Chapter 40: A Suicidal Challenge

Chu Kui dragged his severely wounded body out from the shattered cave. The shock in his eyes was plain for all to see. At last, he lowered his proud head and bowed before Xia Jiuxuan. "I admit defeat."

Only Chu Kui truly understood how terrifying the demonic blood technique infused with true dragon aura was—he had no choice but to yield. Xia Jiuxuan merely nodded indifferently in acknowledgment. The demonic blood running in Chu Kui's veins was that of the Blackscale Mystic Serpent, which was naturally suppressed in the presence of true dragon aura. That was why Xia Jiuxuan had been able to defeat him in a single move. If it weren’t for this innate suppression, with Xia Jiuxuan’s current cultivation, even if he unleashed the might of elevenfold demonic blood, he would only be evenly matched with Chu Kui.

“Don’t forget what you promised me,” Xia Jiuxuan reminded him.

“Rest assured, I am a man of my word,” Chu Kui replied.

He rose to his feet and walked over to stand before Vice Dean Wu, then knelt. “Your Excellency, Vice Dean, it was my ignorance just now that caused offense. I am willing to join the Nirvana Institute for cultivation and reform. I beg your Excellency to accept me.”

To fulfill the vow he had just made, he was willing to kneel and admit fault, keeping his word even at the cost of his pride.

Vice Dean Wu pondered for a moment before speaking. “It appears your remorse is sincere—”

Before he could finish, Gu Yun stepped forward. “Vice Dean Wu, you just ordered his execution. Now do you intend to go back on your word? Issuing contradictory orders is hardly appropriate.”

Vice Dean Wu’s expression darkened and he was about to rebuke him when the Third Prince rose and said, “Gu Yun is right. Even my royal father has never issued such contradictory decrees. Vice Dean Wu, you are renowned for your virtue; surely you would not commit such folly.”

At these words, Vice Dean Wu’s heart trembled. Clearly, the Third Prince valued Gu Yun and was exerting pressure, intent on seeing Chu Kui executed. Now that the prince had spoken, and his reasoning was sound—even invoking the emperor himself—how could Vice Dean Wu dare to resist?

“Your Highness speaks wisely,” Vice Dean Wu replied, bowing reluctantly, secretly sighing for the loss of a rare talent.

At this moment, Gu Yun strode up to Xia Jiuxuan, his face cold and ruthless. “See, boy? You want him to live, so I’ll see him dead! What can you do? You may have survived today, but in the killing arena, I’ll see you utterly destroyed!”

“Why wait for another day? I’ll kill you now!” Murder blazed in Xia Jiuxuan’s eyes as he struck out with his palm.

“Trying to ambush me? Courting death!” Gu Yun reacted with lightning speed, twisting aside and hurling a punch at Xia Jiuxuan.

Bang!

Fist and palm collided, but it was Xia Jiuxuan who was sent staggering back several yards—he had not unleashed his demonic blood.

“Come, fight!” Xia Jiuxuan’s retreat only stoked his fury. With a sweep of his hand, a long spear appeared, echoing with a dragon’s roar.

“What a spear!” Even the Third Prince’s eyes lit up at the sight of the Dragonscale Spear. The onlookers were stunned—how could such a divine weapon fall into the hands of a mere nobody from a small city? What a waste!

The terrifying aura of the spear radiated outward, sending the crowd into a fresh uproar.

“A flawless spear intent… this fellow is a monster as well.”

“No wonder he fears neither heaven nor earth. Give him two or three years, and perhaps he could truly stand against Gu Yun.”

“It seems the Nirvana Institute will soon be awash in blood and strife. What will we do now?”

Sensing Xia Jiuxuan’s spear intent, the other prodigies—each with a hundred years of cultivation—were equally shocked and bitter.

“To kill you, one move is enough!” Gu Yun sneered, preparing to strike Xia Jiuxuan down.

“All of you, stop! Do you take me for a corpse? Seize them all!” Vice Dean Wu roared, unleashing the suppressive force of the Spirit-Sealing Realm. Instantly, everyone except the Third Prince was immobilized.

Whoosh, whoosh!

Two experts at the fifth level of Profound Understanding Realm flew over, pinning both Gu Yun and Xia Jiuxuan.

“Xia Jiuxuan, you’re too insolent,” Vice Dean Wu said coldly as he strode over.

