Where does that wicked woman get her conscience?

Chapter 258 Life and Death

These words were forceful and made clear the legitimacy of the challenge. As the daughter of the True Inheritance Hall Master, it would be a joke if word got out that she didn't dare to accept the challenge.

Despite her stunning beauty, she committed such heinous crimes within the branch temple's jurisdiction, taking the lives of nearly a hundred people. Yet, she only punished them under the guise of a challenge, without seeking revenge. To everyone, she appeared to be a magnanimous and forgiving person.

Even if she, as an elder, challenges a younger person, no one can really say anything.

Furthermore, the beautiful woman is about the same age as Taishi Lingling. Even if she is exceptionally talented and a prodigy, her cultivation level may not be high. On the other hand, her cultivation level has already reached the threshold of 90, so her chances of winning are extremely high. At that time, she can not only save face, but also suppress the True Inheritance Hall in front of everyone. Why not?

These words caused an uproar among the surrounding crowd, and everyone on the platform looked solemn.

Xiao Yueluo immediately stepped in front of Guan Xun, her protective instincts instantly overshadowing her joy at recognizing her daughter. She stared intently at Yu Liuhua, her voice soft and weak yet firm and cold: "Yu Liuhua, don't even think about making a move!"

"With me here today, no one can touch her!" Her fingers clenched so tightly they turned white, her tone leaving no room for compromise. "I don't care about past grievances, I only know she's my daughter! If you insist on taking action, then have the guts to step over my dead body!"

Despite having no spiritual power whatsoever, the woman did not back down an inch when faced with the opponent's domineering spiritual power, her eyes surging with determination.

The debt she had owed her for over twenty years had already made her determined that for the rest of her life, she would go against the tide to protect her daughter.

Zhuge Tianxia also moved swiftly, blocking the two of them. His spiritual power was as deep and imposing as a mountain, forming a solid barrier. His gaze was sharp as a knife as he looked directly at Yu Liuhua, and his voice was as heavy as thunder: "Yu Liuhua, what my wife said is my stance, Zhuge Tianxia's stance!"

"Anyone who dares to lay a finger on her today will be an enemy of Zhuge Tianxia!" As he spoke, his aura suddenly surged, far surpassing Yu Liuhua's oppressive presence, enveloping the entire arena.

This protective instinct is exactly the same as Xiao Yueluo's...

A tense atmosphere permeated the entire competition arena. Guan Xun raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but think to himself, "The original owner's parents really were good people."

Yu Liuhua shuddered. The surging aura around her was slightly stagnant due to the pressure from Zhuge Tianxia. Her pupils shrank, and her face stiffened. Although she had expected the two to protect her daughter, she never thought they would protect her so thoroughly and without any reservations!

Her voice involuntarily tightened: "Palace Master Zhuge, how...how can you be so unable to distinguish right from wrong? Should such a blood debt be wiped clean?!"

"Have you thought this through? If you insist on taking action, it means that your Holy Light Hall will become an enemy of our entire True Inheritance Hall." Zhuge Tianxia's face was as cold as a deep pool, and his spiritual power was faintly surging around him, as if he had not heard what Yu Liuhua had just said.

"Fine, fine." Yu Liuhua sneered, her anger growing even stronger. Unable to overpower the Zhuge Palace Master and his wife in terms of imposing manner, she turned and pointed at Guan Xun: "On the dueling stage, only victory or defeat matters, not status. You! Do you simply not have the guts to accept my challenge?"

Her tone was deliberately provocative, and her gaze was fixed on Guan Xun. If the other party showed any signs of backing down, then she would at least save some face. Even if she failed in this battle, she wouldn't become a laughing stock.

Upon hearing this, Guan Xun raised his eyes, his gaze calm and undisturbed, only a faint hint of mockery flashing across them.

Well, this person is trying to save face no matter what. If we keep this person around, there might be more trouble in the future.

Now that she has a legitimate opportunity to eliminate the problem completely, she is determined to cut off any way out.

After thinking it over, Guan Xun slowly stepped forward and said, "Lord of the Jade Flowing Flower Palace, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Xun'er, no!" Xiao Yueluo hurriedly shouted.

"Yu Liuhua, how dare you! Do you think my True Inheritance Hall is easy to bully?" Zhuge Tian's face darkened, and he shouted, then his tone became even colder, "With your status, do you dare to threaten me?"

