“You don’t understand, do you? Liking someone isn’t just about looks. I know that from experience,” someone nearby said with a laugh.
The crowd looked at the young woman and began whispering among themselves.
“Pingsheng, come down. Let’s go,” the woman shouted.
“Xiaoxiao, why are you here?” Ren Pingsheng’s expression changed slightly. He quickly said, “Why did you leave your room instead of resting? Your body…”
“If I didn’t come out, how long would you two keep making a scene?” Shang Xiaoxiao replied. “Come with me.”
“I don’t want to keep backing down anymore,” Ren Pingsheng said after a brief silence, then turned to Ao Nan.
“I will fight you, but right now, it’s my fight with him.”
Holding the Sun-Devouring Axe, he stepped toward Wang Lang.
“Crown Prince, save me! Save me!” Wang Lang kept retreating, shouting desperately.
At this point, he had no fighting spirit left, he only wanted to survive and leave here alive.
Inside, he regretted his rashness.
The Azure Dragon Crown Prince frowned slightly.
Unless both sides stopped, a life-and-death duel could not be interrupted in front of so many people.
Of course, he had never really intended to stop it.
He had only shown the people present that he had “tried.”
But there were some things that simply couldn’t be helped.
Wang Lang kept begging for help.
But Ren Pingsheng’s aura was overwhelming, and the Sun-Devouring Axe in his hand released waves of devouring power that pressed down on him.
“Let him go, and we’ll fight,” the Azure Dragon Crown Prince said lightly. “Weren’t you so insistent that I leave Shang Xiaoxiao alone? Killing him won’t help, you know I’m the real cause.”
Ren Pingsheng frowned slightly at his words.
What Ao Nan said was true, killing Wang Lang was useless.
He was just a lackey. If the master remained alive, there would always be more lackeys.
“If you’re afraid, I advise you to quit early,” the Azure Dragon Crown Prince continued. “I’m the one who’s right for Xiaoxiao. That way you won’t end up in total disgrace.”
“Ao Nan, what are you talking about? I’m not interested in you,” Shang Xiaoxiao said coldly, looking at him.
“Feelings can be cultivated. I have all the time in the world,” Ao Nan laughed.
“My Ancient Dragon Dynasty is an imperial lineage, with two emperors in its history. What status do you have, Ren Pingsheng? Do you not know? Why compete with me when you don’t even have the courage to face me directly?”
Hearing the Azure Dragon Crown Prince’s words, some in the audience began speaking in low voices, whether intentionally or not.
The volume wasn’t too loud or too soft, just enough for Ren Pingsheng to hear.
“Hiding behind a woman? He might as well just quit.”
“Exactly. If you need a woman to protect you, how can you compete with the Crown Prince?”
“If the ending is destined to be failure, it’s better to give up early and not waste anyone’s time.”
Ren Pingsheng’s face turned pale with anger. He swung the Sun-Devouring Axe heavily.
With a roar from his throat, he cleaved his opponent in two.
He turned to look at the Azure Dragon Crown Prince.
“Get up here,” he said flatly.
“You want a life-and-death duel with me?” the Crown Prince asked, slightly stunned.
“Yes,” Ren Pingsheng replied calmly.
“Pingsheng, what are you doing? You’re not his match!” Shang Xiaoxiao shouted anxiously from below.
“Xiaoxiao, this is my dignity,” Ren Pingsheng said, turning his head. “I will reclaim my dignity, even if it costs me my life.”
“Ren Pingsheng, you idiot!” Shang Xiaoxiao cried in distress. “If you die, I will never live on alone.”
Hearing their exchange, the Azure Dragon Crown Prince seemed slightly jealous.
He tossed the life-and-death contract over.
“If you dare, sign it. Otherwise, when you see me in the future, take a different path.”
Just as Ren Pingsheng was about to sign, a light laugh came from afar.
“Pingsheng, long time no see.”
Hearing that familiar voice, Ren Pingsheng froze.
His pupils shrank sharply as he looked up in disbelief.
In front of him, the outline of a man from his memories appeared once again.
“You…” Ren Pingsheng stared blankly at Xu Zimo.
He had never thought they would meet here, in this way.
“Long time no see,” Xu Zimo said with a smile, nodding.
“Master,” Ren Pingsheng said softly.
That was how he had always addressed Xu Zimo in the past.
Back then, he had chosen to follow Xu Zimo, and in doing so, he obtained the inheritance of his ancestor, Grand Emperor Tun Ri.
But later, the chances for them to meet grew fewer and fewer.
Xu Zimo’s growth was so fast that Ren Pingsheng could no longer keep up with his world.
Eventually, he took his ancestor’s inheritance and left the Eastern Continent, training himself all the way until he achieved his current strength.
“Come down and talk,” Xu Zimo said, beckoning.
Ren Pingsheng hesitated, glancing at the Azure Dragon Crown Prince.
“Master, please allow me to finish this duel. If I survive, I will follow you again.”
“A fight you know you can’t win, yet you insist on fighting, it’s nothing but foolishness,” Xu Zimo said lightly.
“This is my dignity,” Ren Pingsheng quickly defended.
“The weak, what dignity do they have? What right do they have to speak of dignity?” Xu Zimo said, “Begging others, forcing a smile, constantly saying thank you, what is this? Are you living only for yourself?”
Hearing Xu Zimo’s words, Ren Pingsheng looked toward Shang Xiaoxiao.
She stood there, tears rolling uncontrollably down her face.
In that moment, he felt a stab of pain in his heart.
“Kid, you’d better not meddle. This is between him and me,” Ao Nan said to Xu Zimo with a warning tone.
“If you don’t sign, then at least settle this somehow, or I won’t let Xiaoxiao go.”
“You want a life-and-death duel? I’ll sign with you,” Xu Zimo said with a smile.
He reached out and took the life-and-death contract from Ren Pingsheng’s hand.
“Kid, I’m not interested in you,” Ao Nan said flatly.
“What’s wrong? Are you scared?” Xu Zimo said with a smile.
“Scared you won’t even know how you died,” Ao Nan replied darkly.
Xu Zimo chuckled and signed his name on the contract.
“Master,” Ren Pingsheng said, looking at Xu Zimo with both hesitation and gratitude.
“No matter what, you once followed me,” Xu Zimo said, waving his hand. “Anyway, I’m too lazy to say anything extra.”
As Xu Zimo walked toward the arena, the white-dressed woman from before returned.
She sat down on the steps with interest, watching.
The crowd below also began buzzing with discussion.
“Doesn’t he look familiar? I think this guy is one of the two who reached the tenth floor of the Heavenly Dao Tower earlier this year.”
Someone studied him for a while before speaking, still uncertain.
“Yeah, it looks just like him. It shouldn’t be wrong.”
As more and more people recognized Xu Zimo, the crowd gathered at the Myriad Martial Platform grew larger.
After all, everyone at the Heavenly Dao Academy was curious about this year’s so-called two prodigies.