Zhang Baichi's calm voice resounded in Ji Jian's ears and the latter immediately felt a cold shiver down his spine. 'Danger! I'm feeling danger?! How is that possible?'
He was distracted for only a second, but that was already enough time for Zhang Baichi to close the gap between the two of them in half.
Ji Jian's focus was restored, and he caught Zhang Baichi in his eyes, preparing for another clash of swords.
They were just two steps away from each other when their swords moved.
Zhang Baichi struck out and Ji Jian was prepared to block, but the latter's pupils shrunk to the size of a needle.
A light, whitish sliver wrapped around the blade headed in his direction and his senses were screaming for him to dodge and get away.
From a standing position with his sword ready to block, Ji Jian instantly shifted into a jumping position and moved to the side, narrowly avoiding Zhang Baichi's blade.
"Sword Qi, how-?!" despite shouting in surprise, Ji Jian did not even have the time to finish his words.
The moment he dodged, Zhang Baichi's sword changed its course and was headed towards his neck like a poisonous snake, forcing him to swallow his words and dodge once more.
Zhang Baichi moved across the stage with ease and continuously attacked, his sword wrapped in sharp Sword Qi.
While he was still far from reaching the genuine Star Stage of the Fractured Star Sword Technique, Zhang Baichi's mastery over the basic techniques had increased by leaps and bounds.
He was effortlessly tying one attack to the next in a never-ending chain, leaving Ji Jian with no option but to run.
He was chased around the arena and barely able to block Zhang Baichi's attacks, stumbling and unable to find the right moment to counter.
In his heart, the dread and danger he felt were gradually overshadowed by rage as he was chased and beaten like a stray dog.
Madness flashed through his eyes, and he used his Movement Technique to instantly shift into a charge.
Blood splattered as Ji Jian's left shoulder was pierced and cut open, but he still charged at Zhang Baichi and attacked.
This time, Zhang Baichi's pupils contracted, and he swayed to the side, dodging Ji Jian's desperate attack.
Both fell back a bit and cries of surprise came from the surrounding spectators as blood incessantly dripped from Ji Jian's shoulder.
He was injured! For the first time in their match, someone was injured, and it was actually Ji Jian.
Before the crowd could recover, Zhang Baichi once again pressed the attack, Sword Qi coating his blade as he moved.
Ji Jian didn't try to dodge this time as he couldn't allow Zhang Baichi to build even more momentum.
He gripped his sword tight, and his body shifted across the stage to match Zhang Baichi's attacks.
There was still a glint of madness in his eyes, but it was overshadowed by rage and pain.
He was a young master of the Ji family and barely anyone dared to cross him. He crushed any that dared to stand in his way and looked down on the world from a higher place!
And yet, this Zhang Baichi dared not only stand in his way, even injuring him.
"In front of so many people-!" Ji Jian screamed through gritted teeth, his sword moving with a fierce thrust, missing Zhang Baichi by an inch.
"In front of so many people-!" He screamed again, dodging Zhang Baichi's counterattack with a spin to the side. His sword moved, threatening to cut Zhang Baichi in half, but the latter once again dodged by swaying to the side.
Only, this time there was no distance between them. Zhang Baichi moved behind Ji Jian and attacked. The latter immediately turned around and met the strike with an attack of his own.
"You dared to humiliate me-!" Ji Jian pushed with all his strength, forcing Zhang Baichi back and attacked wildly.
Strike after strike, metal clashing against metal again and again, Ji Jian attacked Zhang Baichi again and again. They remained rooted in place, neither moving back a single step.
"Know you place you d*mned lowlife!" Ji Jian's Qi grew more and more fierce and he finally pushed Zhang Baichi back with a powerful strike, even lifting Zhang Baichi off of the ground.
Zhang Baichi lightly landed on the ground, still holding his sword in an iron grip, and looked at Ji Jian with cold eyes. "Are you done throwing a tantrum?"
"You-!" Ji Jian was ready to explode, but Zhang Baichi was already charging at him again.
Holding his ground, Ji Jian attacked with a powerful overhead strike, but Zhang Baichi once again blocked and refused to move back.
"If you're done throwing a tantrum…" Zhang Baichi spoke, his cold eyes meeting Ji Jian's incensed eyes. Qi blasted out of Zhang Baichi's body, and he sent Ji Jian flying in the same manner was sent flying before.
"-Then let's continue this this match!" The Black Heaven Qi blazed around his body while Sword Qi gathered around his sword.
He instantly gave chase, not giving Ji Jian any time to rest. They clashed and clashed, sending sparks and bits and scratches of metal flying everywhere.
At the same time, a glistering streak of starry lights trailed behind Zhang Baichi's swords, lingering in the arena even after their clashes.
Ji Jian was pushed back with every clash and his body was screaming from the pressure. He stared at Zhang Baichi with burning fury. "How can you be so strong?!"
"I've been this strong from the beginning." Zhang Baichi calmly answered while attacking again. His expression changed at he stared at Ji Jian with the same burning hatred. "It's just… that I'm finally done holding back!"
He struck from below, pushing Ji Jian's sword upwards, then shifted his direction and struck down. Ji Jian reacted fast, and his body moved back with a jump.
Still, blood splattered, followed by an agonized scream.
Ji Jian pushed his sword into the ground to stabilize himself. He fell down to one knee and clutched his leg.
Zhang Baichi let out a long breath and kicked Ji Jian's severed foot out of his way.
"Ji Jian!" an enraged shout came from the spectators stands and a man took to the air, headed for the arena.
He charged, but suddenly crossed his arms in front of his chest before he was pushed back. Jian Fu had appeared before the man, and he was the one that had just attacked.
