The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense. The guards were sweating profusely as they watched Zhao Changhe draw his saber, unsure whether they should step in to stop him.0

It did not seem to them like Zhao Changhe was confronting the cult leader with hostility. It felt more like he wanted to have a sparring match. It was akin to a public duel on a bustling street, where others could watch with admiration rather than being offended. A well-fought match often ended in mutual respect.0

This kind of internal challenge was even more private than a public duel. Zhao Changhe had first offered guidance, clarifying that what he was after was mutual verification. It seemed like nothing more than a sparring match within an ordinary martial sect, and the outcome was thus unlikely to be announced by the Tome of Troubled Times.0

Instructor Sun suddenly had a thought: Could this guy be acting so gracefully and generously on purpose? Could it be that he’s doing all this because he doesn’t want to replace Cult Leader...1