Chapter 125: The Duel!

As soon as Hu Mo’s words left his lips, not only were those inside the barrier wide-eyed, but the officials outside were also struck with utter shock.

Zhu Xinyue clung tightly to Hu Mo. She had entrusted everything she was to him; it felt as if even if the heavens were to collapse, Hu Mo would be the one to hold them up. Others might have heard his words and deemed him suicidal, but to Zhu Xinyue, they were sweeter than any love confession in the world.

Zhu Yan’s face turned scarlet with rage. Sparks of flame danced across his body, and the holy fire within the jade box he held suddenly surged, shattering the box entirely.

"Insolent! Hu Mo, you have some nerve speaking to me like this! Who do you think you are? Retracting my decree? Ha! Guards, seize him and throw him into the death cell!" Zhu Yan roared. Driven to the brink of madness by Hu Mo and Zhu Xinyue, he wanted nothing more than to see Hu Mo vanish instantly, lest he lose control of his own actions.

"Father, no!" Zhu Xinyue suddenly looked up and cried out to him. "Father, if you touch Brother Hu, then kill your daughter alongside him! I am a member of the Hu family in life and a ghost of the Hu family in death. That is something no one can ever change!" She spoke with unwavering resolve.

She knew that by saying this, she had completely severed ties with Zhu Yan. Yet, she also understood that if she yielded now, she would lose something a thousand times more precious than life itself.

"Audacious! You..." Zhu Yan’s fury was fully ignited. He even contemplated purging his own kin, letting this daughter who had shamed the royal family die by his own hand! He was truly, thoroughly enraged.

"Your Majesty, please calm yourself," Duanmu Shenxu said suddenly. A gentle flow of wood-attribute battle energy entered Zhu Yan’s body, soothing his volatile emotions.

Duanmu Hong stepped forward, smiled at Hu Mo, and said, "So this is the newly appointed General Weilong of the Skyfire Empire, the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, Brother Hu Mo. Could you please release my fiancée so that we may have a proper talk?"

Duanmu Hong’s face remained fixed in a harmless, friendly smile—the very thing Hu Mo despised most. It was a knife hidden in a smile, a weapon that killed without a trace. The more Hu Mo looked at him, the more disgusted he felt.

He shook his head slightly, his tone shifting. "I’m sorry, Crown Prince, but this is not your Godwood Empire, and you are not the Crown Prince of our Skyfire Empire; therefore, I will not follow your orders. Furthermore, mind your language. Xinyue is not your fiancée; she is mine. You do not have the qualifications!"

Hu Mo’s blunt words immediately ignited the confrontation. A trace of coldness appeared on Duanmu Shenxu’s face, and Wang Xu of the Heavenly Saint Palace also looked displeased. To Hu Mo’s surprise, Zhu Wannian seemed quite pleased by the situation, watching Hu Mo with evident appreciation.

Observing the expressions and gestures of these old men, Hu Mo sneered. "What? Are you senior experts planning to bully the weak? Why don't you all come at me together? That would truly demonstrate the formidable power of you 'senior experts'!"

At his words, the expressions of Duanmu Shenxu and Wang Xu shifted again. Their killing intent flared, only to be slowly suppressed.

"Haha, this boy is good! He suits my taste! Old Man Duanmu, Brother Wang, you mustn't bully the young! This little fellow is a genius of our Skyfire Empire; I cannot let you harm him." Zhu Wannian’s words were pointed, making the faces of Duanmu Shenxu and Wang Xu look quite sour.

"Brother Zhu, you talk too much. We do not need your reminders. How could we possibly attack a junior?" Wang Xu’s tone turned cold and hard. As an envoy of the Heavenly Saint Palace, he naturally could not act in such a manner, even though he was deeply annoyed.

Hu Mo inwardly smiled. He knew these old men were obsessed with their reputations. With so many people watching, if they attacked him, they would be despised by the world.

"Brother Zhu is right. We old men certainly cannot intervene, or we would lose face. Let the juniors handle this matter. Hong’er, you know what to do," Duanmu Shenxu said with a smile, though that smile sent a chill down Hu Mo’s spine.

Duanmu Hong responded and turned to Hu Mo. "General Hu, it is said that the Skyfire Empire has a custom: if you wish to win the woman you love, you must fight for her. I, Duanmu Hong, challenge you. Do you dare to accept?"

As Duanmu Hong spoke, his aura began to climb steadily. While he initially appeared to be at most a third-level Battle King, his power surged, rising three levels in a few short moments to match Hu Mo.

