A Chaotic World

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 amusement.

"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.

***

"Still no response from him? I guess he is not too stupid after all!" Grandmaster Xiqin smirked after hearing the report from his student.

"Young Master Xuan Hao seems to be telling the elders that there is nothing on the line, which is why the brat has no reason to accept Teacher's challenge," his student scoffed. "What a joke!"

"Oh? He's using that as an excuse?" Grandmaster Xiqin laughed. "Well then, let's take away this excuse of his. Spread the word that I will be putting my Firestorm Amulet on the line, as well as ten high ranked beast cores!"

"The Firestorm Amulet?" his student was shocked to hear that. "Isn't that the Overlord rank treasure that the sect leader gave Teacher as a reward for your contributions to the sect?"

"That's right," Grandmaster Xiqin nodded confidently. "Now that there is the Firestorm Amulet on the line, let's see just how that brat continue bluffing! No, that's not enough. Let's also invite the various elders of the sect and honoured guests from other influences to watch, as many of them as possible! Other inscription masters can also join in the fun, though the bet will not apply to them. Just crushing the brat alone is going to make it too one-sided, so let's make it a meaningful event where everyone exchange pointers as inscription masters. If that brat is truly confident in his own abilities, then with this many eyes watching, there's no need to be afraid that he will be cheated of his victory!"

"Haha, now there are really no other excuses for him. I will go handle it immediately!" his student said before rushing off.

Everyone in the Timeless Flame Sect was watching this situation with interest. The moment Grandmaster Xiqin announced the inclusion of the new rewards, all eyes were turned towards Lu Tianzi.

But despite the great value of the rewards, there was no one who felt envious of him.

It was similar to an adult promising to give a three year old kid a large plot of land as long as the kid could beat him in an arm wrestling competition – it was almost impossible for the latter to win.

"What does Brother Tianzi think?" Young Master Xuan Hao asked.

After hearing the news, he immediately came to visit Lu Tianzi again.

In fact, he was feeling quite guilty right now.

Previously after visiting Lu Tianzi, he had gone on to meet the elders, informing them that Lu Tianzi would not be accepting the challenge because there was nothing on the line.

It was his way of accounting to the elders, but who knew that the news would spread to Grandmaster Xiqin so quickly?

Now that Grandmaster Xiqin was suddenly putting this many items on the line, what other excuse could his Brother Tianzi give?

In the end, he ended up being the one who made Lu Tianzi lose face.

But unbeknownst to Young Master Xuan Hao, it had never been about saving face to Lu Tianzi.

"What kind of treasure is this Firestorm Amulet?" Lu Tianzi asked curiously.

He had heard of the new terms that Grandmaster Xiqin had listed, but he had no idea what this Firestorm Amulet was.

"It is an Overlord rank treasure given by the sect leader himself," Young Master Xuan Hao explained. "I have never seen it in action, but I heard that the Firestorm Amulet is able to spew out flames capable of melting the strongest of metals."

"An Overlord rank treasure!" Lu Tianzi exclaimed in surprise.

To put an Overlord rank treasure on the line for something like this... such extravagance was as expected of someone from an ancient sect!

Seeing the excited look in Lu Tianzi's eyes, Young Master Xuan Hao could not help but feel worried. "The fact that he is willing to put something like that on the line meant that he is just that confident of his chances. Let's not give him the satisfaction."

"That darned Grandmaster Xiqin!" Ruan Ling cursed from the side.

"Hmm," Lu Tianzi rubbed his chin in contemplation. "To be honest, I am actually getting quite interested now."

"What?" Young Master Xuan Hao exclaimed in alarm. "Why suddenly?"

From the side, Ruan Ling and Nanlan Qianxue looked over at Lu Tianzi as well.

"Since he is willing to offer such tempting rewards, how could I not take up his offer?" Lu Tianzi said. "It is true that I had nothing to gain before, but I also had nothing to lose. With such favourable conditions now, it would be foolish of me not to join him in this competition!"

"This..." Young Master Xuan Hao hesitated. "But didn't Brother Tianzi look at the works of Grandmaster Xiqin? He is not someone who can be taken lightly. If Brother Tianzi joins the competition just to lose, then I'm afraid it will not reflect well on you either."

"If you can think so, then so can the rest of the world," Lu Tianzi answered. "Even if I lose, others will feel that it is only natural. But if I win, it will be a great boost to my credentials as an inscription master!"

"But that's only if you can win!" Young Master Xuan Hao said in exasperation. "Sister Qianxue, help me talk to Brother Tianzi about this!"

"If Tianzi wants to accept the challenge, then I'm all for it," Nanlan Qianxue replied nonchalantly.

Young Master Xuan Hao let out a helpless sigh.

Why did he even bother?

When had he ever seen Nanlan Qianxue go against any of Lu Tianzi's decision?

"Brother Xuan Hao, this time I'm on their side as well," Ruan Ling added.

"You too?" Young Master Xuan Hao felt the corner of his lips twitch.

"That's right," Ruan Ling nodded. "This Grandmaster Xiqin is really pushing it too far just because he is a senior. Wouldn't it be great if Brother Tianzi can put him in his place in front of everyone? Not only will his reputation as an inscription master skyrocket, it will also indirectly help you in your fight for the heir position! And as Brother Tianzi said, even if he lost, it would just be seen as something natural. There's nothing to be ashamed of!"

"This..." Young Master Xuan Hao hesitated for another few moments but eventually relented. "I guess that makes sense, let's do it this way then. But if we are going to do this, let's go all out and try to win it. I will immediately let the elders know about our decision, and try to convince them to let you enter the Valley of Finesse!"

"The Valley of Finesse?" Lu Tianzi asked.

"That's right," Young Master Xuan Hao said. "It is a sacred land of our Blue Ember faction, one that is overflowing with World Origin Energy and preserved in a pristine condition. If you are allowed to spend some time there, I am sure it will not only give you some inspirations on the art of inscriptions, but you might also find some useful inscription materials there!"