Chapter 586: Do You Dare to Fight?
"Lin Mu, why aren’t you here yet?"
As Qiu Yi enjoyed his meal, Kong Ying’s expression was filled with anxiety. Everyone was waiting for Lin Mu to show up. If he didn’t come, the consequences would be severe.
Just then, a commotion rippled through the crowd. It seemed an important figure had arrived.
"Haha, Master Qiu, this is quite the grand scene you’ve arranged."
The voice arrived before the person. A group of people approached together, each one radiating a powerful aura.
"That’s... Zhang Zhenren of Wudang!"
"Not just him, but also Master Hong of the Form-Intention Fist!"
"And Qing Yang Daoist of the Temple of Infinity!"
Three Grandmasters!
"Master Qiu, we haven’t arrived late, have we?" asked Qing Yang Daoist of the Temple of Infinity. With his goat-like beard and a dust whisk in hand, he had the air of a transcendent master.
"Not at all, not at all." Qiu Yi laughed heartily. "Please, take a seat, gentlemen. Just wait for me to finish my meal, and he should arrive."
As soon as Qiu Yi finished speaking, an icy chill descended upon the Duel Field, spreading out a hundred paces in every direction. Numerous people shivered, silently exclaiming how cool and refreshing it felt.
But in the next moment, a bridge of solid ice suddenly materialized in the sky. A figure strode across it, causing countless people below to cry out in shock.
"Heh heh, Brother Spirit Seer, it’s been a long time!" This time, Qiu Yi himself stood up, offering a cupped-fist salute to the figure in the sky. With the Spirit Seer himself present, even Qiu Yi dared not be arrogant and rose to greet him personally.
"Brother Qiu Yi, this is your first battle since coming out of seclusion. Of course I had to come and show my support," the Spirit Seer said.
The Cold Bridge slowly bent, forming a staircase of ice. The Spirit Seer descended the steps at a leisurely pace.
All the elites in attendance fell silent as if struck by a paralyzing chill. Many even dropped to their knees, crying out that he was an immortal. Zhang Zhenren, Master Hong, and Qing Yang Daoist also bowed in salute, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.
The newcomer was none other than the Spirit Seer—a mighty figure who held sway over the entire Southeast Five Provinces and was a venerated guest of countless prominent families.
"Brother Qiu Yi, it seems your divine arts have reached completion." A sharp glint flashed in the Spirit Seer’s eyes as he looked at Qiu Yi.
"Heh heh, how could I dare compare myself to you, Brother Spirit Seer? You flatter me," Qiu Yi said humbly.
The crowd was even more shocked into silence. Because... they were actually sworn brothers?
Kong Ying’s face turned pale, and her palms began to sweat. This was the Spirit Seer, an immortal-like figure whom even her own grandfather, Kong Lin, had to treat with the utmost respect. Legend had it that this man had cultivated the Great Dao. Seeing him now, she knew the rumors were true.
"Brother Spirit Seer, with your current strength, you are surely the undisputed number one in all of Huaxia, are you not?" A faint smile touched Qiu Yi’s lips, and he spoke loudly, as if intending for everyone to hear.
"Ah, I dare not accept such praise." The Spirit Seer shook his head. "I used to believe that if I wasn’t number one, I wasn’t far from it. But that was before I met a certain individual. Only then did I understand the meaning of ’heavens beyond the heavens, and experts beyond experts.’"
"The vast world is full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons. There are many beings that neither you nor I would dare to offend lightly." A flicker of humiliation, and even fear, appeared in the Spirit Seer’s eyes.
"Oh?" Qiu Yi’s eyebrows rose. "Could it be that you’ve met someone, Brother Spirit Seer?"
"Indeed." The Spirit Seer nodded. "In front of that person, I wasn’t even qualified to make a move!"
"What?" Qiu Yi exclaimed. "Such a person truly exists in this world?"
