Chapter 57: A Fair Bet Demands Acceptance of the Loss

An emotional reunion between close relatives, which should have been a joyful occasion, instantly turned tense because of Jiang Ming's words.

"Nonsense!"
"Jiang Míng, get to your room right now!"
"Do not come out without my permission!"

Terrified that the two brothers might turn on each other and become foes, Jiang Yue immediately reprimanded Jiang Ming.

However, Jiang Ming ignored him entirely. He stared intently at Ye Fan and challenged him once more, "Do you dare or not?"

One must understand that in the Northwest Territory, no one had ever dared to speak to Ye Fan in such a manner. Had it been anyone else, they would already be dead.

"Since my younger brother wishes to spar, as the elder brother, I am naturally more than willing to accompany him."

Ye Fan rose from his chair, meeting Jiang Ming's gaze head-on without a shred of fear.

"Fan'er, this..."
"Ming'er broke through to the early stage of the Half-God realm not long ago. If you spar with him, I'm afraid..."

Jiang Yue grew somewhat worried. He was not yet fully aware of Ye Fan's current capabilities, but he could easily discern that Ye Fan's cultivation was at the Great Perfection of the Spirit Awakening realm. Given Ye Fan's talent, reaching this realm was already exceptionally impressive.

However, Jiang Ming was a Half-God after all. The gap of a single realm meant a world of difference in sheer strength.

"It's fine, Grandfather!"
"Don't worry, it's just a spar. I know how to hold back."

As soon as these words were spoken, both Jiang Yue and Jiang Ming were momentarily stunned. Jiang Yue assumed Ye Fan had not heard his words clearly just a moment ago. Jiang Ming, on the other hand, laughed out of sheer anger and said, "Then let me see if you've made any progress over all these years."

Chu Ling'er remained silent off to the side; after all, she was in no position to speak here. Yet upon hearing of Jiang Ming's cultivation level, her eyes immediately lit up. Although Jiang Ming was unlikely to kill Ye Fan, teaching him a harsh lesson was certainly within the realm of possibility. As long as Ye Fan was humiliated, she would feel immeasurable joy.

The two moved to the estate's martial arts arena, and the contest between the brothers officially began.

In his previous few battles, Ye Fan had almost always faced opponents whose cultivation was inferior to his own. Now, facing a powerful early-stage Half-God entirely on his own, he also wanted to test whether he could defeat such an adversary.

"You are my younger brother, so I will let you make the first move!"

Ye Fan's words only provoked Jiang Ming further. Without an ounce of courtesy, he channeled his spiritual energy and charged straight at Ye Fan.

Jiang Ming formed a sword finger with his hand and thrust it directly toward Ye Fan's chest.

Ye Fan likewise mobilized his spiritual energy, then raised his palm to block the incoming strike.

Jiang Ming's fingertips struck Ye Fan's palm, instantly resulting in a stalemate.

Thinking that this single blow would be enough to force Ye Fan back, Jiang Ming was shocked to see that his opponent had not budged an inch.

Bolstered by the Heaven-Devouring Sacred Body, even if Ye Fan's cultivation realm was inferior to Jiang Ming's, the spiritual energy within his body was no less formidable than his opponent's.

Jiang Ming felt a jolt of surprise; he had poured eighty percent of his power into that strike, and an ordinary cultivator at the Spirit Awakening realm should never have been able to withstand it.

No longer holding anything back, he surged his spiritual energy once more, going all out.

Feeling the immense force transmitting through his palm, Ye Fan simply smiled calmly. With a flick of his wrist, he smoothly seized Jiang Ming's two fingers, and with a sudden burst of physical strength, he hurled Jiang Ming's entire body spinning through the air!

Taking advantage of Jiang Ming's unstable footing, Ye Fan flashed forward to stand right before him, bringing another palm down toward his chest.

A majestic wave of palm force pressed down, making Jiang Ming feel as though his very chest was about to shatter. However, the moment Ye Fan's palm actually touched his chest, he suddenly retracted his power. In the end, he only gave him a gentle push, causing Jiang Ming no injury whatsoever.

