The crowd's gaze turned outward, and their eyes instantly froze.

Zhao Xinyi, the beautiful young woman walking toward them, could be no one else but Zhao Xinyi.

What shocked everyone even more was that Zhao Xinyi was walking alongside a man—Li Xiaoyao, someone many of them had seen on the Life-and-Death Platform.

As for the voice they heard earlier, it naturally came from Li Xiaoyao.

"Could it be that Li Xiaoyao really is Zhao Xinyi's man?"

Recalling Han Kui's earlier words, the crowd couldn't help but look surprised, glancing at Mo Water.

At this moment, Mo Water's expression remained calm, but a cold glint flickered through his sapphire eyes.

"So, you're Li Xiaoyao?" Mo Water looked down at Li Xiaoyao, his tone indifferent.

To Mo Water's surprise, Li Xiaoyao seemed not to hear him at all. He merely glanced at him casually, completely ignoring him, and walked straight to Han Kui's side.

"Are you alright?"

"This little scratch is nothing," Han Kui grinned, dismissing it as no big deal.

"Don't be so reckless next time. Speak less and stay alive," Li Xiaoyao scolded, glaring at Han Kui. This guy really had a knack for trouble—claiming Zhao Xinyi was his woman had nearly gotten him killed by her piercing gaze earlier.

"I couldn't stand that guy's arrogance, saying Zhao Xinyi was his woman!" Han Kui retorted coldly, causing a flash of anger to pass through Zhao Xinyi's eyes as she cast a frosty glance at Mo Water.

Mo Water frowned slightly. This newly promoted Inner Sect disciple, who had just entered the Spirit Martial Realm, was astonishingly arrogant, daring to ignore him outright. In Canghai Sect, no one had ever dared to act so boldly in front of him, not even the elders.

"I asked you a question. Didn't you hear me?"

The moment Mo Water's voice fell, the atmosphere in the cave residence grew noticeably colder. The crowd silently prayed for Li Xiaoyao. Though his talent and comprehension of sword intent were exceptional, he was still far from being able to contend with Mo Water. It seemed he was bound to learn a hard lesson this time.

"His mouth is on his own face. What he says, can you control it?" Li Xiaoyao still didn't acknowledge Mo Water. Instead, he said to Han Kui, "Also, he said Zhao Xinyi was his woman. Why do you even care?"

"...," Han Kui looked at Li Xiaoyao speechlessly. Wasn't it all for your sake? How ungrateful!

"I...am...asking...you...a...question."

Mo water spoke each word deliberately, an icy aura spreading through the air. Li Xiaoyao's repeated disregard for him in front of everyone was a direct slap to his dignity.

"I heard you."

Li Xiaoyao finally turned around, looked at Mo Water, and said, "You asked if I'm Li Xiaoyao, right?"

"Hmph, so your ears aren't deaf after all," Mo Water sneered coldly.

"If you're asking me whether I'm Li Xiaoyao, that means you don't know who I am, right?" Li Xiaoyao asked again.

Mo Water looked at Li Xiaoyao as if staring at an idiot. Was something wrong with this guy's head?

"Obviously."

"Obviously? Perhaps so. But since you don't know me, and I don't know you, why should I answer your question?"

As Li Xiaoyao spoke, he rose from his crouched position, staring at Mo Water. "And who do you think you are?"

As his words landed, a sharp and wild aura spread through the air—arrogant and unrestrained.

He's crazy!

The crowd watched in shock as Li Xiaoyao dared to confront Mo Water. Everyone silently thought this guy must have a death wish.

Mo Water's face alternated between pale and livid. This was the first time anyone had dared to speak to him like this.

"Li Xiaoyao, you're ridiculously arrogant. Offending Mo Water means your death is certain," Ren Yu stepped forward, glaring at Li Xiaoyao.

"Ren Yu, the former number one Outer Sect disciple, blessed with the Rock Martial Soul and once hailed as a genius. Yet not long ago, you were publicly defeated by Li Xin of the Moonlight Sect, someone merely at the first level of the Spirit Martial Realm. From my perspective, the word 'genius' is nothing but a disgrace when applied to you."

Li Xiaoyao's tone was calm, but his single statement ignited flames of anger in Ren Yu's eyes. That incident was his deepest humiliation.

"This guy has quite the sharp tongue," Zhao Xinyi thought to herself, astonished. Li Xiaoyao's seemingly casual words had managed to provoke both Mo Water and Ren Yu, each word hitting them where it hurt the most.

