031. Let’s have a one-on-one duel!

Lu Wu asked curiously, “Why send Tian Bugui to gather information?”

Yi Ya thought for a moment, then unfolded the newly drawn strategic map. “Uncle, look. This is our position, and here is the demon camp.”

“Our scouts gather intelligence every day, more or less along this route.”

“So far, we’ve learned about their arrangements at these outlying points.”

Lu Wu asked, “Preparing for an assault?”

Yi Ya shook his head. “No, I’ve noticed their numbers are dwindling.”

Lu Wu pondered. “You mean their main force is secretly withdrawing?”

“Exactly,” Yi Ya replied. “On the first day we scouted this area, there were about twenty-five demons active in this camp. This morning, only twenty remained. If I’m not mistaken, it’s fifteen now.”

“And the five who disappeared turned up in another camp.”

“In other words, they’ve withdrawn entire camps in an organized manner but reassigned some of their people to keep activity going at these sites, to mislead us.”

Lu Wu considered carefully. “I’ve only ever attacked camps with few demons. Whenever a camp emptied out, leaving a lone target, that’s when I struck.”

Even a large army, when stationed, regularly rotates its guards. Sending the main force out to patrol and leaving one behind is typical.

Lu Wu always found such places ripe for attack.

So he hadn’t paid close attention to the movements of their main force.

Yi Ya sighed. “For the sake of the sect, even if Junior Brother Tian meets misfortune…”

“But, Uncle, could you help locate him? Perhaps we might attempt a rescue.”

Lu Wu reflected. He still owed the boy a debt of fate.

Earlier, in the library, he’d read a book titled “Miscellaneous Notes from the Grand Void,” a cultivation journal from a Grand Void Palace ancestor, which discussed the mysterious concept of karma.

Lu Wu understood its power, and intended to settle that debt.

“Covert investigation is futile. Let’s openly challenge them,” Lu Wu suggested. “That way, we can hold up the demon clan, keeping them uncertain about our true intentions.”

“They’ll think we’re hesitant because Tian Bugui was captured.”

Now the army needed to delay for ten days.

Though the enemy was also stalling, if the demon clan’s Little Peng King discerned Grand Void Palace’s plan, the scheme to seize the Hundred-Thousand Demon Mountains would collapse.

Thus, finding legitimate reasons to buy time was a useful tactic.

Yi Ya’s eyes brightened as he nodded. “Good idea.”

“Challenge them, demand a duel—that’s clever.”

“But why would they agree?”

Lu Wu replied, “Simple. Stay here, don’t move.”

With that, Lu Wu soared away.

A quarter of an hour later, he returned, carrying a peacock demon.

This peacock demon had reached the eighth level of Qi Gathering, a formidable strength.

Lu Wu, at full power, had to ram it to inflict serious injury.

He seized the demon and immediately fled, racing all the way back.

He was certain the demon clan would soon notice the incident.

After all, an eighth-level Qi Gathering demon was a peak talent among the younger generation of the Hundred-Thousand Demon Mountains.

Each one was precious, holding high rank within the demon corps.

Yi Ya waited in camp, while the third-generation disciples outside cried out in astonishment.

Stepping from his tent, he saw Lu Wu returning with the peacock demon in hand.

“You’re incredible, Uncle!”

Lu Wu took a deep breath. “It was costly. Capturing, not killing, drains a tremendous amount of soul energy!”

Yi Ya knew nothing of how mosquitoes breathe—using mouthparts to directly exchange gases, not lungs—so he rushed forward.

But Yi Ya was stumped.

Had it been another uncle, he could have offered support when the other lost blood; but with this uncle, what was he supposed to do?

He hesitated for three breaths, then produced a Soul-Nurturing Herb. “A hero should not shed both blood and tears. Uncle, please accept this!”

Lu Wu accepted it gleefully. “Now, we can initiate the challenge.”

Yi Ya nodded solemnly. “Uncle, you’ve done ninety-nine percent of the work. Leave the rest to me.”

With that, Yi Ya mounted his sword, unfurling a pair of wings behind him, and flew straight toward the distant mountains.

