Chapter 73: Refusing to Admit Defeat

  "I want to challenge the number one on the list, Lin Changfeng!" Fang Li's voice was not loud, but it was like a thunderclap, leaving everyone in shock.

  "This guy must have gone mad, actually wanting to challenge Lin Changfeng. He's really looking for death." A disciple sneered coldly, with a tone of disdain.

  "Stop flattering him, I've seen many people like this before, don't bother with him." Another disciple also spoke up. Anyway, they didn't believe Fang Li could defeat Lin Changfeng.

  The elder who read the rankings had just turned around, but after hearing Fang Li's words, he immediately turned his head back and frowned, saying: "Are you sure you want to challenge Lin Changfeng? It's good for young people to have goals, but they can't be too impatient. Everyone's challenge opportunities are limited, and they must not be wasted at will."

  Fang Li remained deaf to the surrounding murmurs, but a hint of an amused smile appeared on his face. He thought to himself: It's just a challenge to Lin Changfeng, and yet it has already shocked you all so much. Won't the real show later on shatter your eyeballs?

  Since learning of Donghai's plan, Fang Libian has been thinking about a way out. Now, he already has a complete plan in mind. However, this plan will make him disappear for many years, but his cultivation cannot be delayed, so the foundation-building pill that will be rewarded at this conference is something he must get!

  "Master, rest assured, I have my own judgment. You can just announce the trial, and I'll definitely challenge Lin Changfeng!" Fang Li said confidently, standing there like an unsheathed precious sword, with its sharp edge exposed, and he had regained some of his former elegance in Inflaming City. However, compared to his youthful recklessness at that time, he was now more restrained.

  On the rostrum, Xuanyu Xianzi recognized Fang Li and suddenly snorted, saying disdainfully: "The disciple of Donghai Shifu's grandson does have ambition, wanting to take first place, but relying on his cultivation at the sixth level of Qi Refining, it seems a bit beyond his power."

  "Oh? So this is the new disciple chosen by Dōng Hǎi Shīdì!" Dao Luo seemed to have regained interest, looked in Fang Lì's direction, and immediately let out a soft exclamation, astonished: "This child's spiritual awareness has actually reached the third stage!" Dao Luo's eyes widened, looking somewhat incredulous.

  The old man of the Cave of the Sea wanted to say something, but suddenly heard this sentence and was shocked at heart, fearing that his plan would be exposed. However, he immediately reacted and thought that even if Dao Luo had a strong divine consciousness, how could he guess anything? Even if it were the great god himself, he wouldn't be able to figure it out.

  Donghai Elder stiffened and smiled, saying: "Daro Shixiong also saw it, the reason why I took him in was because I valued his spiritual consciousness." After finishing speaking, Donghai Elder lightly laughed and appeared very calm.

  "It turns out that having a strong divine consciousness will be of great help in forming the elixir and transforming the fetus. Dharma brother Donghai has indeed chosen a disciple with great potential." After saying this, Dao Luo paused for a moment before continuing: "However, with his current strength, challenging Lin Changfeng seems to be somewhat unwise."

  "This kid is overestimating himself, I'll teach him a lesson when he gets back. This competitive mindset is not good." Donghai Elder smiled awkwardly, his disciple wasn't being looked at favorably, and he also lost face, couldn't help but feel some anger towards Fang Li's actions.

  The martial arts arena was not far from the banquet hall. Fang Li did not hesitate at all, and with a single leap, he jumped onto it.

  At this time, Lin Changfeng, who was named by Fang Li, also stood up and walked over calmly. Lin Changfeng's long hair fluttered in the wind, his demeanor elegant and refined, and just this appearance made many people feel good about him. Moreover, he was still the one with the highest cultivation among this batch of new disciples, which made many people admire him.

  "You're not my opponent." Lin Changfeng said calmly, glancing at Fang Li. He had noticed Fang Li as soon as he entered the sect, but they had never interacted before.

  Fang Li smiled lightly and said, "Isn't it that being an opponent isn't just about what you say? You say I'm not your opponent, but similarly, I don't think you're my opponent either."

  "Preposterous!" Lin Changfeng's face turned cold, and he felt that the young man in front of him was being ridiculously arrogant. With a difference in strength of one level, he actually dared to say something like this.

  At this time, the audience also started shouting, and many new disciples were cheering for Lin Changfeng, shouting words like "Bring down this arrogant guy" and "Kill him with one sword".

  Fang Li remained unmoved, still confidently looking at Lin Changfeng, and smiled: "In the past, many people have said that I'm arrogant, but without exception, they all ended up losing to me."

  "Big talk is easy, let's see how you can survive a single sword from me today!" Lin Changfeng snorted coldly and suddenly charged forward, his long sword stabbing directly at Fang Li with lightning speed.

  Fang Li shook his head. Since he decided to use that thing, Lin Changfeng no longer had any chance of winning, even if he was a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining Realm. At this moment, he would have to suffer defeat at Fang Li's hands.

  Whoosh! A black shadow seemed to fly out of Fang's body, but it was too fast and the new disciples in the field couldn't see clearly.

  When they wanted to see clearly, a loud noise was heard, and Lin Changfeng, who was dressed in a suit, suddenly let out a miserable cry and was knocked flying! Then, like a meteor, he heavily smashed into the ground, digging a half-meter-deep pit.

  The whole process was completed in an instant!

  "You... cheated..." In the pit, Lin Changfeng pointed at Fang Li with extreme unwillingness, and then his neck twisted to one side, and he fainted.

  The silence in the stadium is terrifying at this moment.

