Chapter 85: Don't Need to Leave Anymore

The main gate and high walls were torn open by sword energy; even the barrier couldn't hold. Zhang Xinxiong looked back, and the scene outside was laid bare before him.

Over a dozen curious Inner Court disciples had gathered outside, forming a wide circle. Some squatted on benches, some cracked melon seeds, while others munched on red fruits, spitting out the pits.

These people were clearly bored, but they were just ordinary Inner Court disciples, not even among the top thirty-three, so they were obviously not the type to cause trouble.

He looked towards the woman in the red dress slowly approaching from the side, his gaze shifting from her shapely legs. He stepped forward and asked gently, "Rao Yinyin?"

Behind him, Lan Xinzi clenched her fists. This gentle tone was something the man would never use with her.

Rao Yinyin smiled charmingly, shook her head slightly, and pulled someone to the side.

A little girl in white combat attire appeared, her height only reaching Rao Yinyin's chest.

Her delicate nose wrinkled, and her colossal white sword was stuck diagonally into the ground, its chilling sword intent still lingering.

Zhang Xinxiong's face darkened. "Su Qianqian, what are you doing?!"

"Killing!"

Behind her, Zhao Xidong stumbled, then rushed forward to pull her back.

"My dear ancestor, please don't cause trouble! I'm still here. At least wait until I'm gone before you do anything!"

What am I supposed to do if you act like this?

You can't just run wild because you're Elder Xiao's favorite disciple!

By the way, does Elder Xiao know you're charging over here like this, ready to kill?

Zhao Xidong was completely flustered. Of course, some things he could only grumble about internally; he definitely couldn't say them aloud.

Su Qianqian's eyes lit up when she saw Zhao Xidong.

"Brother Xidong, please block the back door for me! Don't let him escape!"

Zhao Xidong's face darkened, and he rebuked, "Nonsense!"

Su Qianqian's smile vanished. She suddenly pulled out a black-red token from her embrace. "Elder Xiao has ordered: Zhang Xinxiong has committed a grave crime, kill him without mercy!"

...

*Clatter!*

A disciple who had been squatting on a chair, eating melon, suddenly fell off.

"Holy moly! Su Qianqian stole a token just to kill someone?!"

"How do you know she stole it?"

"Wow, brother, are you new here? Has Su Qianqian done fewer things like this?"

Zhou Tianshen, scratching his head with a golden saber on his back, wondered if it had been exposed so quickly.

He had just been passing by and, seeing how lively the place was, had been involuntarily drawn in.

"By the way, what exactly is going on? Although death matches aren't forbidden in the Inner Court, don't they have to be in a life-and-death arena?" Zhou Tianshen asked.

"He really is a newbie..."

The "melon-eater" picked up his bench again, pulled Zhou Tianshen back a bit, and then whispered, "Don't you know about the big event that happened last night?"

"Big event?"

Zhou Tianshen looked blank. He had slept soundly last night at the Inner Court's new spiritual site; how could he know about any big event?

With that terrifying spiritual energy concentration nourishing him and the powerful soundproof array activated, he probably wouldn't have woken up even if the world outside had been tearing apart.

"Sigh, you're a pig. Newbies truly sleep like the dead."

"What exactly happened?"

"I heard that last night, the Inner Court higher-ups set up a trap at Goose Lake, trying to capture a masked man, but they failed."

Zhou Tianshen was startled. "Zhang Xinxiong was that masked man?!"

...

"Nonsense!"

The "melon-eater" choked, even swallowing his melon seeds, and rolled his eyes. "While they were trying to catch him, that Feng Kong fellow took his juniors to the Outer Court and killed someone!"

"Feng Kong? An Inner Court disciple?" Zhou Tianshen was confused. "Is that guy crazy? Even if he killed someone, could he escape the Spirit Law Pavilion's tracking?"

