The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

In the blink of an eye, a month had passed since Fang Luo and the others arrived in Seven Kings City.

Right on time, Tie Zhen arrived to issue his challenge—so punctual he didn't want to delay a single day longer.

After all, having grown accustomed to living in the comfort of a Blessed Grotto-Heaven rich in spiritual energy, being forced to move out had been a harsh adjustment. He was eager to take it back.

After making arrangements with the city broker, the broker came to inform Fang Luo.

"According to the rules of Seven Kings City, a grotto-heaven owner who has just fought is given one month of rest. That month has now passed."

"However, within a year, you are allowed one challenge refusal. If you choose to refuse now, you'll have three months before needing to accept."

Fang Luo could have declined and delayed the battle for another three months.

But he felt that even after three months, his strength wouldn't have improved significantly, so there was no need to wait.

"I accept the challenge," Fang Luo replied.

The broker nodded.

"Very well. Arena Platform No. 3, during the You Hour."

When Tie Zhen learned that Fang Luo had accepted, his face lit up with joy.

The eldest of the Xie brothers exclaimed, "I thought those three brats would refuse and try to stall for three months. I didn't expect them to agree right away."

"So arrogant—they'll pay the price!" Tie Zhen's gaze turned icy.

"I'll make sure he can't leave the arena alive. That'll honor Brother Li's spirit!"

Although they hadn't been life-and-death comrades, Tie Zhen and Li Han had been closer than average friends.

Retaking the grotto-heaven while also avenging Li Han—it was a task Tie Zhen was happy to handle.

Of course, if Fang Luo's group had been too strong, he wouldn't have insisted on revenge.

As before, Seven Kings City followed standard procedure: once both sides confirmed, they promoted the event, drawing in the city's gamblers and spectators.

From morning till afternoon, once a sizable crowd had gathered, the match was set to begin.

This time, even more people had shown up to place bets than last time.

"Even though Tie Zhen's not on the bounty list, he used to run around with Li Han raising hell everywhere."

"Doesn't matter. What I know is that he's already reached Ninth Stage Great Saint—odds are in his favor. I'm betting on him for the safe payout."

"Heh, those who know me know—I never bet on the favorite!"

"A Ninth Stage against a Seventh Stage? I don't even see how he could lose."

"Unless that kid's one of the peak geniuses from one of the twenty hegemonic factions."

If that were the case, such a person wouldn't even care for a Human-grade grotto-heaven—probably wouldn't bother unless it was Earth-grade or above.

Top-tier geniuses didn't just cultivate faster; their combat power was monstrous. Being invincible within the same realm was the norm, and fighting above their level was expected.

However, once one reached the Great Saint stage, even peerless talents found it hard to fight across realms.

Those who could win across even a single stage were already rare—across two stages, rarer still.

Only those cultivated at full cost by the twenty most powerful forces in the Tianyuan Realm could manage such feats.

And those people were always famous—well-known wherever they went.

People like the Holy Son Fang Mu Ge of the Xuantian Sacred Sect or the Holy Maiden Fang Ying of the Ethereal Immortal Palace were such individuals.

With access to far better cultivation grounds, they certainly wouldn't care for a Human-grade grotto-heaven in Seven Kings City.

At the You Hour.

Tie Zhen appeared atop the arena platform in a flash. His eyes locked onto Fang Luo's group, filled with killing intent.

Though all three were Seventh Stage Great Saints, their real combat strengths varied.

Against a Ninth Stage opponent like Tie Zhen, Fang Qiufeng didn't stand a chance. Fang Chen could probably win if he burned a lot of his trump cards—but it wasn't worth it.

So this time, Fang Luo would take the stage.

With a calm expression, Fang Luo leapt onto the platform.

Tie Zhen gripped a massive axe and pointed it at him.

"I'll send you to apologize to Brother Li in the underworld!"

Swish! Swish!

Fang Luo slashed his longsword, unleashing a storm of sword shadows like a torrential downpour aimed at Tie Zhen.

The space was instantly flooded with overpowering sword intent—it felt as though Tie Zhen had stepped into a world made entirely of swords.

"He really does have some skill!"

Tie Zhen didn't dare be careless. He raised his heavy axe.

Rumble—!!

His sacred weapon, massive like a mountain, was hoisted high and came crashing down with immense force.

The sound of the impact roared like thunder. For a moment, it seemed like he could cleave space itself.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sea of sword shadows surged forward to meet the axe but were shattered one by one. After a series of fierce collisions, all of them were destroyed.

"Ten Thousand Miles of Clear Sky—Sword Sweeps the Mountains and Rivers!!"

Fang Luo struck again, wildly summoning the power of the laws he controlled.

Buzz! Buzz!

Dozens of swords appeared, swirling around him like a vortex.

The rising sword aura seemed strong enough to pierce the heavens.

Tie Zhen's gaze sharpened. He put forth his full focus to deal with it.

Neither side held back—there was no probing, no testing. Every move was executed with all their strength, their aura so fierce it gave the illusion that Saint Kings were dueling.

Everyone watching, even Tie Zhen himself, had believed that a Ninth Stage Great Saint would easily crush a Seventh Stage.

But no one had expected that after Fang Luo seized the initiative, not only did he fight evenly with Tie Zhen, he even seemed to hold a slight upper hand.

Unknowingly, the battle had already lasted the time of one incense stick.

Because both were fighting at full power, their consumption was tremendous.

At this point, Tie Zhen was deeply shocked by Fang Luo's strength.

"Where the hell did this guy come from? His power is insane. If we were the same level, I wouldn't even be able to block one move!"

The more he thought, the more uneasy he felt. What if he had unknowingly provoked someone backed by a great power?

Fang Luo said nothing—he simply kept attacking.

And it was at that very moment, as Tie Zhen's thoughts wavered—

Swish!

A streak of green light suddenly shot from Fang Luo's mouth—so fast it was upon Tie Zhen in an instant.

"What!?"

Tie Zhen's face paled in shock—but it was too late to dodge or block.

He only had time to see that it was a simple-looking, green broken sword. But the aura of destruction it emitted made even his soul tremble.

"Pfft!!"

The green broken sword pierced directly into Tie Zhen's sea of consciousness, shattering his soul and ending his life instantly.

His body collapsed—dead in both flesh and spirit.