Night cloaked the Inner Sect like a hunter's hood.
The moon was veiled, but a single beam of silver light fell through the trees outside Ye Feng's courtyard—illuminating a black envelope tucked into the bamboo gate.
He approached cautiously.
The seal was wax-red, imprinted with a symbol: a serpent devouring its own tail, circled by the characters —[Crimson Duel Ring].
[System Alert: Invitation Detected—Underground Challenge Type B]Warning: Failure may result in cultivation regression.Reward Potential: ExtremeLegality: Questionable
Ye Feng's eyes narrowed. "Crimson Duel Ring…"
Inside the envelope, a note written in flowing, arrogant brushstrokes:
"You showed flair at the Sect Challenge. But real warriors fight where honor dies—beneath the sect, in blood and shadow. Midnight. North Ravine. Come if your spine isn't just for decoration."— ????
By the time Ye Feng looked up, the bamboo leaves rustled—someone was watching.
But the presence vanished like mist.
Midnight | North Ravine – Underground Passage
Ye Feng stepped into the mouth of a hidden staircase beneath a dried waterfall. Torches flickered with violet flame. The deeper he went, the heavier the air grew—not with spiritual energy, but killing intent.
And then…
He arrived.
A circular coliseum of black stone. Hundreds of robed figures stood on balconies above, faces masked, cheering in coded gestures.
At the center, a platform drenched in old blood.
[System Scan: Underground Duel Arena – Verified]Rules:
No death strikes permitted.
Stakes must be equal.
Winner may demand one item or technique from loser.All rules enforced by Sect Elder proxies via Soul Contracts.
Across the platform, a figure in crimson stepped forward—Wei Tianhao, a senior disciple of Elder Mo. Cold-eyed. Arrogant. Known for "crippling" a challenger last year.
He laughed. "The famous Slap King dares to descend into the pit. Brave… or stupid?"
Ye Feng smirked. "I'd say ambitious. But let's test the theory."
[Duel Conditions Set: Ye Feng wagers 1 Secret Technique][Opponent wagers: 2 Spirit Stones + 1 Personal Artifact (Jade Qi Condenser)]
Duel Start!
Wei Tianhao lunged with a serpent-fast palm strike—but Ye Feng didn't dodge.
Instead—
[Skill Activated: Slap Returner (Lv. 2)]
Ye Feng caught the palm, twisted it mid-air, and slapped Tianhao across the temple, sending him spinning like a top.
[Face-Slap Successful!]+60 EXP+2 Infamy+1 Hidden Stat Revealed: "Pressure Resistance"
The crowd gasped.
Wei Tianhao growled and activated his Qi Armor. "You're dead!"
[Skill Activated: Iron Palm Art (Lv. 3)]
Ye Feng's second slap cracked through the Qi Armor like a gong through silence. The platform quaked. Tianhao collapsed, stunned, arm twitching.
Silence.
Then an explosion of cheers, murmurs, and even a few horrified gasps.
Victory: Ye Feng
Rewards Gained:
2 High-Grade Spirit Stones
Jade Qi Condenser Artifact
Access to Duel Ring Ranking Board (Unranked → 87th)
New Title Unlocked: "Pit Monarch (Unranked)"Effect: +5% effectiveness of Slap-type attacks in underground duels.
[System: So… want to go again, champ?]
Back in the shadows, behind a curtain of fog, the masked figure from the cave observed with interest.
"…He learns fast."
To be continued.
Ye Feng's Updated Stats After Chapter 13:
Strength: 23
Agility: 18
Intelligence: 20
Charisma: 15
Reputation: 145
Infamy Level: 4
Hidden Stat (Revealed): Pressure Resistance – Level 1