The burly man in yellow robes sat leisurely on his chair, his eyelids unblinking, showing no intention of inquiring about the matter.
As for Qiao Ling'er, she stuck out her tongue at Wu Tao's gaze, then turned her head away, making it clear she wouldn't get involved.
"Senior, if I give up this selection, can I choose another spirit land later?" Wu Tao asked the man in yellow robes with a calm expression.
"No. The number of cave dwellings is insufficient to begin with, and each person only gets one chance to contend for a cave dwelling."
"If you fail, you can only wait for the next decade to contend for an empty cave dwelling!" the man in yellow robes said expressionlessly, showing no sign of compromise.
Upon hearing this, Wu Tao sighed.
Waiting another decade to choose a cave dwelling was unbearable for him, who urgently needed a stable place to break through to the Core Formation stage.
Just then, Hong Bai sneered and mocked again, "Even if you wait another ten years, it's still better than being beaten to death by me on the spot..."
Wu Tao's brows twitched upon hearing his words, and he laughed instead of getting angry.
"Junior cannot agree to Senior's request. I think Senior should find another place to cultivate."
"I don't want to be at odds with Senior. What if, during the fight, I accidentally injure Senior..."
Wu Tao snorted and retorted unceremoniously.
At these words, everyone present was stunned.
With Wu Tao's late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, coupled with his previous submissive demeanor, his sudden declaration naturally shocked everyone.
Hong Bai's eyes flashed with killing intent upon hearing this.
"Brat, you have some nerve! I've lived for over two hundred years, and this is the first time I've seen a Foundation Establishment cultivator dare to speak to a Core Formation cultivator like this."
"Since that's the case, I'll be waiting for you on the arena during the cave dwelling competition in seven days. Don't you dare regret it halfway and become a coward." Hong Bai said with an unusually sinister tone.
...
"In seven days, Junior will once again have the honor of learning from Senior's divine abilities. Junior will take his leave now. Goodbye."
Wu Tao flicked his robes and replied casually.
He then left the place directly.
Watching Wu Tao's departing back, Hong Bai's expression became as dark as water.
...
Seeing that there was no more excitement to be had, Qiao Ling'er and the middle-aged woman also left the Shuiyue Pavilion.
Now, only the man in yellow robes and Hong Bai remained on the third floor of Shuiyue Pavilion.
"Brother Hong, is it necessary? Fighting for a cave dwelling with a junior in the Foundation Establishment stage, won't you be laughed at if this gets out?"
"Besides, that junior was generally sensible. He chose the worst cave dwelling among the many available. Why must you make things difficult for him?" the man in yellow robes asked with a smile, appearing harmless.
"Brother Xiang Zhao, that brat is shameless. Relying on backing from someone behind him, he actually dared to choose a cave dwelling in the Core Formation zone, and his tone was so arrogant."
"If I don't teach him a good lesson and make him kneel and beg for mercy, I won't be able to swallow this insult."
It turned out that the man in yellow robes was named Xiang Zhao.
...
Hearing the hidden anger in these words, Xiang Zhao shook his head and sighed, feeling troubled by Hong Bai's pettiness.
"Fine, whatever your intentions, do as you please."
"However, are you really planning to kill that kid surnamed Wu during the fight?" Xiang Zhao's eyes darted around, and his tone shifted.
"What, Brother Xiang, do you have any connection with this person?" Hong Bai's expression turned grim as he pressed.
...
"How could I have any connection with him? But as you can see, that Qiao Ling'er is the head maid of the Vice City Lord's daughter, Miss Lv."
Xiang Zhao spoke to Hong Bai, seemingly as a reminder and warning.
"So what if that brat has the backing of the Lv family's eldest daughter? They were the ones who broke the rules first. What is wrong with me teaching that brat a lesson?"
Hong Bai's expression changed slightly, but after a moment of thought, he sneered dismissively.
"Haha, Brother Hong is truly mighty." Seeing that his persuasion was useless, Xiang Zhao simply stopped caring and burst into laughter.
After all, it wasn't his business, why should he worry about it needlessly?
Who the hell would do something that yielded no benefit?
Moreover, he didn't have much of a good impression of this guy who was so self-destructive.
Xiang Zhao even doubted in his heart how this fellow managed to reach the Core Formation stage.
He could have chosen a much better cave dwelling, yet he insisted on fighting with a junior for a dilapidated one. In the end, whether he won or lost, he would be humiliated. Why bother?
...
As time ticked by, seven days quickly passed.
In the open-air arena, Wu Tao stood on the platform. Outside the arena stood an elder in golden armor, who was in the middle stage of Core Formation.
The elder stood with his arms crossed, his expression extremely cold.
In addition, Lv Yuehua's maid, Qiao Ling'er, had also come to watch.
