The others around them nodded emphatically, Lei Zizhen was simply shameless, almost insane in his desire to kill Sikong Jing.
"I don’t care, what do I need a face for now? I just want this little apprentice dead."
"Only if he accepts the challenge will Baili Que survive."
As he spoke, Lei Zizhen stared intently at Sikong Jing, his tone laced with extreme madness, "Baili Que has helped you before. Without her, you would have died by my hand already. Don’t you feel indebted to repay the favor?"
"I will count to three. If you don’t accept the challenge, I will die right here for you all to see."
With that, he burst into maniacal laughter...
At the same time, Lei Hongteng placed his hand on top of Lei Zizhen’s skull, looking coldly over the crowd.
Sikong Jing returned his gaze and exhaled slowly. "I accept the challenge!"
At his words, Qin Heng, Wen Hu, and the others changed their expressions in shock!
Across from them, Lei Zizhen let out more crazed laughter, "Good, good, good, you’re finally acting like a man. You’ve got guts."
But at that moment, Qin Heng made his move towards Sikong Jing.
"Brother Sikong, there are other ways to save Baili Que. With your realm, you can’t beat Lei Zizhen."
"The Life and Death Platform of the Holy Dragon Palace only distinguishes between life and death, not victory or defeat!"
Knowing the certain peril, Qin Heng, of course, couldn’t allow Sikong Jing to throw his life away in vain.
Sikong Jing shook his head with a faint, cold laugh. "Baili Que was injured by the Heavenly Dao Palace because of me. I can’t let her be in danger."
Baili Que had found herself in peril seeking the Thousand Cold Red Lotus Core, and Sikong Jing felt somewhat responsible for it.
Additionally, if Baili Que returned alive, Sikong Jing would be able to find out who from the Long Night Heavenly Dao Palace had the Thousand Cold Red Lotus Core... More importantly, Sikong Jing was confident he could kill Lei Zizhen.
After speaking, Sikong Jing’s gaze cut back to Lei Zizhen...
"Of course, we can use the Life and Death Platform, but I have one more condition to add."
"I don’t trust your second signal."
"Before we duel it out, I need to know where Baili Que is right now, on her way to which location."
He couldn’t be sure what Lei Zizhen’s second signal would be—it could very well be something that would harm or even directly kill Baili Que. Therefore, Sikong Jing couldn’t take the risk and needed to turn the tables by being proactive.
Knowing Baili Que’s location would allow him to mount a rescue.
Lei Zizhen’s eyebrows rose slightly, and after hesitating, he responded, "Fine, bring paper and pen."
Since Sikong Jing was determined to fight, Qin Heng could only produce paper and pen.
Just like that, Lei Zizhen began to write rapidly, penning a letter to Lang Yizhan instructing him to immediately relay Baili Que’s current location on her journey back to him.
Once Qin Heng had checked that there was nothing amiss with the letter, Lei Zizhen swept his gaze back to Sikong Jing and those around him: "As soon as we step on the Life and Death Platform, I will send this letter out."
Sikong Jing remained undeterred, "Fine, once we receive Baili Que’s location, we will engage in a decisive life-or-death battle."
With the deal sealed, the Life and Death Platform was activated.
The Life and Death Platform of the Long Night Saint Dragon Palace was nothing like the Combat Hall of Holy Dragon Town. It was a venue designed for determining life or death outcomes, where upon stepping onto it, a Formation would protect both parties, forbidding any outside interference.
Only after one person died would the Formation of the Life and Death Platform dissipate.
Unless it was forcibly broken, no one could intervene in the duel on the Life and Death Platform, a practice from time immemorial at the Long Night Saint Dragon Palace, intended to resolve irreconcilable disputes within the palace.
Sikong Jing wasted no words and began walking towards the Life and Death Platform...
Just then, Qin Heng grabbed him again.
"Brother Sikong, perhaps it’s better to reconsider. We can find another way to negotiate with the Heavenly Dao Palace and Wanbao Pavilion for Baili Que..."
