At the back mountain of the Jialan Academy, an imposing figure was currently practicing his fist arts there.

This was none other than Lin Feng practicing the Crumbling Fist, the earth-tier fist art. It emphasized on abrupt explosive might that could penetrate through the target’s body, instantly destroying their inner organs, causing them heavy injury or even death.

The Crumbling Fist was extremely tyrannical and contained overwhelming might.

This was already the ninth day after Lin Feng returned to the Jialan Academy. After he returned, he had been practicing the Crumbling Fist relentlessly.

“Hek!!’

Lin Feng roared. Both his legs stomped onto the ground ferociously as his body leaped forth. He then slammed a punch onto a gigantic rock roughly a hundred meters in size.

The tyrannical might flowed through the surface of the rock and entered its interior, causing it to explode abruptly.

BANG!

The gigantic rock shattered into pieces from a single punch of Lin Feng.

Lin Feng retracted his fist, and a smile appeared on his face. After training hard for nine days, he finally had some accomplishments in the Crumbling Fist. Reaching his desired training result, he returned back to the academy.

On his way to his dwelling, Lin Feng met Zhang Qichu who then spoke in a worried tone, “Junior brother, tomorrow will be the date of the life-and-death battle against Bai Xuanyang you set three months ago. I heard that during this period, Bai Xuanyan obtained a large amount of cultivation resources from his clan. Although he hasn’t broken through to the Martial Master Realm yet, his strength had improved vastly.”

Zhang Qichu was vaguely trying to hint at something, wanting to save Lin Feng’s face. He continued, “It’s not advisable to participate in this battle. Even if you would lose some face by going back on your words, it doesn’t matter.”

Lin Feng smiled. “Senior brother, don’t worry. I will win the battle tomorrow for sure.”

Upon hearing Lin Feng’s words that were filled with incomparable confidence, Zhang Qichu couldn’t help but feel startled.

He felt some doubts in his heart, and he had no idea why Lin Feng was so confident.

Zhang Qichu initially still wanted to persuade Lin Feng, but at this moment, Lin Feng spoke, “Senior brother, I heard that there are many students that participated in private betting to gamble on the outcome of this life-and-death battle between me and Bai Xuanyang?”

Zhang Qichu bitterly smiled and nodded. “That’s right. There’s someone who opened up a private bet. The odds of Bai Xuanyang winning are payable at 1:1, while the odds of you winning will result in a payout of 1:15.”

Lin Feng involuntarily rubbed his nose. “Everyone looks down on me so much.”

Zhang Qichu helplessly shook his head. No matter who it was, including Zhang Qichu, no one felt that Lin Feng could win.

After all, three months ago, Lin Feng was merely a cultivator at the sixth-level of the Martial Student Realm.

And at that time, Bai Xuanyang was already someone at the tenth-level of the Martial Student Realm.

Bai Xuanyang had a major clan as his backing. Thus, he had all sorts of cultivation resources.

Lin Feng was merely a descendant from a minor clan, so the cultivation resources he had access to were limited. Daring to ask for a life-and-death battle in three months was simply courting death.

Lin Feng took out a million taels of silver. This wealth was obtained from his killing of Duanmu Feiyang and the Wuji Cave. To a descendant of a minor clan like Lin Feng, this was a sizable fortune.

“Senior brother, there’s a million taels of silver here. Tomorrow, help me place a bet in the private betting place, and place all of it on my victory,” Lin Feng spoke.

“So much money.” Zhang Qichu was speechless but didn’t inquire about the origin of this fortune. He silently mused, could it be that this junior brother of his was confident that he could defeat Bai Xuanyang?

Although this seemed illogical, Zhang Qichu’s heart actually began to be filled with some anticipation.

He took the one million taels of silver and spoke, “Sure. I will bet on junior brother’s winning tomorrow.”

The day after, the atmosphere in the four inner branch courts of the Jialan Academy became extremely lively.

The information about Lin Feng and Bai Xuanyang’s battle had spread everywhere. The vast majority of the disciples in the inner court had already heard of the clash between Lin Feng, a recent rising star, and the Bai Clan.

One was a student known to have the strongest and most outstanding talent in the history of the Jialan Academy. Another was an expert at the tenth-level of the Martial Student Realm.

This battle would naturally be the focus of attention. Since early morning, the disciples of the inner court had been heading toward the life-and-death platform. Other than the students of the inner court, some of the teachers also went to watch the drama. This incident was also known to the upper echelons of the Jialan Academy, including the overall vice headmaster and the various branch vice headmasters. Unfortunately, they had no way to stop a life-and-death battle agreed by both students.

“Place your bets, place your bets! For those who bet on Bai Xuanyang winning, the payout rate will be 1:1. For those who bet on Lin Feng winning, the payout rate will be 1:15.”

Some people had set up a private gambling station in the Jialan Academy, and it was organized by a few inner court students with extraordinary strength.

“I will bet on Bai Xuanyang!”

“Me too!”

Many people went over and placed their bets, knowing that Bai Xuanyang would be the victor.

“A million taels of silver on Lin Feng.” Zhang Qichu called out and took out the one million taels of silver.

“Damn. Zhang Qichu, where did you get so much money?” someone asked.

“Not your business.” Zhang Qichu’s lips twitched.

“Be careful that you lose it all.”

“Even if I lose, I will only be losing my money.”

“I, your father, am simply warning you out of goodwill.”

