Chapter 481

Chapter 481: Black Water True Method

To save his life, Wan Nianqing clenched his teeth and pulled two glowing clusters from his mind. Panting heavily, he transmitted mentally: "These memories contain my firsthand experience of that Secret Realm and the precise space coordinates. Isn’t this proof of my sincerity?"

Tearing memories directly from one’s soul felt like severing a limb from the spirit. The agony surpassed mere physical torture.

Yet compared to death, such pain meant nothing. These Injuries would heal within two or three years. With the Ten-Thousand Gu Insect Nest divine skill, he could still rise as a Core Inner Gate Disciple with boundless prospects. But dying here meant losing everything.

The choice was clear.

Fang Lie grinned approvingly. "Decisive enough!" He snatched the glowing clusters and tossed them toward Huo Wufang.

Wan Nianqing’s heart chilled. Fang Lie’s caution—despite having undying nature—revealed his shrewdness.

Huo Wufang frowned at the memory clusters. To hide his betrayal of sect benefits, Wan Nianqing had used mental transmission throughout their exchange, leaving others clueless.

Fang Lie’s voice suddenly whispered in Huo Wufang’s ear, explaining everything.

The late-stage Thunder Tribulation Cultivator’s eyes gleamed. A five-poison training ground established by an ancient great one, complete Ninth-Rank Low-Level Beast corpses—such treasures would tempt even a Thunder Tribulation Immortal.

Without hesitation, Huo Wufang stored the clusters. After inspection, he nodded confirmation to Fang Lie.

Relieved, Fang Lie waved dismissively at Wan Nianqing. "Enough. Surrender and leave."

The Nine Fang Lies retreated.

Trusting the Fang Family’s honor, Wan Nianqing soared back to his warship’s platform, shouting, "I yield!"

The crowd erupted. "Coward! Buying your life with trinkets?"

"So much for the Ten-Thousand Gu Sect’s invincible secret art! Pathetic!"

"Since when did Fang Lie show mercy? What did that scoundrel offer?"

Though jeers filled the air, none could intervene. Arena battle rules permitted mutual agreements—even converting a death duel to a surrender.

Returning to his sect’s warship, Wan Nianqing brushed off questioning Elders with lies. As the third Core Inner Gate Disciple, his Thunder Tribulation Immortal Master ensured protection.

Besides, losing dozens of poison Gu insects proved his earnest effort. For Demonic Path cultivators, survival outweighed shame. Core disciples with thousand-mile Qi Seas were too valuable to waste.

Fang Lie stored his golden shoes under envious gazes. The Nine Fang Lies barked in unison: "Next challenger! Who seeks death?"

The selected Core Inner Gate Disciples paled. Fighting nine undying foes without treasures? Suicide.

They exchanged uneasy glances. None stepped forward.

Fang Lie scoffed, "You stormed here demanding arena battles, yet gawk like fools! Came for sightseeing?"

"That’s right, hurry up! The Ten Demonic Sects are so famous—why act like cowardly turtles now?"

"And East Kunlun! Weren’t you called Sword Lunatics? Where’s your temper? Fang Lie made you surrender the Star Gold Element Core—he’s practically pissing on your heads! How can you swallow this shame?"

The crowd jeered relentlessly, making the Core Inner Gate Disciples flush crimson, wishing to vanish into the ground.

The Demonic Path leaders looked equally shamefaced, pointing fingers while urging others to send their disciples first. Clearly, none trusted their own juniors, hoping to sacrifice rival sects’ youths instead.

But nobody here was foolish enough to be the first casualty. Their squabbling lasted nearly fifteen minutes without resolution.

Even the spectators and Righteous Cultivators grew impatient. Huo Wufang finally snapped, "Well? Are you fighting or not?"

"The challenged one’s waiting eagerly while you cowards dawdle! Are Demonic Path elites truly terrified of a single Fang Lie? How disgraceful!"

"Spineless worms! Surrender or scram—stop wasting our time!"

The Righteous Cultivators’ mockery finally broke the Demonic Path’s composure. A wrinkled Elder growled, "Fine—bribery it is! Whoever steps up now gets a million small spirit pearls from me!"

"Same here!"

"Me too!" Other sect Elders chimed in, inflating the reward past ten million pearls—enough for multiple Seventh-rank Treasures.

This astronomical sum stunned the Core Inner Gate Disciples, equivalent to centuries’ cultivation resources.

As expected, a voice shouted, "I’ll go!" A black-robed youth stepped forward, eyeing the Elders greedily.

The first Elder nodded. "Brave lad! Kill Fang Lie and the pearls are yours immediately!"

"No one will cheat you!" others chorused.

The youth’s face soured—he realized these stubborn old men planned to withhold payment if he died. Still, confidence gleamed in his eyes; no fool would risk death for mere pearls.

Without ceremony, he flew onto the Arena, facing Fang Lie across ten miles.

"Bao Yushu of Black Water Demonic Sect greets you!" He clasped fists.

Like Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, Black Water wasn’t among Ten Demonic Sects but remained formidable, mastering water element Dao magic.

Fang Lie smirked. "You saw my fights yet still come? Must have some tricks. Show me—don’t bore me!"

"Heh." Bao Yushu smiled. "Truthfully, I specialize in defense. Here’s my proposal: I’ll only defend. Touch me once, I lose. Fail to touch me despite your efforts, you lose. Bet?"

Fang Lie’s eyes sparkled. "Interesting! But I don’t gamble without stakes."

"Easy!" Bao Yushu waved. "I’ve ‘won’ each sect’s promised million pearls. If I lose, all ten million+ pearls go to you!"

*Let’s see you scheming old rats wriggle out of this,* Bao Yushu thought smugly.

Fang Lie whirled toward the sect representatives. "Eighteen sects agreed to duel me—do you honor this wager?"

The Elders nearly choked. Their plan to renege if Bao Yushu died collapsed spectacularly. Though a million pearls meant years of savings for Thunder Tribulation Immortals, public scrutiny forced compliance.

Through gritted teeth, they vowed, "We honor it!"

"Perfect!" Fang Lie grinned wildly. "Ready, Bao Yushu? Here I come!"

"Bring it!" Bao Yushu roared. "Black Water True Method!"

Semi-transparent black water screens materialized, swirling into a mile-wide water orb around him. Though unimpressive at first glance, Fang Lie stayed cautious.

Nine Fang Lies simultaneously raised Arms, conjuring blazing Soulfire Lances!