Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

Chapter 488 The Battle of Life and Death (Part 2)

The life-and-death duel proposed by the Sand Tribe Wizard is officially known as the "Heavenly Mandate Life-and-Death Duel."

This is a very ancient tradition among the Sand People.

The Sand Tribe, entrenched in the Western Region Great Desert, has never been truly unified; the major tribes occupy different oases, forming a situation of regional hegemony.

On the surface, these tribes all submit to the Hidden Gold Palace of Sabak City, but in reality, they obey commands but not proclamations.

While different tribes form alliances with each other, wars often break out over resources.

Countless Sand People have stained the yellow sands with their blood.

Hatred is something that can be inherited and continued unless one side is completely wiped out. Otherwise, it's like aged spirits, the longer it's stored, the more concentrated it gets, until it is impossible to dissipate.

The brutal wars between the tribes have caused continuous bloodshed among the Sand People.

On the brink of extinction!

Under such circumstances, led by the Hidden Gold Palace and with the involvement of the Buddhist Sect of the Western Region, over a hundred tribal leaders were convened.

Together in Sabak City, they established the Sand Tribe Alliance, putting an end to thousands of years of endless vendettas.

From then on, the disputes between the Sand People tribes were settled through the "Heavenly Mandate Life-and-Death Duel."

Each of the two tribes would send out one or more representatives to fight to the death in a designated area!

And after the Sand Tribe came into direct conflict with the West Sea Sect, the former, drained of blood, failed to breach Town Sand City and could only rely on Hunter Cultivators to sneak into Dayi City to save some face.

Another approach was to issue a life-and-death challenge to the cultivators guarding the Guan Wall.

"The Sand People, a barbaric lot."

Kou Shihai spoke in a low voice, "They are lowly and foolish, always coveting what they shouldn't have."

"We cultivators of Dayi have never refused the Sand People's legitimate challenges."

In the eyes of the West Sea Sect, the Sand Tribe is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot; if they weren't mindful of the Buddhist Sect of the Western Region, they would have crushed them to dust long ago.

The West Sea Sect has always looked down from a height, looking down on these barbarians.

How could the Battle Cultivators of Dayi City possibly fear their challenge?

Of course, this refers to legitimate challenges.

The life-and-death challenges issued by the Sand People to Dayi come in two types: one is a challenge by specific name, and the other is an open challenge without a designated target.

Wang Chen received the former.

If it were any other Battle Cultivator, as long as the challenger's tier wasn't much higher, or if they had issues preventing them from fighting, they would have no reason to refuse!

This is the pride of the West Sea Sect, the pride of the cultivators of Dayi!

For hundreds of years, many cultivators of Dayi have died in the Heavenly Mandate Life-and-Death Duel.

But the Sand Tribe Wizards have lost many more times!

"If you refuse..."

Kou Shihai explained patiently to Wang Chen, "Then you must be prepared to be reprimanded or even punished by the sect."

Because the life-and-death duel proposed by the Sand Tribe Wizard cannot be kept secret forever.

Once refused, they will inevitably come to challenge again.

When the matter comes to light, the news will immediately be relayed back to the sect.

The reaction from the sect is predictable.

The Guarding Heavenly Master of the first great Immortal Gates of the Mountain and Sea Realm is actually afraid to face a challenge from barbarians.

What use are you?

Not to mention whether you can keep your position as a Heavenly Master, being expelled from the sect would be quite normal!

While Kou Shihai did not state it explicitly, Wang Chen understood very well.

There are quite a few people in Dayi City waiting to see his downfall; if he tarnished the reputation of the sect, there would be a lot of people ready to kick him while he was down.

The prestige that Wang Chen had built up recently by continuously killing Sand Sorcerers and Hunter Cultivators would be completely lost.

The Chief Town Heavenly Master Luo Han would probably be very willing to see him in misfortune!

"I see."

Wang Chen nodded and said, "Then let's accept the challenge."

The Sect had provided him with shelter and assistance, in return, he had to abide by the Sect's rules.

Unless he left, there was no possibility of resistance.

Most importantly, Wang Chen was not afraid to fight!

