Chapter 3947 — The Cross-Pavilion Challenge
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
But Wei Zhao had given prior instructions: he and Xiao Che were not to take the initiative to step forward and challenge. Neither Qiao Hongcai nor Xiao Che was the sort to bully the weak, yet if they challenged the Skyward Pavilion's early Foundation Establishment experts of their own level, it was hard to say how much chance of winning they would have—the risk was considerable.
And because of Wei Zhao's presence, they were guaranteed a sufficient supply of pills. By comparison, their need for mountaintop caves was not so great. To take such a risk merely for a mountaintop cave was simply not worth it.
Qiao Hongcai was hot-tempered, but he had always heeded Wei Zhao's words. Since Wei Zhao had already spoken, he could only suppress his impulse, simply shut his eyes, and pay no heed to the mockery in Hu Yunfeng's words.
Qiao Hongcai ignored Hu Yunfeng's jab, and Xiao Che all the more so. As for the other capable hands of the Azure Cloud Pavilion: Meng Zhou was still recovering from grave injuries; Murong Zhen had been driven out of the Skyward Pavilion in the first place, so at a time like this he would hardly rush to deliver himself up for mockery; and Li Zhengming was bent on keeping a low profile. In the end, not one of them showed any intention of stepping forward to challenge.
"Still no one dares to challenge? This Pavilion Master has heard many people say what a remarkable batch of newcomers the Azure Cloud Pavilion has this year—how heaven-defying they are. But now it looks to be nothing but a joke. Cowering like turtles with your heads pulled in—is this what you call strength?" Hu Yunfeng continued to goad them with cold words.
It was not merely that he would not let up once he had the upper hand; the key was that this was a rare chance for him to greatly consolidate his prestige, to teach these short-sighted newcomers a proper lesson so that he could manage them all the better in the days to come.
Yet he forgot that not every newcomer would be cowed into lowering his head by such scheming manipulation. At the very least, Wei Zhao would not.
Forbidding Qiao Hongcai and Xiao Che from stepping forward did not mean Wei Zhao himself could not. After all, remember that with his current strength, he was absolutely overwhelming against any newcomer—there was no question of risk at all.
"Pavilion Master Hu, it seems you have not even announced the specific rules. How is anyone supposed to challenge? As for cowering turtles, is it not a bit early to say that?" Wei Zhao spoke calmly.
Hu Yunfeng's old face flushed red at this, and then he realized he had been a bit too hasty. Stiffening his neck, he said, "You newcomer really have no sense. Is there any need for this Pavilion Master to spell out such a thing? The rules are naturally the same as for a challenge duel—the only difference is that one may challenge across pavilions!"
Wei Zhao smiled unconcernedly, then stepped forward and said, "Very well, then. I will take the lead and issue a challenge by name—Kang Jingming, newcomer of the Skyward Pavilion."
At these words, the whole assembly erupted in an uproar, and all eyes immediately fixed upon Kang Jingming.
Looking over all the newcomers of the Three-Tier Pavilion this year, if one were to name the most prominent figures, there were two: one was the monstrously powerful upstart of the Azure Cloud Pavilion, Wei Zhao; the other was Kang Jingming of the Skyward Pavilion, favored and supported by Young Master Xu and Pavilion Master Hu Yunfeng.
The key point was that these two focal figures both came from the mortal world, and rumor had it that a deep hatred existed between them. Yet all along, because they belonged respectively to the Azure Cloud Pavilion and the Skyward Pavilion, the two had, in everyone's eyes, been like two kings who never met—never once having the chance to clash head-on.
But this time, the opportunity had finally come, and everyone present was seized with the urge to watch the show.