Surrounding Qin Heng were Wen Hu and others who also didn’t want Sikong Jing to enter the platform.
The chance of victory was just too slim.
"No need, I am confident."
Sikong Jing firmly shook his head and scoffed. "Besides, what’s the point of negotiating? We’d definitely have to make a sacrifice... Why should we pay a price after Baili Que has already been hurt?"
"Being hit, one must hit back hard."
Having said that, Sikong Jing strode onto the Life and Death Platform, arrogantly pointing at Lei Hongteng.
Meanwhile, Qin Heng and the others were staring blankly at Sikong Jing. What he said made sense, but was he really confident?
On this side, Lei Zizhen sneered and was led onto the Life and Death Platform by Lei Hongteng.
The moment they stepped on it, Lei Zizhen didn’t pull any tricks. Instead, he sent the message with a little black bird, and then the three of them quietly waited on the platform...
Until half a day later, when the little black bird returned.
Lei Zizhen opened the reply from Lang Yizhan and after a glance, tossed it to Sikong Jing.
Following that, Sikong Jing read out loud, "Baili Que is currently on the Long Question Mark Divine Spaceship heading from Long Night Wenti City to the Imperial City."
As soon as the words were spoken, Wu Ding from Dark Dragon Mountain and Qin Heng had a flash of sharpness in their eyes.
Without any hesitation, they immediately dispatched experts to go and rescue the ones on the Long Question Mark Divine Spaceship.
On the Life and Death Platform, Lei Zizhen said lazily, "I’ve given you your conditions, can we start now?"
"Let’s begin then," said Sikong Jing slowly.
Qin Heng gritted his teeth and, in the end, still activated the platform’s Formation.
Lei Hongteng laughed heartily and stepped back the moment the Formation activated.
Then, he looked at Qin Heng and said, "Remember our condition—if this little apprentice wins, you can do as you please with us."
"But if he loses, you must let us leave when Baili Que returns."
As he said this, Lei Hongteng’s mouth twisted into a sinister smile.
He was fully confident in Lei Zizhen. How could a mere apprentice in the Innate Realm possibly be compared to his son?
With this in mind, Lei Hongteng added, "Qin Heng, you can also go back on your word, but..."
Before he could finish, an irate Qin Heng interrupted firmly, "I’m not like you. I wouldn’t do something so shameless."
There were so many people watching; after all, Qin Heng still had his reputation to consider.
"Haha, I trust Vice Palace Master Qin’s credibility, so let’s just wait and see," Lei Hongteng said, watching the Life and Death Platform with an easygoing face.
At this moment, the Formation had been fully activated, and no one could interfere with the duel on the Life and Death Platform.
Suddenly, Lei Zizhen’s True Qi burst forth, and the aura of the Xuantian Fourth Realm spread out... Back at Wanbao Pavilion, he was only at the Xuantian Third Realm, and now he had advanced yet another realm.
Qin Heng and the others’ pupils constricted sharply, regretting letting Sikong Jing take the platform.
There was no chance of winning...
Sure enough, the moment Sikong Jing released his True Qi, those who were unaware of Sikong Jing’s Martial Arts Realm were utterly baffled.
"How is he only at the Peak of the Martial Sect Realm?" the Institute Master from Cloud Dragon Mountain muttered dumbfounded.
Those who didn’t understand Sikong Jing were also bewildered. He was too weak; there was no point in fighting.
Was this little apprentice deeply attached to Baili Que, or was he overly confident?
Everyone’s gaze subconsciously shifted back to Lei Hongteng. Could it be that after all this fuss, he would still be able to leave alive?
On this side, Lei Hongteng stroked his beard and laughed again.
"At the Peak of the Martial Sect Realm, Qin Heng, you can only watch as your life saver dies in front of you."
But just as Lei Hongteng’s words fell, Sikong Jing on the Life and Death Platform suddenly exploded with True Qi again. The aura of the Peak of the Martial Sect Realm changed, and in an instant, it turned into the Xuantian First Realm.
Sikong Jing had made a breakthrough, reaching the Xuantian Realm.