Over ten hours earlier, Suo Mo had returned to the Chimera Tribe before Lanling. At the time, he reported to Constantine that he had not seen any trace of Lanling, nor had he entered the Ghost Domain World.
Constantine was not surprised by this result, for this was the normal answer.
Over the past decades, even centuries, not a single barbarian who had entered the Ghost Domain World had come out alive.
Although Lanling was a genius, he should not be an exception.
Moreover, this result was probably the best outcome for Constantine.
If Lanling died inside the Ghost Domain World, there was no need to worry about him falling into the hands of other tribes.
Also, Suo Mo’s martial arts had now recovered sixty to seventy percent. Unless absolutely necessary, Constantine truly did not wish to fall out with Suo Mo.
Even if he could kill Suo Mo, the Foreign Legion would basically revolt. Du Yan’s prestige was still insufficient and likely not enough to intimidate the Foreign Legion.
Of course, even if the Foreign Legion revolted, it would be useless. Constantine could easily suppress them.
Moreover, the relationship between the Chimera Tribe and the Ankara Tribe was growing increasingly worse. A great war would definitely break out within a few years. Without the Foreign Legion as cannon fodder, it would be very disadvantageous for the future great war.
If Lanling died inside the Ghost Domain World, it would be as if he had never appeared. The Foreign Legion would continue to toil like oxen and dogs for the Chimera Tribe, and Suo Mo would continue to work diligently without complaint. This was perhaps the best outcome.
Furthermore, the envoy he had sent to the Rakshasa City had already departed. Next, no matter what price he had to pay, he would marry his daughter Ninian to the Little Savage King.
But thinking of his daughter Ninian, Constantine felt somewhat uneasy.
He discovered that his daughter Ninian was growing increasingly restless and agitated. Previously, she could easily move between three men with great composure and deep scheming.
But now, she often shut herself in her room, either practising swordsmanship frantically, or soaking in water day and night.
…
At this moment, Ninian was still soaking in water.
As if only this could suppress some of the restlessness in her heart.
After Lanling left, the first few days were still fine.
From the fifth day onwards, she began to feel unwell, her heart filled with restlessness, as if a ball of fire was burning.
As time passed, this fire of restlessness grew increasingly intense, causing her more and more pain and suffering.
She had truly tried every method. Practising swordsmanship to vent her internal energy, soaking in ice water, even self-pleasure.
But none of it was very effective.
This feeling was like an addiction.
In the barbarian tribes, some shaman priests often consumed a special kind of stone milk to pursue spiritual sharpness and exhilaration.
After each consumption, they would immediately feel a hundred times more energetic, incredibly excited.
But as soon as they stopped consuming it, the entire person would become incredibly uncomfortable, from spirit to body.
No matter what they did, they had no energy, and could not muster interest in anything.
However, as soon as they consumed this stone milk again, they would immediately feel a hundred times more energetic, incredibly happy.
And Ninian felt that she was addicted, only it was an addiction to Lanling.
That bastard Lanling must have poisoned her body, making her addicted.
Or perhaps Lanling himself was a kind of poison.
Now, Ninian felt the flames within her body growing increasingly intense, almost impossible to extinguish.
These days, no matter what she did, she felt incredibly restless. Every night she would dream of having sex with Lanling, but upon waking, she felt even more empty and restless.
Thus, she soaked in water almost every day.
Suo Mo had returned, having found no trace of Lanling. Ninian learned of this news very quickly.
She could not say whether she felt joy or sorrow.
From a physiological perspective, she desperately hoped Lanling could return, to cure the poison in her body.
But from a psychological perspective, she hoped Lanling would die in the Ghost Domain World, so that she could be free of him.
As for the daily restlessness and discomfort, enduring it strongly for a month or two should cause it to subside.
After all, there were quite a few people in the tribe who had quit the divine stone milk. It was just that the first three months were incredibly uncomfortable, and then they gradually returned to normal.
…
The Chimera Tribe had a dedicated duel arena.
Almost every tribe had such a duel arena. The barbarian world revered martial prowess, and almost every month there were life-and-death duels.
Early this morning, the Chimera Tribe’s duel arena was packed to capacity.
