The life-and-death arena was protected by a barrier. No matter how chaotic the fighting within became, the outside world remained unaffected.
Ye Ju dismounted from Xiao Bai. The Li family patriarch was already on the other side of the arena.
On the life-and-death arena, unless one side surrendered, it was a fight to the death! Several large characters were conspicuously carved into the rock wall of the arena.
The Li family patriarch deeply resented Ye Ju. Not only was his beloved daughter injured, but Ye Ju had also caused his Li family to lose face in Pearl City. He was determined not to stop until he killed this wretch. Thus, he stepped onto the stage himself. This way, everyone would only say he was acting out of love for his daughter, not that he was bullying a junior.
Ye Ju looked at the Li family patriarch's hateful face and found it baffling. Had she killed his entire family? Clearly, they were the ones who came to snatch Xiao Bai. As the saying goes, the one who provokes first is the despicable one!
The arena was already surrounded by people. The arena was in the center, with tiered seating on three sides. The side facing the arena was a large rock wall, as if carved by a powerful being with a sword. Most of Pearl City's inhabitants who had heard the news had arrived. The last time someone had fought on the life-and-death arena was a hundred years ago. Ye Ju sighed, the love for excitement truly knew no borders, no matter the space or region!
The guards who protected Pearl City's peace were also present. Several elders, appearing over a hundred years old, had rosy complexions and white hair, indicating profound cultivation. It was said these were all members of the Chaotian Sect. The city lord of Pearl City was merely a figurehead, managing civilian affairs and daily sustenance. The true power behind Pearl City was actually the Chaotian Sect.
Ye Ju couldn't be bothered to pay attention, only wanting to quickly win and subdue her opponent so she could attend to her own affairs. She still had many things to buy. The island wasn't particularly large or small, but renovating it would require considerable materials and effort. The outside world was too brutal. It was better to return to her island and live her own quiet life.
The Li family patriarch was skilled in swordsmanship, his techniques incredibly exquisite, and his cultivation profound. When he heard the command to begin, he leaped high, executing a complex sword flourish before slicing downwards towards Ye Ju. Sharp sword energy, imbued with the momentum to destroy everything, struck directly at Ye Ju.
At this moment, Xiao Bai had already been placed into the spiritual pet pouch by Ye Ju. This was Ye Ju's territory, and she was determined to reclaim her honor!
Ye Ju dodged to the left. Connected to her natal magical artifact, the lengthened Yushou swept back in a counter-attack. The Li family patriarch, greatly alarmed, leaned back and flipped to dodge. He hadn't expected her weapon to lengthen. Immediately after, Ye Ju sprang up and smashed down with her staff. The onlookers were very familiar with this move, the "whack-a-mole" style – simple, brutal, and powerful! Ye Ju saw that her target had evaded her strike,
Her staff flicked…
Her staff swept…
Her staff chopped…
Her staff jabbed…
She wielded the staff so swiftly it left only afterimages!
The Li family patriarch now understood where his daughter had failed. This wretch possessed innate divine strength. Each staff strike carried the force of thunder and lightning, and her speed was incredible! Her seemingly chaotic fighting style, however, always trapped one within her staff's shadow, locking onto the opponent. His sword could only block; he couldn't unleash its full power.
The Li family patriarch, enduring a staff hit, leaped out of the staff's shadow and formed a hand seal. Behind him, an apparition of a white tiger spreading its wings materialized, and a streak of sword energy was unleashed towards Ye Ju. Blood trickled from the corner of the Li family patriarch's mouth as he pinned his hopes on this single sword strike. This was his signature ultimate skill.
Ye Ju saw a ferocious beast with a gaping maw lunging at her within the sword's light. Ye Ju raised her sword finger, channeling the spiritual energy in her dantian, and swung an ice-fireball along the body of her Yushou staff…
"Explode!" Ye Ju shouted sharply!
The colliding energies erupted with a violent roar. A silent shockwave reverberated, causing the barrier to tremble slightly.
The crowd below couldn't help but exclaim in awe. They all thought the little celestial maiden possessed only innate divine strength and martial skills, never imagining her sorcery was so terrifying! They dared not provoke her. Those factions who had coveted Ye Ju's spiritual pet earlier were now fortunate that they hadn't made a move, thus avoiding provoking this little celestial maiden.
