To comprehend all laws and attain immortality

The Lingxiao Sect has over two thousand outer disciples alone.

Cultivators are not without desires; on the contrary, due to the rarity of opportunities, they are more prone to disputes over matters of interest than ordinary people.

According to the sect rules, disciples are prohibited from fighting each other, but there are naturally situations where there are no private fights.

The usual contest of magical arts is called a "battle of the Dao," in which both sides agree to stop when their skills are exhausted and not to cause any harm to their lives.

The other type is called "Absolute Conflict". After signing the spiritual contract, the life and death of both parties are irrelevant, and outsiders are not allowed to interfere. It must be carried out under the witness of the sect's steward.

Those who lose in the fiercest battle, even if they miraculously survive, can only be driven by the victor to become his slaves.

Therefore, unless there is deep-seated hatred between the two sides, they will never easily engage in a decisive battle.

Gu Fan's eyes flickered, and after a moment's thought, he saw through Bai Ziming's plan.

During the earlier probing, Bai Ziming revealed that his cultivation level had reached the late stage of Qi Refining, while Gu Fan was only at the sixth level of Qi Refining. It seemed that they were only one step away from the late stage of Qi Refining, but countless Qi Refining cultivators were stuck at this threshold for their entire lives.

"What, you're scared now?" Bai Ziming scoffed, then said leisurely, "It's alright. If you're scared, you can give up. It's just another person's life anyway. I can give you some time to think it over."

"However... I'm only giving you six months. If you haven't made a decision by then, Qi Yan is doomed."

After saying that, Bai Ziming turned to leave, when he heard Gu Fan's voice behind him.

"Okay, I agree!"

Bai Ziming turned his head and met Gu Fan's resolute gaze.

"But the time must be set for six months from now. During this period, you must ensure that Qi Yan's life is safe, and if I win, the Bai family must let Qi Yan go."

Bai Ziming was overjoyed and pointed at Gu Fan, saying, "It's a deal! I'll send someone to deliver the contract in six months!"

......

Qingyun Peak, Bai Family Villa.

Bai Mingxuan was listening to the report from the man in the black scholar's robe when he saw the joy on Bai Ziming's face, so he slowly closed his eyes.

"Uncle, we have fulfilled our mission." Bai Ziming stepped forward, bowed, and placed the gray storage bag containing the Dragon-Trapping Stake on the table.

"Tell me, if that were all, you wouldn't be so happy."

Bai Ziming chuckled: "Uncle, you are wise. I have made an agreement with Gu Fan to have a decisive battle in six months."

Bai Mingxuan suddenly opened his eyes and solemnly asked, "Absolute strife?"

"Yes! I can spare his life then, and my Bai family will have another weapon refiner." Bai Ziming couldn't hide his smugness. But then he remembered that this matter concerned Qi Yan, so he smiled and said, "There's just one thing: you must ensure that Qi Yan lives for at least six months, otherwise I'm worried he might change his mind."

"I only have one question," Bai Mingxuan stared at Bai Ziming, holding up one finger: "How can you be so sure you can win?"

Bai Ziming chuckled: "Uncle, why worry? Not to mention that I am already a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, while he is only at the sixth level of Qi Refining. Even the magic weapons I use are all top-grade, while he can only refine mid-grade magic weapons."

"Furthermore..." Bai Ziming pointed to the gray storage bag, "His weapon-refining skills are indeed superb, and must have taken a lot of time and effort. His combat abilities must also be quite ordinary. How could I possibly lose?"

"It's just letting Qi Yan live for another six months. After the conflict ends, we can do whatever we want with him. Uncle won't disagree, will he?"

Bai Mingxuan chuckled twice: "It's good that you're confident. I agree to this."

"Thank you, Uncle!" Bai Ziming bowed deeply. "Then I will go and hone my magic skills. I'm sure I'll win more beautifully then."

After Bai Mingxuan nodded, Bai Ziming strode away.

Bai Ziming didn't see the disappointment in Bai Mingxuan's eyes after he turned around.

"Master, what the second young master said doesn't seem to be wrong either," the man in the scholar's robe said softly.

Bai Mingxuan shook his head slightly: "That's true, but that doesn't mean it's correct."

"Did he consider why the other party would set the time six months later? How could he be so sure that the other party wasn't skilled in magical combat?"

"This..." The scholar-robed man was speechless for a moment, then suggested, "The information we gathered before only said that Gu Fan was proficient in talisman and array formations in addition to weapon crafting, but we really don't know about his magical abilities. Why don't I go and investigate further?"

In the heat of battle, all means are permitted, but the formation must be set up in advance. As a scion of a noble family, Bai Ziming was not lacking in spiritual talismans and magical artifacts, and in the eyes of the scholar-robed man, he had a clear advantage.

"Never mind," Bai Mingxuan waved his hand and said, "Let him be."

"But... if something really happens to the second young master, I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain to the master."

"So what if he fathered an idiot?" Bai Mingxuan laughed angrily. "It's not like the family line has ended; what's there to be ashamed of!"

Bai Mingxuan narrowed his eyes and pondered for a moment before instructing, "Spread the word, let more people know about this, and make sure Gu Fan can't back out."

The man in the scholar's robe looked up in surprise, but immediately understood.

Bai Mingxuan's move was to ensure that neither side in the decisive battle would back out!

If Bai Ziming wins, the Bai family will gain a weapon refiner with immense potential; if Gu Fan wins, the only loss will be Bai Ziming's life.

"Yes, I understand." The man in the scholar's robe bowed.

Several days later, news that Bai Ziming was going to end his fight with someone spread throughout the outer sect of the Lingxiao Sect.

As a disciple of a prestigious family, Bai Ziming's name was quite well-known in the outer sect, while Gu Fan's name had previously only spread on Lingxi Peak, and this opportunity allowed more people to learn about him.

The reactions to this matter varied, with most people taking a "let's see what happens" attitude, since fierce battles were extremely rare in the Lingxiao Sect.

Only a few people care about the two sides that are about to fight to the death.

......

Lingxi Peak.

Gu Fan had just completed one of the array patterns and was secretly pleased when he heard a series of urgent knocks on the door.

Upon opening the door, one could see Meng Wei's dark face filled with a serious expression.

"Senior brother is here!" Gu Fan greeted him with a smile.

Meng Wei frowned and said, "Junior Brother, how can you still laugh! Could it be that the news that Junior Brother is going to have a final showdown with Bai Ziming is false?"

"How did you know, senior brother?"

"The news has spread throughout the outer sect!" Meng Wei said anxiously. "Junior brother has a bright future ahead of him, why fight to the death? Why not just ignore it? As long as the contract hasn't been signed, everything is negotiable."

Gu Fan was slightly taken aback, realizing that Bai Ziming must have deliberately spread the news because he was worried that Gu Fan would change his mind.

"Senior brother, why don't you sit down and talk slowly?"

Gu Fan invited Meng Wei to sit down in the courtyard, calmly boiled water and made tea, and then began to recount the events that had transpired.

"boom!"

Meng Wei slammed his palm on the stone table, breaking off a corner of it.

"The Bai family is going too far!" Meng Wei was furious.

After catching his breath, Meng Wei looked at Gu Fan again and scolded, "Even so, Junior Brother's agreement was too rash. Even if you really want to save people, you might as well think of other ways. What about Uncle Chen..."

Gu Fan interrupted, "How do you know that the Bai family is here today, but the Wang and Li families won't be tomorrow? I agreed to this task not only to save people, but also to let others know that I, Gu Fan, am not someone to be easily manipulated!"