Chapter 27: One Finger Pokes Through

The sneer was incredibly jarring to Zhao Long’s ears. He turned his head to see Xu Yang standing with his arms crossed, watching him mockingly, his eyebrows playfully raised. His attitude was extremely flippant.

Who could tolerate such an attitude, especially from someone who was merely a Qi Refinement stage nobody? Zhao Long couldn't stand it. He immediately walked over to Xu Yang, his face grim, and asked, “What’s with that attitude?”

Xu Yang lifted his gaze, calmly glanced at Zhao Long, and replied, “Nothing at all.”

“Nothing at all?! What do you mean by that?” Zhao Long felt a surge of anger. If he hadn't been thinking about the Treasure Auction and the importance of maintaining harmony for profit, he would have long since taught Xu Yang a lesson with his fists.

“Hey, look, the guy who just provoked Chen Kuangdao is now provoking Zhao Long. Is he trying to commit suicide?”

“I guess his friend will have to buy his life back again.”

“Sigh, don't even get me started. His friend is truly a high roller. How can this idiot have such a rich friend? I swear…”

The surrounding spectators became excited again, gathering around and chattering amongst themselves. They looked at Xu Yang as if he were a complete imbecile. This imbecile was actually provoking a late-stage Golden Core cultivator! A Qi Refinement stage cultivator challenging a Golden Core stage cultivator—such a scene was rare, occurring perhaps once in a millennium. Naturally, everyone gathered to watch and comment.

At this moment, Fang Yan was on the verge of tears, looking at Xu Yang with a resentful expression. “Damn it, why can’t you, a mere Qi Refinement cultivator, be a bit more discreet in front of all these Golden Core grandmasters? Do you realize that everyone here could crush you with a single finger?”

Fang Yan was practically spitting blood, yet Xu Yang remained calm and unconcerned, whistling softly. She nearly fainted on the spot.

Seeing Zhao Long's face darken further, Fang Yan rushed over to his side and said, “Please don’t mind him… he… he’s just mentally challenged… really.” Fang Yan said, utterly serious.

This time, it was Xu Yang's turn to nearly spit blood. When had he become mentally challenged? He certainly didn't know about it.

Seeing that Zhao Long’s expression still hadn't softened, Fang Yan quickly handed him a bottle of Soul-Shattering Pills. “This is a bottle of Soul-Shattering Pills. Can it buy my brother’s life?”

The Soul-Shattering Pill was essential for Golden Core cultivators to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, capable of increasing the success rate by ten percent. For Zhao Long, who was already in the late Golden Core stage, such a treasure was incredibly rare and sought after, especially one that literally fell into his hands like this. His expression immediately softened, and his temper no longer seemed volatile.

“Alright, alright, I understand. But I must warn you, it’s best to keep imbeciles like him at home. They tend to cause trouble when they’re out, and not everyone is as good-tempered as I am.”

With the crisis averted, Fang Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

Beside Xu Yang, Ling Qingshu watched the scene and couldn't help but exclaim, “That was a bottle of Soul-Shattering Pills! Fang Yan actually gave it away.” Ling Qingshu stomped her foot as she spoke, her face filled with regret.

Xu Yang said disdainfully, “It’s just a bottle of Soul-Shattering Pills. When you break through to the Nascent Soul stage, I’ll refine as many as you need.”

“Ancestor, are you serious?!” Ling Qingshu’s face lit up with surprise.

“When have I ever lied to you?” Xu Yang replied.

After successfully negotiating with Zhao Long, Fang Yan walked over to Xu Yang’s side. Seeing Xu Yang’s nonchalant demeanor, her lips twitched, but in the end, she said nothing.

***

Meanwhile, Zhao Long and dozens of Golden Core cultivators unleashed a full-strength attack on the formation plate. Instantly, sand and stones flew, the sky changed color, and ghostly wails echoed. However, none of it had any effect.

The formation plate remained perfectly still, not even trembling, showing no regard for the dozens of Golden Core cultivators.

“Damn it, what in the world is this thing? It’s too hard!” Zhao Long stared at the formation plate, which was unchanged from before, and began to question everything.

Dozens of Golden Core cultivators—their combined power was almost all the known high-end combat strength in Qizhou. Yet, they couldn't even break a single formation plate. How could they save face?

“Keep going, don’t stop! I refuse to believe we can't even break one formation plate.” Zhao Long said stubbornly, directing the dozens of Golden Core cultivators to continue attacking the formation plate.

Boom…Boom…

All the Golden Core cultivators used all their might, launching continuous attacks, but they still couldn't move the formation plate in the slightest. It stood firm, utterly unaffected, like a mountain facing a gentle breeze, no matter how fierce their attacks.

Zhao Long became disheartened; his spiritual energy in his Golden Core was largely depleted, but to no effect. “Damn it, if we can't break this thing, how am I going to explain myself?” Zhao Long was frustrated.

Formation plates were typically the key and most vulnerable part of an array. During early reconnaissance, they had already discovered this particular formation plate was extremely strong, which was why they had mobilized such a large force. However, it seemed they had still underestimated its robustness.

“Pfft…” Xu Yang, who had been watching from the side for a long time, finally couldn't help but laugh. A miniature array was inscribed within this formation plate, allowing attacks from different individuals to cancel each other out. With so many people attacking the plate, how could they possibly break it? He had already said so, but unfortunately, no one believed him.

Zhao Long turned around, his face grim. He was seething with anger and had nowhere to vent it. Xu Yang's mocking laughter ignited his fury. “What do you mean by that? Are you mocking us?”

Zhao Long’s words instantly drew everyone’s attention. They, too, had been simmering with frustration, and seeing a mere Qi Refinement stage nobody dare to mock them filled them with extreme displeasure.

“Exactly, what do you mean? Do you think you can break the formation plate?” the crowd pressed.

“Of course. If I were to act, a single finger would be enough.” Under the intense stare of so many aggressive eyes, Xu Yang showed no sign of panic. “And you bunch of trash, dozens of you, can’t even break a rotten plate. Why don’t you go slit your throats instead of running your mouths here?”

Hearing this, Fang Yan’s vision went black, and she nearly fainted. She felt that even she, a high roller so rich she had nothing but money, couldn’t save Xu Yang now. Xu Yang was simply asking for a beating.

“You… you’re very good.” Zhao Long’s face turned as black as a pot bottom. It was unprecedented for Golden Core cultivators to be insulted by a Qi Refinement stage cultivator. Xu Yang, it seemed, would have no regrets even if he died for this.

Immediately, he harbored murderous intent. Golden Core cultivators were arrogant; their dignity was not to be trampled upon. But today, the dignity of dozens of Golden Core cultivators had been trampled by a single Qi Refinement cultivator. Even if the King of Heaven himself came, he couldn't save Xu Yang.

Fang Yan had just stepped forward, intending to say something, when Zhao Long shoved her away. “You Qi Refinement stage nobody, weren’t you having a grand time bragging just now? Come on, I’ll give you a chance. Come up here, break this formation plate, and I’ll spare your life and even apologize to you.”