Ye Ju was the type to strike when an opponent was down, to finish them off:
"Ice Blade!"
"Ice-Fireball!"
"Go!"
Without giving her opponent any chance to react, she unleashed two consecutive attacks. She then leaped up, rising higher again, and brought down her thunderous staff strike…
"Celestial Maiden, show mercy!"
From outside the arena, Li Tianmu, an elder from the Chaotian Sect and a friend of the Li family patriarch, saw his nephew in mortal danger and shouted in alarm!
Here, the Li family patriarch, having used his life-long signature technique, was nearly exhausted. After being hit by two consecutive attacks from Ye Ju, he had managed to dodge them, albeit in a sorry state. He was now powerless to evade the oncoming staff strike, his soul scattering in fear… He didn't even have time to surrender…
Ye Ju, her expression impassive, merely shifted the staff's body slightly and brought it down, striking the ground to the Li family patriarch's left.
With a loud "boom!", the arena was smashed into a large pit, and a crack extended from the pit, nearly splitting the arena in two!
The crisis averted, the Li family patriarch, terrified, dared not open his eyes for a long time. When he finally did, Ye Ju had already flown back to the opposite side. The Li family patriarch saw the pit less than a meter away from him and the crack in the arena, finally understanding that he had provoked someone he shouldn't have! He felt grateful that the other party had shown mercy!
Ye Ju had fought a satisfying and thorough battle, unleashing her self-created staff techniques entirely. In truth, she had harbored killing intent at the end. If not for that shout, she would have shown no mercy, wanting to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys. This Li family patriarch was that chicken, meant to deter the monkeys lurking in the shadows who might have designs on her or Xiao Bai. There was no point in constantly guarding against thieves; achieving fame through a single battle could resolve matters permanently.
However, this was also acceptable. If the Li family patriarch was wise, all past grievances would be settled.
"Thank you, Celestial Maiden, for showing mercy! The Li family concedes, all grievances are settled, and we will never seek revenge. I apologize for offending you, Celestial Maiden." The Li family patriarch stood up weakly and bowed to Ye Ju.
One of the elders sitting in the audience announced loudly: "Life-and-death arena, the match has concluded. The loser must not cause further trouble in Pearl City!"
Elder Li Tianmu also flew onto the stage and approached Ye Ju, cupping his fists. "Thank you, fellow Daoist Ye, for showing mercy to my nephew." It turned out that the Li family's arrogance in Pearl City was due to their uncle being an elder of the Chaotian Sect with high status, which allowed them to act with such impunity!
Ye Ju also lowered her head slightly to the elder, not wanting to say much. Since they had conceded and apologized, it was settled! She summoned Xiao Bai, who transformed into its three-meter-tall true form and whisked Ye Ju away at lightning speed.
Night had fallen. Ye Ju planned to find a place to stay and, after a few more days of buying necessary items, planned to return to her island.
She arrived at the restaurant where she had eaten. The evening service had not yet begun, and the lobby was empty. She found Manager Zhu and expressed her desire to rent the guest courtyard, the small courtyard where she had used the kitchen before. It had a master bedroom, two side rooms, and a small outer courtyard planted with flowers and grass. There was also a ginkgo tree, beneath which sat a stone table and stone benches, creating a serene atmosphere!
Manager Zhu smiled and agreed. This was a true patron of fortune! After the guests tasted the recipes purchased that morning, they had sung their praises. With the evening service about to begin, there would undoubtedly be many returning customers. In time, his restaurant would surely become the number one establishment in Pearl City.
He had just received news that when this little celestial maiden went to the life-and-death arena, he had held his breath for her. Who would have thought she would appear at his restaurant in the blink of an eye? This was a formidable lady! The secret guard who delivered the news had mentioned that this little celestial maiden possessed innate divine strength and profound sorcery, having soundly defeated the Li family patriarch, one of the four great families. She had already gained great renown!
Turning back, he instructed a waiter not to let anyone disturb the guests in the courtyard and to seal the information!