Chapter 4203 — Yu Jiang Returns

Yet although the one in charge of the inner-sect tournament was his own grandfather, Xu Yuanzheng, Xu Lingchong's luck in the draw this time around was hardly what one would call good—one might even say it was wretched.

For the opponent he drew was none other than a core disciple of the inner sect with extraordinarily deep seniority—a man whose strength had already reached the late Golden Core stage!

A late Golden Core expert could well and truly be called a powerhouse anywhere in this assembly, whereas Xu Lingchong was only mid Golden Core—a full two tiers below him.

So what if his momentum shook the heavens? So what if his backing ran deep? Faced with such an absolute gap in strength, what use was any of that? This was a core inner-sect disciple of formidable seniority—he cared nothing at all for Xu Lingchong's power and influence.

Against such a fearsome foe, virtually no one favored him—yet Xu Lingchong showed not the slightest hint of worry. Even as the referee declared the start of the battle, the corners of his mouth still carried an arc of utter confidence.

Below the stage, Wei Zhao glanced at Xu Lingchong's expression and could not help but feel a measure of surprise. That look did not seem feigned. Could this fellow truly have the strength to challenge across two tiers?

Soon the battle erupted, and Xu Lingchong's performance left every jaw in the hall hanging—against a late Golden Core expert, this mid Golden Core cultivator of his pressed his opponent relentlessly from first to last!

And before him, his opponent gained not the slightest edge; instead he was driven back step by step, never once able to reverse the tide, until at last Xu Lingchong beat him flat to the ground and the victor was decided.

For a moment the whole hall fell dead silent. A mid Golden Core expert had utterly and completely crushed a late Golden Core expert—who would dare believe such a thing if told of it?

But the bloody, incontrovertible fact lay before their eyes, leaving no room for disbelief. Young Master Xu Lingchong truly could crush an opponent two tiers above him—his strength was simply defying heaven!

Compared to the exchanged, bewildered glances of the crowd, Shangguan Tianxia was far more shaken at heart—for he had just discovered that this Xu Lingchong, too, was an expert who had achieved a perfect breakthrough into the Golden Core stage!

This discovery left even Shangguan Tianxia, a top-tier figure in his own right, speechless. What on earth had happened to the Threefold Pavilion this year? What heaven-defying fortune had they come into, that geniuses should sprout like weeds?

That was not all. Over on the other side, Meng Zhou, though only at the early Golden Core stage, dispatched an opponent who was likewise early Golden Core with a single effortless move. His showing might not be as hair-raising as Xu Lingchong's, but it drew the eye all the same.

Another perfect Golden Core expert! Shangguan Tianxia was struck dumb on the spot. Counting Wei Zhao and Huang Xiaotao, no fewer than four perfect Golden Core experts had suddenly cropped up!

Those who achieved a perfect breakthrough and formed a consummate Golden Core had always been exceedingly rare—not one might emerge in a hundred years. It was precisely for this reason that they earned the reputation of the mightiest Golden Core experts.

Yet now, all at once, four perfect Golden Core experts had appeared, and all of them concentrated in the Threefold Pavilion of the North Island. The situation was so bizarre it made one's heart tremble. Even by Shangguan Tianxia's vast experience, this was something never heard of and never seen.

As one of the highest figures in the Threefold Pavilion of the North Island, Shangguan Tianxia, even as he puzzled over it, could not help but feel a trace of suspicion. Was this mere coincidence, or was some invisible hand pushing events from behind the scenes? If not, why should so many perfect Golden Core experts suddenly appear at once?

"Xu Lingchong and Meng Zhou—what fortuitous encounter did those two scoundrels stumble into? I fear it must be that piece of Star-Ink Stone... But since when has Star-Ink Stone become so plentiful? It makes no sense!" Amid the crowd, Wei Zhao could not help but knit his brows as well.

Both of them were his sworn enemies, hurdles he would have to cross head-on. He had been on guard against them when they last met, but at the time he had never imagined the two of them would become so troublesome—especially Xu Lingchong, who had grown fearsome to such a hair-raising degree!

If it came to a one-on-one clash with Xu Lingchong, unless Wei Zhao brought out his great killing trump card, a straight contest of strength would likely leave him little chance of victory.

Elsewhere, the brothers Nan Tianxiong and Nan Tianguan were likewise among the crowd enjoying the spectacle, clicking their tongues in admiration and envy at Xu Lingchong's formidable strength.

Nan Tianxiong was an early Golden Core core disciple of the inner sect, and he too was entered in this inner-sect tournament—only his turn had not yet come, and he was waiting for the next round of drawing. As for Nan Tianguan, though his strength fell short of the Golden Core stage, with his status it was no great difficulty to slip in and watch the excitement.

Of course, were one an ordinary outer-sect disciple, forget coming in to watch the inner-sect tournament—during this period they could not set foot within several li of the North Island arena. After all, the strength of Golden Core disciples could be regarded as a sect's very foundation, and it was to be kept strictly secret from outsiders.

"Brother, with Young Master Xu's strength defying heaven like this, don't you think we ought to find a chance to ingratiate ourselves with him properly? Otherwise, if he becomes our enemy down the road, that'll be no laughing matter," Nan Tianguan suggested in a low voice.

"Ingratiate ourselves with him?" Nan Tianxiong bared his teeth. His nature had always been domineering and forceful, and he rarely bowed his head to anyone. But on second thought, circumstances did indeed overpower men now—Xu Lingchong was this formidable, and it truly would not do to offend him. So he shifted his tune: "Won't it be hard to explain things to Steward Si?"

Nominally, he and his brother Nan Tianguan had already become peripheral members of the Center, running with Si Haitao's crowd.

"To hell with that! I made inquiries on the sly—the moment this Young Master Xu returned, Si Haitao came scurrying over to curry favor with him. He just didn't bother telling us!" Nan Tianguan curled his lip.

"Really? Then it's worth a try. Otherwise, once Xu Lingchong truly rises to glory, we'll be reduced to marginal figures who can't even get a sip of the broth," Nan Tianxiong said with a thoughtful nod.

The two brothers were whispering and privately scheming when suddenly they felt a slap on the back and nearly jumped out of their skins. Turning around, they were all the more shocked, staring at each other in dismay.

For the man before them was none other than the traitorous disciple Yu Jiang, who had vanished for so long—standing there now with a smug look on his face, grinning from ear to ear!

Burdened with the monstrous crime of murdering his own master, Yu Jiang might not have been wanted by the Law Enforcement Hall, but he was at the very least a rat scurrying through the streets, hounded by all. When he had suddenly disappeared back then, he ought to have quietly vaporized from the world. Yet after so long, the wretch actually dared to show himself in public—and before none other than the Nan brothers!