Chapter 55: Knocking Them Down Along the Way

Ye Jiuyao gazed at the newcomers behind him. Each wore a fierce, menacing expression, yet his face remained utterly unmoved. Only when his eyes fell upon a group of ten-odd people at the rear did his expression shift.

“It was you who wanted to kill me from the very start, wasn’t it? So blatantly—did you not realize how strong I am?” Ye Jiuyao’s gaze locked onto those ten or so individuals, who in turn looked back at him.

“The Li family—Li Gaishi!”

“The Jiang family—Jiang Feng!”

As Ye Jiuyao’s eyes settled on them, the two immediately declared their backgrounds. Su Wuquan, Cao Youshi, and the others naturally turned to look as well.

“Worthless!” Ye Jiuyao spat the word out lightly, his disdainful tone exploding like thunder. The two men’s faces darkened with anger, and those beside them strode forward.

“In that case, we shall rid Uncle Ye of you and ease the hatred festering in his heart!” Li Gaishi roared, and the disciples of the Li and Jiang families beside him charged forward, their momentum overwhelming.

“Noisy!” Ye Jiuyao didn’t even bother to think—he simply swung his palm out. With pinpoint accuracy, his strike landed on the faces of those rushing at him. A burning pain instantly radiated through their bodies.

“What speed! It looked like a single palm, but in that split second, he actually struck nine times! Ye Jiuyao’s strength is terrifying!”

“This last round between the three sects is bound to be a spectacle.”

“Indeed. With such a ruthless figure joining the fray, this year’s selection should be the most intriguing yet.”

The crowd buzzed with excitement, marveling at Ye Jiuyao’s ghostly, unpredictable palm strikes.

Su Wuquan and Cao Youshi, meanwhile, were left somewhat stunned. Ye Jiuyao hadn’t crippled them outright—he had only slapped them.

Soon enough, they understood.

“Li Gaishi? Jiang Feng? Why don’t you two go a round with my little brothers here first, so I can see just how formidable you are. After that, I’ll let you practice on what’s left. I’m so tired…” Ye Jiuyao spoke, then turned away without a care, strolling beneath the shade of a tree and promptly falling into a deep, contented sleep, as if he truly meant to do nothing but rest.

The four Mo brothers and Xing Juexing suddenly wondered what fate had led them to follow such a man, their inner bitterness plain for all to see.

“Li Gaishi, Jiang Feng—leave your tokens here and I’ll let you go. After all, I gave him my word,” Xing Juexing called out, genuinely reluctant to offend the disciples of the two powerful families. Even if he joined one of the three great sects, he would still be wary of them, so he felt compelled to offer this reminder.

“Hmph, you’re as good as dead already!” Li Gaishi snorted coldly, glancing at Jiang Feng. The two exchanged a look, and in an instant their power surged forth.

“Prepare to die!”

“If that’s how it is, don’t blame me!” Xing Juexing was no saint—no one who had cultivated to such a level could be. He was no hothouse flower from a great clan.

The four Mo brothers charged straight in, while Xing Juexing twisted his body, unleashing his strange Ancient Ape Fist once more—this time, even more supple and agile than before.

Previously, Ye Jiuyao’s terrifying aura had so suppressed him that his energy flow was blocked, preventing him from displaying his full strength. Now, it was different.

Thus, Xing Juexing’s power erupted with even greater ferocity.

In a flash, his fists—like twin mountains—smashed toward the two men.

“Die!”

“You first!”

Li Gaishi and Jiang Feng retorted in fury, unleashing their strongest power in a storm of force. The air between the two sides crackled with their energies.

Those watching paled with shock and quickly retreated to a safe distance.

A deafening boom rang out as terrifying strength exploded in the air. Three figures were hurled back, while Ye Jiuyao remained utterly motionless, slumbering all the more peacefully.

“The rest of you—kill Ye Jiuyao!” Li Gaishi, feeling the trembling in his body from the force of the clash, looked no better than Jiang Feng. So he turned his gaze toward the Mo brothers and gave the order.

Su Wuquan and Cao Youshi, watching from the side, hesitated. At last, they exchanged a meaningful glance and reached a silent understanding.

“Ye Jiuyao, consider this our favor repaid!” Su Wuquan shouted, leaping into the fray. Cao Youshi followed suit, and with their sudden intervention, the balance of battle was restored.

“Ye Jiuyao, is it? I’ll help you crush them—just face me in the third round!”

“Whatever.”

Ye Jiuyao’s lazy reply left everyone speechless. Even in the face of life and death, he could still pretend to sleep.

“Very well!”

As Zhong Shaoshan spoke, Li Gaishi and Jiang Feng’s faces changed drastically. They knew all too well how fearsome Zhong Shaoshan was—a ruthless killer who had slain countless people along the way.

To him, there was only a difference between the living and the dead; he cared nothing for your background. That was why they felt such dread.

“Zhong Shaoshan, I advise you not to bring ruin upon yourself!” Li Gaishi and Jiang Feng shouted in unison, but Zhong Shaoshan had already made his move. His attack came like a thunderbolt, and in an instant, he was upon them.

“Dian Cang!”

His tone was calm, yet in that moment, it was as if ten thousand horses thundered forth, light bursting forth in all directions, his terrifying aura surging like a tidal wave. Li Gaishi and Jiang Feng’s hearts quailed; forced to react, their energy surged chaotically within.

The two powers collided head-on, unleashing a deafening roar. Countless people covered their ears and turned pale with fear.

“Swift!”

Once again, Zhong Shaoshan thrust his finger forward. In a flash, a brilliant streak pierced the void and landed on the two men.

With a resounding crash, both were sent flying, blood spurting from their mouths as their breath faltered. The crowd was shaken to the core, unable to comprehend how Zhong Shaoshan had unleashed so devastating a strike.

Nor could Li Gaishi and Jiang Feng themselves understand it—they only felt a surge of overwhelming force at their chests, and then they were hurtling through the air.

“Big guy, gather up their tokens—we’re leaving.”

Seeing the battle all but over, Ye Jiuyao yawned and got to his feet. Xing Juexing could only resign himself to collecting the tokens.

“Zhong Shaoshan, deal with the rest of them too. Can’t have them making it past the third round,” Ye Jiuyao said, glancing indifferently at the remaining members of the Li and Jiang families. Zhong Shaoshan’s face flickered with surprise, but he moved without hesitation.

Cries of agony filled the air. These were not Li Gaishi or Jiang Feng—no one of importance—so Zhong Shaoshan showed no mercy.

“Let’s go. Time to leave.” Without the slightest ripple on his face, Ye Jiuyao strode straight into the exit. The others wore hesitant, conflicted expressions.

Ye Jiuyao was well aware of their thoughts, but he wasn’t about to speak now—after all, this was all money to him, and he intended to make a hefty profit.

“They’re coming out—they’re coming out…”

“Ye Jiuyao?! Good, you dare bully members of my Li family. I’ll see to it you pay dearly for this!”

“Ye Jiuyao?!”

At that moment, the outside world was seething with outrage. Accusations against Ye Jiuyao’s shameless actions filled the air, especially from the Li and Jiang families, whose members ground their teeth in hatred.