"Haha! What a magnificent display of skill, Fan'er!"
"Since it's a spar, it should end the moment a winner is clear!"
"Ming'er, you lost!"
"According to our agreement, you must now address Fan'er as your older brother."

Although Jiang Ming was extremely reluctant in his heart, he was not a man to go back on his word. A promise spoken aloud had to be fulfilled. He walked up to Ye Fan, and with a sullen expression, he called out, "Brother Ye Fan."

"Good younger brother, I accept your concession!"

Ye Fan smiled faintly. He bore no animosity toward Jiang Ming and could even understand him quite well. After all, at his age, such pride was only natural.

"Ha-ha! That's more like it!"
"Brothers should live in harmony like this. What kind of behavior is it to always glare at each other with puffed-up beards?"
"Ah, yes! Grandfather still has some matters to attend to. Shortly, I'll have your younger brother take you around to see the sights."
"After all these years, Central Prefecture has undergone quite a few changes."
"Ming'er, take good care of your older brother."
"Don't go too far, just wander around the vicinity of the sect."

Jiang Ming nodded in agreement. Seeing this, Jiang Yue departed with peace of mind. He knew this grandson of his very well.

"Grandfather told me to take you out for a tour."
"Ye Fan... Brother, follow me."

Unfazed, Ye Fan followed Jiang Ming out of the Heavenly Sword Sect. He did not bring Chu Ling'er along; after all, she was currently nothing more than a maid.

Along the way, the two exchanged very few words, wandering aimlessly near the Heavenly Sword Sect in an atmosphere that felt slightly awkward.

...

"Young Master of the sect, our informants saw him heading in that direction."
"Isn't that the location of the Heavenly Sword Sect?"
"What is that little bastard doing going over there?"
"Young Master, I heard he has ties with the saintess of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Perhaps he went looking for her."
"If he really manages to enter the Heavenly Sword Sect, this matter will become rather troublesome."
"Let's go. Regardless of anything else, we'll go over and take a look first."
"The matter of him slaying disciples of our Netherworld Sect can never be simply let go!"

Dugu Yan, the young master of the Netherworld Sect, had come in pursuit of Ye Fan accompanied by several of his disciples.

Back in the Northwest Territory, Ye Fan had slaughtered members of their Netherworld Sect, and now that he had fled to Central Prefecture, he had killed a few more. As the young master of the Netherworld Sect, he could not simply turn a blind eye once such a thing came to his attention.

"Young Master, there are two people ahead!"
"According to the informant's description, that Ye Fan is eight chi tall and dressed in plain white robes. It seems one of them fits the description!"
"Ye Fan!"

One of the disciples tentatively shouted out toward the front.

Upon hearing this, Ye Fan and Jiang Ming immediately turned around, looking at the group with puzzled expressions. When Ye Fan caught sight of their attire, he instantly recognized them as people from the Netherworld Sect.

"Ye Fan, you little bastard, it really is you!"
"The Young Master of the Netherworld Sect is here in person, today is your day of death!"

Dugu Yan was ecstatic at the sight of Ye Fan. He never expected the fellow to be strolling leisurely right outside the gates of the Heavenly Sword Sect—it was truly effortless to find him! He had been worrying about how to deal with Ye Fan, only for the target to walk right out into the open.

"Are all you people from the Netherworld Sect born with the noses of hounds?"
"How is it that wherever I go, I run into you lot?"
"Could it be that you all tracked me here by scent?"

Ye Fan cared nothing for their identities and showed them not an ounce of respect.

Jiang Ming, on the other hand, wore a grave expression. The identity of the opposing party made him feel deeply wary. The title of Young Master of the Netherworld Sect carried immense weight throughout the entire Central Prefecture.

"Brother, did you provoke them?"
"Hurry and leave, go find Grandfather! I'll hold them off here first!"
"Hey! I'm talking to you few pieces of trash, if you have any business, come at me!"