Chapter 1417: The Zhang Family Assembly

"Zhang family? Which Zhang family?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

"Is there a second Zhang family in this world? Naturally, the one ranked first among the sage clans!"

Jian Qinsheng explained, "I wish to go there and hope that Teacher Zhang can accompany me."

"Me?" Zhang Xuan was completely baffled. "What would I do there?"

He wasn't a member of the Zhang family, so going there would be meaningless!

Besides, he had just beaten Zhang Chun into a swollen mess; going straight to their lair was not something he wanted to do so early in life.

"It's like this..."

Hesitating for a moment, Jian Qinsheng's face flushed slightly. "I have some grievances with the Rising Dream Sword Saint of the Zhang family. I once swore that my disciples would surpass his... You've seen my students; they really can't bear the burden. So, I hope Teacher Zhang can act on my behalf..."

If there were any other way, he wouldn't trouble the other party.

Both were grandmasters of the sword. He and the Rising Dream Sword Saint had competed and clashed in the Saint Hall. Later, when he became an elder and the other returned to his family to inherit the position of acting patriarch, they were no longer in a position to continue their feud directly, so they agreed to let their students compete.

They had competed several times before, and each time he had lost miserably.

The Zhang family members, whether in talent, bloodline, or even the speed of learning swordsmanship, were far superior to his disciples.

He had given up hope, but upon seeing Zhang Xuan—a Zhang by surname but not of the Zhang family—his confidence was reignited, and he brazenly came to seek him out.

Compared to the man before him, all his students were like frogs at the bottom of a well, and even he himself was far inferior.

"You mean for me to go challenge that Sword Saint as your sword art successor?"

Zhang Xuan understood.

He had met the other's students and indeed found them unworthy.

Even the strongest, Senior Brother Xie, had been defeated by him with a single strand of hair, utterly powerless to resist.

"To challenge him, your current strength is certainly insufficient. I want you to challenge his successor..."

Jian Qinsheng was slightly embarrassed.

The other had never learned a single move from him but had instead given him guidance. Now asking him to pose as his successor was indeed a bit awkward.

"This..." Unexpectedly faced with such a request, Zhang Xuan frowned, unsure how to respond.

Although he was very displeased with the Zhang family and wanted to give them a good beating, he would do so as Ruoxi's boyfriend, not as someone else.

"Senior, if you truly want to get revenge, you could train a successor using the sword art I revised. It shouldn't take long for results. There's no need to be so hasty..."

Without directly refusing, Zhang Xuan frowned and said.

Back then, he had destroyed the other's room and severely injured him. Feeling guilty, he had revised some of the sword art and passed it on to Shui Qianrou.

Given her talent and strength, as long as she practiced step by step, she would undergo a transformative change before long. That way, she would be his true personal disciple, giving him a legitimate reason to act.

After all, though he hadn't been in the Saint Hall long, he had offended many Zhang family members and was already well-known to them, seen as Teacher Yang's student.

Even if he wanted to impersonate someone, he would need them to believe it.

"The sword art you imparted, Teacher Zhang, is indeed profound. Even I have benefited greatly from studying it... If Shui Qianrou studies it diligently, she can indeed make remarkable progress... But time waits for no one. The Zhang family assembly is about to begin. If we miss it, who knows how long we'll have to wait."

Pausing, Jian Qinsheng said.

"Family assembly?" Zhang Xuan was puzzled. "What does that have to do with this?"

Your personal grudge with the Rising Dream Sword Saint—why go during their family assembly?

Don't tell me you plan to cause a scene?

If the Zhang family were that easy to bully, they would have been wiped out long ago!

"At the Zhang family assembly, all the top geniuses will return. Challenging them then means facing the most formidable sword experts... Only by defeating all of them can one claim victory over the other."

Jian Qinsheng explained, "Most importantly, defeating them at such a grand event can crush their morale and force them to admit defeat..."

"This..." Zhang Xuan opened his mouth but found no way to refute.

To thoroughly defeat an opponent, one naturally chooses the best opportunity, and the other's family assembly was the most suitable.

With all clan members present, victory would surely dampen their spirit and reverse previous defeats.

Of course, if he failed, he would lose all honor and have no chance of recovery.

"This is like staking all your honor. The stakes are too high. I dare not take on such a responsibility."

Shaking his head, Zhang Xuan paused and then declined.

Though embarrassing the Zhang family had always been his dream, going to challenge them at this time would be gambling with Jian Qinsheng's honor. Winning would bring boundless joy, but losing would leave no room for recovery.

Although it would be hard for him to lose if he acted, the implications were too great. As an outsider, it was best not to interfere.

"Ah..."

Seeing his refusal, Jian Qinsheng smiled bitterly. "I suppose I was overthinking. You're right, this has nothing to do with you. It's only natural for you to refuse. I was presumptuous."

They had only met once, and instead of teaching him anything, the other had pointed out errors in his cultivation.

One could say the other had done him a favor.

To ask a favor of a benefactor without offering anything in return—it was only natural for him to refuse.

"Senior, don't be discouraged. If time permits, I can help guide Shui Qianrou. Perhaps if she acts, the outcome will be different!"

Zhang Xuan smiled.

"There's no need to trouble yourself. The Zhang family assembly will be held in a month. As it stands, I must leave now. There's no more time to delay..."

Shaking his head, Jian Qinsheng said.

Though he very much wanted the man before him to guide his student, time was already too short.

"Family assembly in a month? It's not the New Year or a festival. Why hold an assembly now?"

Zhang Xuan was curious.

He seemed to recall Zhang Jiuxiao mentioning something about the Zhang family assembly, which was usually held during the New Year. It was now October, and even a month later would only be early November, still some time before the New Year. Why hold an assembly?

"I heard there have been some changes. The Zhang family moved up the assembly to finalize a marriage alliance ahead of schedule!"

After thinking for a moment, Jian Qinsheng said, "But I'm not entirely sure if that's the case."

"Finalize a marriage alliance ahead of schedule?"

Zhang Xuan's eyes narrowed sharply.

"Yes, it seems the Luo family's little princess has someone she likes, which displeased the Zhang family. The wedding was originally set for April next year, but now it seems to be around the New Year!"

Jian Qinsheng shared the information he knew.

"The New Year?"

With a thunderous roar in his mind, Zhang Xuan's fists clenched involuntarily.