Chapter 1545: The Sword Saint's Challenge

This sword aura, magnificent and grand, carried a surging momentum as it flew from afar, as if unbound by time, appearing abruptly before the puppet.

The latter's power, accumulated to its peak, vanished like a clay ox entering the sea under this strike, leaving no effect.

“A master…”

Wang Ying's pupils contracted as he hastily looked toward the direction from which the sword aura came. The long spear in Zheng Yang's hand began to tremble, as if ready to shoot out at any moment.

To block Wang Ying's Celestial Puppet attack with a single sword light from an unknown distance—such strength was likely no less than Ren Qingyuan's, and perhaps even superior in the way of the sword.

“It's the True Solution of Speed!”

Zhang Xuan, who was reconstructing his meridians, nodded. “It should be the head of the Zhang family, the father of the little genius, the Rising Sword Saint!”

He had studied the other's sword techniques and knew the essence of this sword art. To make the sword light break through the shackles of time from such a distance and arrive before him with such precise control—only the head of the Zhang family, the legendary Rising Sword Saint, could achieve this.

“This fellow has been absent all along. Now that he's here, it's good to see if he's truly as powerful as the legends say.”

He smiled slightly.

During his visit to the Zhang family, this acting head had never appeared. Even when he had arranged a sparring match, the other hadn't shown up. He didn't expect to encounter him here.

Since that was the case, he might as well test his skills and teach the man a lesson, letting him know that if he wanted his son to marry Luo Ruoxi, he would first have to pass this test!

Whoosh!

No sooner had the thought ended than the space before him rippled, and two figures appeared abruptly—a man and a woman, none other than the Rising and Dream Sword Saints, who had been searching for their “son.”

The two had gone in another direction but, upon receiving a message from Yang Shi, rushed over directly.

“Patriarch…”

Seeing them appear, Zhang Wuhen quickly flew over, his face flushed red.

“Great Elder, what happened to you?”

The Rising Sword Saint's eyes twitched.

Their Zhang family was known as the number one family on the continent, and even the Master Teacher Hall would show them some respect. For the Great Elder to be beaten like this, looking like a pig's head, with no regard for dignity—who had done this?

“It's that Zhang Xuan… and his students!”

Zhang Wuhen pointed, gritting his teeth. “Patriarch, you must stand up for me this time. Otherwise, where will the Zhang family's dignity be… If not handled properly, we will become the laughingstock of the entire continent!”

“Zhang Xuan?”

Hearing his words, the Dream Sword Saint quickly looked over. Seeing the young man raise his head to meet her gaze, her delicate body trembled involuntarily.

“He must be the one, no mistake…”

She quickly turned and sent a voice transmission.

As a mother, she had a special feeling. This young man, whom she was seeing for the first time, surely had an unusual connection with her.

“Don't rush. Since we've found him, it's simple…” Afraid she might lose composure, the Rising Sword Saint quickly grasped her hand.

Although he didn't know what had just happened, with so many Master Teacher Hall experts surrounding them and the Great Elder beaten like this, this Zhang Xuan must possess astonishing power.

If he was indeed their son, that was fine. But if not, rushing over to claim kinship would be extremely awkward.

The Zhang family had already fallen into such a disgraceful state, and if they made another mistake, they would truly never recover.

"My son, I can definitely recognize him, even if he has grown up now, he still carries my blood..."

Knowing her husband's concerns, Dream Sword Saint gritted her teeth.

"I understand your feelings. He is your son, and also my son. You are excited, and so am I. But at times like this, we must remain calm. Doesn't our child have a vermilion birthmark on his buttock? I'll find an excuse to inquire later. Once confirmed, we'll acknowledge him immediately!"

Gripping his wife's hand, Xing Sword Saint said.

His son, though born a saint, had been just an infant when he left. Even if this person before him were his son, with a different soul aura, cultivation method, and growth trajectory, there was no way to verify.

The only thing that could be identified was the birthmark.

As long as a person was alive, the physical body would not change.

"Alright!"

Knowing he was right, Dream Sword Saint nodded.

"So you are the Zhang family head? Just in time. Junior Brother Yuan Tao injured your grand elder, and I haven't had a chance to make a move. Do you dare to fight me?"

Seeing the Zhang family head muttering as soon as he arrived, Zheng Yang raised an eyebrow and stepped forward.

"This is Zhang Xuan's student, a battle master of the War Master Hall and the next hall master, Zheng Yang!"

Seeing that Xing Sword Saint didn't know, Zhang Wuhen quickly explained.

"So you are Battle Master Zheng Yang. I've long heard of your name, but I didn't expect you to be Teacher Zhang's student..."

Startled, Xing Sword Saint clasped his fists.

"Enough with the nonsense. I'm asking you: will you fight or not? Your Zhang family insulted my teacher. That grand elder fled injured without apologizing. If you don't want to fight, that's fine—just apologize, and today's matter can end here!"

Raising his long spear, which let out a whining sound in the air, Zheng Yang looked over with a proud expression.

Although the other party was a master who had been famous for many years, as a battle master, he possessed an invincible will and feared no one.

Today, he came to vent for his teacher, to make the three major forces submit willingly, leaving them with nothing to say no matter who came.

"Fighting you is not impossible, but..."

Xing Sword Saint smiled faintly: "Your teacher and I have an agreed match that hasn't taken place yet. Since we've met, I'd like to settle that first, and then it won't be too late to fight you."

"My teacher's noble person is not someone anyone can challenge on a whim. If you can pass my test first, then I'll have nothing to say about you challenging my teacher. If you can't... just apologize obediently!"

Frowning, Zheng Yang said.

"Heh, what you say makes sense. It's understandable for a student to act on behalf of his teacher. But... the grudge with the Zhang family was entirely caused by your teacher. Only if he resolves it personally can people be truly convinced. As a student, taking full charge—isn't that overstepping your bounds? If word gets out, everyone will know you, Zheng Yang, Battle Master Zheng, but not Zhang Xuan, Teacher Zhang. Even if they do, they'll say he has a good student but is mediocre himself... That wouldn't reflect well, would it?"

Smiling faintly, Xing Sword Saint said.

"This..."

Zheng Yang froze, unable to speak.

He had only thought about venting for his teacher and hadn't considered so much.

However, the other party was right. A teacher was a teacher. By acting this way, he seemed to be protecting his teacher, but in reality, he was diminishing his dignity, making outsiders think the teacher had no ability and relied on his student to solve problems.

"Teacher, I..."

Realizing this, he quickly turned to look at Zhang Xuan, who smiled faintly: "Step back. I do have a battle agreement with this Zhang family head. Since he wants to compete with me, I'll oblige!"