Chapter 293

Chapter 293: Letter of Challenge

Translator: CKtalon Editor: CKtalon

When Qin Yun walked out of the back garden, the Zhou Mountain Sword Sect disciples responsible for watching the area revealed a look of pleasant surprise .

"Elder . " All of them bowed reverentially .

"Oh, Ah Chou . " Qin Yun looked at a familiar Zhou Mountain Sword Sect disciple and said with a smile, "Send the order to prepare a feast . "

"Yes . " The simple and good-natured youth answered immediately . Everyone in the manor knew that Elder Meng was quite an epicure . The manor also hired some famous chefs .

Qin Yun nodded before leaving .

"Quickly inform the madam and the young lord . "

"Quickly inform Elder Dong . " Some of the disciples were trusted subordinates of Gong Yan'er and Dong Wan, so they immediately reported the matter .

…

Qin Yun sat down and began enjoying some tea and pastry .

Having not eaten for five months, he maintained his hydration levels by directly absorbing the water vapor from the air . He did not mind it while cultivating, but now he had a powerful craving for all sorts of good food .

Gong Yan'er brought Meng Huan and Zhong Lin over . Dong Wan, Liu Qingsha, and company also followed and stood to the side .

"Father . " Meng Huan shouted hurriedly when he was still outside .

"Huan'er . " Qin Yun looked at his son and could not help but smile . Following that, he said in delighted astonishment, "Huan'er, you have broken through to the Connate realm?"

"I grasped sword intent before the new year . My foundations were already in full harmony so I was naturally able to break through to the Connate realm in one fell swoop," explained Meng Huan .

"Good . "

Qin Yun was delighted .

Although his judgment told him that his son was rather talented, Qin Yun always felt unease that his son had yet to grasp sword intent . Now, everything was fine . Meng Huan had grasped sword intent at such a young age! Such talent would rank him among the best in a cohort of Zhou Mountain Sword Sect disciples .

"Yiqiu, Huan'er has something else to tell you," said Gong Yan'er .

"Oh?" Qin Yun was puzzled .

Meng Huan looked at Zhong Lin, who was standing beside him, and said, "Father, I would like to marry Sister Zhong . " Zhong Lin also turned nervous .

After all, the person in front of her… was Meng Yiqiu, ranked first on the God roll!

He had entered seclusion for five months without eating or drinking .

According to rumors, he was a person that could shatter the void and ascend, a person that could become a god or immortal .

"Oh?" Qin Yun looked at Zhong Lin . Back when she entered the manor, Qin Yun had sent people to investigate her thoroughly . What he found made him rather pleased . Furthermore, he typically left his son's matters to his son . He was not of a mind to object .

"Alright," said Qin Yun with a smile . "Since you like her, choose a date . Your mother will go to the Zhong family to ask for Zhong Lin's hand on our family's behalf . "

"Thank you, Father . "

Meng Huan was delighted and a happy glint shimmered in Zhong Lin's eyes .

With his background, Qin Yun was superior to the Chu Kingdom's Li Ruji and the Wei Kingdom's Xiahou Zhen . It was naturally inappropriate for him to visit the family to ask for their daughter's hand in marriage! Gong Yan'er's appearance alone would already exert immense pressure on the Zhong family .

The date for the proposal was decided, as well as the betrothal gifts…

The Zhong family was nervous but they also felt overjoyed .

On the second day of the fifth month .

Meng Huan and Zhong Lin were officially married . Another year later, Zhong Lin gave birth to a son .

******

Time passed like flowing water, silently and noiselessly .

Unknowingly, thirty years had passed since the battle of Sovereign Capital .

The northern lands remained cold in early spring . A silver-haired elder sat on Mt . Dao Excellence and looked to the south . His breathing was as deep as an endless ocean .

"Grandfather . " Xiahou Lie greeted respectfully .

"Lie'er . " Xiahou Lie continued looking towards the south and said, "My end is approaching . There are only a few months left . As for you, you have yet to step into the Dao . "

"I'm useless . " Xiahou Lie lowered his head . He too felt indignant .

He had been cultivating arduously for a long time .

He had even deliberately challenged people all over the world . He was now ranked first on the Heaven roll! However, he failed to step into the Dao .

"Since you haven't stepped into the Dao and I'm unable to sweep away all obstructions before my end, we shall follow our original plan . Disperse our Xiahou clan across the world and withdraw from society . The Red Lotus Fiend Sect should also go into dormancy," said Xiahou Zhen .

"Yes," replied Xiahou Lie politely .

If not for Meng Yiqiu's astounding rise, Xiahou Zhen would have killed Li Ruji back then . He would have wiped away all obstacles in the world, paving the way for a massive empire .

Unfortunately, all his efforts were for naught .

The moment Xiahou Zhen's end came, Li Ruji would not spare the Xiahou family .

