### Chapter 47: The Life-and-Death Oath
The night clung to Lingwu Mountain like a thick cloak, but while most disciples caroused, Lin Yi and Pan Yu stayed rooted in cultivation. Lin Yi delved deeper into the *Five Spirits Body Tempering Technique*, his meridians humming as he inched toward the next transformation. Pan Yu, meanwhile, hovered at the edge of a breakthrough, his breath steady as he channeled the last of the Great Replenishing Pills Lin Yi had given him.
Dawn broke pale and cold. Mu Rongfeng slipped back into the sect, his face set in a grim line. He locked himself in his cottage, a "Do Not Disturb" sign hanging like a challenge.
Outside Lin Yi's cottage, Pan Yu's eyes snapped open. A surge of spiritual energy rippled off him—he'd done it. *Second Level of Qi Refinement*. He'd burned through five pills in one go, letting their狂暴 energy shatter the bottleneck. A faint smile touched his lips before he resumed meditating, stabilizing his newfound power.
Lin Yi emerged at noon, starving. When he spotted Pan Yu's aura, he laughed. "Congratulations, Junior Brother. Well earned."
Pan Yu bowed deeply. "All thanks to you, Senior Brother. Without the pills…"
"Save the modesty. Talent and effort matter most," Lin Yi said, waving him off. "Fetch us something to eat? I'm starving."
After a simple meal, they headed to the western clearing. The air crackled with anticipation—today, the top three would duel: Lin Yi, Mu Rongfeng, and Ma Yunliu, the winner of the earlier matches.
The clearing was packed, split into two raucous factions. On one side, disciples chanted, "Lin Yi! Victory!" On the other, a smaller group roared for Mu Rongfeng. Sunlight blazed down, but no one minded the heat—this was the match they'd waited for.
Lin Yi's arrival set off a frenzy. "Senior Brother Lin!" fans shouted, waving hands, some even holding crudely drawn banners.
Lin Yi grinned, waving back. "Appreciate the support! I won't let you down."
A scrawny youth pushed to the front. "Senior Brother, did you know? Bets are already placed! When you were Fourth Level, odds were 3:1 against you. Now? It's 1:2—everyone's betting on you!"
Lin Yi chuckled. He'd gambled on tournaments before; he didn't mind the attention. "Good to know my odds are improving."
Suddenly, a female disciple squeezed through the crowd, her face flushed. She pressed a silk sachet into his hand—embroidered with peonies, it smelled of jasmine. "For luck, Senior Brother," she mumbled, then fled back into the throng.
Lin Yi stared at the sachet, dumbfounded. In his two years as an outer disciple, female cultivators had barely glanced his way. Now? A pretty one was flirting. He tucked the sachet into his belt, grinning. *Been too long since I've had company*, he thought. *After this, I'm finding her.*
The crowd wolf-whistled. The female disciple peeked back, smiling shyly before vanishing. Lin Yi stored the image of her face in his mind—soft eyes, a dimple when she smiled. *Definitely worth chasing.*
Mu Rongfeng arrived next, his presence quieting the crowd. His supporters cheered, but their voices paled beside Lin Yi's faction. He ignored the stares, his gaze locking onto Lin Yi with a cold intensity.
"All three finalists, step forward!" Elder Guan called.
Lin Yi, Mu Rongfeng, and Ma Yunliu stepped into the arena. No more抽签—today, they'd fight until only one remained standing. The top three would be decided in a free-for-all, with the last two dueling for second place.
But before Elder Guan could signal the start, Mu Rongfeng raised a hand. "I have a request, Elder."
Elder Guan raised an eyebrow. "Speak."
"I wish to sign a life-and-death oath with Lin Yi," Mu Rongfeng said, his voice ringing clear. "Only then can we fight without restraint—proving who's truly the strongest."
Gasps erupted. A life-and-death oath? It meant no holds barred—kill or be killed. In sect tournaments, such oaths were rare; they screamed of deep enmity.
"Why?" someone shouted. "It's just a tournament!"
Mu Rongfeng's jaw tightened. *Because he knows too much. Because he's a threat to everything.* He'd visited Lord Luo yesterday, begging for a way to ensure Lin Yi's death. The oath was his ticket—legitimizing murder under the guise of "unrestrained combat."
Lin Yi's lips curled into a half-smile. *Perfect.* He'd been waiting for this. Exposing Mu Rongfeng without proof was risky, but killing him in a sanctioned duel? No one would bat an eye.
