Star Gate

Chapter 196: Letter of Challenge (I)

“It should be!” the young woman murmured.

“Why doesn’t master come here and kill this Yuan Shuo?” frowned the youngest—a Slayer. “What are we issuing a letter of challenge for?”

Indeed, a letter of challenge. Sun Yifei was neither here in person nor in hiding. He sent his disciples to intercept Yuan Shuo on the route that the professor was sure to take. He wanted to openly deliver a letter of challenge in public view!

“This is the custom of the martial master world,” Sun Moxian replied softly. “Remember this, junior brother! When master agreed to fight Old Demon Yuan and lost at Rift Bridge, that resulted in an internal demon...”

“An internal demon?”

“It’s not what you think, it might be better described as a lingering knot of emotion. Master left for distant lands after losing to Yuan Shuo. He then crossed over to the supernatural and became a Solar, but still bears the name of the defeated in the world of martial dao! If he wishes to redeem himself, he must issue an open challenge to Old Demon Yuan and emerge victorious. Only then will he wash away the disgrace of yesteryear!”

“But...” The Slayer junior brother didn’t understand. Was there a need for this? It was a different style from the central region.

In the central region, strength was king. It was enough to win—there was no need for letters of challenge or whatnot. One could win through even ambush or assassination. The dead had no right to talk. Since master was stronger than Yuan Shuo, he should charge over and smack the old man to death! Who would dare say his master was lesser then?

“These are the rules of Silver Moon’s martial world!” Sun Moxian repeated in solemn tones. “Be on good behavior in a moment.”

“Huh?” The young man and woman looked strangely at him. Be on good behavior?

“This is Yuan Shuo—Old Demon Yuan!” As their senior brother, Sun Moxian had to remind them. “He is merciless and cruel, the murderer of half of Silver Moon’s martial world back in the day. We are here to deliver a challenge, not to die. If he kills us for perceived slights, we’ll have died for nothing, even if master kills him!”

The two sucked in sharp breaths, that was true. They faced an absolute fiend! This was an existence that’d killed countless people.

The trio said nothing else and began waiting. The car in front of them slowed to a half. The rest of the road would jolt the vehicle too much, so the occupants might as well walk. Four humans and a dog alighted after a moment.

......

Liu Long walked in front, Yuan Shuo behind him. After a while, Liu Long looked into the distance with a faint frown. He furrowed his brows. “There’s a scent of blood!”

Blood was in the air as soon as they arrived near Rift Canyon. There was almost no one to be found here, had a fight broken out between the supernaturals?

Yuan Shuo didn’t say anything—he simply looked in the relevant direction and continued walking forward. Li Hao also swept a glance over the area. There were no supernaturals there as he saw no balls of light. He also remained silent. Even if there was anyone, they were either a mundane or martial master.

“What are we afraid of!” Wang Ming laughed heartily in an abundance of courage. “With our strength, even Solars will die if they come for us!”

They had a Dominator who’d killed a Solar, another Dominator, one Sunflare, and two Sunderers. This level of strength afforded one complete impunity no matter where one was. Well, maybe not in the central region. There were too many powerhouses there.

The silent group made steady time on foot. There were several dozen meters to Rift Canyon. That wasn’t too far for martial masters. It was almost dark from when they’d set out this morning. They still hoped to reach camp before night fell, just in case anything happened in the darkness.

They saw an enormous rock after walking a while longer. Three people stood next to it, dressed in slightly different accoutrements compared to Silver Moon. Identifiable as martial masters, they seemed better off than the Silver City group. Their materials were obviously more luxurious than the ones used in Silver Moon; golden thread could be seen glimmering from their hems.

The group was unfazed as it was three youngsters. In fact, they could hazard a guess at the trio’s identity because each of them bore a long staff on their back.

The Qimei Staff King!

Of course, the three in front of them weren’t likely to be him. They were more likely to be disciples.

Li Hao darted forward without waiting for Yuan Shuo to issue a command.

“Li Hao of Silver City, disciple of the Five Styles King. What business might the senior brothers and sister have?”

Li Hao! Sun Moxian awkwardly raised cupped fists, unsure whether he was performing the courtesy properly. Whatever, it was fine so long as it was close enough.

“Sun Moxian of the Sagittarius province, eldest disciple of the Qimei Staff King! I am here on my master’s orders to deliver a letter of challenge! My master will meet the Five Styles King in battle tomorrow on Rift Bridge!” A letter shot at Li Hao as he spoke, sandwiched between internal force. The energy was powerful and the paper fragile, yet it was not destroyed.

The internal force erupted when Li Hao reached out a hand to accept it. The young man utilized his fingers as a sword and instantly crushed the force, calmly catching the letter. “I accept this letter on behalf of my master, as for the challenge...”

“I will be there on time!” Yuan Shuo responded calmly behind his disciple. “Tell Sun Yifei to drop this act—he’s a supernatural now! I’d like to see tomorrow if he’s improved after all these years in the central region running around with Ying Hongyue!”

