Chapter 1724: Zhang Xuan Takes the Field

"Challenge?" Zhang Xuan frowned, slightly puzzled. "The Otherworldly Tribe dares to appear so openly, and... follow the rules so strictly?"

In his impression, the Otherworldly Tribe loved slaughter and had no regard for rules. Now they came to issue a challenge—it was strangely out of character.

More importantly, in the Spring Warm Pavilion, with so many master teachers... The conflict between master teachers and the Otherworldly Tribe had lasted tens of thousands of years, with countless friends and relatives on both sides dying at each other's hands. Did he really not fear being hacked to pieces by a mob?

"It's not that we follow the rules willingly, but that we have no choice!"

Xing Jian Sheng gave a bitter smile.

"No choice? Could it be... there are ancient sages here?" Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted, his eyes narrowing.

For an Immortal Realm peak expert to be bound by rules, he could think of no one besides an ancient sage.

"Indeed, there are ancient sages here. The ancient sage of our Zhang family has also come... Both sides have their reservations and have agreed to settle disputes through fair duels, forbidding massacres. Otherwise, chaos would have broken out long ago, and there would be no peace now."

Xing Jian Sheng explained.

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood and let out a breath.

No wonder he had encountered no danger along the way—it must have been due to the rules both sides observed.

Otherwise, before the branch hall even opened, they would have been slaughtering each other fiercely, and when the true treasures appeared, no one would get them.

At this moment, the ancient sages were like nuclear weapons—both sides had them, and neither dared to overstep. Once one side lost theirs, the balance would immediately tip, and the current peace would vanish.

"Hmm, the opponent challenged me to obtain our Heirloom Celestial Talisman, or... to follow us into the Confucian Temple."

Xing Jian Sheng smiled lightly, and a long sword appeared in his palm. "But how could I let him have his way?"

"Father, wait!"

Seeing him about to go downstairs, Zhang Xuan also stood up. "Let your son take the trouble!"

"You?"

Xing Jian Sheng was startled.

"Indeed. Although my cultivation is only at the Golden Body Realm, it won't be easy for him to defeat me. Moreover, having arrived here, though I haven't had as great an opportunity as my parents, I've still gained some small fortune. It's just the time to put it into practice..."

Zhang Xuan smiled lightly, his eyes brimming with confidence.

Filial piety is the foremost virtue. As a son, he could not sit idly by when someone challenged his father.

"Very well!" Xing Jian Sheng nodded.

Although his son was only twenty years old, his methods were so numerous that even the Master Teacher Pavilion was wary of him. If he himself went, he might not necessarily defeat this Bo Yuan, but if his son acted, the opponent would certainly be unable to withstand it.

Seeing his agreement, Zhang Xuan flickered and flew out, landing before the Otherworldly tribesman. "I am Zhang Xuan. If you want to challenge my father, you must first pass me!"

"Can you make the decision?"

Bo Yuan seemed not to recognize Zhang Xuan. Seeing only a young man in his twenties, he curled his lips. "If you lose, you must hand over the Heirloom Celestial Talisman!"

"Of course I can!" Zhang Xuan smiled lightly and nodded. "If I lose, I'll hand over the talisman. But if I win?"

"This armor of mine is a Great Sage supreme treasure. If I lose, it will be your compensation!"

With a grab of his hand, a suit of armor appeared before him, and Bo Yuan snorted.

"A single Great Sage supreme treasure in exchange for the Heirloom Celestial Talisman? Is that what you call fair?" Zhang Xuan raised an eyebrow.

The Heirloom Celestial Talisman—even if the Hundred Schools of Thought came with ancient sage supreme treasures, a mere Great Sage-level treasure in exchange... Who was he fooling?

"Then what do you want?"

Bo Yuan frowned.

They had fought like this before. Although his tribesmen had lost, Xing Jian Sheng had raised no objection. Why did this one find it unfair?

"Three Great Sage supreme treasures!" Zhang Xuan said with a faint smile.

"Three?"

Bo Yuan's eyes narrowed. "You're dreaming!"

"If you're unwilling, then forget it. We don't have time to waste with you. Possessing the Heirloom Celestial Talisman gives one a chance to enter the Confucian Temple. Although the branch hall won't have the Spring and Autumn Ceremony, whatever Confucius left behind must be extraordinary. Think it over—don't say I didn't give you a chance... If you disagree, make your decision quickly. I'll go rest for a while!"

Stretching lazily, Zhang Xuan walked toward the pavilion.

"This..."

Bo Yuan fell silent.

Three Great Sage supreme treasures, though precious, were far inferior to the chance to enter the Confucian Temple.

"Wait a moment, I'll go discuss it!"

With that, Bo Yuan turned and walked toward another pavilion, above which was written the words "Xia Zao."

After a short while, he returned. "I agree!"

With a flick of his hand, three Great Sage supreme treasures hovered nearby.

Xing Jian Sheng then walked over, and the Heirloom Celestial Talisman floated in the air.

"Let's begin! I don't believe a brat of twenty can be stronger than me!"

With the stakes set, Bo Yuan wasted no more words. He flicked his long sword, producing a "whoosh" sound.

"Before we start, I want to clarify the rules!"

Zhang Xuan said.

"Rules?"

"Indeed. Is our duel a fair fight?"

"Of course!" Bo Yuan nodded.

"Since it's a fair duel, if I am a formation master, can I use formations? If I am a beast tamer, can I borrow beast pets?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"Naturally!" Bo Yuan snorted.

Formation masters setting up formations, beast tamers having beast pets—these were part of their own strength. Even he could not deny that.

"Then it's simple..." Hearing his agreement, Zhang Xuan crooked his finger. "Beast pets, come out and give him a beating!"

Swish!

As his words ended, five kings abruptly appeared before them, surrounding Bo Yuan. Their surging auras seemed to tear space apart.

"...These are your beast pets?"

Bo Yuan staggered, almost in tears.

Xing Jian Sheng, Meng Jian Sheng, and the many master teachers in the Spring Warm Pavilion also stared wide-eyed, their faces full of exasperation.

Five Immortal Realm Great Perfection beast pets...

And this was what he called a "small fortune"?

If this was small, what would be big?

"Yes, I'm a beast tamer, so I can use beast pets. Hurry up and start—you fight my beast pets, my beast pets fight you... Very fair!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"..." Bo Yuan was speechless.

Fair, my ass!

How could he fight against sacred beasts of this level?

"If you won't make a move, I will!" Seeing the man had lost all his earlier momentum, Zhang Xuan flicked his hand and gave the order: "Go!"

Roar! Roar! Roar! Roar! Roar!

The five sacred beasts charged forward in unison.

These five beasts possessed ancient divine beast bloodlines and were kings of the jungle world, having experienced countless battles. Although Bo Yuan was not weak, he could not defeat even one of them, let alone so many.

After a few breaths, he was beaten beyond recognition, with over a dozen broken bones and his face covered in blood.

"I surrender..."

Seeing that if he didn't surrender, he would die horribly, he hurriedly shouted.

"That's more like it..."

Nodding, Zhang Xuan contentedly stored the three Great Sage supreme treasures into his ring, then looked around again. "Who else wants to challenge? I, Zhang Xuan, am happy to oblige... If not, I challenge all the Otherworldly tribesmen present. Do you dare to accept?"