“Would people from your Purple Light Branch Court be so kind? Shouldn’t you be reveling in my misfortune instead?”

Zhang Qichu bickered with a few students of the Purple Light Branch Court. After his bet was registered, he quickly left the area.

Right now, the students of the inner court were already gathered around the life-and-death platform.

Many students that had high rankings in the inner court all came here and waited for the battle to start.

For example, Xiao Yafei and Gongsun Changge of the Long River Branch Court.

Zi Qianyi and Liu Mubai of the Purple Light Branch Court.

Nalan Feifei and Li Changhao of the Falling Moon Branch Court.

Zhao Zixuan and Dong Kun of the Constellation Branch Court.

These people were all extremely famous in the inner court and ranked within the top twenty.

“Quickly look, Bai Xuanyang is here!” someone called out.

Bai Xuanyang strode forth with great strides and was clad in white robes that outlined his lanky figure. He was extremely handsome and exuded a sense of grace and elegance.

“Senior Bai is so good looking!”

“I’m cheering for Senior Bai!”

Many female students screamed in excitement. Bai Xuanyang had a good background in addition to being handsome and elegant. In the inner court, he had a certain amount of popularity. Such a character would naturally have his fair share of admirers.

A mesmerizing smile appeared on Bai Xuanyang’s face. He greeted many people on his way before finally leaping onto the platform.

“Lin Feng is here as well,” the spectators called out.

Lin Feng was clad in black and also leaped up onto the platform.

“This Lin Feng displayed outstanding talent three months ago when he joined the inner court. But could this fellow really feel that he has the power to defeat Bai Xuanyang? He even dared to initiate a life-and-death battle against Bai Xuanyang, simply courting death.” Liu Mubai of the Purple Light Branch Court shook his head.

“This person by right wouldn’t make such a foolish decision. But I really doubt it as well. Would he be able to succeed?” Li Changhao of the Falling Moon Branch Court also shook his head as he spoke, clearly not thinking highly of Lin Feng.

“Most probably, his ego caused his head to swell. He thought that because of his outstanding cultivation talent, he could disregard his seniors in the academy. He simply doesn’t know how the word ‘death’ is written,” said Dong Kun of the Constellation Branch Court coldly.

Zi Qianyi of the Purple Light Court continued, “Given Bai Xuanyang’s personality, he would kill Lin Feng for sure. But from what I know, the upper echelons of the academy regard Lin Feng very highly.”

“So what even if they regard him highly? Even they cannot interfere in this life-and-death battle. I understand Bai Xuanyang’s personality very well. If Lin Feng landed in his hand, he wouldn’t die so easily. Most probably, Bai Xuanyang would torture him until he begs for death. After that, at the moment of absolute despair, Bai Xuanyang will finally finish him off,” said Nalan Feifei from the Falling Moon Branch Court.

Zhao Zixuan, a disciple of the Constellation Branch Court, turned his gaze onto Xiao Yafei and Gongsun Changge. He smiled, “Senior sister Xiao, junior brother Gongsun. Lin Feng is a disciple of your Long River Branch Court. What do you think of his chances?”

Gongsun Changge frowned with worry.

Xiao Yafei glanced at the platform and calmly spoke, “We will know what the ending would be as we continue watching.”

Everyone laughed but no longer said anything.

On the platform, there was a distance of ten meters between Lin Feng and Bai Xuanyang. The gazes of everyone stopped at the platform nervously. This battle had attracted too much attention.

Bai Xuanyang glanced at Lin Feng with disdain. “Lin Feng. I thought you wouldn’t dare to show up. Turns out, you are gutsier than I imagined. Today, I will give you a chance. As long as you kneel and kowtow to me ten times and break your arms after that, I will spare your life. How about it?”

Bai Xuanyang had never placed Lin Feng in his eyes at all. He brought up such a suggestion because he wanted to humiliate Lin Feng harshly.

“Bai Xuanyang is clearly insulting Lin Feng, I wonder how Lin Feng would reply.”

“This is a life-and-death battle, and Lin Feng shouldn’t have shown up. They are people of two different levels. By showing up, Lin Feng is simply sending himself to death.”

“Now that he is standing on the platform, I assume Lin Feng is regretting his decision, right? I wonder if he would agree to Bai Xuanyang’s condition. If he does, he would have lost all face.”

“But that’s better than throwing his life away, isn’t it?”

Many students were discussing this matter.

“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. For this battle, it’s still unknown who would die in whose hands,” Lin Feng calmly replied.

Such a casual attitude caused many people to feel shocked. Upon facing an opponent like Bai Xuanyang who was at the tenth-level of the Martial Student Ream, Lin Feng could actually still be so calm. This exceeded the expectations of many people.

Bai Xuanyang coldly laughed. “Truly, I gave you face but you don’t want face; I gave you a chance but you failed to grasp it. How dare you challenge me with your capabilities? You have really overestimated yourself. Today, I will show everyone the great differences between you and me!”

As the sound of his voice faded, Bai Xuanyang instantly rushed Lin Feng. His speed was extremely fast like a flying bullet, and he instantly arrived beside Lin Feng. He then stretched out his right hand and grabbed toward Lin Feng’s throat directly, wanting to hoist him up into the air like how one would grab a baby chick. Clearly, Bai Xuanyang was filled with deep contempt for Lin Feng. This was why he used such an insulting attack to deal with him.