NOVEL WEB Chapter 27: Challenge
Zhao Li cupped his hands and said, "I wish Senior Brother Luan victory in this battle and entry into White Cloud Peak!"
"Zhao Li, once I defeat Su Zhan and enter White Cloud Peak, I'll give you my original cave mansion!"
"Senior Brother Luan, are you serious?"
"No need for idle talk!"
At the thought of being able to receive the bath of Spiritual Rain after entering White Cloud Peak, Luan Jian's mood soared. He said, "Anyway, it's assigned by the sect. If I don't give it to you, it'll be taken back and redistributed after some time. This time, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known that someone had beaten me to residing in White Cloud Peak. Consider it as a reward for you!"
"Thank you, Senior Brother Luan!" Zhao Li was overjoyed.
The other inner sect disciples were a bit confused at this moment.
One of them asked, "Senior Brother Luan, what are you talking about? Who is this Su Zhan?"
"We'll talk about these matters later. Right now, I have to go and challenge him. Finally, after waiting for him to come down the mountain, and on such an auspicious day, it's an excellent opportunity that I can't miss!" After saying this, Luan Jian's figure flashed and he dashed towards White Cloud Peak.
Ten minutes later.
Su Zhan walked out of the formation of White Cloud Peak. He was just about to ask the curious inner sect disciples to make way when the disciples in front of him had already stepped aside, creating a pathway.
At the other end of the pathway, Luan Jian walked over with a smile on his face.
"So, you're Su Zhan?"
"I am Su Zhan. Who are you, and do you have any business with me?"
"I am Luan Jian, the number one in the inner sect, and I want to challenge you!"
"Hmm?" Su Zhan was somewhat surprised. He carefully examined Luan Jian.
He confirmed that he didn't recognize this person at all, let alone have any grievances with him. Since it was a stranger, did this person have a messed-up brain to challenge him?
"Next time."
In a hurry to find Chen Changfeng to inquire about breaking through to the Martial Master Realm, although Su Zhan was very puzzled, he didn't pay much attention to it. He casually replied and intended to leave.
However, as soon as he took a few steps, Luan Jian blocked his way again.
"What exactly do you want?" Su Zhan's eyebrows furrowed, feeling somewhat displeased.
"It's simple. Today, you and I will have a battle so that everyone can see who is the strongest among the inner sect disciples!"
"The strongest among the inner sect disciples? You can take that empty title for yourself. What does it have to do with me?"
"This is not an empty title. You, an inner sect disciple residing in White Cloud Peak, doesn't it indicate that you are the most outstanding and powerful among the inner sect disciples?"
Luan Jian straightforwardly said, "Only the strongest inner sect disciples are qualified to reside in White Cloud Peak. If you defeat me, I will acknowledge your strength. Otherwise, we are all inner sect disciples. Why should you be able to reside in White Cloud Peak?"
This statement caused a stir among the nearby inner sect disciples.
They already found Su Zhan's identity mysterious, as there was no such person among the true disciples. Now, hearing Luan Jian's words and knowing that Su Zhan was actually an inner sect disciple, they all felt a sense of unfairness.
"So, he's just an inner sect disciple. I knew there was no such person among the true disciples."
"If he's not a true disciple, who gave him the qualification to reside in White Cloud Peak?"
"Senior brother Luan , the number one in the inner sect, can't even reside in White Cloud Peak. It's really unfair!"
"We are all inner sect disciples. Why is his treatment different?"
…
Voices of discontent rose one after another.
Finally, beneath White Cloud Peak, complaints filled the air.
Su Zhan's gaze swept over those resentful individuals, ultimately resting on Luan Jian. After thinking for a moment, he nodded. "Fine, I accept your challenge. Let's do it right here. Don't waste any more time."
"That's great!" Luan Jian was delighted and waved his hand, signaling the others to step back and clear a large area for their battle.
