Chapter 1725: The Tree Root Earns Its Keep

"How dare you!"

"Such arrogant words, knowing neither the height of the heavens nor the depth of the earth!"

"Utterly ignorant! Do you really think that taming a few sacred beasts makes you invincible?"

During their fight, many Netherworld clansmen emerged from the Xia Zao Tower. Hearing these words, their faces turned green with rage as they shouted loudly.

There were over thirty of them, and six were on par with Bo Yuan in strength. Even if this Zhang Xuan had tamed five sacred beasts at the Great Perfection of the Immortal Realm, wanting to defeat them all single-handedly was nothing but a dream.

"Quarreling is useless. If you dare to fight, put up treasures as stakes. I'll use the Heavenly Talisman as my wager... Strength is proven through battle, not through shouting!"

Zhang Xuan said calmly.

All the Netherworld clansmen were livid.

He was right—strength was proven through battle; talking here was pointless.

"I'll give you ten minutes to think it over. I'll go take a nap first. Whether you fight or not, I'm always ready!"

Too lazy to bother with them, Zhang Xuan stretched again and walked back.

"The clan leader is incredible..."

"He alone silences so many Netherworld clansmen. This is the bearing a master teacher should have!"

The many cultivators in the Chun Nuan Tower watched again, full of admiration.

Although the presence of ancient sages meant the enemy couldn't harm them, the Netherworld clansmen clearly held the upper hand here. They had been passively accepting challenges. Unexpectedly, this Clan Leader Zhang appeared and displayed the audacity to crush everything.

"Zhang Xuan, is it? I am Bo Feng, willing to fight you!"

Before he could return to the Chun Nuan Tower, a tall Netherworld clansman stepped forward—one of the remaining six at the Great Perfection of the Immortal Realm.

"What's the stake?" Seeing someone deliver himself, Zhang Xuan smiled.

"I only have one Grand Divine Artifact. If I lose, it's yours. If I win, I don't want the Heavenly Talisman; I just want three spots to enter the Great Achievement Hall behind you!" Bo Feng said.

"Spots?" Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

"One Heavenly Talisman can bring ten people into the Great Achievement Hall. I only learned this after arriving here..." Xing Jian Sheng said.

"Oh!" Zhang Xuan nodded. "Giving you three is no problem. I agree."

Giving him three was fine; he could just kill him after entering the Great Achievement Hall.

Ancient sages couldn't enter the Confucian Temple, so they couldn't interfere inside. A few deaths were perfectly normal.

"These five sacred beasts are your pets, but having them gang up on me doesn't showcase personal strength. I challenge you, not the beasts. As a master teacher, do you dare to fight me without your pets?"

Seeing his agreement, Bo Feng snorted.

"You mean I can't use my beasts?" Zhang Xuan smiled and looked at him.

"Exactly. Do you dare to fight me with your own strength, blade to blade, without relying on sacred beasts? If you do, even if I lose, I'll be convinced!" Bo Feng said.

"I can forgo using my beasts, but... you'll have to add another Grand Saint Artifact!" Zhang Xuan said.

"Add another?"

Frowning, Bo Feng hesitated, then flipped his wrist, revealing a blood-red spirit stone. "I don't have another Grand Saint Artifact, but this Sacred Blood Spirit Stone, nourished by the essence blood of a sacred beast at the Great Perfection of the Immortal Realm, contains all the power of such a strong cultivator. It's excellent for cultivation, rich in spiritual energy. Though not as good as a Grand Saint Artifact, it's not far off. Can it substitute?"

Zhang Xuan looked and indeed felt the rich, almost tangible spiritual energy emanating from the stone.

For cultivation, it would indeed speed up progress and be quite helpful to him.

"Deal!" Zhang Xuan quickly nodded.

To be honest, he already had many Grand Saint Artifacts; more would be useless. In terms of utility, this spirit stone might be better.

"Then let's begin. The ancient sages of your human race and our race can both witness that in this duel, you cannot use your beasts!" Still uneasy, Bo Feng declared loudly.

Though he didn't know where the ancient sages were hidden, stating it aloud established a rule that no one dared to break.

"Don't worry. Since I agreed, I naturally won't use them!"

With a grab of his hand, Zhang Xuan put the sacred beasts into folded space, looking confident.

"I trust a master teacher to keep his word!"

Bo Feng nodded, stepped forward, took a deep breath, and his weapon emitted dazzling light.

It was a Cold Moon Hook, reaching the Grand Saint level—the very weapon he had wagered.

"Clan leader, be careful..."

Seeing a cultivator at the Great Perfection of the Immortal Realm wield a Grand Saint-level weapon, one of the Supreme Elders called out worriedly.

Without using his sacred beasts, this clan leader was only at the peak of the Golden Body Realm, two major levels below his opponent.

With such a gap in strength, could he really win?

"Heh!"

Smiling lightly, Zhang Xuan walked over, a jade-like tree root appearing in his palm. "Don't worry, I said I wouldn't use sacred beasts, and I won't. But... I don't have any particularly powerful Grand Saint Artifacts. This tree root I obtained by chance; it's quite hard. I assume it's acceptable?"

"A tree root?"

Confirming that it was indeed a tree root, Bo Feng nodded. "Of course!"

As long as he didn't use beasts, even if he used a Grand Saint Artifact, it wouldn't matter much, let alone a seemingly ordinary tree root.

"Good... Little Root, I'm counting on you!"

Nodding, Zhang Xuan casually tossed it.

"Got it!"

A thought emanated from the tree root as it appeared above Bo Feng.

"Playing tricks!"

Unexpected that a tree root could speak, Bo Feng's eyes narrowed. He flicked the Cold Moon Hook, slashing toward it.

Ssshh!

Space trembled.

A cultivator at the Great Perfection of the Immortal Realm, wielding a powerful Grand Saint Artifact, unleashed a fearsome force.

Whoosh!

Before the Cold Moon Hook reached the tree root, the space before him wavered. The next moment, he seemed to fall into a desert, and then a towering tree appeared before him. A breeze stirred, and flakes of fluff, like snowflakes, enveloped him.

"What is this?"

Bo Feng's pupils contracted as he cried out. Then he felt several flakes fly into his throat.

Immediately, his body stiffened, as if half-frozen, unable to move.

"What happened?"

"What kind of weapon is that?"

No one expected the tree root to conjure a vast desert. Everyone was stunned, unable to react.

"Bo Feng, it must be an illusion. Find a way to break it..."

A strong Netherworld clansman shouted.

"Alright..."

Struggling to speak, Bo Feng's voice was cut short as his body suddenly convulsed.

Rustle!

In an instant, he turned into a pile of yellow sand, scattering to the ground, leaving no trace.

All around, there was dead silence.