"Seems like I'm really tired of living." Li Xiaoyao's lips curled into a cold, indifferent smile, carrying a hint of wickedness.

"Heh, I've seen trash before, but I've never seen trash so eager to die like you." Yu Zhendong's tone was filled with arrogance as he looked at Li Xiaoyao and said, "Since you're so desperate to die, I'll grant your wish. After the sect's grand competition, it'll be your end."

Killing an outer disciple meant nothing, especially here in Wind Valley, within the Life-and-Death Platform area. What did it matter if someone died here?

"No need to wait until after the sect tournament. I'll give you the chance right now."

Li Xiaoyao shook his head, leaving Yu Haomo confused. Then, Li Xiaoyao lifted his foot and started walking towards the Life-and-Death Platform.

"Li Xiaoyao, what are you doing?" Jingxiang exclaimed, shouting at Li Xiaoyao in alarm.

"Jingxiang, you should trust Li Xiaoyao. That guy always manages to surprise us," Han Kui said, pulling Jingxiang back. Although he hadn't known Li Xiaoyao for long, Han Kui genuinely admired him. Loyal and fearless, Li Xiaoyao was someone who would risk everything for his friends. Time and again, he had brought them surprises—though these surprises were often a bit too nerve-wracking.

Jingxiang's gaze froze as she looked at Han Kui and nodded slightly. Yes, Li Xiaoyao did seem to always bring them surprises.

Still, she couldn't help but feel a trace of worry. Stepping onto the Life-and-Death Platform to challenge an inner disciple was no joke. Those who entered the inner sect relied solely on their strength; there were no flukes. To enter the inner sect, one had to outshine the existing inner disciples.

"Hmm?" Yu Zhendong furrowed his brows, still not realizing what was happening. But Han Kui and Jingxiang instantly understood Li Xiaoyao's intention. They knew him well enough, whereas Yu Zhendong, blinded by arrogance, couldn't fathom what Li Xiaoyao was about to do. He hadn't even considered the possibility.

As Zhao Xinyi stepped down from the Life-and-Death Platform, Yu Zhendong smiled faintly, his figure flickering as he moved toward her. Such a talented and beautiful woman—he had to have her.

In the vast open space, several Life-and-Death Platforms stood tall. Outer disciples could step onto different platforms to challenge various opponents simultaneously.

However, it seemed as though everyone tacitly agreed not to ascend the platforms at the same time. This allowed the challengers to attract the crowd's attention.

Of course, none of the challengers would step onto the highest platform. It was too ostentatious. Outer disciples didn't want to appear overly arrogant and risk displeasing the senior members of the sect. Only those with truly exceptional talent dared to climb up there and issue their challenges, drawing the gaze of all present.

At this moment, Wang Mang's figure flickered as he made his way toward the Life-and-Death Platform.

But just then, Wang Mang noticed another person heading toward the same platform as him.

"Hey, my friend," Wang Mang said with a faint smile, calling out to Li Xiaoyao. Ranked third among the outer disciples, Wang Mang was well-known for his exceptional strength. He figured Li Xiaoyao would recognize him and allow him to issue his challenge first.

What surprised Wang Mang, however, was that Li Xiaoyao merely glanced at him, nodded indifferently, and continued forward, showing no intention of letting him go first.

Wang Mang frowned. His reputation in the outer sect was immense, yet Li Xiaoyao was giving him no face at all. Just as he was about to speak, Wang Mang's gaze froze slightly, his mouth opening but no words coming out.

"Madman！" Wang Mang finally muttered under his breath. Then he stopped where he stood and allowed Li Xiaoyao to go ahead. This guy was heading straight for the Life-and-Death Platform at the center—the most prominent one. How bold. He was the first person all day to dare approach it.

It wasn't just Wang Mang. The others also noticed Li Xiaoyao walking toward the central Life-and-Death Platform. Their pupils contracted, and gasps rippled through the crowd as they murmured among themselves, trying to figure out who he was.

"Hey...wait, isn't that him? Wasn't he swallowed by the Phantom Demon Beast? How is he still alive?" Someone who had seen Li Xiaoyao engulfed by the beast cried out in astonishment, their shock palpable.

"This guy..." Han Kui, Jingxiang, and Lei Jun were all momentarily stunned. This man never let them have any peace of mind. He had no concept of staying low-key.

Yet a faint smile tugged at the corners of Han Kui's lips. Somehow, he always felt that Li Xiaoyao was stronger than him—much stronger. It was a feeling that had existed even before he met Li Xiaoyao, perhaps because of a deep, inexplicable trust he harbored for him.

Above the canyon, Xie Yun's pupils contracted sharply. Impossible. How could this kid still be alive?

An outer disciple devoured by the Phantom Demon Beast—how could he have survived and made it back?

