The Post Sky Tipping Era
Chapter 203 - 161: Duel Challenge

Chapter 203: Chapter 161: Duel Challenge

When Li Yi entered the main hall of the mansion, Fan Zhizhou had already been sitting in a chair, quietly waiting for quite some time.

"Lord Fan, my apologies. I was engaged in martial arts cultivation just now and got held up. I hope I haven’t kept you waiting too long," Li Yi said, speaking very politely. After all, a guest should be treated with respect, and he could not afford to reject someone from a thousand miles away—the proper courtesies must still be observed.

"Mr. Li," Fan Zhizhou said as he hurriedly stood up and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Please, Lord Fan, have a seat."

Li Yi nodded and suggested, "Lord Fan, your visit today must be for some matter of importance. Let’s dispense with the polite but irrelevant chit-chat. Just tell me what it is. I’m not someone from the Four Seas and Eight Continents, and I don’t like all those formalities."

"Straight talk from a straightforward man, good, then I’ll get right to it."

Fan Zhizhou said with a smile, "I came specifically for two things. First, you asked me to find Yin Horses, and I’ve located four. I brought them with me on this trip. It’s a pity that time was short, otherwise I would have found more. Rest assured, Mr. Li, I will continue to have people collect them. These items aren’t precious; they are just rare and hard to find."

After saying this, he gestured, and a beautiful maid immediately brought over a box and placed it to one side.

As the box was opened, inside, indeed, were four neatly arranged Mud Horses.

Li Yi said, "Lord Fan, it’s the thought that counts."

With these four Yin Horses added to the three he already had, that would be enough for his short-term needs; there was no urgent need to keep searching.

"As for the second matter, it’s about the collection of life span by the ghost yesterday..." Fan Zhizhou said, then sighed, "Last night, Mr. Li rode out on horseback and killed the ghost, snatching life span from the ghost, which indeed brought trouble. Today, the Yin God from the Qingzhou Meng Family has taken notice of the issue in Sanyang City. They have dispatched a Gang Refining Expert and five Qi Cultivation Experts to come here together, determined to deal with the anomaly that is you, Mr. Li."

"My Fan Family’s spies in Qingzhou sent the news which just arrived this afternoon. That’s why I couldn’t wait to visit and inform you quickly," he added.

Li Yi looked interested and asked, "The Qingzhou Meng Family? Doesn’t your Fan Family govern Xingzhou? Why involve another noble family?"

"You may not know this, Mr. Li. The collection of life span by the ghost is a cross-border affair. For example, the Qingzhou Meng Family collects life span from the people of Xingzhou, while my Fan Family collects from the people of Yan State... The noble families of the Eight Continents all collect life span from places other than their own territory. This is a rule set down a thousand years ago. Its purpose is for the Yin Gods above to incite internal strife among the eight kings and prevent them from joining forces. As a result, there has been constant fighting and friction between the eight kings for hundreds of years."

Fan Zhizhou said somewhat helplessly, "Although everyone knows this scheme, human hearts are complex, and who doesn’t want to collect a bit more life span? But if too much is collected, the people of a state will die young. If too many people die and new generations cannot flourish in time, yet nobody wants to decrease the life spans collected, this will only lead to even more deaths among the people... In this way, the entire state will be plunged into a state of misery and suffering. Anyway, these matters are of no use to mention now; Mr. Li, you should think about how to deal with that Gang Refining Expert instead."

"I know your strength, Mr. Li. Even if those five Qi Cultivation Experts join forces, they are no match for you. The real threat is that Gang Refining Expert," he said.

After he finished speaking, he looked at Li Yi, hoping to get some answers from his expression.

However, Li Yi showed no signs of panic; his face was exceptionally calm, and even a hint of a cold smile appeared on his lips, "A Gang Refining Expert? That’s someone coming to seek their own death. It’s not difficult to kill him."

"You’re so confident, Mr. Li?" Fan Zhizhou was astonished.

A Gang Refining Expert not worth worrying about?

Li Yi said, "Lord Fan, I rather dislike the notion of having killed the junior only to have the senior come after me. It’s endless. What I want to know is, if I slay this Gang Refining Expert, will another Refining God Expert come after me?"

"Absolutely not," Fan Zhizhou immediately said. "The Qingzhou Meng Family has at most three Refining God Experts. That they could dispatch a Gang Refining Martial Artist to handle this matter shows they already take it very seriously. If you truly manage to kill him within Sanyang City, then the Qingzhou Meng Family will have to compromise. They might even deliberately avoid Sanyang City for the collection of life span in the future. One city’s peace for the life of a Gang Refining Expert would be a worthwhile trade for them."

"After all, the Qingzhou Meng Family is vast and has many businesses, needing experts to guard various locations. To risk their top-tier strength for something so trifling, and should anything go wrong, the Meng Family would be finished."

As a disciple of a noble family, no one understood the ways of the noble families better than Fan Zhizhou.

If Li Yi were able to kill a Gang Refining Expert, then the Fan Family would have to deploy a Refining God Expert. But such powerful figures are the stabilizing pillars of a family; how could they get involved in such trivial matters casually? After all, even if the life span of an entire city was given to Li Yi, it wouldn’t matter much.

But the prerequisite is that Li Yi can kill a Gang Refining Expert.

If he can’t, it’s all empty talk. Only with enough strength will he have the leverage to make the Qingzhou Meng Family compromise.

"If after killing the junior, the senior won’t come, then I’m relieved. Lord Fan, I sincerely appreciate you informing me of such crucial news," Li Yi said earnestly.

"Mr. Li, you’re too kind. I’m unable to help much by informing you in advance. The enemy will arrive in Sanyang City by tomorrow, and there’s not much you can do in a day. Of course, Mr. Li could use this day to cross borders and leave, avoiding their sharp edge. It also wouldn’t be too late to come back and settle scores with such an enemy once you’ve grown stronger," Fan Zhizhou said, and this was indeed his original intention.

