Chapter 54: Blocking the Path

Once again, Ye Nine Demon’s wild and violent power erupted, causing Su Wuquan and Cao Youshi to tremble inwardly, terror flickering in their eyes. Only now did they realize that had Ye Nine Demon not been playing around before, they might have already been dead.

At this moment, Ye Nine Demon’s strength was like a raging storm, golden light flashing from his eyes. That palm strike had far surpassed his usual level, possessing a force that could suppress the heavens themselves.

Xing Juexing seemed oblivious, charging forward without fear of death, a human tank bent on slaughter. Yet Ye Nine Demon’s power was simply overwhelming, eclipsing Xing Juexing’s might entirely. No matter how frenzied his assault, he stood no chance of victory.

With a thunderous crash, Xing Juexing’s massive frame was hurled back once more, collapsing like a mountain, the sound of his body breaking echoing continuously. If not for the forest blocking his path, he might have flown even farther, perhaps hundreds of meters.

That palm, chilling as the hand of the Netherworld, left its imprint directly on Xing Juexing’s chest.

Coughing violently, blood mixed with fragments of his organs spilled from his mouth, his breath faltering instantly. Had Ye Nine Demon not held back, Xing Juexing would surely have met his end.

“Big guy, be my bodyguard from now on. Two chapters a day—no, two lunchboxes a day, all you can eat, with Lao Gan Ma sauce for the side dishes…” Ye Nine Demon rattled off promises of delicious food, while the others looked on in confusion. As for Xing Juexing himself, his eyes bulged in disbelief.

He felt death approaching and had no strength left to pay Ye Nine Demon any mind.

“You’re not after women, are you?!”

Coughing harder, despair deepened in Xing Juexing’s gaze, his hand pressed to his chest. The four Mo brothers quickly urged Ye Nine Demon to stop.

“Oh, you’re dying? Why didn’t you say so? If you’d spoken sooner, I’d have helped you. Why keep silent? You’re a grown man, making me worry…” Ye Nine Demon fussed at Xing Juexing, and the crowd felt a pang of sympathy for him.

Death seemed imminent for Xing Juexing, but despite Ye Nine Demon’s rambling, he was reliable. Producing a pill from his spatial ring, Ye Nine Demon placed it in Xing Juexing’s mouth.

“Big guy, remember to collect the tokens afterward.”

“A man’s word is his bond.”

After swallowing the pill, Xing Juexing felt relief wash over him and replied, then began healing his wounds.

The remaining spectators, upon hearing this, scattered further, leaving fewer than a thousand. Those who stayed either had few tokens or lacked cultivation; among them were Su Wuquan, Cao Youshi, and a few others.

“So shameless, yet so powerful. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but it seems Ye Nine Demon must have threatened the others, or why else would they leave?”

“Exactly, what a scoundrel!”

“Senior Sword Cloud, how can someone like this participate in the Three Sects’ selection? We object!”

A chorus of protest arose from those jealous of Ye Nine Demon’s easy gains. Even having witnessed his prowess, the barrier blocked all sensation, leaving them to judge only by sight. Many assumed Xing Juexing was Ye Nine Demon’s ally, and the Mo brothers were clearly his chief lackeys.

“You two, come here. I have a question for you—or else…” Ye Nine Demon called out to Su Wuquan and Cao Youshi, who reluctantly approached, not daring to offer a word of resistance. Ye Nine Demon’s moods were unpredictable; if he threatened violence, he meant it.

It was like a doctor telling a madman, “Come down or I’ll cut the tree,” but the madman ignores him—except when another madman says the same, he really might let go. In Su Wuquan and Cao Youshi’s eyes, Ye Nine Demon was no different from a lunatic now.

“Besides you, who else in the trial has strong cultivation? There must be plenty of tokens left. Is anyone connected to Falling Leaf Sect, or to Ye Chaofeng and his group?”

Was this even a question?

Perplexed, Su Wuquan and Cao Youshi nevertheless answered honestly.

“There are two families: the Li clan and the Jiang clan. The Li clan has seven entrants, led by Li Gaishi. The Jiang clan is smaller, with four, headed by Jiang Feng, plus another formidable individual…”

As Su Wuquan spoke, he paused, a hint of panic in his eyes. Ye Nine Demon looked behind him.

A young man stood there, a long rope tied around his waist, its end out of sight, laden with tokens that jangled like bells.

“That’s the one I meant—Zhong Shaoshan!”

“Zhong Shaoshan is the true pillar of Xuantian Town. Of all disciples outside the core four of the Three Sects, he’s the foremost. Xing Juexing is also outstanding, but they’re equals—or perhaps Zhong Shaoshan is even stronger.”

Cao Youshi’s face showed fear as he addressed Ye Nine Demon, her lips parting with a grave expression.

“Offering tokens?”

Ye Nine Demon’s eyes glittered, gazing at the tokens behind Zhong Shaoshan like a miser lusting after gold.

“I’ll offer them—if you can beat me.”

“Why do you all crave a beating? Did you get your head stuck in a door as a child?”

Ye Nine Demon regarded the refined and handsome Zhong Shaoshan with genuine puzzlement.

“Because… loneliness!”

Such bravado—terrifying in its own right.

For the first time, Ye Nine Demon felt he’d met his match. His expression grew serious, and the crowd found his earnest look strangely appealing.

“Your act… is impressive.”

Ye Nine Demon stared at Zhong Shaoshan, holding back his words for a moment, finally blurting out something that left the crowd speechless—they’d expected a grand declaration.

“We’ll fight in the sect. I need to collect tokens. Big guy, get ready to work.”

Ye Nine Demon judged that time was short and waved off the challenge, uninterested in facing Zhong Shaoshan now, leaving the spectators disappointed. In their minds, Ye Nine Demon had conceded defeat, but he didn’t care—his focus was profit.

“Open the exit!”

Sword Cloud’s internal energy surged, his hands like iron bars as he stretched toward the barrier and tore it open, forming a vortex in the shimmering light.

“Anyone not exiting within half a quarter-hour will be deemed to have failed!”

Sword Cloud’s voice rang out once more, sending the trial participants into a panic, especially those frightened by Ye Nine Demon.

Many were trapped nearby, unable to leave yet unwilling to remain, suffering in silence. Only those bold and fearless stayed to watch, resolved to see how things played out.

Soon, only a few minutes remained, and silhouettes rushed forward, those who had ventured deep into the mountains now returning in haste.