The threat struck suddenly, and Yu Liuhua trembled. Her face paled slightly as she knew she was unworthy, but the situation had escalated to this point, leaving no way out. She suddenly turned to Elder Eagle Eye and said, "Elder, you should judge this matter. Our Holy Light Palace has received the personal permission of the Holy Spirit Goddess to intervene in order to protect the reputation of the entire palace!"

With things escalating to this point, Elder Eagle Eye's expression was not pleasant. Upon hearing this, he frowned. Among the three halls, the Holy Light Hall produced the largest quantity and the best quality of the crystal black liquid extracted from obsidian. The goddess had indeed made this promise to them.

"..." He looked at everyone and said in a deep voice, "It is probably unfair for you, as the Lord of the Central Palace, to challenge her."

“Fair?” Yu Liuhua laughed angrily. “When she burned down my Holy Light Branch Hall and damaged my hall’s reputation, why didn’t you say it was fair? This challenge must be issued today! With the Goddess’s permission, none of you can stop us.”

Just as the two sides were deadlocked and the atmosphere was tense, Guan Xun raised his hand and gently pushed Xiao Yueluo's shoulder with the back of his hand. He slowly walked forward, looked directly at Yu Liuhua, and curled a cold arc at the corner of his lips: "Fine, your challenge... I accept."

"Xun'er! You're no match for her! You absolutely mustn't!" Xiao Yueluo cried out in alarm. She had only just reunited with her daughter; how could she live if something happened to her...?

The surrounding crowd was in an uproar.

"Is she crazy? As an elder, Lord Yu Liuhua's cultivation level is definitely higher than hers."

"The true master of the hall is right here; she could easily use her power to refuse. Why bother showing off?"

……

Listening to the surrounding chatter, Duan Huaiyan folded his fan, looked at the person with a cold smile on their face, and a smile also appeared on his lips.

For some reason, he always felt that he should trust Guan Xun not to accept a challenge he couldn't win.

"Hiss..." Bai Ze had been sitting and watching the show. When he saw this scene, he leisurely tapped the armrest of his chair a few times, then shook his head with some regret. Things had actually come to this point, and Guan Xun had even found his relatives.

"Sigh, it looks like she's going to have to fight again."

……

The murmurs were quite loud, and Guan Xun heard every word. She didn't care, casually waving her hand behind her to indicate that she knew what she was doing and there was no need to worry.

Then, her eyes crinkled into a smile, and her tone carried a meaningful undertone: "However, simply exchanging blows is too boring. Since it is the Palace Master who is challenging me, why not go all out?"

The group looked at each other in bewilderment. "Bigger? What do you mean, bigger?"

"Sign a life-or-death agreement, face life and death on stage, settle all grudges, do you dare?"

"A death contract?!" The surrounding area trembled once again.

"What?!" Yu Liuhua's pupils shrank sharply, and her heart was instantly filled with turmoil.

Signing a death pact means that if you win, you can rightfully kill the other party and avenge your humiliation; but if you lose, your life will be in danger.

As the esteemed head of the central palace, she naturally cherished her life, but the thought of the humiliation the other party brought quickly replaced the hesitation in her eyes with ruthlessness.

She was extremely confident in her own abilities, and the other party was just a young girl who was used to being arrogant.

"What wouldn't I dare?" Thinking this, she sneered, a desperate madness flashing in her eyes. "Today, I will make you pay a heavy price for what you've done!"

"No...no!" Xiao Yueluo trembled all over and tried to step forward to stop Guan Xun. "I don't agree!"

This was a matter of life and death, and Zhuge Tianxia wanted to stop him, but he saw Guan Xun slightly turn his head, his eyes looking at him with a hint of coldness, so distant that it made people tremble.

"Past grievances must be settled."

Zhuge Tianxia was startled, the obstruction in his eyes suddenly froze, and after a moment of surprise, a complex emotion welled up in his heart.

He subconsciously raised his hand to stop Xiao Yueluo, who was about to step forward to stop him. He tightened his grip slightly, and a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes. He said, "Madam, this girl's courage is exactly the same as mine when I was young."

Xiao Yueluo tried to break free: "She's crazy, and so are you? The strength is obvious, how can Xun'er possibly defeat her?"

"Since she has the courage, let her give it a try." Zhuge Tianxia pressed down on her shoulder, his tone heavy but firm. "She has a tenacity that rivals anyone's. Besides, with me here, do you really think I'd let anything happen to her?"

He will definitely keep a close eye on Yu Liuhua's every move. What life-or-death agreement? That's all nonsense.