WHAT! I Have To Kill Heaven's Son To Live!

Yang Lie stood fifteen meters away, straightening himself as his mind churned with rapid thoughts.

'That bastard, Xue Taiyang… he's growing stronger by the day.'

'I once thought he was nothing special—a pathetic thug jealous of others' growth—but now, even I can't deny the flicker of fear his progress stirs in me.'

His gaze swept over the Grand Platform—now shattered into ruins—

The incredibly strong stones of the Grand Platform—normally impervious even to attacks from Mid-Stage Foundation Realm cultivators without Mastery-Stage Aura—were shattered into dust beneath his feet.

Fine cracks appeared across the Low-Tier Grade-5 protective formation—likely imperfectly maintained since it was managed by a Minor Elder rather than a Elder—yet it should still have been incredibly strong for Outer Disciples.

...And the massive crater at the center all stood as silent testimony to the terrifyingly fierce clash between Yi Ran and Xue Taiyang.

'Terrifying... really terrifying!'

'Just five months ago, I beat him into the ground—shattered his hands, broke his legs, left him writhing like a cripple.'

'Yet now… he's strong enough to injure Yi Ran—a formidable opponent who, just two months ago, could have easily defeated me.'

A cold shadow settled over his thoughts.

'If this continues, I'll never be able to complete the Main Scenario Quest from my system. And the penalty…'

He clenched his fists.

'I won't let that happen. Ever.'

His eyes glinted with calculation.

'Right now… this is the perfect chance. That devastating counterattack he used against Yi Ran must have drained him. If I go all out, I can easily take him down.'

A thin, sharp smile crept across his face.

'Hehe… that's how I can kill two birds with one stone—completing the Main Scenario Quest while getting closer to Yi Ran.'

He called up his system panel, the glowing text hovering before his eyes.

...

[Main Scenario Quest]

[Objective:] Kill Xue Taiyang by any means necessary—even if you must cross mountains and seas. An evil person roaming freely in society is far more dangerous than a wild beast in the forest.

[Reward:] ???

[Time Remaining:] 15 Days: 00 Hours: 12 Minutes: 23 Seconds

[Failure Penalty:] System sealed for six months

...

Yang Lie's smile faded, replaced by a tense, almost anxious laugh.

'Haha... Six months without my system… that's as good as crippling my cultivation. I can never afford that.'

His gaze flicked back to the "Reward" line, the mystery only stoking his determination.

'If the penalty is this severe and the target this dangerous, then the reward must be extraordinary.'

He tightened his grip on his sword.

'It'll be difficult to kill him with so many eyes watching—especially the Elders. If I act recklessly, I'll likely end up punished deep in the Frost Mountain Cave's third region.'

'But if I can somehow provoke him into a Life-and-Death Duel… I'm sure no Elder will intervene, and Xue Taiyang won't refuse, especially if it means saving face.'

Locking eyes with Reon, Yang Lie's expression hardened.

"Xue Taiyang… get ready to be humiliated like a dog once more—just like I did to you five months ago, when you were an Inner Disciple and I was still a mere Outer Disciple newbie."

Yang Lie's voice rang out across the Grand Platform like a challenge, sharp and unwavering.

Reon's face remained expressionless as he met Yang Lie's glare.

'What the hell is wrong with this guy? I didn't even provoke him this time!'

'Is this just the usual self-righteous hero act kicking in, typical of the protagonist? Suddenly jumping in to save the "damsel in distress" whenever a beautiful girl is caught in a tough spot?'

Only a dozen disciples remained on the Grand Platform now, all frozen in stunned silence, their attention riveted by Yang Lie's brazen declaration.

"W-What?! Yang Lie, my sword rival, is about to fight that person…" Zi Chen stammered, disbelief coloring his voice.

"Haha, this will be entertaining," Ma Shen smirked, his eyes glinting with anticipation.

"A showdown between the Sword Genius and the Youngest Prodigy of the Supreme Dao Sect from three years ago—this is rare!"

"Big Brother, you can do it!" Min Xhen cheered, excitement evident.

Watching silently, Yang Mi's thoughts churned with unease.

'What exactly is... Brother Lie trying to do right now?'

Reon's gaze narrowed, his mind working rapidly.

'I'd love nothing more than to crush this bastard here and now—I have the strength for it.'

'But no... not yet.'

'Elder Nin Wing from Sky Sword Peak is utterly obsessed with Yang Lie's exceptional sword talents—so much so that, from this moment forward, he treats Yang Lie as if he were his own disciple'

'He even gave up pursuing his crush of forty long years once he found out she was infatuated with Yang Lie, urging Yang Lie to look after her.'

'Since I plan to join Sky Sword Peak and eventually eliminate Yang Lie quietly, I can't afford to anger Elder Nin Wing by openly defeating his favored protégé now.'

