Jiang Chen's cold declaration instantly drew every eye in the square. A low murmur swept through the assembled Jiang disciples.
"Look, isn't that our Young Master Chen? What's he doing here?"
"I heard the Patriarch sacrificed everything to secure that Lingyun Academy slot for this infamous failure. Did he actually come to claim it?"
"Hah... Could he possibly take it back? The Patriarch isn't here, and the Grand Elder controls everything now. He'd never hand that chance to a piece of trash."
A wave of mockery washed over the faces of many disciples as they assessed the 'waste' who dared to challenge the status quo.
Jiang Chen's sudden appearance clearly rattled both Jiang Qianhe (the Grand Elder) and Jiang Yunhong.
"Jiang Chen, stop spouting nonsense!" Jiang Yunhong spat, fixing a look of utter contempt on his cousin. "I admit the Patriarch secured this quota for our family. But while you are his son, you are a natural failure—you've been stuck at Body Tempering Second Layer for two years! What qualification do you possess to claim a resource meant for the most promising talents of the Lingyun Martial Academy?"
Jiang Yunhong's sneer was genuine. Three months ago, he himself had failed the Lingyun Academy's freshman assessment. At sixteen, he couldn't take the test again. The slot currently in his possession was his only remaining path to a glorious future. No matter what, he would not let this waste ruin his plans.
"I may not be qualified," Jiang Chen retorted coolly, ignoring the disdain, "but you, who couldn't even pass the Academy's assessment, don't seem much better than me, do you?"
Jiang Yunhong's face instantly darkened. The vast Daxia Kingdom was divided into nine prefectures, each overseen by a powerful Martial Academy. The Lingyun Martial Academy was the sacred cultivation ground that every cultivator in Lingyun Prefecture dreamed of. Its assessment was notoriously strict—a true weeding-out process. By bringing up his failure, Jiang Chen had publicly exposed a painful scar.
"Jiang Chen, even if I failed the entrance assessment, how can I be compared to a failure like you, who stagnated at Body Tempering Second Layer for two years!" Jiang Yunhong roared, struggling to keep his temper in check. "The quota for the Lingyun Academy is precious. For the future of the family, it must be given to the most promising young disciple."
He paused, then flashed a wolfish smile, deciding to use the situation to humiliate his cousin.
"Tell you what, I won't say I didn't give you a chance. If you can defeat me in a fight, I will gladly give you this Lingyun Academy slot with both hands!"
"That sounds reasonable," Jiang Chen observed, his tone dangerously flat. "It almost sounds like something an honorable man would say."
Before Jiang Yunhong could savor his perceived victory, Jiang Chen lifted his gaze from his cousin and looked directly at the Grand Elder.
"Grand Elder," Jiang Chen asked, his voice steady. "What is your opinion?"
Jiang Qianhe frowned slightly. Though he sensed something amiss in Jiang Chen's sudden boldness, he saw no real threat. Jiang Yunhong was the strongest of the remaining juniors; no one else possessed the potential to make use of the quota.
"The opportunity to enter the Lingyun Martial Academy must naturally go to the most potential junior of the Jiang family," Jiang Qianhe affirmed, nodding his approval of the challenge.
"The Grand Elder always considers the family's future, and I admire that," Jiang Chen said, a small, confident curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.
He didn't wait for another word. Jiang Chen simply raised his hand and crooked a single finger at Jiang Yunhong.
"Jiang Yunhong. Get out here and fight me!"