Chapter 589

Chapter 589: Unyielding to Threats

Even Mo Qianxun couldn’t remain seated. He turned to the Sect Leader of Abbot Mountain and snapped, "Enough! The Celestial Platform Competition tests true skill. Must you always resort to underhanded tricks? Is this amusing to you?"

"Wisdom is part of combat strength," the short, elderly Sect Leader of Abbot Mountain sneered. "The greatest victory requires no battle. Using one’s mind is the pinnacle of battle strategy—something you, Mo Qianxun, should understand best. Everyone knows you’re a man of endless schemes!"

"Rubbish! My strategies are never this despicable!" Mo Qianxun retorted coldly.

"Brother Dao, schemes have no hierarchy of nobility," the Sect Leader replied lightly. "This is a Path Contest. To pursue enlightenment, all means are justified. This is common knowledge!"

"You’re vicious," Mo Qianxun spat bitterly. "But don’t celebrate yet. Fang Lie isn’t one to cross lightly. After this insult, if he ever retaliates, don’t come weeping to me!"

The Abbot Mountain Sect Leader laughed mockingly. "Abbot Mountain may not rival Mo Sect in size, but we’re no mere Qi Sea cultivators to be threatened!"

Mo Qianxun smirked. "The Ghost Realm Sect and Ten-Thousand Gu Sect once thought the same."

The Sect Leader’s face paled. He knew of their fate—dozens of Eighth-Rank Treasures stolen, their resources plundered, leaving them crippled. The mere thought of such disaster striking Abbot Mountain chilled him.

"Sect Leader Mo," he pressed urgently, "we agreed all grudges from the Path Contest would be forgiven. Will Mo Sect break this pact?"

"Mo Sect honors its word," Mo Qianxun said solemnly. "But with millions of disciples, some troublemakers inevitably slip through. Should… accidents occur, you can’t hold me accountable, can you?"

The Abbot Mountain Sect Leader seethed, powerless. His sect’s defenses couldn’t match those of the demonic sects Fang Lie had already breached. How could they stop him?

Meanwhile, Fang Lie regained his composure on the battlefield. "You think vague information will make me surrender? Fool!"

Li Qingshi stiffened. "Only a handful know about your mother. Defeat me, or lose her forever!"

"Lies!" Fang Lie scoffed. "Others must know. I’ll offer an Eighth-Rank Treasure as reward—someone will talk."

Li Qingshi faltered. Abbot Mountain’s unity wasn’t absolute. Such a treasure could tempt even their Higher-ups.

"Impossible!" Li Qingshi blustered. "The few who know will swear Dao vows! You’ll learn nothing!"

"Stunted runt!" Fang Lie roared, invoking Li Qingshi’s deepest shame. "You dare threaten me?"

"Don’t test me!" Li Qingshi shrilled. "Strike me, and you’ll never see your mother!"

Fang Lie lunged, hurling three Soulfire Lances. "I’ll beat answers from you first!"

Li Qingshi scrambled back, screaming, "Touch me, and the deal’s dead!"

Li Qingshi’s words caused Fang Lie’s figure to momentarily halt mid-flight. Clenching his teeth, Fang Lie charged forward with unwavering resolve, roaring, "Threaten me? Not a chance! Men of the Fang Family don’t yield to threats! You should’ve learned about our family’s principles first!"

With that, Fang Lie fearlessly dashed to a spot dozens of miles ahead of Li Qingshi. Swinging his massive palm, he unleashed the full force of Past King Fist. A sharp crack echoed as Li Qingshi’s short frame spun thrice on the spot!

Regaining balance, Li Qingshi’s eyes burned crimson. "Fang Lie!" he howled, "I’ll tear you apart!" He lunged at Fang Lie with murderous intent.

Though the slap caused negligible physical harm, the public humiliation before multiple sects was unbearable. As the chief disciple of a major sect and Heaven’s favored child accustomed to reverence, Li Qingshi had never endured such disgrace.

His torment had only begun. Fang Lie kept bombarding him with slaps before he could close the distance. The bizarre principle of Past King Fist ensured every strike landed perfectly, subjecting Li Qingshi to alternating agony and disorientation.

Slap after resounding slap sent the disciple spinning left and right until he staggered dizzily, utterly failing to approach his attacker.

Refusing surrender, Li Qingshi summoned his protective treasure – a bronze bell – and activated Defensive Skill: Stone Skin. Both proved useless against the Law of Cause and Effect. Unless karma-bound, inferior treasures and skills couldn’t hinder this divine skill.

Despite exhausting his secret techniques, Li Qingshi failed to block a single strike. Fang Lie finally ceased not from mercy, but because his hand throbbed painfully.

"Damn your iron face!" Fang Lie cursed, shaking his injured hand. "Broke my damn wrist!"

The spectators erupted in laughter. Truthfully, Li Qingshi’s impenetrable defense stemmed from his Diamond Body Dao magic. Fang Lie’s palm, lacking specialized cultivation, had shattered against that diamond-hard visage.

Another cultivator might have shown restraint, but Fang Lie’s reckless ferocity knew no limits. Fortunately, his Healing Art flared with Nirvana Fire, mending the fracture instantly.

"Enough!" Li Qingshi roared, face smeared with blood-inked markings from Fang Lie’s divine skill. "You go too far!"

"Payback’s fair," Fang Lie coldly retorted. "You should’ve expected this after tormenting my junior sister. Now perish!" Seals formed as he activated Ever-Burning Soul Flame.

Seven-colored flames erupted three zhang high from Li Qingshi’s face, forming a blazing torch. Though the disciple’s superior magic temporarily suppressed the fire, Fang Lie viciously triggered Explosion Qi Technique and Blood Ignition Technique, multiplying his power twentyfold.

The intensified flames overwhelmed Li Qingshi’s resistance, consuming his blood essence and soul. "I yield!" he screeched, thrashing in agony. "Stop! Please!"

"Explain my mother’s fate!" Fang Lie demanded, flames intensifying.

"Never!" Li Qingshi spat through gritted teeth. "I’ll die first!" Palm striking his own skull, he collapsed with a shattered celestial spirit, lifeless before the crowd.