Last year at the Young Phoenix Gathering, I beat up Bai Qiwen and the entire Yunnan branch. Although I didn't ruin their cultivation path, it definitely affected their future. It was normal for Bai Qiwen to hold a grudge against me. However, he wasn't my opponent during the Dragon Seeking Competition. Now that he didn't appear at the Metaphysics Association, it meant that he hadn't even reached the pinnacle of the acupoint sealing realm. Where did he get the confidence to challenge me to a life and death duel?
After thinking about it for a while, I could roughly guess his purpose and motive.
At the Young Phoenix Gathering, he was the Lu family's dog. This time, it was most likely the Lu family's intention.
The Lu family didn't give up on taking revenge, but they were afraid of Grandfather Li's attitude. They most likely wanted to use Bai Qiwen's challenge to understand Grandfather Li's attitude towards me. From their point of view, Grandfather Li had accepted me as a disciple because of my talent. Now that I had encountered a heavenly barrier, Grandfather Li would most likely give up on me.
To be honest, I didn't understand Grandfather Li's current attitude towards me, but after experiencing the matter of my meridians being destroyed by the Lu family last time, I had an indescribable confidence in my heart. I always felt that Grandfather Li wouldn't abandon me because of this.
This confidence didn't come from a reason, and I couldn't tell if it was right or wrong. However, at the very least, the Lu family wouldn't have a chance to make a move on me while I stayed in the Metaphysics Association. After I left, where would the Lu family find me in such a big world?
As for Bai Qiwen … Even though I was calm, it didn't mean that yesterday's matter didn't affect me. I just suppressed the hostility in my heart. Since Bai Qiwen was courting death, he couldn't blame me for venting my hostility on him.
I nodded at Yang Shilong, the corners of my mouth slightly raised as I said, "I have no objections. At last year's Young Phoenix Gathering, he and I indeed had enmity. I accepted the life and death duel. Did he specify a time and place?"
Yang Shilong replied, "The day after tomorrow at noon. He specifically said that you can decide the location."
The day after tomorrow … I told the fatty that we would be able to settle the matter in two to three days. This time was suitable.
As for the location being decided by me, Bai Qiwen was rather interesting. Was he afraid that I wouldn't agree?
I pondered for a moment before nodding. "At noon the day after tomorrow, Bai Qiwen is not allowed to bring any outsiders to the back mountain of the Metaphysics Association."
Mr. Li and Ye Pianpian's courtyard was on the mountain behind the Metaphysics Society. If the Lu family wanted to take the risk, Mr. Li would be able to react in time since he was so close to the Lu family. That way, we wouldn't have to worry about anything in the future.
Yang Shilong didn't doubt him and immediately agreed. "Let's go back and prepare. The notary of the Postnatal Metaphysics Association will bring Bai Qiwen there. After we sign the life-or-death contract, we can have a life-or-death duel."
After we agreed on this matter, Ye Pianpian and I left the Metaphysics Society. On the way back, my mood wasn't affected at all. On the contrary, Ye Pianpian's face was filled with anger. On the way back, she couldn't help but say to me, "The Lu family is really reckless. Last time, I already said that Grandpa Li wanted to take you as his disciple, but they still dared to act rashly. Grandpa Li won't forgive them this time."
Oh?
Her words piqued my interest. "Will Mr. Li punish the Lu family this time?"
Ye Pianpian shook her head dejectedly. "After all, the Lu family is just borrowing people. Moreover, they purposely chose someone whose realm is far lower than yours. Even if Grandpa Li finds out, he probably won't say anything."
Well, it turned out that she was just talking out of anger.
Seeing that Ye Pianpian was still fuming with anger, I was a little moved. I didn't care about this matter, but she cared about it so much. She was probably afraid that the Lu family's actions would hurt my dignity.
I smiled at her and wanted to ease her mind, so I purposely joked with her. "Oh right, gramps Li wants to take me as his disciple and you're his grandson, so shouldn't you call me uncle?"
Ye Pianpian's anger immediately disappeared. She turned her head and rolled her eyes at me. Then, she turned back to continue driving.
I chuckled. "If you don't want to call me uncle, you can call me martial uncle."
This time, Ye Pianpian didn't even turn her head. She only threw two words at me. "Childish."
After laughing and joking around, the gloominess from before was swept away. After returning to the courtyard, Ye Pianpian said that she was going to report to Mr. Li, so she directly left. I brought a pile of blazing stones back to my room.
