Pi Fujie thought to himself: "How can you, Shen Xi, compare to me?"
"In the Shen Family and Pi Family, we hold equivalent positions, often compared to each other, both considered as the face of the Foundation Establishment and future hopes. But I possess innate talent, whereas you do not. Do you really think your future can rival mine?"
A life-and-death battle now? Pi Fujie felt he would be at a great disadvantage.
Why would he do this?
He couldnât find a reason.
He could have cultivated to a later stage, showcasing the value of his talent and achieving overwhelming superiority before settling the score with Shen Xi!
Therefore, Pi Fujie had no desire to accept a duel to the death, but he didnât want to miss this chance to compete.
This competition wasnât just his personal thought; it was also the grudges between the two families.
The hatred between the Shen Family and Pi Family ran too deep, long since becoming mortal enemies!
Shen Xi and Pi Fujie were the representatives of their families, and each took their competition very seriously. It wasnât just a fight between the two of them, but a contest between the Shen Family and Pi Family, filled with intense political implications.
Each victory or defeat in their contests significantly impacted Shen Xi and Pi Fujie, as each had the substantial backing of their respective families!
Pi Fujie didnât want to duel Shen Xi to the death, but he absolutely couldnât just retreat like this.
Retreating would mean conceding defeat out of fear. The Pi Familyâs face would be lost, and as a family originally from the Demon Path, Pi Fujie would certainly face family retribution.
Seeing Pi Fujie hesitating, a gleam flashed in the depths of Shen Xiâs and Ning Zhuoâs eyes. Both were shrewd and immediately recognized Pi Fujieâs thoughts.
Shen Xiâs lips curled into a slight smile before calming down, seizing the opportunity to push: "Pi Fujie, could it be that youâre afraid? What, donât dare to have a death match with me in the arena?"
Su Lingkou was extremely worried and couldnât help but tug secretly at Shen Xiâs sleeve.
She feared Pi Fujie would indeed accept the martial arts challenge, putting her cousinâs life at risk.
"My cousin is too brave!"
"He forgets heâs of noble status, with a promising future ahead. Why resort to a life-and-death fight right away?"
Pi Fujie snorted coldly: "Such a shallow agitation, hmph! I am not a reckless brute, and this time I bear a heavy responsibility, representing my family in joining the Myriad Images Sect. Shen Xi, just wait! You and I will definitely have a life-and-death duel, but letâs store it for the future first."
Such a statement alone certainly wouldnât suffice. But Pi Fujie already had a plan, and he directed his gaze towards Ning Zhuo.
"Is this the cultivator youâve recruited this time?" Pi Fujie misinterpreted the relationship between Shen Xi and Ning Zhuo.
"Haha, this person is quite handsome, Shen Xi, is this your preference?" Pi Fujie attempted to slander Shen Xiâs reputation and divert trouble.
He couldnât easily handle Shen Xiâs challenge, but Ning Zhuo by Shen Xiâs side, dressed simply with low mana aura, seemed easier to bully.
As for Su Lingkou, Pi Fujie knew her. If he were to deal with Shen Xiâs cousin, how could Shen Xi let it slide?
But the unfamiliar cultivator beside Shen Xi wasnât reflected in the intelligence; he should be an outsider.
Bullying this outsider a bit, using this to withdraw from the conflict, and report back to the family was precisely Pi Fujieâs plan.
He was mistaken in his plan.
Upon hearing this, Ning Zhuo raised an eyebrow slightly, smiled faintly, and directly exuded a sharp killing intent.
He squinted, looking Pi Fujie up and down, and said leisurely: "Interesting. Thereâs actually a Foundation Establishment Cultivator daring to speak to me like that. Haha, itâs been a long time since someone did that."
Pi Fujie couldnât help but be secretly surprised, a question arising in his mind: "Who is this person, and why such a big mouth?"
"His mana aura... is clearly only a Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage Cultivator."
Shen Xi heard Ning Zhuoâs response and was secretly amazed by the latterâs toughness but also somewhat delighted. This was the scene he hoped to see.
Su Lingkou smiled slightly; for a moment, she found Ning Zhuo much more pleasant to look at.
She suddenly thought of Ning Zhuo handling Yu Heye and Lin Jinglong earlier, which left her and her cousin guessing Ning Zhuoâs background: "Isnât this a perfect chance to probe?"
She immediately goaded Ning Zhuo: "I see, itâs because Young Master Pi sees you, Daoist Fellow Ning, as a cultivator with low cultivation level, looking to pick an easy target."