"And as for you calling me some rookie who just stepped into the Spirit Martial Realm, who you can trample at will, I'd like to see you try. At Wind Valley, on the Life-and-Death Platform, do you dare to fight?"

Wind Valley. The Life-and-Death Platform. Do you dare to fight?

Li Xiaoyao's calm voice rippled through the stone cave. He was challenging Ren Yu—calling for a life-or-death duel. Once on the platform, fate would decide life or death.

Feeling the sharp aura emanating from Li Xiaoyao and the confidence in his words, Ren Yu faltered. He had recently stepped into the second level of the Spirit Martial Realm and was eager to carve his name into the sect's stone tablet. But now, Li Xiaoyao's simple yet powerful words shook his confidence.

Do you dare to fight on the Life-and-Death Platform?

The seemingly relaxed question hit Ren Yu's heart like a hammer.

"Where does his confidence come from? Is it his sword aura?" Ren Yu silently asked himself.

"But that sword aura is indeed formidable. Yu Zhentong wasn't weak, yet he was slain with a single strike. Even if Yu Zhentong were stronger, the result would likely be the same."

"And I still don't know if this is all his strength. If he's even stronger, can I handle it?" The inner struggle twisted Ren Yu's expression. He had already lost once—publicly defeated by Li Xin. He couldn't afford to lose again.

"How laughable. You were once the top Outer Sect disciple, respected after entering the Inner Sect, yet now you willingly become someone else's subordinate. Just this alone proves you're unworthy of being a strong warrior. True strength comes from unwavering determination, a relentless pursuit of martial arts. Those who seek advantage by fawning over others will achieve little in martial arts."

Li Xiaoyao's sharp words cut deep as he noticed the ugly expression on Ren Yu's face. His oppressive aura grew stronger, bearing down on Ren Yu. As he took a small step forward, that single movement unsettled Ren Yu, plunging him into an oppressive chaos.

"True strength comes from unwavering determination, a relentless pursuit of martial arts. Those who seek advantage by fawning over others will achieve little in martial arts." Li Xiaoyao's words echoed in Ren Yu's mind, his confidence collapsing in an instant. Ren Yu had once been hailed as a genius, striving relentlessly. But now, he willingly stood behind Mo Water. That fact alone showed he had admitted inferiority to Mo Water. Could he reclaim his past confidence and glory?

Ren Yu wasn't the only one contemplating Li Xiaoyao's words; the rest of the crowd was also shaken.

"This guy sees things so clearly," Zhao Xinyi thought, her heart in turmoil. Indeed, those peerless geniuses were always proud, untamed, and bold. How could they possibly bow to anyone?

"Ren Yu, you bow and scrape, spewing arrogance while lacking conviction. You dare not even fight. You're not a genius—you're a coward!"

Li Xiaoyao seemed relentless as he took another step forward, his oppressive aura pressing down on Ren Yu and stifling his spirit.

"Coward... coward..." The word echoed in Ren Yu's mind like a demonic chant. His expression twisted in agony, his calm demeanor completely shattered.

"Ah..." Suddenly, Ren Yu let out a furious roar, clutching his ears as he dashed madly out of the cave, disappearing in an instant.

The cave fell silent as everyone stared blankly at the scene, stunned.

Incredible!

Li Xiaoyao hadn't even lifted a hand, yet just a few words had shattered Ren Yu's spirit, driving him to near madness.

All eyes turned to Li Xiaoyao, who wore a faint, chilling smile. His smile carried a sinister charm, and in his pupils, a swirling black mist seemed to flicker and vanish unpredictably.

The Phantom Demon Beast, known for its mastery of illusions. With his Phantom Martial Soul, Li Xiaoyao had naturally gained some illusory abilities. Just now, he had employed this power. Of course, Ren Yu's weak willpower made it easy for Li Xiaoyao to exploit his mental vulnerabilities.

"What a trash," Mo Water said coldly, his blue eyes gleaming like a venomous snake as he stared at Li Xiaoyao.

"You may have some strength, but to me, you're still too weak—nothing more than an ant. Kneel before me now, swear your allegiance, and I might spare your life."

Mo Water's tone was icy. Li Xiaoyao had claimed that those who bowed to others achieved little in martial arts. Now, Mo Water intended to make him kneel in submission, robbing him of his pride.