Chapter 58: The Challenge

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“Elder An, is this… a little too much?” Lu Qinghu stepped forward, his expression darkening as he looked at the old man in blue.

The old man in blue was Zhao Jin’an, the head elder of the Zhao family and widely known as the most powerful man in Yunfeng prefecture. He was second only to level-five adepts. In Yunfeng prefecture, other than Governor Zhao Lishang, Zhao Jin’an was recognized as the most powerful adept.

Of course, that was in the past. A month ago, Zhou Donghuang had become famous overnight after his fight in the backyard of the Lin family house. Many people had viewed him as a level-five adept who was stronger than Zhao Jin’an.

Lu Qinghu knew that the governor had no intention to stop Zhao Jin’an from making a scene. In a way, the governor’s family was trying to establish their position. After all, there had been much talk about Young Master Donghuang recently. If he were the governor of Yunfeng prefecture, he, too, would try to suppress Young Master Donghuang.

Even so, he could not stand by and do nothing as Zhao Jin’an tried to achieve this in front of Young Master Donghuang’s adopted mother. He, his son, and the Lu family all owed too much to Young Master Donghuang! With that, he stepped forward.

“What? Chief Lu, are you getting ahead of yourself after leading the Lu family from a lesser family to the rank of a preeminent family? Are you disregarding even the governor’s family?” Seeing Lu Qinghu step forward, Zhao Jin’an glanced at him coldly as he spoke with a disdainful smile. He hardly paid any attention to this new preeminent family.

Just as Lu Qinghu was facing the scorn from Zhao Jin’an, his expression darkening even further, a voice came from the main door of Magnolia guild.

“I was wondering why there was barking so early in the morning… there seems to be an old dog barking in front of our Magnolia guild.”

At the same time, a young man dressed in white walked out from the guild. The man had a handsome face and an extraordinary aura about him. He seemed extremely confident, as if he had nothing to fear even if the sky collapsed.

“Old dog?” As the words reached the crowd at the main door of Magnolia guild, both the onlookers and the seniors of the lesser families all gasped in fear.

Zhao Jin’an was the second in command in the governor’s family and was the pinnacle among the level-four adepts in Yunfeng prefecture. Even the chiefs of the preeminent families in Yunfeng prefecture would have to greet him respectfully as “Elder An” whenever they saw him.

But now, this young man was comparing him to an old dog? Even though the young man was Zhou Donghuang who had shocked the whole Yunfeng prefecture in the last month, all those who were present could not help but feel extremely nervous. This Zhou Donghuang really dared to say anything!

“Zhou Donghuang?” Zhao Lishang’s eyes narrowed murderously. Behind him, Zhao San looked on calmly as Zhou Donghuang walked out from the Magnolia guild.

Zhou Donghuang slowly walked out of the main door, down the stairs and stood beside Lin Lan.

“Mother, were you… frightened by this old dog?”

Before Lin Lan could answer, Zhao Jin’an looked murderously at Zhou Donghuang.

“You are Zhou Donghuang? You said I, Zhao Jin’an, am an old dog?” Not only was his gaze cold, but his whole expression had turned cold too.

“If you keep barking, I won’t mind helping your owner teach you a lesson,” said Zhou Donghuang flatly.

“Great, great, great… really great!” Zhao Jin’an was so angered that his breathing sped up and his chest heaved. “I heard that about a month ago, you had broken the arm of Head Elder Lin Tianzheng, with only a punch, just like a level-five adept. Today, I want to see if you really are like level-five adept like they say!”

As he spoke, his feet moved as he prepared to use the lesser-grade technique of the Zhao family, speeding towards Zhou Donghuang.

Just as his body trembled and he prepared to move, a shadow flashed before his eyes. A figure rushed towards him at a speed far faster than his. As everyone watched on, Zhou Donghuang flew towards him like a bolt of lightning, just as Zhao Jin’an spoke.

Boom!!

Just as Zhao Jin’an stepped forward, Zhou Donghuang had sprung forward, his knee landing heavily on Zhao Jin’an’s stomach. Immediately, Zhao Jin’an contorted in pain, and even the onlookers could tell that Zhao Jin’an was in immense pain.

Right after, before everyone’s eyes, as Zhou Donghuang’s knee rammed into Zhao Jin’an’s stomach, Zhao Jin’an was thrown backwards. Zhou Donghuang flew together with his body, and he landed just as the body of Zhao Jin’an landed heavily on the ground a few meters away.

Boom!!

As Zhao Jin’an struggled to stand up, Zhou Donghuang stepped on his chest, pushing him back onto the ground.