'Even more crucially—the Tempest Sword Saint, destined to become Yang Lie's master, is watching all of this with keen attention right now.'

'...He's the absolute last person in this sect I want as an enemy!'

'I want to kill Yang Lie as quietly and covertly as possible.'

Reon met Yang Lie's blazing eyes calmly and spoke with deliberate control:

"Listen carefully, Yang Lie. I'm already in a foul mood. Stay out of this. I have no personal grudge against you. Cross me, and you won't like the consequences."

Inside, Yang Lie chuckled darkly.

'Look at this bastard —he's clearly not at full strength. Afraid to face me head-on. Just empty threats, trying to act tough.'

He sneered, voice dripping with mockery.

"Xue Taiyang, do you really have no backbone? Are you so cowardly that you won't even face me to prove yourself after I've humiliated you time and again?"

"You even refused to fight me back during the Monthly Dueling Event two months ago, even after I insulted your parents."

"I'm starting to seriously question… are you truly even a man?"

A vein throbbed painfully on Reon's forehead. His teeth clenched so tightly it hurt to keep his temper in check.

Just as he opened his mouth to respond—

A sharp, furious voice cut through the tension like a blade.

"Hey! You shit-faced bastard, who do you think you are, butting in between me and Brother Xue without permission?"

Yi Ran stepped forward, eyes blazing with anger as she shot a fierce glare toward Yang Lie.

Yang Lie's confident expression faltered when Yi Ran's sharp curse slipped from her delicate lips—so unexpected, so piercingly raw.

Her soft, refined voice shattered the tension like a thunderclap.

The crowd of admirers gasped in stunned disbelief, their eyes widening as if they'd witnessed a sacred idol shatter.

Even Reon was taken aback by the unexpected fierceness in Yi Ran's words.

But Yi Ran stood firm, her fists clenched tightly, struggling to rein in the storm of fury rising inside her.

'Damn it... I was this close to holding back all the embarrassment I've ever felt in my life... and saying that to Brother Xue.'

'And now this bastard had to barge in and ruin everything! Who the hell does he think he is?!'

Yang Lie, momentarily frozen, recovered and stammered defensively:

"L-Lady Yi Ran, you might not realize this, but that bastard Xue Taiyang—he's a real scumbag!"

"You have no idea how many dirty deeds he's done behind the scenes! A man like that deserves nothing but punishment!"

"And He insulted you just now, spoke to you with such disrespect! How can I ever forgive him?"

Yi Ran's glare hardened, eyes flashing like blades as she retorted fiercely:

"Who exactly do you think you are, speaking for me like that? Are you my lover or something?"

Yang Lie opened his mouth to plead,

"B-But… I only wanted to help—"

Before he could finish, Yi Ran cut him off with icy venom:

"Shut. The. Fuck. Up. Don't act the fool and meddle in matters that aren't yours!"

"B-But—"

Before Yang Lie could stammer further, Reon stepped forward, his voice calm but commanding.

"Yi Ran, enough! This is between me and Yang Lie. Now. Step aside!"

"B-Brother Xue—"

Yi Ran tried to protest, but Reon's steady gaze silenced her.

Turning to Yang Lie, a faint, dangerous smile curled at Reon's lips.

"You're eager for a fight with me, aren't you?"

Yang Lie's smirk widened with cold determination.

"Absolutely. I want to settle this once and for all—challenge you to a Life and Death Duel."

The declaration exploded like a bombshell across the arena.

The crowd gasped—audience disciples, minor elders, and elders alike.

Even the Great Elders and Supreme Elders watching from their residences stopped in stunned silence, all eyes locked on the escalating tension.

"L-Life and Death Duel… during the Inner Disciple Selection Ceremony?!"

"D-Does Yang Lie still hold such a grudge against Xue Taiyang?!"

"H-He definitely does! Otherwise, he wouldn't have proposed something so extreme!"

"Still, isn't challenging someone to a Life-and-Death Duel way too extreme—maybe even reckless? He could lose his life too."

"Yeah, right?!"

"Honestly, I wouldn't mind if Xue Taiyang ends up dead."

"Same here!"

Even the elders began exchanging whispers.

"A Life and Death battle is incredibly risky," Elder Ming Rong cautioned.

"But imagine the spectacle—it would be thrilling!" Elder Qin Shi replied with a gleam in his eyes.

"Indeed," Elder Jin Shin chimed in, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Only in such a duel will both parties be able to fully unleash their true power."

"Hehe… quite the excitement," he added with a sly smile.

On the Grand Platform, Yi Ran's voice rang out sharply:

"How dare you even think about challenging Brother Xue to a Life and Death Duel!"

Yang Lie said nothing, instead fixing Reon with a confident smile.

"So, what's it going to be, Xue Taiyang? Do you have the courage to accept?"