In the end, this was a showdown between two rookies. Neither the process nor the content was particularly exciting, making Henry Clark yawn repeatedly.

After this round of competition, it was time for the in-sect challenge matches.

Before the matches began, as usual, the elder from The Brooks Sect presiding over the event would announce the names of the challengers and those being challenged, and then they would go up one by one to compete. However, this time, the two elders in charge of reviewing the challenge slips looked rather strange as they stared at the challenge slips on the table, appearing troubled.

Seeing that the presiding elder was taking a long time to step forward, the crowd below gradually began to stir.

Among the The Five Brooks Swords, Asura Sword was the most impatient and couldn’t stand waiting. He walked over to the table and quietly asked what was going on. The presiding elder gave a wry smile and whispered a few words in his ear, causing his expression to turn odd as well. He even glanced over at the ten core disciples.

A sudden chill ran through Henry Clark’s heart, and a sense of foreboding welled up inside him.

Asura Sword returned to the main seat, but instead of sitting down, he walked over to Elder Logan and whispered a few words. Elder Logan was taken aback at first, then actually started to smile, casting a meaningful glance toward Henry Clark and his group. His lips moved slightly, as if he was using a secret voice transmission technique to say something.

The presiding elder seemed to have received some information as well and stood up.

He slowly walked to the center of the training ground and began to read out the challenge slips. The previously noisy training ground quieted down, but this silence didn’t last long. When the presiding elder read out the twenty-first challenge slip, the noise below became even louder than before.

Why?

Because, except for the first nine challenge slips—which were about resolving personal grudges between inner sect disciples—from the tenth slip all the way to the twentieth, every single one was an inner sect disciple challenging Henry Clark. There was even a challenge slip from an outer sect disciple, and judging by the thick stack remaining, it seemed they were all challenges directed at Henry Clark.

This was highly unusual.

All the new disciples began whispering among themselves, and their gazes started to focus on the group of ten around Henry Clark.

Almost everyone was thinking the same question: Who exactly is this Henry Clark?

Does he really have such poor relationships with others?

Or is his strength extremely lacking?

It could only be one of these two reasons: either he has bad relationships and has offended many people, or he’s weak and an easy target.

It must be one or the other.

Which is it?

While everyone was speculating, the presiding elder put down the challenge slips in his hand.

“Besides the ones I just read, there are more than ten other inner sect disciples who have specifically challenged Henry Clark. Since there are too many people challenging inner sect disciple Henry Clark, inner sect disciple Henry Clark—!” He paused here. “Henry Clark, step forward!”

Embarrassed, beads of sweat formed on Henry Clark’s forehead as he wobbled his enormous backside and stepped out from among the ten.

He was fuming—truly furious.

Even though he had a good temper, disliked conflict, and was mentally prepared for someone to challenge him today, he still couldn’t suppress the anger in his heart.

Sure, people like to pick on the easy targets, but isn’t this a bit too much? Am I really that easy to bully?

If a tiger doesn’t show its might, do you really think I’m a sick cat? I may not be a tiger, but I’m at least a fierce old cat—how dare you treat me like a sick one?

So, Henry Clark’s expression was extremely unpleasant.

“Henry Clark, since there are too many people challenging you, you may now choose three opponents to accept, rather than taking on all of them!”

With about thirty people challenging Henry Clark, if he had to accept every match, it would be a real gauntlet—who could endure that?

“Elder, may I ask, are all those challenging me inner and outer sect disciples? Are there any other senior or junior brothers?”

“Other senior or junior brothers?!” The presiding elder was taken aback, but seeing Henry Clark’s gaze directed toward where he had just come from, he understood his meaning. “No, they’re all inner sect disciples, plus two outer sect disciples!”

“Is that so?!” Henry Clark smiled, took the challenge slips from the elder, and looked through them one by one. Some people he didn’t know, some he did, and a few had even eaten his barbecue before, which made him even angrier.

I never did anything to you guys—do you really have to pick on me?

Lifting his eyes, a cold glint flashed in his gaze as he swept over the hundreds of inner sect disciples present in an instant.

His innate purple qi had already reached the peak of the second level, while these inner sect disciples were practicing relatively basic techniques and had shallow cultivation. So, Henry Clark could see their strengths and weaknesses at a glance.

“Henry Clark, have you made your choice?” the presiding elder asked.

Henry Clark smiled, handed the challenge slips back to him, and showed a gentle smile. “No need, Elder. Let them all come at once!”

Chapter Ten: First Signs of Brilliance