Chapter 285: Responding to the Challenge

At that moment, a voice came: "I heard the Sect Master has some distinguished guests; Ning Mou has come to meet them."

Shortly after, Qin Yang saw Ning Qi and an old man walk in together.

Both exuded a powerful aura; they were both loose immortals.

Qin Yang narrowed his eyes at them and said lightly: "Ning Qi, you dare to show up before me—are you really not afraid of death?"

Qin Yang directly challenged him; he was very forceful, and facing Ning Qi, his killing intent was utterly undisguised.

Ning Qi smiled faintly and said: "I don't know how to address you, fellow Daoist, and I don't understand what you mean."

"Ning Qi, as a renowned loose immortal, do you need to play dumb with me? Last time you teamed up with the Hunting Gods to besiege me, seeing you weren't my match, you fled with two immortal swords; now you dare appear before me—could it be those two swords that give you courage?"

Qin Yang's gaze was like a blade.

Ning Qi breathed evenly, smiled faintly, and said: "Fellow Daoist, you must be mistaken; I could never be allied with an organization like the Hunting Gods—you've got it wrong."

Qin Yang raised an eyebrow slightly, chuckled lightly: "I originally thought you were someone of note, but you're just a petty brat who dares not take responsibility; when the Hunting Gods worked with you, they were probably deceived by you—if they knew you lacked any sense of duty, they wouldn't have sought you out, and it's no wonder you became a loose immortal; I see no chance for you to ever become a true immortal in this lifetime."

Upon hearing this, Ning Qi's face changed drastically; he glared at Qin Yang venomously and said coldly: "I have never offended you, fellow Daoist, yet you say such things—this is a bit excessive."

At that moment, Zi Changsheng said lightly: "Both of you, what exactly are you here for? Qin Yang is my son-in-law and also my honored guest; if you're causing trouble for him, aren't you giving me, Zi Changsheng, too little face?"

Another loose immortal said softly: "I've heard Qin Yang already has many lovely confidantes; Sect Master, what do you mean by this? Are you intending to marry the Sect Master's daughter of Shu Mountain to a philanderer with many women? Would Shu Mountain still have any face if this got out?"

Zi Changsheng smiled faintly and said: "Cultivators aren't bound by worldly conventions; as for Qin Yang's affairs, that's between him and Zi Yan. Although I am Zi Yan's father, her choice of partner is her own decision—I cannot interfere, nor can anyone else."

Zi Changsheng's words were not courteous; he clearly had no good feeling toward either of them, especially Ning Qi—his gaze at Ning Qi bristled with killing intent, as if he wished to slay him right then.

That loose immortal smiled slightly and said: "I'm only concerned with Shu Mountain's reputation; I mean nothing else. If the Sect Master finds my words improper, I'll drop it. Now let's discuss the Sect Master's abdication."

"What do you mean, Second Elder?" Zi Changsheng asked lightly.

The Second Elder smiled faintly and said: "I think Ning Qi would be more fit to be Shu Mountain's Sect Leader; please step down."

Zi Changsheng smiled faintly and said: "Second Elder, are you plotting rebellion? Are you trying to seize my position as Sect Master?"

"I wouldn't dare."

The Second Elder said.

"I see you're quite bold."

Qin Yang gave a light chuckle.

The Second Elder's gaze fell on Qin Yang; his eyes were somewhat sharp, and he said: "Qin Yang, this isn't your Place: Baiyun Guan—this is Shu Mountain's own affair."

The implication was that Qin Yang had no right to meddle in Shu Mountain's matters.

Zi Changsheng emphasized: "Qin Yang is my son-in-law, and thus naturally a member of Shu Mountain; he naturally has the right to intervene in this matter."

"Even if he's a son-in-law, so what? He's still just an outsider." Ning Qi said disdainfully.

"At least he's better than a traitor." Zi Changsheng gave him a sideways glance.

Ning Qi's face darkened; he coldly stared at Zi Changsheng and said: "I have already returned to Shu Mountain as a disciple, and my seniority is above yours—if you keep calling me a traitor, that's hardly appropriate."

"Heh."

Zi Yan let out a cold laugh and said: "You were originally a traitor; what's there that people can't say? If you dared to do it, shouldn't you dare to admit it?"

Upon hearing Zi Yan's words, Ning Qi's expression turned icy: "We elders are speaking; what business is it of you, a junior, to interject? If the Sect Master can't manage his own daughter, I don't mind stepping in to help him manage her."

"Ning Qi, don't court death." Zi Changsheng said coldly.

Qin Yang also turned ice-cold, staring at Ning Qi, almost feeling the urge to strike.

"Qin Yang, you want to fight? This is Shu Mountain, not your Place: Baiyun Guan—do you really think you're invincible under heaven?"

Ning Qi snorted coldly, sensing Qin Yang's killing intent.

Qin Yang smiled faintly and said: "I'm indeed not invincible under heaven, but killing you is enough."

Ning Qi's face darkened as he said coldly: "I've given you face; if it weren't for the prestige of your master Baiyun, in my eyes you wouldn't even be worth a fart."

"Really? Who was it that got beaten by someone as insignificant as a fart, fled in disarray, escaped like a stray dog? If you've forgotten, I can remind you." Qin Yang sneered.

"Shut up." Ning Qi shouted angrily.

He recalled that day's events; indeed he felt shame, and now Qin Yang bringing it up made his anger blaze.

Back then he truly felt he wasn't Qin Yang's match and fled too quickly, but now it's different—Ning Qi has refined two immortal swords, and his true strength has surged like a fly.

If he were to face Qin Yang now, he would have full confidence of victory.

This is also why the Second Elder earlier said not to provoke Qin Yang for now, yet Ning Qi still came to his door—he is fully confident in his current strength and seeks to avenge his shame.

"If you have the ability, let's go to the martial arts field now for a duel; then we'll see who is whose match."

Ning Qi said.

Zi Changsheng's expression shifted slightly; he transmitted to Qin Yang: "Don't go—he has refined two immortal swords, his strength is formidable; you might not be his match."

Qin Yang, however, laughed: "No problem—this time I want him to learn what 'vast heavens and deep earth' means; if I defeat him, Shu Mountain's crisis will be considered resolved."

"Are you confident?" Zi Changsheng transmitted.

Qin Yang pondered, then said: "Not much confidence—eighty percent."

Zi Changsheng laughed and cried, saying: "And that's called 'not much confidence'?"

He also stopped worrying; Qin Yang is someone who knows his own mind—since he decided to act, he naturally has confidence, and all I need to consider is how to deal with them after Qin Yang defeats Ning Qi.

After all, this matter isn't just Ning Qi's doing; the Second Elder and his group are the real masterminds.

Zi Changsheng also wants to figure out why they don't want him to remain as Sect Master, and what their true purpose is.

Perhaps it concerns Shu Mountain's very survival; if we can uncover their ultimate goal, maybe we can expose a great secret.