He looked at the man with cold eyes, his black robe with the Law Enforcement Division's insignia prominently displayed on his chest fluttering in the wind. "No one shall interfere in battles in the Life and Death Arena!"
"Jian Fu! Don't go too far!" The man threatened, but Jian Fu did not waver. Zhang Baichi glanced at him, then turned his attention back to Ji Jian.
Since the old man Jian Fu had taken action, he didn't need to worry about anything else.
He walked towards Ji Jian with his sword still in hand. Ji Jian stared at him with blazing hatred and struggled to stand up.
He pulled his sword out of the ground and charged at Zhang Baichi. "I'll kill you, you bastard!"
Without a change in his expression, Zhang Baichi moved a step to the side and cut at Ji Jian.
Blood splattered again, followed by another miserable cry from Ji Jian. He fell to the ground, kneeling and keeled over, clutching at his missing right arm and screaming in agony.
"Ji Jian!" The middle-aged man outside the arena cried out again and turned to Jian Fu. "Jian Fu, move!"
"No one will interfere in this battle." Jian Fu's expression didn't change. The other man was livid and screamed at Jian Fu, but he didn't dare to attack. "Jian Fu! My Ji family will not forgive you if you don't move!"
"I don't care about your Ji family. The Lord Sect Master has personally ordered for there to be no interruptions to this battle!" Jian Fu's voice was filled with Qi and loudly echoed through the whole area, startling many people.
The Lord Sect Master! The Sect Master had personally given the order?!
On the arena, Ji Jian screamed and turned to Zhang Baichi, a bone-deep hatred in his voice. "You will die! Zhang Baichi, you will die! You will pay for what you have done!"
"'Pay for what I've done', huh?" Zhang Baichi muttered, staring at Jian Fu without an ounce of mercy in his voice. "Have you ever considered that a day would come for you to pay for what you have done?"
Before Ji Jian could answer, Zhang Baichi's sword moved. Coated in the Black Heaven Qi and the twinkling Sword Qi, it pierced into Ji Jian's body, right below his navel.
With a light cracking noise, Ji Jian's eyes went wide. He looked down at the sword piercing his Dantian and couldn't speak. The spectators had shock and fear written all over their faces and drew in cold breaths.
Zhang Baichi had destroyed Ji Jian's Dantian! He had crippled Ji Jian!
The man across from Jian Fu couldn't contain his anger any longer and his powerful aura burst out. "Zhang Baichi! My Ji family will kill you!"
He moved towards the arena, but was once again stopped by a furious Jian Fu, who sent the man flying back where he came from and crashing into the ground. "Ji Fengkong, how dare you! Did you not hear what I said?!"
"Jian Fu, you-!" another man flew up and shouted, but he was similarly sent crashing into the ground. Jian Fu's aura enveloped the surrounding area, and he unleashed a murderous aura. "The Sect Master's orders are Absolute! To all who disobey – Death!"
Dozens of black clad figures appeared around the arena with his shout, every single of them of impressive stature and with ice cold, murderous expression.
The Law Enforcement Division's elites have made a move!
The Life and Death Arena grew silent at once. It was exactly as Jian Fu said: In the Fleeting Storm Sword Sect, the Sect Master's orders were absolute!
It didn't matter if one was a disciple of the Outer Sect, Inner Sect, Core Area or even an Elder. If someone disobeyed the Sect Master's direct orders, death was the only outcome!
In the silence, Ji Jian's pained whimpers were especially striking. He stared at Zhang Baichi in disbelief. "How dare you…. How dare you…. How dare you…."
Zhang Baichi stared back at him and slowly pulled out his sword. The wound was bleeding, but Ji Jian just wordlessly stared at it. His journey as a cultivator was over.
"How does it feel?" Zhang Baichi spoke in a calm, quiet tone, as if consoling someone. All eyes instantly focusing on him. "How does it feel to be a regular mortal again?"
Ji Jian's expression instantly changed, and he wanted to pounce on Zhang Baichi, but he only stumbled and fell to the ground. "You will die! Die! I will never forgive you in my life!"
The screaming was heard by everyone, but Zhang Baichi only shook his head. He spoke to Ji Jian in the same whispering voice as before. "Do you understand how scary it is, now? For a regular mortal to stand before a cultivator? The fear and helplessness they felt in front of certain death?"
The atmosphere grew heavy and the surrounding people's expressions somber.
"You sent cultivators to kill regular mortals in hope of gaining treasures. You killed innocent and helpless people. Old and young, men and women. You killed them all... You killed. My. Family." Zhang Baichi continued.
Ji Jian's expression was ugly, he once again struggled to get up and scream at Zhang Baichi, but no words escaped his mouth.
He couldn't speak.
Not with a sword piercing through his throat and neck…
He stared at Zhang Baichi in disbelief. Would he… really die like this?
His body slowly fell back, the last thing he heard being Zhang Baichi's whispering voice.
"This is what you deserve… What you brought upon yourself… Go and repent in hell."
The life faded from Ji Jian's eyes as he fell onto his back.
Blood began to pool under him as he died, alone and without anyone to see him off.
The surroundings instantly became heated, and people of the Ji family screamed and burst forth with power.
Dozens of auras filled with killing intent locked on to Zhang Baichi, yet the boy didn't move in the slightest.
Zhang Baichi sighed and looked down, tears welling up in his eyes. "This match is over… I've taken revenge for you… You can rest now…. Just leave everything else to me…"
Without anyone's knowledge, a man had appeared next to Zhang Baichi. He looked at the fallen Ji Jian and put a hand on Zhang Baichi's shoulder. "You did well, child."
Zhang Baichi didn't turn to face him, but his body shook slightly. Tears fell from his eyes and spoke in a creaking voice. "Then… why am I not feeling any relieve? Why don't I feel better? Why is there only grief and sadness, Master…?"