# Chapter 96: Life and Death Platform
Wind Zhilin's eyes carried a cold sneer as he pressed his five fingers together again, about to chop off Zhang Shaochu's other arm.
"Enough!" Zhang Ruochen said.
Wind Zhilin's hand, about to strike down, stopped. He sneered coldly: "Ninth Prince, have you finally come to your senses?"
Zhang Ruochen's gaze was cold and heavy. He released the life-reaping sickle from around Nie Xuan's neck and threw it to the ground. "Let my Fourth Brother go!"
Even if he used Nie Xuan's life to threaten Wind Zhilin, it would be useless, because Wind Zhilin simply didn't care whether Nie Xuan lived or died.
"That's right!"
Seeing Zhang Ruochen release Nie Xuan, a sinister smile curled at the corner of Wind Zhilin's mouth. Yet his hand still mercilessly struck down, breaking the bones of Zhang Shaochu's other arm.
Afterward, Wind Zhilin tossed the unconscious Zhang Shaochu aside, stared mockingly at Zhang Ruochen, and said with smug laughter: "Ninth Prince, this is the Martial Market Academy, not Yunwu Commandery. Everything is decided by strength. When it's time to bow your head, you bow your head. Attack together—first cripple his hands and feet."
More than twenty disciples simultaneously charged at Zhang Ruochen, as if intending to tear him apart.
Zhang Ruochen didn't even look at those attacking him. He stared coldly at Wind Zhilin, walking forward step by step.
He reached out his arm, grabbing the arm of a Mysterious Extreme Realm late-stage disciple who attacked him. His other hand struck out fiercely. With a *smack*, that disciple's arm was broken by Zhang Ruochen's palm.
*Bang! Bang!*
Zhang Ruochen extended both palms simultaneously, catching three war swords slashing toward him from the front. A jade-white true qi erupted from his body, blasting the three disciples away. He swept all three war swords into his sleeve.
With a flick of his sleeve, the three war swords flew out again, simultaneously piercing through the thighs of those three disciples, pinning them to the ground.
"Ah..."
The three disciples screamed in unison.
*Bang!*
A disciple at the Mysterious Extreme Realm Small Extreme Position slashed at Zhang Ruochen's back with a blade, producing a metallic clashing sound.
Zhang Ruochen was wearing the Ice Fire Qilin Armor, which blocked the blade edge, leaving him uninjured.
That Mysterious Extreme Realm Small Extreme Position disciple was slightly startled, then saw Zhang Ruochen turn around, his eyes fixed firmly on him.
The disciple's gaze turned vicious. He slashed out again with his blade, aiming for Zhang Ruochen's arm.
*Bang!*
Zhang Ruochen struck his palm against the disciple's chest while simultaneously grabbing his wrist, snatching the war blade from his hand.
With an arm swing, the war blade swept horizontally, striking the Mysterious Extreme Realm Small Extreme Position disciple's left cheek. With a *bang*, the disciple was knocked unconscious.
Zhang Ruochen's application of martial techniques was indeed extremely exquisite. However, he was still facing more than twenty disciples, many of whom were senior students. After a series of battles, several bloody wounds had also appeared on Zhang Ruochen's body.
This battle attracted many disciples.
Watching Zhang Ruochen surrounded by more than twenty disciples in the center, they all showed expressions of pity. Without needing to guess, they knew that this top genius among the new students would likely face great danger today.
In the Martial Market Academy, martial combat was not prohibited; in fact, it was encouraged among disciples. Of course, the prerequisite was that no lives could be taken.
Whoever deliberately killed someone would be executed by the Martial Market Academy. No matter how high one's talent, if they deliberately killed another disciple within the academy, it was a capital offense.
This was the reason Prince Huoxing dared not show himself personally. He had to use Wind Zhilin's hand to eliminate Zhang Ruochen.
Because the Martial Market Academy had another regulation: if two disciples had a blood feud—for example, if one's close relative was killed by the other—then revenge could be sought within the academy.
Wind Zhilin's biological younger brother had been killed by Zhang Ruochen. In his extreme grief, Wind Zhilin sought revenge for his brother—what wrong was there in that?
Thus, even the academy's elders found it difficult to intervene.
Grievances and vendettas—settle them yourself.
Just when everyone thought Zhang Ruochen was doomed, a beautiful, petite figure walked out from the crowd.
Her jade-like hands gently supported her snow-white chin as she stared at Zhang Ruochen surrounded by more than twenty disciples, revealing a hint of a smile: "Interesting! Truly interesting!"
Seeing that petite figure emerge from the crowd, the surrounding disciples all showed terrified expressions, immediately cupping their hands in salute: "Greetings, Senior Sister Duanmu!"
Duanmu Xingling didn't even look at the saluting disciples. With a smile on her face, she walked toward the group of disciples who were fighting with Zhang Ruochen.
Seeing Duanmu Xingling approach, those disciples all stopped their attacks. Even Wind Zhilin showed a trace of fear. He quickly walked over, respectfully bowed to Duanmu Xingling, and asked cautiously: "Senior Sister Duanmu, what matter has troubled you to come here in person?"
Duanmu Xingling extended a slender jade finger, pointing at Zhang Ruochen: "I've come to find him."
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen was still surrounded by more than ten disciples. He had over a dozen wounds on his body, and his white robe was almost completely stained red.
But on the ground also lay eleven disciples—some with broken arms, some knocked unconscious, some with blades piercing through their thighs. The scene was quite brutal.
