Chapter 248

Chapter 248: Unacceptable to Not Take Advantage

On the duel platform, Zhang Yang, his body drained of energy, slowly made his way down. The moment he stepped off, his legs gave way, and he nearly collapsed.

A figure suddenly flashed in front of him, carrying a familiar fragrance.

Just as he was about to hit the ground, he felt himself bounce back slightly. The unexpected sensation startled him, and then he saw an extraordinarily beautiful face, her cheeks flushed crimson.

Bing Yuyan!

“Great job! Let’s take advantage of this and arrange another duel—win another bet.” Her voice was clear and sharp.

Zhang Yang’s lips twitched. What is going on?

He noticed the undeniable eagerness in Bing Yuyan’s eyes—her fervor not for battle, but for the holy treasures.

“I don’t want to take advantage,” Zhang Yang protested.

Bing Yuyan snorted. “You’re too valuable not to take advantage of. If you don’t, then you’ll have to do something for me.”

“You little rascal! Forcing others to take advantage?!” Zhang Yang strongly suspected that the proud and noble goddess before him was merely a façade. Beneath it, she was a true rogue.

“Either way, you’ve benefited. You can’t refuse to help now. Accept your fate. And you dared to say you wanted me as your female servant? I know you didn’t mean it seriously, but not respecting my dignity calls for punishment!”

Behind Zhang Yang’s back, Bing Yuyan’s hands twisted and clenched as if itching to tear a piece of flesh from him.

Zhang Yang gritted his teeth, still feigning exhaustion, and growled, “Hurry up and feed me the pills.”

Only then did Bing Yuyan remember. She had gotten too carried away.

She quickly took out a pill and stuffed it into Zhang Yang’s mouth.

The entire process happened swiftly, and to the others, it seemed ordinary.

But to Feng Daoer and Shuang Jianer, who were watching, it felt surreal—almost as if they had witnessed something completely out of place.

Was this truly their number-one beauty—pure as ice and flawless as jade? How could she actively embrace a man?

It had to be an illusion!

It couldn’t be real!

“Ah!”

A shrill scream shattered everyone’s scattered thoughts.

All eyes turned toward the source of the sound.

The moment Ding Yilong stepped off the duel platform, Yilie had slapped him hard, so hard that his head exploded on the spot.

Even the old fox couldn’t hold back as Yilie vented her fury on Ding Yilong.

She had gone mad.

Three Holy Bone Dan Stones!

Despite her meticulous planning, she had still lost.

It was impossible for her to remain calm; the fact that she had restrained herself to just one murder was already remarkable.

“There’s still a chance,” Bing Yuyan said excitedly.

Zhang Yang furrowed his brows. Yilie’s ruthlessness startled him.

He stood up and pushed Bing Yuyan, who was pressing against him. This woman had become addicted to clinging onto him. Though he had to admit—it was comfortable.

“Third Elder, what’s the meaning of this? A fair duel means accepting the outcome, doesn’t it? Or, in your eyes, must your people always defeat me?” Zhang Yang asked.

Yilie let out a cold huff. “You won. There’s no need to act before this Elder.”

Zhang Yang replied lightly, “Can’t the Third Elder handle a loss?”

“Ha ha ha…”

Yilie suddenly burst into laughter. “I, Yilie, have navigated the Southern Region for decades. I’ve encountered all kinds of things—this little setback doesn’t bother me in the least. But you, young man, you won one match. That doesn’t mean you can keep winning.”

“Oh? Does the Third Elder want to gamble again?” Zhang Yang asked.

“Of course!” Yilie declared, her determination evident.

Zhang Yang smirked. “That wouldn’t be right.”

Yilie sneered. “What? Are you afraid?”

Zhang Yang remained unfazed. “I’m the winner—there’s nothing to be afraid of. I just don’t know if the Third Elder can bring out an item of equal value for the bet.”

Without hesitation, Yilie reached into her storage bag and pulled something out.

In an instant, a rich Holy Intent spread through the air.

A faint Holy Light flickered around it, accompanied by a subtle fragrance.

“What is it?” Zhang Yang asked.

Yilie raised it high and announced, “This is a holy pill from the body of the Howling Moon Saint Wolf. It had successfully become a saint, but it was ambushed and killed.”

A wave of shock rippled through the crowd.

Even Zhang Yang and Bing Yuyan gasped in astonishment.

They marveled at Yilie’s wealth.

She was willing to stake such a rare holy item on a bet?

