Yu Daohan looked towards the sound and saw a woman about twenty years old, with her hair tied up in a high ponytail and wearing a tracksuit, sizing him up.
"Are you here to challenge, fellow Daoist?" the woman asked, her face alight with excitement.
Just as Yu Daohan was about to speak, Zhang Xiaoqiang darted over, a wide grin on his face. "Grandmaster Tang, the Sect Leader wants me to invite you back."
The woman glared at Zhang Xiaoqiang. "Why is it always you, kid? Didn't I tell you I'm not going back?"
Zhang Xiaoqiang chuckled awkwardly. "Grandmaster Tang, if you don't go back, I won't be able to report to the Sect Leader."
"Get lost, don't disturb my match," the woman said dismissively, turning back. She looked at the elder writing on a banner nearby. "Write 'Zheng Feng Sect Challenge Failed,' and hang it on the tree."
Hearing this, Yu Daohan looked at the willow tree beside them. From a distance, he couldn't see what was written, but now he could clearly see it.
The banners on the tree were densely covered with the words "Challenge Failed" from other sects.
Yu Daohan looked at the crestfallen Zhang Xiaoqiang. "Qiangzi, this little lady's surname is Tang?"
Zhang Xiaoqiang nodded. "That's right, and Tang Junsheng even told me to call her Grandmaster."
"Grandmaster?"
That was a higher seniority than Tang Junsheng.
Yu Daohan was intrigued. To make Tang Junsheng lower his own status, just how powerful was this woman?
"Judging by her tone, it seems you've been here before," Yu Daohan remarked.
Zhang Xiaoqiang nodded helplessly. "Isn't that obvious? I get shut down every time."
Tang Yan, standing in the middle of the crowd, looked at everyone with disdain. "Are there any other sects that want to come up and challenge, or anyone who wants to avenge a previous defeat? Feel free to try anytime."
Yu Daohan touched the Kanglong Jian at his lower back. Honestly, he was tempted to step forward and try.
After all, they were of similar age, and encountering a worthy opponent always ignited the urge to compete.
"It seems I have no choice but to use this method," Zhang Xiaoqiang decided, walking forward.
Yu Daohan looked confused. Was Qiangzi planning to use force?
He wasn't really cut out for that.
Zhang Xiaoqiang pushed through the crowd and addressed the onlookers. "I am Zhang Xiaoqiang, an elder of the Yan Shu Sect. My apologies, everyone. I have a private matter to attend to today. I hope everyone will give the Yan Shu Sect some face and come back another day."
The crowd exchanged glances, and then everyone turned to leave. They were merely here to watch the spectacle, and few dared to step forward and challenge.
After all, there was no reward for winning, but losing would be a huge embarrassment.
Moreover, the opponent was a super sect, second only to the top three.
One couldn't fight against overwhelming odds; it was only proper to give face where it was due.
Tang Yan, standing nearby, saw Zhang Xiaoqiang trying to dismiss them and angrily exclaimed, "Qiangzi, what do you mean by this? If you can't get your way with soft words, you resort to force? Even Tang Junsheng wouldn't dare do this. Believe it or not, I'll break your legs."
Zhang Xiaoqiang looked at Tang Yan's serious expression and knew she wasn't joking. She would genuinely break his legs.
Yu Daohan also sensed that Tang Yan was not kidding and reached for the Kanglong Jian at his lower back.
"What? The Yan Shu Sect is already so arrogant and overbearing before even being promoted to the top three? What will happen if you are promoted in the future?" Suddenly, a voice came from behind Yu Daohan.
Yu Daohan froze for a moment, then turned to look. A burly man, about forty-five years old, walked over, dragging a spiked mace that left a scratch mark on the ground.
The crowd first blinked in surprise, then looked astonished.
Yu Daohan looked at the mace, which was twice as thick as his thigh, and immediately knew who it was.
With his red hair and that massive spiked mace, this was Zhou Yan, formerly ranked twelfth on the Black List.
He was considered a master among masters of the previous era. If it weren't for Meng Da Long appearing later and using a divine curved saber to cut him off the Black List, his reputation today would be no less than Tang Junsheng's.
Their Black List battle was one of the most anticipated fights in recent years.
That battle lasted for three days and three nights, ultimately ending with Zhou Yan being heavily injured and defeated.
Since then, Zhou Yan had faded from public view, almost never stepping into the martial world again.
There were rumors that although Zhou Yan's injuries had healed, his strength was no longer what it used to be.
Yu Daohan saw Zhou Yan approaching and raised his hand in greeting. "Lord Zhou..."
Zhou Yan walked straight ahead, completely ignoring Yu Daohan, the spiked mace scraping against the ground with a clanking sound.
Damn it, still acting like a Black List master, huh? Damn it!
Yu Daohan felt indignant but suppressed it. After all, the man had no obligation to acknowledge him.
If anyone was to blame, it was himself for greeting him.
Zhou Yan walked past Yu Daohan, then suddenly stopped and turned to look at him. "The peerless prodigy of today's martial world actually has such a frail physique. Alas, each generation is worse than the last."
Zhou Yan's words were full of mockery. Zhang Xiaoqiang, standing in front, couldn't help but draw the copper coin sword at his waist and was about to step forward, but Tang Yan stopped him. "Qiangzi, don't be so impulsive."
Yu Daohan remained silent for two seconds, then smiled faintly.
My stage has arrived.
Yu Daohan also ignored Zhou Yan, instead stepping in front of him and turning back to look. "New generations replace the old, the waves behind push the waves ahead. At your age, it's as difficult as ascending to heaven to return to the Black List. Years from now, people will only remember Meng Da Long, who killed all under heaven with a curved saber. Alas, how pathetic! How lamentable! What a pity!"