After entering, the fatty was still meditating. I didn't disturb him. I just took out the ten blazing stones and placed them on the table. I pressed my hands on them, wanting to see if I could sense a bit of star power from them.
In the end, after trying for a long time, I didn't find anything other than the warm and comfortable feeling of the stones.
I finally gave up on the idea of picking stars. I simply picked up the stones and played with them.
Looking at these blazing stones, I couldn't help but think of the huge stone tablet I had seen in the Fire God Temple, as well as the words written on it, "East Jun Si Ming, Ying Huo Shou Xin".
Until now, I still didn't understand the meaning behind it. However, I suddenly had a thought. Since this stone tablet was made of blazing stones, it meant that it wasn't ordinary. The words on it also had a special meaning. With Mr. Li's Heavenly Master realm, it was impossible that he didn't think of this. So, why did he break the stone tablet and split it into so many pieces?
After thinking for a long time, I still couldn't figure out his meaning. Since I was bored, I decided to play with the ten pieces of blazing stones in my hands. Originally, I just wanted to give it a try. However, I didn't expect that these ten blazing stones were really made from one piece of blazing stone. They could be perfectly pieced together.
Moreover, after they were pieced together, one side of the stone revealed a complete "Ming" character!
I was shocked. How could there be such a coincidence?
There were only eight words on the stone tablet. According to Ye Pianpian, it was divided into eight hundred pieces. During the transportation and distribution process, the order would definitely be messed up. Why did the ten pieces in my hands coincidentally form a single word?
Could it be that someone had arranged this on purpose?
From all the signs, I was afraid that only Mr. Li could have arranged this. He was the one who had brought the blazing stones back, and he had the highest authority in the Metaphysics Society. It wasn't difficult for him to do this. But, what did he want to do?
I carefully placed the stone pieces on the table and held the character 'Fate' in front of me. I observed it attentively and tried to find some unusual signs.
However, after looking at it for a long time, besides the pain in my eyes, I didn't find anything else.
Feeling helpless, I had to put away the blazing stones for the time being. I would slowly study them later.
A day passed by in the blink of an eye, and the day of the duel with Bai Qiwen arrived. That morning, Ye Pianpian and I went out together. We didn't go to the Metaphysics Association, but to the back of the mountain near the courtyard.
When he arrived, Yang Shilong and Bai Qiwen were already there. Bai Qiwen was still as thin and dark as before. He stood there without a trace of expression on his face. He probably knew why he had come here. His face was deathly still.
Yang Shilong walked over and told me that he had volunteered to be the notary of this life and death duel to prevent the Lu family from secretly planting someone else.
As the Vice President of the Metaphysics Society, it was normal for him to see through the Lu family's intentions. I smiled and thanked him. Then, I took the document from the Metaphysics Society, pressed my fingerprint, and signed it.
Bai Qiwen had already signed the documents. After I was ready, he didn't say a word and walked to the flat ground on the mountain peak.
I didn't hesitate at all and followed after her.
At that moment, Ye Pianpian suddenly pulled me. I turned and saw that Ye Pianpian was frowning. Her expression was solemn. She said to me hesitantly, "Zhou Yi, you … be careful."
I felt strange. Ye Pianpian knew Bai Qiwen's power very well. This was a duel with a great disparity in power. The one who had to be careful was Bai Qiwen, not me.
However, I nodded at her and comforted her. "Don't worry. I will be careful."
After walking to the flat ground, I looked at Bai Qiwen and sneered. "The Lu family sent you here to die, and you really came. Didn't you think for yourself at all?
What benefits did they promise you? "
Bai Qiwen had been lowering his head. Only then did he suddenly raise his head. He stared at me and revealed a mysterious smile. He said, "Zhou Yi, don't be too confident. We don't know who will die this time!"
I shook my head. The disparity in power was too great. After seeing Bai Qiwen today, I noticed that he only had the power of sealing three acupoints. Even if he had a silver talisman, he definitely wouldn't be my opponent.
However, when I was about to speak again, I suddenly felt a trace of fear.
The fear was extremely strong, but it didn't come from Bai Qiwen. It came from the sky above my head.
I couldn't help but look up. The originally sunny sky had turned gloomy. The bright and dazzling sun had become extremely dim. Moreover, a small shadow suddenly appeared in the east!