The training ground.
Ye Cangtian and Ye Yaoyang had just arrived and were making preparations when figures began to emerge from all directions.
They didn't know exactly what was happening, only that their dean was to engage Ye Cangtian in a battle, a battle to the death.
"What's going on?"
Yan Shenghui arrived beside Ye Yaoyang, his face extremely grim as he questioned him.
Things had been fine between them earlier; how had it escalated into a fight to the death?
If either side were to perish, it would likely ignite an irreconcilable feud.
"Shenghui, I also didn't expect that brat Ye Cangtian to be so tenacious!"
"But for my son, I can only risk this old life!"
Ye Yaoyang heard him, turned to look at Yan Shenghui, and admitted that he didn't want to see this situation either, but there was simply no other way!
"Dean, do you think this is worth it?" Yan Shenghui asked in a low voice.
"It's worth it! For my son, anything is worth it!"
Ye Yaoyang stated with finality, then glanced at Ye Cangtian and said, "Don't worry, I won't take his life. All I want is Dongfang Mingyue as my daughter-in-law!"
Hmph!
Yan Shenghui let out a light snort and said indifferently, "You should worry about keeping your own life first. You saw the last match. I feel like Ye Cangtian still had some hidden cards he didn't reveal then!"
"What!"
At this remark, Ye Yaoyang's eyes widened.
He had also seen Yan Shenghui's previous encounter with Ye Cangtian. Although it was only one move, he felt that Ye Cangtian had only narrowly defeated Yan Shenghui.
Or rather, the gap between them wasn't that significant.
But for Yan Shenghui to say this now, he found it somewhat unbelievable.
"Father, you must be careful. Ye Cangtian uses spiritual energy attacks..."
Just then, Ye Zhenghao, who was beside them, hesitated for a long time before finally stepping forward and revealing this information.
This battle concerned his happiness and his father's life, so he had to inform Ye Yaoyang of Ye Cangtian's methods in advance.
"Oh?"
Hearing his son's words, Ye Yaoyang's face immediately darkened.
A Celestial-level expert's combat power was already difficult to deal with, and now the opponent also possessed the even more peculiar spiritual energy attack.
If the two were combined, he might indeed struggle to win.
But no matter what, he had to face it.
So Ye Yaoyang nodded heavily, then took a step forward, directly entering the center of the training ground.
Seeing this, Ye Cangtian on the other side wasted no words and also moved to the center of the training ground, meeting Ye Yaoyang's gaze.
Clang!
The next moment, Ye Cangtian's hand vibrated, revealing the Death Scythe.
"Ye Yaoyang, it's not too late to regret it now!"
Roar!
Ye Cangtian's voice echoed, and Ye Yaoyang immediately let out a roar. The spiritual energy around his body instantly surged like flames; it was the Blazing Undying Body.
As the roar subsided, Ye Yaoyang's figure flashed before Ye Cangtian, his fists raining down like meteors towards Ye Cangtian.
He was responding to Ye Cangtian with actions.
"Alas! Such a stubborn old man."
"Since that's the case, don't blame me!"
Ye Cangtian sighed, and as his figure flickered, he also swung the Death Scythe.
Clink, clink, clink...
In the next instant, the training ground erupted with sounds of fierce collisions.
Ye Yaoyang's fist techniques were extremely exquisite, and with the boost from the Blazing Undying Body, his speed was also remarkably fast.
However, after they fought for half an hour, Ye Yaoyang's expression grew increasingly grim.
"Why!"
His speed was supposed to be slightly inferior to mine, so why could he accurately block all my attacks?
Failing to gain the upper hand, Ye Yaoyang's mood became increasingly agitated.
On the other side, with the assistance of his formidable spiritual energy, Ye Cangtian found dealing with Ye Yaoyang's attacks to be quite effortless.
In fact, if he wished, he could have created an opportunity to kill Ye Yaoyang.
But he did not want to expose his hidden cards.
"Ye Cangtian, I didn't expect you to be so strong, but you are too arrogant. Today can only end here!"
Just then, Ye Yaoyang's voice rang out, and at the same time, he forcibly pushed Ye Cangtian back with his dual fists.
Following that, the spiritual energy around Ye Yaoyang began to gather madly. With a roar like that of a fierce tiger, a phantom image of a fiery tiger appeared before him.
"What!"
