The date for the duel with Zhang Meng, a direct disciple of Heavenly Sword Peak, had arrived.

Chu Xiu left his cave dwelling, walking through the mist and clouds of Cloudmist Peak, where celestial cranes soared above him.

Occasionally, a few spirit beasts would dart out from the nearby bushes.

The spirit beasts were not afraid of humans; a few adorable little white rabbits even hopped over to Chu Xiu, begging for food.

However, they were scared away by his gaze, which seemed to promise a spicy rabbit head dish.

The Life-and-Death Arena was located at Heaven's Punishment Peak.

Also known as Punishment Peak.

Every generation's Peak Lord bore the name Tian Xing, overseeing the Holy Land's punishments.

The direct and true inheritance disciples of Heaven's Punishment Peak were all disciples of the Punishment Hall, monitoring the entire Holy Land.

Therefore, the disciples of Heaven's Punishment Peak had the most comprehensive strength among all the peaks in the Holy Land.

Next was Heavenly Sword Peak.

Then came Cloudmist Peak, mainly because Cloudmist Peak had too few true inheritance disciples, with only five including Chu Xiu.

"Did you hear that the new issue of the Heavenly Secrets List has been updated?"

"Yeah, I even bought the latest Heavenly Secrets Report."

Chu Xiu looked ahead, where two direct disciples in purple robes were walking side by side, chatting and laughing.

He stepped forward to block their path.

The slightly plump disciple in purple showed a slight change in expression and smiled, "I wonder why Senior Brother has stopped us, what advice do you have?"

Although he addressed Chu Xiu as Senior Brother, there was not a hint of respect in his tone.

In fact, his eyes even held disdain.

Everyone on Cloudmist Peak knew that "Chu Xiu" was a waste.

Despite being the senior brother of the true inheritance, his cultivation base was inferior to most of the direct disciples.

Twenty days ago, he was even crippled by Zhang Meng, a direct disciple in purple from Heavenly Sword Peak.

In this world where strength was revered and the weak were prey, to earn respect, identity alone was not enough; one must have the strength to match.

Clearly, "Chu Xiu" did not have that strength.

Naturally, no one respected him.

Chu Xiu did not care about others' disdain; he had experienced such things too many times.

Without wasting words, he waved his hand, took out ten high-grade Essence Stones, and tossed them to the other party.

"Sell me the latest Heavenly Secrets Report."

"Heh heh~" The plump disciple grinned and handed a pale golden paper to Chu Xiu.

A single Heavenly Secrets Report only cost one mid-grade Essence Stone.

Since this fool was willing to pay a high price, he was happy to oblige.

Chu Xiu took the Heavenly Secrets Report and left.

He read it as he walked.

[Firmament Continent Major Events]

 

[No. 1: The Little Saint List has changed. The original first place, Chu Xiu, was besieged by dozens of Great Saint Experts at the Wailing Forbidden Land, Soul-Returning Cliff. During the pursuit, Chu Xiu managed to kill two early-stage Great Saints, an astonishing feat... Currently, the one who has ascended to the top of the Little Saint List is the Holy Son of the Shaking Light Holy Land, Feng Yaoguang, at the peak of the Little Saint level, possessing the Divine Physique of Spiritual Essence.]

 

[No. 2: Latest battle report from the Abyssal Great Wall. In recent months, the Demonkin have launched a massive invasion into the Human Race's territory. All major Holy Lands, sects, and Archaic Noble Clans stationed at the Great Wall have had Great Saints take action to suppress the invasion, with casualties on both sides...]

[No. 3: The fourth position on the Little Saint List has changed. The original fourth place, Zhang Xianling, the Holy Maiden of the Yin-Yang Divine Sect, has been replaced by Liu Hongyi, the former Holy Maiden of the Mortal Dust Sword Sect.]

 

[Reason for Liu Hongyi's rise in rank: At the eighth level of the Little Saint, possessing the Innate Sword Physique, she successfully assassinated Zhang Xinran, an early-stage Great Saint elder of the Mortal Dust Sword Sect.]

 

[It has been confirmed that Holy Maiden Liu Hongyi has defected from the Mortal Dust Sword Sect and is now wanted by the sect, with a bounty of 1 million Divine Essence Stones.]

 

[According to the sect master of the Mortal Dust Sword Sect, Holy King Hongchen, through Time-Space Reversal, it has been determined that Liu Hongyi had deep ties with the deceased Chu Xiu. Her reason for assassinating Elder Zhang Xinran was to avenge Chu Xiu, who was killed in the ambush.]

 

[The Mortal Dust Sword Sect has issued a warning: Other comrades who participated in the ambush of Chu Xiu should be wary of this woman and not underestimate her.]

***

Chu Xiu's eyes flickered for a moment.

In his mind, the image of a red-clad girl with watery eyes appeared.

