Chapter 542 - 265: Extreme Arrogance

Chapter 542: Chapter 265: Extreme Arrogance

In an elegant private room of the restaurant, Zhu Jiu, an Inner Sect Disciple of the Blood Moon Sect, had been wearing a rather leisurely expression.

But now, a sharp glint flashed in the depths of his eyes as he carefully scrutinized Chen Cheng.

He seemed to be trying to determine if Chen Cheng’s words, "Just you?", were merely an empty bluff meant to provoke Zhang Daozong.

After all, many Martial Artists were skilled in psychological warfare. They often provoked their opponents with words before a fight, hoping to enrage them. An angry opponent’s mental state would falter, and their strength would unknowingly decrease.

However, from beginning to end, Chen Cheng remained perfectly calm, his expression indifferent. The two words "Just you?" seemed more like a customary phrase, spoken with true conviction.

Zhu Jiu’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he murmured, "For this Chen Cheng to dare provoke Zhang Daozong like this, it seems he’s truly not so simple! Interesting!"

...

In the crowd, Fan Jinhua, a veiled Inner Sect Disciple from the Sutra of Ultimate Sect, smiled, her eyes curving. She thought to herself,

’Su Qiluo and Su Nishang thought so highly of Chen Cheng, ranking him fifth on the Rouge List. He really must have something special about him.

Putting everything else aside, just this aura of his—looking down on all heroes, disdaining the entire world—is on par with the top True Disciples of the Major Sects!

But is he really choosing to provoke Zhang Daozong because he’s that confident in his own Martial Arts Power?’

...

Ascetic Hassamutira of the Brahma Sound Sect, who had fled to a safe distance, was also looking toward Chen Cheng from afar, his rugged face a mask of astonishment.

’Alas! Alas! This Donor Chen may have a peerless bearing and immense courage!

But against Zhang Daozong, who has mastered the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm, I fear he will be... liberated!

All that is is but a dream, a phantom, a bubble. Alas... like a dream, a phantom, a bubble!’

...

Zhang Daozong’s face was now ashen, his eyes chillingly sharp. He looked so enraged that one might expect smoke to start pouring from his ears.

He had long heard that Chen Cheng was an arrogant man, but to be arrogant to this degree was something he truly hadn’t expected.

After all, Zhang Daozong hailed from the great Zhang Family of Yun State, and his Martial Arts Talent was considered unmatched among the geniuses of his generation.

He was incredibly ambitious on his Martial Dao path, choosing to cultivate the Skin Grinding and Muscle Strengthening Realms to their absolute limits, all so that he could go further in the future.

Although this had cost him the chance to become a True Disciple, the solid foundation he’d built in those first two realms meant his Martial Arts Power far surpassed that of other Martial Artists.

Whether in the Taiyi Sect, Yun State City, or even across the Five Northern States, no one dared to underestimate Zhang Daozong. Even the high and mighty True Disciples of the Sect had to treat him with courtesy.

But Chen Cheng had the audacity to utter those two words: "Just you?"

Zhang Daozong wanted to retort, ’What gives you the right to be so arrogant?’

’Because you reached Great Success or even Perfection in the Bone Forging Realm at twenty years old?’

’Because you beat some so-called Border Guard from the Great Dao Sect’s Xuanshuo Peak?’

’Or is it that empty title of yours? The so-called strongest in Linji City below the Organ Refining Realm?’

In Zhang Daozong’s eyes, these seemingly glorious achievements were utterly worthless.

In fact, Chen Cheng reaching the Bone Forging Realm at twenty was a clear sign that he had taken the wrong path in his Martial Arts Cultivation!

To advance to such a Realm so quickly, he must have relied on countless Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. It was a classic case of rushing for growth at the expense of stability—his foundation had to be weak!

Against a Martial Artist like that, Zhang Daozong held every advantage. He could crush an opponent in the same Realm, let alone one he outranked by an entire major Realm!

’Ignorant of the power of the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm, ignorant of true Martial Arts Realm Cultivation. Arrogant, shallow! A frog at the bottom of a well!’

This was Zhang Daozong’s inner assessment of Chen Cheng.

Facing such a person, Zhang Daozong felt that to say even one more word would be a grave insult to himself.

And so he sneered. And so he issued a simple, direct challenge.

He would crush Chen Cheng without mercy and walk away with a laugh.

He would show these shallow, ignorant Martial Artists of Linji City that the man they’d hailed as the number one of the younger generation was, in the end, just a paper tiger, unable to withstand a single blow!

"And why wouldn’t I dare?" Chen Cheng calmly met Zhang Daozong’s gaze, his expression still one of complete indifference.

"Hm?" Zhang Daozong’s brows knitted together sharply, his eyes locking onto Chen Cheng.

He truly couldn’t fathom it. Chen Cheng had actually dared to accept the challenge, and had done so decisively, without the slightest hesitation.

’Does this Chen Cheng actually have some ace up his sleeve?’

’But no matter what ace he has, his backer is just the pathetic little Demon Suppression Department of Linji Prefecture!’

’Even giving him more credit and saying his backer is the Su State Daoist Sect... so what?’

’Can that compare to the Zhang Family of Yun State? Can it compare to the Taiyi Sect?’

"Very good! Let’s go to the Life and Death Platform now!"

After a long moment, Zhang Daozong said coldly, his eyes already brimming with killing intent.

At this point, only by ruthlessly killing Chen Cheng could Zhang Daozong soothe the fury in his heart.

Zhang Daozong had even made a secret vow: he wouldn’t give Chen Cheng a quick death. He would make him die slowly, in agony, helplessness, and despair, as the price for his arrogance.

"Alas..." Chen Cheng sighed softly, then said lightly, "If the Taiyi Sect is full of people like you, then I must say I’m truly disappointed."

"You’re courting death!" Zhang Daozong’s pupils shrank. He subconsciously reached out, his hand gripping the hilt of the longsword at his waist as the Qi Blood Power around him began to surge.

For daring to offend the Taiyi Sect, he wouldn’t mind killing Chen Cheng right here in the street! In fact, he had every reason to do so!

Chen Cheng, however, ignored him. He calmly stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the distant crowd of onlookers. His eyes lingered for a moment on Fan Jinhua’s face.

Next, his gaze shifted to Ascetic Hassamutira in the distance.

He then glanced up at Zhu Jiu, who was in the private, street-facing room of the restaurant to his right.

His expression grew serious, and he announced in a clear voice,

"I have received an order from my superiors to command the Taiyi Sect, the Blood Moon Sect, the Sutra of Ultimate Sect, and the Brahma Sound Sect to withdraw from Linji City!

Therefore, in accordance with the rules of the Jianghu, I will challenge the Inner Sect Disciples of your four Sects!"