowly.

Fang Pengju grabbed the sword with his intact left hand, allowing the blade to cut open his palm, allowing the sword to remain in his body, so that death could be delayed.

He struggled to make a hoarse sound.

"After... stealing your pill, I couldn't sleep every night. I regret it very much... I'm very sorry. But, but you are safe and sound, aren't you? We are brothers. Why... why can't you forgive me... once."

Many people below the stage had complex emotions, unable to bear to watch or listen.

But Jiang Wang just looked at him calmly.

"Do you know the feeling of being betrayed? Do you know the kind of burning pain and anger inside? You made my trust seem foolish, you made my experience look like a joke. You made my pain meaningless."

Memories flowed like water, but no longer had any warmth, difficult to stir up waves.

"Have you ever had the experience of lying on a pile of straw, weak and powerless, only able to watch death approach?"

"I seemed to see two shadows shaking in front of me, I knew they were Black and White Impermanence. I seemed to hear their breathing, slow, slow, echoing in my ears. I once vowed to conquer fate! But I knew I was about to die, but I had no way to do anything."

"If you have experienced what I have experienced, you will understand that some pain cannot be compensated. I am already a person who has died once. If I forgive you, I will not be qualified to face myself."

Jiang Wang only said this, slowly and resolutely pulled out the long sword.

The high platform slowly descended, the branches shrunk, and finally the entire dueling arena, extended by Dao techniques, turned into a small sapling, burrowing into the ground.

And Fang Pengju lay quietly on the ground, his right hand hanging down, his left hand still clenched in front of him, as if tightly grasping the long sword that had taken his life. His eyes were wide open, with lingering pain, unwillingness, and various emotions.

But he was already dead.

Linghe sighed softly, stepped forward, took off his coat, and covered Fang Pengju's face.

Du Yefu opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to curse something, but finally couldn't say anything. The person was already dead.

Zhao Rucheng remained motionless, silent.

Jiang Wang stood quietly in place, his eyes not looking at anyone in the arena, but looking at the endless distant sky. As if looking at himself in another time and space.

"Rest in peace," he said in his heart.

His mind was clear. The earthworm in his spine suddenly became agile, leaping up from the coccyx and successfully swimming through a journey, spitting out a round, full, and beautiful Dao Yuan.

Jiang Wang suddenly remembered a sentence in his heart—understanding worldly affairs is all cultivation, clarity of mind is all resources.