The fifth day of the seventh month.
Outside the market square, the sky was dim, and a dreary rain fell without end.
The Seven Kills Platform was at the northern end of the market square, built upon a rocky jetty.
The fierce winds whipped the lake into massive waves that crashed against the jagged rocks, creating a terrifying, tide-like roar.
The Seven Kills Platform stood thirty feet high, carved from an immense, incredibly hard boulder that an Elder of the Yinluo Sect had procured from some unknown place.
At the edge of the rocky jetty, an octagonal pavilion faced the Seven Kills Platform, offering a clear view of everything upon it.
Inside the pavilion stood a middle-aged man with high cheekbones and a wide jaw. He was the Outer Disciple from the Yinluo Sect responsible for officiating the duel.
There were no spectators for this duel.
Through the drizzling rain, a young Daoist in a black robe glided in from the storm, treading on a Profound Light.
He was quite tall, with sharp brows that angled toward his temples and piercing, intense eyes that gave him the look of a wary wolf or a hunting eagle.
The black-robed Daoist walked to the front of the pavilion, clasped his hands, and said, "Fellow Daoist Yu, apologies for the wait."
The middle-aged man in the pavilion gave a slight nod, his expression blank. He grunted in acknowledgment. "Your junior brother has not yet arrived. You will have to wait."
The black-robed Daoist smiled faintly. He took out a Jade Pendant, and with a gentle flick of his wrist, it floated up and flew toward the Yu Sect Member.
"Fellow Daoist Yu, this is my stake for the duel. Please hold on to it for now," the black-robed Daoist said.
The Yu Sect Member reached out, snatched the Jade Pendant from the air, and said, "After a winner has been decided, I will hand this over to him."
"My thanks."
The black-robed Daoist spun around, soared into the air, and landed on the Seven Kills Platform.
A short time later, a figure emerged from under the northern gate of the market square and headed straight for the rocky jetty.
He wore a wide-sleeved robe, his figure tall and straight. He had sword-like brows and star-like eyes, but a quiet melancholy was hidden in his handsome features.
It was Fang Cheng, arriving for the appointment.
He walked to the pavilion, clasped his hands apologetically, and said, "Senior Brother Yu, I've kept you waiting."
The Yu Sect Member glanced at him and said flatly, "Since you're here, let's begin."
Fang Cheng retrieved a jade slip from his storage pouch and handed it over. "This is my stake for the duel."
The Yu Sect Member took the slip, placed it with the Jade Pendant, and announced in a clear voice, "Fang Hen, Fang Cheng, I will officiate your duel today. Regardless of the outcome, all past grievances between you will be wiped clean. Do you both understand?"
The black-robed Daoist and Fang Cheng both nodded.
The Yu Sect Member continued, "On the Seven Kills Platform, injuries are unavoidable during a contest of skills. However, if one party verbally concedes, the other must immediately stop. Otherwise, I will be forced to intervene, and I hope neither of you will hold it against me."
These were the rules of the Seven Kills Platform, which Fang Cheng already knew well.
After that, the Yu Sect Member said no more.
Fang Cheng flew onto the Seven Kills Platform and stood opposite his senior brother, Fang Hen. Their eyes met, and both saw resentment in the other's gaze.
The difference was that Fang Cheng was feigning it, while Fang Hen's was a genuine display of emotion.
Fang Hen's original name was Fang Zhen, also given to him by their master. He changed it himself later on.
"Junior Brother, do you know what the biggest regret of my life is?"
Fang Hen looked Fang Cheng up and down, a smirk playing on his lips as he asked nonchalantly.
Fang Cheng shook his head and said solemnly, "I do not."
A murderous glint flashed in Fang Hen's eyes. He sneered, "My biggest regret is saving your life when you were thirteen."
Fang Cheng remained silent.
Fang Hen had indeed saved the original owner of this body's life when they were children. But now, they were in a life-or-death situation... 'Since I'm not the original owner, his words have no effect on me.'
Fang Hen continued, "The old man was always biased. I have nothing to say about that. But you... you shouldn't have blocked my path in cultivation!"
Two years ago, he had known their master intended to pass the lineage down to Fang Cheng. He proposed to his junior brother that they share the inheritance after their master passed away.
However, the original Fang Cheng had refused.
