Chapter 1272: Not So Great Indeed

Hmm?

Ye Chen's single remark drew the attention of everyone present.

As a result, the spotlight that should have been on Da Luo Shenzi was completely stolen by Ye Chen in his corner.

"Enough insolence." Dongyang Zhenren could no longer stay calm and suddenly scolded.

"It's indeed not that great!" Ye Chen scratched his ear and then casually blew away the earwax.

The moment he said that, Da Luo Shenzi, high up in the clouds, darkened his expression, his eyes flashing with icy killing intent.

Jiu Yang Jian Jue was his proud, heaven-defying sword art, and now it was being belittled in public. How could he, who was always held in high esteem and of noble status, tolerate it?

Just that one sentence made him intent on killing Ye Chen, for Ye Chen had violated his supreme authority.

"What lowly upstart dares to show such disrespect to the Shenzi?" As Ye Chen had predicted earlier, before Da Luo Shenzi could speak, sycophants were already rushing to reprimand him, eager to curry favor.

"A mere Huang Jing cultivator dares to spout such nonsense?"

"Don't you know your own place? How dare you criticize the Shenzi?" Many female disciples were even more blunt, their beautiful eyes filled with contempt and disdain. Some even gritted their teeth as if Ye Chen had a vendetta against them for killing their fathers.

"The young people these days are far too arrogant."

"What kind of manners is this from the He family disciples?" Many turned their gazes toward Dongyang Zhenren beside Ye Chen. Since the two were sitting together, it was clear that Ye Chen had been brought by him.

Dongyang Zhenren frowned, his face burning with embarrassment.

Though he had repeatedly warned Ye Chen not to act recklessly, Ye Chen had done it anyway, and in such a public setting.

The atmosphere quickly spiraled out of control. Ye Chen and Dongyang Zhenren became the targets of all, with cultivators from every direction hurling insults and condemnations like crashing waves.

The tension heated up.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Ye Chen stood up. He first glanced around at the crowd before turning with interest to Da Luo Shenzi. "I meant no offense, but your Jian Jue is indeed not that great."

"You still dare to say that, I—"

"Enough chatter." Someone tried to fawn again, but was cut off by Da Luo Shenzi's rebuke, leaving their words stuck in their throat and their face flushing red.

"Boy, do you even know what your words imply?" Da Luo Shenzi sneered at Ye Chen.

"Just for saying one wrong thing, you're not going to kill me, are you?" Ye Chen feigned fear as he looked at Da Luo Shenzi. "I'm just stating the facts. You're the Shenzi, so you can't just take lives lightly."

"Jiu Yang Jian Jue is the supreme sword art of Da Luo Jian Zong. For it to be disparaged like this, where does that leave the face of Da Luo Jian Zong?" Da Luo Shenzi's voice echoed coldly from the heavens.

"The Jian Jue itself is fine; it's just that the one using it lacks the skill." Ye Chen shrugged.

"Good, very good." Da Luo Shenzi laughed in anger. "Congratulations, you've truly angered me."

"Then what?" Ye Chen grinned at Da Luo Shenzi.

"Today, I will kill you."

"But is it one-on-one, or will you bring your elders into it? If it's one-on-one, we can spar. If it's all of you at once, I have nothing to say—you've got way too many people."

"To kill you, I don't need my elders." Da Luo Shenzi smiled faintly. "I alone, with my sword, am enough."

"We can fight, but let's make it fair." Ye Chen started scratching his ear again. "I'm at Huang Jing first level, and you're at the peak. If I go up like this, I'll definitely get wiped out. You're the Shenzi of Da Luo Jian Zong, with a legendary record—don't bully someone with your higher cultivation."

"Even at the same level, I can kill you." Da Luo Shenzi sneered and invoked a secret technique, sealing his cultivation right there to Huang Jing first level. This was his confidence, his belief in being unbeatable at the same realm. He did it swiftly to avoid giving anyone cause to complain and because his killing intent toward Ye Chen had become unstoppable—he just wanted to get Ye Chen on stage and finish him quickly.

"Alright then." Ye Chen rolled up his sleeves and stepped onto the void clouds. As soon as he did, he drew all eyes, though most were filled with contempt.

"Come and lose your life." Seeing Ye Chen approach, Da Luo Shenzi immediately moved to attack.

"What's the rush?" Ye Chen flashed a set of white teeth. "I have a bad habit—whenever I fight, I like to add some stakes. I wonder if the Shenzi has the same habit."

"I'd like to know who gave you the confidence to survive my sword. Even with stakes, do you think you'll live to claim them?" Ye Chen's words made Da Luo Shenzi chuckle.

"What if I win?"

"You'll win? What a joke."

"A mere Huang Jing, so full of yourself."

"I've cultivated for over two thousand years and never seen such an arrogant junior."

"If the junior is like this, the elders in his family can't be much better." As they spoke, many eyes turned again to Dongyang Zhenren, making his brows furrow deeply in seriousness.

"I've agreed." Amid the discussions, Da Luo Shenzi's mocking laugh echoed through the void.

"If you win, everything I have is yours." Ye Chen said, waving his hand to produce the Chaos Shen Ding. "Including this great ding."

"What a powerful divine artifact." The moment the Chaos Shen Ding appeared, everyone's eyes lit up, even the saints among them, their gazes full of fiery greed. It was as if they could see its extraordinary nature, and many showed overt desires, some even contemplating murder for gain.

"Da Luo Shen Iron." Da Luo Shenzi narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze filled with naked greed. Knowing it was Da Luo Shen Iron, he understood its significance.

"Shenzi, is my stake enough?"

"It's certainly enough." Da Luo Shenzi gave a sinister laugh.

"Then what about your stake?"

"If you win, everything of mine is yours—including my treasures, secret techniques, and even my status as Da Luo Jian Zong's Shenzi." Da Luo Shenzi's words caused an uproar below. It was an earth-shattering gamble! But most understood that Da Luo Shenzi must have the upper hand, or he wouldn't dare set such stakes—it was his entire fortune.

"Straightforward." Ye Chen grinned.

"Killing you will take just one move." Da Luo Shenzi smiled eerily and struck without hesitation, stepping forward like a phantom and instantly closing in on Ye Chen. He thrust a finger wreathed in supreme yang sword energy toward Ye Chen's brow, carrying devastating power that seemed capable of piercing anything.

"You've overstated your abilities—watch out for straining yourself." Ye Chen laughed casually and shifted slightly, easily dodging it.

"This..." The people below were stunned. Instead of seeing Ye Chen struck down in a bloody scene, they watched him dodge effortlessly. Had Da Luo Shenzi performed poorly?

"How is that possible?" Da Luo Shenzi was the most shocked. That strike was a killing divine ability—even a quasi-saint might not evade it—yet a Huang Jing cultivator had dodged it, which he found unbelievable.

"Still daydreaming?" Ye Chen smirked and swung a palm at him.

"You're not as weak as I thought." Da Luo Shenzi snorted coldly and retreated like lightning.

But before he could steady himself, Ye Chen, who had been a hundred zhang away, appeared like a ghost right in front of him.

You—!

Da Luo Shenzi's face changed, and he tried to retreat.

But it was too late. Ye Chen was faster, his palm strike swift and precise, landing solidly on Da Luo Shenzi's face with a crisp slap.

Slap!

The sound was loud and clear.

Da Luo Shenzi staggered from the hit, completely stunned. His neat three-seven hairstyle was messed into a three-eight mess, and his handsome face was slapped lopsided.