The Immortal Ascension

Chapter 87: A Brief Display of Skill

"Where?" Han Li snapped back to attention and asked urgently.

"Over there!"

Following Li Feiyu's gaze, Han Li finally spotted Zhang Xiuer in a corner of the crowd, her face pale. She stood with two other female companions who were also participating in the death duel. Dressed in a plain white silk dress, her apricot lips slightly bitten, she looked like a delicate white flower, pitiful and fragile.

"How could a delicate girl like Miss Zhang participate in such a bloody duel? Did that bastard Wang make a mistake?" Han Li still couldn't believe his eyes and muttered in disbelief.

"Xiuer is also a Core Disciple of the Seven Wonders Hall. Didn’t I tell you?" Li Feiyu gave a bitter smile and revealed a piece of news that greatly surprised Han Li.

Han Li fell silent.

Clearly, the Seven Mysteries Sect was short on remaining elite fighters here, and Sect Leader Wang had no intention of sparing the fairer sex. To secure victory in the death duel, even a young woman like Zhang Xiuer had been sent out—it seemed they were staking everything on this final gamble.

"Brother, I won’t waste words. I’m going to stay with Xiuer. Take care of yourself!" Li Feiyu patted Han Li’s shoulder lightly, then turned and strode into the crowd.

Before he had taken two steps, he heard a soft sigh behind him, followed by a faint breeze. Suddenly, someone appeared beside him—it was Han Li.

"What’s the big deal? It’s just a death duel. A small scene like this won’t trouble me. After all, we’re friends. I’ll lend a hand." Han Li said with a smile.

Without another word, Li Feiyu punched Han Li’s chest hard and whispered, "Good brother! Thank you!"

Han Li smiled but said nothing. Just as he had said, he had come along for two reasons. First, he had spent a long time with Li Feiyu and shared a deep bond—he couldn’t bear to watch his friend face danger alone. Second, he was confident in his skills and unafraid. He didn’t believe the so-called elites of the Wild Wolf Gang posed any real threat to him, now that he had mastered the Fireball Spell and the Windriding Technique. Moreover, he was eager to test his current strength firsthand.

The two pushed through the crowd with large strides, heading straight for Wang Juechu. Along the way, they tore off their Water Severing Sect disguises, revealing their Seven Mysteries Sect attire beneath.

Han Li and Li Feiyu’s sudden appearance and identity switch left both sides stunned. For a moment, no one moved to stop them, allowing them to easily approach Wang Juechu.

"Hall Master Li!"

"Physician Han!"

Many disciples on the Seven Mysteries Sect’s side recognized these two famous figures and couldn’t help but exclaim in astonishment.

Zhang Xiuer was overjoyed to see Li Feiyu, her delicate face brimming with delight. If not for the crowd, she would have thrown herself into her beloved’s arms to pour out her heart.

Sect Leader Wang naturally recognized them as well. A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes at their abrupt appearance.

"Deputy Hall Master Li Feiyu of the Outer Blade Hall, paying respects to the Sect Leader!" Li Feiyu announced loudly."We two are willing to sign the death contract and participate in the blood duel. We beg Sect Leader Wang to grant our request." Without waiting for questions, Li Feiyu directly stated their plea. Han Li stood silently by his side, clearly deferring to Li Feiyu as the leader.

Upon hearing Li Feiyu's words, Sect Leader Wang swallowed the reprimand that had risen to his throat. The icy expression on his face softened into a slight smile as he spoke warmly:

"Good! Truly loyal disciples of our Seven Mysteries Sect. With Hall Master Li joining the duel, our sect gains another advantage. However, Physician Han should refrain from participating. His medical skills are too valuable to our sect. Should any accident befall him during the death match, the loss would outweigh the gain."

Hearing this, Han Li gave a faint smile. Without waiting for Li Feiyu to explain, he swayed slightly—and vanished completely from Sect Leader Wang's sight.

Sect Leader Wang started in surprise. Just as he was about to search around, Han Li's lazy voice sounded from behind him.

"I wonder if my humble skills are worthy of Sect Leader's Dharma Eye? Even in a death duel, I believe I possess sufficient ability to protect myself. I beg Sect Leader to honor my sincere loyalty."

Sect Leader Wang's heart filled with shock. Never had he imagined that Han Li, renowned within the sect for his medical skills, possessed such terrifying movement techniques—to approach him from behind without detection.

"Such frightening skill! Who exactly is this man? What purpose does he have hiding in our sect?" A series of alarming thoughts flooded Wang Juechu's mind.

Turning around, he looked at Han Li's still-harmless appearance, then instinctively glanced toward his three Junior Martial Uncles.

Their expressions had subtly changed, their eyes also revealing traces of shock. Clearly, Physician Han's abilities had unsettled them as well.

Several conflicting thoughts circled through Sect Leader Wang's mind before he finally reached a decision.

He suddenly burst into hearty laughter, then spoke warmly:

"Since Physician Han shows such sincere devotion to our sect, how could I, as Sect Leader, refuse?"

He then pointed and had the two weakest disciples originally participating in the death duel withdraw from the group, replacing them with Han Li and Li Feiyu. He had them be the first to sign the death contract in black ink upon the blood-red document of life and death, making them the initial participants in the coming blood duel.

This farce on the Seven Mysteries Sect's side was naturally observed clearly by Jia Tianlong. Though somewhat surprised by the addition of two more experts to the opposing side, he didn't pay it much mind—after all, he believed mere mortal flesh could never withstand Golden Light Senior's Flying Sword techniques.

Thus, after both sides had signed and exchanged their death contracts, the blood duel—from which only one side could emerge alive—finally began.

(End of Chapter)