"I guess Lin Chen wouldn't be foolish enough to agree directly, right?"
One of the aristocratic young masters looked at Lin Chen by the side of the arena and guessed.
Fighting a late-stage Core Formation cultivator at early-stage Core Formation, wasn't that no different from courting death?
"Good, no problem! It's a deal!"
However, to everyone's surprise, Lin Chen agreed without a second thought.
If it were before, he would definitely not dare to fight He Biao. But now that he had refined the top-grade spiritual artifact, the White Dragon Sword, there was no reason for him to be timid!
"Holy crap? Lin Chen actually agreed? Is he an idiot?"
"Hahaha, this is going to be good. 'The wind will destroy the tree that stands out in the forest.' Does Lin Chen really think that fighting across levels is that easy?"
The crowd of onlookers burst into laughter, their eyes filled with disdain.
Even Long Wumu, who was observing from the shadows, frowned deeply.
He had expected Lin Chen to refuse and then ask the person who came with him to step in.
He never expected Lin Chen to be so impatient, falling for He Biao's taunts so easily. He was truly disappointed!
"Hahaha, Lin Chen, what spirit!"
"Then stop the nonsense. Sign the life-and-death contract and get on the stage!"
Seeing Lin Chen agree, He Biao almost burst into laughter.
He had only intended to test him with taunts, but he never expected Lin Chen to fall for it so easily!
"Alright, let's go. Have your elders sign as well."
Lin Chen walked onto the martial arts stage with a slow smile and gestured to the elders beside He Biao.
"Oh? It's just a match between you and me, why do they need to sign the life-and-death contract?"
He Biao was stunned by Lin Chen's words, feeling like he hadn't quite caught up.
"Tch, do you think I'm stupid? You're fighting on behalf of the entire He family, while I'm representing myself."
"If I lose, I'll become your slave, that's fine. But if you lose, what if these people refuse to honor the agreement?"
"Your He family's reputation doesn't seem to be very good throughout Zhejiang Province, does it?"
Lin Chen narrowed his eyes and spoke to He Biao.
"Or perhaps, you planned to go back on your word after I lost from the start?"
Lin Chen smiled, and his words made He Biao and the others' faces turn pale with anger.
Heaven knows they hadn't thought of that before. After all, to them, it was just dealing with an early-stage Core Formation cultivator, how could they possibly lose?
"Fine, we'll sign. Everyone, elders, let's sign and press our fingerprints together!"
After a brief pause, the He family patriarch, He Long, stepped forward with several elders. They signed their names on the life-and-death contract, bit their fingers, and pressed their fingerprints.
"How about it? Any other requests? Bring them up!"
After signing, He Long and the others looked at Lin Chen.
After all, they knew He Biao's cultivation level. A late-stage Core Formation cultivator was two full levels above an early-stage Core Formation cultivator.
If they still lost, it would truly be a ghost!
"Hahaha, as expected of the He family elders, truly straightforward."
Lin Chen didn't waste any more words, and decisively stepped forward to sign his name.
"Alright, everyone, this match will be personally overseen by myself, Long Wumu, and the Grand Elder of the Liu family, Liu Han."
"Anyone who violates the covenant of the life-and-death contract will be hunted down by the joint forces of the Long and Liu families. Do any of you have objections?"
As Lin Chen and He Biao and the others signed their names, Long Wumu and Liu Han, the Grand Elder of the Liu family, also signed the life-and-death contract.
It was clear that Long Wumu was on Lin Chen's side, while Liu Han was undoubtedly on the He family's side.
However, now that everyone had signed the life-and-death contract, no one dared to go back on their word.
If someone really did, their reputation would be completely ruined in the Dragon Country, and they would be spat upon by the entire cultivation world.
"Good, since no one has any objections, Fellow Daoist He, Little Friend Lin, please enter the arena!"
"Elder Liu and I will work together to set up a formation in the arena to prevent innocent people from being harmed by your battle."
Then, Long Wumu and Liu Han ascended into the sky and used their spiritual artifacts to set up a formation above the arena.
Seeing this formation, a glint flashed in Lin Chen's eyes.
Both Liu Han and Long Wumu possessed top-grade spiritual artifacts. The formation set up with spiritual artifacts as a boost was incredibly strong. It was likely that even if he unleashed his full power, he might not be able to break it!
But this was good too. When the fight started later, he could use it to test his limits!
A late-stage Core Formation cultivator, he was looking forward to it!
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Lin Chen, Lin Chen, I'll give you one last piece of advice. Kneel down and admit your mistakes, then kowtow three times before Honghui's spirit tablet, and swear to become a retainer of my He family."
"I can spare your life!"
After entering the arena, He Biao looked at Lin Chen with disdain and said.
"Is that so? Then I'll advise you too, surrender obediently, and pledge allegiance to me. I can also spare the He family!"
Lin Chen retorted, unwilling to back down.
"Hmph, sharp tongue. Die!"
"Palm Thunder!"
Upon hearing Lin Chen's words, He Biao could no longer hold back. He opened his fingers, and a bolt of lightning as thick as a bowl shot straight towards Lin Chen.
"Sword Emerges, Startling Swan!"
Lin Chen dared not delay, and quickly summoned the White Dragon Sword to defend himself.
Seeing the White Dragon Sword appear in the arena, the faces of many He family members immediately darkened.
The White Dragon Sword was a treasure of the He family, the only one of its kind!
Now, because He Honghui was killed, it had fallen into the hands of an outsider!
This was simply unbearable!
Lin Chen wielded his sword, relying on the might of the White Dragon Sword, and directly shattered He Biao's Palm Thunder with a single strike.
"I knew where you got the courage to fight me. You've actually refined the White Dragon Sword?"
Seeing the precious sword Lin Chen took out, He Biao became even more enraged.
This was originally his treasured weapon. He had only lent it to He Honghui for temporary use because he was participating in the Zhejiang Provincial Cultivation Competition. He never expected it to fall into Lin Chen's hands now.
However, the White Dragon Sword was a top-grade spiritual artifact, and it wasn't easy to refine it.
This Lin Chen had actually refined it so easily?
"Hmph, Golden Dragon Transformation! Roaring Dragon Sword Slash!"
Lin Chen didn't reply. Golden Dragon Transformation directly boosted his cultivation to the mid-stage Core Formation, and he took advantage of the second move of the Dragon Sword technique, Roaring Dragon Sword Slash, to attack the stunned He Biao.
"This kid, daring to attack He Biao head-on?"
Seeing Lin Chen take the initiative, the audience was shocked.
An early-stage Core Formation cultivator fighting against a late-stage Core Formation expert, and he even launched a preemptive attack. This was unheard of!
"Thunderclap Art!"
Seeing Lin Chen's fierce approach, He Biao sneered. He casually formed a few hand seals, and a bolt of lightning struck towards Lin Chen.