Chapter 137: The Life-and-Death Challenge
How about that?
Lin Feng shook his head and said indifferently, "Not at all. You've said your piece, now let me say a few words."
"First of all, I want to say this: your worthless brother thought he was something special, trying to seize my cultivation room. He got driven away, yet shamelessly asked you to come and settle the score for him, breaking the academy's rules, bombarding the cultivation room's stone door for a full hundred days, and even using the most vicious words to insult my friends. I killed him—was I wrong?"
Lin Feng's gaze locked onto Black Demon as he asked.
"You weren't wrong to kill him, but..." Black Demon tried to continue, but Lin Feng cut him off: "You just said you were done speaking, so please, shut up."
"Hmm?"
The crowd's eyes narrowed. This guy was really arrogant, daring to tell Black Demon to shut up. Did he really think that having Wen Aoxue by his side meant he could do whatever he wanted?
Black Demon was momentarily stunned, then let out a cold laugh. "Go on."
"You also said I wasn't wrong to kill him. So let me ask you this: your brother broke the rules, clearly with your approval, which is why he dared to be so arrogant. You even sent your subordinates to help him. Your actions weren't just about slapping my face—they were about taking my life. Since you wanted my life, why shouldn't I slap your face? Or are you so stupid, Black Demon, that you think because you're stronger, I should just offer up my face for you to hit?"
Lin Feng's sharp words made the crowd pause. They had only been thinking from the perspective of might makes right, without considering Lin Feng's side of things.
"Even if what you say is reasonable, so what?" Black Demon's face darkened as he spoke coldly.
"Nothing much. I've just seen too many arrogant people who need to be shown how stupid and laughable they are." Lin Feng sneered and continued, "Just now, you said I need Wen Aoxue to protect me. Well, I'm telling you now: even without Wen Aoxue, you can't kill me."
"Don't bother arguing with me. You can try it yourself later, but I advise you not to test it lightly. As you said yourself, some things, once done, come at a cost—and that cost might be your life."
Lin Feng's tone carried a hint of threat, making the crowd frown. Even without Wen Aoxue, Black Demon couldn't kill him? And might even lose his life?
Yuan Shan, however, didn't doubt Lin Feng's words. He had seen how terrifying that fairy-like woman was.
Black Demon's gaze also froze for a moment before he said coldly, "You think pretty highly of yourself."
"I never underestimate myself, but I never blindly act arrogant either, thinking no one in the world can match me. Take you, for example—you keep saying you'll take my life, as if it's already in your hands. You're so arrogant and conceited, looking down on everyone. Let me ask you this, Black Demon: what realm and strength are you at now?" Lin Feng asked.
Arrogant and conceited? Looking down on everyone?
Black Demon sneered and replied, "Sixth Layer of Spirit Martial Realm, with no equal. At the very least, crushing you is effortless."
"Truly boundless arrogance. Only a ridiculous person would say such ridiculous things." Lin Feng laughed scornfully, mocking Black Demon. "You could have just said Sixth Layer of Spirit Martial Realm. Why dress it up with all that nonsense about having no equal?"
"The world of martial artists is vast and boundless. Geniuses who can challenge those above their level are countless. You dare claim invincibility at the same realm? I'll give you four words: narrow-minded and short-sighted."
"What a sharp tongue, what cutting words." The crowd watched as Black Demon was left speechless by Lin Feng's rebuttal. Though Black Demon was at the Sixth Layer of Spirit Martial Realm, no one else at that level in Heavenly One Academy dared to claim they could beat him. Even many at the Seventh Layer hadn't made it into the top ten, while Black Demon had. His strength was evident.
But claiming invincibility at the Sixth Layer was indeed an exaggeration.
As the saying goes, the face reflects the heart, and words do too. Someone with such sharp words must be equally sharp in character.
