Ye An of Black Tortoise Hall Challenges Song Qinglin, Chief Disciple of Azure Dragon Hall

Before the elder in charge of allocating resources could speak, Song Qinglin cut in. "Good!"

He shouted the word so loudly it sounded as though he had been waiting for Ye An's challenge all along.

Song Qinglin fixed his gaze on Ye An. "Will it be you? Or Zhou Zhong?"

"There's no need to trouble the Chief Disciple to deal with you. I'll do it."

Song Qinglin studied Ye An for two breaths, searching his expression for a crack. But Ye An's face betrayed nothing. He looked entirely confident.

Does he think he has me beaten?

"Initial Stage against Mid Stage?" Shen Jingfeng had nearly left the hall, but their exchange caught his interest.

"Interesting."

Jiang Tingxue said nothing. Her gaze rested on Ye An for an instant, her eyes cool.

She offered no judgment aloud, but her eyes conveyed something else.

The gap in their cultivation was plain. Wouldn't a match between them be like an egg striking a stone? It was reckless, but Jiang Tingxue respected Ye An's courage.

The elder closed his ledger and glanced between them. "Very well. Pick a day."

"Right now!"

Ye An and Song Qinglin spoke almost at once.

Their voices landed together in the hall, like two stones striking the same spot, neither ahead of the other.

News of their match spread from the Resource Hall and soon swept through the entire Four Symbols Sect.

From the Inner Sect to the Outer Sect, from the Scripture Repository to the Medicine Garden.

In less than half an hour, everyone in the Four Symbols Sect knew.

Ye An of Black Tortoise Hall had challenged Song Qinglin, Chief Disciple of Azure Dragon Hall. Qi Condensation Initial Stage against Mid Qi Condensation.

At the sect gate, two disciples stood guard, one on either side.

They had