By this time, Hua Tian was already so shocked that she was rendered speechless. Hearing the Sect Leader call Lin Lumi up made her even more agitated.
“Are they crazy!? They are really making you compete? I remember this Li Xiaolan; she was one of those bullies who were picking on people that day! She is ruthless, who knows if she will try to kill you?”
Hua Tian’s eyes were full of anxiety, but Lin Lumi merely shrugged slightly: “It’s fine. If she wants to seek her own death, I won’t stop her. Even Mu Heng only fought me to a draw. Do you think she can defeat me?”
Hua Tian was stunned for a moment. Right!
Mu Heng was an inner sect disciple. If even Mu Heng only fought Lin Lumi to a draw, what did a mere Li Xiaolan amount to?
At this thought, her gaze instantly grew a bit more determined: “Alright, alright, then go! Give them a good lesson!”
Lin Lumi strode forward, finally coming to a steady halt right beside Li Xiaolan.
Her cold aura instantly clashed head-on with the other’s provocative stance.
On the high platform, Sect Leader Zhao Changheng’s expression tightened, and he spoke in a deep voice: “This disciple is correct. According to the assessment rules of the Eastern Ridge Lingshu, if she is willing to wager her disciple status to raise a challenge, she is naturally qualified to initiate a duel. But—” His gaze turned toward Lin Lumi, “this Sect Leader must first ask, what is your opinion?”
Though he framed it as a question, the disciples below could all see clearly that this was no consultation; they were clearly forcing her to accept!
Yet, Lin Lumi remained unhurried and composed: “This disciple does not wish to make things difficult for everyone because of myself, and I well know that the only way to silence the doubts of the crowd is to prove myself through strength. Since that is the case, this disciple accepts the duel.”
A top student is indeed a top student; her way of speaking and handling things was far superior to others.
Seeing her humble yet calm attitude, the frustration in Zhao Changheng’s heart dissipated quite a bit. His brow relaxed, and his tone unconsciously softened from harsh to gentle: “Very well! Since that is the case, it is settled. Tomorrow at noon, at the Side Peak Arena, the two of you shall determine the victor!”
Lin Lumi and Li Xiaolan bowed in unison and responded together: “This disciple obeys the command!”
With a wave of the Sect Leader’s hand, the freshman assembly drew to a close. The clamor in the plaza gradually receded, and the disciples departed in groups of twos and threes. Only Lin Lumi and Li Xiaolan walked out one after the other, the atmosphere between them sharp and cold.
Lin Lumi glanced at her sideways and advised calmly: “Publicly questioning the decision of the sect leaders is simply too foolish. Are you truly willing to be used so glaringly as someone else’s tool?”
Li Xiaolan paused in her tracks, a cold sneer escaping her lips: “Stop putting on an act here. If you hadn’t meddled that day, would I have ended up having to oppose you directly?”
Lin Lumi’s gaze darkened: “So, you are saying you are in the right for bullying others?”
“Who gets bullied and who does the bullying is merely a matter of a single word from Princess Zhaoyang.” Li Xiaolan tilted her eyes slightly, her expression showing disdain. “Do you know why Jiang Yunong was tormented so miserably by Princess Zhaoyang? Because she was just like you—meddling in other people’s business and self-righteous. So even if she gets bullied, she brought it upon herself, just like you are doing now.”
Speaking to this point, her gaze suddenly grew sharper, and a sinister smile hung on her lips: “I’ll tell you the truth, the Princess is truly enraged this time and has sworn to torment you to death. On the martial arena, weapons have no eyes; unless one admits defeat on the spot, life and death are completely disregarded. But if your reaction is a fraction too slow, I fear that before the words of surrender can leave your mouth, your throat will already be sealed by a sword.”
As her words fell, she took a step forward, her momentum suddenly pressing in close, her eyes carrying an unconcealed coldness and condescension: “Lin Lumi, I know you are clever, and I know you indeed surpassed many at the Yue Kingdom academy. But that is merely being a frog at the bottom of a well in a tiny kingdom. This is the Eastern Ridge Lingshu, not your pocket-sized territory. If you value your life, pack your bags and roll back as early as possible, lest you make a fool of yourself tomorrow and lose your life in the process.”
Lin Lumi smiled faintly: “Then tomorrow, I shall wait and see.”
The next day, the area surrounding the Side Peak Arena was bustling with noise.
The spectator stands were already packed to the brim as disciples from the eighteen sects flocked over to enjoy this rare spectacle. A duel that publicly challenged the assessment results was extremely rare in the Eastern Ridge Lingshu. Since last night, clever disciples had privately set up betting pools, drawing everyone to place their wagers.
Upon learning of this, Hua Tian immediately took her and Lin Lumi’s ten mid-grade spirit stones and bet them all on Lin Lumi’s victory.
Hua Tian had only taken a short nap last night and had come to secure a spot before dawn.
Seeing the spectator stands packed so tightly now, Hua Tian was even more convinced she had made the right choice.
Meanwhile, inside the best private viewing box opposite the arena, the three members of the Mystic Dharma Hall had already taken their seats.
Hearing the news of Lin Lumi accepting the challenge yesterday, Fan Li had appeared more excited than anyone else. He had long wanted to see the true strength of this prospective disciple with his own eyes.
Wei Lingfeng skillfully poured a fresh cup of tea and offered it respectfully: “Master, please have some tea.”
Fan Li took the teacup, blew on it gently, and took a small sip. His face immediately lit up with a smile: “Only the tea brewed by Lingfeng is just right, unlike some people—” He deliberately dragged out his tone, his eyes shifting to the side, “whose brewed tea is bitter, astringent, and hard to swallow.”
Leaning by the window, Mu Heng’s gaze remained locked onto the empty arena. Hearing this, he did not turn his head, replying with a flat retort: “Since it suits your taste, Master should drink more of it. Why must you drag this disciple into everything?”
“This master is guiding you.”
“Not listening,” Mu Heng answered dryly and swiftly.
Fan Li: “…”
Over the past few days, he had truly been thoroughly exasperated. Sometimes he really wished he could send this troublesome disciple away on missions just to have some peace and quiet.
He had never faced such vexation before. In the past, after completing a mission, Mu Heng would rest in the sect for a day or two at most before taking on a new mission and leaving. But since returning this time, this kid had actually broken all precedents by loitering around and refusing to leave, constantly wandering in front of his eyes.
Noticing Mu Heng’s gaze, Fan Li understood in his heart.
Following Mu Heng’s line of sight, Fan Li suddenly had a realization. Stroking his beard, he spoke as if casually: “Mu Heng, I heard that when you invited that girl to join the Mystic Dharma Hall that day, someone asked about your relationship?”
Mu Heng frowned: “What of it?”
“They said you are childhood sweethearts?”
“Yeah.” Mu Heng still rested his chin in his hand, looking out the window.
“And also sworn enemies?”
“Yes.” His tone carried a hint of impatience.
Fan Li leaned half a step closer, probing: “In what way are you sworn enemies? What do you compete in?”
“We compete in everything. From fighting crickets to academy cultivation.”
“Oh, I see…” Fan Li nodded. Suddenly, he realized something!
“Wait, what did you say!?” Fan Li sprang up, causing the teacup on the table to clatter loudly.
He walked quickly to the window, staring at Mu Heng: “You mean to say, this Lin Lumi can actually fight you to a draw in cultivation!?”
“Yeah,” Mu Heng said leisurely. “So I need to keep a close eye on things today. I’m afraid the other person will be beaten to death by her.”