"The Godwood Sect’s 'Greenwood Elevation Technique' is truly impressive. My cultivation is humble, but I wonder if I might observe the battle?" Hu Yihu walked in from outside the barrier and appeared at Hu Mo’s side. He seemed to loathe Zhu Wannian, avoiding him like a plague-bearer upon entering the barrier, refusing even to glance his way.

Zhu Wannian was clearly displeased to see Hu Yihu, his eyes filled with disdain.

"Haha, so it is the Great Marshal Hu. I did not expect your family to be so remarkable, producing such a genius warrior. With your grandson’s aptitude, even entering the Heaven-Earth Gate of the Heavenly Saint Palace would be no issue. An eighteen-year-old sixth-level Battle King—perhaps only the legendary War Gods of the Battle Continent possessed such talent." Seeing Hu Yihu, Wang Xu’s mood improved considerably. In the Skyfire Empire, this old marshal was the one he valued most. Although his cultivation was only at the third-level Battle Emperor, his reputation was known throughout the continent. Who did not know the War God of the Skyfire Empire?

"You flatter me, Envoy. Our Hu family’s talent has withered; it is nothing worth mentioning. On the contrary, the Crown Prince is powerful, combining the strengths of both houses. I am truly impressed by his mastery of the Greenwood Elevation Technique," Hu Yihu said with a smile, while secretly explaining the secrets of the technique to Hu Mo.

The Greenwood Elevation Technique was a high-grade Earth-tier battle skill of the Greenwood Sect. It had no offensive power of its own; its primary purpose was to temporarily boost one’s battle rank. The extent of the increase depended on the user’s talent and proficiency. Moreover, it carried few side effects—only a few hours of weakness afterward—making it famous across the Battle Continent.

After using the technique, Duanmu Hong could raise his combat power by three levels; such talent was undeniably strong.

Zhu Yan had been left aside, his mood reaching an all-time low. Years ago, when he was the Crown Prince of the Skyfire Empire, the woman he loved most had been taken by Hu Meng in exactly this manner. Now, Hu Mo was following his father’s path to snatch his daughter, leaving him with an urge to go insane.

Yet, he could say nothing. Gambling for a woman or for honor was common in the Skyfire Empire and even sanctioned by national law. Furthermore, since Duanmu Hong had issued the challenge, he had no reason to stop it.

Thinking this, Zhu Yan retreated to the side, letting them fight.

"Very well. Since that is the case, we shall decide it through this method. I trust there will be no grievances regarding the outcome. Begin. Let me see your respective skills," Zhu Yan announced loudly. As the nominal highest authority present, it was his place to declare the start of the duel.

"Be careful, I’m a little scared..." Zhu Xinyue whispered, her delicate brows knitted together.

Hu Mo smiled faintly and tapped her small nose. "Don't worry, he is no match for me. Go to my grandfather and watch from there."

Zhu Xinyue nodded obediently and retreated, her eyes lingering on Hu Mo with reluctance as she moved away.

Duanmu Hong witnessed this entire exchange. Though his interest in Zhu Xinyue was superficial and lacked deep emotion, the thought that she should have been his, only to be held in another man’s arms, fueled his hatred. His smile grew more vicious.

Everyone retreated several dozen yards to provide them with enough space. Wang Xu, Duanmu Shenxu, and Zhu Wannian set up a defensive barrier within a thirty-yard radius, sealing the two inside before retreating outside to watch from a distance.

Outside the main barrier, Situ Feng looked on with a smile, his eyes narrowing. He muttered to himself, "Heh, everything seems to be getting more and more interesting. Hu Mo, I truly want to see what makes you qualified to be my opponent!"

Inside the large barrier, Zhu Xinluo’s face was dark. Her predatory gaze remained locked on Hu Mo, causing him to feel an inexplicable chill down his spine.

Beside her, Zhu Xinshui appeared calm. Seeing Zhu Xinluo’s furrowed brow, she sneered, "Big Sister, what are you worried about? Why do you seem even more nervous than the two of them?"

Zhu Xinluo snapped back to reality, the clouds on her face dissipating into a soft smile. "That is no concern of yours, Second Sister. What I worry about, or do not worry about, seems to have nothing to do with you."

"Heh, indeed, it has nothing to do with me. But if it involves our younger sister, I will not let it happen. Big Sister, whatever plans or ideas you have, execute them yourself—do not drag our little sister into being your scapegoat. It is truly despicable!" Zhu Xinshui leaned in to whisper in Zhu Xinluo’s ear. A rare smile graced her face, as if she felt quite satisfied saying those words.

Zhu Xinluo sneered and glanced at her. "Likewise. If you were to do such a thing, I would not forgive you either! Focus on the battle; it’s rare to see something like this. Heh, if two such excellent men were fighting over me, I would simply take them both. Tsk tsk, that would be for the best!"