Chapter 13: Betting on Life

"What? Does the new disciple with only 1st Level of Energy Condensation want to challenge Meldon?"

"He is really bold, isn't he?"

News of Frank challenging Meldon from the Earto Peak spread quickly, causing a huge stir among the outer sect disciples of the Alps Sect. Even the disciples who had come out early to absorb celestial essence all flocked in the direction of the fight.

From afar, a battle stage could be seen, surrounded by a crowd of disciples.

This stage called the Cloude Platform was a place reserved by the Alps Sect for disciples to spar and settle personal grudges. Over the years, the number of disciples who had lost limbs on the platform numbered in the hundreds, if not thousands.

At this moment, Frank stood on the Cloude Platform, with the Heavenly Palace Sword on his back. His figure was tall and straight, standing firm amidst the changing winds, like an unbreakable monument.

"Is that Frank? The new probationary disciple of Alps Sect?"

Below the platform, voices of discussion rose and fell, with many pointing at Frank, though most found his age and cultivation level embarrassing.

"I heard the heads of the three main peaks in the outer sect didn't want to take him as a disciple, so he became a probationary disciple."

"Could he be challenging Meldon to attract the attention of the three main peak heads and get accepted as a disciple?"

"That's probably it."

Frank ignored the surrounding discussions. In his sleeves, his fists clenched so hard that they turned white, and his body trembled slightly with suppressed killing intent.

"Meldon is here." At the sound of a voice, Frank turned and looked to the edge of the crowd.

A group of over a dozen Earto Peak disciples, dressed in luxurious robes escorted Meldon. They were arrogant and domineering, so much so that the disciples present dared not provoke them and quickly made way.

"Greetings, Meldon."

"Hello, Meldon."

The disciples on both sides saluted and bowed, their words full of implicit flattery.

Hmm!

With an air of seniority, Meldon walked with his hands behind his back, not looking around. His indifferent expression made him look like some high-level elder with profound cultivation.

Under everyone's watchful gaze, Meldon arrived at the Cloude Platform. He glanced at Frank with disdain, and said mockingly, "Frank, I didn't come looking for you, but you came to me instead. You must have a death wish."

"Get on the stage." Frank only uttered these words in response to Meldon's disdain and mockery.

"Who do you think you are? How dare you speak to Meldon like that?" Before Meldon could respond, one of the Earto Peak disciples behind him shouted angrily, "Do you think Meldon needs to fight a nobody like you personally?"

As he spoke, that disciple was about to rush onto the platform, but Meldon stopped him.

"Since Frank has challenged me, there's no harm in a little sparring. We on Earto Peak are always fair and won't break the rules of the Cloude Platform, right?"

With a faint smile, Meldon flicked his robe. Then, he landed gracefully on the platform. His elegant movements elicited screams from the female disciples below.

Hearing the cheers, Meldon once again folded his hands behind his back. He seemed to enjoy the looks of flattery and awe below.

Buzz!

Opposite him, Frank had already drawn the Heavenly Palace Sword. The massive and heavy sword cut through the air, producing a buzzing sound.

"Let's start!" Frank's firm words echoed with determination, and he was already prepared for battle.

"No rush." Meldon looked at Frank with amusement, a mocking smile on his face. "Since sparring on the Cloude Platform usually involves a wager, doesn't Frank want to bet on something?"

Frank frowned, immediately understanding Meldon's intention—to win something from him.

On the Cloude Platform, both sides in a duel could place bets, and the winner would take all the stakes. The bets could be spirit stones, Spiritual Purity Liquid, pills, or mystical techniques, anything agreed upon by both parties.

Frank had fought on similar platforms in the Sunrise Sect and was well aware of these rules.

"What do you want to bet on?" Frank replied indifferently, glancing at Meldon across from him.

"The loser will serve the winner as a servant for life." Meldon smiled faintly, a cunning glint flashing in his eyes.

"Isn't that bet a bit...?" A murmur swept through the crowd below. "Serving as a lifelong servant is almost like a slave contract. Frank is playing a big game this time."

"Frank, how about it?" Meldon asked, his chin raised high in a challenging manner.

Amid everyone's attention, a cold smile appeared on Frank's lips. "If you want a wager, why don't we raise the stakes?"

Surprised, Meldon raised his eyebrows, sneering. "And what do you want to be on?"

"Our lives."

Hiss!

Hearing this, the crowd gasped in shock.

How much grudge was there to reach this point? This was a fight to the death!

Bloodsheds on the Cloude Platform were common, but betting one's life was unprecedented.

No one could have expected that Frank, a probationary disciple at the 1st Level of Energy Condensation, would gamble his life against a disciple at the Peak 5th Level of Energy Condensation. They wondered if Frank was so bold, or had he lost his mind?

Opposite him, Meldon's eyes narrowed.

He thought his bet was already extreme, but he hadn't expected Frank to go even further. Serving as a servant meant staying alive, but wagering life was no joke. One mistake could mean death.

"Kid, do you understand what you're saying?" Meldon's voice turned cold; his gaze filled with malice. He already felt overshadowed by Frank when they merely spoke about the bet.

"What, scared?"

"Scared?" Meldon laughed out loud, but his laughter soon stopped abruptly as he looked at Frank viciously. "Fine, I'll take the bet. If you want to die so badly, you can't blame me."

Before he finished speaking, Meldon launched himself forward like a whirlwind, his elixir field bursting with true energy, and aimed a fierce palm strike at Frank's head.

Buzz!

Frank swung the massive Heavenly Palace Sword to block.

Clang!

Meldon's palm hit the Heavenly Palace Sword, producing a metallic clash, and the sword trembled with a hum. However, Meldon also felt the force rebound, making him grunt as he staggered back, his hands numb.

"I've underestimated you." Meldon spoke coldly.

"Underestimate me, and you'll die horribly." Frank's icy voice carried a killing intent as he swung the massive Heavenly Palace Sword again.

Buzz!

Buzz!

Buzz!

Soon, the sound of the sword cutting through the air became constant, and the sight of the heavy Heavenly Palace Sword made the crowd below swallow nervously. Getting hit by that sword would be brutal.

"Where does this kid get such strength?"

"At 1st Level of Energy Condensation, true energy is already limited, and channeling true energy to wield the Heavenly Palace Sword exhausts both true energy and speed. Choosing Heavenly Palace Sword wasn't wise," remarked a disciple with a discerning eye, shaking his head at Frank's strategy.

"Still, a 1st Level of Energy Condensation disciple holding up against Meldon for three moves shows some skill."

Clang!

A sharp sound interrupted the discussions below. Meldon had already knocked the Heavenly Palace Sword out of Frank's hands before five moves were exchanged.

At this point, many people sighed, and some even left, seeing this battle as predictable despite the high stakes.

"Let's see what else you've got." Meldon sneered, stepping forward and releasing three sword blades. He then followed up, his momentum fierce, intending to finish off Frank with one strike.

Frank sneered back. Freed from the weight of the Heavenly Palace Sword, he felt lighter. No longer suppressed, his blood surged and boiled, even causing his bones to crackle.

"Attack!"

With a sudden shout, Frank pushed off the ground like a cannonball. Just as the three sword blades were about to pierce him, he leaped, evading them with the agility of an ape.

This was the "Monkey Leap", a technique from the Beastly Rage.

Frank's smooth evasion surprised Meldon, who was charging right after his sword blades. Frank was now directly above him. Meanwhile, Meldon, who was leaning forward, couldn't quickly change his position.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye.

"Get down!"

With a cold shout, Frank gathered all his strength and true energy into his right leg and delivered a solid kick to Meldon's face.