"It's because he wasn't selected among the Inner Court's top thirty-three, so he thought he'd grab some quick gains and then leave the Spirit Palace for good..." the "melon-eater" said disdainfully. "There are plenty of people like that every year."

Zhou Tianshen looked thoughtful. He knew that before the Outer Court's 'Battle of the Wind and Clouds,' the selection for the new top thirty-three in the Inner Court had already concluded.

He had only learned this after entering the Inner Court.

"But what does that have to do with the current situation?" Zhou Tianshen asked, puzzled.

He looked at the situation unfolding ahead. With Su Qianqian's token displayed, even if everyone knew it was stolen, no one dared to make a move.

"Hehe, it has a huge connection!" The "melon-eater's" eyes burned with intense gossip.

"Apparently, Feng Kong was sent by Zhang Xinxiong's side, and the person assassinated seems to have an unknown connection with Su Qianqian."

"So, now she's come knocking!"

Zhou Tianshen thought the Inner Court was truly chaotic and couldn't help but feel sorry for the murdered person. "So, is this about revenge?"

"Revenge?" The "melon-eater" shook his head, a look of astonishment in his eyes. "Not really, because Feng Kong and his junior were killed instead..."

Zhou Tianshen was stunned. An Inner Court disciple was killed by an Outer Court one?

"How is that possible!"

"Who killed them?"

"What was his name again..." The "melon-eater" looked thoughtful, hesitating. "From what Su Qianqian calls him..."

"Little Beast Brother?"

The person cracking melon seeds next to him indicated that this guy's gossip skills were quite weak and said contemptuously, "Xu Xiaoshou!"

"Xu Xiaoshou..." Zhou Tianshen smacked his lips. Why did that name sound familiar?

???

"Xu Xiaoshou?" He suddenly widened his eyes. "Which Xu Xiaoshou?"

"Since you just arrived, you should know: the champion of the 'Battle of the Wind and Clouds.'"

Zhou Tianshen tumbled off his bench, his expression dazed.

It was really him?

That guy...

How could it be!

His heart pounded, filled with inexplicable horror.

Ever since he entered the Inner Court, he had been trembling with caution, afraid of upsetting some powerful figure.

Yet Xu Xiaoshou, still in the Outer Court and not even admitted yet, had already killed two Inner Court powerhouses?

This...

Truly worthy of being a champion!

Zhou Tianshen grew excited. The last time he had followed the champion's footsteps, he had found that parchment scroll and benefited immensely.

Now it seemed, even after entering the Inner Court, he absolutely had to keep following this champion's path!

There would definitely be surprises!

He looked at the standoff created by a single token, anticipation in his eyes.

Kill him!

Zhang Xinxiong, huh? Dare to mess with my guiding star, he must die!

Everyone looked at Zhao Xidong. It was clear to anyone with eyes that whether this fight would happen depended entirely on this law enforcement officer.

Zhao Xidong gritted his teeth, finally deciding he couldn't let Su Qianqian act wildly; otherwise, he'd probably end up back on the "execution platform" himself.

"Su Qianqian, quickly rein in your abilities. This matter isn't as simple as you think."

He pointed at He Yuxing. "This guy is the real mastermind."

Su Qianqian looked at He Yuxing suspiciously. Why would he get involved?

A scapegoat?

No, this guy and Zhang Xinxiong were already at odds, and he had no connection whatsoever with the Wen family. Only the Zhang family would likely stick up for Wen Chong.

"Sister Rao?" Her mind was a bit muddled, and she looked at the woman in the red dress.

Rao Yinyin dotingly rubbed her head. "Isn't this quite simple? There's someone else standing here, you know."

Su Qianqian paused, then looked at Lan Xinzi...

She glanced at Zhang and He again, and then a realization dawned on her.

"So that's how it is!"

The little girl's pretty face filled with fury. She pulled the colossal white sword from the ground. "Three of you, huh? Then none of you are leaving today!"

*Thud!*

Zhao Xidong fell headfirst to the ground.