Chapter 84: Acting Out, Challenging Fate

“The City Lord has invited me repeatedly. I can’t keep refusing, can I?” Li Xun finished listening, let out a short laugh and waved his hand. “So here’s the deal—I’ll suppress my cultivation down to Sword Saint Level Three. I won’t bully you. If you lose, you’ll step aside, no questions. Deal?”

Nangong Wentian looked at the spirited Li Xun standing before him, gritted his teeth and fought back, “Fine. I’ll accept your terms. But this isn’t a place for a duel. Let’s pick another spot. What about the sky above us?”

Li Xun smiled. “Works for me. I’ll go on ahead.” With that, he shot up to the heavens, a streak of light across the night sky.

Nangong Wentian quickly released Gu Qingyi from her bindings and tossed her down, shouting, “Girl, catch your brother!”

Gu Qingxiao reacted fast, leaping into the air to catch the falling Gu Qingyi.

Meanwhile Nangong Wentian shot straight into the clouds like a fighter jet, joining Li Xun mid-air for a face-off.

Above, dark storm clouds rolled in, thunder and lightning crackling all around.

Li Xun and Nangong Wentian squared off in mid-air, their presence so overwhelming the air itself seemed to twist around them.

Li Xun raised his sword to the sky and called out, “Come on, let me see what you’ve got.”

Nangong Wentian answered without backing down, twirling his spear like a dragon from the sea, lunging straight at Li Xun.

The two clashed fiercely in the sky, their strikes sharper than lightning. Each blow sent shockwaves through the air, tearing open reality itself until a giant black hole formed around them.

Li Xun’s swordplay was ghostly, unpredictable, impossible to pin down.

Nangong Wentian’s spear, in contrast, was bold and powerful, intimidating anyone who dared approach.

Blow after blow, they traded attacks, neither able to gain the upper hand.

Their duel reached a fever pitch, the outcome impossible to call.

Suddenly, Li Xun changed his technique and became a ray of light, thrusting straight at Nangong Wentian’s chest.

Nangong Wentian barely dodged but still caught some of Li Xun’s sword aura, blood trickling from his lips.

Li Xun pressed his advantage, his sword flashing relentlessly as he launched a furious assault.

But Nangong Wentian refused to fall back, wielding his spear with even greater might in what became their final showdown.

In the end, Li Xun’s masterful swordplay and overwhelming power allowed him to defeat Nangong Wentian.

Li Xun’s blade hovered at Nangong Wentian’s throat. One move, and it would all be over.

Li Xun spoke calmly, “You lost.”

“Already calling it? What makes you so sure?” Nangong Wentian suddenly grinned, let out a roar and forced back Li Xun’s sword. “Watch out! Now I’m getting serious!”

………………

In an instant, the sky above erupted with lightning and rumbling thunder, wild currents tearing through the atmosphere.

People from Epiphany Tower rushed outside to watch, immediately feeling an intense pressure bearing down from above.

Two terrifying auras erupted in the sky, pinning everyone on the ground—they couldn’t move an inch.

The clear sky darkened in a heartbeat, black clouds roiling, and two blurred figures collided at breakneck speed. Lightning crackled all around, each peal of thunder rattling the sky itself.

Terrified onlookers watched in awe and fear.

Suddenly, the thunder ceased.

After thirty rounds, both Nangong Wentian and Li Xun were battered and bloody, red dripping from the corners of their mouths.

“That was great! It’s been ages since I’ve had such a battle. Nangong, you’re strong—you really pushed me!” Li Xun wiped the blood from his mouth, beaming with excitement.

Nangong Wentian spat out a mouthful of blood, his face impassive as he said, “Li, you’re not bad yourself. You gave me a run for my money. Again!”

………………..

The two clashed once more, the air between them alive with lightning and sparks. Those who’d just caught their breath were scared all over again by the booming thunder, nerves stretched tight as they pointed in shock at the raging sky.

It was supposed to be a day of clear blue skies, but now thunder rolled, heavy and oppressive, making the atmosphere almost suffocating.

The crowd was bewildered, no one knowing what to make of it.

“That’s not just thunder—that’s the Headmaster locked in battle up there,” one disciple said, his voice shaking as he gazed upward.

“What? With an enemy like that, can the Headmaster win?” gasped those around him, reeling at the revelation.

Just as people whispered their worries, a bolt of lightning streaked down, flashing with fury. It split a building in two and leveled everything in sight, chaos erupting on the scene.

Students of Tianwu Academy choked on dust, coughing hard as they struggled to get up, faces smeared with ash and debris, looking utterly beaten.

Gu Qingyi and Gu Qingxiao could only watch on helplessly, knowing this fight was beyond them.

High above, a thunderclap split the sky.

Li Xun roared, “Nangong! The act ends here!” He raised his palm and struck out with lightning speed, slamming Nangong Wentian in the chest.

With a deafening crash, Nangong Wentian tumbled through the sky like a shooting star, crashing into Tianwu Academy and leaving behind a massive crater.

………………

“I didn’t expect him to be so powerful. Even after he suppressed his cultivation, I still wasn’t a match—I’ve got no regrets losing to him,” Nangong Wentian said through heavy breaths, watching Li Xun floating high above, a bitter smile on his lips.

At that moment, Gu Qingyi and Gu Qingxiao hurried down into the crater, helping the barely conscious Nangong Wentian to his feet.

Both looked worried sick. “Headmaster, are you alright? Are your injuries serious?”

“It’s not life-threatening. He held back. I’m just exhausted, that’s all,” Nangong Wentian replied with a weak wave.

“I tried my best, but I still couldn’t protect you. Maybe I’m not fit to be Headmaster after all,” he added, his eyes filled with guilt as he looked at Gu Qingyi, suddenly coughing up another mouthful of blood.

Seeing him like this, Gu Qingyi felt a flood of emotions. She rushed to say, “Headmaster, please, let me treat your injuries first. We can talk after.”

The two wasted no time helping Nangong Wentian and began to heal him.

Gu Qingyi channeled her inner energy to tend to Nangong Wentian’s wounds.

With her care, his condition started to improve.

“Thanks to you two, otherwise I probably would’ve passed out by now,” Nangong Wentian said as he looked at them.

Gu Qingyi shook her head. “You’re too kind, Headmaster. It’s only right. You’re our headmaster—we can’t lose you.”

“Sigh, I really haven’t done a good job. I failed to protect you and let you get hurt. I’m so sorry.” Nangong Wentian let out a long breath and shook his head, feeling helpless.

Gu Qingyi quickly replied, “Don’t say that, Headmaster. You’ve already done so much for us. You risked your life to keep us safe. You’re our hero. We’re grateful for everything you’ve done.”

Gu Qingxiao chimed in too. “That’s right, Headmaster. You’re our leader. We’ll always listen to you. Don’t blame yourself. We all believe in you.”

“Alright, don’t worry. I won’t give up. I’ll keep working hard, growing stronger so I can protect you all.” Nangong Wentian smiled at the two of them, touched by their support.

…………….

Li Xun hovered in the sky above and called out, “Nangong, you’ve lost. As agreed, I’ll be taking Gu Qingyi with me!”

Hearing this, the recovering Tianwu Academy disciples scrambled upright, drew their swords, and quickly surrounded Li Xun. Blades pointed at him, they shouted as one, “If you want to touch the Headmaster or Senior Brother, you’ll have to get through us first! Tianwu Academy isn’t afraid to die!”

Nangong Wentian coughed hard, spit up more blood, and said weakly, “Nonsense! You guys aren’t his match. Leave now, quickly!”

Lin Bufan turned to Nangong Wentian, face set with determination. “Headmaster, we’re not afraid to die. As long as we’re here, he won’t get a step closer to you!”

Li Xun slowly descended, an icy aura cloaking him as he looked coldly at the crowd.

Lin Bufan and Lin Buyu exchanged glances. Though they knew Li Xun’s power, they charged him anyway without hesitation.

Both shouted, “Tianwu Academy disciples, follow us! Stop him and protect the Headmaster! Charge!”

Dozens of figures drew their swords, surging together to attack Li Xun.

“Enough!” Li Xun shouted as the blades closed in, holding out his own power and unleashing a terrifying pressure.

……………….

A crushing force pinned everyone to the spot, freezing them in place, their blood nearly turning to ice.

Li Xun ignored their resistance, striding forward and sweeping a wave of energy through the group, knocking them all aside.

The scattered disciples crashed to the ground, coughing up blood, too weak to move—left helpless as Li Xun approached Nangong Wentian and the others.

Step by step, Li Xun drew closer to the vast crater. Suddenly he felt something seize his leg, holding tight.

Looking down, he saw one disciple clinging stubbornly to his calf, refusing to let him pass.

“Let go! Aren’t you afraid to die?” Li Xun tugged, but the grip wouldn’t loosen. His face showed nothing as he spoke, his voice cold.

That disciple sneered, “Of course I’m afraid. But the Headmaster saved my life. Without him, I wouldn’t be here today. So what if I die?”