He didn’t believe Li Yi could kill a Gang Refining expert, so his idea was to have Li Yi leave the Four Seas and Eight Continents for the time being and return stronger later on.

After all, his opportunity to cross worlds relied on Li Yi; without Li Yi, he would be trapped here for life, unable to witness the vastness beyond.

"Knowing about the enemy in advance allows me to prepare, which is crucial. As for fleeing across the border? That’s not necessary. I do have some confidence, after all. But since Lord Fan has shared such important information with me, why not go all the way and act as a mediator for me? Get in touch with that Gang Qi Cultivation Expert and pass on a message," Li Yi said, his eyes glittering.

"Just passing on a message? That’s not a problem. What message does Mr. Li want to convey?" Fan Zhizhou asked.

Li Yi said, "Tomorrow at noon, outside Sanyang City, at the foot of Daqing Mountain, I will be there as scheduled, challenging that Gang Qi Cultivation Expert, to determine superiority and resolve life or death."

"A challenge?" Fan Zhizhou blinked, then asked, "Does Mr. Li truly have the confidence to take on that Gang Qi Cultivation Expert alone?"

Li Yi calmly replied, "Without confidence, how could I dare to challenge him? Moreover, only by killing that Gang Qi Expert can this matter be settled, right? If I were to run, the first to suffer would probably be my master, followed by my junior brothers and sisters. The monk may run away, but the temple cannot. I might as well take a gamble."

"That makes sense. As for Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall, I can take care of it. After all, Xingzhou is under our Fan Family’s management, and the Meng Family cannot interfere with matters in the mortal world. However, regarding the collection of life span debts by ghosts, my Fan Family has no control over that. If Mr. Li doesn’t resolve this issue, when the Yin God comes again at the beginning of next month, it may not just be a month’s life span they take. It could be a year, ten years, or even twenty years of life span," Fan Zhizhou said, seeming somewhat powerless.

Fan Zhizhou added, "However, if Mr. Li can repel the Gang Refining Expert, plus with my Fan Family’s mediation, it’s possible that the collection of life span in Sanyang City can be avoided in the future."

"Very well, that’s enough," Li Yi stated.

"Since the matter is settled, I’ll go to arrange the challenge today," Fan Zhizhou asked again, wanting to confirm one last time.

Li Yi nodded, "Tomorrow at noon, at the foot of Daqing Mountain, the challenge with the Gang Refining Expert is set. There will be no changes. Once I’ve killed that expert, Lord Fan, I’ll owe you a favor. Cross-world matters will be no problem," he affirmed.

He was reciprocating the favor, using this opportunity to offer another grand promise.

"Good, then I wish Mr. Li a victorious return tomorrow," Fan Zhizhou said happily, then stood up to bow with clasped hands. "I’ll handle this matter right away. But Mr. Li needn’t worry. If anything unexpected happens, I will intervene to ensure your safety," he assured.

"Rest assured, I won’t lose," Li Yi smiled.

Seeing Li Yi’s confidence, Fan Zhizhou felt greatly reassured and took his leave.

Li Yi didn’t try to keep him, but instead watched as Fan Zhizhou departed.

Truth be told, he wasn’t sure he could defeat a Gang Qi Expert in a fair fight, but he was an Earth Prisoner—who had brought a sniper rifle with him to the Four Seas and Eight Continents specially designed to take down Extraordinary Creatures. Its power was fearsome.

A skilled fighter who doesn’t use a gun is hardly a master at all.

"Daring to challenge me, isn’t that seeking death? Outside Daqing Mountain, an expanse of fertile plain with no obstructions for tens of kilometers. If they dare come, aren’t they just moving targets? A Gang Qi Cultivation Expert? I call them lost souls under my gun," Li Yi thought to himself.

Let others fight with martial arts—I’ll show the people of the Four Seas and Eight Continents what it means to be a naturally wicked Earth Prisoner.

He didn’t believe that the Gang Qi of a Gang Refining Expert could block a sniper bullet.

"Meng De, are you there? It’s your master looking for you. I heard you’re leaving in a few days, is that true?"

Suddenly.

As Li Yi was considering all this, the robust and powerful voice of Zhao Ge echoed from the front yard. From that voice alone, one could tell that Zhao Ge’s injuries had healed and he was back to his peak condition.

Li Yi snapped out of his thoughts and looked towards the front hall.

He saw his master, Zhao Ge, accompanied by Zhao Qian, Rong Niang, Shou Hou, and others, making their appearance.

They had evidently heard of Li Yi’s departure and had come to see him.

"Master," Li Yi greeted, hurrying over and bowing with clasped hands.

Zhao Ge nodded: "Good, you have made progress; you must be in Marrow Training by now, aren’t you? The improvement is rapid, but it still requires some polishing. Meng De, Rong Niang just told me you are planning to leave the Four Seas and Eight Continents. Is that true? Your foundation in Martial Arts Cultivation is only at Bone Training—it’s too shallow. You should stay in Sanyang City for a while longer, at least until you reach Blood Training," he advised.

Li Yi explained, "To save my master this time, I came in a hurry and left many matters at home unattended, so I intend to go back quickly. Once I have settled my family affairs, I will naturally return to Sanyang City. It’s not a permanent departure."

"I see, that’s understandable," Zhao Ge said with a nod and smile, stroking his beard. "But Meng De, since you have so many things to attend to at home, why not take Zhao Qian and Rong Niang with you? They can help take care of the house, which could save a lot of trouble."

Upon hearing these words, the faces of Zhao Qian and Rong Niang beside him flushed red.