“Ah…” Zhao Jin’an howled as he struggled to get up, but his body could not move an inch. It was as if a huge two hundred kg boulder was pressing down on his body. No matter how much he struggled, it was of no use.

Then the crowd recovered from their shock and gasped.

“So powerful!”

“This… is this really Zhao Jin’an? The most powerful man in Yunfeng prefecture below level-five?”

“Looks like Young Master Donghuang of the Magnolia guild is really a level-five adept!”

“I thought the rumors were exaggerating… but now it seems that they were not.”

The sight of Zhou Donghuang stepping on Zhao Jin’an shocked everyone there.

Even Lin Lan, Granny Lian, and Lu Qinghu, who had witnessed Zhou Donghuang defeat Lin Head Elder Lin Tianzheng just a month ago, were astonished to see Zhou Donghuang display such power.

After all, this was Zhao Jin’an, head elder of the governor’s household. He was simply incomparable to Head Elder Lin Tianzheng. Although they were both level-four adepts, if Lin Tianzheng had fought with Zhao Jin’an, he would not last more than three exchanges. The difference between the two was immense.

“Young Master Donghuang… is really too powerful.” Lu Qinghu was stunned. No matter if it was Lin Tianzheng or Zhao Jin’an, it made no difference to Young Master Donghuang. He could easily defeat them in just one move.

But Lu Qinghu did not know that one month ago, Zhou Donghuang would not have been able to achieve this. Within a month, with the help of the qi-gathering elixir that could increase the sensitivity to qi by six times, Zhou Donghuang had risen to the ranks of level-four of the gathered qi, becoming a level-four adept with the strength of four bulls. With his extreme strength, even if he did not use any martial art techniques, his current power was comparable to a typical level-five adept.

Count Zhao Jin’an as unlucky; Zhou Donghuang had literally reached level-four just a while ago.

“Governor Zhao,” Zhou Donghuang said with a smile. He was looking at Governor Zhao Lishang calmly, with a foot on Zhao Jin’an. “Your old dog frightened my mother, and I gave him a lesson, hope you don’t have any objections?”

A challenge! A blatant challenge!

To all the onlookers, this was simply a blatant challenge to Zhao Lishang, governor of Yunfeng prefecture.

Just as they thought that Zhao Lishang would react violently, he looked at Zhou Donghuang and smiled.

“No objections, of course.” As he said this, he turned and said to Zhao San behind him, “Brother San, please present our gifts to Guild Master Lin.”

“Yes, Brother.” Zhao San walked forward and took out a huge stack of notes and passed them to Lin Lan. He said respectfully, “Guild Master Lin, the Zhao family of the governor’s household congratulates the Magnolia guild on its opening. Please accept these five hundred thousand taels of silver.”

“This…” Lin Lan was hesitant. Her son had just abused the Zhao head elder; perhaps it would not be wise to accept their gift?

“Mother, accept it.” Finally, she only accepted it after Zhou Donghuang spoke.

She thanked Zhao Lishang, “Many thanks to the governor.”

At the same time, Zhou Donghuang lifted his foot off of Zhao Jin’an and returned to Lin Lan’s side.

Zhao Jin’an’s face was chalky. Although Zhou Donghuang’s actions had thoroughly embarrassed him, he now no longer harbored any thoughts of challenging Zhou Donghuang.

As Zhao San helped Zhao Jin’an back to Zhao Lishang’s side, Zhao Lishang put his hands together in respect and smiled.

“Esteemed Master Zhou, please feel free to visit the Zhao family if you have the time. We will definitely welcome you.”

“Sure,” Zhou Donghuang said with a nod.

“I’ll take my leave, Guild Master Lin.” After bidding farewell to Lin Lan, Zhao Lishang left with Zhao San and Zhao Jin’an. As everyone looked on, they boarded the horse carriage that was waiting by the roadside.

Inside the carriage, Zhao Lishang’s expression darkened. It was nothing like the carefree attitude that he had displayed earlier.

“Chief, that Zhou Donghuang is definitely a level-five adept!” Zhao Jin’an said.

“Head Elder, thank you for testing Zhou Donghuang out,” said Zhao Lishang apologetically.

With that, it appeared that what Zhao Jin’an had just done was clearly planned by Zhao Lishang.

“Chief, this is my small contribution to the family… but after today’s test, even if we cannot become friends with Zhou Donghuang, we definitely cannot become enemies with him,” said Zhao Jin’an seriously.

“I know,” Zhao Lishang agreed as his eyes flashed. “From his power today… I may not even be able to defeat him. The scariest thing is… he’s only seventeen this year!”

With that, a heavy air settled upon the whole carriage.