A single remark resounded like thunder.

Countless pairs of eyes within and outside the arena looked at Lu Ran, his body covered in sword wounds, as murmurs rose in waves.

"Really, it's Lu Ran! Damn, to see him alive!"

"Lu Tianjiao is too miserable, covered in cuts, and Senior Sister Deng too... turned into a blood person..."

"What's the relationship between Lu Tianjiao and Senior Sister Deng? Lovers?"

"The two of them are so wretched, they really seem like a pair of tragic mandarin ducks..."

"Don't spout nonsense, Ran Dog's girlfriend is Goddess Jiang!"

Among hushed whispers, Deng Yutang trembled with excitement.

Brother Lu had indeed made a move!

I knew it!

Brother Lu wouldn't just stand by and watch his sister die.

Despite the current state of Deng Yuxiang, drenched in blood, life and death uncertain, with Lu Ran by her side, Deng Yutang believed his sister must still be alive!

Deng Yutang's trust in Lu Ran was almost to the point of blindness.

Bai Manni was also incredibly relieved!

However, her jubilation was only felt deep inside.

At this moment, the atmosphere inside and outside the Martial Arts Arena was simply too solemn.

Lu Ran had brought back Deng Yuxiang, but what now?

This is the territory of the Beifeng Sect, Beifeng City!

And there stands the statue of the Divine Sculpture, tall and mighty within the city.

Lu Ran had violated the rules right under the nose of the Divine Lord and inside someone else's faction!

What should Lu Ran do now?

With this thought, Bai Manni's expression grew somber.

"A fine genius of Da Xia," suddenly came a hoarse voice from above.

Liao Wushuang stood suspended in the sky, her gaze cold, with a trace of resentment, her voice bitingly clear,

"To run wild in our Beifeng City, to disrupt a duel for no reason, to disregard the rules as if they were nothing!

Very well,

A fine genius of Da Xia!"

With these words, the entire place fell silent.

People stopped even their secretive whispers, their attention tensely focused on the unfolding situation.

Undeniably, many onlookers held a great deal of admiration for Lu Ran.

As the number one genius of Da Xia, Lu Ran had a vast fanbase.

As a swordsman, Lu Ran was the idol of many North Wind Disciples, the target they aspired to surpass.

There were even some whose admiration for Lu Ran reached fanatical levels.

In any other setting, quite a number would have already spoken out in defense of Lu Ran.

Right and wrong were secondary.

The fanatical fans were for the person, not the principle.

But this was Beifeng City!

The majority of the spectators were North Wind Disciples, and they could see the Divinity with just a lift of their eyes.

Liao Wushuang, especially, was a prestigious character within the Beifeng Sect; her words just now seemingly declared her stance.

"This matter was indeed the fault of Lu Ran breaking the rules first."

Lu Ran spoke up, admitting his mistake candidly.

He looked towards Liao Wushuang and continued, "Senior Sister Deng Yuxiang and I are from the same hometown, born in Rain Alley.

When I first became a Believer, I acted rashly and foolishly, unaware of the vastness of heaven and earth.

It was Senior Sister Deng who took me on missions, guided me forward, and protected my life."

Lu Ran paused, his gaze spanning the crowd, "Deng Yuxiang helped me too much.

She is my comrade-in-arms in life and death battles, my guide, who once slew Yan Paper on a rainy night to save my life.

I truly couldn't just watch her die before my eyes.

I broke the rules.

I admit my fault and accept the penalty."

Winter's warm sun shone upon Beifeng City.

Above and below the heavens, countless people encircled the empty Martial Arts Arena, where sunlight fell on the center stage, on the two bloodied figures.

The scene held a certain tragic beauty,

And carried a hint of heroism.

The North Wind Disciples, listening to Lu Ran's words, couldn't help but look on with complex expressions.

"You admit your fault and accept punishment?" Liao Wushuang's face darkened, pushing out the words through clenched teeth.

She gritted her teeth!

Deng Yuxiang, a youth with exceptional talent, was destined to dominate one day.

How could Liao Wushuang rest easy if Deng Yuxiang didn't die today?

But here was the genius of Da Xia, expressing his resolve to save Deng Yuxiang's life.