"Also, get someone to send this letter of challenge to Sovereign Capital . It's for Meng Yiqiu . " Xiahou Zhen took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Xiahou Lie .

"Letter of challenge? Meng Yiqiu?" Xiahou Lie received the letter respectfully despite his puzzlement .

"On the ninth next month, I will engage Meng Yiqiu in a final battle on Mt . Pool Returning outside Sovereign Capital . " Xiahou Zhen's eyes were calm . "In this battle, I shall either shatter the void and ascend or die fighting! There is no other outcome . "

Xiahou Lie could sense his grandfather's determination .

"Spread the news of this battle," said Xiahou Zhen .

"Spread the news?" Xiahou Lie could not help but comment, "The news will spread throughout the world considering it is a battle of paramount figures . It will definitely attract many spectators . "

"I want it to spread throughout the world," said Xiahou Zhen with a laugh . "After all, this will be my final battle in this world . "

Xiahou Zhen did not wish to give himself a way out at all .

"Yes," replied Xiahou Lie politely .

…

The next day .

The letter of challenge arrived in Sovereign Capital's Meng Manor .

"Madam, this is Fiendlord Xiahou Zhen's letter of challenge . " Dong Wan politely handed the letter of challenge to Gong Yan'er . Gong Yan'er's age could no longer be concealed . Her face was no longer smooth but her charm as Fairy Crabapple remained .

"Xiahou Zhen's letter of challenge?" Gong Yan'er was somewhat puzzled as she opened it .

Her expression changed when she read it .

She could not help but stand up .

"Shameless . Truly shameless . " Gong Yan'er was infuriated as she could not help but say, "Where's Yiqiu? Where is he?"

"I can't find him . Apparently, he left the manor about an hour ago," said Dong Wan immediately . "He might be enjoying some delicacies in Sovereign Capital . "

Qin Yun frequently patronized the various restaurants of Sovereign Capital . After all these years, it was his greatest hobby . This was also one of the reasons why he chose to permanently stay in Sovereign Capital . It was a city with a long history that survived numerous dynasties . Furthermore, it was a large city with more than ten million people . Naturally, all kinds of old and exotic culinary skills would be passed down . The number of delicacies Sovereign Capital had to offer matched or was even superior to Qin Yun's homeworld .

Whenever Qin Yun had nothing to do, he would go out in search of good food . Qin Yun was very familiar with the many tiny eateries in the alleys and side streets .

Perhaps no one would imagine that the person eating a bowl of fried noodles by the street side would be ranked first on the God roll, an existence that was rumored to become a god or immortal .

"Quickly send people to find him," said Gong Yan'er immediately .

"They have already been sent," replied Dong Wan .

Gong Yan'er sat down, eyes filled with worry . She could not help but say, "Back then, Yiqiu was kindhearted and spared Xiahou Zhen! If I'm not wrong, Xiahou Zhen's end should be approaching this year . If he doesn't battle, he will definitely die of age! Yiqiu still has hundreds of years left to live . A dying person still wants to enter a final battle with Yiqiu?"

"That's still nothing . The most important thing is that Xiahou Zhen's true strength is not to be underestimated," said Dong Wan seriously . "Back then, it was likely Elder spared him because he did not want an internecine outcome . His strength shouldn't be much different from Elder's . "

"What are you implying?" Gong Yan'er looked at Dong Wan .

Dong Wan said seriously, "Back then, Elder was stronger than him but the gap between their strength was limited . Now, thirty years have passed! Anything is possible . Furthermore, with the pressure of his approaching end, as well as his yearning to shatter the void and ascend, Xiahou Zhen might have made a breakthrough . If his strength were to improve tremendously, the outcome of this battle would become very unpredictable . "

Gong Yan'er's heart tightened as she clenched her fists, protruding her veins .

"Madam, we have previously seen Elder demonstrate his sword techniques that slice open the void," said Dong Wan . "The first time I saw the void slice open, I felt that there was a massive world on the other side of the black void rift . Every time I recall that yearning, it makes my heart palpitate . Xiahou Zhen also saw the void rift when he battled with Elder! He must be crazy about it . "

"With his end approaching and the allure of another world, who knows what Xiahou Zhen's true strength is at present?" said Dong Wan . "Most importantly, Elder doesn't cultivate his body . "

Gong Yan'er's face turned pale .

"Right . Yiqiu doesn't cultivate his body but Xiahou Zhen has . " Gong Yan'er was burning with anxiety . "Even if Yiqiu is stronger than him . . . in a close quarters battle the person with the weaker body will be at a disadvantage unless they are much stronger . "

"Yes . " Dong Wan nodded as well .

His Elder was destined to shatter the void and ascend . Dong Wan naturally did not wish to see his Elder take such a risk .

And the present Qin Yun was linked to many matters . Many experts were under his patronage . The Zhou Mountain Sword Sect was also a lot larger than before . Qin Yun was its absolute pillar of support . If he were to fall, it would cause immense repercussions .