Chapter 247

Chapter 247: Pyrrhic Victory

As Zhang Yang accepted the challenge, cheers erupted once again, primarily from the side of Moonview Tower, while the women of Green Sparrow Palace also voiced their enthusiastic support for him.

“Hahaha, great!” Yilie laughed. “The Mighty Battle God is indeed bold—fighting at Touching Heaven Realm Level Four against someone at Opening the Sky Realm Level One. Regardless of the outcome, I admire your spirit.”

Zhang Yang furrowed his brows. “Why do I have a bad feeling about this?”

Yilie grinned. “How could you? This is a fair bet, and you have the advantage. I’m wagering three Holy Bone Dan Stones for one Great Path Sacred Fruit. I’m the one at a loss.”

“Really?” Zhang Yang looked puzzled.

At that moment, Bing Yuyan walked past him, her back to Yilie, unafraid of being noticed. As she passed, she pinched Zhang Yang’s waist and whispered, “Well done!”

Zhang Yang was speechless. He was clearly being taken advantage of. This seemingly aloof goddess had a mischievous streak hidden within, and he was beginning to uncover it.

“If we’re going to fight, it must be fair!” Yilie declared confidently. “So, I brought the Decisive Battle Forbidden Law Stone.”

A striped Forbidden Law Stone appeared in her hand.

The Decisive Battle Forbidden Law was a highly specialized technique designed for fair duels. Once activated, it connected with the earth and sky, continuously drawing in essence. Unless a saint intervened, disrupting or destroying it was nearly impossible, ensuring that the fight would conclude without interference.

A cold gleam flashed in Zhang Yang’s eyes.

It appeared fair, but in reality, it concealed great danger.

If he hadn’t lifted the Absolute Holy Forbidden Law, engaging in such a battle could be disastrous. What if his opponent lost control and tried to kill him?

That was entirely possible.

This seemingly straightforward wager was, in fact, a carefully crafted trap set by Yilie, one that could achieve multiple objectives at once.

“Alright, that sounds fair,” Zhang Yang said, glancing at Bing Yuyan. “Palace Master, please inspect it.”

Bing Yuyan exuded an aura of pride befitting a goddess, her presence dazzling. She naturally became the center of attention, even in a place like this. Even Yilie, an old fox who had seen much of the world and prioritized his own interests above all, could not hide his inner excitement.

She was simply too breathtaking, outshining everyone.

Her martial arts talent was extraordinary; she was destined to become a saint, and her ability to comprehend the mysteries within the Great Path Sacred Fruit made her even more remarkable.

Five hundred years ago, she had already made a name for herself in the Southern Region, recognized by all.

A woman like her possessed immeasurable allure for any man.

Zhang Yang even noticed that Yilie, usually composed, showed a hint of tension, momentarily affected by Bing Yuyan’s presence. It was a testament to her stunning beauty.

After inspecting the stone, Bing Yuyan gave a slight nod.

“Palace Master Bing may personally activate it to ensure the fairness of the duel,” Yilie suggested.

“Alright.”

Bing Yuyan nodded indifferently.

Yilie presented the stone with both hands.

Zhang Yang watched the entire exchange and felt speechless. Some men were truly pathetic.

Bing Yuyan didn’t even glance at Yilie, nor did she touch the stone. Instead, she activated it with a mere stir of her mind.

Buzz!

The Decisive Battle Forbidden Law Stone radiated light, shooting toward a clear area and raising a platform from the ground. This platform was adorned with Forbidden Law Patterns, drawing power essence from the void and the earth. A light barrier formed above it, displaying imagery of the sun and moon, as well as landscapes of mountains and rivers.

Within moments, the scene became both real and illusory.

Yilie declared, “The bet duel is about to begin.”

“For this battle, I hope we won’t use any treasures or weapons. Let’s keep it light so we don’t injure each other,” Zhang Yang suggested again.

Yilie laughed heartily. “That’s fine. We’ll do as you say.”

He waved his hand.

A burly figure stepped forward—Ding Yilong. He bowed respectfully to Yilie before striding onto the duel platform. Clasping his fists toward Zhang Yang, he said, “I am Ding Yilong from Moonview Tower, at Opening the Sky Realm Level One. I humbly request the Mighty Battle God to grant me a match.”

His demeanor was polite and humble.

Zhang Yang studied him for a moment, not responding immediately, as if deep in thought.

Yilie smirked. “The Mighty Battle God of the Vast Forest isn’t feeling timid, is he?”