In the camp, Zi Yu, who was cultivating, saw Yi Ya flying with his sword and couldn’t help but sigh, “When will my phoenix feathers carry me in flight?”

Atop the mountain, Little Peng King was listening to his subordinate’s report.

Frowning, he asked, “You’re saying Kong Cheng suddenly lost control, flew out of the camp, and headed straight for the Grand Void Palace army?”

The little demon knelt. “Your subordinate… was not very close, so… that’s all I saw.”

Little Peng King turned and gazed at Yi Ya approaching from afar. “You may go.”

The little demon hurriedly withdrew.

Soon, Yi Ya landed before the mountain summit. “Little Peng King.”

Little Peng King leaped into the air, transforming into his true form, a roc, flying overhead with cold, immense golden eyes fixed on Yi Ya.

Yi Ya smiled. “Your people captured my junior brother. I had no choice but to ask my uncle to seize a peacock demon.”

“This fellow should be valuable in your ranks, no?”

Little Peng King replied coldly, “I have a question for Daoist Brother Yi Ya.”

“Your uncle—what’s his situation? Does he meet the criteria for the Moon Pursuit operation?”

Grand Void Palace accepts disciples who begin cultivation at fourteen, and the Moon Pursuit operation recurs every six years.

That means the demon clan assumes Grand Void Palace disciples over twenty cannot participate.

The demon clan applies the same rule to Grand Void’s teams.

Now, with a guest elder from Grand Void Palace appearing, Little Peng King had doubts.

Yi Ya smiled. “My uncle’s talent is extraordinary. He’s a rare beast, absolutely under twenty.”

Little Peng King said, “Fine, we’ll leave it for now. You captured Kong Cheng—do you intend to exchange him for your scout, Tian Bugui?”

Yi Ya replied, “Exchange? I’d rather not.”

Little Peng King pondered, then snorted, “If you wish to exchange, I won’t provoke conflict.”

“If not…”

“Then tomorrow morning, you bring Kong Cheng’s head, and I’ll deliver Tian Bugui’s. No further words needed.”

Yi Ya raised his hand. “Little Peng King, we’re all cultivators. Speaking so lightly of heads and deaths offends the heavens.”

“I have a proposal.”

Little Peng King sensed hope for negotiation and softened his tone. “Daoist Brother, you truly are compassionate. I too dislike this war.”

“Let’s exchange hostages. I promise Kong Cheng will not join further battles.”

“Your scout is only at the early Qi Gathering stage. This compromise is much in your favor.”

Yi Ya shook his head. “How dull.”

“The last Moon Pursuit battle, I had just entered Grand Void Palace. Nearly seven years have passed, and I’ve always heard of the Hundred-Thousand Demon Mountains’ might, but never witnessed it myself.”

“When armies clash, there’s no chance for an honorable duel—a regret.”

“Why not make a wager?”

Little Peng King asked, “What kind of wager?”

Yi Ya said, “A contest—best two out of three. Winner takes all, loser dies.”

“I won’t take advantage; since I propose it, I’ll give you plenty of time to prepare.”

“Three days from now, at noon, we’ll set a stage midway between our armies.”

“Do you dare?”

Little Peng King spread his wings. “Human cultivators’ strength doesn’t vary much within the same realm—not weak, not strong, but overall surpasses demons.”

“You’re sure—one-on-one, best two out of three?”

Yi Ya laughed heartily. “That applies to ordinary humans.”

“When I entered Qi Gathering, I gave myself a title—Flash Thunder Invincible Sword Sovereign.”

“With my sword, I fear no cultivator, not even royal demons.”

“If you’re afraid, just pretend I never said it.”

Little Peng King replied, “I heard your title was Flash Radiance Invincible Sword Sovereign, not Flash Thunder?”

Yi Ya’s poor memory betrayed him; his cheeks reddened. “That’s irrelevant. Will you accept the challenge?”

Little Peng King: “Accepted! Three days from now, at noon.”

Yi Ya: “Best two out of three.”

Little Peng King: “Life or death?”

Yi Ya paused. “Agreed.”

He turned and flew away, sword beneath his feet.

Little Peng King watched him disappear into the distance, resumed his human form, and landed atop the mountain. “Arrogant…”