"Yes!" Lu Ran nodded emphatically.

Then, he lifted his broken blade, "My sister has lost, and her saber is broken.

She no longer qualifies to contend with Senior Liao's Divine Weapon for the Divine Weapon Domain.

But could you spare her life in light of her being a fellow member of the Human Clan, a comrade-in-arms?"

In fact, even if Deng Yuxiang were to foster another Divine Weapon, its Domain might not necessarily overlap with Liao Wushuang's Divine Weapon.

But "might not necessarily" implied "a possibility"!

Therefore, even though the Night-slaying Great Saber was broken and its Artifact Spirit dispersed, Liao Wushuang was still not appeased.

To cut grass,

You must eradicate the roots!

Liao Wushuang articulated each word sharply, her voice as cold as ice, "The great genius of Da Xia, a pillar of the nation!

How shall you be punished?

This matter began because of Deng Yuxiang, so the punishment should also fall on her!"

Lu Ran stared fixedly at Liao Wushuang, tightening his embrace around the bloodied figure in his arms.

Sister,

She truly seeks utter annihilation...

It's evident, who couldn't see through Liao Wushuang's murderous intent?

"Cough cough." Deng Yuxiang's gaze was distant as if her soul had departed, and blood flowed from the corner of her mouth.

From the moment the Night-slaying Great Saber broke, she seemed to have become an empty shell.

Lu Ran knew her injuries couldn't wait any longer.

His gaze swept the snow forest, and he proclaimed loudly,

"Lu Ran, Mountain Master of the Luoxian faction, Immortal Sheep sect, pays respects to the Beifeng City Lord!"

As his words fell, whispering erupted around the Martial Arts Arena.

"What immortal mountain?"

"Luoxian Mountain, the main mountain of the Immortal Sheep sect, the abode of the Divine!"

"Mountain Master of Luoxian? So Lu Ran is..."

"Damn! If Lu Ran is the Mountain Master of Luoxian, doesn't that put him on the same level as our Beifeng City Lord?"

"Nonsense, otherwise, what makes Lu Ran eligible to request a dialogue with our City Lord?"

"The Human World Sect Master of the Immortal Sheep sect, doesn't that sound somewhat lacking?"

"Not at all, even if the Immortal Sheep sect is declining and the faction is small, Lu Ran is still a sect leader appointed by the Divine, on the same level as our City Lord."

In the high sky, Liao Wushuang's expression shifted.

Everyone knew Lu Ran as the number one genius of Da Xia.

If he were to talk to everyone in this capacity, he would still be on the level of "Da Xia."

But now, Lu Ran openly claimed the title of "Mountain Master of Luoxian."

This was negotiating with the Beifeng Sect on a divine faction level.

"Grandfather?" Hu Jiaojiao looked pleadingly at the elder beside her with eyes full of entreaty.

The elder glanced at his granddaughter but offered no reaction, his figure slowly rising into the air.

Clad in a white robe with its hem fluttering dramatically, he emanated an impressive aura.

As the elder gradually descended to the center, a robust voice resounded,

"Beifeng City Lord, Hu Cheng."

Lu Ran clasped his fists in greeting, "City Lord Hu, my apologies for the disturbance."

Hu Cheng looked at Lu Ran, in tattered clothes and covered in wounds, and nodded slightly.

Since entering the arena, Lu Ran had only defended, never attacked.

Now, presenting himself in such a manner, his attitude was respectful.

Lu Ran continued, "Senior Sister Deng Yuxiang has saved my life, and I wish to preserve hers.

I will take full responsibility for all consequences, and I implore Lord Hu to grant my request."

On Hu Cheng's aged face, wrinkles piled upon wrinkles, and he regarded Lu Ran expressionlessly.

After a long while, under the watchful eyes of all, Hu Cheng slowly said, "Mountain Master Lu jests.

As the Human World Sect Master of the Immortal Sheep sect, we are not entitled to punish you.

However, today's disturbance in my city, intervening in the duel, causing chaos..."

"City Lord Hu!" Suddenly, Liao Wushuang's voice rang from the sky.

In listening, pay heed to the voice.

Regardless of what Hu Cheng might say next, the first two sentences had set the tone.

