Chapter 396 - Terms of the Competition (1/2)

The news of Grandmaster Xiqin challenging Lu Tianzi to an open competition of their inscription skills spread rapidly not just within the Blue Ember faction, but throughout all three factions of the Timeless Flame Sect.

It was a piece of news that caught the entire ancient sect by surprise.

From the younger generation to the older generation, from the disciples to the elders, none of them could have imagined something like this ever happening.

No matter what, Grandmaster Xiqin was still an esteemed inscription master of the Timeless Flame Sect.

What no eyes for the deep heritage of the Timeless Flame Sect, what no respect for the sect's prestige?

Anyone could tell that those accusations from Grandmaster Xiqin were nothing but mere excuses.

It was most probably because he was feeling slighted from the rejection!

Most people could understand him feeling irritated after having his kind intentions rejected, but to the point of challenging someone of the younger generation to an open competition of their inscription skills?

Rather than calling it an open competition, it was more like a public shaming session, a demonstration of his superiority!

Even if it was really to put an arrogant youngster in his place as Grandmaster Xiqin had claimed, did he have to go to such an extent?

Of course, those with more discerning eyes understood that since the other party was a friend of one of the heir candidates of the sect, perhaps there was more to it than met the eye.

The elders of the Blue Ember faction were especially concerned.

This challenge might be directed towards Lu Tianzi, but it was also an indirect challenge to their prestige.

After all, Lu Tianzi was a guest of their faction's heir candidate!

Even so, they maintained their silence while continuing to keep an eye on the situation, wanting to see how things panned out.

At this moment, one the two main characters of the matter, Lu Tianzi, was seated in his room while in the company of his worried companions.

”I'm sorry, Brother Tianzi,” Young Master Xuan Hao said. ”I tried to talk to Grandmaster Xiqin, but he refused to retract this challenge.”

”That darned Grandmaster Xiqin insisted that he is just issuing a challenge, and that it is your choice to accept it or not. If you choose to reject him, then he naturally will not force you to compete against your will,” Ruan Ling added bitterly. ”What a bunch of nonsense. Since that is the case, why bother issuing a challenge in the first place? He's obviously trying to make you look bad!”

”It is up to me to accept it or not? He really said that?” Lu Tianzi replied in amus.e.m.e.nt.

”Even though it might appear a little cowardly, I believe that not accepting the challenge is still the better option,” Young Master Xuan Hao said. ”After all, Grandmaster Xiqin is a member of the older generation, and his inscription skills have already been honed over a long period of time. Here, take a look at this.”

Young Master Xuan Hao produced an arm bracer from his spatial ring and handed it over to Lu Tianzi.

”What is this?” Lu Tianzi asked while examining the arm bracer.

”This is a treasure inscribed by Grandmaster Xiqin. I wanted to show you just how good he is. I believe that as an inscription master, you will be able to tell just how good he is just from looking at this,” Young Master Xuan Hao said.

”This is pretty good indeed,” Lu Tianzi nodded after carefully scrutinising the inscription on the arm bracer.

Young Master Xuan Hao was not joking.

The quality of the inscription on the arm bracer was extremely good to say the least, and every line was drawn to perfection. Even Lu Tianzi himself was not confident of doing any better.

It seemed that despite his questionable character, the Head Inscription Master of the Yellow Spark faction was truly deserving of his title!

”Isn't that right?” Young Master Xuan Hao said. ”This competition is just unfair in the first place. There's no reason to force yourself to accept his challenge.”

”Brother Xuan Hao doesn't have to worry. I will not be accepting this challenge,” Lu Tianzi shook his head while passing the arm bracelet back to Young Master Xuan Hao.

”You are not?” Young Master Xuan Hao was caught by surprise. ”That's good I guess...”

He initially thought that with Lu Tianzi's personality and how domineeringly he dealt with things back at Sacred Cliff City, he would definitely accept this challenge from Grandmaster Xiqin.

That was why he came all the way, even bringing along a treasure inscribed by Grandmaster Xiqin, all in a bid to persuade Lu Tianzi otherwise.

But now that Lu Tianzi did not seem interested in the competition at all, Young Master Xuan Hao could not help but feel slightly conflicted in his heart.

Up till now, Lu Tianzi had managed to turn around too many seemingly hopeless situations, so Young Master Xuan Hao had subconsciously started to see him on a whole other level.

Even though Young Master Xuan Hao understood that there was nothing to be ashamed of here...

Even though Young Master Xuan Hao himself said that this was a competition purely in the other party's advantage so there was no reason to accept the challenge...

He still could not help but feel slightly disappointed.

So even Lu Tianzi would be afraid of losing?

”Of course I'm not!” Lu Tianzi laughed when he saw Young Master Xuan Hao's reaction. ”There is nothing in for me at all, so why would I accept the challenge? Brother Xuan Hao doesn't have to worry.”

”Tch! That darned Grandmaster Xiqin! Thinking he's all that just because he's older!” Ruan Ling cursed.

”In any case, I am glad that you understand,” Young Master Xuan Hao nodded. ”Since that's the case, I will be leaving for now.”

Now that the matter had been decided, Young Master Xuan Hao and Ruan Ling took their leave.