Xia Jiuxuan’s brow furrowed. “Am I the one being insolent—or is he? He came to the institute, unprovoked, and declared he would kill me. How is that my fault?”

The teacher surnamed Zhao came flying over as well. “Now that you’re in the Nirvana Institute, your life and death are no longer your own. Enough excuses—keep quiet and hope for leniency.”

Another middle-aged man approached. “This isn’t your private domain. Best not throw your weight around. You claim someone wants to kill you, but you’re still alive, aren’t you? Even if you were slain, the institute has its rules to punish the murderer. Who are you to act so arrogantly?”

Xia Jiuxuan laughed.

Then he fell silent.

The murderous intent within him seemed about to burst from his veins, but he swiftly forced it down. So, they wanted to turn right and wrong upside down?

Very well.

He silently recorded their names on the death list in his heart.

With a long exhale, Xia Jiuxuan suppressed all his killing intent.

“I lost my temper. Do with me as you see fit. But Chu Kui possesses exceptional talent. I hope Vice Dean Wu will grant him another chance.” His tone was calm and unruffled.

The teacher Zhao replied, “Vice Dean Wu’s decision is final—it’s not your place to interfere! Stay quiet, unless you value your life!”

Then he looked to the Spirit-Sealing Realm expert guarding the square. “You there, execute that freak. Do it now!”

The expert moved at the command, and in a flash, landed above Chu Kui.

Sensing death’s approach, Chu Kui managed a tragic smile. “Brother, I only regret not meeting you sooner.”

Bang!

Flesh and blood spattered, bones shattered and flew.

Chu Kui died instantly.

Xia Jiuxuan watched coldly, his face expressionless.

Some names, he kept silently in his heart. When the time came, he would take their heads.

“Farewell.”

In the ensuing silence, Xia Jiuxuan whispered softly.

The reason he cared so much for Chu Kui was that Chu Kui reminded him of someone buried deep in his memory. Long ago, in a previous life, Xia Jiuxuan had been a youth. That year, his family was destroyed, and he was hunted by enemies and hurled off a cliff. An old hunter rescued him and took him in, and the hunter’s son became a brother to him.

That hunter’s son had been very much like Chu Kui, even bearing the same demonic blood.

So Xia Jiuxuan could not help but want to save his life.

But now the youth was dead, and words were useless. The only thing to do was remember the debts that still needed settling.

“Let me go,” Gu Yun said, easily shaking off the Profound Understanding Realm expert’s grip.

He approached Xia Jiuxuan, a hint of mockery in his tone. “You’re furious, aren’t you? Want to kill me, don’t you? Too bad you lack both the power and the chance. I told you: at the Slaughter Arena in three months, I’ll grind your bones to dust.”

“Let go!” Xia Jiuxuan shrugged his shoulders, shaking off the expert restraining him.

“Why wait three months? In seven days, I’ll carve you into a thousand pieces,” Xia Jiuxuan replied coolly.

At this, Gu Yun was not angry but instead overjoyed. “Everyone! You all heard him—he’s challenging me! The rules forbid private duels, but formal challenges are exempt. Vice Dean Wu, you know this as well as anyone!

“Hahaha, I now announce: I accept Xia Jiuxuan’s challenge. In seven days, a battle to the death!”

He had finally seized the chance.

Gu Yun was so delighted he nearly leapt for joy. He had found a legitimate reason to kill this upstart.

Vice Dean Wu merely frowned, unable to object.

The teacher Zhao gave Xia Jiuxuan a cold glance. “A man reaps what he sows. If you’d kept your head down, you might’ve lived a little longer. But to challenge Gu Yun—foolish. Rotten wood cannot be carved.”

“He’s too stupid. He could’ve shown off elsewhere, but here in the Nirvana Institute, saying such things is courting death.”

“Exactly. Those who ignore the rules pay the price. Challenging Gu Yun in seven days? What a joke—he doesn’t even know Gu Yun’s true strength.”

“I recall Gu Yun has slain nearly a hundred Profound Understanding experts, if not more, and that was a year ago.”

“Indeed, no one knows Gu Yun’s true power. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be ranked at the very top of the Butcher’s List.”

“A pitiful fool—arrogance leads to ruin. Now that he’s given them an excuse, no one can save him.”

In the eyes of almost everyone, Xia Jiuxuan was digging his own grave.

In other words, this so-called challenge was nothing short of suicide.