And Du Yan, fully armed, had long since sat cross-legged in the centre of the duel arena, waiting for Lanling’s arrival.
The entire duel arena had several thousand spectators pouring in.
Although many people had received the news that Lanling was already dead and could not possibly return, many still came to watch.
In the entire duel arena, everyone stood. Only the chieftain and his wife had seats.
The second wife Sisi was not present. The chieftain’s daughter Ninian was not present. Both women were soaking in water, for only this could slightly relieve the restlessness in their hearts.
Ninian’s absence made Du Yan very disappointed.
Lanling’s inability to appear made Du Yan even more disappointed.
He had always loved to perform. He craved glory.
He wanted everyone to see his excellence, his strength.
For this duel, he had originally already prepared to fight Lanling blindfolded and with one hand.
He wanted to present the most magnificent battle, to cut off Lanling’s head with the most dashing, most disdainful, most superior posture.
Blindfolded, cutting off Lanling’s head with one hand.
He wanted everyone to see that Du Yan was the most outstanding successor of the entire Foreign Legion, the most outstanding young leader of the entire Chimera Tribe.
He wanted to marry the chieftain’s daughter Ninian.
Constantine the Second was rash and unwise, not a very good successor as chieftain.
So once he married the chieftain’s daughter Ninian, Du Yan even had higher expectations, such as becoming the behind-the-scenes chieftain of the Chimera Tribe.
But now Lanling actually could not come.
This was his Du Yan’s stage to perform. Lanling actually did not come. This coward actually did not come.
Du Yan was incredibly angry.
…
Logically speaking, the final deadline for the duel was sunset.
However, both Suo Mo and Chieftain Constantine knew that Lanling could not come.
So, Chieftain Constantine was merely sitting here symbolically. Once the deadline arrived, he would publicly announce Du Yan’s victory and that he would become the sole successor as the great leader of the Foreign Legion.
This was a very important move.
Once Du Yan was strong enough and had sufficient prestige, Constantine would find a way to get rid of Suo Mo and formally support Du Yan to ascend.
By then, the Foreign Legion would be completely in his hands.
During this waiting period, Constantine was relatively calm, but the spectators grew increasingly restless and impatient.
“Lanling definitely can’t come. He’s dead.”
“He’s not dead, he fled. He knew he was no match for Du Yan, so he ran away long ago.”
“What a coward. Since he couldn’t win, why did he agree to the duel?”
Only a very few people knew that Lanling had gone to adventure in the Ghost Domain World. Most others thought Lanling had merely left the tribe to cultivate.
“The moment he agreed to the duel, he had already decided to run. His cultivation hasn’t even reached the Demon Warrior level. Wanting to duel with Du Yan after one month of cultivation, what a dream.”
“Exactly. Even if a god cultivated for one month, he wouldn’t be Du Yan’s match. Lanling’s archery is incredible, but in terms of martial arts, he really isn’t even worth one of Du Yan’s fingers.”
“Knowing it’s certain death and still not running, do you think he’s stupid? Pretty boys are the most cunning.”
The brothers of the Foreign Legion watching the battle had mixed feelings.
On one hand, they hoped Lanling would not appear, because the disparity in martial prowess between the two sides was too great. One had cultivation not even at the Demon Warrior level, the other was a four-star Great Demon Warrior, a difference of over a dozen levels.
To be honest, Du Yan really could defeat Lanling with a single finger. This wasn’t even an instant kill. How much could Lanling’s cultivation improve in one month? At most, breaking through to Demon Warrior would be impressive, and that was the treatment of a genius.
So, once Lanling appeared for the duel, death was certain.
But on the other hand, the brothers of the Foreign Legion could not help but feel somewhat disappointed in Lanling.
The barbarian world placed the highest value on promises, and most despised cowards who fled without fighting.
Since you agreed to the duel, but when the day of the duel arrived you did not appear, such fear of death was truly contemptible.
A true hero should be brave and fearless, even facing death, going forth generously.
Lanling’s avoidance of the duel with Du Yan also meant he was not qualified to become the great leader of the Foreign Legion.
The sun was already high noon.
The spectators were growing increasingly impatient.
“Let’s disperse. That coward Lanling ran away long ago.”
