Chapter 114: The Star Rod

Everyone had already guessed the identity of the speaker from the words of Ye Jiuyao and the others, yet they couldn't help but feel a flush of embarrassment at Ye Jiuyao's boldness. However, considering Ye Jiuyao's terrifying strength, they quickly understood—truly, where power is great, treatment differs.

This realization only fueled their confidence in cultivation further.

“Haha… excellent, excellent indeed. I shall not go back on my word. Is there anyone else who wishes to participate?”

“If not, I shall begin accepting disciples.”

With a booming laugh, White Brow spoke, and all eyes immediately turned to Ye Jiuyao. After all, these words were quite direct. Ye Jiuyao’s formidable power was undeniable, and it was only natural for an elder of his caliber to take on disciples.

None found it strange. The newcomers who had arrived together looked on with envy; although many promises had been made to them, none had yet been fulfilled, creating a palpable sense of disparity.

“Since no one else steps forward, I shall start. Anyone who wishes to challenge me today may do so. When the time comes, find me to claim your reward,” White Brow added once more, and the crowd nodded in understanding.

White Brow stepped down from the void and approached Ye Jiuyao with a broad smile, nodding in his direction.

“Boy, do I please your eye?”

Those below were speechless at the question. As for Ye Jiuyao, he paid no heed, instead settling into a meditative posture to cultivate.

“Seems you’re not satisfied, huh? If that’s the case, I suppose my reward is off the table.”

“Damn, shameless!”

Immediately, the crowd branded White Brow as shameless—how could he revoke the promised reward so casually?

“Old man, do you believe if I take those two as my masters, that for every disciple you take, I’ll kill one of yours?”

“Hahaha… very well, very well. If White Brow gives you that, so be it. You needn’t hesitate, boy—take us as your masters.”

Suddenly, two elders descended from the sky, their eyes fixed on Ye Jiuyao. Even Cao Sisi, watching, showed a hint of jealousy—for these things once belonged solely to her but were now claimed by a man.

“Hey, scoundrel, let me go! My grandfather is here!”

“Hmm?”

Ye Jiuyao suddenly felt the words were oddly familiar, reminiscent of the tale about the seven strange little gourds told by the handsome young man in the Canglang painting.

“Sisi, be obedient. Let my disciple bind you first,” Cao Zheng and the two elders pleaded earnestly.

“Well… you two, I’m your granddaughter…”

“No worries. We just need to restrain you a bit, to set you straight. My disciple means well—you can ask around if you don’t believe me.”

The crowd quickly grasped the shamelessness of these two… no, three elders. Their level of shamelessness had no ceiling—they would stoop as low as necessary.

Yet no one dared speak out.

But that did not mean Ye Jiuyao was afraid to.

He smiled and said, “Enough of you three. If, within the next month, you can present any primordial skill, artifact forging, formations, alchemy—anything that can truly challenge me, then I, Ye Jiuyao, will take you three as my masters. No need for you to compete.”

“No haggling. If I say no, then no. After all, you guys… are just too shameless.”

“Hahaha…”

Cao Sisi laughed heartily.

“But what if we manage to challenge you, yet you refuse to admit it?”

“Hmm… how about this: three days. If you cannot answer within three days, I concede.”

Ye Jiuyao looked at the three’s expressions. There was no mistaking their cunning. With their shamelessness, they would likely not mind pushing it even further.

They exchanged glances and said, “Agreed.” Cao Sisi glared at them in frustration.

“Hey, hey, hey… then… release Sisi first.”

“Hmph, I won’t. I want to restrain her…” Suddenly, Cao Sisi threw a tantrum, while Ye Jiuyao smiled and approached White Brow, extending his hands.

“What?!”

White Brow feigned ignorance.

“Primordial skill, primordial artifact.”

“Oh, would a master deceive you?”

“Yes!”

“…”

Ye Jiuyao answered confidently, while White Brow gave an awkward smile, producing a small book in his left hand and holding a long staff in his right.

“I see you practice a set of staff techniques, so I gift you this staff and its corresponding technique, named ‘Starry Sky’!”

Ye Jiuyao examined the staff, a satisfied glint in his eyes. The staff technique itself piqued his interest only mildly; after all, with Sun Qigang’s staff style at hand, nothing else could truly captivate him.

“Forget the skills. I’ll accept the Starry Sky staff—it suits me perfectly,” Ye Jiuyao replied.

This staff matched Ye Jiuyao’s Starry Sky Staff Style well, as Sun Qigang’s staff relied on primordial energy as a medium to summon the staff.

If their strength and primordial energy were comparable, the loser would inevitably be Ye Jiuyao. Seeing this staff pleased him greatly.

Sun Qigang’s staff likely required power on his level to summon reliably, never to vanish again.

At this moment, the Starry Sky staff suited Ye Jiuyao perfectly.

“Are you sure you don’t want to take a look?”

“No, I’ll get familiar with the Starry Sky first.”

Grasping the staff firmly, Ye Jiuyao turned without a backward glance and left. The crowd watched his graceful silhouette depart, their eyes filled with admiration and envy.

“Hey… hey… m-me!” Cao Sisi, still bound by primordial energy and not yet freed, stared dumbfounded at Ye Jiuyao’s retreating figure.

“Sisi, how can you be so foolish? Don’t you know how to break free yourself?”

Cao Zheng looked at his granddaughter helplessly. She had once been clever, but since meeting Ye Jiuyao, she seemed to have grown dull.

“Could it be that after that defeat, my own granddaughter’s mind was befuddled?” Cao Zheng wondered, suspicion flickering in his eyes.

“Hahaha… I’m free now!”

Suddenly, Cao Sisi burst into laughter as she broke free from Ye Jiuyao’s restraints. The disciples of the Qianye Sect were speechless.

Why had their goddess become so strange lately? Was her mind always this way?

The onlookers realized they had missed a great opportunity—a chance to trick or fool a big-headed girl.

Yet regret came too late; they felt their goddess was no longer innocent, all because of Ye Jiuyao’s arrival.

Having acquired the Starry Sky staff, Ye Jiuyao returned to the massive stone, took the staff, and began to examine it carefully.

Adorned with twinkling stars and seven linked constellations along its shaft, it seemed almost sentient. As Ye Jiuyao touched it, primordial energy flowed within.

Already versed in artifact forging, he was unsurprised by this and knew well the quality of this primordial artifact.

But more importantly, the staff’s internal structure intrigued him greatly, for it harbored some marvelous secrets within.