Chapter 233: Surrender Challenge

"Zhang Xinxiong?"

As soon as this tall, broad-shouldered man appeared, the crowd instantly erupted.

"This is going to be good. With the Head Disciple of the Inner Yard personally making an appearance, will Xu Xiaoshou still dare to act so brazenly?"

"Yes, Young Master Zhang… I haven't seen him make a move in a long time. I heard he was already a Half-Grandmaster years ago, suppressing his cultivation?"

"Absolutely! Zhang Xinxiong is among the most senior figures in the Inner Yard. In the entire Inner Yard, only Officer Zhao, who hadn't graduated at the time, could suppress him!"

"Officer Zhao… Zhao Xidong?"

"That's him!"

A sharp intake of breath.

Many people who had rushed over upon hearing the news, whether informed or not, were swept up in the collective excitement from the crowd's discussions.

They didn't know much about the past of this deeply hidden Inner Yard master.

However, his relationship with Lan Xinzi was openly intimate!

Someone outsiders regarded as forbidden territory was now injured so miserably. How could Zhang Xinxiong possibly just brush it off?

And judging by the various methods he employed when dominating the Inner Yard years ago, what happened today absolutely wouldn't be brushed aside, even if Zhao Xidong were present!

Xu Xiaoshou looked up at the little giant before him, a little astonished.

Before this, the most muscular tall person he had ever seen was probably Zhou Tianshen.

But in comparison, Zhou Tianshen truly paled into insignificance!

Look at those shoulders, those muscle lines…

His friendly outstretched hand received no response, so Xu Xiaoshou then casually touched Zhang Xinxiong's deltoid and asked curiously, "Is this real muscle? How do you train? Do you use supplements?"

The entire scene froze.

Amidst the general astonishment, everyone felt as if their jaws had dropped, unable to be picked back up.

"This…"

"Admired, Passive Points, 32."

"Envied, Passive Points, 7."

Even Zhang Xinxiong himself was startled by Xu Xiaoshou's brazen move.

He himself…

Had he just been taken advantage of?

This was a body even Fairy Lan didn't dare to touch!

"Commendable courage!"

"Encouraged, Passive Points, 1."

Zhang Xinxiong snorted coldly, took a step forward, and directly grabbed Xu Xiaoshou by the collar, his expression turning completely frigid.

"Your body carries the scent of my Zhang family blood…" He tilted his head and whispered in his ear, "Yuan Tou, did you kill him?"

Xu Xiaoshou was lifted up like a small chick. This scene, falling into the eyes of the crowd, added a touch of pity to their gaze.

"Completely defenseless…"

"Indeed, the brazen Xu Xiaoshou has finally met his match today."

"True, after all, this guy is just a mere Outer Yard disciple. I really don't understand how he can be so provocative and still be alive today?"

"Heh heh, Lan Xinzi, why don't you try touching her? Forget Zhang Xinxiong, can you even defeat her yourself?"

"Tsk, who can't ambush someone? I could do that too!"

"Then you go!"

"I could do that too!"

"You could…"

"Shut up!"

"Pitied, Passive Points, 12."

"Envied, Passive Points, 11."

Xu Xiaoshou seemed to have been genuinely caught off guard. He gazed deeply at Zhang Xinxiong and said, "Yuan Tou… that has nothing to do with me."

"Hmph!"

Zhang Xinxiong sneered. He glanced at the disheartened Fairy Lan, and his eyes burned with uncontrollable fury.

He couldn't care less about Yuan Tou!

But his own people…

It was fine for him to scold or discipline them normally, but no one else was allowed to touch them!

"Tell me, how do you want to die?"

Xu Xiaoshou's face seemed to have turned red from the choking grip. He turned his teary eyes towards Zhao Xidong.

"Officer Zhao, he's threatening me."

Zhang Xinxiong's mouth twitched.

How was this guy so different from what he had imagined?

"Cursed, Passive Points, 1."

Zhao Xidong instantly felt utterly exasperated. This kid was truly crazy!

He had come to arrest him; how had he inadvertently become his shield instead?

