Chapter 23: Demon Cloud Mountain Range (Seeking recommendation tickets and collection!)

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  "A life-or-death battle, haha... That kid really doesn't know the height of the sky or the thickness of the earth... Half a year later, no matter what, Boss will be able to reach 9th rank warrior, and might even step into the realm of martial master... Haha... Boss, at that time you'd better take it easy, if it's too enjoyable it won't be satisfying..."

  "Yeah, boss, you gotta take it easy... best to kick his eggs first, huh, break both legs too, then slowly torture that trash to death... heh heh, this year's 'Cloud State Martial Arts Conference', boss will definitely qualify for sure, use that guy to make a name for himself, or else Xiao Jishan and Xiao Jifei won't acknowledge him... hahaha..." said Xiao Jichuan.

  Upon hearing Xiao Jikang's words, a hint of pride flashed across Xiao Jihan's face as he smiled slightly and said: "Don't worry, I'll make sure you get your revenge... That kid is quite bold, so using him to establish dominance isn't bad either. Hmm, for this period of time, don't bother him again, I don't want to miss this opportunity. Jifeng, go inform the cafeteria immediately and stop targeting him. Also, all of you be quiet for a while, I'm going to start my closed-door training...

  Xiao Jihan finished speaking and quickly left, leaving behind a crowd of people looking at each other in dismay.

  "Going into seclusion...... isn't Big Brother most against going into seclusion?"

  "Yes, otherwise, with Lao Da's qualifications and insight, he would have been promoted to an inner disciple long ago... Could it be... because of that little kid?"

  "Do you have a brain? That kid is indeed talented, but in half a year's time, what can he achieve? It seems that the boss is taking this year's Yunzhou Martial Arts Conference seriously... Only by entering the Warrior Realm will there be hope to participate... "Xiao Jichang frowned slightly and said: "The boss is currently at the 7th rank of martial artist, half a year's time, advancing to the peak of the 9th rank of martial artist is not a problem, but breaking through from martial artist to warrior is the most difficult hurdle. Many people get stuck at the 9th rank for one or two years, or even two or three years... Let alone the boss who has to go into seclusion..."

  "Uh...... I was just casually saying that...... didn't you take it seriously?" Xiao Jikuan asked somewhat astonished.

  The Yunzhou Martial Assembly is the most grand, lively and influential event in Yunzhou County every year. All forces within the county will participate, with the Yunzhou City Lord's Manor presiding over the proceedings, concerning the reputation and prestige of each force. The Xiao family's disciples, the Yong and Shi generations' talents are lacking, causing the Xiao family, one of the four major families, to be defeated by the other three major families for three consecutive years. If this continues, it will be a problem for them to even be considered among the ranks of the four major families.

  After all, the Yunzhou Martial Assembly is a competition among young disciples under the age of 20 from various major forces, but it represents the future strength of each force. In the short term, the Xiao family can still rely on the older generation to hold on, but what about in a few years or ten years?

  As other forces emerge with more and more young masters, when this new blood grows into the backbone of each force, the Xiao family will inevitably decline in power, and it will be difficult to maintain its position as one of the four major families...

  This is also why the Xiao family rewarded the first batch of disciples who entered the inner door with the character "Ji" and "Xiang", simply to encourage these disciples to work hard and cultivate.

  "It's definitely that. I think, Boss wants to upgrade to Martial Master, only then can he get the qualification to participate in Yunzhou Martial Arts Conference, of course, it will also be easier to bully that poor kid... otherwise, with that guy's viciousness... damn, who knows, he might even bite our boss's thing off..." said Xiao Jitao, hanging his arm.

  At this moment, thinking of Chen Hao's beast-like desperate and fierce eyes, he felt a little apprehensive in his heart.

  Hahaha...

  ……

  "What's going on between you and Xiao Jihan?"

  When Chen Huan finished his breakfast and rushed to the Wenyuan Pavilion, Xiao Lao and Xiao Jiyuan seemed to have been waiting for him. As soon as Chen Huan entered, Xiao Lao frowned and asked.

  Chen Hao was slightly stunned, apparently, Xiao Lao and Xiao Jiyuan had already learned about his relationship with Xiao Jihan. After a slight hesitation, Chen Hao looked at Xiao Jiyuan and said: "As for the specific reason, I'm not too clear either... However, from the moment I entered the Xiao family, he began to target me..."

  "Against you?"

  "Hmm. When reporting, Xiao Jiyuan, who sent me to the dormitory, said a sentence in a low voice after sending me to the dormitory, which happened to be heard by me, and I was very surprised at that time..."

  "What did you say?"

