Chapter 96: The Sword of the Sword Sect

In the hall, all the cultivators followed the gaze of the middle-aged cultivator and fixed their attention on Su Yizhao and the other two.

“Place the seat right beside me!” the middle-aged cultivator instructed.

Instantly, murmurs rose from the hall.

Li Chengye’s face flushed crimson. He stood and bowed, saying, “Thank you, Senior!” Then he turned to the surrounding cultivators with an imposing air.

Zhong Jingyun frowned slightly.

Su Yizhao looked utterly helpless.

This was clearly someone targeting the auction house.

Before long, a long table had been added beside the middle-aged cultivator. Li Chengye actually led the way forward.

Zhong Jingyun could only rise reluctantly.

Suddenly she realized Su Yizhao had no intention of standing, so she turned to him with a threatening look.

Su Yizhao smiled bitterly and followed behind her.

“Void Realm?”

“So the Gou Family Auction House actually has a Void Realm cultivator this year. It makes sense!”

Everyone’s eyes settled on Zhong Jingyun, and the voices gradually quieted.

Seated together in the crowd’s gaze, Su Yizhao, Zhong Jingyun, and Li Chengye took their places beside the middle-aged cultivator.

Only after the three were settled did the middle-aged cultivator speak again: “Everyone, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the representative from Huanglong County for the competition in Haohan City should come from among you.”

The moment he opened his mouth, all eyes were drawn to him once more.

Su Yizhao breathed a small sigh of relief.

As a disciple of the outer sect, he truly did not wish to stand out in public, nor did he want anyone to recognize him.

This was truly inconvenient for secret enforcement.

“Young geniuses and monstrous talents are growing more common every day—not only in Huanglong County, but across the other seven counties as well. There are Void Realm cultivators under thirty years old in every one of them!”

At that moment, a cultivator on the right rose and cupped his hands: “Senior Zhuo, I must ask a question!”

The middle-aged cultivator froze.

Everyone in the hall froze.

How important could the matter be to interrupt a supervisor’s words?

The middle-aged cultivator was magnanimous. “Ask.”

The cultivator continued: “The ranking for this seat is based on past competition results. The Eastern World Family takes first place, I have no objection. The Xuan Shui Sect is second, I accept. The Ascetic Sect is third, I fully agree!”

Here the cultivator pointed straight at Su Yizhao and the other two.

Zhong Jingyun’s expression changed slightly. *This is bad.*

Only to hear the cultivator thunder, “Yet the Gou Family Auction House has had almost zero results in the past—why do they sit beside the senior? I refuse!”

“Refuse? Then come, let’s fight!”

Su Yizhao, who had remained silent, suddenly spoke.

Zhong Jingyun turned her head in shock. Li Chengye, knowing his impulsive nature, secretly gloated.

The instant Su Yizhao spoke, the entire hall fell deathly silent.

Refuse? Then fight?

How straightforward!

The cultivator was stunned. He had only wanted an explanation, a reason from the middle-aged cultivator.

He believed every cultivator present would oppose it.

He needed only to stir the emotions, ignite group resentment, and seize the spotlight—why not?

Yet no one rose to help him.

He glanced toward the Eastern World Family and Xuan Shui Sect across from him. Those three watched his performance in silence, utterly uninterested in intervening.

Nima!

What kind of eyes were those?

The cultivator was about to admit defeat when his eyes suddenly turned. He said quickly, “Fine, I admit this Void Realm cultivator has the right to sit here, but what about the other two?”

Su Yizhao smiled. “Then we settle it with a duel. This fellow is the auction house’s Li Chengye. He cannot defeat you, so he will withdraw.”

Li Chengye, who had been basking in his own triumph, instantly soured.

Comrades in arms, you don’t understand loyalty at all?

How could you sell yourself out in the middle of this?

He quickly interjected, “In situations like this, everyone chatting and getting to know one another is pleasant. Fighting and killing is too unsightly?”

Li Chengye had seen the man clearly: Jian Thirteen, a core disciple of the fourth-ranked Sword Sect.

He could never defeat him.

Su Yizhao laughed. “Don’t worry. If you cannot beat him, there is still me! If he kills you, I will kill him!”

Li Chengye wore a bitter smile.

*If they’re dead, can you revive them by killing them?*

Just then, Jian Thirteen suddenly shouted at Su Yizhao, “Who are you? Why don’t you show some self-awareness like this Li Daoist friend? Stubbornness will only lead to death!”

Li Chengye hurried to explain: “Mind your words, Senior Jian Thirteen. This Su Yizhao Daoist friend is well known—he is called the brothel swordsman.”

*Again with the “brothel swordsman.”*

Su Yizhao cursed inwardly, but this was not the time to care.

He stood at once, pointed at Jian Thirteen, and declared, “Let us fight! Dare you to step onto the Death Stage?”

Death Stage?

Was the matter being made so grand?

The entire hall stared in disbelief.

The cultivators from the Eastern World Family and Xuan Shui Sect felt the same incredulity.

Moreover, one needed real strength to demand such a stage.

What was this?

The brothel swordsman?

Only Sixth God Realm mid-stage!

Did he possess the right to speak here?

Jian Thirteen’s face darkened. When had he ever been humiliated in this way?

He jumped up at once, shouting, “Come! Come! Let us see! He provoked first—today we shall show whether the Sword Sect’s sword remains as sharp as ever!”

Seeing a life-and-death battle about to unfold, excitement spread through the hall.

After all, everyone mingled in the cultivation world; fighting and killing was commonplace.

Moreover, where was the majesty of a high-realm cultivator when a low-realm cultivator dared to provoke him?

The majesty of high-realm cultivators must be defended!

Therefore, a few cultivators began to incite the crowd.

“Kill him!”

“A Sixth God Realm mid-stage cultivator with no self-awareness?”

All eyes turned toward the middle-aged cultivator.

The middle-aged cultivator looked genuinely interested and said, “Fighting a duel in the cultivation world is normal, but the Death Stage is unnecessary.”

Jian Thirteen refused. “Senior Zhuo, to defend the Sword Sect’s majesty, the Death Stage is required!”

At the mention of the sect, the middle-aged cultivator fell silent.

The Sword Sect’s majesty?

Su Yizhao snorted coldly. His figure flashed.

“Slap!”

A resounding palm struck Jian Thirteen’s face. He flew backward and crashed to the ground.

Seizing the back of his neck, Su Yizhao hurled him forward with brutal force.

“Crack!”

The table shattered instantly.

The entire hall froze.

*Is this possible?*

They rubbed their eyes and used spiritual sense to probe Su Yizhao relentlessly.

Correct. Sixth God Realm mid-stage.

“To defend the Sword Sect’s majesty, you are unworthy!” Su Yizhao dropped Jian Thirteen’s body, flashed forward, and returned to his seat.

Killing him was not even necessary!

After all, the opponent had not even drawn his sword.

Moreover, the brothel swordsman was a swordsman, not a murderer.

Jian Thirteen seemed dazed. He lifted his head from the ground, staring blankly around.

Who was I?

Where had I come from?

Where was I going?

Three question marks hung over his face.