Chapter 140: Entering the Life and Death Arena

At the Life-and-Death Arena, two individuals may engage in a fight to the death. The Taiyi Sect does not intervene in these matters, a policy that effectively reduces internal strife and is, in a sense, a positive thing. Furthermore, before entering the arena, both parties must sign a contract explicitly stating that they are entering the arena of their own free will.

The Life-and-Death Arena is rarely opened, reserved only for those who are irreconcilable, mortal enemies.

"Presumptuous! What do you think the Life-and-Death Arena is? You think you can just open it whenever you please? Besides, your conflict with Chu Han is not beyond mediation; the root of this matter lies in the wrongdoing of Guan Ting and his associates."

Elder Xuan Xuzi’s face darkened, and he lashed out. In truth, he did not want to see these two men at each other's throats. They were both geniuses and pillars of the Taiyi Sect; for them to become such bitter enemies would be a significant loss for the sect.

"Elder Xuan Xuzi, I implore you to open the Life-and-Death Arena. If you refuse, I will make it my mission to harass him at every turn. I mean what I say, and if I do, there is no guarantee of where things might end," Bai Qing said, dropping to his knees. Not only had Chu Han insulted him, but he had also crushed Guan Ting's arm right in front of him; he could not let this stand.

Bai Qing’s family held considerable standing in Central City, and he had never suffered such humiliation. He felt he had to kill Chu Han to purge the hatred from his heart.

The onlookers shook their heads. In truth, Bai Qing was not well-liked within the Taiyi Sect, as he was habitually arrogant and overbearing. Because of his formidable strength, no one dared to speak out against him, but this time, the majority stood on Chu Han’s side.

This placed Elder Xuan Xuzi in a difficult position. He truly did not want to see them fight to the death, but given Bai Qing’s threat, if he refused, Bai Qing would likely target Chu Han in the shadows. As the saying goes, it is easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark. A surprise attack could easily end Chu Han's life.

"The Life-and-Death Arena will open tomorrow. Chu Han, do you have any objections?"

Another elder emerged from the inner chambers and spoke with finality. Xuan Xuzi breathed a sigh of relief; with this elder making the call, the decision was no longer his to bear.

"No objections. Whatever he wants, I will see it through to the end."

Chu Han smiled faintly. He could not afford to back down now; this was the perfect opportunity to establish his authority within the Taiyi Sect. He had already gathered information about the arena from other disciples.

Once the arena is opened, all elders and disciples not in seclusion attend as witnesses. To avoid future trouble, he had to defeat Bai Qing and assert his dominance, ensuring that no one would dare to bully Zhang Yuxi again.

After the two signed the life-and-death pact, the arena was set.

"Kid, I’m going to beat you until you can’t even take care of yourself. There’s no turning back now. Remember what you did to my brother? I’ll make you pay tenfold."

Bai Qing pointed his long spear at Chu Han, speaking coldly. He was supremely confident in his strength. Although Chu Han had defeated Li Tie and his companion, those two were nowhere near the level of Bai Qing, who ranked among the top ten in the entire inner sect.

Chu Han shrugged, ignoring him entirely. Instead, he comforted Zhang Yuxi and led her to the room Elder Xuan Xuzi had mentioned earlier.

Usually, this would be the stage for an exchange of threats, but Chu Han’s calm demeanor earned him silent admiration from the crowd. Such indifference was the hallmark of a true expert, while Bai Qing, his face turning an even deeper shade of livid, stormed off in frustration.

"Brother Chu, did I cause you trouble? I didn't mean to. Those people were awful; they wanted to do bad things to me."

Back in the room, Zhang Yuxi remained tense, speaking with a timid voice. Chu Han smiled gently. Zhang Yuxi was like a blank sheet of paper, innocent and kind. Since they had left the mountain, she had been constantly afraid of bringing trouble upon him, which pained Chu Han’s heart.

"Yuxi, listen to me. You haven't caused me any trouble. If something like this happens again, refuse firmly, and then run away immediately. Don't be afraid of causing me trouble; do whatever you want. As long as you are happy, I support you."

Though he knew it would take time for her to change, he had to start now. He wanted her to integrate into this world and become a truly independent person.

Zhang Yuxi nodded blankly before heading to bed. Chu Han returned to his own room. As for the fight with Bai Qing, he gave it no further thought. His focus was entirely on the Great Red Heaven; Bai Qing’s strength was simply not enough to stop his progress.

Early the next morning, news of the opening of the Life-and-Death Arena spread. Everyone gathered around the arena, awaiting the arrival of Chu Han and Bai Qing. For them, the chance to witness a clash between such experts at close range was a rare opportunity.

Before long, Bai Qing stepped into the arena. Constructed by the collective efforts of the elders, the arena was vast, hidden beneath the earth, and protected by defensive arrays, ensuring that the shockwaves of the battle would not reach the spectators.

The elders sat on a high platform, chatting with relaxed expressions.

"What do you make of this life-and-death battle? One is a veteran who has trained in the Taiyi Sect for years, the other a newcomer who just arrived. It is a true clash between the old and the new."

The elder who had authorized the opening of the arena spoke. He was Elder Ming Zhen, the Second Elder of the Taiyi Sect, and the highest-ranking official in the sect besides the Sect Master and the Great Elder.

With the Sect Master away on a journey and the Great Elder in seclusion, the Second Elder effectively held command over the Taiyi Sect.

"I believe Chu Han will win. Do not underestimate him just because he is new. I suspect there are very few inner sect disciples who could defeat him."

Xuan Xuzi held high hopes for Chu Han, believing the youth’s future was limitless. He had already consulted the Second Elder, who also held Chu Han in high regard.

The surrounding elders nodded in agreement, save for Elder Qingcheng. "Hmph, Xuan Xuzi, don't be so absolute. Bai Qing is one of the top ten experts of the Taiyi Sect and has trained here for years. I believe he will win—and it will be a crushing victory."

Xuan Xuzi remained silent. At this point, a hundred words were worth less than the action to come. Just then, Chu Han walked slowly onto the arena stage.

"Go, Chu Han! Beat that guy into the ground—he’s so arrogant!"

"That's right! We’re all here to cheer for you; I’ve hated that arrogant jerk for a long time!"

Cheers erupted from the crowd. Chu Han looked back to see Gu Yan’er, Li Tie, and the others. After their previous fight, they had settled their differences; Li Tie and his companion had been thoroughly beaten and had begun to treat Chu Han with respect.

Chu Han smiled and nodded. Then, Bai Qing spoke, "Pick up your weapon. Let’s begin."

"No need. My fists are enough. Let’s start."

Chu Han’s words clearly unsettled Bai Qing. To him, it sounded as if Chu Han was saying he didn't need a weapon because his fists alone were enough to defeat him—a clear sign of disdain.

Little did he know, Chu Han truly did not have a weapon he was comfortable with; his fists were his most reliable tools. Bai Qing spoke again, "Heh, I’m being looked down upon, am I? Fine. Since that’s how it is, then go to hell."