A holy beast’s holy pill!

This was the essence of a holy beast’s power, the very foundation of its path to sainthood.

If refined successfully, a single holy pill could create an entirely new holy beast.

Of course, if a cultivator’s path was comparable to that of a holy beast, they too could absorb it—with a certain chance of stepping into the realm of saints.

What made this item even more valuable was that a complete holy beast’s holy pill, if shared among three or four Great Boundless beings, could potentially elevate them all to the level of holy beasts.

Its worth was immeasurable.

“Third Elder is indeed generous,” Zhang Yang thought, his heart racing.

In the Vast Forest, there were many beasts.

“Does it compare to the Great Path Sacred Fruit?” Yilie inquired.

Zhang Yang pondered for a moment before nodding. “It does.”

With that, Yilie placed the holy pill in front of the duel platform.

“Continue!” she commanded.

“Alright.”

This time, Zhang Yang wasted no time. He took out the Great Path Sacred Fruit and placed it beside the duel platform as well.

Still, he reminded her, “Old rules.”

“Old rules! I will still arrange for an opponent at the Opening the Sky realm—level one. There will be absolutely no cheating,” Yilie assured.

Zhang Yang nodded and stepped onto the duel platform first.

Yilie beckoned.

From behind her, Xin Yichen, one of the three top experts she had prepared in advance, stepped forward.

Having witnessed Ding Yilong’s gruesome death, Xin Yichen felt an undeniable tension settle in his chest.

Yilie murmured a few words to him.

Then, she asked, “Understood?”

Xin Yichen’s eyes flashed with determination. He clenched his fist tightly and replied,

“This subordinate understands. I shall not disappoint the Elder.”

Yilie patted Xin Yichen’s shoulder reassuringly. "Go. Cast aside your apprehensions. My earlier agitation was misplaced—this time, failure holds no consequence. Simply execute my orders with full commitment."

"Understood."

Xin Yichen bowed before launching himself onto the duel platform.

The moment he landed, he activated his secret technique.

"ROAR!"

A thunderous tiger’s roar erupted from deep within his body.

His skin roughened like bark, and coarse fur sprouted violently across his frame. His stature surged half a meter taller, the symbol "王" (king) blazing on his forehead as his aura mutated into something primal and savage—overwhelmingly potent compared to his ordinary state.

"Fierce Tiger Transformation!"

Bing Yuyan immediately recognized the technique and warned sharply, "Be careful! This forbidden art forcibly doubles one’s power through bloodlust frenzy, but it dulls tactical judgment, reducing the user to brute instinct!"

Yilie chuckled. "The palace master’s wisdom shines as ever. But mark this—a first-level Opening the Sky realm cultivator using Fierce Tiger Transformation rivals third-level combat power. Xin Yichen now surpasses Ding Yilong completely. Victory here is unattainable."

Bing Yuyan responded with icy silence.

On the platform, Zhang Yang merely smiled.

As the transformed Xin Yichen charged with bestial fury, Zhang Yang glided effortlessly to the opposite edge, his movements as fluid as flowing water—eschewing direct confrontation.

The enraged tiger-warrior lunged again.

Zhang Yang nimbly evaded.

Thus began an absurd chase across the arena—

Zhang Yang weaving with leisurely grace,

Xin Yichen mindlessly thundering after him.

The transformation’s flaw became glaringly evident: Xin Yichen’s dulled intellect couldn’t adapt, and he continued his futile charges, unable to strategize. Meanwhile, the transformation’s strain began accumulating.

Zhang Yang, however, showed only faint perspiration, jogging effortlessly as if taking a casual stroll.

The spectators were utterly bewildered.

Could the Mighty Battle God truly win through sheer evasion?

Crimson droplets seeped from Xin Yichen’s pores as his breathing grew ragged. His muscles twitched uncontrollably, his movements sluggish and unsteady—like a marionette with severed strings.

Seizing the moment, Zhang Yang casually shoved his opponent.

Xin Yichen collapsed off the platform without resistance, crumpling at Yilie’s feet.

"Third Elder," Zhang Yang announced cheerfully, "Victory is mine."

Bing Yuyan flicked her fingers, summoning the holy beast’s holy pill into her grasp.

Yilie trembled violently, her refined features twisting in fury. Without hesitation, she delivered a brutal slap, detonating Xin Yichen’s skull like an overripe fruit.

"AGAIN!" she snarled through clenched teeth, her bloodlust undimmed.