The anxiety from the person on the other end of the phone transmitted clearly into Li Yunxian’s ears.
Her expression grew cold as she responded sharply, “Alright!”
In just a few steps, she opened the villa’s main gate without giving anyone at the entrance a chance to speak, reaching out and pulling, “Let’s go, to the Practice Arena.”
“Tell me, who forced Qi Yao to sign that Life-and-Death Contract!”
The person waiting outside was momentarily stunned but quickly replied, “It was the contractor Qi Yao took on earlier.”
“He plants spiritual materials over there, because he knows Professor Chen likes it and occasionally visits the planting area.”
“He heard that Professor Chen accepted Qi Yao as a student and accused her of stealing his opportunity, so he brought people to block our way and hurled terrible insults.”
“Qi Yao couldn’t stand it, and that guy challenged her to the arena, signing a Life-and-Death Contract.”
“That guy is at Qi Refining Eighth Layer, slightly stronger than Shen Bofeng, ranked around 1100 on the Practice Energy Ranking, even higher than some Great Completion of Qi Refinement cultivators.”
“Qi Yao originally knew he wanted to harm her and didn’t agree.”
“But that bastard’s insults were unbearable, so Qi Yao finally lost control…” The girl outside said anxiously, her voice full of anger.
Hearing this, Li Yunxian wasn’t surprised by Qi Yao’s final decision.
Qi Yao appeared gentle and approachable, but she dared to take the lead in everything.
Back in the service area, when she saw Li Yunxian alone and unsure of the situation, she had the courage to approach by herself.
During the bus attack, Qi Yao was also among the students who charged forward first.
Among the many elites participating in the Qingteng Selection Exam, Qi Yao’s Qi Refining Fourth Layer cultivation was only mediocre.
Yet, among all the Fourth Layer cultivators, Qi Yao managed to rank within the top hundred, not even near the bottom.
All of this showed Qi Yao’s brave and tenacious character.
Qi Yao had always lived the life of a prodigy; such a personality, without many setbacks, found it hard to accept the word ‘endure.’
“Leave this to me.” Li Yunxian said.
At Li Yunxian’s calm response, the girl’s anxious heart suddenly steadied for some reason.
***
Originally, they sought Li Yunxian simply because she was the first in their year’s Qingteng Selection Exam and knew Assistant Instructor Duan.
But now, it felt like they had found a pillar of support.
Qingteng Villa District wasn’t far from the Practice Arena; within a minute, Li Yunxian had already reached the inner area of the arena.
Seeing the situation on the stage clearly, Li Yunxian’s eyes turned cold as she tugged at a decorative button on her waist.
Condensing Qi as Blade!
In the stunned gazes of the crowd, the button collided with the swirling long whip, suddenly diverting its path.
The whip cracked sharply as it struck the arena floor, leaving a clear scar on the stone surface.
The man on stage looked fiercely along the source of that Qi force and immediately saw Li Yunxian, along with the girl who had been with Qi Yao before.
He instantly realized Li Yunxian was the reinforcements they had brought, and a sneer appeared.
“A Qi Refining Third Layer as backup?” he mocked.
From beneath the arena, the girl who had been calling Li Yunxian anxiously saw her and shouted with relief, “Yunxian!!! Save Qi Yao!!”
Several people below, whose eyes shocked with the large characters ‘Assistant Instructor Hua Shunyu’ above, heard the shout and their expressions wavered.
Li Yunxian ignored everyone’s gaze and strode toward the arena.
She reached out to gently pat the shoulders of her companions, all showing signs of breakdown.
Her eyes fell on Qi Yao, who was already collapsed in a pool of blood, unconscious.
Her chest caved in—clearly broken ribs; her tendons and ligaments were torn; deep whip marks, some down to the bone, covered her body and face.
But Qi Yao wasn’t dead.
More precisely, the fatal areas hadn’t been severely damaged yet, so she wasn’t about to die anytime soon.
Li Yunxian recalled that when she arrived, the man on stage had still been relentlessly whipping.
That was because he didn’t want Qi Yao to die so easily.
Li Yunxian’s gaze darkened as she looked at the man and said, “I’ll admit defeat for her, is that okay?”
The man on stage scoffed, “A Life-and-Death Contract means life or death, naturally.”
Then, looking down on Li Yunxian, he said contemptuously, “If you want to save her, I say again, come up and replace her.”
“Dare you?”
Many below wore angry expressions; Li Yunxian’s classmates had reddened eyes, fists clenched so tightly their veins bulged.
Li Yunxian glanced up at the referee teacher standing high above to maintain order.
The referee sighed helplessly, “Ending a Life-and-Death Contract requires both parties’ consent.”
It was clear the man didn’t agree to Qi Yao’s forfeit.
Li Yunxian nodded, signaling she understood, then lightly leapt onto the arena.
“I’ll replace her.” Li Yunxian’s voice was calm.
A spiritual sword lengthened from her sleeve as she gripped it tightly.
The man on stage was stunned—he hadn’t expected Li Yunxian to really accept such a challenge, and he turned to look at the referee.
This had never happened before.
Of course, no one had ever agreed to allow someone else to replace them in a Life-and-Death Contract.
“Isn’t it that both sides must agree?” Li Yunxian asked the referee.
The referee paused, thought briefly, then said to both, “If confirmed, you must both re-sign the contract.”
Then, the referee looked at Li Yunxian seriously, “He is Duan Rong, Qi Refining Eighth Layer, ranked 1173. Many Great Completion of Qi Refinement cultivators have lost to him.”
His unspoken meaning was a warning for Li Yunxian to carefully consider her decision.
Li Yunxian understood the goodwill behind this and nodded slightly, “I’ve decided. Let’s confirm the contract. Thank you, teacher.”
Below, the two classmates who had called for Li Yunxian hadn’t expected her to ascend so quickly.
They shouted out loudly, “Yunxian, come down! This isn’t your fight. Contact Assistant Instructor Duan, we’ll go find Professor Chen Bujian!”
Li Yunxian turned to them, voice gentle, “Qi Yao didn’t seek Professor Chen before because she didn’t want to.”
“I think we should respect her wishes.”
Besides, if Professor Chen got involved, she wouldn’t be able to interfere.
Qi Yao, who loved beauty and life so much…
Li Yunxian looked coldly at Duan Rong.
Hearing everyone mention Professor Chen Bujian again and again, Duan Rong’s hatred, which had been venting for some time, only intensified.
He lifted his eyes to warn the referee, “Teacher, stop wasting time. The Life-and-Death Contract—”
He could feel the referee’s partiality toward Li Yunxian and even some stalling.
The referee looked at Li Yunxian and Duan Rong, clearly sensing both parties’ urgent wishes, and smiled wryly.
Several girls below anxiously wanted to contact Professor Chen Bujian but had no way to.
The referee, a staff member of the academy, did have contact information.
He had secretly tried to reach out!
But the Great Completion of Qi Refinement master wasn’t someone a Foundation Establishment employee like him could summon at will.
His messages had to be passed on through others; he didn’t even know if the professor had received them.
The referee genuinely wanted to stall.
Save her, save her, save her!!
After several seconds of silent tension, the referee could only helplessly face the gazes of both and release the Life-and-Death Contract.
The two signed.
The referee’s face was full of resignation.
His powerless gaze fell on Qi Yao, full of pity.
“Well… take her down for treatment.”
Li Yunxian shook her head, raising her sword, “No need. This will end soon.”
She wanted Qi Yao to witness how Duan Rong, the one who harmed her, would meet his end!
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