Chapter 220: Handshake

Pa-da!

The crisp sound of footsteps echoed as a young man in black clothes strode with dragon-like grace and tiger-like ferocity toward the door of the council hall.

This man had a dashing face, bright and sparkling eyes, and a straight posture like a pine tree standing against the wind. His aura was as imposing as a fierce tiger descending from the mountains.

Upon entering the hall, he cupped his fists and bowed slightly to the head seat, Ye Xiaotian.

“Dean.”

Jiang Bianyan narrowed his eyes, almost not recognizing him.

He tilted his head in thought for a moment before realizing—this was the person he had seen at the opening of Tianxuan Gate that day…

The one carrying the tray?

At that thought, Jiang Bianyan’s expression turned peculiar.

Though this guy had lost all his combat strength after being struck by lightning that day, he was still a Zongshi, no matter how you looked at it!

Was there such an existence among the thirty-three in the inner court?

How was Cheng Xingchu supposed to fight him?

The boy had some talent, sure, but going up against a Zongshi as a Xiantian peak cultivator—Jiang Bianyan himself wouldn’t have confidence in that.

Cheng Xingchu’s face also soured. He had analyzed the thirty-three in the inner court, and there was no one like this.

“Senior Ye, is he the one I have to fight?”

“I’m only at Xiantian level, and I have to face a Zongshi? That’s completely unfair!”

Cheng Xingchu was fuming. This was clearly Tiansang Spirit Palace trying to back out of the deal, just pushing forward some young-looking expert without any subtlety.

Was it that obvious?

Standing here so blatantly—who did they think they were fooling?

Ye Xiaotian and Qiao Qianzhi were both momentarily stunned, and even Zhao Xidong was baffled by the guy’s words.

Where did this fool come from, challenging himself?

Back when he was in the inner court, no one would have dared to boast like that!

Was this kid just begging for a reality check?

Zhao Xidong was already furious from dealing with Xu Xiaoshou earlier, and hearing Cheng Xingchu’s words made him snap.

He glanced over the elegant young man in front of him, smirking with mockery. “Fight me?”

“Go back and train for another ten years!”

Cheng Xingchu was so angry he could explode.

What an arrogant guy—more cocky than himself? Did he really think being a Zongshi made him invincible?

Just you wait—give me five years…

No, three!

I’ll…

Zhao Xidong waited for a while, but Cheng Xingchu couldn't get a word out, so he chuckled. “Run out of steam?”

Cheng Xingchu gritted his teeth so hard they creaked.

Were all the people in this Spirit Palace toxic?

First Ye Xiaotian, then the blind guy, and now this young-acting Zongshi—was this all targeted at him, Cheng Xingchu?

“Zhao Xidong, don’t mess around!”

Ye Xiaotian finally waved his hand from the head seat, scolding him before turning back to Jiang Bianyan, suppressing a laugh. “Hall Master Jiang, you’ve misunderstood. He’s just the guide, not the main opponent.”

Jiang Bianyan: …

Cheng Xingchu: ???

Both were dumbfounded. If he wasn't the main opponent, why walk in so boldly and aggressively, like he was ready for a big fight?

Just showing someone the way?

What kind of grudge was this? What got into you?

Zhao Xidong internally snorted coldly and silently walked over to sit beside Qiao Qianzhi.

Jiang Bianyan shrugged, looking at Ye Xiaotian in confusion. “So, the main opponent is…”

Ye Xiaotian said nothing, just glanced toward Zhao Xidong.

“What’s going on?”

Qiao Qianzhi also turned his head, noticing the bloodstains on Zhao Xidong, and asked quietly, “What about Xu Xiaoshou? Did something happen?”

“It’s nothing.”

Zhao Xidong took a deep breath and looked toward the hall door, irritated. “Why aren’t you coming in!”

Everyone turned their eyes to the door at once, waiting for a while until a head finally peeked in from the side.

Everyone: …

Ye Xiaotian had a few black lines on his forehead. Couldn’t this kid do anything to make the Spirit Palace look good?

Sneaking around like that—what a disgrace!

“Xu Xiaoshou, come in!”

“Under scrutiny, passive value +6.”

“Under mockery, passive value +1.”

“Under curse, passive value +1.”

“Under longing, passive value +1.”