"Everyone shut up! This decision was made by the Elder and the Sect Master together. Who are you people to question it?" At that moment, a voice rang out from above like thunder.
It made the disciples' ears numb, and their faces were filled with shock as they looked towards the source of the sound.
They discovered that it was the Grand Elder Chen Changfeng flying over, causing their hearts to tremble, and they quickly closed their mouths.
"Su Zhan, you don't have to pay attention to his challenge. Do whatever you want!" Chen Changfeng's expression softened as he spoke to Su Zhan.
Luan Jian's face slightly changed, "Elder Chen, he—"
"Do you question my words?"
"No, no, this disciple apologizes for his rudeness!" Luan Jian trembled under Chen Changfeng's glare and quickly lowered his head, bowing respectfully.
"No, I accept his challenge." Su Zhan shook his head.
Now that Chen Changfeng had intervened, he could have just left. However, if he did so, it would only fuel more resentment in the hearts of those people. They might even think that he had a special relationship with Chen Changfeng.
Moreover, if he left like this today, there would be more doubts in the future, more challengers like Luan Jian, and it would consume his mental energy.
Since that was the case, why not showcase his strength and let these people retreat in the face of difficulty!
Chen Changfeng furrowed his brow slightly and said, "Su Zhan, although you have advanced to the peak stage of the Essence Condensation Realm, Luan Jian reached the peak stage of the Essence Condensation Realm two years ago. Six months ago, he defeated a warrior in the early stage of the Martial Master Realm. There might still be a gap in your strengths."
"It doesn't matter." Su Zhan shook his head.
"Well then! Since you're determined, I won't stop you either." After speaking, Chen Changfeng stepped back a distance and said, "You two can challenge each other, but there's no need to push each other to the point of death. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Rest assured, Elder Chen!"
Luan Jian smiled, "I just want Elder Chen to see that I, Luan Jian, am not inferior to him and deserve to reside in the White Cloud Peak. I will definitely hold back. By the way, I dare to ask boldly, if I defeat Su Zhan, can I also reside in the White Cloud Peak?"
"Yes." Chen Changfeng nodded.
Su Zhan had already resided in the White Cloud Peak, and if Luan Jian defeated him and was not allowed to reside there, it would undoubtedly provoke the dissatisfaction of all the inner disciples.
Moreover, there had been precedents of the first-ranked inner disciple residing in the White Cloud Peak, so it wasn't a big deal.
"Thank you, Grand Elder!"
Luan Jian had a smile on his face as he stood a hundred meters away from Su Zhan and said, "Junior Brother Su, my expertise lies in the sword. I have cultivated the middle-grade Profound level sword technique, Wild Wave Sword Art, to a state of great achievement. Since you also wield a sword, let's see whose swordsmanship is stronger!"
Su Zhan shook his head and said, "I don't need a sword."
Not need a sword? Luan Jian was taken aback for a moment, then his expression turned cold.
Su Zhan's action clearly showed that he looked down on him!
"Very well, Junior Brother, be careful!" Luan Jian felt annoyed in his heart and unleashed a strike with his sword.
Sword energy intertwined, forming a wave that swept toward Su Zhan. The surrounding disciples were excited and relieved to see this scene.
"Senior Brother Luan has made his move!"
"Haha! Luan Senior Brother is our number one disciple in the inner sect. He will surely win this battle!"
"Senior Brother Luan really takes this new disciple too seriously, actually using his strongest Wild Wave Sword Art?"
"What do you know? This is called a lion pouncing on a rabbit, using all his strength!"
"Senior Brother Luan's sword strike is so cool! He is amazing, Senior Brother Luan is handsome—Luan Senior Brother, he, he…"
That eighteen or nineteen-year-old female disciple, with a face filled with admiration for her senior brother, was suddenly stunned as she saw what happened in front of her. Her whole person went dumbfounded.
She murmured in disbelief, "How did he get sent flying with just one strike???"