Chapter Seventy: The Competition Begins

"Alright, I believe everyone here is determined to claim the championship of this Nine Peaks Grand Competition. Since you're all so eager, let the competition begin!"

Xuan Xingzi sat high above, a broad smile on his face. Suddenly, he raised both arms over his head in a ceremonial gesture. In that instant, a dazzling light erupted inside Pine Pavilion, startling everyone. The four patriarchs of the great families, however, could not conceal their excitement and anticipation as they watched the scene unfold.

They knew Xuan Xingzi was using his necromantic arts to activate the teleportation array within Pine Pavilion, which would transport all participants directly to the battlefield. Meanwhile, every move they made there would be projected in real time through a manifestation illusion array, allowing the spectators to witness the entire event. The grandeur of the occasion was certainly one for the ages.

Jiang Feng felt his vision blur and a wave of vertigo nearly toppled him. A chilling breeze swept through, calming him somewhat. Nevertheless, he couldn't help but grumble inwardly that the comfort of Pine Pavilion's teleportation array was far inferior to his expectations. He glanced around to find himself surrounded by lush trees and verdant grass. Occasionally, a cool wind would waft by, refreshing his spirit and making him want to cheer aloud.

It was the most beautiful scenery he had ever seen.

"The rich truly live differently—owning such a paradise, making cultivation both easier and more delightful. What a life!" Jiang Feng muttered as he scanned the surroundings for any threats.

He quickly discovered both good and bad news. The good news: he was utterly alone, the weather was fair, and he had not encountered any of the dangerous necrobeasts Duan Xingyun had warned him about. This granted him precious time to survey the terrain and devise his tactics.

But therein lay the bad news as well: he had hoped to act in tandem with Duan Xingyun, his close friend, but now realized he had no clue where Duan Xingyun was, nor when he might appear. He had lost his guide.

"How vexing," Jiang Feng sighed helplessly. He took a deep breath and was startled anew, his expression growing even more bitter. "There seems to be a fluctuation of necroforce nearby. If it’s a master, I'm finished. If there’s only one, maybe I could manage, but given my reputation in Nine Peaks Town, everyone’s out for my head. If I run into a string of experts, I’ll be doomed."

Jue’s expression was equally grim. As a soul entity, his sense of danger far surpassed Jiang Feng’s. A single glance told him that Jiang Feng’s current safety was only temporary—there was a powerful necroforce nearby, and it was locking onto Jiang Feng.

"You really can’t catch a break," Jue remarked wryly.

Jiang Feng forced a wry smile, but his only comfort was that Gui Yue had awakened.

"Senior Gui Yue, how are you feeling?" Jiang Feng asked urgently. What he lacked most now was an ally. If Gui Yue could fight at his side, his strength would skyrocket.

Gui Yue shook his head and delivered news that left Jiang Feng despondent. "Not so well. Don’t expect me to fight alongside you. My power is unstable. I’ll do my best to keep your Frost Soul Liquid in check, and that's all."

Jiang Feng was speechless. Looking at the two so-called masters in his mind’s eye, who were always boasting, he felt as if he’d swallowed a fly.

Just as his spirits reached their lowest ebb, someone quietly approached, their necroforce gradually released, blending seamlessly with the dense energy in the air—so much so that even Jue failed to notice.

"Kid, someone’s coming!" Jue shouted, but his warning was too late. From Jiang Feng’s right, a man shot toward him at lightning speed, wielding a pitch-black iron rod. His aura was overwhelming, and the surging necroforce flowing from him seemed to merge with the very air, capable of destroying everything in its path.

Jiang Feng reacted immediately, moving swiftly, but couldn’t evade the attack. The black rod crackled with endless sparks, its sizzle nearly bursting his eardrums. The rod, powerful as a giant serpent, crashed hard onto Jiang Feng’s shoulder.

Agony flooded him like a bursting dam, but there was no time to cry out. With his free hand, he struck out with the Xuantian Divine Palm, aiming at the rod with a thunderous crash. But in the next instant, Jiang Feng was stunned.

Crackling and popping sounds emanated from the rod, but his force vanished as if swallowed by the sea—completely disconnected from him. The sensation was hauntingly familiar. He recalled a similar experience when dueling Duan Xingyun days earlier.

Could it be...?

"So you’re that ungrateful brat from the Jiang family, the one who betrayed your teachers and ancestors! Ha! I’ve caught you at last. Imagine the reward the Jiang family’s old man would give me if I brought him your head. The very thought makes my mouth water in excitement." The man in black gloves—intricately inscribed with runes—spoke with a mocking tone, clearly seeing Jiang Feng as no threat. "Oh, before you die, let me at least introduce myself. I am Xue Qiming!"

"They’re fighting already?" Wang Yu, patriarch of the Wang family, exclaimed in disbelief. He remembered the competitions of his youth, when everyone was extremely cautious, spending time scouting the terrain and probing their opponents before daring to engage in battle. "The necroforce users these days are certainly impatient."

Liu Tao smiled lightly. "You can’t compare our era to theirs. These days, it’s all about striking first. Isn’t that right, Senior Brother Xuan Xingzi?"

He said this deliberately for Xuan Xingzi’s benefit, knowing that the battleground was Pine Pavilion, under the jurisdiction of their Langya Chamber of Commerce, and that the first move had been made by their own Xue Qiming. This implied the Langya Chamber had planned ahead, with Xue Qiming well acquainted with the terrain. Liu Tao also sought to sow discord between Jiang Yuehai and the Langya Chamber. Though the Jiang family partnered with the Liu family, they also cooperated with Langya, causing the Liu family significant financial losses. His goal was to secure exclusive partnership rights with the Jiang family; as for Jiang Feng’s fate, it was of no concern to him.

