Heaven rewards diligence, but there are always fairies plotting against me.

"Brother Chu, don't even mention it." Zhang Erniu said anxiously, grabbing Chu Chang's arm and lowering his voice, "I came here specifically to tell you, you absolutely mustn't go out these next few days! It's best to stay indoors the whole time!"

"What happened?"

"It's Huang Shigui's younger brother!" Zhang Erniu winced in pain, saying angrily and worriedly, "After Huang Shigui died, his brother somehow got wind of it and suddenly brought people to cause me trouble today. He even insisted that his brother's storage bag is in your hands! Brother Chu, this is strange; there's definitely something fishy going on!"

"So, he hit you?" Chu Chang's eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice lowered.

"So what if I did it?"

Before Zhang Erniu could answer, an arrogant and venomous voice came from the bamboo grove not far away.

A thin man with triangular eyes, whose appearance bore a five or six-point resemblance to the deceased Huang Shigui, swaggered over with two henchmen.

This person was Huang Shigui's younger brother, Huang Shiren.

He was an outer disciple, but his strength was considerable; he was at the peak of the Body Tempering Realm.

Relying on his strength, he usually acts arrogantly and domineeringly in front of servants and low-ranking disciples.

Chu Chang tucked his hands into his sleeves, reverting to his usual harmless and honest demeanor, and said calmly, "What is it?"

"You took my brother's storage bag, didn't you?" Huang Shiren stopped in front of Chu Chang and coldly questioned him from his superior position.

"That's right, it's indeed with me." Chu Chang was quite generous and admitted it directly.

"Hmph! My brother died under mysterious circumstances, yet the storage bag ended up in your hands. It's utterly absurd!"

Huang Shiren stretched out his hand and commanded rudely, "Enough nonsense, hand over my brother's belongings!"

Chu Chang sighed, feigning helplessness: "I'm sorry, senior brother. Before your brother died, he grabbed my hand, crying and insisting on giving me his storage bag as a thank-you gift, saying it was a donation. So, this thing is mine now."

"Arrogant!" Huang Shiren was so angry that his nose twitched and veins bulged on his forehead. "Who are you trying to fool with this nonsense? I suspect that my brother's death is inextricably linked to you! You were greedy and murdered him!"

Faced with this serious accusation, Chu Chang remained calm and said indifferently, "Whether I'm the culprit or not, the Enforcement Hall will have its own judgment. Besides, Senior Sister Yu Xiaoxiao was also present at the time. I have witnesses, and I can confront them at any time."

Seeing that Chu Chang was unyielding and even tried to pressure him by bringing up other people, Huang Shiren immediately felt embarrassed.

He gritted his teeth, a sinister smile flashing in his eyes.

"Fine, fine! You've got guts, you're pretty arrogant!" Huang Shiren spat with a sneer, pointing a provocative finger at Chu Chang's nose. "Since you refuse to hand it over, then we'll do it according to the sect's rules! I'm going to challenge you to a life-or-death duel. Do you dare to accept? If you're scared, then kneel down and hand over your storage bag with both hands!"

In Huang Shiren's view, Chu Chang was just a lucky disciple. Even if he managed to break through by chance, he would still be at the bottom. He could crush him as easily as crushing an ant.

But what he didn't know was that standing in front of him was a monster who had just advanced to the Qi Refining Realm and whose body was filled with Extreme Yang True Essence.

Looking at Huang Shiren's face, which was full of provocation, Chu Chang had already sentenced the man to death in his heart.

Since the other party has come to us of their own accord, it's a good opportunity to test our current combat strength and also to resolve this potential threat in a logical way.

"Kid, you're scared to talk now? Weren't you bragging a lot just now?"

Seeing that Chu Chang remained silent, Huang Shiren assumed that he was terrified by the words "Life and Death Platform".

He immediately burst into smug laughter, his eyes filled with disdain.

Chu Chang smiled slightly, a smile that appeared somewhat simple and honest to others: "Alright, since this senior brother is so enthusiastic, then I accept your challenge."

