Chapter 24: I've Come to Challenge the House

The disciples from the Jiangshan Sect who had come to challenge the White Cloud Dojo were beaten into a state of critical injury and tossed out. Whether they lived or died would depend entirely on their own fate. In this world of martial artists, if you go out of your way to provoke a dojo, you have only yourself to blame when you end up in such a state.

Lin Shiyu looked at Chen Fan with a complex expression. "Junior Brother Chen Fan, I knew you wouldn't die so easily." He was genuinely astonished by the level of strength Chen Fan had displayed.

Chen Fan nodded slightly in return. "How are your injuries, Senior Brother Lin?"

"My injuries are of no consequence," Lin replied, shaking his head. His expression darkened as he asked, "Junior Brother, we go back a long way. I only want to ask one thing... is the dojo truly finished?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding core disciples turned their gazes toward them. Chen Fan remained silent, unable to offer an answer. Yun Wei and the others also stood in hushed silence. Even if their master were to wake from his coma, what could be done? Having offended the imperial-backed White Cloud Dojo, what foundation remained to sustain them? The Nineteenth Prince was currently escorting Fan Lin back to the capital; when he returned his attention to them, how would the White Cloud Dojo survive? Even if Chen Fan were powerful, could he really kill a prince with a single sword stroke? Chen Fan knew as well as anyone that even if their master recovered, the White Cloud Dojo would find it nearly impossible to hold its ground any longer.

Seeing their reaction, Lin Shiyu understood the situation. He gave a bitter laugh, bowed to Chen Fan, and turned to follow the other disciples back into the dojo.

Watching Lin Shiyu’s retreating figure, Chen Fan tightened his fists. He turned to Yun Wei. "Senior Sister, you are a native of Yandu City. You must be familiar with the Four Sects and Two Dojos, correct?"

Yun Wei frowned, stunned for a moment. "What... what are you planning to do?"

Chen Fan’s eyes were sharp. "I am going to challenge them."

There was no need for Chen Fan to explain what he meant. The Four Sects and Two Dojos had relied on the fact that the White Cloud Dojo had lost Dong Guzhi to exert pressure, repeatedly coming to provoke them until many of their disciples had been forced to flee. Their arrogance was more than Chen Fan could bear.

He believed his current strength was sufficient to deal with ordinary Grandmaster-level martial artists. The bounty placed on him by the Wujian Sect remained at the third tier; even if assassins were dispatched, they would only be seventh-level martial artists. This meant that even if he revealed a portion of his strength, he could ensure his safety for the time being. And even if revealing his capabilities prompted the Wujian Sect to escalate his assassination rank, he was determined to make these people pay the price!

Chen Fan considered himself a rational person, but there were some things that simply had to be done. If one possessed the strength but still allowed themselves to be bullied, there was no point in practicing martial arts—one might as well go home and grow sweet potatoes.

Yun Wei sighed and shook her head. "I know you are powerful, Junior Brother. You have even entered the Bright Moon Pavilion at the Martial Academy, making you stronger than the average sixth-level martial artist! But those schools and sects have their own prodigies. Brother Tao was injured so severely—are you truly stronger than our Second Senior Brother?"

Yun Wei knew Chen Fan’s strength had progressed rapidly since joining the academy, but she assumed he could at best match the strength of an ordinary disciple of the Bright Moon Pavilion. Perhaps he could handle an average sixth-level fighter, but facing the elite disciples of the academy would be a different matter.

However, Chen Fan had already reached the fifth level months ago and had nearly completed his progress bar. Having merged two martial arts and comprehended two types of intent, he was confident he could stand against a Grandmaster.

Chen Fan narrowed his eyes, shook his head, and said only one thing: "I have achieved Unity and comprehended Intent..."

At the same time, his true energy surged, and his Luming Feather Robe instantly shifted into the white attire of a White Cloud Dojo disciple. Yun Wei, Zhang Fan, and the others stood frozen, their expressions one of shock, unable to utter another word of dissuasion.

...

An incense stick of time later, Yun Wei and Zhang Fan accompanied Chen Fan to the entrance of the Jiangshan Sect. This sect was one of the two weakest among the Four Sects and Two Dojos. Yet, even as the weakest, its leader was a seventh-level Grandmaster, and the sect boasted disciples from the Martial Academy. It could not be underestimated.

The arrogant faces of the Jiangshan Sect disciples who had come to challenge them earlier were still burned into Chen Fan’s mind. With a cold expression, he walked in the lead, marching straight toward the main gate.

As they entered, they stepped into a spacious courtyard where many youths were practicing punches under the guidance of a martial instructor—likely learning basic power-training exercises. The Jiangshan Sect was a "sect" in name only; in practice, it functioned more like a training hall, charging tuition to recruit students, and there was always a steady flow of people. The true elite disciples would not be practicing out here; these were clearly novices, and the courtyard was a public area.

A short, stout man in Jiangshan Sect robes noticed the three of them and walked over with a smile. "Young man, are you here to seek apprenticeship?"

Chen Fan was the youngest of the group and looked the most like a prospective student. While Chen Fan was well-known in Yandu, he was not universally recognized, and the man clearly did not realize who he was.

"No," Chen Fan replied, scanning his surroundings.

The smile on the man’s face froze. He looked closely at Chen Fan’s attire, and his expression shifted slightly. "Are you here to steal our techniques?"

Chen Fan shook his head again. His gaze traveled past the practicing youths and settled on the large plaque hanging from the high eaves. He raised his hand, gripped the sword at his back, and flicked it forward casually.

*Swish.*

A blue sword light shot out with pinpoint precision, soaring over the heads of the crowd and cutting through the air for over a dozen yards to sever the massive plaque.

*Crash!*

The plaque fell to the ground, shattering into pieces. Chen Fan looked coldly at the surrounding Jiangshan Sect disciples in their gray robes. "I am here to challenge your sect."

The novices stopped their training, turning back with looks of curiosity and shock; some even looked on with starry-eyed wonder.

"Projected true energy! He is a master who has reached the Great Perfection of the Meridians!"

The short, stout man’s expression changed drastically as he realized Chen Fan was not joking. The ability to project true energy meant one was at least at the fourth-level peak or fifth level—a position of significant status even within a sect like this. "Just you wait!" he shouted, turning to run.

The instructor who had been teaching the students stepped forward, laughing mockingly. "How bold. In the ten years I’ve been here, you’re the first person to ever come and challenge the Jiangshan Sect. Kid, you don’t actually think your fourth-level peak strength makes you invincible, do you?"

Chen Fan unleashed a cold sword strike. "Noisy!"

His black-bladed treasure sword, already covered in cracks from the heavenly thunder, had not yet shattered and remained functional.

*Swoosh!!*

The man let out a pained scream as he was sent flying backward, blood spraying across the ground. Even if he survived, he was severely injured. The young disciples, who had never witnessed such a bloody scene, began to shriek.

"Do you think I’m here to play?" Chen Fan looked around, his voice ringing out clearly. He stepped forward. "I am Chen Fan of the White Cloud Dojo. I am here to challenge this sect. Send your disciples out to face me. If I am defeated, I will pay for all damages. But if you cannot drive me out, then there will be no need for the Jiangshan Sect to put up a new plaque!"

The already chaotic scene erupted into an uproar. There were very few Grandmasters in Yandu City, and each was a renowned figure. Though the Jiangshan Sect was the weakest of the Four Sects and Two Dojos, it still had a Grandmaster in its ranks. And yet, someone dared to challenge them.