  "He said, 'You've offended Shao Jihan, you'll be punished later...' I had just reported for duty and at that time, I didn't even know who Shao Jihan was. How could I have possibly offended him? It wasn't until yesterday when I was walking out of class with Shao Yan that I saw him for the first time. That's also when I found out what Shao Jihan looked like. During our entrance exam, he seemed to be in charge of supervision... but at that time, there was no conflict whatsoever. I really can't understand how I could have offended him..."

  Chen Hao paused slightly, his eyes turned to Xiao Jiyuan, and then said: "To be honest, I'm a new apprentice, why would he care about me? How could I have offended him? During the test, the only Shao family disciple who spoke to me was you, Elder Sister Jiyuan. How could I have offended him?"

  "Oh?" Xiao Lao slightly furrowed his brow.

  "This... little brother... Sister, I... I told Ji Han that you're not like ordinary people... I said you'd definitely pass the Xiao family test because you have the confidence and courage to become a warrior... But, shouldn't be, right, Ji Han? Did he intentionally target you just because of this?"

  "I don't know, from the moment I entered the Xiao family..." Chen Hao trailed off. Xiao Jiyuan couldn't guess what he meant, but Old Man Xiao would definitely understand, so he didn't continue on this topic. Instead, he slowly recounted everything that had happened since entering the Xiao family, including the two clashes yesterday and the specifics of today's life-or-death duel during morning practice, without leaving out a single detail.

  "That's just how it is..." Chen Hao said with a very wronged, resentful and innocent look.

  "Brother Ji Han, how could he...how could he be like this?" Xiao Ji Yan said with a surge of sympathy and seeming dissatisfaction.

  "Just because of this, you agreed to a life-and-death duel with him? Don't you know that this is exactly what he wants?" asked Xiao Lao, narrowing his eyes as he looked at Chen Huan.

  Through Chen Huan's narrative, Xiao Lao's understanding of Chen Huan deepened another layer. This guy was simply a freak!

  Not to mention Chen Hao's ability to defeat three martial artists of different levels, but simply being able to see through his opponent's conspiracy and come up with a counter-strategy is astonishing. This mentality is indeed much more mature than that of his peers. Moreover, Old Xiao could also hear it, although Chen Hao didn't explicitly say it was because of Xiao Jiyuan, the words between the lines subtly implied that it was precisely because of Xiao Jiyuan's temptation and Chen Hao's innate talent that led to Xiao Jihan's actions.

  So, Xiao Lao can conclude that Chen Huan is certainly clear that Xiao Jihans intention was to provoke him into agreeing to a life-and-death duel, but why did Chen Huan knowingly agree?

  Xiao Lao was puzzled by this.

  After all, Xiao Lao didn't think that Chen Huan would have the qualifications to contend with Xiao Jihuan within half a year.

  "This... I know. But this is exactly what I want!"

  "What do you want? In half a year, how can you possibly defeat Xiao Jihan? He is now a 7th rank warrior. Half a year later, if lucky, he will be able to enter the realm of Wushi, Xiao Jihan although doesn't have spiritual roots, but his talent and comprehension are top-notch, if not for his sloppy cultivation, he would have entered the Wushi realm long ago. You may have strong physical talent, but against him, there is only one outcome: death! Do you know that?"

  "This... I will work hard to cultivate! Xiao Lao, rather than being oppressed by him, it's better to have a decisive battle. I believe that in half a year, I absolutely won't lose to him!" Chen Hao said with a firm gaze, looking at Xiao Lao's concerned expression.

  "You young man... having confidence is a good thing, but being too confident is arrogance... sigh, alright..." Old Xiao said, suddenly stopping here, waving his hand, wanting to say something, but suddenly stopped again, pausing for a moment before continuing: "Since you've already made the appointment, just do your best, whether it's life or death, can only be left to fate..."

  "No way! I'll go find Father and have him cancel your engagement. How could Brother Jihan be like this..."

  "Is this appointment so easy to cancel? Let's talk about it later..." Xiao Lao stopped Xiao Jiyuan and transmitted a message: "Don't worry, give that kid some pressure too. At the time, I, the old ancestor, will not let him get hurt... You should have less contact with Xiao Jihan in the future. That kid is not a good thing, and you are destined to be on different levels..."

  ……

  The night was vast and dark, with a faint starlight shining down on the continuous mountain peaks that rose and fell in an endless succession. Except for the occasional howl of wild beasts, all was quiet and still. This was Mo Yun Mountain Range, a hundred miles away from Xiao's home, desolate and uninhabited.

  "Hmm...hmm...hmm..."

  At this time, in a natural, secluded and spacious mountain cave, a thin figure was rolling and jumping around, punching and kicking, making a slight sound of breaking through the air. His clothes had been soaked with sweat long ago, but he didn't show any sign of stopping.

  Inside the cave, a raging bonfire cast a reddish glow on the young man's slightly immature and inexperienced face. This young man was Chen Huan.

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