“Battle?” Zhang Xuan frowned in incomprehension. “The Otherworldly Demons actually dared to appear in the open… not to mention, they are even adhering to the rules?”
Based on what he knew, etiquette and such meant nothing to the Otherworldly Demons. Driven by their bloodlust, they were mostly interested only in slaughter. Thus, it was extremely bizarre for an Otherworldly Demon to actually issue a formal challenge.
More importantly, there were many powerful master teachers in the Pavilion of Warm Spring… Given that the deep-seated conflict between the master teachers and the Otherworldly Demons had gone on for tens of thousands of years, it was inevitable that both sides would have some loved ones who had been killed by the other party. Was the Otherworldly Demon not afraid of being killed running over here like that?
“It’s not that they want to adhere to the rules. They have no choice but to do so!” Sword Saint Xing explained with a bitter smile.
“They have no choice but to do so?” Zhang Xuan was perplexed by those words. A moment later, he widened his eyes in realization. “Could it be that… there are Ancient Sages here?”
It was only in the presence of the Ancient Sages would even Sempiternal realm consummation experts be forced to obediently abide by the rules.
“Indeed, there are Ancient Sages around the area. The Ancient Sage of our Zhang Clan is here too… As the Ancient Sages of both sides are a little apprehensive about facing the other, they have come to an agreement to resolve any conflict by a fair duel. Willful murder is prohibited… Otherwise, there’s no way that it would have been so peaceful around here!” Sword Saint Xing explained.
Zhang Xuan nodded in realization.
It was no wonder he did not encounter any danger along the way. It must have been due to the pact between the two factions.
Otherwise, it was likely that a war would have broken out before the Subordinate Hall even opened. Perhaps, they might even have ended up whittling each other down, only to have the treasures end up in the hands of another.
To use an analogy from his previous life, the Ancient Sages on both sides were like nuclear weapons keeping each other in check. The reason that neither side was willing to mobilize their Ancient Sages was because they knew that the scales would immediately tilt if they lost their Ancient Sages. Considering how they had not even seen the Great Codex of Spring and Autumn yet, there was no reason for them to go all out and take on such a risk.
“The reason they are challenging me is because they wish to acquire the Celestial Amulet of Legacy in my hands… or possibly enter the Temple of Confucius right behind us!” Sword Saint Xing whipped out his sword and sneered coldly. “However, how could I allow them to do as they please?”
“Father, please wait a moment!” Seeing that Sword Saint Xing was about to head down, Zhang Xuan stood up and halted him. “Allow me to face him instead!”
“You?” Sword Saint Xing was taken aback.
“Indeed. While my cultivation is only at the Aureate Body realm, I do have the strength to fend off Sempiternal realm cultivators. Furthermore, I did stumble upon some minor fortuitous encounters on my way here, and I think this would be a good opportunity for me to test myself,” Zhang Xuan replied confidently.
While Sword Saint Xing had already reached Sempiternal realm consummation, the enemy was no weakling. It was not that he did not have any confidence in Sword Saint Xing’s fighting prowess, but he was simply unwilling to see any harm coming to the other party.
Sword Saint Xing assessed Zhang Xuan deeply for a moment before nodding. “Alright then… Take care! If you find yourself forced into a corner, run right back here.”
His son might only have been in his early twenties, but he possessed many means that made even the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters apprehensive of him. To be honest, he was not confident of defeating Bei Yuan by himself, but his son very likely had the capability to pull it off!
“I will!” Zhang Xuan nodded. After that, he leaped out of the pavilion and appeared right before the Otherworldly Demon. “I am Zhang Xuan. If you wish to challenge my father, you’ll have to bypass me first!”
“Are you able to make decisions here?” It seemed like Bei Yuan did not recognize Zhang Xuan. Seeing how young the fellow standing before him was, Bei Yuan eyed him skeptically. “If you lose, I expect you to hand over the Celestial Amulet of Legacy!”
“Of course I can!” Zhang Xuan chuckled softly in response. “If I lose, we’ll hand the Celestial Amulet of Legacy to you. However, what if I win?”
Bei Yuan flicked his wrist and took out a metallic armor that boasted astonishing flexibility. Patting the metallic armor forcefully, Bei Yuan harrumphed. “If you win, I’ll give this Great Sage armor to you as compensation!”
“You are intending to trade the Celestial Amulet of Legacy with just a Great Sage artifact? Do you take me for a fool?” Zhang Xuan’s eyebrows shot up in disdain.
Even the Hundred Schools of Philosophers offered an Ancient Sage artifact to match the Celestial Amulet of Legacy! To offer a mere Great Sage artifact for the wager… the other party was really taking him too lightly!
“What do you want then?” Bei Yuan frowned.
They had also conducted similar duels earlier, and even though their tribesmen had lost, Sword Saint Xing did not raise any requests. Why would this wager suddenly become unfair when it came to this young man?
