Chapter 17: Surrender? I Disagree!

A flash of sword light, occurring almost in an instant.

The seven Soul-Silver Needles launched by Li Xing fell to the ground simultaneously, each snapped into two pieces.

"What kind of swordsmanship is this! So terrifying, it was actually enough to sever the Soul-Silver Needles?"

Whispers broke out among the crowd.

Once launched, these Soul-Silver Needles could travel a hundred meters in a single second. It was extremely difficult for an ordinary Bone-Tempering Realm Spirit Master to dodge them, let alone sever them with a sword.

Such swordsmanship was simply god-like; even some powerful sword cultivators might not necessarily be able to cut through these needles.

The onlookers were all martial artists, so they naturally understood the difficulty involved.

A young man standing to the side was also stunned, though his expression quickly turned unsightly.

"Damn it! How can this little brat possess such terrifying swordsmanship! Could it be that old fossil who taught him!"

The young man roared in a low voice. Though his tone was hushed, it still gave the surrounding people a fright.

"Young Pavilion Master, do not worry. Li Xing's strength is still above Chu Fengmian's. Chu Fengmian is bound to die today."

A disciple of the Lin Estate nearby hurriedly offered words of consolation and flattery.

"Get lost!"

The young man roared, his words directly striking the wrong note of flattery.

Now that Chu Fengmian had demonstrated such swordsmanship, even if Li Xing's cultivation realm was higher than Chu Fengmian's, he could no longer be considered Chu Fengmian's match.

After all, this swordsmanship was simply too terrifying; a difference of two realms could not bridge the gap.

Unless Li Xing went all out in a desperate struggle, he would have no chance at all.

"No! This little brat must not be allowed to live!"

The young man thought viciously to himself.

Chu Fengmian had only been a martial artist for a few days. Even if he had been hiding his strength before, it wouldn't have been for long.

To achieve such terrifying swordsmanship in such a short time—if Chu Fengmian were allowed to continue growing, he would undoubtedly become another terrifying genius.

By then, it was uncertain who would hold the position of the Lin Estate's Young Pavilion Master.

One must remember that Chu Fengmian's grandfather was the previous Pavilion Master of the Lin Estate. If Chu Fengmian truly grew to prominence, there would certainly be people within the Lin Estate who would choose to support him.

"I thought this little brat was a waste, but it seems I misjudged him. Fortunately, he hasn't fully grown yet. Sooner or later, I will have the chance to eliminate him!"

As the young man thought these sinister thoughts, he turned his gaze back toward the Life-and-Death Stage.

The moment he saw the Soul-Silver Needles being severed, Li Xing's face instantly turned deathly pale.

He had thought that by using the Soul-Silver Needles for a sneak attack, even if Chu Fengmian managed to block them by luck, at least a few would pierce him. Once the needles took effect, Chu Fengmian would be at his mercy.

But now, Chu Fengmian had suddenly drawn his sword and severed all the needles. Even if he were not a sword cultivator, he understood just how difficult such a feat was.

As Li Xing watched Chu Fengmian approach him step by step, his heart was filled with terror.

With such swordsmanship, how could he find the courage to resist?

"Chu Fengmian, I surrender."

Li Xing gasped for breath and suddenly spoke.

"I surrender this time. How about it? From now on, the position of the number one expert of the Outer Estate shall belong to you."

Li Xing's words immediately caused an uproar among the crowd.

Surrender.

Li Xing was the top talent of the younger generation in the Lin Estate's Outer Estate. In terms of strength, he was considered upper-middle rank even within the Inner Estate, yet he was choosing to surrender now.

However, no one was surprised by this decision.

The swordsmanship Chu Fengmian displayed was simply too terrifying. If Li Xing did not surrender, his only path would be death.

However, wanting to surrender on the Life-and-Death Stage depended on whether Chu Fengmian would accept.

After all, once one stepped onto the Life-and-Death Stage and signed the Life-and-Death Covenant, one's life no longer belonged to oneself, but to the victor.

"You want to surrender?"

A hint of cold mockery appeared at the corners of Chu Fengmian's mouth.

Li Xing had just attempted a sneak attack with the Soul-Silver Needles. If Chu Fengmian had not mastered the Infinite Sword Dance and possessed the swordsmanship of his past life, those needles would have undoubtedly struck his body without question.

At that point, Chu Fengmian did not believe Li Xing would grant him a way to live.

And now he wanted to surrender? There would be no such easy benefits!

"I, Chu, do not accept!"

Chu Fengmian spoke coldly, and simultaneously, his figure moved violently as he lunged toward Li Xing.

"Chu Fengmian, are you mad? Do you really want to go down in a blaze of glory? If I die on this stage today, don't expect to live either!"

Hearing Chu Fengmian's words, Li Xing threatened him in a rage.

"I am a member of the Li family! If you dare kill me, the Li family will not let you go!"

"What of the Li family? Do you think I, Chu, would fear your Li family? Furthermore, we have stepped onto the Life-and-Death Stage and signed the covenant; life and death are left to fate."

Chu Fengmian said coldly.

The former Chu Fengmian had compromised at every turn, only to end up suffering endless humiliation within the Lin Estate. This Chu Fengmian would never compromise again.

He would no longer listen to threats.

"Die!"

Chu Fengmian's eyes turned cold. The Black Azure Sword in his hand fell violently, slashing toward Li Xing.

"Ah!"

Li Xing was, after all, a seventh-level Bone-Tempering Realm martial artist. In this moment of life-and-death crisis, he reacted instantly, throwing his body to the side and actually managing to dodge Chu Fengmian's fatal strike.

However, his right arm was cleanly severed. A blood-curdling scream rang out from the Life-and-Death Stage.

"Xing'er!"

From the spectator stands, the Fifth Elder roared. He could no longer restrain himself.

Li Xing was the grandson he valued most; otherwise, he wouldn't have sent him to the Outer Estate to become its Great Steward.

Seeing Li Xing's arm severed by Chu Fengmian, the Fifth Elder's every hair stood on end with fury.

The Fifth Elder rushed onto the Life-and-Death Stage, standing before Li Xing. His eyes, filled with murderous intent, stared fixedly at Chu Fengmian. If this were not the Life-and-Death Stage, the Fifth Elder would have attempted to kill Chu Fengmian with a single palm strike right then and there.

"Boy! Li Xing has already surrendered! Why must you strike a killing blow!"

"Surrender? Once on the Life-and-Death Stage, only one person can survive. Does the Fifth Elder not understand this rule?"

Facing the Fifth Elder's overwhelming murderous intent, Chu Fengmian's expression remained as calm as ever, completely unaffected.

In his past life, Chu Fengmian had faced countless threats; he had even remained unfazed when threatened by experts from the Seven Great Sects.

What was a mere Fifth Elder in comparison?

"Furthermore, Li Xing attempted a sneak attack just now. He had no intention of letting me go from the start."

"Does the Fifth Elder intend to break the rules now? To interfere with this Life-and-Death Stage?"

Chu Fengmian's eyes stared intensely at the Fifth Elder. These words were not merely directed at the Fifth Elder, but at the countless Lin Estate elders standing nearby.