Hearing Duanmu Xingling's words, Wind Zhilin's expression changed. He cupped his hands in salute again: "Senior Sister Duanmu, Zhang Ruochen killed my only biological younger brother. This blood feud is irreconcilable. If I don't kill him, where is heavenly justice? If I don't kill him, my brother's soul cannot rest in peace underground. If I don't kill him, am I still a man of blood and spirit?"
Wind Zhilin's words were half true, half false, deliberately putting on a grief-stricken appearance.
In reality, although Wind Zhilin and Wind Zhiyi were biological brothers, their relationship was not good. To compete for the inheritance of the Wind family, the two brothers had long turned against each other, each wishing the other would die sooner.
When Prince Huoxing approached Wind Zhilin, he had already promised that as long as Wind Zhilin killed Zhang Ruochen, Prince Huoxing would definitely help Wind Zhilin become the head of the Wind family.
Revenge for his brother was just an excuse.
Wind Zhilin continued: "Moreover, before I prepared to take revenge, I had already reported to Elder Situ. Elder Situ also said that during the first round of the academy examination, Zhang Ruochen's killing was too heavy, causing the deaths of nearly a hundred examinees. Even if his talent is extremely high, his conduct is too poor, making him unsuitable to be a disciple of the Martial Market Academy. He has already permitted me to take revenge against Zhang Ruochen!"
Duanmu Xingling nodded: "I understand. You're using Elder Situ to pressure me?"
"I wouldn't dare! Even if you lent me the courage, I wouldn't dare!" Wind Zhilin said, greatly alarmed, with a fearful expression.
Duanmu Xingling extended a jade hand and patted Wind Zhilin's shoulder, startling him so much that his legs bent, nearly making him kneel on the ground.
"Why are you so scared?" Duanmu Xingling asked curiously.
Sweat continuously dripped from Wind Zhilin's forehead: "In front of Senior Sister Duanmu, Wind Zhilin dares not not be afraid."
Duanmu Xingling nodded with satisfaction: "I understand your feelings. After all, when one's own biological brother is killed by someone, as long as one is human, they would want revenge. To be honest, it's not that I want to make things difficult for you. It's mainly that Sister Chen told me to come get him. She said no one can touch Zhang Ruochen—even if he's to be killed, he must be left for her."
Wind Zhilin's expression changed. Zhang Ruochen actually had a connection with that female demon Huang Yanchen?
This was bad. If he killed Zhang Ruochen today, he would definitely offend Duanmu Xingling, and even more so, offend Huang Yanchen.
Offending two female demons at the same time—how could he continue to stay in the Western Courtyard?
Duanmu Xingling walked toward Zhang Ruochen, smiling: "You were the one who killed him, you were the one who caused the trouble. How about you come up with a solution?"
Hearing Duanmu Xingling's words, all the disciples understood. Duanmu Xingling was completely on Zhang Ruochen's side, which was why she gave the decision-making power to him.
With Duanmu Xingling present, even if Wind Zhilin invited another hundred disciples, he couldn't kill Zhang Ruochen.
For ordinary Mysterious Extreme Realm martial artists, no matter how many there were, in front of a Xuan List martial artist, they were nothing but chickens and dogs, utterly vulnerable.
Faced with overwhelming strength, Wind Zhilin had no choice but to lower his head.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze fixed on Wind Zhilin: "Wind Zhilin, your younger brother was indeed killed by me. If you want to avenge your brother, I'll give you a chance. One month from now, we'll meet on the Life and Death Platform, and I'll settle this with you."
Wind Zhilin's eyes showed a hint of a smile: "Senior Sister Duanmu, Zhang Ruochen said this himself. I didn't force him."
Everyone was quite surprised, not expecting Zhang Ruochen to make such a decision.
The Life and Death Platform of the Martial Market Academy was very similar to the Martial Market Arena. Martial artists signed life-and-death contracts, and on the platform, even if someone was killed, outsiders couldn't interfere.
"Since Senior Sister Duanmu is protecting him, Wind Zhilin definitely wouldn't dare touch him. Why is Zhang Ruochen doing this?" a disciple asked, very puzzled.
Another martial artist laughed: "What do you know? As a man, one disdains being protected by a woman. If Zhang Ruochen doesn't fight Wind Zhilin, even if he continues to stay in the Martial Market Academy, he'll be looked down upon by everyone. Moreover, Zhang Ruochen is a top-tier genius, and geniuses all have their pride."
"I see! But a Mysterious Extreme Realm middle-stage martial artist fighting a Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Extreme Position martial artist on the Life and Death Platform—what's the difference between that and seeking death? Once on the Life and Death Platform, even Senior Sister Duanmu can't help him. Wind Zhilin will definitely kill him."
"Zhang Ruochen, one month from now, we'll meet on the Life and Death Platform. Don't you dare back out then!" Wind Zhilin said.
Zhang Ruochen replied: "Don't worry. On the Life and Death Platform, you want to avenge your brother, and I want to avenge my Fourth Brother. At that time, I'll break both your arms."
"Heh heh! I'll be waiting. Let's go!"
Wind Zhilin waved his arm and led the injured disciples away.
The Life and Death Platform was no joking matter. In just one short month, for Zhang Ruochen to defeat Wind Zhilin—that was impossible!
"Are you sure you've thought this through clearly? Once you step onto the Life and Death Platform, life and death are no longer in your own hands!" Duanmu Xingling said.
Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly: "Senior Sister Duanmu, thank you for helping me out of this predicament. But the grievance between Wind Zhilin and me ultimately needs to be resolved by ourselves. The Life and Death Platform might be a good place."
Duanmu Xingling regarded Zhang Ruochen with slightly higher esteem. Suddenly, she felt that this top genius among the new students had become somewhat pleasing to the eye.