However, as an enforcer, with a veteran Inner Yard disciple openly threatening a mere Outer Yard disciple, it would truly be inexcusable if he didn't intervene.

"So you want to fight, do you?"

"Alright, let's go to the Life-and-Death Arena. I'll take you there," he said, his face showing he had given up struggling.

Everyone was dumbfounded. They had never seen Zhao Xidong enforce the rules so passively before.

Shouldn't both parties, regardless of who was the perpetrator or victim, be first sent to the Punishment Platform for a round, and then further judged?

Had he changed his nature?

"If it were me, I'd be tired too…"

A faint sigh resonated among the musings of the crowd, and it truly brought everyone into that state of vexation.

If they were to truly encounter such a troublemaker as Xu Xiaoshou themselves, they might be even more overwhelmed than Zhao Xidong!

As the crowd was lamenting for the youth being lifted, they saw his eyes light up at the mention.

"Life-and-Death Arena?"

"Is it the kind where one person must die after entering?"

An ominous premonition flashed through Zhao Xidong's mind.

What was going on…?

He had only tried to provoke him in reverse; why the hell was this guy getting excited?

Recalling the many grudges between Xu Xiaoshou and Zhang Xinxiong, he suddenly realized, perhaps this kid also harbored murderous intentions?

Could he win…?

No, there seemed to be some hope of him actually fighting?

Look at Cheng Xingchu's fate, and then look at Lan Xinzi…

Zhao Xidong was instantly dumbfounded.

This was completely wrong! A guy who was clearly still lingering in the Post-natal Realm just a few days ago, how could he suddenly be a match for someone like Zhang Xinxiong?

A sigh.

He let out a long breath and said sternly, "You heard wrong. The Inner Yard does not prohibit private duels, but it strictly forbids death duels!"

Xu Xiaoshou looked up at the head above him.

Zhang Xinxiong's lips curved into a smile, and he said with interest, "You want to challenge me?"

No one knew the rules of the Inner Yard better than him, who had fought his way up.

Private duels were not prohibited, but if seen by law enforcement, the punishment was severe!

Death duels were strictly forbidden. However, those with genuine life-and-death feuds could indeed issue a challenge, apply for a Life-and-Death Arena match, and fight to the death!

It was laughable; Zhang Xinxiong had descended from that arena, which others dared not ascend, time and again, right up until today!

"I'm not clear on the process for issuing a challenge…"

Xu Xiaoshou looked confused by Zhang Xinxiong's words. After a pause, he changed the subject and said with a serious expression, "But if you could just die on the spot, I would be delighted!"

At this, the spectators cracking sunflower seeds on their benches could no longer stay put; one by one, with disbelieving expressions, they sprang to their feet!

That youth, held aloft like a plucked chicken, with such a frail body and a figure as tiny as dust, how could he possibly utter such words?

"Damn it, Xu Xiaoshou, I'm impressed!"

"Just for that remark of his, next year, I'll definitely have a good drink on his grave!"

Zhang Xinxiong was openly amused.

A newborn calf fears no tiger—that's exactly what this means!

He's killed a few Xiantian practitioners and injured a few higher-level spirits, and now he thinks he can just stride straight to heaven?

He asked…

Has he been weaned yet?

His eyes narrowed, and as murderous intent surged forth, the ground beneath him instantly cracked.

Even the surrounding vegetation began to rustle, swaying violently.

With a few clatters, several sunflower seed crackers, unable to maintain their balance, stumbled and fell.

Everyone retreated in shock, the teasing expressions completely vanishing from their faces. Normally, they might have mocked those who fell, but now, there was only utter silence!

Zhang Xinxiong… was he serious?

"You don't know the process, do you?"

Zhang Xinxiong grinned and said, "Today, I'll give you face and issue a challenge to you. Don't say I'm bullying the weak…"

"I'll give you one month to prepare. When that time is up, you will die!"

Xu Xiaoshou disdainfully covered his nose and mouth. His feet dangled in the air, and after realizing he couldn't touch the ground, he let out a long sigh of relief.

"Sorry, a month is too long. I don't plan on giving you that much time."