The System Arrives: Leading My Clan to Become the Strongest

35: Zhang Qingfeng Martial Arts TournamentAt this moment, inside the City Lord’s Manor.

Huangfu Jinyuan had long since noticed the commotion in the Market earlier, but he had not stepped in to stop it.

He had even hoped that Gu Songnian would disregard the Market rules and forcibly kill the one named Jiang Chen.

That way, he would have a reason to step in and wipe out the entire Gu Family.

Over the years, the Gu Family had grown increasingly arrogant; if it weren’t for him, a Golden Core expert, suppressing them, the entire Tianfeng City might have fallen into their hands.

Although he was a Golden Core, his role was to guard Tianfeng City and, more importantly, to balance the various major families to ensure no single power became dominant.

If he wanted to destroy the Gu Family, they had to make a fundamental error of principle; otherwise, he could not easily target them over trivial matters.

The events had unfolded according to his thoughts, but the outcome was far beyond his expectations.

He never imagined that Gu Songnian wouldn’t even last a single move against his opponent.

The power of Jiang Chen’s sword strike left him with lingering fears even now, despite being a Golden Core True Person.

He couldn’t fathom how such a terrifying strike could be unleashed by a little fellow merely at the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Just then, a guard led Jiang Chen inside.

”City Lord, Jiang Chen has arrived.”

The guard bowed respectfully; only then did Huangfu Jinyuan snap out of his thoughts and motion for the guard to leave.

”Jiang Chen, is it? Please, have a seat.”

Huangfu Jinyuan looked at Jiang Chen with a complex expression.

Jiang Chen gave a respectful bow and sat down. Soon, a maid placed a cup of tea on the table before him.

”I wonder what City Lord Huangfu wishes to see me about?”

Jiang Chen didn’t beat around the bush and got straight to the point.

”Jiang Chen, you certainly have a lot of nerve, daring to kill someone in the Market. Do you truly think my Tianfeng City is just for show?”

Huangfu Jinyuan stared at Jiang Chen with a cold expression, as if he might strike and kill him at any moment.

”Alright, stop pretending. What exactly do you want from me?”

Jiang Chen asked helplessly. Seeing Huangfu Jinyuan’s expression, Jiang Chen knew the man wanted something; otherwise, why would a Golden Core expert he didn’t even know talk so much? He could have just killed him instantly, and Jiang Chen wouldn’t have been able to resist.

Huangfu Jinyuan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he picked up the tea on the table, blew on it, and took a sip.

Jiang Chen was speechless at this. It was just drinking tea; it wasn’t as if he didn’t know how to do it.

He picked up his own tea and drained it in one gulp. It didn’t seem like anything special—that was Jiang Chen’s current thought.

”Although the Gu Family was in the wrong first, it is a fact that you killed a member of their Family. If I don’t show some form of response, I won’t be able to command respect in Tianfeng City.”

Seeing that Jiang Chen could actually remain calm and wasn’t panicked at all, Huangfu Jinyuan felt a bit helpless.

Though he was a Golden Core and killing the boy would be simple, that wasn’t his goal.

Jiang Chen looked at him as if to say, ’Do I look like an idiot?’

Time passed slowly until finally, Huangfu Jinyuan could no longer keep his composure.

”How about this: do something for me, and the matter of you killing someone in the Market will be wiped clean.”

Huangfu Jinyuan stared at Jiang Chen and spoke in a deep voice.

”What is it? If I can do it, I will. If I can’t, then I’m sorry, I’ll be powerless to help.”

Jiang Chen had the expression of a dead pig that didn’t fear boiling water.

”I won’t hide it from you. The Yuan Kingdom’s next Hundred Year Green Peak Martial Assembly will be held in two months. I hope you can represent Tianfeng City.”

Huangfu Jinyuan spoke slowly.

”What is the Hundred Year Green Peak Martial Assembly?”

Jiang Chen asked in confusion; he had never heard of this tournament before.

”Centenary...”

”Father, I’m back.”

