Chapter 1853: Challenge to a Duel

"I really didn't expect that Sister Qiuling would speak up for us at the last moment. I was terrified just now. It wouldn't have mattered if it were just me, but if I had dragged you into this, I could never forgive myself."

Back in the courtyard, Leng Xu felt a lingering fear.

Earlier on the arena, it was a critical moment, to say the least.

Although Ye Yuan had spatial translocation, it wouldn't be easy for him to escape from a True God powerhouse.

Ye Yuan smiled and said, "They won't do anything to me."

Seeing Ye Yuan's nonchalant expression, Leng Xu said irritably, "You really are thick-skinned. Uncle is a True God powerhouse! But it's strange—my relationship with Sister Qiuling isn't that good. Why would she go against her own father in front of so many people?"

Just as they were speaking, a servant reported that Leng Qiuling had arrived, which startled Leng Xu again.

Leng Qiuling approached gracefully, like a moving iceberg, exuding an air of aloofness.

After centuries apart, Leng Qiuling had changed greatly.

Not only had her strength improved, but her temperament had also undergone a earth-shaking transformation.

In the past, Leng Qiuling was merely a junior disciple.

Now, she already had the bearing of a superior.

This was fully displayed during the battle for the young master.

With a single casual remark, no one dared to refute her.

Leng Xu saw Leng Qiuling and greeted her with a smile, saying, "Thank you, Sister Qiuling, for resolving the situation today. Otherwise, both Ye Yuan and I would have been in danger."

Although he didn't know why Leng Qiuling had spoken up for him, he still had to express his gratitude.

To Leng Qiuling, it was just a word, but to him, it was a life-saving grace.

In response to Leng Xu's thanks, Leng Qiuling merely said indifferently, "Brother Xu need not be polite. I only spoke a few fair words."

But her gaze passed over Leng Xu and landed on Ye Yuan behind him.

Leng Xu noticed Leng Qiuling's gaze and was startled, turning to look at Ye Yuan.

Ye Yuan smiled lightly and said, "It's been years since we last met. Fairy Leng's elegance is even more impressive than before!"

Leng Qiuling smiled faintly and said, "We should look at each other with new eyes after three days apart. Today, Master Ye has truly opened my eyes! I wish to apologize to Master Ye and take back the words I said back then."

Ye Yuan smiled and said, "That's all in the past. Why bring it up? Today, I must thank Fairy Leng for resolving the situation!"

Leng Qiuling shook her head and said, "I believe that even without my intervention, Master Ye would have found a way to escape."

Although she didn't know Ye Yuan's methods, she felt that her father wouldn't have an easy time keeping Ye Yuan here.

Ye Yuan was not the reckless type; since he had involved himself in the Leng family's disputes, he must have some backing.

Ye Yuan laughed heartily and said, "Although Fairy Leng and I have only met once, you seem to know me like an old friend. Still, thank you."

Beside them, Leng Xu was dumbfounded.

So Leng Qiuling and Ye Yuan were old acquaintances!

But he found it strange—their conversation sounded familiar, yet not that familiar.

It seemed they had only met once.

But could a single meeting make Leng Qiuling act out of character and go against her own father?

Moreover, Leng Qiuling actually smiled!

She smiled at Ye Yuan!

In Leng Xu's memory, he had never seen Leng Qiuling smile at a man.

One could imagine the shock in Leng Xu's heart.

"Then I accept Master Ye's thanks. Qiuling has an impertinent request. I wonder if Master Ye would agree?" Leng Qiuling said.

Ye Yuan nodded with a smile and said, "Fairy Leng's request—how could I dare not agree?"

Leng Qiuling's gaze suddenly turned sharp, and she said, "Qiuling wishes to duel with you, Master Ye. I hope you will grant this request."

Hearing this, both Ye Yuan and Leng Xu were stunned.

Leng Xu was extremely surprised. As the unparalleled genius of Qianling Mansion, Leng Qiuling had found no match among her peers.

Her opponents had always been the senior disciples of Qianling Mansion, most of whom were at a higher cultivation level than her.

Now, she was actually going to challenge a Celestial at the second level.

Of course, Leng Xu also greatly admired Ye Yuan's strength.

At the very least, he himself was no match for Ye Yuan.

But to deal with Leng Qiuling, it was still not enough.

Ye Yuan smiled and said, "Alright!"

...

"Ice Roar!"

"Ice Dragon Soaring to the Sky!"

"Spirit Concealment Sword!"

On the arena, two figures fought fiercely, and for a time, it was hard to tell who was winning.

Relying on the fusion of laws, Ye Yuan barely managed to fight Leng Qiuling to a draw.

Below the stage, Leng Xu watched in stunned amazement.

"So Ye Yuan's strength has already reached such a level! When he sparred with me, he didn't even use a tenth of his power!" Leng Xu murmured.

The breakthrough in his law power within ten days was entirely due to Ye Yuan's relentless training.

At the time, Leng Xu thought Ye Yuan was strong, but he never imagined Ye Yuan could actually contend with Leng Qiuling.

Although Ye Yuan was at a disadvantage, he had only just entered the second level of the Celestial realm!

Such a prodigy as Leng Qiuling was actually being challenged across cultivation levels.

Nearby, Leng Hongxiu was equally shocked.

He knew his daughter's status in Qianling Mansion very well.

It had always been his daughter who challenged others across levels; this was the first time he had seen someone challenge her across levels.

Seeing this, he became even more convinced of Leng Qiuling's speculation.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

The two figures touched and then separated, each retreating.

Fine beads of sweat had actually appeared on Leng Qiuling's forehead.

And Ye Yuan, for once, was also panting heavily.

Facing Leng Qiuling was still too much for him at this point.

Leng Qiuling appeared cold on the surface, but the shock in her heart was beyond words.

For the first time in her life, she knew what a sense of frustration was.

Back when she first met Ye Yuan, she had said that he and she were destined to be from different worlds.

But several hundred years had passed, and those words now seemed so pale.

Although he was still inferior in strength, there was no doubt that Ye Yuan had already entered her world.

Of that, there was no question!

And judging by this trend, it was only a matter of time before Ye Yuan surpassed her.

But Leng Qiuling simply could not understand why someone with such extraordinary talent had been stuck at the Great Perfection of the Return to Void stage for three hundred years.

Thinking back now, it was simply unbelievable.

"Fairy Leng is truly a peerless genius. I concede defeat!" Ye Yuan said with a cupped-fist salute.

In the previous bout, he had indeed lost.

However, Leng Qiuling shook her head and said, "Brother Ye has not used his full strength; how can you speak of defeat? If it were a life-and-death battle, it would be hard to say who would emerge victorious!"

Ye Yuan smiled and said, "Isn't Fairy Leng the same? In the end, it's still my lack of strength."

In a non-lethal battle, people generally did not use one hundred percent of their strength.

If it really came to that point, it would be a matter of life and death, and it would be very difficult to hold back.