Sun Moxian shook, but didn’t dare say anything. He raised a cupped salute again. “The letter has been delivered, we await the Five Styles King tomorrow!” He swiftly departed, followed by his junior brother and sister.

It wasn’t until they were a distance away that the Slayer muttered, “Senior brother, why didn’t we say any of the tough talk that master wanted us to deliver?”

“......” Sun Moxian didn’t respond until they were yet further removed from the scene. “Those are master’s words, we don’t need to repeat them. There’s no point in talking tough, that old demon doesn’t play by the book. It’d absolutely be a loss if he beat us to death. And if battle commences tomorrow... Silver Moon’s martial world has the custom of disciples fighting first to warm up the field. I will meet that Li Hao in battle!”

The other two blinked. Why?

“Senior brother...”

“I infused the letter of challenge with a hint of aura, wanting to knock Li Hao down a peg. But he easily crushed it, which means he’s late Sunderer or half step Dominator!”

Both of the youngsters’ eyes widened.

“Surely not? I heard from Red Moon that Old Demon Yuan accepted him only three years ago, and he wasn’t taught martial dao at first. He’s a Slayer at most, how can he be a Sunderer?”

“Even if he is, initial Sunderer is the most he can manage. How can he be a late or even half step Dominator? That requires the comprehension of the aura...” The two couldn’t believe it. Was this possible?

Sun Moxian shook his head after momentary consideration. “It’s tough to say, we just need to be more careful. It is just as master says, powerhouses abound in Silver Moon’s martial world. We’re martial geniuses in the central region, but here it seems that Sunderers can be easily found in the streets.”

The trio quieted down and swiftly departed.

......

At the same time.

“He’s still the same after almost two decades,” Yuan Shuo sneered upon glancing at the letter. He looked at Li Hao. “Why did you catch it? I thought you’d choose to dodge it.”

“I can’t let master lose face!” Li Hao smiled innocently. “You’re martial masters of the same era and his disciple was here with a challenge. A life is nothing, dignity is everything! How could I lose face for my teacher? Face is more important than living for those of us in the martial world!”

“......” Yuan Shuo nearly burst out laughing. What are you talking about?? He held himself in with effort. “That Sun Moxian is not a simple character. He seems to have comprehended the aura. To think that Sun Yifei can raise such a young half step Dominator—that is quite something!”

A half step Dominator was much more difficult to attain than a Sunflare. All Sunflares needed to do was break three locks, a feat that depended on potential and absorbing mysterious power. Enlightenment, however, was required for martial masters to enter half step Dominator. Enlightenment was a very mysterious, abstract concept at times. Someone whose intelligence was unparalleled might find comprehending the aura out of reach.

“I understand why Sun Yifei has brought his disciples with him!” Yuan Shuo looked at Li Hao again. “Think carefully on this. Stay off the battlefield if you can tomorrow!”

They’d remained in hiding for so long; there might be a large audience for the challenge. It was not a good development if Li Hao was exposed.

The young man liked to keep a low profile, but shook his head this time. “This is different! Teacher once dominated Silver Moon’s martial world. Upon your withdrawal, you have accepted a final disciple in Silver City. Wouldn’t it be the height of mortification if I can\'t handle even Sun Yifei’s disciple?”

It had truly been an era in which face was more important than one’s life, particularly for the old guard of martial masters. Biding one’s time depended on the period. It would be true humiliation only if Li Hao lost without a fight. Supernaturals might not understand or care about this, but martial masters would.

“I’ll go!” Wang Ming seemed to have understood as well. “Teacher, I’m your honorary disciple. Honorary disciples are disciples too! Watch me wipe the floor with that guy!”

“You?” Yuan Shuo flicked a glance at him. “It’s not that I’m underestimating you, but if Sun Moxian isn’t a rookie... It’s 70/30 if you’re in the field!”

What did that mean?

70/30?

“70/30... Does teacher mean that I only have a seventy percent chance of winning?”

That’s too low! I’m a Sunflare and he’s not a Dominator yet.

“You’re thirty, he’s seventy!”

Wang Ming’s nostrils flared with indignation, now this was insulting him!

“I’m a Sunflare...”

“You’ve just become a Sunflare!” Yuan Shuo laughed. “Is that impressive? It can be, and Liu Long might not be a match for you if he wasn’t a Dominator. As a peak Sunderer, he was yet to comprehend the aura despite his strength reaching perfection. A false half step Dominator like him would never stand against a Sunflare.”

Martial masters without an aura would never be able to go against a Sunflare. It was a difficult call to make once they grasped it. 70/30 might be a bit over the top, but it would certainly be even odds. It was hard to tell who would win.

“I would never defeat a Sunflare if I didn’t comprehend the aura!” Liu Long also inclined his head. “Enlightenment depends on the strength of the aura, one’s experience, and one’s level. It is indeed tough to determine who would be the victor.

“Elder Yuan, Sun Yifei set tomorrow as the date in his letter, didn’t he? But it’s not time for the expedition yet and everyone hopes for you to be a part of it. Is Sun Yifei going against everyone’s wishes...”