Lin Feng paused briefly before continuing, "Of course, maybe you think being ranked tenth in the academy makes you something special. But I say this: narrow-minded people will never achieve great things. Just now, you said I'd have to hide behind Wen Aoxue for the rest of my life. Now, let me answer you: three months from today, I, Lin Feng, will challenge you, Black Demon, at Heavenly One Academy—to the death."
As Lin Feng's words fell, everyone's gaze froze in place.
Lin Feng was challenging the academy's tenth-ranked Black Demon—and it was a life-and-death battle.
Remember, Lin Feng had only just entered Heavenly One Academy. This was sheer audacity.
"Doesn't he know how strong Black Demon is? How reckless."
"This kid is asking for death, but I have to admire his guts."
Thoughts raced through the crowd's minds. No one was optimistic about Lin Feng; they all thought he was overestimating himself and asking for trouble.
Even the people beside Lin Feng were stunned. They admitted Lin Feng had great talent, but challenging Black Demon in just three months? That was too hard.
Wen Aoxue glanced at Lin Feng, a thoughtful look in her eyes.
Of course, no matter what anyone thought, for Black Demon, being challenged publicly by Lin Feng was itself a humiliation.
A newcomer who had just entered Heavenly One Academy had not only killed his brother in the cultivation tower and slapped his face but was now challenging him to a life-and-death duel in three months. Where was his dignity? Where was his authority?
Black Demon had every reason to believe that everything happening here would spread to every corner of Heavenly One Academy before long. How would the nine people ranked above him laugh at him?
At this moment, Black Demon's face was terrifyingly cold, his whole body exuding a chilling aura.
In his eyes, a silent black flame burned slowly, extremely fearsome.
"Feeling humiliated?" Lin Feng looked at Black Demon with a faint smile, speaking coldly. "You think you're humiliated? What about me? You came with your men, making a grand show, declaring you'd take my life, not even bothering to look at me. Did you ever consider how I feel?"
"So don't look at me like that. If you want to salvage your dignity, show your strength in three months. Let everyone see whether you, Black Demon, truly have the right to be proud, or if you're just a pathetic, arrogant fool."
The dark, cold flames flickered in his eyes as Black Demon stared at Lin Feng and said coldly, "In three months, you'll understand how foolish your decision today was and how laughable your words are."
With that, Black Demon flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.
His final words were undoubtedly telling everyone: he accepted the challenge.
Only by thoroughly humiliating and trampling Lin Feng in three months could he restore his authority. He wanted Lin Feng to suffer unbearably.
Watching Black Demon's retreating figure, then looking back at Lin Feng, the crowd felt a sense of anticipation.
Lin Feng was so arrogant, declaring a life-and-death battle with Black Demon in three months. What was he relying on?
And Black Demon—what powerful methods would he use in three months to prove his strength and reclaim his lost face?
Three months. For a martial artist, it was but a snap of the fingers, the time it took for one seclusion session.
"Let's go." Lin Feng lifted his foot and walked with Wen Aoxue and the others toward the main gate of Heavenly One Academy.
On the way, Wen Aoxue looked at Lin Feng and said, "Black Demon's strength is at the peak of the Sixth Layer of Spirit Martial Realm. Even many at the Seventh Layer can't fight him. At the Sixth Layer, he has no equal in Heavenly One Academy. You're at the Fourth Layer of Spirit Martial Realm now. In three months, defeating Black Demon will be very, very difficult."
Lin Feng smiled. Of course, he knew it was difficult. Gazing ahead, he said indifferently, "Right now, I urgently need power—powerful strength."
Wen Aoxue raised an eyebrow, puzzled. What did that have to do with challenging Black Demon?
Lin Feng turned to him and said, "Strength is often forged under pressure. Only by constantly pushing and forcing yourself can you gain the momentum to move forward."
Hearing Lin Feng's words, a glint of light flashed in Wen Aoxue's eyes. What a terrifying young man. To gain strength, he was using his own life as...
(End of Chapter)