Liao Wushuang realized where things were heading and didn't want Hu Cheng to continue.

Liao Wushuang shouted loudly, "The Life and Death Contract was signed in front of the Divine Lord!

This battle is unfair to me!"

Hu Cheng's brow furrowed slightly, his expression subtle.

As the imposing Beifeng City Lord, a figure of unimaginably high status and authority, he commanded great respect.

Yet, as he interacted with the Sect Master of another sect, he was interrupted by a member of his own disciples...

Liao Wushuang was indeed desperate.

In fact, if you think about it, Liao Wushuang's insistence on killing Deng Yuxiang to achieve her goal is questionable.

If Deng Yuxiang were to live, her future Divine Weapon was still a long way off.

Besides, it's not confirmed whether their Divine Weapon Domains will overlap again in the future.

Even if their Divine Weapon Domains do overlap and the future Deng Yuxiang wins, she might still spare Liao Wushuang's life.

All these potential outcomes are progressively escalating.

But if Deng Yuxiang is forced to die here...

Then the crisis Deng Yuxiang might pose is resolved for Liao Wushuang.

But she would have established a deep-seated enmity with Lu Ran!

One is an unknown, potentially emerging threat.

The other is a certainty, an inevitable grudge...

How should one choose?

People have two sides to their mouths.

When Lu Ran mentioned "life-saving grace," all it would take is for Liao Wushuang to change her stance and say, "Since that's the case, let's leave it at that."

She could even offer a significant favor!

Lu Ran, for the sake of Deng Yuxiang's life, broke the rules.

On this basis, he accepted this favor, and the future Liao Wushuang no longer needed to worry about Domain issues.

But Liao Wushuang was impatient.

To be precise, she was mentally overwhelmed!

Her unique upbringing shaped her unique personality.

Compared to emotions like anger and resentment, at this moment, Liao Wushuang's heart was filled with envy!

Endless, boundless envy!

Why?!

Why should Deng Yuxiang be exceptionally talented, achieving so much at only twenty-two?

Why should I, with average aptitude, spend half a lifetime practicing, and still live in anxiety and vigilant against juniors?

Why does Deng Yuxiang have someone like Lu Ran by her side?

He is the first Heavenly Pride revered by the world, the august Human World Sect Master!

Lu Ran is wrong!

Lu Ran violated the rules!

He unabashedly used his Sect Master identity, begged for mercy, and requested a person from Lord Hu Beifeng.

To Lord Hu and the Beifeng Sect, Lu Ran was seeking forgiveness.

But to Liao Wushuang, wasn't Lu Ran using his status to pressure her?

This "perfect" image of Lu Ran in the eyes of the world, just a single stain would be magnified infinitely.

His entire life subjected to gossip and controversy!

The higher you stand, the harder you fall!

He, willing to face punishment, scorn, even if his reputation was destroyed...

Even if he risked attracting the Divine's wrath, he would still protect Deng Yuxiang at all costs!

Liao Wushuang really exploded.

Why is my life like this, my own existence devoid of anything?

Nothing from childhood to adulthood!

Why?

"Huu~"

High above, Liao Wushuang plummeted to the snowy ground.

As everyone was puzzled, they saw Liao Wushuang kneeling, looking up to the Divine, "Lord North Wind!"

Hu Cheng's expression remained unchanging, but his gaze turned stern.

Liao Wushuang cried out loudly, "Your disciple, Liao Wushuang!

One year ago, I signed a Life and Death Contract before Your Divine Sculpture!

Today's battle was unfair to me; I beseech Lord North Wind to do me justice!!"

Extreme emotions,

Lead to extreme choices.

As her words ended, a collective gasp rose from within and outside the Martial Arts Arena.

1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds...

Dead silence enveloped the world.

Liao Wushuang knelt with bowed head, whispering lower, "Since joining our sect, I have been loyal and devoutly worshipful..."

Silence still prevailed around her, only the sound of the cold wind audible.

Liao Wushuang lowered her head further, "I have fought for nearly thirty years in the Demon Cave for our sect, giving my all, expanding our territory..."

"Whoosh!!"

Above in the high heavens, a tumultuous surge of Divine Power began to whirl violently.

...

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