Qiu Yi knew full well how terrifying the Spirit Seer was: a colossal figure in the Southeast Five Provinces, a venerated guest in countless prominent families, and a living immortal in the eyes of mortals. If even he feared someone, just how powerful could that person be?
"Brother Spirit Seer, if the opportunity arises, please introduce me," Qiu Yi said cautiously, afraid of offending the person the Spirit Seer had mentioned.
"Alright, if there’s a chance, I will definitely introduce you," the Spirit Seer chuckled, nodding in agreement.
At that, everyone respectfully backed away, not daring to get any closer.
「...」
The duel was about to start when Lin Mu finally made his way toward the Duel Field. Seeing Qiu Yi chatting happily with the Spirit Seer, he smiled slightly.
"Instructor Lin!" Kong Ying grabbed Lin Mu and pulled him far away. "Instructor Lin, you really came?" she asked anxiously.
"Why would I not dare to come?" Lin Mu asked.
"Are you crazy?" Kong Ying said urgently. "If it were just Qiu Yi, perhaps I could still plead for you. But now the Spirit Seer himself is here! Never mind me, not even my grandfather could help you now."
Fear showed in Kong Ying’s eyes. "That’s the Spirit Seer! You arrived late and didn’t see it, but he just conjured a bridge of solid ice. It was terrifying."
Looking at the pale-faced Kong Ying, Lin Mu smiled faintly. "The Spirit Seer? In my presence, he wouldn’t dare let out a fart. So what if he’s here?"
Kong Ying was speechless. This guy is just too arrogant.
"Instructor Lin, listen to my advice and leave now," Kong Ying urged. "With the Spirit Seer backing Qiu Yi, you can’t possibly win."
It was true that Lin Mu had trained Shi Potian and Leng Feng, but that only proved his training methods were effective. However, that’s not enough to prove his personal strength is on par with a Grandmaster’s, is it? Besides, Kong Ying simply couldn’t believe that Lin Mu had already reached the Grandmaster realm.
"Heh," Lin Mu chuckled lightly. "Since I am here, I won’t leave without killing Qiu Yi."
Kong Ying wanted to say more, but Huang Ning suddenly came over. Upon seeing Lin Mu, she paused for a moment before scolding, "What are you doing here? Get out!"
Previously, Huang Ning wouldn’t have taken a mere duel seriously. But with the Spirit Seer present, the stakes were entirely different. Lin Mu’s arrival, therefore, made Huang Ning feel as disgusted as if she’d swallowed a fly.
Just moments ago, she had exchanged a few words with Master Qiu and even given him her contact information. She had invited him to visit Harbor Island whenever he had the time, promising that the Huang Family would welcome him with the highest honors. Master Qiu had agreed and even mentioned bringing the Spirit Seer along. This news had thrilled Huang Ning, and she was just about to share it with Kong Ying when she ran into Lin Mu.
"What I do here is none of your business," Lin Mu retorted, holding Huang Ning in low regard.
Rebuffed by Lin Mu, Huang Ning’s expression turned exceedingly ugly. This guy... Does he really think he can be so arrogant just because he has a little skill? Compared to Master Qiu and the Spirit Seer, he’s nothing!
"Hmph, don’t think I don’t know why you’re here. You heard Master Qiu and the Spirit Seer were coming, so you came running, hoping to cling to their coattails, didn’t you?" Huang Ning sneered. "If your attitude were a bit more humble and your words more polite, perhaps I could have even put in a good word for you."
Shaking her head, Huang Ning’s disdain for Lin Mu deepened. "But for someone like you, with so little ability and so much arrogance, this is as far as you’ll ever get in life."
"Kong Ying," Huang Ning added before walking away, "you should associate less with people like him in the future. You never know when he’ll drag you down with him."
Kong Ying was about to explain when, over on the platform, Qiu Yi stood up. A faint smile appeared on his face as he walked slowly onto the battle stage.
"I, Qiu Yi, Leader of the Bagua Sect, hereby challenge the Chief Instructor of the Divine Machine Camp!"
His voice thundered across the field.
"Do you dare to fight!"