Yan Shenghui's face showed a look of shock as he saw the fiery tiger's phantom image.
The cultivation technique he and Ye Yaoyang practiced was almost identical, and what the latter was using was the Blazing Tiger Fist.
Specifically, it was the most overbearing and strongest variation, the Blazing Tiger God Annihilation Fist.
This was the ultimate profound meaning of the Blazing Tiger Fist, something even he, at his current level, had not fully grasped or was able to master.
It was precisely because of this that he was exceptionally shocked to see it performed by Ye Yaoyang.
"Kid, don't go head-on!"
Yan Shenghui quickly shouted a warning. The Blazing Tiger God Annihilation Fist was extremely vigorous and masculine, quite overbearing, and almost nothing could directly contend with it.
Just like the Blind Dragon that Ye Cangtian had used earlier, it was not its match.
"Little brother, you be careful!"
Dongfang Mingyue heard Yan Shenghui's voice and quickly chimed in to remind him.
Even she could feel a sense of fear from the power of this punch. Moreover, if even Yan Shenghui, disregarding his status, was shocked, then this punch was undoubtedly peerless.
"Alas!"
Just then, Ye Cangtian swung his Death Scythe. The surrounding dark golden light flickered, accompanied by a sound of lament.
In the next instant, all the dark golden light converged onto the Death Scythe, instantly causing the scythe to expand countless times and become exceptionally massive.
It then slashed down towards the head of the fiery tiger.
Boom!
The explosive spiritual energy swept through the surroundings. Disciples with stronger cultivation could only turn pale, while those with weaker cultivation directly spat out blood and were sent flying.
As the spiritual energy slowly dispersed, everyone's eyes were fixed in a daze.
The training ground had vanished, leaving only two figures: Ye Cangtian and Ye Yaoyang.
However, Ye Yaoyang's face was now ashen, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth, and the Death Scythe was at his neck.
Lost?
All the disciples of the Blazing Fire Academy found it hard to accept this reality.
After all, Ye Yaoyang was the strongest in the Blazing Fire Academy and its dean. If he lost, it was equivalent to dying in battle.
Without him, the Blazing Fire Academy would lose a Celestial-level expert. With its strength significantly reduced, it would likely be unable to deter other peak forces.
Lost!
Ye Yaoyang glanced back at Ye Zhenghao, his eyes filled with apology.
"Zhenghao, your father did his best!"
"This was a fair wager, with no enmity. Therefore, you don't need to avenge me. Live well..."
There was no other way. Even he was no match for Ye Cangtian, so even if Ye Zhenghao broke through to the Celestial level, he would not be able to contend with Ye Cangtian.
Therefore, rather than seeking revenge and ultimately dying, it was better to live well, and perhaps there would be an opportunity to pursue the peak of martial arts.
With that, Ye Yaoyang cast one last deep look and said, "I'll go ahead first to reunite with your mother..."
As he spoke, Ye Yaoyang raised his fist and violently struck his own head.
This action stunned most of the onlookers. Who could have imagined that the dean would be resolved to die, and so decisively?
For a moment, no one reacted to stop him.
"No! Father, don't!"
Ye Zhenghao saw Ye Yaoyang about to commit suicide and rushed forward.
Alas, he was some distance away from Ye Yaoyang, and coupled with Ye Yaoyang's resolve to die, he was unable to intervene.
"Alas!"
Ye Cangtian's sigh sounded as the Death Scythe at Ye Yaoyang's neck moved, directly blocking Ye Yaoyang's fist.
Feeling no pain, Ye Yaoyang opened his eyes and saw that it was Ye Cangtian who had stopped him. His face immediately flushed red.
"Ye Cangtian, what do you mean! You've already won. According to our wager, I chose to take my own life. What right do you have to stop me!"
Ye Yaoyang roared, believing that since he had already fallen out with Ye Cangtian, the latter had no reason to stop him.
Yet Ye Cangtian was now blocking him, leading him to believe there could only be one reason.
Ye Cangtian was not only satisfied with winning but wanted to further humiliate him before his death.
How could he possibly tolerate this!
"There is no irreconcilable hatred between us. If you hadn't been so insistent, you wouldn't have reached this point!"
Ye Cangtian glanced at Ye Yaoyang and continued calmly, "So, as long as you give up on Sister Mingyue, the wager can be voided. You choose."