Time passed slowly. Wu Tao stood on the arena and waited for a full hour, but Hong Bai still hadn't arrived.
At this point, even the golden-armored elder showed a hint of impatience, his eyes occasionally glancing at the hourglass, as if calculating the time.
...
Suddenly, a white stream of light flashed across the sky and instantly reached the vicinity of the arena. As the light subsided, the person was Hong Bai.
"Brother Wanyan Wu, forgive me! I was a little late because I was refining a magic treasure. Did I miss the combat time?"
Hong Bai, with a fawning smile, took out a storage bag full of spirit stones and handed it to the middle-stage Core Formation elder in golden armor.
"Hmph! If you were any later, you would have been disqualified. You're lucky today, arriving at the last moment. Go in now, the fight is about to begin."
Wanyan Wu, clad in golden armor, weighed the storage bag in his hand and said with a slightly softened, grumpy tone.
...
"Thank you, Brother Wanyan Wu. I will definitely treat you to a drink another day."
Hong Bai was overjoyed. He flickered his body and transformed into a white stream of light, rushing into the arena.
As Hong Bai appeared on the arena, his expression suddenly changed. He sneered at Wu Tao.
"Very good! You actually came. It seems you have some courage and didn't play the coward."
Hong Bai said sinisterly.
...
Upon hearing this, the corners of Wu Tao's mouth curled slightly. He directly gave Hong Bai the middle finger, as if he couldn't even be bothered to speak to him.
Seeing this, Hong Bai's heart instantly erupted in fury. The killing intent that had been suppressed earlier flared up again.
...
"Listen up, everyone. For the cave dwelling competition, there are no restrictions during the fight. Any means can be used on the arena."
"Unless one party voluntarily surrenders, I will not intervene in the slightest. If you believe your strength is insufficient, it is best to surrender early."
"Although there aren't too many cases of people dying due to cave dwelling disputes, it does happen."
"I've said all I need to say. I will now count down from three to one. If there are no objections, we will begin."
Wanyan Wu said the customary words expressionlessly.
...
Wu Tao and Hong Bai faced each other from a distance, both silent.
Seeing this, Wanyan Wu nodded and uttered the word "Begin."
In an instant, Wu Tao and Hong Bai attacked almost simultaneously.
Facing a Core Formation cultivator, Wu Tao could only launch a preemptive strike, aiming to defeat the opponent in one go before they could unleash their divine abilities and magic treasures.
Therefore, Wu Tao used his ultimate move as soon as the fight began.
He used the sword technique from the forbidden remnant scroll, sacrificing a thousand enemies to harm himself eight thousand.
"Pseudo-Divine Ability - Sword Devours Heaven and Earth!"
The dark black sword energy, as soon as it appeared, began to devour everything around it, and then directly struck towards the opponent.
...
On the other side.
Hong Bai let out a cold snort, and specks of white light continuously emerged from his body.
These white light dots were only the size of rice grains, but they surged incessantly, and in a blink of an eye, they formed an extremely long light whip in his hand.
This light whip was his natal magic treasure, the White Dragon Immortal Seizer Whip.
As the light whip was swung out from Hong Bai's hand, it grew thicker and thicker, eventually transforming into a white true dragon.
Instantly, the White Dragon Immortal Seizer Whip and the Chuxi Sword collided head-on.
A sinister look flashed across Hong Bai's lips.
His natal magic treasure was forged from a rare mineral called "White Mother Crystal Ore," which was indestructible and extremely tough, specifically designed to break treasures like swords and sabers.
How could a mere ordinary remnant treasure stand against his natal magic treasure?
However, to his disappointment, the White Dragon Immortal Seizer Whip was cleanly severed in half by the Chuxi Sword.
With his magic treasure damaged, Hong Bai's mind suffered a shock, and he couldn't help but turn pale and spit out a mouthful of blood.
On the other side.
Wu Tao's eyes shone brightly. Strike while the iron is hot.
Like a mayfly in heaven and earth, a tiny speck in the vast sea, embracing the bright moon to see Buddha, Buddha's thought gives birth to the world.
Two colors, yin and yang, suddenly appeared, and in the next second, a terrifying aura emanated.
Instantly, the wind and clouds changed, the heavens and earth lost their color, presenting a black and white state. All things faded, and the vibrant life force became still, turning into a vast expanse of gray.
One of the six Buddhist methods, "Pseudo-Divine Ability - World of Colorless Sorrow Palm!!!"
"You!!"
A fierce sense of death suddenly surged into his heart.
At this very moment, Hong Bai's expression changed drastically. He felt his spiritual power being severely suppressed, and his own strength was greatly affected.
"Bang!"
The next second, blood stained Hong Bai's lips, and he was sent staggering back hundreds of steps.
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