“Ridiculous,” Zhang Yang scoffed, stepping boldly into the arena.

The onlookers held their breath in anticipation.

Only two people had particularly delicate thoughts about the situation.

One was Yilie. His excitement made even this cunning fox tighten his fists. In his eyes, Zhang Yang was not a person but a collection of Great Path Sacred Fruits.

The other was Bing Yuyan. She disliked overcomplicating matters, but in this instance, her thoughts were transparent. She gazed at Ding Yilong—not as a man, but as three Holy Bone Dan Stones. She began to wonder if using all three at once could help her break through a minor realm at the saint level in one go.

On the duel platform, the two fighters locked eyes.

Ding Yilong clasped his fists once more. “Mighty Battle God, I apologize!”

As the last word left his lips, he suddenly lunged forward.

This movement revealed the difference in their realms.

The Opening the Sky realm signified the ability to truly shatter the void, unlike the Ascending to Heaven realm, which merely created ripples in the air.

Zhang Yang scoffed coldly and immediately channeled his Diamond Dragon Holy Power, unleashing it at fifty percent of its strength.

Whoosh!

Even at this level, the Holy Might surged fiercely, overwhelming everything in its path.

Crack!

The power of the Opening the Sky realm was distinct. Ding Yilong, who had trained diligently for over forty years to reach this stage, was indeed a genius. He broke through the oppression of the Holy Might and launched a powerful blow at Zhang Yang.

Boom!

The two clashed violently, and a blast of light erupted at the point of impact. Shockwaves rippled through the air, whipping their hair in all directions.

Ding Yilong trembled fiercely, letting out a low groan as he was forced back. He staggered two steps before steadying himself.

Zhang Yang’s body shook violently as well. He gritted his teeth and let out a low growl, barely managing to keep himself from falling. His face turned red, his neck flushed, and upon closer inspection, his hands trembled, his legs quivered, as if he was on the verge of collapsing. Yet, he forced himself to remain standing.

Gritting his teeth, he sneered, “The Opening the Sky realm doesn’t seem that impressive.”

Ding Yilong roared, “Come again!”

He charged forward once more.

As the two exchanged blows again, the difference in their power became clearer.

Zhang Yang no longer engaged in direct clashes, instead opting for agile evasions. On the other hand, Ding Yilong displayed remarkable strength, becoming more aggressive with each encounter. He relentlessly pushed Zhang Yang into a corner, forcing him into an increasingly difficult position.

Watching this unfold, Yilie finally relaxed. She muttered to herself,

“Zhang Yang, you’ve truly surprised me. Even after being secretly weakened by my Absolute Holy Forbidden Law, you still possess such strength. If you were at your peak, wouldn’t Ding Yilong fall to a single slap?”

“You truly deserve the title of Mighty Battle God.”

“Ding Yilong is the strongest among the elites I carefully selected from Moonview Tower—at Opening the Sky realm, level one.”

“Someone like you shouldn’t be alive. If you survive, where will others find their path?”

“Why not let Ding Yilong ‘accidentally’ kill you?”

A murderous intent surged within Yilie as she prepared to signal Ding Yilong to deliver a lethal attack.

Just as she was about to give the signal, the words barely reaching her lips, Zhang Yang suddenly darted forward like an eel, slipping beneath Ding Yilong’s left arm.

In that instant, he struck with a backhanded slap.

Smack!

His palm landed solidly on the back of Ding Yilong’s head.

“Uh~~”

Ding Yilong’s eyes rolled back, and he fell face-first onto the ground.

Zhang Yang staggered forward two steps, placing his hands on his knees as he panted heavily, swallowing hard. He looked at Yilie and said, “I… I won.”

Thud!

His own legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the duel platform.

The sudden turn of events left Yilie stunned, her mind going blank as the deafening cheers from Green Sparrow Palace rang in her ears.

Among them, Bing Yuyan’s excited voice was impossible to conceal:

“The Holy Bone Dan Stones are ours now.”

She reached out, and the three Holy Bone Dan Stones swiftly flew into her hand.

Yilie’s face turned pale with fury. All her schemes had failed. She had not only lost the bet—she had lost the Holy Bone Dan Stones, holy treasures so valuable that even saints coveted them.

She couldn’t accept it.

Her hands clenched tightly as she fought the urge to charge forward and snatch them back.

But when she met Bing Yuyan’s sharp, unyielding gaze, she hesitated.

“No way!” Yilie gritted her teeth, her heart screaming, “I must win them back! I will win them back!”