Traductor: TheFluentWhisper
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"You all keep practicing—no stopping until sunset."
After issuing this order, Wang Shihu left.
All the martial apprentices in the courtyard turned their gazes toward Li Changye, some with respect, others with fear or anger.
Li Changye laughed, "What are you staring at? Keep practicing!"
The apprentices snapped back to reality and resumed striking their wooden stakes. Only Chen Bufan, face full of sycophantic eagerness, stuck close to Li Changye and forced a dry laugh. "Adoptive father, my house is nearby. Tonight, let me host a feast for you—with some lovely singers to keep you company."
Li Changye waved dismissively, "That's boring. Just get me some real opponents."
"My blade has been itching for a fight."
Chen Bufan wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling a chill. The Li Changye before him now was like a different person entirely—no longer the meek, dull young man he used to be. Now, he was radiating murderous intent.
At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the courtyard.
Li Changye looked up slightly to see a group of people storming towards him, clearly students from the Tianxuan Martial Academy.
At the front of the group was a fierce-looking man, his face hardened and predatory like a beast ready to devour its prey. Broad and muscular, his every step seemed to make the ground tremble. His bronze skin shone like metal in the sunlight, his towering muscles bulging with strength. His gaze was sharp and cold, like two swords that dared no one to meet his eyes.
"Who here is Li Changye?" The man's voice boomed like thunder, making ears ring.
Li Changye watched without fear, his eyes even lighting up with excitement. He stepped forward, extending his hand with enthusiasm. "That's me!"
Li Changye scanned the men in front of him, asking excitedly, "Are you all here to give me trouble?"
Seeing how eager he was, the crowd exchanged awkward glances.
The man leading the group looked at Li Changye coldly, a flash of anger in his eyes. "I'm Cao Hu. He Tian was my brother."
"I heard you killed him?"
Li Changye nodded, unconcerned, and waved dismissively, "On the Life and Death Platform, life and death are determined by fate. He didn't have the strength, so he died at my hands—he deserved it."
Upon hearing this, Cao Hu's fury ignited, and the men around him glared at Li Changye, their eyes wide with anger.
Cao Hu roared, "Li Changye, do you really think my brother's life is so worthless? Today, I'll avenge him!"
"If you want revenge, stop wasting time and meet me on the Life and Death Platform!" Li Changye said fearlessly, getting straight to the point.
Cao Hu was taken aback. He had brought all these people, intending to pressure Li Changye into apologizing and paying up. But he hadn't expected Li Changye to go straight for a life-or-death showdown!
It was completely irrational.
Yet, with so many people watching, Cao Hu couldn't back down. He let out a roar, his muscles instantly tightening as a powerful aura exploded from his body—he was at the fourth level of Body Refinement, his presence spreading around him like surging waves.
The students around Li Changye backed away, awe in their eyes.
"Kid, do you think I'm as weak as He Tian?" Cao Hu sneered, exuding confidence and arrogance, certain his strength far surpassed He Tian's and that taking Ling Changye's life would be easy.
"So, are we fighting or not?" Li Changye asked seriously, his gaze unwavering.
Cao Hu was stunned; this was the first time he had encountered someone this ruthless.
Outside the academy, he was a feared tyrant, known for his ferocity and strength. But today, he had met someone even fiercer.
Before they'd exchanged more than a few words, Li Changye had already called for a death duel on the Life and Death Platform!
Cao Hu's scalp tingled as a sense of unease crept in. But he couldn't lose face. He forced a cold smile, saying, "Kid, don't think I'm scared of you. Just let me be clear."
Li Changye impatiently waved him off, "Forget it. He Tian was a sniveling coward, and you're just a bigger one!"
Cao Hu trembled with rage, his face flushed. "You… you dare insult me?" His voice shook, fists clenched so tight his nails dug into his palms.
"So what if I insult you? If you don't have the guts to fight on the Life and Death Platform, you're just a coward!" Li Changye taunted mercilessly.
"Fine, fine, fine!" Cao Hu gritted his teeth, eyes blazing with fury. "If you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish!"
"Let's go to the Life and Death Platform!"
Cao Hu turned, his followers trailing after him, rage and unease mingling in his heart, but he had no choice but to push forward.
Li Changye watched Cao Hu's back, a cold smile playing on his lips.
That afternoon, the Life and Death Platform was once again alive with activity.
Li Changye marched onto the platform, sword on his shoulder.
Cao Hu followed, his own sword on his back, his imposing frame and warrior's attire giving him a fierce aura.
Around the platform, students gathered to watch the impending fight.
Among them was Guan Jiali, who sneered as she watched. "Has Li Changye lost his mind? Every few days, he's challenging someone to a death match."
A young man nearby sneered, "I heard Li Changye was kicked out of the Li family by his father."
"No wonder. Looks like he's had a breakdown and is determined to get himself killed." Guan Jiali's sneer widened, her gaze smug.
"Ha! That's just sad," the young man laughed.
A bit farther off, a handsome man in luxurious clothing watched the scene with a cold smirk. "The famous Emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty has a son who's a reckless fool."
Beside him stood a graceful, alluring woman who laughed softly, "He does have some spirit, but he's on a self-destructive path."
"Hmph. Spirit or not, he's a talentless waste. Not worth mentioning." The man sneered and turned away.
The overseer of the Life and Death Platform was, once again, the same male martial instructor. He looked at Li Changye with surprise, unable to fathom why this young man, who had killed once that morning, was back for another fight that afternoon.
"Didn't expect you to be this stupid."
"If this were off the platform, no one would dare lay a hand on you."
"But here on the platform, not even the emperor could save you."
Li Changye looked at him calmly. "Doesn't matter. Let's start—I can't wait any longer."
The instructor snorted and raised his hand.
Cao Hu, his face twisted with malice, glared at Li Changye, his voice low and menacing. "The only reason He Tian died at your hands was his own soft-heartedness."
"But I'm different. I started killing when I was eight."
"You can't outmatch me in ruthlessness."
Without another word, Li Changye raised his black sword.
The surrounding students shook their heads as they watched.
"Li Changye is done for."
"Yeah, Cao Hu is a real fighter."
"I heard Cao Hu even beat a senior at the fifth level of Body Refinement—all thanks to his vicious streak."
"Exactly, this isn't just a duel; it's a life-or-death fight."
On the martial platform, the two stood opposite each other, the tension so thick it could be cut with a knife. Li Changye and Cao Hu faced off, their battle imminent.
Cao Hu's expression was ferocious, his gaze murderous as his steel sword gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
With a vicious smile, he tensed his muscles, each swing of his sword cutting through the air with a whistle. His strikes were powerful and fierce, like a tiger charging down a mountain, each swing threatening to tear everything in his path to shreds.
But Li Changye remained calm, his gaze steady as water. He stood firm, his sword pointing to the ground casually, yet carrying an air of hidden depth.
Facing Cao Hu's storm-like assault, he stayed composed, his sword moving with precision to deflect each attack. Each clash of their blades rang out sharply, sparks flying.
After several exchanges, Li Changye remained unharmed, his expression serene.
Cao Hu, however, looked stunned, his eyes filled with disbelief as he stared at Li Changye.
The students below the platform were all dumbfounded, unable to believe their eyes.
"Li Changye can actually go toe-to-toe with Cao Hu," a student muttered, shock in his voice.
"Incredible," another student agreed, his eyes wide with surprise.
Listening to the murmurs around her, Guan Jiali seethed with jealousy, her teeth clenched as she glared at the battle, praying for Cao Hu to kill Li Changye.
"Kill him, he has to die," Guan Jiali muttered, her eyes blazing with hatred.
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