“Three Great Sage artifacts!” Zhang Xuan demanded firmly.
“Three Great Sage artifacts?” Bei Yuan narrowed his eyes upon hearing the other party’s demand. “You’re dreaming!”
“So be it then! I can’t be wasting my time on you either. You should know that the Celestial Amulet of Legacy is necessary to enter the Temple of Confucius. While it’s only the Subordinate Hall, so the Great Codex of Spring and Autumn wouldn’t be there, regardless, the heritage of Kong shi is bound to be extraordinary. You’d better think it through. Don’t say that I didn’t give you a chance when that time comes… If you aren’t going to accept the deal, you should hurry up and say so. I am exhausted from exploring the area, and I want to take a rest!” Zhang Xuan stretched his back lazily as he walked back to the Pavilion of Warm Spring.
“This…” Bei Yuan fell silent.
Three Great Sage artifacts was a hefty price to pay, but it came nowhere close in comparison to an opportunity to enter the Temple of Confucius and obtain Kong shi’s heritage.
“Give me a moment. I’ll return and discuss the matter with the others!”
Leaving these words behind, Bei Yuan turned around and headed to a pavilion not too far away with the words ‘Irate Summer’ written on it.
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Not too long later, he returned and said, “I’ll agree to your request!”
After saying those words, he flicked his wrist, and three Great Sage artifacts materialized before him.
In reciprocation, Sword Saint Xing stepped forward and placed the Celestial Amulet of Legacy floating in the air as well.
“Let’s begin! I don’t believe that a young brat in his twenties could possibly be a match for me!” Bei Yuan spat.
With both sides offering up their stakes, Bei Yuan wasted no time in drawing his sword, prepared to leap right into the duel.
“Hold it a moment. Before we begin, I believe that there’s a need for us to clarify the rules!” Zhang Xuan raised his hand.
“Rules?”
“Indeed. The battle between us should be regarded as a fair duel, right?”
“Of course!” Bei Yuan nodded in agreement.
“Since it’s a fair duel, I should be able to make use of any skills at my disposal, right? To put it in more straightforward terms, a formation master would be able to make use of his formations, and a beast tamer would be able to bring his tamed beasts into the battle. Does that sound fair to you?” Zhang Xuan asked.
“Of course! Whatever occupation you have, feel free to use those techniques in the battle!” Bei Yuan shrugged nonchalantly.
A formation master’s strength indubitably lay in setting in formations, and a beast tamer’s strength included his tamed beasts. They had devoted their time to furthering those arts in order to be able to use them in battle, so there was no denying that it was part of their capabilities as well.
“I see… That makes things really easy then!” Hearing Bei Yuan’s agreement, Zhang Xuan flicked his wrist and commanded, “Tamed beasts, give that fellow a beating of his life!”
Huala!
As soon as those words sounded, the Five Monarchs immediately materialized before Zhang Xuan and surrounded Bei Yuan. The sheer intensity of their auras combined seemed almost strong enough to tear space apart.
“These are your tamed beasts?” Bei Yuan staggered in utter shock upon seeing those five tamed beasts.
At the same time, the Xingmeng Sword Saints and the many master teachers in the Pavilion of Warm Spring also widened their eyes to the brim, rendered speechless by the sight before them.
Those are five Sempiternal realm consummation tamed beasts…
Are these the ‘minor fortuitous encounters’ that you mentioned earlier?
If these are considered as minor fortuitous encounters, is there anything in the world that could be considered as a major fortuitous encounter?
“Indeed,” Zhang Xuan said. “I am a beast tamer, and we agreed that it’s fair for me to use my tamed beasts in battle earlier, right? Hurry up and make your move then!”
“…” Bei Yuan spurted blood.
Fair your head!
How am I supposed to fight against five Sempiternal realm consummation beasts simultaneously?
“If you aren’t going to take the first move, I’ll be going first!” Zhang Xuan remarked impatiently. Raising his hand, he passed down the order to attack. “Get him!”
Roar! Roar! Roar! Roar! Roar!
The five Sempiternal realm consummation beasts charged at Bei Yuan.
Putting aside their cultivation realm, each of them carried the bloodline of the Ancient Divine Beasts, and as the Five Monarchs of the forest dimension, they had survived many battles. Even though Bei Yuan was not weak, he would not be a match for even a single one of them, let alone five of them at once.
All it took was a few breaths for his body to be bruised, fractured, and bleeding all over.
Knowing that he would die if he obstinately held on, Bei Yuan desperately screamed, “I’ll admit defeat…”
“Heh, that’s more like it…” Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction as he stowed the three Great Sage artifacts into his storage ring.
Glancing at the Pavilion of Irate Summer, he said, “Is there anyone who wants to challenge me? I, Zhang Xuan, am more than willing to play along. Otherwise, I’ll challenge all of the Otherworldly Demons in the Pavilion of Irate Summer. Is there anyone who dares to take up my challenge?”