Chapter 84: Mutation

At his command, more than thirty disciples in embroidered robes rushed out from the main hall. These individuals remained silent, quietly enclosing a death match arena on the open ground in front of the hall using wooden stakes and ropes. Their swift movements clearly indicated they were well-trained, not ordinary low-ranking disciples of the Seven Mysteries Sect.

Watching the dueling arena being set up, Li Feiyu anxiously asked Han Li, "Are we just going to hide here, doing nothing but watching them duel? That doesn't seem right!"

"What's wrong with it? Your sweetheart isn't in any danger right now; she's perfectly safe. Once their duel is over, we'll secretly take Miss Zhang out amidst the chaos of the Wild Wolf Gang's retreat. Then the two of you can run off and find a place where they can't find you, saving you from being made a scapegoat and carrying the blame for something you can't bear," Han Li said indifferently, seemingly without much sense of belonging to the Seven Mysteries Sect.

"Isn't that eloping? No, Xiuer won't agree to that!" Li Feiyu shook his head vigorously.

"Then just knock her out, forcibly take her away, and make it a done deal," Han Li replied casually.

"You..." Li Feiyu stared wide-eyed, speechless and fuming at Han Li's words.

As the two continued their bickering, Sect Master Wang solemnly received two blood-red documents, death contracts, from a disciple. He kept one for himself and had the other delivered to Jia Tianlong, who stood opposite him.

Jia Tianlong's expression also turned solemn as he took the document. He carefully opened and meticulously read it, nodding only after confirming there were no issues before closing it. Then he began selecting the combatants for the death match.

After a round of selection, he chose thirteen elite experts from the Wild Wolf Gang. To minimize losses, he also picked a dozen capable gang members from smaller sects and gangs. Regardless of their willingness, once they signed the death contract, they would have to fight desperately for their lives. The remaining combatants consisted entirely of his well-coordinated Iron Guards. Of course, Master Jinguang would also participate; he was entirely counting on the master's flying sword technique to display its formidable power!

While Jia Tianlong was busy, Wang Juechu, from the opposing side, had apparently returned to the stone hall at some point. He hadn't reappeared yet, likely racking his brains over his own selection of combatants for the death match.

When the death arena was finally complete, Sect Master Wang finally emerged from the hall with three to four hundred people. Among them were old and young, men and women, but each had a determined glint in their eyes and steady steps, clearly indicating they were elites of the Seven Mysteries Sect. What concerned Jia Tianlong the most were the three individuals closely following Wang Juechu.

One was dressed as a scholar, with a flowing Confucian robe and an air of scholarly refinement. Another was a tall, burly man with a bare chest and a bristly, steel-needle-like beard, looking exceptionally fierce. The last was a cold-faced individual in gray robes, carrying a long sword on his back.

At first glance, these individuals appeared to be middle-aged, around thirty or forty years old. However, a closer look at their faces revealed a sense of worldly experience in their eyes and brows, typical of someone seventy or eighty years old, suggesting they were much older than their appearances implied.

Jia Tianlong understood that these three must be Wang Juechu's three martial uncles. It seemed the other party was truly going all out, intent on keeping him here.

With this thought, he turned slightly, pointing at the three individuals, and asked Master Jinguang, the dwarf beside him, "Master, what do you think of those three? Can you handle them?"

"Just a few mortals. Once my flying sword appears, their lives will be over! What is there to worry about? Do you not trust me?" Master Jinguang's eyes widened in displeasure, his tone becoming somewhat unfriendly.

"Of course not, of course not! I merely asked casually, Immortal Master, please don't take it to heart," Jia Tianlong quickly offered a fawning smile, fearing to offend his greatest reliance at that moment.

"Hmph!" The dwarf's anger gradually subsided after hearing this.

Seeing this, Jia Tianlong finally relaxed. This great immortal was indeed difficult to please!

He secretly gave a bitter smile, then quickly turned around and loudly commanded, "Are you ready? Begin signing the death contracts!"

At this shout, the Wild Wolf Gang members participating in the death match solemnly began writing their names and signing the death contracts, demonstrating their fighting spirit. Meanwhile, Wang Juechu, not to be outdone, coldly commanded, "Sign the death contracts!"

Immediately, dozens of previously selected combatants from the Seven Mysteries Sect crowd stepped forward, also preparing to sign the death contracts. As these individuals stepped out, Han Li naturally looked in that direction, wanting to see if there were any familiar faces among the crowd. He also saw Sect Master Wang's three martial uncles, but he paid them little mind, his gaze quickly passing over them to land on an old man in a green robe.

The moment he saw the old man's face, Han Li involuntarily gasped, "Elder Li!"

This was Elder Li, Ma Rong's master, whose life Han Li had once saved. It was completely unexpected that he was also among those participating in the death match.

Snapping back to his senses, Han Li quickly turned to Li Feiyu, patting his shoulder hard, and said, "Did you see? Elder Li is there too! He's going to sign the death contract!"

Li Feiyu stood motionless, showing no reaction. He gazed into the distance, as if he hadn't heard a thing, his expression utterly blank.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Han Li was surprised. "Even if Elder Li is signing the death contract, there's no need to react like this!" he asked curiously.

Upon hearing this, Li Feiyu finally drew back his gaze. He stared blankly at Han Li and uttered words that made Han Li momentarily lose himself.

"Xiuer... Xiuer, she's there too. She's also going to participate in the death match!"

After saying this, Li Feiyu's face immediately turned ghastly.