"Good! You've got guts! You promised yourself, so let's go and see who wins on the life-or-death stage!" Huang Shiren slapped his thigh as if afraid that Chu Chang would go back on his word.

"Ah Chang! Brother Chu! Don't agree!" Zhang Erniu, sweating profusely, grabbed Chu Chang's sleeve and shouted urgently in a low voice, "Are you confused?! The most important rule on the sect's life-or-death arena is that no external weapons are allowed, especially magic treasures and magical artifacts! You can only rely on your own cultivation and techniques for hand-to-hand combat!"

Although Zhang Erniu knew that Chu Chang had some skills, such as surviving from the Black Wind Forest and even killing demonic cultivators.

In his opinion, Chu Chang's strength was entirely due to the Corrosive Blade, a strange weapon that emitted terrifying poisonous mist!

Now that he's on the life-or-death stage and his magical weapons are forbidden, how can Chu Chang, a weakling who has only recently entered the sect and whose foundation is still shallow, possibly fight against Huang Shiren?

You should know that Huang Shiren is a peak Body Tempering Realm expert.

"It's alright, just playing around." Chu Chang patted Zhang Erniu's shoulder and shrugged indifferently.

Seeing Chu Chang's arrogant and ignorant attitude, Huang Shiren almost burst out laughing in his heart.

He had naturally done his homework and inquired about Chu Chang's background.

Chu Chang did indeed rank very well in the assessment of trainee disciples in the Law Enforcement Hall; he actually came in first place.

However, Huang Shiren had some personal connections with Lin Yuan and had heard Lin Yuan mention that Chu Chang had just gotten lucky and relied entirely on that strange weapon, the Corrosive Blade, to take advantage of the situation!

Without the magical artifact, this kid is nothing more than a fart that he can crush at will!

"Today, I'm going to crush your bones one by one on the life-and-death arena and take back my brother's storage bag!" Huang Shiren sneered inwardly and led the way toward the life-and-death arena on the side of the main peak.

…………

…………

The sect's life-or-death arena is situated on the edge of a craggy cliff.

This is the only place in the sect where disciples are allowed to settle personal grudges and vent their bloodlust.

After all, the cultivation world is a dog-eat-dog world, and disciples are not allowed to fight or kill each other on their own within the sect.

However, if both parties voluntarily sign a life-or-death agreement and ascend this life-or-death platform, then their fates are left to destiny, and the clan rules will not interfere!

At this moment, a number of disciples had gathered around the arena to watch.

Upon hearing that a newly promoted handyman was going to challenge Huang Shiren, a veteran disciple of the outer sect, many people pointed and whispered with a "let's watch the show" attitude.

"Oh my, isn't this... Chu Chang, the one following behind Senior Sister Lin?"

"Is he crazy? Huang Shiren is at the peak of the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm, and it's said he's almost at the Qi Tempering Realm. What makes Chu Chang think he can compete?"

"So what if he's tough? Haha, once he's on stage, he probably won't even know how he died!"

"Exactly! Without that magical weapon, he's nothing!"

There was a lot of discussion in the audience, but the two people on the stage were already standing face to face.

The deacon of the Life and Death Arena coldly produced a death warrant and slammed it on the table: "Both parties sign and affix their seals; life and death are left to fate. Once on the stage, no weapons or armor are permitted. Violators will have their cultivation revoked and be expelled from the sect!"

Huang Shiren stepped forward with a cold smile, signed his name with swift, flowing strokes, and then looked at Chu Chang provocatively: "Kid, kneel down and beg for mercy now, hand over your storage bag, and I might show you some mercy, cripple your limbs, and spare your dog's life!"

Chu Chang took the pen and slowly signed his name, chuckling as he retorted, "Senior Brother Huang, you look just like your brother, always spouting nonsense. Your brother was just as confident as you when he died, and he ended up being torn to shreds. If you ask me, you'd better perform well today, so you don't embarrass him when you go down there to keep him company."

"You're asking for it!" Huang Shiren was so angry that his face turned ashen and his teeth were chattering.

"Who dies is still uncertain. Junior Brother Huang, your face is turning blue from kidney deficiency. Don't let your legs go weak later. I'm waiting to see you 'show your might'." Chu Chang pressed his fingerprint on the paper while continuing to say the most sarcastic thing with the most innocent expression.

