355 The Battle Commences (1/2)
Bu Kuang Feng then spoke-up in a dark tone, ”Venerable Mei seems to be interested in our training. Why don't they come and receive it as well…? I'm convinced that they'll change too. They'll at least be different when compared to us two brothers,” the words he had spoken seemed to have a very mysterious meaning to them. Even Li Jue Tian couldn't understand what they meant.
Venerable Mei was floating at a distance. However, they seemed very angry. Their robes started to float upwards in the wind, and it seemed as if they had prepared to strike. But then, they stopped and regained a tranquil temperament. They then replied in soft tone, ”I will eventually go to the Elusive World of Immortals and show your Empress the kind of end that's reserved for a hypocrite!”
Lei Bao Yu was about to speak-up when he was cut-off by Venerable Mei, ”Come up if the two of you intend to participate in the war today. But, withdraw to one side if you only wish to witness. I have no interest in bickering with the two of you. Retreat!”
”Very well, we've only come here to observe. So, Venerable Mei may enlighten us of the proceedings,” Lei Bao Yu replied with a cold expression.
”That's simple. We'll have three battles to decide the winner. The legions arranged in the battle formations will fight the first battle. The second battle will take place between the leaders of the groups. And, the third and decisive battle will be between the apex experts!” Venerable Mei snorted. ”We'll go back to Tian Fa if you win. And, the Xuan Beasts will never emerge from there after that. But, we have three conditions if you lose. First, Li Jue Tian will return the Panther King's Xuan Core. Second, no Xuan expert will be allowed to enter Tian Fa. I'll take ten-thousand lives from the mainland even if one of them enters. I'll take twenty-thousand lives if two of them enter, and I'll also annihilate their families to the ninth generations as compensation in that case! Third… I will break both the legs of Li Jue Tian's son. This war was started because of him. Let it end with him as well.”
”That's very unfair!” Bu Kuang Feng sneered, ”You only need to retreat if you lose, but we have to adhere to three conditions? Don't you think it's a bit too much, Venerable Mei?”
”How will any future disputes arise if you don't enter the forest? And, why is the Panther King's Xuan Core in Li Jue Tian's belly? Can't you tell the right from the wrong, Bu Kuang Feng?” Venerable Mei shouted back in anger.
Li Jue Tian stepped forward, and spoke in a stern voice, ”This issue has been created by your Tian Fa! How are we father and son to blame for this? You've been the one to confuse the right and wrong today. Aren't you pushing the entire blame onto us? The person to have confused the right and the wrong is you, and you-alone. Moreover, what does this decisive battle have to do with my son? Why does the third condition have to be breaking my son's legs? What has my son done to cause this disturbance? Don't you think that you're being too harsh, Venerable Mei? Your statements are simply ridiculous!”
Great Master Li was extremely angry. However, he also felt like he had smashed his own foot with a stone he had picked up for another. He had forced Jun Wu Yi to the battlefield because his son had requested for it. He had sent only four-thousand men even though he should've demonstrated more strength. It could be said that those men had been sent away to die for no good use. In other words, this would be a complete and utter defeat; there was no chance of success. Anyone with eyes could see that very clearly.
However, Venerable Mei had now raised the condition regarding his son's legs, and the outcome of this would depend on victory or defeat. Therefore, he was now at a loss. Would Li Teng Yun have schemed again Jun Wu Yi if he had known that his legs would also end up depending on it?
What would be the significance of Jun Wu Yi's death if such had been the case?
”I've given a great option. It's fine if the Great Master Li doesn't agree. I will simply lead my forces to attack the rest of the continent. You can't blame me for every extreme distress of the mortal world. Anyway, I have proposed a very peaceful solution. So, I can't do anything if you don't agree.”
Venerable Mei looked at Li Jue Tian. The expression in his eyes was enough to decipher that he didn't care whether the opposite party agreed to his proposal or not…
These conditions had obviously been linked to Tian Fa's prestige now; and, that was imperative.
”I won't change the three conditions; no matter what. Will you agree or not?”
He didn't believe that Li Jue Tian would leave the world to destruction… even if he was the Second Great Master. And, they could always force him to agree even if he refused to.
”I won't agree!”
”I agree!”
Two different responses simultaneously came from Li Jue Tian and Lei Bao Yu's mouths.
”Provost Lei… we must consider this matter properly.” Li Jue Tian wanted to spit blood in anger. However, he knew that he couldn't provoke the Elusive World of Immortals. He had the distinction of being the Second Great Master, and held respect for this achievement in the mundane society. But, he knew that this status of his' was nothing in the eyes of the Elusive World of Immortals. Moreover, he also knew that he may not even be able to match the two Great Masters — Lei Bao Yu and Bu Kuang Feng — even if he were to fight them one at a time.
”There's no need to consider this. It's equivalent to the Empress' orders,” Lei Bao Yu cut him off. Then, he smiled and continued in a low voice, ”Brother Li, keep calm. Do you think that someone of Venerable Mei's status would have a tough time in dealing with your young son if we lose this battle? Take a step back, and think. Your son's life won't be in danger. He will get his legs broken at best. But, the Three Holy Lands will need to find a scapegoat to pin the responsibility for the destruction caused by the Xuan Beast uprising if we don't agree to Venerable Mei's conditions. At that time, Li Jue Tian… you… he he…”