“Let’s go, let’s go, go home and sleep with your wives. That pretty boy Lanling ran away, a gutless coward.”
As someone took the lead, more and more people left, more and more.
However…
Just at this moment, a figure came sprinting, entering everyone’s field of vision.
It was actually Lanling…
He had actually appeared!
Constantine’s eyes widened, and he abruptly stood up from his chair.
He had personally seen Lanling enter the Ghost Domain World. It was clearly certain death. He had actually come out alive? This, how was this possible?
The next person to feel astonished was Suo Mo.
Yesterday, Lanling had already said he would not attend the duel and would protect Mirror Mountain. But at the final moment, he had actually appeared again. What on earth was going on?
Instantly, the entire arena completely boiled over.
Lanling had actually returned. He had actually returned to seek death.
There was a good show to watch next. The most lopsided duel in the history of the Chimera Tribe was about to begin.
The only suspense remaining was instant kill, or torturous kill?
This entirely depended on Du Yan’s mood.
Seeing Lanling’s appearance, Du Yan was completely overjoyed!
It was good that Lanling had returned. Then his Du Yan could perform to his heart’s content.
Du Yan abruptly stood up and was about to speak.
Lanling, covered in dust, addressed Chieftain Constantine, “Chieftain, according to the rules, as long as the duel begins before sunset, that is acceptable, correct?”
Constantine was truly incredibly curious. How had Lanling come out alive from the Ghost Domain World? What exactly had he experienced?
Over the past several centuries, not a single person had come out alive.
But now was not the time to ask. Hearing Lanling’s question, Constantine nodded.
Lanling said, “I know that once one breaks through to Demon Warrior, martial arts enters another realm, the Qi Path. However, I currently know nothing about the Qi Path. Anyway, there are still four or five hours until sunset. I would like to use three hours to study the Qi Path with Uncle Suo Mo, and then come to duel with Du Yan. Is that acceptable?”
The moment these words were spoken, everyone burst into uproarious laughter!
Too absurd, too hilarious.
When it came to humour, the pretty boy Lanling was truly the best.
Three hours to study the Qi Path. This was not even clutching at straws at the last minute. This was already soiling your trousers, and only then starting to dig a latrine.
The Qi Path was such a profound and difficult martial art? Even someone with high talent would be impressive if they achieved minor success after three months of study. To truly use it in combat, at least two or three years of study were needed.
Three hours? There wasn’t even enough time to explain the theory once.
Lanling’s attempt to study the Qi Path in three hours was not merely superficial, but complete foolishness.
Du Yan immediately said arrogantly and coldly, “Want to delay? Being able to live three hours longer is good too. But if you’re afraid of death, you shouldn’t have appeared.”
Chieftain Constantine also found it amusingly absurd, but still nodded and said, “Go.”
Then, he sent several trusted warriors to follow behind Lanling. Since he had appeared, he must die under Du Yan’s sword today. There was absolutely no possibility of letting him escape.
At this moment, Constantine felt that Lanling was truly an extremely pedantic and foolish person. Since he had come out alive from the Ghost Domain World, he had actually not fled far away, but had run back to seek death.
Truly, heaven has a road but he would not walk it, hell has no door yet he barges right in.
Under the surveillance of Constantine’s trusted warriors, Lanling followed Suo Mo and temporarily left the duel arena, disappearing from everyone’s field of vision. He truly went to study the Qi Path.
Three hours to study the Qi Path. This was truly the most hilarious joke everyone present had ever heard.
…
The sun gradually tilted westward.
Everyone waited with excitement and restless impatience for time to pass, waiting for Lanling’s reappearance.
At this time, Ninian had already appeared in the duel arena. This made Du Yan even more excited, frequently casting flirtatious glances towards her.
Since his dream lover was watching the battle, then his Du Yan would present an even more splendid performance.
Three hours passed.
Lanling and Suo Mo returned. Suo Mo returned to the Foreign Legion’s spectator stands.
Lanling returned to the duel arena, standing before Du Yan.
Three hours. Who knew how his Qi Path study had gone?
“Have you finally finished dawdling?” Du Yan said coldly. “You are wasting my time, and also wasting everyone’s time. But your clown act ends here!”
Lanling drew his greatsword and said, “Begin!”