"You sharp-tongued little beast! I'm going to rip your tongue out alive later!" Huang Shiren laughed angrily, his eyes revealing murderous intent.

As he spoke, he looked down at the audience.

Lin Yuan nodded to him.

Indeed, Huang Shiren's sudden visit to Chu Chang was at Lin Yuan's behest.

"Come on, come on, whoever doesn't pull it out is a coward." Chu Chang clapped the red mud off his hands, grinned, and revealed a set of white teeth.

Amidst a barrage of vicious insults, the two finally signed their life-or-death contract and stepped onto the wide arena, paved with bluestone and stained with dark red, aged blood.

hum! !

As the two stepped onto the stage, the defensive barrier around the arena of life and death suddenly rose up, completely isolating them from the outside world.

"Die!"

Huang Shiren roared and launched the first attack.

His spiritual power erupted instantly and without reservation. With a stomp of his foot, he created spiderweb-like cracks on the hard bluestone floor.

He transformed into a blur, his attacks wide and sweeping, his fists radiating a violent, earth-yellow wind.

"Yellow Sand Mountain Collapse Fist!"

The violent fist wind tore through the air, producing a piercing sonic boom, and headed straight for Chu Chang's face.

This punch was extremely powerful; Huang Shiren was clearly serious and wanted to smash Chu Chang's head to pieces with one blow!

Zhang Erniu, sitting in the audience, closed his eyes in fear, unable to bear watching the horrific scene that was about to unfold.

However, facing this powerful punch, Chu Chang stood still, without even trying to dodge.

The corners of his mouth even curled up slightly, forming a mocking arc.

"Too slow," Chu Chang murmured softly.

In Chu Chang's eyes, who had already advanced to the first level of the Qi Refining Realm and possessed an extremely Yang physique, Huang Shiren's supposedly swift punch was as slow as a snail crawling.

Just as the earth-yellow fist wind was about to touch Chu Chang's hair, Chu Chang's eyes suddenly turned extremely cold.

At this moment, the dark golden Yang True Essence within his body roared wildly like a tsunami!

"Burning Waves and Overlapping Shadows Palm!"

Chu Chang's right hand, hidden in his sleeve, suddenly shot out, transforming into a crimson afterimage.

The temperature in the air suddenly soared, and you could even faintly hear the hissing sound of water vapor being evaporated instantly.

That was no ordinary palm. With the infusion of extreme Yang True Essence, Chu Chang's right hand was now as red as a red-hot iron, carrying wave after wave of violent palm force like raging waves crashing against the shore, striking first even after being struck later!

boom!!!

Chu Chang's palm, with an unparalleled domineering posture, directly passed through Huang Shiren's seemingly violent fist wind, strangely changing its trajectory three times in the middle, and finally, without reservation, it solidly imprinted itself on Huang Shiren's chest!

The first burst of palm force instantly shattered all of Huang Shiren's defensive true essence.

The second palm strike, carrying terrifyingly high yang heat, directly burned his chest clothing to ashes and charred his flesh.

The third palm strike, carrying the violent true essence unique to Qi Refining Realm martial artists, crashed into his body like a tidal wave!

Click!Click!

A series of teeth-grinding cracking sounds rang out clearly on the deathly silent altar.

"puff!!!!"

Huang Shiren's eyes suddenly bulged out, and before he could even scream, he vomited a mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs.

His chest caved in visibly before everyone's eyes, forming a terrifying palm print.

boom! !

Huang Shiren's body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, flying more than ten meters away before crashing heavily into the barrier and then slid down limply.

He twitched twice, the light in his eyes vanished instantly, and he completely lost his life.

One move, instant kill!

The previously noisy crowd below the stage fell completely silent in an instant, a deathly stillness enveloping the entire arena of life and death.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at the scene in disbelief.

Chu Chang slowly withdrew his hand, wiped non-existent dust from his palm with his sleeve, and sighed, "Sigh, I told you you have kidney deficiency, why won't you believe me?"