Seeing Shengyuan actively challenge Lin Jichen, Ji Qing clapped his hands in schadenfreude.
"This is great! We've all been wanting to see the skills of the Sword Sect's top disciples. Honestly, besides your Senior Brother Chu Tianhan, I don't think much of any of you! Especially you!"
Lin Jichen casually picked his ear and replied calmly, "Some people, even if they're trash, always love to judge others. No matter how fancy they dress, they can't hide their stupidity. To be honest, out of all the princes, you're the only one I don't think much of."
Someone couldn't hold back a laugh, and the others followed suit.
Ji Qing's face turned ashen, his eyes filled with killing intent.
In all his life, no one had dared to mock him . For someone used to being high and mighty, this was a grave insult.
"You're courting death!" Ji Qing roared, about to make a move.
But he was stopped by Princess Ji Tongyin, who rushed forward.
"Brother, do you want to start a war between the Hidden Dragon Royal Family and the Sword Sect? Do you believe I won't report this to Father and Mother?"
Ji Qing gritted his teeth in hatred. "Didn't you hear him insult your brother? Insulting me is insulting the Hidden Dragon Royal Family!"
Ji Tongyin coldly replied, "Brother, have you forgotten? You started this argument!"
Ji Chen also stepped forward at this moment and said, "Tongyin is right. If you don't provoke others, why would they provoke you?"
The implication was clear: if you talk trash first, don't blame others for talking trash back.
Ji Qing nodded, suddenly remembering Shengyuan. He quickly regained his arrogant posture and said to Shengyuan, "Brother Shengyuan, the grudge between your Buddhist Sect and the Sword Sect is none of my concern. I believe you can avenge your master!"
"Rest assured, Eldest Prince. This humble monk knows what to do." Shengyuan gave him a reassuring look and then turned to Lin Jichen.
Ji Tongyin and Ji Chen both looked troubled. They could stop Ji Qing, but they couldn't stop Shengyuan.
They had no authority over matters involving other sects.
"Benefactor Lin, I wish to seek your guidance." Shengyuan walked up to Lin Jichen's table and issued a direct challenge.
"What? Your master couldn't beat mine, so now you want to save face? Relax, it's not shameful that your master couldn't beat mine."
Lin Jichen picked up a bunch of fruits and started eating while mocking.
Shengyuan's face darkened, his words sharp as lightning, "That makes me even more eager to experience the Sword Sect's techniques."
"No can do." Lin Jichen shook his head.
"How is it unfair?" Shengyuan pressed.
Lin Jichen answered matter-of-factly, "Let me ask you, how long have you been in the Buddhist Sect?"
"I entered the Buddhist Sect at the age of three, and it's been twenty-three years."
"So, you've been cultivating for twenty years. I just joined the Sword Sect and have been cultivating for less than a month. Do you think that's fair?" Lin Jichen said confidently.
"Moreover, you're at the peak of the Golden Core Realm, while I'm just at the early Crystal Formation stage. Do you think that's fair?"
Lin Jichen's two reasons left Shengyuan speechless.
The others also secretly agreed; Lin Jichen's points were valid.
Lin Jichen continued, "You just see my low cultivation level and want to use this opportunity to find some balance and avenge your master. What's that called? Bullying the weak and fearing the strong? Is that all you're capable of?"
Want to see him make a fool of himself? Dream on!
Lin Jichen sneered inwardly. If he accepted this challenge, he'd be an idiot.
He wasn't foolish enough to think that just because he had entered the Crystal Realm, he could easily defeat a Golden Core Realm cultivator.
Come on, ordinary Golden Core Realm cultivators might be manageable.
But who was Shengyuan? The direct disciple of the abbot of Tianyin Temple, almost on par with Chu Tianhan. What could he use to fight him?
Accepting the challenge would mean certain defeat and disgrace to his precious master. He wasn't that stupid.
If it were an ordinary hot-blooded youth, they might have already fallen for it.
But Lin Jichen, this old fox, wasn't buying it.
Being accused of bullying the weak, Shengyuan's face turned red with anger. "Nonsense! We are both disciples of the Sect Masters. In terms of qualifications and seniority, we are equals. How is this bullying the weak?"
Lin Jichen mocked, "We are both cultivators, and my master is also a cultivator. By that logic, all cultivators in the world should be equals. Why don't you go challenge my master? Or challenge Chu Tianhan? Why only challenge me, a newcomer? Is this all your Buddhist Sect is capable of?"
Then, Lin Jichen laughed, "Oh, I get it. You're afraid you can't beat Chu Tianhan, so you come boasting to me. Right?"
"Utter nonsense! Why would I fear Chu Tianhan!"
"If you're not afraid, then go challenge him. He's at the same realm as you, and has been cultivating for about the same time. If you can beat him, then you're truly impressive." Lin Jichen fanned the flames.
"Fine, I will challenge him sooner or later!" Shengyuan, enraged, declared confidently.
But he wasn't that stupid; he knew Lin Jichen was diverting the focus.
"But what about you? You don't plan to hide behind your master forever, do you?"
"If my master is willing and I am willing, what business is it of yours?" Lin Jichen replied smugly, not feeling embarrassed at all.
He loved hiding behind his master... under her protection... got a problem with that?
Shengyuan was completely at a loss with this old fox.
At this moment, Ji Qing stepped forward and laughed, "Brother Shengyuan, don't be hasty. If someone likes being a turtle, let him be. But he won't be able to hide for long."
Seeing that Ji Qing seemed to have a plan, Shengyuan quickly asked, "What do you suggest, Eldest Prince?"
Ji Qing chuckled, "Have you forgotten? Next month is the Mu Xian Province's triennial Ascension Tournament, the greatest opportunity in Mu Xian Province. Every sect's disciples will fight tooth and nail to participate. Do you think he won't show up?"
Shengyuan's eyes lit up, suddenly enlightened. "Thank you for the reminder, Eldest Prince. This humble monk understands."
Then he turned to Lin Jichen and said, "Next month's Ascension Tournament, unless you're too scared to attend, we'll see then."
Before Shengyuan could finish, Lin Jichen interrupted, "No need to say more. Stop mentioning my master's name; you're not worthy. I'll definitely attend the Ascension Tournament. But I hope when you face me, you won't beg for mercy!"
"Agreed!" Shengyuan thought to himself, this guy finally fell for his bluffing strategy, and quickly made a decision, afraid Lin Jichen might change his mind.
"I'll be there too. I hope Lin the Sword Cultivator doesn't get beaten by Brother Shengyuan and crawl back to his sect," Ji Qing added, being a Golden Core stage cultivator himself, not fearing Lin Jichen at all.
Lin Jichen disdainfully replied, "Please don't talk to me. My master told me to avoid talking to fools as much as possible; it might be contagious."
Ji Qing almost couldn't hold back again, but could only leave a harsh remark, "Just you wait."
With that, he stormed off.
The commotion ended, and everyone returned to their places.
The other princes also started mingling with disciples from various sects.
The challenge was postponed to the Ascension Tournament.
Although some felt it was a bit anticlimactic, the thought of seeing a grand battle between the top disciples of the Sword Sect and the Buddhist Sect next month filled them with anticipation.
Lin Jichen sat back down and continued eating!
With a month left, was he really afraid he couldn't reach the Golden Core stage?