The intense pain jolted Luo Gangyi awake from the illusion. As he regained his senses, he realized that a blade had indeed pierced his abdomen!

It wasn't a watermelon knife, though, but a guandao!

Coming to his senses, Luo Gangyi finally understood the situation.

Yan Yanghua, Shang Youxue, and Han Shan attacked simultaneously, their Vermillion Bird, Azure Dragon, and White Tiger powers combining to block Qiao Yu, who wielded the Candle Dragon Guandao.

If not for their intervention, the guandao wouldn't have just pierced his body; it would have carved a gaping hole through him!

A look of lingering fear flashed in Luo Gangyi's eyes. The illusion had been incredibly realistic, leaving him helpless to resist.

When did the Bai family acquire such terrifying illusion techniques?

"Fall back!"

Yan Yanghua roared, then joined Shang Youxue and Han Shan in channeling their power, blasting Qiao Yu away.

Yan Yanghua's expression was grave. If they hadn't intervened in time, Luo Gangyi might have truly died at Qiao Yu's hands.

He focused his gaze on the Candle Dragon Guandao in Qiao Yu's hand, sensing its terrifying power.

"Oh? Can't win one-on-one, so you're teaming up?"

Clap, clap, clap!

Qiao Yu applauded, a smile on his face.

"Truly worthy of being demi-god tier super geniuses. You need a group to deal with a ninth-level Saint?

Qiao Yu's words were like an invisible slap to Yan Yanghua and the others. Luo Gangyi's face flushed red and then paled.

He was the one who had jumped out to teach Qiao Yu a lesson, only to almost die by Qiao Yu's hand.

The expressions on the faces of the onlookers in Zhuxing City were also strange after hearing Qiao Yu's words.

The demi-god tier geniuses from the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and Vermillion Bird sects ganging up on a ninth-level Saint – if that got out, it would shock the entire Ninth Universe.

Even if Yan Yanghua and the others managed to kill Qiao Yu, they would lose all face.

"Words are useless. Since you think we're bullying you with numbers, how about this?"

Yan Yanghua took out a stick of incense, crushed it with his fingers, and lit it. White smoke began to rise.

"If you can withstand our combined assault for the duration of this incense stick, we from the four great sects will immediately withdraw and no longer interfere in your affairs with Sword One. How about it? Or are you afraid?"

A glint of coldness flashed in Yan Yanghua's eyes.

Qiao Yu's lips curled into a sneer. Yan Yanghua was clearly digging a pit for him to jump into.

If he agreed, then if they ganged up on him and killed him, they would be justified. It would be his own fault for overestimating himself.

If he didn't agree, he would naturally lose momentum.

"Qiao Yu! Don't agree to it! The combined strength of the four great sects is terrifying! It's definitely not as simple as one plus one equals two!"

Bai Jianlin, fearing that Qiao Yu would fall for the provocation, quickly tried to dissuade him.

"They have a combined attack formation called the Four Aspects Sky-Supporting Formation! The combined power of four demi-god tier level one geniuses can even contend against someone at the peak of the demi-god tier! Don't be impulsive!"

"Oh? Really?" Qiao Yu asked, feigning surprise.

"Qiao Yu, if you don't dare, kneel down and kowtow a few times, and we'll let it go!"

Before Bai Jianlin could continue, Luo Gangyi interrupted him.

The wound on Luo Gangyi's abdomen had already stopped bleeding, but a seed of hatred had been planted in his heart.

Among the people present, besides those from Sword One, he was the one who wanted Qiao Yu dead the most.

"It's not a question of whether I dare, but the stakes are too small. I'm risking my life to last for the duration of an incense stick, and if you lose, you just have to dust yourselves off and leave. That's a little unfair, don't you think?" Qiao Yu said.

"Then what do you want?" Yan Yanghua retorted, staring at Qiao Yu.

"Simple. If I win, I want the lives of all four of you. Likewise, if I lose, you can do whatever you want with me," Qiao Yu said, spreading his hands.

As soon as Qiao Yu finished speaking, the entire place erupted in an uproar!

The people in Zhuxing City couldn't help but swallow hard.

A life-or-death gamble!

And a life-or-death gamble between super geniuses from top-tier forces!

How many years had it been since such a spectacle had occurred?

One had to know that top-tier forces generally avoided direct conflict.

Unless there was some real blood feud or hatred over a stolen wife, they wouldn't resort to such deadly measures.

Before everyone could recover from their shock, they heard Qiao Yu continue.

"What do you say? Everyone in this city is a witness. Don't worry, if I unfortunately lose, I guarantee that the Bai family won't cause you any trouble."

The people in Zhuxing City instantly cursed inwardly. They were just melon-eating onlookers, how could they dare to witness something like this?

Damn, I'm really impressed by you, you sly dog!

Cold sweat broke out on the foreheads of many. If Qiao Yu really died, the Bai family might not dare to cause trouble for the four great sects, but they would definitely dare to kill them, these insignificant onlookers!

"Fine! Since you've said so, rest assured, as long as you can last for the duration of an incense stick, I'll commit suicide on the spot! And I guarantee that the sect behind me won't cause you any trouble!"

Luo Gangyi also sneered.

"Gangyi..." Yan Yanghua tried to stop Luo Gangyi, but he had already said the harsh words.

Yan Yanghua couldn't help but frown.

"What's wrong, Brother Hua? You don't actually think that Qiao Yu can really last for the duration of an incense stick against the four of us working together, do you?" Han Shan asked, puzzled, swinging her long legs.

"Better safe than sorry. Gangyi's personality is too impulsive."

Yan Yanghua shook his head, but Luo Gangyi had already spoken the harsh words, so now they could only do their best.

"Don't worry, Brother Hua. That Qiao Yu is indeed very strong, but he's just an ignorant and arrogant brat. Bai Jianlin even reminded him, but he wouldn't listen."

Shang Youxue playfully stuck out her tongue. In her opinion, let alone lasting for the duration of an incense stick, that Qiao Yu would struggle to last even one exchange.

Qiao Yu also revealed a kind smile.

He was waiting for Luo Gangyi to say those words.

He wasn't foolish enough to make enemies of the four great sects for no reason.

Having said in public that they wouldn't pursue the matter, even if the four great sects went back on their word later, they could only resort to underhanded tricks; they wouldn't dare to openly break face.

In the end, top-tier forces also cared about their reputation. They could be tyrannical, arrogant, and unscrupulous towards some small forces, but the Bai family wasn't made of clay.

When strengths were comparable, one had to have a good reason to take action.

When everyone had the ability to overturn the table, they had to sit down and talk properly.

Luo Gangyi's words were equivalent to cutting off Qiao Yu's worries about the aftermath.

"Come on, let me see how powerful your Four Aspects Sky-Penetrating Formation is!" Qiao Yu raised the Candle Dragon Guandao, facing the four.

Ye Lianying, who was standing by with her arms folded, couldn't help but shake her head with pity.

"Having a little strength makes him arrogant. He's truly a frog at the bottom of a well, unaware of the vastness of the world. How could he imagine the terror of the Four Aspects Sky-Supporting Formation?"

"Being provoked so easily shows an impulsive and easily angered personality. With this kind of temperament, it will be difficult for him to achieve great things."