Chapter Sixty-Four: Are You Really Going to Fight Me?

On the Fifth Mountain.

Beiming Lie’s voice echoed with a chilling undertone.

Many disciples who had followed along were utterly shocked by the scene before them.

“As expected, Beiming Lie really came looking for trouble with Wang Ran!”

“He’s far too brazen—he even barged right into someone else’s residence.”

“But his strength is truly astonishing.”

“Indeed. With that strange Dao technique of his, he fought Xu Ke to a standstill and even wounded him!”

“What kind of fortune did Beiming Lie encounter to become so powerful?”

“Wang Ran is in trouble now!”

The disciples discussed this heatedly, none of them having anticipated that Beiming Lie’s strength would grow so terrifyingly after his seclusion. Even many of the most talented among them were shaken, asking themselves how many rounds they could last against him in a fight.

Their own reckoning only deepened their wariness toward Beiming Lie. At the same time, they couldn’t help but feel a surge of sympathy for Wang Ran; to meet such a fearsome opponent was truly ill fortune.

The members of the Haoran Alliance were even more unnerved. They began to wonder if it had been worth offending Beiming Lie by joining the alliance for the sake of spirit jades.

Xu Ke was the most shaken of all. He had always prided himself on his indomitable physical body—invincible below the Golden Core stage, impervious to any Daoist attack, honed through countless trials. Only someone who had cultivated an even more advanced body-tempering technique, like Wang Ran, could defeat him. But people like Wang Ran were exceedingly rare, and since Xu Ke followed him, Wang Ran would never turn on him. Thus, Xu Ke had grown arrogant, believing himself unmatched within the sect.

Yet today, Beiming Lie’s appearance had filled Xu Ke with a new sense of vigilance. He had not expected that, aside from body tempering, there could be such a mysterious Dao technique that threatened him.

Qi, formless and all-pervasive, was Beiming Lie’s weapon. Xu Ke’s flesh was helpless to resist such an attack.

Seeing Beiming Lie so pleased with himself, Xu Ke’s mood grew grim. He knew all too well that, having just entered Wang Ran’s service, this was his chance to prove his worth. If, while Senior Brother Wang was in seclusion, he failed to fend off this assault and defend the honor of the Haoran Alliance, he would be too ashamed to ever call himself the Mighty Elephant, Wang Ran’s champion.

“Damn it, how did he get so strong? If only Senior Brother Xiaobai were here! With his skill, this bully would never have had a chance.” Having followed Wang Ran for some time, Xu Ke knew well Zhao Xiaobai’s strength; they had even sparred in private, and Xu Ke respected him greatly.

This time, with Wang Ran in seclusion, Zhao Xiaobai was out on a mission to earn contribution points, and Little Sister Yan Wanrou had gone to the northern bank. Of the entire Haoran Alliance, only Xu Ke remained to hold the fort.

Ordinarily, this would not have been a problem—Xu Ke was formidable, and the Haoran Alliance was in its prime. No one expected trouble.

But fate played its hand; Beiming Lie emerged from seclusion at this critical moment, and, brash as ever, his first act was to lead his followers straight to their doorstep.

No one could have anticipated this.

Wang Ran’s seclusion would last at least half a month, and Zhao Xiaobai’s mission, if he got carried away, might delay him even longer. The only one who might help was Yan Wanrou, who would return from the northern bank in at most seven days. But Xu Ke, a man of fierce pride, could never bring himself to rely on a woman’s help.

He made up his mind: no matter what, he would stop Beiming Lie’s advance.

“Beiming Lie, I’ll show you today that the Mighty Elephant’s reputation is well earned!” Xu Ke roared, his blood surging. The wounds on his arms healed visibly, mending in moments.

In the next instant, his clothes burst as his muscles swelled and, channeling the power of the Nine Elephants, he became a small giant, leaping high to strike at Beiming Lie.

“Hmph. A mere brute dares to boast,” scoffed Beiming Lie, his confidence swelling now that he knew his Dao technique could suppress Xu Ke’s body. He sneered with disdain.

The battle was joined, each blow tremendous in force, the shockwaves making it hard for nearby disciples to remain standing.

Xu Ke was no fool; he deliberately moved toward the crowd behind Beiming Lie. The members of the Beidou Alliance were terrified—anyone Xu Ke touched let out a scream as bones snapped and bodies broke.

