Chapter 561

Chapter 561: Provoked Again

After intense clashes, eighteen victors remained standing. Each had secured one victory.

Among the four who originally targeted Fang Lie, two failed—Ao Jianzi of East Kunlun slain by Fang Lie himself, and You Youzi of Ghost Realm Sect defeated by Mo Lanyun. The other two challengers succeeded.

Monk Ming Kong from Great Thunder Sound Temple needed no introduction—a freakishly powerful opponent. The other victor was Ten-Thousand Gu Sect’s chief disciple, Wan Du Fairy.

This woman had heavenly beauty but a viper’s heart. She specialized in breeding poison Gu insects, rejecting any non-venomous creatures. Her signature technique involved implanting multiple Gu eggs into captured Cultivators’ bodies, letting the parasites grow, fight, and cannibalize until one supreme survivor emerged.

She reportedly possessed a unique ability to make the final Gu inherit all accumulated toxins and the host’s spiritual essence. Thus, using powerful Cultivators as incubators, she could theoretically breed Eighth or Ninth-Rank Gu insects.

This required hosts at least at Fire Tribulation Immortal level—specimens she lacked in quantity. To compensate, this deranged woman relentlessly hunted high-level Cultivators.

Though barely past twenty, rumors claimed she’d slaughtered over ten thousand experts from both righteous and demonic factions, including nearly a hundred Fire Tribulation Immortals.

Her victims suffered prolonged agony. Most were captured alive in battle, remaining conscious as hundreds of Gu insects ravaged their bodies. Death only came when the ultimate Gu burst out, slowly devouring them. Such methods chilled the soul.

Though her kill count paled compared to demons like You Youzi, Wan Du Fairy’s reputation for cruelty surpassed them all!

Having failed to challenge Fang Lie, she reluctantly fought a neutral family clans member. Their hour-long stalemate ended when the neutral party mysteriously surrendered—likely through secret negotiation.

This low-profile victory hid her true capabilities, drawing little attention. Yet Fang Lie sensed this woman was bound to be major trouble.

After eighteen initial matches with no further challengers, the Semi-Immortal overseers prepared to end the round. The final participant could advance unchallenged, but after multiple unanswered calls, elders declared the Celestial Platform Competition’s second round open.

Before the announcement faded, two challenge letters flew toward Fang Lie—undeniably from Great Thunder Sound Temple’s Monk Ming Kong and Ten-Thousand Gu Sect’s Wan Du Fairy!

Provoked again, Fang Lie’s fury burned. Studying both letters, he debated targets. Convention demanded prioritizing Demonic Path foes before internal conflicts, but Great Thunder Sound Temple’s repeated provocations tested his patience.

Mo Qianxun shook his head. "They may discard honor, but Mo Sect must uphold righteousness in crucial matters. Understand?"

Fang Lie nearly argued until noticing Mo Qianxun’s subtle wink. Swallowing his words, he realized—this publicly shamed Great Thunder Sound Temple!

While the temple kept provoking Mo Sect, their insistence on confronting external threats first created stark moral contrast. Surrounding Old Foxes immediately noticed, branding the temple as self-serving schemers.

Smirking, Fang Lie declared, "Though I loathe those Great Thunder Sound Temple bald devils, we share righteous sect ties. Therefore I’ll—"

Master Tianlong interrupted, "Fang Lie! This settles personal grudges, unrelated to righteous-demonic struggles!"

"Ah!" Fang Lie pretended enlightenment. "So private vendettas outweigh cosmic good-evil battles? How… pragmatic."

Master Tianlong’s face darkened, realizing the rhetorical trap. "Enough chatter! If Mo Sect Fang Family breeds cowards afraid of Arena combat, just admit it!"

"Am I timid?" Fang Lie sneered disdainfully. "I nearly crippled the Ghost Realm Sect and humiliated the Ten-Thousand Gu Sect. I’ve toyed with two great Demonic Path sects. What right does a so-called ‘Master Tianlong’ have to call me timid? Even as a Semi-Immortal, have you ever dealt heavy injuries to two major Demonic Path sects? If not, shove that comment back down your throat!"

"You—" Master Tianlong choked on his rage.

Fang Lie’s counterattack struck true. The boy hadn’t just boasted – he’d genuinely battered two Demonic Path sects. No matter how lofty Master Tianlong’s status or silver-tongued his arguments, he couldn’t deny this reality!

Though Master Tianlong had slain countless Demonic Path cultivators, including Thunder Tribulation Immortals, his total damage to the Demonic Path paled beside Fang Lie’s achievements.

After losing their treasures, the weakened Ghost Realm Sect had been mauled by both righteous and demonic paths, falling from major sect status. The Ten-Thousand Gu Sect fared slightly better but became a laughingstock across the land.

Master Tianlong, for all his power, had never reduced a single Demonic Path sect to such misery. By merit alone, he lacked the qualification to lecture Fang Lie.

The gathered crowd knew this well. Though silent, their mocking stares pierced Master Tianlong like knives, nearly making him vomit blood.

Truthfully, among Great Thunder Sound Temple’s two Semi-Immortals, Master Tianlong’s strength was matched only by his arrogance and poor judgment – terrible traits for a Sect Leader. He’d recognized this himself, yielding the position to Master Bai Quan when the previous leader retired.

But when Fang Lie forced Bai Quan into seclusion, Master Tianlong seized the abbotship. His temperament remained unchanged, promptly embarrassing Great Thunder Sound Temple before all.

Mo Qianxun finally interjected, first scolding Fang Lie: "Enough! Show respect to your elders!"

"Yes sir." Fang Lie dipped his head meekly.

Turning to Master Tianlong, Mo Qianxun said, "Senior Brother Tianlong, the boy’s young and impulsive. Don’t lower yourself to his level."

"Ahem!" The cornered Master Tianlong spat bitterly, "Fine! I’ll ignore the brat. But Fang Lie must fight the first match!"

"Senior Brother," Mo Qianxun feigned reasonableness, "why cling to past grievances?"

"Silence!" Master Tianlong roared. "Great Thunder Sound Temple’s shame demands blood!"

"Your temple lacks the strength!" Fang Lie shot back.

"Then prove your courage!" Master Tianlong challenged. "Dare you face this trial?"

"Why fear a bald devil? I’ve slaughtered their kind before." Fang Lie’s smirk held pure contempt.

"Done!" Master Tianlong barked, hurling Ming Kong onto the Celestial Platform before anyone could object.

Mo Qianxun sighed. "Must you rush? Very well. Fang Lie, proceed. But—" His tone hardened. "Senior Brother Tianlong, does this settle all debts, win or lose?"

"Naturally!" Master Tianlong declared. "Our temple’s word is iron! But you’ll return our 108 Bronze Chime Bells, Wonderful Bodhi Tree, and Banana Leaf Golden Scripture if we prevail!"

"Agreed!" Fang Lie answered before Mo Qianxun could speak. "And if you lose? Or does Great Thunder Sound Temple specialize in empty threats?"

"Hmph!" Master Tianlong produced an object – a gnarled wooden stump bearing an ancient face grown through nature’s hand, not carver’s tools.

The crowd stirred. Even Mo Qianxun frowned, silently cursing, "Is this stubborn old man tricking us with rotten lumber?"

"Master Tianlong!" voices demanded. "What is this?"

"It’s just wood! My divine sense finds nothing within!"

"Are you mocking us?!"