  "Lin Changfeng has actually lost!" The new disciples all opened their mouths in unison, looking like they found it hard to believe.

  "Fang Li! You have a big nerve, daring to practice the art of cultivating ghosts!" Suddenly, a loud shout came from the top of the stone platform, and a blue-robed elder rushed over with an angry expression on his face.

  This person is familiar to Fang Li, and he was the leader who recruited disciples at the foot of the mountain when the mountain gate was opened. If Fang Li remembers correctly, this person should be called Dong Ming, who is the senior brother of Dong Hai. Moreover, the reason why he is so angry is that Lin Changfeng has become his disciple's grandson. Seeing his own disciple being defeated like this, as a master ancestor, Elder Dongming naturally felt unhappy.

  Looking at the rushing Dongming elder, Fang Li's expression didn't change, and he immediately took out the Wugui Tonghuan in his hand, saying: "Master uncle misunderstood, I haven't cultivated the technique of raising ghosts. The reason I can control evil spirits is because of this treasure."

  The old man was furious, and would not listen to so much, thinking that his beloved disciple was still lying in the pit, unconscious, and wanted to slap Fang Li to death.

  However, Fang Li saw this and only sneered in his heart. In front of the sect master, if you can slap me to death, I will admit it!

  As expected, Zongzhudao Yan and Donghai Elder shouted in unison "Don't!", then both of them drew out the long swords in their hands, blocking Dongming Elder.

  Dong Ming Lao saw this, although the anger in his heart was hard to dissipate, he didn't dare make another move. If it were just Dong Hai stopping him, that would be fine, but now that the Sect Master had also taken action, he absolutely didn't dare act rashly.

  However, direct action won't do, so let's sentence him. Dongming Elder immediately walked to Dao Yan's side, bowed and said: "Master, this person wins with despicable means, must be punished!"

  Daoyan wore a loose Taoist robe, with white hair and beard, but his eyes were bright and spirited. Seeing Dongming Lao's excitement, he didn't immediately respond, but instead looked at Fang Li not far away with great interest and asked: "Do you have anything to say?"

  Fang Li nodded his hand and said calmly, "I just won with the help of a magic treasure, but that Master Shu did say earlier that magic treasures are part of a cultivator's strength, and their use is allowed."

  Fang Li finished speaking and glanced at his nominal master ancestor, then lowered his head and stopped talking.

  Donghai Lao saw this and immediately spoke up, "Although the treasure Fang Li used was somewhat unusual, he didn't intentionally harm anyone, and winning with a treasure doesn't violate any rules. Where does this talk of inferiority come from?"

  The old man's words were bitter, this little rascal really knew how to get himself into trouble, and it seemed that he would have to make an enemy of Dòng Míng this time. But this matter couldn't be ignored, if Fāng Lì Zhēn was punished by the sect master, he might lose his qualification to enter Jiàn Zhuáng, and all his plans would be ruined, wanting to continue would mean waiting another thirty years!

  He even had some doubts whether Fang Li did this on purpose or not.

  Dongming Lao heard their words and suddenly became furious, saying: "Donghai Shidi is indeed good at avoiding the heavy and taking the light. The treasure that controls evil spirits was passed off by you with just one sentence 'evil and strange'. Such a cruel and sinister treasure, how can it be used in a public place?"

  Dong Hai was also infuriated by his scolding, and it added fuel to the fire. Although he didn't have a good relationship with him normally, it wasn't to the point where he would publicly humiliate himself, so he immediately counterattacked: "Elder brother's words are wrong, what does controlling evil spirits' treasure count as? If I remember correctly, you also used a treasure called 'Soul-Calling Flag' when you were young, and how many lonely ghosts and wild demons were captured by that flag, I still can't calculate it to this day. If we only rely on this point to determine guilt, it seems difficult to convince people."

  "You!" Dong Ming's eyes widened in anger, his face reddening. But indeed, Dong Hai Lao's words made him unable to refute, the matter of using the soul-summoning banner back then was something many elders knew about.

  "Alright, don't say any more. I've already made up my mind on this matter. Fang Li's defeat of Lin Changfeng won't be considered cheating, and the ranking match will continue." Dao Yan waved his long sleeve to stop the two from arguing further, then leaped into the air and landed back on the stage.

  Seeing this, although he had an unresigned heart, there was nothing he could do. In the end, he could only take Lin Changfeng down to treat his injuries. As they left, he deliberately gave Fang Li a glance, the threatening implication clear without needing to be said.

  Fang Li saw this and let out a cold laugh. He already had enough crises to face, so he wasn't afraid of adding one more.

  "The first match resulted in a victory for Fang Li, successfully taking the top spot on the rankings." The Golden Elixir Realm elder who had announced the rankings walked out once again.

  The new disciples in the field were shocked after hearing, and Fang Li actually won like this! Some were surprised, some were jealous, and some despised him. But they didn't see how Fang Li made his move, and many people were unconvinced in their hearts.

  "I want to challenge Fang Li!"

  "I also want to challenge Fang Li!"

  "I also want"

  ……

  Under the stage, the voices of challenge rose and fell, but without a doubt, their spearheads were all aimed at Fang Li. Seeing so many disciples shouting, even the golden elixir period elder was somewhat stunned, not knowing what to do. So many people challenging one person, it's suspected to be a round-robin battle.

  Compared to the hesitation of that elder, Fang Li was much more calm and composed. Since they didn't submit, then he would just have to force them into submission! No matter how many challengers there were, the number one spot on the rankings board was not something he had ever thought of giving up!

  In short, if you're not convinced, let's fight!