As expected, his words immediately changed the atmosphere among the elders. While they could see Xue Qiming’s actions bordered on cheating, the fact that he targeted Jiang Feng pleased Fang Chuhan. Fang Yichen remained silent, as if he weren’t present at all. Wang Yu fell into deep thought, weighing the pros and cons of siding with the Liu and Jiang families or supporting Langya. Meanwhile, Jiang Feng’s grandfather, Jiang Yuehai, flushed with rage.

"Senior Brother Xuan Xingzi, your disciple’s manners leave much to be desired. Is this the conduct your chamber promotes?" Jiang Yuehai said coldly. He respected the power of the Langya Chamber, but had no fear of Xuan Xingzi himself. In terms of necroforce, he could move through their ranks with impunity. His only concern was the strength behind the Langya Chamber.

"Please don’t be angry, Elder Jiang. That’s my oversight. Xue Qiming is arrogant and takes every chance to bully those weaker than himself. I’ve admonished him many times, but he refuses to change and has now insulted you, which I will surely punish harshly!" Xuan Xingzi replied with a forced smile, clearly displeased by Jiang Yuehai’s words.

"Hmph! I suspect you’ll reward him handsomely after the competition is over," Jiang Yuehai pressed, his necroforce radiating outward as the tension in the hall rose.

Fang Yichen, silent until now, finally revealed his cunning. He stepped forward to smooth things over, smiling. "Gentlemen, let’s not get worked up. This is just youthful rivalry. The passion and recklessness of the young can lead to harsh words. As elders, we should rise above it."

"Exactly," Fang Chuhan chimed in, though it was clear to all that the true master of the Fang family was Fang Yichen behind him.

Xuan Xingzi welcomed the chance to de-escalate, but just then, movement in the crowd below caught his eye, and he looked over in surprise.

A massive beam of light shot up from the mountains of Pine Pavilion—not a necromantic art, but a sign that someone had been eliminated!

Who could have been eliminated so swiftly?

All attention shifted from Jiang Feng and Xue Qiming to this new figure. After pooling their observations, the elders finally identified the necroforce user who ended his bout with such speed. But they were left even more puzzled.

None of them recognized this youth. He was a stranger, as if he hadn’t come from Nine Peaks Town at all.

"It’s Fang Ping!" Liu Tao exclaimed. Judging by Fang Ping’s performance, he far surpassed even the favorite, Duan Xingyun. His ruthless moves and powerful necroforce made him seem less a youth and more a seasoned veteran.

Fang Chuhan smiled in silence, inwardly elated. He recalled when Fang Yichen first introduced Fang Ping to him—the child’s composure and astonishing strength had left a deep impression, far beyond his years. Even without Fang Yichen’s recommendation, he would have taken Fang Ping as his adopted son without hesitation.

For Fang Ping bore more halos than anyone else—halos earned not by family or sect, as with Jiang Feng, Xue Qiming, and Duan Xingyun, but seized through countless blood-soaked battles.

"There are several rankings on the Continent of Ten Thousand Spirits, each listing all the great experts. One ranking, shrouded in secrecy, records only those assassins who dwell in darkness—the Ghost List. Fang Ping is ranked one hundredth, and the only assassin under twenty to break into the top hundred!" That was what Fang Yichen once told Fang Chuhan.

The other patriarchs watched Fang Ping with grave concern, forgetting to question Fang Chuhan about the boy’s origins. The strength he displayed was simply too terrifying.

His actions were decisive, his speed faster than lightning, his eyes cold as ice, his methods as savage as a starving wolf—he looked every inch a killer prowling the Continent of Ten Thousand Spirits.

And a mad killer, at that.

"This child is truly terrifying," Xuan Xingzi stammered, trembling as he silently prayed for Duan Xingyun. His beloved disciple was fighting not far from Fang Ping. Should Fang Ping set his sights on him, Xuan Xingzi knew in his heart that Fang Ping would show no mercy—a sneak attack, a thunderous blow, snuffing Duan Xingyun out like an ant.

"Is he man or ghost?" Around Fang Ping stood a group of people, each staring at him in terror and pain. Facing such a god of slaughter, the pressure alone was immense.

Fang Ping did not answer. He simply glanced at them with emotionless, deathly eyes, his lips moving as if to speak, but no sound came.

He was mute.

But no one dared laugh, for they all understood his words. If anyone else had said them, it would have seemed absurd, but from Fang Ping’s mouth, it inspired only terror and sent every other thought fleeing.

Fang Ping was saying, "How dull. Kill them all."

"B-brother, this is only a competition, just a match, you—"

He hadn’t finished pleading for mercy before Fang Ping’s knife pierced his throat. No one even saw Fang Ping move; one instant he stood there, the next his blade was buried in the man’s neck.

"Run! He’s a demon, a devil!"

Panic swept the crowd, but it didn’t last long. The one who quelled it was none other than the god of slaughter, Fang Ping.

He licked the blood from his knife, frowning slightly as if the taste disappointed him.

Then, a rare gleam flickered in his eyes. He looked up at a distant peak, where Duan Xingyun had just finished a battle, starry sand swirling in the air as if issuing a challenge to Fang Ping.

Both Xuan Xingzi and Fang Chuhan felt their hearts skip a beat.

Neither had expected the clash between Fang Ping and one of the tournament favorites to come so soon.