He sneered, "Fool~"

Crack~

Origin Force surged, and the Heavenly Secrets Report in his hand was shattered into dust, dispersing into the world.

Heaven's Punishment Peak.

A colossal peak tens of thousands of feet high, shrouded in radiant light and swirling clouds, yet it did not give the impression of a celestial paradise, only an endless sense of killing intent and deathly silence. Even celestial cranes and spirit birds dared not linger on Heaven's Punishment Peak; they were too weak to withstand the aura of bloodshed.

Halfway up Heaven's Punishment Peak, there was a circular platform spanning ten thousand meters.

The Life-and-Death Arena was set up here.

At this moment.

Thousands of purple-robed direct disciples from various peaks, as well as some true inheritance disciples who had not entered seclusion, were gathered.

As for why the inner disciples were not present?

Because they did not have the qualifications to watch the battle.

They didn't even have the qualifications to ascend halfway up the mountain.

This showed how deeply the hierarchical system was ingrained in the bones of the cultivators on the Firmament Continent.

"It's quite lively today~"

Jian Lingyun, a true inheritance disciple of Heavenly Sword Peak, looked around and yawned.

"Senior Brother Lingxiao, I heard you recently made great progress in seclusion and have broken through to the Divine Ability Realm. Congratulations."

The nearby direct disciple flattered him obsequiously.

Jian Lingyun waved his hand dismissively, "It's just the Divine Ability Realm, nothing worth mentioning."

After speaking, he turned his gaze to the white-robed female cultivator beside him, who carried a long sword on her back.

She had a stunning oval face, eyes like water, brows like distant mountains, and an icy demeanor that rarely showed a smile.

"Sister Xu, I thought you wouldn't come to such a boring place."

Xu Tianzhen kept her gaze straight ahead, her tone cold, "This matter started because of me, so I naturally have to come and see.

That Chu Xiu and I are somewhat acquainted. I don't want to see him die here."

A flash of killing intent crossed Jian Lingyun's eyes. Xu Tianzhen had long been regarded by him as his own, and that waste Chu Xiu dared to harbor feelings for her, he deserved to die.

Twenty days ago, it was under his instruction that Zhang Meng crippled "Chu Xiu."

"Heh heh~ Sister Xu, what if he insists on seeking death?"

Standing behind Jian Lingyun, Zhang Meng noticed his leader's displeasure and immediately put on a fake smile, "Sister, you can't save someone who insists on courting death."

Xu Tianzhen glanced at Zhang Meng indifferently and said nothing more.

"Why hasn't Chu Xiu arrived yet? Is he afraid?"

"I think so..."

"Haha, and he's supposed to be the senior brother of the true inheritance of Cloudmist Peak. He's really bringing shame to the Peak Lord of Cloudmist Peak."

"Isn't that right? He can't even beat Zhang Meng from our Heavenly Sword Peak. What makes him worthy of being the senior brother?"

"I don't know how the people of Cloudmist Peak can tolerate such a waste sitting as their senior brother."

The surrounding direct disciples from various peaks loudly exchanged their opinions, mocking and ridiculing without any attempt to hide it.

The direct disciples of Cloudmist Peak who had come specifically to watch the battle had unpleasant expressions.

Chu Xiu was indeed a waste, but he was still one of their own. Being ridiculed by outsiders like this naturally made them unhappy, but they had no way to refute.

"Sigh~"

At this moment.

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A blue streak of light quickly flew over.

On the high platform of the Life-and-Death Arena, in the true inheritance viewing area, a woman in a cyan dress appeared.

She had almond-shaped eyes and peach-like cheeks, her long black hair tied into a simple Daoist bun at the back of her head, cascading smoothly over her shoulders.

"It's the fifth sister of Cloudmist Peak, Taoyao."

"I didn't expect her to come to watch the battle today."

"Sister Taoyao~"

Jian Lingyun put on a fake smile.

Taoyao's beautiful eyes moved, and she sneered, "Jian Lingyun, don't think you're so great just because you've broken through to the Divine Ability Realm. If you dare to smile at me like that again, be careful, I might just gouge out your eyes and use them as stepping stones."

Jian Lingyun's face turned black instantly at her words, but he didn't dare to say anything further.

He knew this witch's temperament.

If he dared to retort.

Even though this was Heaven's Punishment Peak.

She would definitely do as she said.

"He's here~"

Someone called out.

They saw.

A small flying boat slowly ascended from the foot of Heaven's Punishment Peak to the mountainside.

On the deck at the bow, a young man in a black robe with black hair, a blood-colored longsword slung diagonally at his waist, stood with his hands behind his back, his posture straight.

His long black hair fluttered in the wind.

His deep, dark eyes gazed straight ahead.

A faint smile played at the corners of his lips.

---

Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan