36: Challenge

Gu Hongchen sighed, "Sigh, as your father, I know you are proud and arrogant, but if we do not defeat him, I fear my mental knot will never be untied, and I will never be able to achieve a Breakthrough again."

The Blood Saber is dead, but his Legacy has been seized by someone.

As long as his son defeats the successor of the Blood Saber, he will still have hope for a Breakthrough.

It would prove that he is not inferior to the Blood Saber.

He had this confidence; Gu Jian's talent and strength were much greater than his own, and entering the Martial Dao Grandmaster realm in the future was already a high-probability event.

Defeating the successor of the Blood Saber would not be a problem.

Gu Jian frowned, "Father, is there really no other way?"

"No!"

Gu Hongchen spoke decisively; his Dao Heart had already developed issues that could not be resolved by external forces.

"Furthermore, let me tell you, the successor of the Blood Saber is not weak. It will not be simple to defeat him. He defeated your cousin Gongsun Sheng in a single move and traded blows evenly with the Mad Saber." Gu Hongchen said enticingly, deliberately exaggerating Chu Jiang's strength to incite his son to issue the challenge.

He did not have much time left. If another ten or twenty years passed and his Qi and blood began to decline, achieving a Breakthrough to the Martial Dao Grandmaster realm would be nearly impossible.

Before that happened, he had to break the curse upon himself.

Even if it meant forcing his own son to do something he did not want to do.

"Huh, with that level of strength, he is barely qualified for me to issue him a challenge." A trace of surprise flashed in Gu Jian's eyes, and his attitude did a 180-degree turn as he agreed.

"Go and arrange it. Let the other party decide the time and place!" Gu Hongchen knew his son's temperament; if he didn't give him a way to step down, it would be basically impossible to get him, the number one on the People Ranking, to challenge the number eleven on the People Ranking.

Even if he was his father.

Once, he had also possessed this kind of Heart-Nature, but a single wrong thought had led him astray, severing his path in the Martial Dao.

"Yes!"

Gu Jian bowed briefly to Gu Hongchen and then exited the main hall.

The Sword King Sect had already left liaison personnel in White Stone County, using carrier pigeons for communication.

It was very fast.

News arrived the next day.

"Father, the other party refused!"

Gu Jian said. He had expected this result regarding the other party refusing the matter.

Perhaps they had self-awareness and did not dare to accept the challenge.

"Did they not give a reason?" Gu Hongchen's face was somewhat gloomy.

"They said that if one wants to challenge him, there must be a wager, which must be a valuable item, preferably a Heaven And Earth Treasure or a Cultivation Technique or martial art..."

Although Gu Jian had a good temperament, he was a bit annoyed at this moment. While he acknowledged that Chu Jiang was a powerhouse and barely qualified to fight him, it would have been one thing if he had simply refused.

But he had gone on to say those things.

The way he acted, it was equivalent to implying that he, Gu Jian, was begging Chu Jiang to fight him, which made him feel slightly displeased.

"It is fine. As long as it is not a direct refusal, it is not a problem." Gu Hongchen waved his hand, signaling Gu Jian not to worry, then continued, "I will handle the matter of the wager!"

He paused, then continued, "You focus on preparing for the decisive battle with the successor of the Blood Saber. You must defeat him in one battle; there can be no mistakes."

Gu Hongchen's voice was low and firm. Whether he could break the curse depended on this battle, and he would not hesitate even if it meant paying a price.

Moreover, he did not believe the successor of the Blood Saber would win.

No matter how many good things he had, he would not have the fortune to enjoy them.

"Rest assured, Father. If his strength only displays the level it did a few days ago, I will certainly defeat him!"

Gu Jian spoke slowly, his words filled with confidence.

His comprehension of the Dao of the Sword had reached a new level.

The Haoran Sword Song, one of the four great sword techniques of the Sword King Sect, had reached Major Achievement.

Now, even when facing a Middle Stage Vajra Realm expert, he could handle it calmly.

...

Soon.

A piece of news quickly spread throughout Dahe Prefecture, Annan Prefecture, Lingfeng Prefecture, Ziyan Prefecture... sweeping across one-third of the Yun Province region.

Gu Jian, number one on the People Ranking, issued a challenge to Chu Jiang, number eleven on the People Ranking. The time was set for half a month later, and the location was Black Wind Mountain, thirty miles northwest of White Stone County.

They also wagered a Six-Turn True Origin Pill and a bottle of Jade Dew Nectar for this duel.

After receiving the news, various parties had different reactions.

Upon learning of this, Li Jianshan, the Sect Head of the Ten Thousand Flower Sword Sect, one of the six major sects in Annan Prefecture, clapped his hands and laughed, "Interesting, truly interesting! This child is quite arrogant; to fight the number one on the People Ranking and even demand treasures as a wager. Pass down the order to send people to closely monitor this battle."

Murong Fei, the Sect Master of the Huangji Sect, frowned slightly, "I heard from the Elders in the sect that the successor of the Blood Saber, Chu Jiang, knows our Huangji Sect's sect-protecting martial art—the Great Strength Vajra Palm."

"If that is truly the case, he must give an explanation..."

The Hundred Flowers Sect Leader, Sikong Miaoyin, said, "Xue'er, you may take Yu'er to observe this battle. A great battle of this level is rarely seen, and it will be beneficial for you both."

At the Yun Province Demon Suppression Guard headquarters, Commander Zuo said, "The commotion caused by this little fellow is truly not small. Send Centurion Qin immediately to Nanyang Prefecture to monitor in secret, to prevent any unforeseen events."

In some unknown place, the Earthly Fiend Star revealed a sinister smile, "This is quite a good opportunity... isn't this the closest place to find a new Clone."

...

White Stone County, Demon Hunting Division of the County Government.

"These are five Two-Turn True Origin Pills, one Flame Fruit, and one hundred-year-old Purple Cloud Ginseng." Gongsun Li, the representative of the Gongsun Family, pointed at the jade box in front of him and said with a grin.

"These are all rare precious pills and Spirit Medicine. I wonder if you could reduce the sentence of my Young Master and release him?"

Chu Jiang's mouth twitched, and he said indifferently, "Your Young Master committed a serious crime, acting as the mastermind behind others to smash, rob, and loot, causing major economic losses to this county."

"Locking him up for two years is already a light punishment. Since you are willing to provide compensation, I will take it upon myself to reduce his sentence by another year."

"This is the greatest concession this official can make!"

Gongsun Li cursed inwardly. Isn't it just breaking a few tables and chairs? What kind of bullshit major economic loss? He's just complaining that it's too little, right?

What "take it upon myself" and "reduce the sentence by one year"? Whether he is locked up for a day or a year is all just a matter of your word. This guy is too greedy.

This little bit of stuff couldn't satisfy his appetite at all.

"My Lord, you are joking. I just remembered there is one more treasure I forgot to bring out." Gongsun Li took another small jade box from his bosom.

"This Deep Sea Shark Fish Pearl, although it is cracked, still contains not-insignificant energy. This treasure is extremely rare... what do you think?"

The Family had given him quite a few treasures this time. He had wanted to embezzle a little for his own use, but now it seemed that would not be possible.

Sigh.

Chu Jiang pinched the Shark Fish Pearl in his hand and sensed it carefully; it was indeed filled with immense energy.

"The item is not bad. It seems your side has indeed come with sincerity. How about this: I will break the rules this time and reduce his sentence to three months... this time it really cannot be reduced any further." Chu Jiang toyed with it, feigning difficulty, as if he had made a huge concession.

You bastard... I #~$%~

Gongsun Li was extremely annoyed in his heart. He furrowed his brows tightly, cursing the other party incessantly in his mind.

The task given to him by the clan was that he must bring the person back immediately, no matter what price he had to pay.

He forcibly suppressed his anger and spoke again, "These treasures are already all the items the clan provided. However, I still have two bottles of high-quality Body Tempering Liquid on me, which can increase the Physical Body strength of the Acquired realm and accelerate a Breakthrough."

These two bottles of Body Tempering Liquid were his last possessions; he hadn't expected that he wouldn't be able to keep them either.

This trip, he hadn't gained any benefits, and instead, his own stash had been emptied.

Chu Jiang was silent for a long time, then said, "Half a month from now, come to the county jail to pick him up. This time, even if you brought out Dragon Liver or Phoenix Marrow, I could not reduce it any further. After all, having committed a crime, he must be locked up for a few days."

He could already tell that this person basically had nothing left on him.

No matter how much he squeezed, there was no more profit to be squeezed out.

"Sigh."

Gongsun Li's mood was extremely heavy. Forget it, forget it.

Young Master, you will just have to stay inside for two more days. This subordinate truly has nothing left to give that corrupt official, so I can only let you suffer a little longer.

"Then, my Lord, I will take my leave. I will come to pick him up in half a month."

After Gongsun Li finished speaking, he left the Demon Hunting Division in low spirits.