Seeing this, Beiming Lie frowned and formed a seal with his hands, unleashing his aura to the utmost and forcing Xu Ke to focus on him alone.

The surrounding disciples stared in awe, stunned by the ferocity of the fight.

“Xu Ke truly lives up to the title of Mighty Elephant. This battle is even fiercer than his last one with Wang Ran.”

“But the most impressive is still Beiming Lie. He’s the top prodigy of the Eight-Star Foundation Establishment, and with his mystical Dao technique, he can suppress even Xu Ke’s physical power.”

“Beiming Lie’s Dao technique is too domineering. If this drags on, Xu Ke is doomed!”

It was clear to all that Xu Ke’s physical strength had met its match. Beiming Lie’s aura was overwhelming, his power growing with every strike, each blow forcing Xu Ke back several steps.

With a thunderous punch, Xu Ke was once more forced to retreat, panting, the blood in his veins surging, his wounds already beginning to heal.

Beiming Lie realized that while he could defeat Xu Ke, he could not render him completely helpless; as soon as Xu Ke’s wounds healed, he would charge in again.

But Beiming Lie’s true target was Wang Ran. Seeing that Wang Ran was not within the residence, his gaze flashed coldly. “Surround the Haoran Alliance! No one enters or leaves. I don’t believe Wang Ran won’t show himself!”

“How dare you!” Xu Ke bellowed in fury, and the two clashed again, each move savage and fierce, spiritual energy shaking the air.

Taking advantage of a moment, Beiming Lie leaped away, pulled out a talisman, and infused it with spiritual power. The talisman transformed into a formation, layers of restrictions enveloping the Haoran Alliance.

“This formation was personally designed by my grandfather and crafted by a fourth-grade spirit talisman master. Its power is sealed within this charm—once activated, it can lock down a region of space. Unless a master of talismans intervenes, none of you will escape for half a month,” Beiming Lie sneered, ignoring Xu Ke’s furious curses from inside the array. He turned away, standing proud, his gaze fixed on the distant sky.

“Wang Ran, let’s see how long you can hide!”

Beiming Lie’s actions caused a sensation throughout the area.

Countless disciples gasped, and even Meng Jiang, Chu Yingxuan, and others watched closely.

“The Beidou Alliance really lives up to its name. When they make a move, it’s always with grand gestures—they’ve sealed the Haoran Alliance inside a formation!”

“Hah! Beiming Lie’s grandfather is their array elder. That talisman was probably meant for his protection, but now he’s using it against Wang Ran.”

“No matter how you look at it, the Four Great Alliances are just on another level. We could never compare.”

As the disciples buzzed with speculation, time flew by. Three days passed in a flash.

Each day, Beiming Lie would strut before the Haoran Alliance, flaunting his power as he waited for Wang Ran to appear.

Three more days went by, and at last Little Sister returned from the northern bank. Upon learning what had happened, she hurried to the Third Mountain to inform Wang Ran.

Wang Ran was at a critical point in absorbing a spirit core. Hearing her news, he only frowned slightly, but paid it no further mind, continuing his cultivation with perfect composure.

Little Sister blinked, seeing Wang Ran so unhurried, and decided to set her worries aside as well, settling down on the Third Mountain to await his emergence.

This, however, left Beiming Lie and his followers in a bind. After another two or three days, realizing his show of force had gone on long enough, Beiming Lie began to consider withdrawing—he had no wish to waste more time on the Haoran Alliance.

He was convinced that Wang Ran was afraid and would not appear. Having humiliated the Haoran Alliance so thoroughly, he believed their reputation was ruined and they were no longer a threat.

So, that day, he appeared outside the Haoran Alliance, taunted Xu Ke once more, and, basking in his own triumph, prepared to leave.

Yet just then, a thunderous boom resounded overhead, so loud it could be heard throughout the inner sect. Countless disciples looked up in astonishment.

Their eyes widened in disbelief, for in the direction of the Third Mountain, a rainbow streaked across the sky, piercing the clouds like a shooting star, and in a flash, arrived at the Fifth Mountain.

At the same time, a voice, proud yet tinged with a sigh, drifted gently through the air.

“Beiming Lie, are you truly set on fighting me?”