Chapter 139: The Platform of Life and Death

The man seemed unwilling to let Zhang Yuxi go, pressing forward step by step and reaching out with a filthy hand toward her face. In that split second, Chu Han appeared before them and seized the man's wrist.

Applying a slight pressure, a sickening crack echoed through the air as the man’s wrist snapped, exposing jagged bone. The man let out a shrill scream and collapsed, clutching his arm. The surrounding crowd gasped and scrambled backward.

These were inner-sect disciples of the Taiyi Sect who had cultivated for years, rarely engaging in real-world combat; they were like flowers in a greenhouse. Never having seen someone so ruthless, their faces paled.

"Damn you! How dare you hit me? Do you know who I am? My brother is Bai Qing, one of the top experts in the inner sect! You’re finished—I’m going to have my brother destroy you!"

The man on the ground wailed, hurling threats at Chu Han. Ignoring him entirely, Chu Han pulled Zhang Yuxi forward and planted his foot firmly onto the man’s body.

"Hmph, what a piece of trash. How did the Taiyi Sect end up with scum like you? Bai Qing is nothing. Even if he were standing right here, I’d strike him all the same. Remember this: Zhang Yuxi is my sister. If any of you dare touch her again, don't blame me for killing you. Now, get lost."

Chu Han let out a cold snort, his eyes sweeping over the crowd. His gaze felt like that of a demon emerging from hell, and none dared to meet his eyes.

His impression of the Taiyi Sect, which had been improving, plummeted to freezing point. Regardless of the sect’s reputation, its disciples were utter garbage. Between the man on the floor and the beast-like Zhang Yi he had encountered earlier, the management of this sect was clearly abysmal.

He had entered the Taiyi Sect to reach the Yin-Yang Realm, with the secondary goal of finding Zhang Yi to avenge Yang Rong. However, he had learned that Zhang Yi was away on a mission, so that matter had been put on hold.

The man on the ground fell silent, terrified that Chu Han might actually kill him. Chu Han was a man who had walked through piles of corpses; he was nothing like these pampered greenhouse flowers, and the aura of slaughter he inadvertently leaked made them tremble.

"Heh, you’re the first person to tell me that Bai Qing is nothing. Take your foot off him, or don't blame me for being discourteous."

Just then, a man with a voice like a booming bell stepped out from the distance, eyeing Chu Han coldly. He held a long spear that appeared quite heavy, and combined with his muscular frame, he was clearly a formidable expert.

Chu Han smiled faintly, but instead of removing his foot, he pressed down harder. The man’s arm began to fracture inch by inch until he finally passed out from the agony. Chu Han watched Bai Qing without blinking; from this moment on, he would no longer hold back.

Zhang Yuxi was someone he had brought down from Wolf Mountain, and it was his responsibility to protect her. The fact that these wastes dared to speak such filth to her meant they should be thankful they were still alive.

"You are courting death."

Bai Qing was incensed that this man dared to defy him. He lunged forward, his spear thrusting toward Chu Han’s heart with such immense force that it whistled through the air.

Chu Han didn't even look. He blocked the spear with his right hand and slammed his left fist into the shaft. The massive force caused the spear to vibrate violently, and Bai Qing was forced back several steps. His right hand went numb; although he had underestimated his opponent and hadn't used his full strength, the attack proved that the man before him was no simple fighter.

Just as Bai Qing prepared to strike again, Elder Xuan Xuzi emerged from a room. Seeing the scene, his expression darkened. "What are you doing?"

"Elder Xuan Xuzi, this guy beat my brother into this state! I’m going to avenge him! He used lethal force during a spar, which violates the sect’s rules. Look at my brother—even if he recovers, he’ll likely never progress in his cultivation again."

Bai Qing hurriedly complained to the elder. The Taiyi Sect strictly prohibited lethal force during sparring, and Bai Qing shot a sinister glance at Chu Han, hoping to see him punished.

Chu Han ignored both of them. He kicked the man on the ground again, sending him skidding across the floor until he slammed into a large rock.

The onlookers were stunned. Even with Elder Xuan Xuzi present, Chu Han still dared to attack? Was he suicidal, or just insane?

"Bai Qing, is it? I didn't kill your brother, which is already me giving the Taiyi Sect face. If we were in the Central City, he’d be a corpse by now. This is the price for touching my sister."

Afterward, Chu Han snorted. He didn't care about Elder Xuan Xuzi. He had come to the Taiyi Sect to gain access to the Yin-Yang Realm; were it not for that, he wouldn't have stepped foot in this place.

Elder Xuan Xuzi was speechless. He personally valued Chu Han and had even considered giving him an internal spot for the Great Red Heaven. But with Chu Han being so arrogant, the elder couldn't protect him in front of everyone.

Still, he remained cautious and questioned the bystanders. Under the Elder’s gaze, no one dared to lie. As the truth unfolded, the Elder’s expression grew increasingly grim.

"Elder Xuan Xuzi, I had assumed that as the greatest sect in the Great Chu, the Taiyi Sect would be decent. But seeing the state of these disciples, I am truly disappointed. I held back only for your sake."

Chu Han spoke his mind. He was utterly disillusioned with the sect. While the elders seemed respectable, the lack of discipline among the disciples made it hard to view this as a premier sect.

"Audacious! How dare you act this way? Have you forgotten everything I’ve taught you? Guan Ting and the others used foul language and bullied a junior disciple; they are sentenced to three months of solitary confinement and a lifetime ban from the Script Pavilion. Any further offenses will result in immediate expulsion!"

Elder Xuan Xuzi barked, his beard bristling. He issued no punishment for Chu Han; in his view, Chu Han was right, and he had shown mercy by not killing them. Punishing him now would only alienate him.

Bai Qing, however, felt the elder was shielding Chu Han. Consumed by rage but unable to defy the elder, he rolled his eyes and thought of a plan.

"Fine. You’ve crippled my brother, and I cannot let this slide. We settle this at the Life-and-Death Arena tomorrow. If you defeat me, this matter is forgotten. If you lose, you’ll suffer the same fate as my brother."

At the mention of the Life-and-Death Arena, the crowd gasped. It was the place where the Taiyi Sect resolved irreconcilable grudges. Since disciples came from various backgrounds, conflicts were inevitable, and the arena was established to prevent internal bloodshed.