Chapter 4190 — The Inner Sect Tournament
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"Correct. However, inner-sect core disciples of the Sandie Pavilion also undergo a year-end assessment, and it is to begin within the next couple of days. You need not join the newcomers' tournament, but you will take part in the inner-sect disciples' year-end grand tournament. This is a special exception the elders' council made for you at the highest level," Hu Yunfeng said mildly, a trace of something unreadable playing at the corner of his face.
This arrangement was in fact the work of Xu Lingchong stirring the pot from behind the scenes. His grandfather Xu Yuanzheng had personally proposed it and pushed it through the elders' council—all to put Wei Zhao in an awkward spot.
Those who became inner-sect core disciples of the Sandie Pavilion were each the elite of the elite. Wei Zhao might cut a dashing figure outside, but he was, after all, only a newly advanced early Golden Core cultivator; compared with these veteran Golden Core experts, there was bound to be no small gap.
This year-end grand tournament of the inner-sect disciples was the perfect, aboveboard opportunity to take him down a peg!
Wei Zhao was somewhat taken aback at this and had already caught a whiff of conspiracy. But since it was an official arrangement, he could hardly object; he nodded his assent and stood to one side as a spectator.
The news soon reached Shangguan Lan'er's ears. This little senior sister might be innocent and naive, but she was not the least bit foolish; she went straight to Shangguan Tianxia to ask him to intervene.
"Grandfather, this is simply absurd! Little junior brother has actually been made to take part in the inner-sect disciples' year-end grand tournament—that is not fair at all! And you still have the mood to practice your calligraphy here without lifting a finger to stop it!" Shangguan Lan'er pouted angrily as she shook Shangguan Tianxia's arm.
"Heh heh, what is unfair about it? Wei Zhao is already at the early Golden Core stage, and in that challenge duel last time he killed Su Zhaohe in a single move—even some inner-sect core disciples could not manage such a feat. If he is not to join the inner-sect tournament, would you have him join the newcomers' tournament instead? Little Lan'er, do you think that would be fair to the other newcomers?" Shangguan Tianxia laughed unconcernedly.
Shangguan Lan'er was left speechless, and after being stumped for a good while she said unwillingly, "But little junior brother is still a newcomer after all. You cannot single him out for special targeting just because he is strong, can you?"
"Little Lan'er, Wei Zhao may be specially targeted, but at the same time he has gained the title of inner-sect core disciple—that is no loss to him, is it? Besides, in my view, a worthy opponent is hard to come by. Rather than waste time idly at the Welcome Pavilion, he would do better to cross swords with these inner-sect core disciples. Given the chance, he himself would probably be eager for it!" Shangguan Tianxia laughed as he went on writing.
"But... but even without joining this inner-sect tournament, little junior brother could still have become an inner-sect core disciple anyway. That cannot count as a reward..." Shangguan Lan'er persisted in protesting on Wei Zhao's behalf.
"Heh heh, since you put it that way, Little Lan'er, it seems we cannot do without giving Wei Zhao some real, tangible sweetener." Shangguan Tianxia shook his head helplessly, then laughed. "Then let it be this: if Wei Zhao can shine brilliantly in this inner-sect tournament and place among the ranks, I will guarantee him the post of third pavilion master of the Welcome Pavilion. Will that do?" (Happy Valentine's Day to everyone—may you all find your own "campus belle" or "master hand," and don't forget to come join the Valentine's Day events at the "Campus Belle's Close-Range Guard Tribe"! Details in the public WeChat yuren22.) (To be continued..) R527