Just as Huangfu Jinyuan was about to explain, a young figure burst in. Seeing someone else in the hall, the young man’s voice immediately dropped a few notches.

”You’re back.”

Looking at his flighty son, Huangfu Jinyuan was also helpless. Unfortunately, he couldn’t control him even if he wanted to; the boy was spoiled by his mother. If he spoke even slightly harshly, she would instantly transform into a tigress, which he truly couldn’t handle.

Jiang Chen had seen this young man before at the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower auction; it was none other than Huangfu Shenghua, Huangfu Jinyuan’s son.

”And you are?”

Huangfu Shenghua looked at Jiang Chen and asked. In his memory, there was no one like Jiang Chen among the people his father knew.

Yet now, this young man who seemed to be around his own age was actually chatting pleasantly with his father, which he found very difficult to understand.

”Hello, I am Jiang Chen.”

Seeing Huangfu Shenghua ask him, Jiang Chen didn’t hide it; there was nothing to hide anyway.

”Jiang Chen? Never heard of you.”

Huangfu Shenghua thought for a moment and confirmed he hadn’t heard the name. Jiang Chen felt a bit awkward; this Young City Lord certainly had a personality.

”Alright, what are you here for? Go back quickly.”

Huangfu Jinyuan also had a face full of dark lines as he urged his son to leave.

”You guys go ahead with your talk. I’ll just listen from the side and won’t disturb you.”

Huangfu Shenghua ignored Huangfu Jinyuan and sat down in a nearby seat.

Jiang Chen thought, ’My word,’ as the boy sat directly opposite him, his gaze constantly scanning him.

Jiang Chen acted as if he didn’t see it and looked back at Huangfu Jinyuan instead.

”City Lord Huangfu, please tell me about this Hundred Year Green Peak Martial Assembly.”

”The so-called Hundred Year Green Peak Martial Assembly is a national tournament held every ten years in our Yuan Kingdom. At that time, all families in the Yuan Kingdom will send people to participate.”

”The tournament is divided into three categories: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Golden Core. The age limit is one hundred years; anyone over a hundred is not eligible to participate in this Qingfeng Martial Meet.”

Huangfu Jinyuan explained slowly.

”That’s not right, City Lord. You said this is a national tournament, so why haven’t I heard of it?”

Jiang Chen asked puzzledly. He had been in Tianlin City for so long and had never heard of such a tournament there.

”Tianlin City is too small and lacks geniuses. Many cities are like that and don’t participate. Unless a true Genius appears, going to the Qingfeng Martial Meet would just be to serve as a foil for others.”

Huangfu Jinyuan spoke slowly. In fact, if he hadn’t discovered Jiang Chen, his Tianfeng City wouldn’t have planned to go either.

”What’s in it for me?”

Jiang Chen asked. Although he didn’t really want to participate in this whatever-it-was martial meet, he still asked.

Jiang Chen’s words momentarily stumped Huangfu Jinyuan. Benefits? Isn’t this supposed to offset the fact that you killed someone? How can you still ask for benefits?

”You killed someone in the Market.”

Huangfu Jinyuan pointed out as a reminder.

”What? Brother, you actually killed someone in the Market and you’re still fine?”

However, as soon as Huangfu Jinyuan finished speaking and before Jiang Chen could reply, Huangfu Shenghua stood up and looked at Jiang Chen with a face full of shock.

Killing in the Market! Even he wouldn’t dare do that. How could this young man do it and still be sitting perfectly fine in their City Lord’s Manor?

”Brother, who did you kill?”

He became increasingly curious about Jiang Chen.

”Gu Songnian of the Gu Family.”

Jiang Chen said indifferently.

”Oh, the Gu Family—Gu Songnian? You killed the Gu Family’s Old Ancestor?”

Huangfu Shenghua didn’t react at first, but when he did, he looked at Jiang Chen as if he were looking at a monster.

Was this young man, who was quite handsome (though not as handsome as himself), actually this powerful? He actually took out that old fellow Gu Songnian?