Du Yan looked towards Constantine and said, “Chieftain, this is an unfair duel. I, this person, pursue honour. I absolutely do not take advantage of anyone, especially before the one I love. So…”
Then, Du Yan took out a black cloth strip and blindfolded his own eyes.
Next, he used a rope to bind his right arm.
He wanted to fight Lanling blindfolded, using his left arm.
“Lanling, now don’t say I bully the small with the large.” Du Yan said coldly. “I, Du Yan, am open and aboveboard. I absolutely do not take advantage of anyone.”
Lanling was startled.
Damn, this scene looked somewhat familiar.
It seemed a few years ago, in the royal city, he had shown off like this.
As a result, now Du Yan was showing off to him using the exact same method. Truly, what goes around comes around.
But the crowd present had never seen such showing off before.
“Good!” Instantly, everyone roared in applause.
Not just the people of the Chimera Tribe, but even the brothers of the Foreign Legion cheered and shouted approval.
In their view, Du Yan was not showing off, but pursuing fairness, not bullying the weak with the strong.
Lanling looked at Du Yan and said, “You, are you sure you want to do this?”
Du Yan said coldly, “Originally, you were not qualified to duel with me. But for the sake of my beloved, I agreed to fight you. So hurry up, let all this end quickly. Fighting you is a complete waste of time, a complete torment to me. Start quickly, end quickly!”
Du Yan’s handsome face was filled with incomparable arrogance and disdain.
His gaze remained fervently fixed on Ninian.
“Good, good…” This display of his once again drew strong applause.
Constantine stood up, picked up his staff, and said in a loud voice, “On the duel arena, life and death are each determined by heaven’s will!”
“Clang!” The staff in his hand struck down heavily.
A gong sounded. The duel began!
Du Yan, blindfolded, his right arm bound, raised his greatsword with his left arm and strode towards Lanling.
His steps were bold and arrogant, superior and lofty, as if he was not going to duel, but a nobleman going to hunt a small deer.
Walking before Lanling, Du Yan’s left arm brought the greatsword down in a fierce slash!
“Lanling, die!”
Du Yan was a four-star Great Demon Warrior. His right arm had four thousand five hundred jin of strength. His left arm was slightly weaker, around four thousand two hundred jin.
This strength, he felt, was more than enough to kill Lanling. After all, in Du Yan’s knowledge, Lanling had not even broken through to the mere Demon Warrior level.
Previously, Du Yan had considered two plans: instant kill, or torturous kill?
In the end, he decided on torturous kill.
Blindfolded with cloth, right arm bound, using his left arm to slash with the sword again and again, violently shaking Lanling’s internal organs into meat paste, hacking him to death alive.
Only this could resolve the hatred in his heart, and only this could be considered a magnificent performance.
A whistling sound. Du Yan’s greatsword slashed down fiercely.
Lanling gripped his sword with both hands and fiercely met the slash with his own sword.
He unhesitatingly used his bloodline power critical strike.
His cultivation was tenth-level Demon Warrior, three thousand three hundred jin of strength. Gripping with both hands, that was six thousand jin. Using bloodline critical strike, that was twelve thousand jin of strength.
From the very beginning of the duel between the two, there was not the slightest flourish. It was a direct collision of strength.
Two treasured swords rapidly approached each other in the air.
“Clang…”
A piercing sound rang out. Two five-hundred-jin heavy swords crashed fiercely together.
Everyone was waiting for a scene to appear.
Lanling directly flying out, blood spurting from his mouth.
“Die, Lanling…” Du Yan repeated once more.
Then…
A powerful energy abruptly passed through the heavy sword, transmitting to his arm.
Instantly, Du Yan felt his entire left arm tear with pain.
After the two forces cancelled each other out, a full eight thousand jin of force violently struck Du Yan’s body.
The unprepared Du Yan’s body abruptly flew out.
“Pugh!” In mid-air, Du Yan spat out a great mouthful of blood.
Instantly, the entire venue fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone’s eyes abruptly widened, completely unable to believe what they were seeing.
This, what was happening?
Shouldn’t it be Lanling spitting blood, his body flying out?
Why was it Du Yan spitting blood, being sent flying?
This, this was like seeing a ghost?