A Challenge?

"Master, something terrible has happened! Someone's coming to attack!" A middle-aged man rushed into a room, shouting as he carried something that looked like a letter.

"They've come knocking on our door? What's going on?"

Zhang Lingyu raised his hand and snatched the letter, which appeared in his hand. Before he even read it, he sensed a Golden Core Stage Sword Intent.

"Strange, our Zhang Household hasn't offended anyone recently, so why would Golden Core Stage expert come knocking on our door?"

"Could it be some old grudge or feud?"

"That shouldn't be the case. Our Zhang Household has always been very polite in our dealings with others."

As Zhang Lingyu pondered this, she pulled out the letter, which contained only one sentence.

I'll call back in two days!

--Su Liuyue

If Zhang Lingyu had only looked at that sentence, he would have thought it was just a prank, but the lingering Sword Intent in it was undeniable.

"Master, this..." The messenger was speechless. Who issues a challenge like this? It's practically an insult!

Zhang Lingfeng, who was standing to the side, glanced at the letter and his eye twitched, but no matter what, this matter could not be taken lightly. He asked, "Brother, can you deduce the opponent's strength based on this Sword Intent?"

After sensing it for a while, Zhang Lingyu said, "It should be in the Middle Golden Core Stage. This Sword Intent seems to have been deliberately left behind, so the deduction is somewhat inaccurate."

"I feel like something's not right about this, brother. Let's discuss it further."

"This letter is written so casually; it doesn't feel like they're here to cause trouble, but more like they want to use us to make a name for themselves."

Thinking of this, Zhang Lingfeng looked at the messenger and said irritably, "Go and see if there are any similar rumors circulating in the streets."

"Second Uncle, I'm going right now."

"Using our Zhang Household to spread our fame?" Zhang Lingyu sat back down, tapping her fingers lightly on the table, and frowned. "Our Zhang Household has grown to the point where we can be used as stepping stones for others, which is a good thing."

"But given his/her abilities, there's absolutely no need for him/her to be in such a hurry to become famous, is there?"

"Could it be that..."

"He/She wants to use this to get in touch with someone!" Zhang Lingyu and Zhang Lingfeng said in unison.

Zhang Lingfeng slammed his hand on the table and said, "Brother, it seems this fight won't happen. If he/she wants to make a name for themselves, not showing up after issuing the challenge will only make them more famous faster."

"I'm a little curious. This person's strength has already reached the Golden Core Stage, so why would they still need to use such a clumsy method? It's really... shameful."

"Brother, I suspect this person isn't from the Yaoguang Sea Area. After all, we're familiar with most of the Golden Core Yaoguang Sea Area. This person is likely from another sea."

At this moment, a member of the Zhang Household arrived outside the room with a member of the Sea Fish Gang.

"Master, the Sea Fish Gang has something to ask you."

Zhang Lingyu and Zhang Lingfeng exchanged a glance, and a guess immediately formed in their minds. Zhang Lingyu then waved his hand and said, "Let him in."

A burly man wearing a fish skin outfit with half his arm exposed entered the room and politely bowed, saying, "Zhu Shen, the Whale Hall of the Sea Fish Gang, greets Patriarch Zhang Household."

It looks really incongruous that a burly man is bowing so respectfully.

Zhang Lingyu waved his hand and said, "Speak, what do you want to ask?"

Zhu Shen glanced at the letter on the table beside him and knew that he had achieved his goal. He took a deep breath and said, "It seems that your Zhang Household has also received this challenge."

"Patriarch Zhang Household, you have a wide circle of friends. Why don't you ask around and see what's been going on lately? Just who is this Su Liuyue?"

"Alright, you can go back now. I'll ask around later and let your gang leader know if I have any news."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Zhang Household."

The burly man bowed and then turned and left.

Although the Zhang Household and the Sea Fish Gang are competitors because of Star Sand, they are both forces on Sea Billow Island and their relationship is not bad.

After Zhu Shen left, Zhang Lingfeng picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Brother, it seems our deduction was correct; that person was after fame."

"Heh, using the two strongest forces on the entire Sea Billow Island to make a name for themselves, what a clever plan."

"Yes, what a clever plan. The key is we can't stop it." Zhang Lingyu picked up his teacup, blew on it, and then said, "Forget it, there's no need to stop it. After all, the other party is also Golden Core. We shouldn't offend them too much. We might meet again in the future."

"So, brother, are you still going to ask?"

"Let me ask around. Maybe someone knows. After all, we don't know anything about the other person's background. It's always good to learn more. As the saying goes, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.'"

"Also, give the order to be prepared, so we can deal with it if that guy actually does it."

"Yes, brother, I'll arrange it right away."

As Zhang Lingfeng reached the door, Zhang Lingyu's voice, tinged with concern, rang out. "Lingfeng, you should go into seclusion. Don't be reluctant to use the pill I gave you before."

"Brother, I know what I'm doing. After all, nobody wants to die," Zhang Lingfeng chuckled and nodded.

Watching Zhang Lingfeng's departing figure, Zhang Lingyu sighed softly. He had already done more than enough for this half-brother. If he still couldn't break through to the Golden Core, then he could only blame his fate.

Zhang Lingyu then took out Sound Transmission Jade Slip slip and asked his friends, hoping to get some information.

After waiting for a long time, the people who replied all said they didn't know them and hadn't heard of anything happening recently.

Even the sect leader of the Canghai Sect, located on the edge of the Yaoguang Sea Area, had not heard of anything happening in the other sea areas.

After asking around, only two people remained: Shen Ge and Miaoyin.

"Fellow Daoist Shen is probably still refining his weapon, so let's not disturb him." Zhang Lingyu shook her head and sent a message to Miaoyin.

A short while later, Miaoyin replied that she didn't know either, but she did promise Zhang Lingyu that she could send someone over if he needed help.

After replying that he didn't need it, Zhang Lingyu put away the Sound Transmission Jade Slip and sighed, "Really, of all people to ask, you had to choose the Zhang Household."

Since he couldn't figure out their origins, Zhang Lingyu decided not to bother anymore. In any case, the other party probably just wanted to make a name for themselves, and who cared what happened afterward? It wouldn't endanger the Zhang Household anyway.

A day later, at the appointed time, Zhang Lingyu hovered high above the Zhang Household's residence, ready for action. Not far below, many people were watching; these were people who had come to observe after hearing the news.

But after waiting all day, and even on the second day, no one came. It seemed that the other party really just wanted to make a name for themselves in this way, and whether the name was good or bad didn't matter.

This relieved Zhang Lingyu, as he truly did not want to fight someone of the same cultivation level in this way.

"Things should be fine now, right?" Zhang Lingyu shook her head and returned to the Zhang Household, but she didn't let her guard down.