"That's for the best,"

Kou Shihai immediately breathed a sigh of relief, "Junior Brother Wang, with your ability, you don't need to worry about the Sand Sorcerer."

In recent times, as Wang Chen often maneuvered his Flying Sword, the thunderous sound of Sword Qi shook the heavens, deterring the Sand Tribe and preventing the Hunter Cultivators from daring to approach.

This show of might even made Kou Shihai feel somewhat inferior.

Although he knew Wang Chen had borrowed the power of the Seven-Star Pavilion's Array, to achieve this was no small feat.

Additionally, Wang Chen had once slain the notorious Blood Demon Purple Sorcerer, his true strength was certainly not as simple as just the third tier of Purple Mansion!

The Sand Sorcerer Tu Qi who challenged Wang Chen was at the fifth tier of Purple Mansion, the same as the Blood Demon Purple Sorcerer.

If Wang Chen could take down the Blood Demon Purple Sorcerer, how could he lose to Tu Qi?

"But we must still guard against their schemes and machinations!"

After thinking it over, Kou Shihai said, "I have a Mysterious Sun Umbrella here, I will lend it to you for the duel."

Kou Shihai's Mysterious Sun Umbrella was a top-tier Spiritual Artifact, with extremely high defensive power, and it could resist blood curse witchcraft, making it very suitable for dealing with the wizardry of the Sand Tribe.

However, this Spiritual Artifact had been cultivated by Kou Shihai to a very high level, and Wang Chen would only be able to exert a fraction of its power when borrowing it, so its usefulness was not that great.

But at a critical moment, it could still save his life.

"Thank you, Senior Brother,"

Wang Chen declined, "The Magic Artifacts I have are sufficient for now."

Being half a Sword Cultivator at this point, he had the near-Magical Treasure Flying Sword Red Nether, combined with various Great Perfection-level Spells; how could he fear a Sand Sorcerer at the fifth tier of Purple Mansion.

Initially, he simply did not want to play by the opponent's tactics, which was why he had the thought of refusing.

If the opponent's tactics were too deep, then he would simply have to play along to the end!

As for Kou Shihai's goodwill, Wang Chen appreciated it in spirit.

After all, having one more or one less Spiritual Artifact did not have a huge impact on his strength.

"Alright then," Read exclusive adventures at empire

Knowing that Wang Chen was not the arrogant type, Kou Shihai nodded and said, "Then I'll help you find a suitable battlefield."

According to the rules of a life-and-death duel mandated by fate, if the Sand Tribe specified a challenger, then as the challenged, Wang Chen had the right to choose the battleground.

Of course, the dueling ground could only be in the wilderness, whether it be desert, Gobi, or atop mountain peaks.

Wang Chen had not been in Dayi City for long and was not very familiar with the surrounding terrain, so Kou Shihai meticulously selected three locations for him to choose from.

Wang Chen ultimately chose the shores of Pure Water Lake.

Pure Water Lake was located more than a hundred miles north of Dayi City, its area spanning dozens of miles.

But this large lake was a saltwater lake; the water was clear and azure but undrinkably bitter and salty, surrounded by saline-alkali soil, so no one settled there.

After the battlefield was decided, Kou Shihai personally penned a letter of acceptance to the challenge on his behalf.

Meanwhile, the news that the Guarding Heavenly Master of the Seven-Star Pavilion, Wang Chen, would fight a life-and-death duel with the Sand Tribe's Wizard Tu Qi spread like wildfire throughout Dayi City in a very short time!

There were those who were surprised, those who were curious, those who revelled in schadenfreude, and those who eagerly anticipated the outcome.

Others were making moves in the shadows.

But the turmoil within the city had nothing to do with Wang Chen; he spent three days in seclusion at the Seven-Star Pavilion's Cultivation Chamber.

Adjusting his state to be in top condition.

Then, ascending to the pavilion's rooftop, he summoned his Flying Sword and streaked towards Pure Water Lake!

Before leaving, Wang Chen had the pavilion maid warm up a cup of Spiritual Wine for him.

"I'll drink it upon my return."

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The second update is here.