Fight to the death

Elder Sun was shocked. He had released his pressure; logically, no one should be able to move, not even a Core Disciple.

Without looking back, he threw a punch behind him. However, to Elder Sun's surprise, the power of that attack was extremely strong, and he was actually forced back several steps.

Elder Sun was shocked again. He hurriedly turned around to see a giant holding a massive mace, staring daggers at him.

It seemed that his pressure had no effect on this kid. Moreover, his strength just now was unusually great; even he, an expert in the Bone Forging Realm, had been forced back a few steps.

"Who are you?" Elder Sun, having never seen this person before, couldn't help but shout coldly.

"Who are you, your head! You old thing, daring to bully my Brother Long, take my mace!"

A Man roared, and the mace in his hand smashed down towards Elder Sun's head.

"Impudent brat!"

Elder Sun's expression changed. He had asked A Man earlier out of courtesy, fearing he might be the Disciple of some Elder, and he didn't want to cause an awkward scene.

But he hadn't expected this brat to speak such foul words. His anger erupted, and he struck out with a palm.

"Boom!"

A Man let out a muffled grunt and flew backward, smashing straight into a boulder standing in the distance, shattering it.

However, what was shocking was that despite receiving such a powerful attack, A Man was completely unharmed. He climbed up from the ground, grabbed his mace, and charged forward again.

"You're courting death!"

This time, Elder Sun felt a bit embarrassed. He had held back during his previous strike, hoping to injure A Man and make him suffer a little.

But A Man was completely fine, and he was even unappreciative, charging at him again. He was furious.

Just as Elder Sun was about to exert his power, a whistling gale suddenly rushed toward his shoulder and neck. Long Chen had actually made a move at this moment.

Everyone present was dumbfounded. Attacking an Elder—was this not suicide?

"Scoundrel!"

Elder Sun suddenly roared, and a terrifying pressure burst outward. Before A Man and Long Chen could even get close to Elder Sun, they were blown away by an invisible force.

"Is this the legendary Bone Forging pressure? It's too terrifying."

Someone said tremblingly. Legend has it that once a cultivator enters the Bone Forging Realm, they can release Spiritual Qi to form pressure. Without even attacking, they can shake someone to death with just their pressure.

However, that requires the cultivation of a Bone Forging Realm expert to be solidified to a terrifying degree. Usually, Bone Forging Realm experts in the secular world cannot achieve this.

Even as strong as Long Chen and A Man were, they were powerless to resist under that pressure, which showed just how terrifying it was.

"Violating sect rules and daring to resist with violence, you are courting death!" Elder Sun shouted sternly.

Long Chen's blood surged from the impact. Bone Forging Realm experts were too terrifying; he was still far from being a match for one.

"Elder Sun, I ask that you distinguish right from wrong. Do not wrong good people without asking for the facts!" Tang Waner was trembling with anger and couldn't help but shout.

Last time, this Elder Sun had deliberately targeted Long Chen, and now he was directly trying to suppress him. It was truly hateful.

"Hmph, are you doubting my eyes? I saw with my own eyes that you gathered a crowd to cause trouble and besieged the law enforcer. Furthermore, you were ruthless and intended to harm others. Do you still want to quibble?" Elder Sun snorted coldly.

"You…"

"Waner, don't waste your breath on this old bastard. Since he wants to target me, fine, I'll just make this matter bigger."

Long Chen stopped Tang Waner from arguing further. It was meaningless; he knew this old bastard's intentions better than anyone.

Under everyone's confused gazes, Long Chen took off the Nameplate at his waist. He sliced his left hand on the tip of his bone blade, blood slowly flowing out. He slapped his palm onto the Nameplate, and it immediately shone brightly.

At that moment, a deep bell toll suddenly rang out, spreading to every corner of the Xuantian Branch.

"What? Long Chen has initiated a Life and Death Struggle?" Someone exclaimed in shock.

There is a rule in the branch: if an irreconcilable conflict occurs within the branch, one can initiate a Life and Death Struggle.

Once a Life and Death Struggle is initiated, the other party must accept. Of course, they can choose not to accept, but that means choosing to be expelled.

This was a very strange rule, and Long Chen remembered it precisely because of its strangeness.

The way to activate it is by using one's own blood to activate the Nameplate, and once activated, the branch's warning bell will ring.

After the warning bell rings, the Nameplate in Long Chen's hand becomes void. In other words, if Long Chen wants to remain in the branch, he must kill the other party and take their Nameplate.

Seeing Long Chen's actions, Elder Sun's expression changed. Long Chen had initiated a Life and Death Struggle, instantly alarming the entire branch.

Sure enough, as soon as the bell rang, the entire branch erupted into chaos, and countless figures rushed toward this side.

"Who initiated the Life and Death Struggle?"

Suddenly, the space trembled, and three figures appeared abruptly before everyone. The person in the middle was none other than the Sect Leader, Ling Yunzi.

One must know that a Life and Death Struggle is no small matter. If the Sect Leader is not in seclusion, the Sect Leader must personally intervene.

Besides Tu Fang, beside Ling Yunzi was a thin, withered old man. His head was sparse with only a few hairs, and his temples were sunken deep, looking extremely frightening.