Xu Xiaoshou had already sensed that being called here today was no simple matter, and eavesdropping outside had basically confirmed it was something extraordinary.

He deliberately made that peeking gesture, and sure enough, he got the information he wanted.

The mockery was probably from that richly dressed young man, the curse from Zhao Xidong, and the longing…

“Who could that be?”

Xu Xiaoshou looked toward the girl sitting in the corner. She still wore her veil, but her expression seemed more worn out than before.

Today, the girl didn’t look well at all—she hadn’t said a word and was keeping a low profile.

But she was Xu Xiaoshou’s main focus!

His “Perception” kept scanning those captivating star-like eyes, and sure enough, he detected something off.

It had been a long time since Xu Xiaoshou felt this kind of out-of-place sensation.

The last time was during the outer court’s “Fengyun Zhengba” finals, when he fought Mo Mo.

And sure enough, major events followed, involving the Gray Mist People and “Ghost Beasts,” which were nothing but trouble.

So Xu Xiaoshou was on high alert.

“Why does this girl feel so different today from what I saw before? Is it just because… she didn’t get enough rest?”

Xu Xiaoshou frowned, pondering his little schemes, and finally stepped into the council hall.

“Greetings, Dean. Greetings, Elder Qiao.”

The two nodded with smiles—Xu Xiaoshou being this polite was rare!

The seemingly cautious young man finished greeting the two big shots of the Spirit Palace and skipped right over Zhao Xidong at the end, turning to the other side.

“This is the hall master of Shengshen Hall’s branch in Dongtian Wangcheng, Jiang Bianyan. You can call him Senior Jiang,” Qiao Qianzhi promptly reminded.

“Greetings, Senior Jiang!” Xu Xiaoshou remained very polite.

“Mm.”

Jiang Bianyan nodded. This kid didn't seem too bright— he could have just said “Greetings to all seniors” and been done with it, but he had to make it so complicated.

And combined with that peeking act outside, was this really something a aspiring refiner on the path of cultivation would do?

In his mind, Jiang Bianyan had already given Xu Xiaoshou a big red cross.

This one won’t amount to much!

Cheng Xingchu leaned back in his chair, not even bothering to stand, silently waiting for this Yuan Court Realm initial-stage kid to come greet him.

Tiansang Spirit Palace wasn't just playing dumb—they were actually dumb!

They were seriously using someone of this level to compete with him?

Ha!

But then he saw Xu Xiaoshou walk right past him as if he didn't exist, extending his hand toward the somewhat surprised Yu Zhiwen.

“May I ask for the young lady’s name?”

Cheng Xingchu was stunned.

Did he not see a living person sitting right here?

“Under curse, passive value +1.”

He let out a cold laugh, realizing Xu Xiaoshou must have come prepared, knowing they were about to face off.

The contest had already begun, hadn’t it?

Watching Xu Xiaoshou’s hand lingering in the air, he sneered to himself. How could Yu Zhiwen shake hands with such a superficial person?

What a joke— a toad dreaming of eating swan meat!

Zhao Xidong’s eyes also held ill intent. He had been rejected when he tried to shake hands that day, and Xu Xiaoshou wasn’t even as good-looking as him, so how could he succeed?

He really wanted to see Xu Xiaoshou get shut down—otherwise, the frustration in his heart wouldn't go away!

There was a creak.

The chair was suddenly pushed back, scraping against the floor and echoing in the silent hall.

Yu Zhiwen’s ears turned slightly red, a bit embarrassed by the noise she had caused, but she still rose gracefully and gently placed her jade-like hand in Xu Xiaoshou’s.

It was warm and soft.

Her voice, pure as a white lotus, carried a touch of elegance: “Yu Zhiwen.”

“You can call me Zhiwen, Senior Brother.”

The two who had been waiting for the awkward moment stared in shock, and Cheng Xingchu was burning with anger.

How was that possible?

He couldn’t even get a handshake, yet this guy not only got one but also made Yu Zhiwen stand up?

“Under envy, passive value +2.”

Xu Xiaoshou immediately grinned.

“Yu Zhiwen—what a great name!”

He didn’t hold back his praise, then introduced himself: “I’m Xu Xiaoshou, the ‘shou’ as in attack and receive.”

The whole hall fell silent.

The young woman’s starry eyes froze for a moment.

“Ah?”