"It's him." Like Xie Yun, Nangong Shang was also taken aback, his eyes flickering with intrigue. Interesting. This meant he could now give a proper explanation to Elder Bei and Elder Kong.

"Hahaha, that kid! And here I thought he was dead." Inside a small hut, a hearty laugh echoed. Though it sounded like the speaker was cursing Li Xiaoyao, the tone was filled with genuine joy.

"You brat, you've given this old man yet another surprise." Elder Bei smiled bitterly as he looked at Li Xiaoyao. He had taken a liking to this young man from their very first encounter.

The second time, he was shocked to see Li Xiaoyao ring all eight bells on the Clifftop Drum Array, leaving him utterly astonished. And now, Li Xiaoyao, who had been carried off by a beast, had returned unharmed. It was nothing short of a miracle.

Meanwhile, Yu Zhendong had already made his way to Zhao Xinyi's side. Just in time to see Li Xiaoyao step onto the Life-and-Death Platform, he chuckled and said, "Xinyi, even trash like him dares to step onto the Life-and-Death Platform. Truly clueless about his limits."

Zhao Xinyi frowned, feeling a bit displeased with how Yu Zhendong referred to Li Xiaoyao. She lifted her head and looked toward the Life-and-Death Platform, her beautiful eyes flashing with a glimmer of surprise.

"He's alive!"

Zhao Xinyi was utterly shocked, but soon, a faint smile appeared in her dazzling eyes.

"Good, he's alive. Now I can defeat him myself and humiliate him!"

Yu Zhendong was momentarily dazed by Zhao Xinyi's enchanting smile. With a confident tone, he said, "Xinyi, last time I spared that piece of trash. This time, as long as you give the word, after his challenge, I'll kill him for you."

"You kill him?" Zhao Xinyi glanced at Yu Zhendong. Though he possessed a Sword Martial Soul and had tremendous offensive power, he hadn't focused on cultivation for the past year. His strength had stagnated at the first level of the Spirit Martial Realm. If he were to face Li Xiaoyao, the outcome was far from certain.

In fact, Zhao Xinyi secretly believed Li Xiaoyao had the upper hand.

"Yes, just say the word, and I'll kill him," Yu Zhendong said with a smile.

"Yu Zhendongggg..."

Before he could savor Zhao Xinyi's response, a sudden, sharp voice interrupted him.

"Yu Zhendong, get the fuck up here!"

Li Xiaoyao stood atop the highest battle platform, overlooking everyone. His head was slightly raised as he gazed at the crowd in the sky above the canyon. Today, he was determined to stand here—in the highest, most prominent, and most arrogant spot.

Yu Zhendong's smile froze in place. He hadn't considered this possibility at all until now. Only when he heard Li Xiaoyao's call did it dawn on him: Li Xiaoyao was challenging him.

In the sect's grand competition, being challenged was considered a humiliation. It signified that your strength was deemed inferior, that you were looked down upon—only then would someone dare to challenge you.

And now, Yu Zhendong had been called out, right after boasting in front of Zhao Xinyi about killing Li Xiaoyao as long as she gave her approval.

But what he didn't expect was that, just after he finished speaking, Li Xiaoyao took the initiative to challenge him and slapped him across the face in front of several people.

Yu Zhendong's face darkened, and he coldly stared at Li Xiaoyao.

"Xinyi, this guy challenged me just right. I'll go kill him for you, this trash."

Yu Zhendong still didn't forget to show off his pride. He lifted his foot and walked with a dark expression toward the life-and-death platform.

The crowd murmured, impressed by Li Xiaoyao's boldness.

Not only did he directly step onto the highest life-and-death platform, but he also challenged Yu Zhendong.

Among the inner sect disciples, Yu Zhendong was by no means one of the weakest. Before the sect competition, the outer sect disciples had already gathered information about the inner sect disciples and marked some of the people they could challenge. Yu Zhendong was far from being on that list. As the possessor of a Sword Martial Soul, his strength was much higher than that of an average inner sect disciple. No one expected that someone would challenge him.

Yu Zhendong hadn't expected it either.

Stepping onto the life-and-death platform and standing before Li Xiaoyao, Yu Zhendong's gaze turned cold as he said, "I was going to let you live a little longer, but now you're asking for death!"

"I'm not in a hurry to kill you," Li Xiaoyao smiled lightly. He didn't look at Yu Zhendong again but swept his gaze over the crowd instead.

"Li Lin, you can come the fuck up too!!"

Li Xiaoyao's voice rang out. In the Sun-Moon Pavilion, Li Lin didn't dare to do anything to Shen Chen, so he took his anger out on Li Xiaoyao. Li Xiaoyao had been holding a grudge over this.

The crowd's gaze sharpened again. Li Lin, another inner sect disciple, what was he planning to do?