Chapter 18: The Arena Duel

“What?” Jun Wushuang’s expression changed.

Still, he forced himself to stay calm.

“What happened?”

For Master Wu to be so shaken, the situation must be dire.

“Master, over these past few days, the Ji family and the Ye family have joined forces to maliciously suppress the Jun family’s business. Now, almost all of Jun family’s properties are gone.”

“Moreover, Ji Yuntian has been secretly poaching people. Many elders and stewards of the Jun family have already switched allegiance to the Ji family.”

“Lastly, the Jun family has recently suffered frequent deaths by poisoning, causing widespread panic. Many younger members have secretly slipped away.”

Master Wu dared not conceal anything and quickly explained.

Suppressing business!

Secretly poaching people!

Poisoning in the shadows!

They’re trying to push the Jun family to ruin!

The Grand Elder had just died, and the Jun family was at its most unstable, with morale at its lowest.

Moreover, the Grand Elder had been responsible for managing the family’s business. Now, with his death, many operations were left unattended.

Without business, they lost their source of income.

Without elders and stewards, the Jun family lost its backbone.

And with the poisoning incidents, people dared not linger.

Now, the Jun family was nothing more than a hollow shell.

Once, the three great families stood firm in Jiangning City.

But now, with the Ji and Ye families united, the Jun family could not withstand the pressure.

“How is my father?”

Jun Wushuang’s greatest concern was still his father.

“Master, rest assured. The Jun family head is strong and unharmed, though the crisis has left him somewhat overwhelmed.”

Master Wu’s words soothed Jun Wushuang’s heart a little.

As long as his father was safe, whatever was lost could be regained.

“But Ji Yuntian has issued a challenge to the Jun family head.”

“In three days, a duel on the arena—best of three matches.”

“The winner will claim a vast fortune, while the loser must leave Jiangning City forever.”

A duel?

Jun Wushuang’s brow furrowed. He hadn’t expected Ji Yuntian to resort to such tactics.

“This is meant to deliver a fatal blow,” Jun Wushuang’s eyes narrowed, cold light flashing.

Though the Ji and Ye families’ alliance had left the Jun family battered and unstable, with Jun Zhantian still standing, the Jun family would not fall.

After all, Jun Zhantian was a formidable warrior at the Ninth Level of the Myriad Phenomena Realm.

In this world, strength is everything.

Ji Yuntian and Ye Tiande were also at the Ninth Level of the Myriad Phenomena Realm. If they wanted to defeat Jun Zhantian and swallow up the Jun family entirely, it would not be easy.

Furthermore, Ji Yuntian and Ye Tiande were merely partners; each would guard against the other, unwilling to go all out.

The arena duel was an open scheme.

If the Jun family refused, the Ji and Ye families would press even harder, crushing the Jun family completely.

If the Jun family agreed, the best-of-three format would place them at a severe disadvantage.

After all, aside from Jun Zhantian, most of the elders had already been poached, leaving no other powerful contender.

Jun Wushuang was strong, but only at the Ninth Level of the Body-Refining Realm—falling short even compared to the Grand Elder, let alone Ji Yuntian and Ye Tiande.

A cunning scheme!

A ruthless calculation!

“Old dog Ji!”

Jun Wushuang slowly lifted his head, the cold light in his eyes intensifying.

He hadn’t yet moved against the Ji family, but Ji Yuntian had already struck first, suppressing the Jun family and leaving it in such misery.

“You plotted against me—that’s fine. But you should never have harmed my father.”

“Touch my father, and you deserve to die.”

“This time, I will make you pay in blood!”

With that, Jun Wushuang bade Master Wu farewell and left the Treasure Pavilion.

Jun family estate.

Once bustling with people, it now stood desolate.

Not only had most of the family’s younger members left—even many servants and maids were gone.

“Young master, you’re back!”

Lin Mengyao hurried forward. Even when everyone else had left, she would not abandon the family.

Because this was her home!

“Mengyao, your cultivation has improved—you’ve reached the Third Level of the Body-Refining Realm.”

Jun Wushuang glanced at her with his Violet Demon Eye, instantly discerning Lin Mengyao’s progress.

She truly lived up to being the incarnation of a fragment of the Green Lotus Empress’s soul, with exceptional talent in swordsmanship.

In less than five days of practicing the Green Lotus Sword Song, she had broken through two realms, reaching the Third Level of the Body-Refining Realm.

Moreover, she now carried a faint aura of sharpness, like a newly forged sword—her former delicate demeanor replaced.

“Young master, for some reason, the technique you bestowed suits me perfectly. I encountered no difficulties whatsoever in cultivation.”

Lin Mengyao smiled sweetly, utterly open with Jun Wushuang.

“Cultivate well. I believe you will become a great sword cultivator!”

Jun Wushuang smiled warmly, encouraging her.

“Young master, the family head is in the main hall. The recent events have left him quite haggard. You should see him.”

Knowing Jun Wushuang’s purpose, Lin Mengyao said no more and led him toward the hall.

Inside the hall.

Jun Zhantian looked worn and weary, dark circles under his eyes.

“Wushuang, you’re back!”

Seeing Jun Wushuang, Jun Zhantian forced a smile.

It was clear that the combined suppression by the Ji and Ye families had left him exhausted.

“Father, I’ve already heard the news. That old dog Ji dreams of swallowing our family—he’s delusional.”

“If they want a duel, we’ll give them a surprise.”

“This is the Sea-Breaking Treasure Pill. Once you take it, you’ll be able to open your consciousness sea and break through to the Divine Sea Realm!”

Jun Wushuang took the Sea-Breaking Treasure Pill from his storage ring and handed it to his father.

“Wushuang, as long as I remain, the Jun family will not fall.”

Jun Zhantian accepted the pill, filled with trust and pride for his son.

In three days, the arena duel would take place.

Jun Zhantian did not hesitate, preparing to quickly take the pill and break through his realm.

“Mengyao, guard the entrance—do not let anyone in!”

With Lin Mengyao stationed at the door, Jun Wushuang would assist his father in breaking through.

“Life-bound Divine Power: Violet Demon Eye!”

Jun Wushuang activated his innate power, using the Violet Demon Eye to observe his father’s cultivation. With the memories of the Demon Emperor, he could offer the best guidance.

Gulp!

Jun Zhantian swallowed the Sea-Breaking Treasure Pill and began to circulate the Primordial Infinity Arts. His aura surged, spiritual energy roared, and his blood boiled as he assaulted the barriers of his realm.

A shattered dantian can be survived.

A shattered consciousness sea leaves one a walking corpse.

Thus, the consciousness sea is more fragile and harder to open than the dantian.

In all Jiangning City, only City Lord Xu Huantu and Master Wu had reached the Divine Sea Realm. The heads of the three great families were all stuck at the Ninth Level of the Myriad Phenomena Realm.

Now, with the Sea-Breaking Treasure Pill, opening the consciousness sea would be much easier for Jun Zhantian.

Jun Wushuang observed with the Violet Demon Eye, offering guidance and helping his father open his consciousness sea.

Three days later.

The time for the arena duel arrived.

With the aid of the Sea-Breaking Treasure Pill and Jun Wushuang’s guidance, Jun Zhantian successfully opened his consciousness sea, awakened his spiritual power, and condensed a spiritual rune.

Whoosh!

A wave of invisible spiritual energy shot from Jun Zhantian’s eyes, sending chills through those nearby.

“Wushuang, let’s go.”

“Today, I will personally tear that old dog Ji apart!”