Xiahou Zong's tone was frigid, devoid of any human warmth. The way he stared at Jiang Chen was as though he were appraising a dead man.
The younger generation, hearing that tone from Xiahou Zong, couldn't help but break into a cold sweat, a creeping sense of dread settling over them.
Jiang Chen, however, showed not the slightest hint of retreat. He met Xiahou Zong's gaze with placid indifference.
"Xiahou Zong, I have no interest in how much meat is on your plate. But Huang'er will never belong to you — never! Remember that. I don't care if you're the so-called number-one genius. If you dare stand in my way, I will send you on your way without a moment's hesitation."
"Ha ha ha." Xiahou Zong burst into laughter upon hearing this. "What big words, boy. Anyone who didn't know better might think you were a high-stage Heavenly Sovereign. You? Send me on my way?"
"That's right, me," Jiang Chen said flatly. "The Genius Sword Duel — I hope you'll participate. And I hope that when you're up on that stage, you won't be as pathetic as the rest of the Xiahou family's trash, falling at the first blow."
Having already torn the mask off completely, Jiang Chen saw no reason to hold back his words.
Ever since he had decided to come to the Eternal Sacred Land, he had foreseen this outcome — that he and the Xiahou family were destined to be irreconcilable enemies.
There was no point in being coy any longer.
Xiahou Zong's eyes blazed with fierce light. "The Genius Sword Duel — those are your words, boy. I hope you don't pretend to lose to someone else before you face me. If you did, I would despise you!"
Jiang Chen replied with cool detachment: "You'd better pray for your own good fortune, that you don't meet a violent end in some back alley before you ever face me."
The Yan family patriarch watched these two geniuses collide — clash over his own daughter — yet he was entirely unable to feel any joy about it. He understood well enough that he had managed to offend both sides. The Xiahou family likely held him in contempt, and as for Shao Yuan, the young man was surely disappointed by his earlier hesitation.
The thought left the Yan family patriarch thoroughly dejected. Back when Shao Yuan had still been a guest at the Yan estate, he had believed his relationship with the young man to be a good one. Yet now he found himself in the miserable position of being welcome nowhere. There was no way the bitterness could be absent from his heart.
That elder of the Xiahou family suddenly spoke up with a cold laugh: "Grand Holy Sovereign, when it comes to disputes among the young, it isn't really our place as old men to interfere. However, since things have reached this point, why not let the matter of Yan Qinghuang be settled by the young people themselves? If Shao Yuan triumphs in the Genius Sword Duel, then Yan Qinghuang becomes his woman, and Xiahou Zong will cease his pursuit. If Xiahou Zong wins, then the matter of this marriage proposal shall never be raised by the Eternal Sacred Land again. Let everything be decided by their own contest — how does that sound?"
The Grand Holy Sovereign smiled faintly. "On this matter, the Sacred Land's position is naturally in favor of our own genius. The key is what Shao Yuan thinks. Whatever he wishes, we will give him our absolute support. If Shao Yuan is willing to settle this through a contest, I have no objection."
Every word, every phrase, was still designed to elevate Jiang Chen — to champion this young man.
Jiang Chen nodded upon hearing this. "Then let it be the Genius Sword Duel to decide the outcome. However, whether I win or lose, my resolve to pursue this marriage cannot be shaken by anyone."
"What if it ends in a draw?" someone asked with curiosity.
"Impossible!" Jiang Chen and Xiahou Zong declared in perfect unison. In a contest of this nature, how could there possibly be a draw? They would fight with everything they had.
The elder of the Xiahou family said with displeasure: "Young friend Shao Yuan, we warriors must also maintain a certain dignity. Win or lose, you insist on having your way regardless. How is that reasonable?"
"Reasonable?" Jiang Chen smiled coldly. "Does your Xiahou family even know what reason is? A faction that understands reason would turn Huang'er into a cultivation furnace? She is a living, breathing life — did you think she was a kitten? A puppy?"
Xiahou Zong said icily: "Boy, I'm giving you a chance at a fair duel. All the heroes of the world are watching. Don't tell everyone here that you've gone cowardly."
Jiang Chen's tone remained perfectly level. "The duel has nothing to do with Huang'er. It's happening purely because I find your face disagreeable, and I plan to use this opportunity to eliminate you. Huang'er and I are in love — why would we need your Xiahou family's approval?"
When Jiang Chen chose to be unreasonable, he could be more unreasonable than anyone.
That single speech nearly drove the Xiahou family members to suffocation.
Xiahour Ying put her hands on her hips and shouted: "Shao Yuan! You're supposed to be a man — have you no shame? My brother gives you a fair chance at a duel, and you weasel your way out of it. With behavior like that, you dare call yourself a genius?"
Jiang Chen offered her a faint smile. "Still better than you, Miss Xiahou, who says one thing to people's faces and another behind their backs."
"Enough. Let's put an end to this matter here and now," Ziche Min interjected, clearly unwilling to let them continue bickering. After all, Xiahou Ying was one of his own nominal disciples, and a public squabble of this sort was a loss of face.
The Eternal Sacred Land had only just gained a measure of renown through this grand gathering — it absolutely could not become a laughingstock at the same time.
Xiahou Zong had no desire to linger here either. He cast a cold glance at Jiang Chen, then raised his thumb and index finger, flicking them lightly in Jiang Chen's direction.
In the Eternal Sacred Land, this was a deeply offensive gesture.
Jiang Chen merely offered a contemptuous smile, too indifferent to even bother acknowledging it.
And so, the Mending the Heavens Grand Assembly was declared concluded.
"Sister, why don't you stay here at the Sacred Land for a few days instead of going back to the Yan estate?" Yan Qingsang stepped forward to suggest. As a genius of the Sacred Land, it was perfectly natural for him to invite his cousin to spend a few days as his guest.