After the old man appeared, he immediately saw the disheveled A Man and his expression sank: "Brat, why are you in such a sorry state? Who bullied you? Tell your Master, and your Master will break their claws."

The old man looked thin and withered, but his voice was like a drum, shaking the valley and making people see stars. Many Disciples turned pale, almost fainting from the shock.

Everyone was terrified. How could this inconspicuous old man be so terrifying? And he actually called that big guy his Disciple.

Hearing the old man address him that way, Elder Sun's face turned green. His eyes were filled with fear, and the previous arrogance was long gone.

A Man pointed at Elder Sun and said angrily: "That old bastard, he didn't distinguish right from wrong and wronged my Brother Long. I can't beat him. Old man, help me beat him up."

The old man was furious, staring fixedly at Elder Sun. Elder Sun's face immediately turned from green to blue, and he stammered: "Junior Martial Uncle, I…"

"Slap!"

What made everyone's eyes almost pop out was that the old man didn't give Elder Sun a chance to explain at all. With a wave of his hand in the air, Elder Sun spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward.

A dozen teeth scattered beautifully in the air, and he crashed straight into the Immortal Cave behind him, causing it to collapse. Rubble rolled down, the momentum terrifying.

Ling Yunzi sighed and smiled bitterly: "Junior Martial Uncle, at least let him finish speaking."

Hearing Ling Yunzi's words, everyone was shocked. This unassuming old man was actually the Sect Leader's Junior Martial Uncle.

No wonder Elder Sun was so afraid; his seniority was terrifyingly high. No wonder he was so powerful. He didn't know what technique he used just now to slap Elder Sun from a distance; it was a ghost-like skill, impossible to see, let alone dodge.

People looked at the old man with horror, then at A Man, and then at Long Chen. It seemed like there was going to be a good show now.

"What speaking? How are you acting as a Senior Brother? Your Junior Brother was bullied, and you didn't even make a move. What's wrong with me teaching this brat a lesson? Have your wings hardened, kid? Daring to challenge your Junior Martial Uncle? Shall we spar?" The old man was furious.

Ling Yunzi had a bitter smile. This Junior Martial Uncle's cultivation was terrifyingly strong, but his temper was irritable, even unreasonable, and he was notoriously protective of his own. He didn't dare to talk back.

"Hmph, have you forgotten who took you to get your revenge when you were bullied by those brats from the Ghost Shadow Sect? You ungrateful brat!" The old man continued to scold him incessantly.

Ling Yunzi felt his old face burn. Being scolded in front of so many people was indeed embarrassing.

However, thinking back to when he caused trouble and was about to be punished by his Master, it was always this Junior Martial Uncle who protected him.

When he suffered losses outside, this Junior Martial Uncle would risk his life to stand up for him. In reality, he doted on him even more than his Master.

This Junior Martial Uncle had powerful cultivation, but his temper was eccentric. He wouldn't even bother to glance at someone who didn't suit his temperament.

This time, after Tu Fang brought A Man, this Junior Martial Uncle's eyes turned red, and he snatched A Man away. He doted on A Man excessively, giving him almost whatever he wanted.

However, besides food, A Man basically didn't ask for anything. So, to ensure A Man was well-fed, he didn't even cultivate; he just took A Man away from the branch and hunted for him personally, taking care of A Man as if he were a child.

Just now, upon returning to the branch, A Man heard that Long Chen was there and rushed over in a hurry.

Ling Yunzi and Tu Fang accompanied the old man drinking tea, listening to him praise A Man's monstrous Physical Body. The more he spoke, the happier he became, talking endlessly.

However, not long after he started, Long Chen initiated a Life and Death Struggle, which made the old man very unhappy, as he was just getting to the exciting part.

But he also knew that a Life and Death Struggle was a major event. According to the branch's rules, the Sect Leader must attend.

Because it involves the life and death of a Disciple, such a struggle usually does not occur. Since it has occurred, there must be an indelible hatred hidden behind it.

The life and death of one or two Disciples cannot sway the development of the branch, but the reason for the conflict must be taken seriously by the branch.

There is no rule in the world without loopholes, which requires human adjustment and repair.

Otherwise, if someone exploits the loopholes in the branch's rules to escalate conflicts, it will threaten the development of the branch.

The old man scolded for a few moments, and seeing Ling Yunzi smiling along, he felt embarrassed to continue, only glaring fiercely at Elder Sun, who had just climbed out of the rubble.

Fearing his Junior Martial Uncle would continue hitting people, Ling Yunzi hurriedly coughed and asked: "Who initiated the Life and Death Struggle?"

"It is this Disciple," Long Chen stepped forward and said.

Watching Long Chen step forward, Ling Yunzi and Tu Fang exchanged a quiet glance, both seeing on the other's face: It really is him.

"Against whom are you initiating the Life and Death Struggle?"

"This Disciple, Long Chen, initiates a Life and Death Struggle against the law enforcer Wu Qi. By my blood, I swear, it is a life and death struggle."

Long Chen held his Nameplate high, his eyes like blades, looking at Wu Qi in the distance. His voice was filled with monstrous killing intent: "Today, it is a life and death struggle between us."