What she said was the truth, but Shen Xiâs expression immediately changed slightly, thinking inwardly: "Oh no, how could Ning Zhuo, such a character, not see through my cousinâs mind?"
Shen Xi quickly salvaged the situation: "Brother Ning, Mr. Pi is blind; why bother with such a man? Besides, this is a long-standing grudge between the Shen Family and the Pi Family. The Pi Family is from the Demon Path, and years ago, they slaughtered the innocent to collect souls for cultivation..."
Pi Fujie couldnât listen anymore and interrupted directly: "Nonsense! My Pi Family is a righteous path, officially recognized by the Flying Cloud Country! Even here in the Myriad Images Sect, which is also part of Flying Cloud Country, how can you, a mere underling, reverse black and white and slander our good name?"
Shen Xi sneered coldly.
Ning Zhuoâs gaze remained indifferent.
He was well aware of the issues between the Shen Family and Pi Family.
During the banquet hosted for Lin Jinglong, he had inquired about the Shen Familyâs matters, knowing Shen Xi wasnât wrong.
Before its foundation, the Pi Family was a gang of demon cultivators, extremely cruel and evil.
They roamed, committing crimes and slaughtering beings for their souls, using them as primary materials, inscribing talismans on their own skin, to enhance their power.
In these actions, the demon cultivator gang became enemies with the Shen Family. They frequently targeted villages within the Shen Familyâs territory, prompting strong investigations and dispatches for retribution from the Shen Family.
As the attacks and defenses between both sides continued, gaining and losing each time, the conflicts further deepened.
Pi Familyâs enemies werenât only Shen Family, but the conflict with Shen Family was the deepest.
The Shen Family began to form alliances, and after prolonged fierce battles, realizing its predicament, the Pi Family spent enormous resources to "persuade" acceptance from the government of Flying Cloud Country, cleansing the familyâs name to align with the righteous path.
However, due to this, the Pi Family could no longer engage in past massacres.
If they wished to acquire souls now, they could only set up Ghost Gate Pass to hunt from the Netherworld.
Ning Zhuo was displaying a tough stance deliberately.
Pi Fujie immediately restrained himself a bit, locking his gaze on Ning Zhuo: "May I ask, sir, your esteemed name and origins?"
Ning Zhuo chuckled coldly, raising his head slightly: "You arenât worthy to ask. Come on, the Martial Arts Arena is right here, Iâm accepting this life-and-death battle on behalf of Brother Shen. Are you afraid of Brother Shen, and also afraid of an unknown nobody like me?"
"Which unknown nobody dares to speak to me like this?" Pi Fujie was infuriated, almost rolling his eyes.
"Why is everyone here so ready to jump into life-and-death battles?"
"Arenât you from noble families? Donât you know a gentleman doesnât stand under a collapsing wall? Is it fun to keep calling for fights and battles?"
"Shouldnât such fighting and killing be left to henchmen and subordinates?"
Pi Fujie, though unaware of Ning Zhuoâs background, could infer from Shen Xiâs attitude of treating Ning Zhuo as an equal, that Ning Zhuo was certainly not simple.
Pi Fujie was even more reluctant to fight.
"Fighting him is much less than fighting Shen Xi."
"At least, I understand Shen Xi quite well. But this person, I simply canât gauge."
Thinking of this, Pi Fujie gritted his teeth in frustration.
"Damn, couldnât you at least be better dressed?"
Ning Zhuoâs humble attire was not as fine as Shen Xiâs or Su Lingkouâs, and seemed less intimidating, especially for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
"What, donât dare? Canât even accept a challenge from a mere Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage Cultivator like me?" Ning Zhuo retorted with a cold smile.
Since Pi Fujie showed a flaw earlier, Ning Zhuo decided to press the advantage.
Pi Fujie suppressed his anger, cupped his hands, and asked: "May I ask your honored name and background?"
Ning Zhuo leisurely fanned himself with the Five Elements Mechanism Fan and said, "Curious, are you? Thatâs fine."
"Letâs have a life-and-death match, and before I kill you, Iâll tell you."
"Rest assured, Iâll let you die knowing."
Ning Zhuo certainly wouldnât reveal his identity or background. The Ning Family had fled North Wind Country and was currently stabilizing its position in Southern Bean Country with the help of the Zhu Family.
Ning Zhuo once again displayed a strong stance. Mainly because he truly didnât see Pi Fujie as a threat.