In a fit of rage, he murdered their master to seize the treasure. He had intended to kill his junior brother as well, but Fang Cheng managed to escape to the Yinluo Sect.
For two years, he had repeatedly looked for opportunities to strike, but all his attempts failed. In the end, he had to "coerce and lure" Fang Cheng to the Seven Kills Platform to settle their grudge.
Within that Inheritance Jade Pendant was the Gu Dao legacy of their master, Fangrushan.
Fang Cheng said in a low voice, "What's past is past. There's no need to bring it up again."
"Yes, no need to bring it up! Today, I will show you who his true successor is!"
Fang Hen ripped off his black robe, revealing a scarred torso. More than thirty crimson Gu Insects were attached to his skin, arranged in a bizarre symbol.
Fire Gu.
BOOM!
Crimson-black flames erupted around Fang Hen. The rain falling from the sky evaporated into a gray-white mist dozens of feet away from him.
He stood amidst the flames, his aura surging steadily, shockingly reaching the Fourth Layer of Sensing!
The original Fang Cheng never knew that his senior brother had broken through to the Mid-Sensing Stage a month ago and had even schemed to secretly injure his soul.
It was a situation where victory was all but guaranteed.
But Fang Hen could never have guessed that his junior brother was no longer the same person he used to be.
A mocking expression appeared on Fang Hen's face. With a flick of his finger, a streak of fire shot out, instantly transforming into a roaring, bucket-sized fireball that hurtled toward Fang Cheng's head.
At the same time, Fang Hen silently chanted an incantation.
Just as Fang Cheng was about to act, he felt a sharp pang in his soul. Looking at Fang Hen, he instantly understood.
'My ability to transmigrate into this world is probably related to Fang Hen...'
The stabbing pain came and went in a flash.
Fang Cheng had no time to dwell on it. He quickly dodged the fireball and, with a flick of his hand, sent a flash of sword light flying straight toward Fang Hen.
Fang Hen flicked a finger, and a serpent of fire shot out, coiling toward the sword light.
He could see that Fang Cheng's Flying Sword was only Tier One Lower Grade and posed no threat to him. As long as he could entangle the sword light, he could melt it into slag in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
Just then, the sword light suddenly twisted and turned with nimble grace, evading the fiery serpent's grasp before abruptly sweeping toward Fang Hen's neck.
Fang Hen's expression changed slightly. He swiped his hand over the storage pouch at his waist and produced a Talisman.
A golden light flashed around him, forming what looked like an inverted golden bell that shielded him completely.
CLANG!
The ringing cry of the Flying Sword pierced the rain, fading away over the vast, misty expanse of the Abyssal Marsh.
Watching from a distance, the Yu Sect Member's eyes flickered, but his face remained expressionless.
The sword light struck again and again, leaving brilliant scars on the golden bell but failing to break through.
'A First-rank Middle-grade Talisman!'
"It seems I underestimated you..."
Fang Hen's face grew serious. He formed a hand seal, and the flames around him intensified. Then, eight more fire serpents, each as thick as an arm, shot out, joining the first one in a combined assault on Fang Cheng.
If an ordinary Early Sensing Stage Cultivator were surrounded by these fire serpents, their Protective Spiritual Light would likely be shattered in moments.
Fang Cheng recalled his Flying Sword. The blade flickered repeatedly, faster than lightning, as it circled him several times, cleaving all nine fire serpents in two at their waists in a single, fluid motion.
Their Spiritual Mechanisms broken, the fire serpents dissolved into ordinary flames that scattered like fireworks, extinguished in an instant.
At that moment, two questions surfaced in Fang Hen's mind:
First, why was Fang Cheng's soul unharmed?
Second, why had Fang Cheng's Sword Technique improved so drastically?
"Senior Brother, now watch your junior brother's Gu arts!"
Fang Cheng didn't give Fang Hen another chance to attack. He pointed casually, and a speck of golden light shot out, landing instantly on the golden bell's barrier.
The Vajra Gu.
His Flying Sword couldn't break the Talisman's defense, but the Vajra Gu was its perfect counter!
The tiny Gu Insect extended its vicious mouthparts and, in the blink of an eye, devoured a hole in the golden bell's light.
The next moment, the Vajra Gu shot forward like a bullet straight for Fang Hen's neck.