"Lin Yi?" Elder Guan asked. "Do you agree?"
Sect rules required both parties to consent. Forcing an oath would turn the sect into a slaughterhouse, driving away new disciples.
Lin Yi shrugged, as if discussing the weather. "Why not? If he wants a fair fight, I'm game."
The crowd exploded.
"Lin Yi's got guts!"
"Mu Rongfeng's asking for death!"
"He must have a trick up his sleeve—why else risk it?"
Pan Yu paled, grabbing Lin Yi's arm. "Senior Brother, don't! He's Fourth Level, but he's been cultivating longer—he might have hidden techniques!"
Lin Yi patted his shoulder. "Relax. I've got this."
Mu Rongfeng's eyes flickered. *Arrogant fool.* He'd brought a secret weapon—poisoned darts, courtesy of Lord Luo. Even if Lin Yi's cultivation was higher, one scratch would end him.
Elder Huo fetched a scroll of yellowed paper, inked with ancient runes—the life-and-death oath. "By signing, you acknowledge that death in combat is permissible. No grudges, no retaliation. Do you both understand?"
"I do," Mu Rongfeng said, snatching the brush. He scrawled his name, the ink glowing faintly.
Lin Yi took the brush, his hand steady. He added his name beside Mu Rongfeng's. The scroll shivered, then split into two, one half floating to each man. A magical binding—breaking the oath would curse their cultivation, dooming them to stagnation.
"Begin!" Elder Guan roared.
Ma Yunliu, wisely, stepped back. "I'll wait for the winner," he said, bowing out. This was between Lin Yi and Mu Rongfeng.
Mu Rongfeng struck first. He lunged, hands weaving spells—*Wind Blades*, sharp as razors, sliced toward Lin Yi.
Lin Yi didn't dodge. He activated the *Breezing Wind Boots*, his speed doubling. He darted sideways, the wind blades slamming into the dirt behind him, kicking up clouds of dust.
"Is that all?" Lin Yi taunted, drawing his sword. "I expected more from the 'outer sect leader.'"
Mu Rongfeng's face twisted. He pulled a handful of darts from his sleeve—tiny, black, glistening with venom. He hurled them, aiming for Lin Yi's throat.
Lin Yi's eyes narrowed. *Poison.* He recognized the sheen—it matched the Netherworld Needles from that night. He spun, sword slashing in a silver arc, knocking the darts aside. They clattered to the ground, smoking where they touched the grass.
The crowd hissed. "Poison? That's cheating!"
"Fair game in a life-and-death oath!" Mu Rongfeng snapped. He'd never intended to fight honorably.
Lin Yi's smile vanished. Cold fury settled over him. "You really want to die, don't you?"
He charged, sword trailing blue light—*Sky-Shattering Ninth Strike: Crescent Moon*. The air screamed as the blade cut through it, aimed straight for Mu Rongfeng's chest.
Mu Rongfeng scrambled back, summoning a shield of earth. *Boom!* The sword shattered it, sending shards flying. He stumbled, tripping over his own feet.
Lin Yi was on him in a flash, sword at his throat.
"Yield," Lin Yi said, his voice low. "Last chance."
Mu Rongfeng stared up at him, hatred blazing. "Never." He spat, lunging for a dagger at his waist.
Lin Yi didn't hesitate.
The sword moved so fast, most missed it. One moment, it hovered at Mu Rongfeng's throat; the next, Mu Rongfeng's eyes went wide, blood bubbling from his lips.
He crumpled, dead before he hit the ground.
Silence.
Then, as the reality sank in, the crowd erupted.
"Lin Yi! Winner!"
"He did it!"
"Mu Rongfeng got what he deserved!"
Lin Yi pulled his sword free, wiping the blood on Mu Rongfeng's robes. He met Elder Guan's gaze, calm as ever. "Self-defense. He refused to yield."
Elder Guan nodded, his expression unreadable. "The oath holds. Lin Yi is first. Ma Yunliu, step forward—you're second by default."
Lin Yi sheathed his sword, ignoring the stares. Mu Rongfeng was dead, but the shadow behind him—Lord Luo, the conspiracy—lingered.
But for now, he stood in the sun, the crowd cheering his name. He'd won. And soon, he'd challenge the core disciples—one step closer to uncovering the truth.
He touched the jasmine sachet at his belt, a faint smile returning. *First, though… time to find that female disciple.*