Volume One: The Youth Enters the World Chapter Fifty-Seven: Interruption

“What you just showed can’t be all you’ve got, can it, Brother Wolfgreen? Honestly, I must admit I’m a little disappointed.” Bai Yifan’s eyes narrowed, his lips curled in a half-smile as he spoke.

Wolfgreen let out a mocking chuckle, his gaze full of derision as he looked at Bai Yifan.
“The feeling is mutual.”

Seeing Wolfgreen’s attitude, Bai Yifan’s gaze grew sharper. Clearly, he was displeased, but he kept his composure, still smiling as he continued,
“Since we’ve already tested each other, I think we’d best settle this quickly. What do you say, Brother Wolfgreen?”

“That suits me perfectly.” Wolfgreen tightened his grip on his long blade and pointed it forward, his aura rising steadily.

Bai Yifan, seeing this, unleashed his own presence, undaunted.

Most of the audience below was baffled by the scene. Could it be that the moves they’d just witnessed were merely warm-ups? That seemed exaggerated; the shockwaves from their earlier exchange had already been formidable. If that was just the beginning, what would come next was beyond their imagination.

Standing below, Fang Tian was filled with anticipation for the impending clash. Opportunities like this were rare indeed.

On the stage, the two men’s auras continued to climb, seemingly not yet at their limits. Then Wolfgreen spoke,
“Bai Yifan, the next technique I’m about to unleash is uncontrollable. Once released, its power is boundless. Surrender now, while you still can.”

“Let me experience this boundless power of yours,” Bai Yifan replied. With a flick of his folding fan, four spears of spiritual energy materialized in the air, each radiating an aura no weaker than the spear he’d used earlier.

This, it seemed, was Bai Yifan’s true strength—four spears, quadruple the power, incomparable to his previous move.

Wolfgreen, meanwhile, radiated a chilling, bloody aura. Crimson spiritual energy spread along his blade, gradually saturating it; the blade stopped absorbing energy, as if reaching its limit.

His blade’s tip touched the ground, and the stone slabs of the Death Stage cracked, fissures spreading outward.

Clearly, the technique Wolfgreen was about to unleash would be just as devastating as he had promised.

“Martial technique: Crimson Moon Blood Devour!” Wolfgreen shouted, raising his long blade. On the blade, a blood-red phantom appeared, howling as if it would consume everything.

“How terrifying! Is this spiritual energy manifesting?” the crowd below exclaimed in awe.

Wolfgreen swung his blade, releasing the blood-red phantom. Freed from its confines, the phantom’s hideous face twisted into a strange smile as it lunged at Bai Yifan.

Bai Yifan sensed danger, but had no time to hesitate. His lips moved lightly,
“Martial technique: Wind Spirit Four Spear Array.”

The four spiritual spears spun like a formation, rushing headlong at the blood-red phantom.

In a flash, the phantom extended its ghastly claws, clashing with the spears, producing a screeching, abrasive sound.

After a brief stalemate, the phantom seemed enraged, letting out a furious howl and forcefully tearing the spears apart with its claws.

The spears shattered, dissolving into motes of spiritual light. With nothing left to impede it, the phantom surged toward Bai Yifan, reaching him in the blink of an eye.

Passing through him, a wave of crimson energy erupted from Bai Yifan’s body; unable to withstand it, he spat a mouthful of blood and collapsed.

“Bai Yifan lost?”

“Incredible.”

“So, Wolfgreen will be ninth on the Hunter Ranking now?”

“Who knows? The Hunter Ranking is based on the number of fugitives captured, but raw strength certainly counts too.”

“Wolfgreen is powerful indeed; ninth place is surely his now.”

“Yes, today’s duel was a feast for the eyes. I wonder how Bai Yifan is.”

“Who can say?”

While the crowd muttered, Wolfgreen walked toward Bai Yifan. Having used his ultimate move, Wolfgreen was weakened and his steps unsteady.

He drew near and began to check Bai Yifan’s breathing, but just as he reached out, Bai Yifan—who had been motionless—suddenly opened his eyes, raised his folding fan, and fired several steel needles at Wolfgreen.

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Wolfgreen dodged a few by instinct, but several struck him.

Wolfgreen staggered back. Bai Yifan seized the moment, leaping forward and striking Wolfgreen’s chest with his palm, sending him sprawling and coughing blood.

Lying on the ground, Wolfgreen felt deep resentment at being ambushed, never expecting Bai Yifan to resort to such underhanded tactics.

Wolfgreen glared fiercely at Bai Yifan.
“A sneak attack—cowardly behavior.”

Bai Yifan shook his head with a faint smile, looking down at Wolfgreen.
“Brother Wolfgreen, all’s fair in war. As long as I win, it matters little whether my methods are honorable.”

“Men like you will die wretched deaths before long.”

“But I doubt you’ll live to see it.”

“What do you mean? Are you planning to kill me?”

“Brother Wolfgreen, this is the Death Stage—life and death are decided here. If I kill you, no one will trouble me. Our feud is settled, so I’d best remove you.”

“So that’s your intention. If you’re going to act, do it.”

“Then allow me.”

Bai Yifan strode slowly toward Wolfgreen.

The onlookers below gazed at Wolfgreen with a hint of sympathy. No one had expected the duel to turn out this way. Though many were indignant, none dared speak up; after all, no one wanted to cross this ruthless, cunning man.

Bai Yifan came close, pointing his folding fan at Wolfgreen and said,
“From now on, I shall come to honor your memory on this day every year.”

Wolfgreen snorted coldly and closed his eyes,
“Spare me the nonsense. Do it.”

Bai Yifan chuckled, channeling spiritual energy into his fan, ready to finish Wolfgreen off.

At that moment, Fang Tian, unable to bear the scene any longer, leapt onto the stage. What had begun as a straightforward duel had devolved into villainy, stirring his anger.

Fang Tian knew he shouldn’t meddle. If the duel were fair, life or death would not concern him. But this was something he could not accept.

“Just this once, I’ll meddle,” he murmured, jumping onto the Death Stage and blocking Bai Yifan.

Seeing someone stand in his way, Bai Yifan was annoyed, but when he looked closely, he saw only a young novice at the third layer of Spirit Gathering.

Though wounded, Bai Yifan was confident this boy was no match for him.

“Who are you, kid?”

“A passerby.”

“You’re opposing me?”

“Not exactly. I just hope you’ll spare him.”

“What a joke! You dare ask me to let him go? Do you know what happens to those who offend me?”

“I haven’t a clue. Why don’t you enlighten me?”

“I see you’ve grown tired of living.”

With that, Bai Yifan struck with his palm, intent on killing Fang Tian, but he underestimated his opponent.

As the blow came, Fang Tian sidestepped effortlessly.

“Brother, I’m only asking you to spare him. There’s no need for violence, is there?” Fang Tian looked at Bai Yifan with innocent eyes.