"You!"
Gu Xuan's face instantly turned ugly. To be reprimanded to his face like this—what kind of person was he? When had he ever suffered such indignity?
Behind him, the cultivators of the Qinghua Sect all stepped forward with gloomy expressions.
Gu Xuan was the Young Sect Master of the Qinghua Sect. How could he allow such humiliation from others?
The people in the pavilion were also dumbfounded:
"Who exactly is this guy? He's got quite the nerve, daring to reprimand even Gu Xuan."
"Doesn't he know Gu Xuan's status? Reprimanding him like this is practically asking for death."
"Hah, from what I can see, this guy is clearly trying to attract Nangong Xue's attention, though his methods are a bit despicable."
"What kind of person is Nangong Xue? How could an unknown nobody like him hope to pursue her?"
...
Everyone was whispering, but without exception, they all believed Ye Chen's actions were deliberately meant to attract Nangong Xue's attention.
Even Nangong Xue herself somewhat believed it, and immediately looked at Ye Chen with disgust.
She had originally thought the other party truly didn't care much about her, which had surprised her and sparked some curiosity. But now, hearing this, she felt it really was the case.
How could Ye Chen know what these people were thinking? He only wanted to sit here quietly, admire the Shenwang Valley, and enjoy this rare peace and relaxation.
Yet he was being harassed, which naturally made him quite impatient.
Gu Xuan, furious and humiliated, his handsome face turning cold and sinister: "Kid, do you know what consequences your words just now will bring you?"
The esteemed Young Sect Master of the Qinghua Sect, a super Heaven's Pride on the Huashen Genius List—how could he be insulted by others?
The two female cultivators from the Xue Sect also frowned and said, "Fellow Daoist, Young Master Gu is the successor of the Qinghua Sect and a super Heaven's Pride on the Huashen Genius List. He is not someone you can afford to provoke. Be sensible and leave quickly."
Nangong Xue, who had been mostly silent, also slightly furrowed her willow-like brows: "Fellow Daoist, although your actions have piqued my curiosity a bit, I will not like you. You should give up. A word of advice: if you don't want to completely offend Senior Brother Gu, leave immediately and give up your seat. I will put in a good word for you. I believe with Senior Brother Gu's magnanimity, he won't do anything to you."
Gu Xuan also spoke up at the right moment, smiling at Nangong Xue: "If Junior Sister Nangong Xue speaks up, this Senior Brother will certainly be willing to let him off once."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Gu." Nangong Xue smiled slightly, feeling somewhat favorable toward Gu Xuan for this gesture.
The two Xue Sect female cultivators also said, "Fellow Daoist, you should quickly thank Senior Sister Nangong Xue."
"Yes, Young Master Gu is the Young Sect Master of the Qinghua Sect. Without Senior Sister Nangong Xue pleading for you, your outcome wouldn't be good."
At this moment, Ye Chen looked at Nangong Xue. In his eyes, there was none of the amazement, greed, or covetousness other men showed when looking at her. There was only a detached indifference, as if facing all things equally, which made her heart tremble: "You say I did this to attract your attention, to pursue you? Ridiculous. Truly ridiculous. Who are you to me, that I would do such a thing? I must say, you are truly too self-important and overthink things. In my eyes, you are no different from an old woman. As for him—"
He pointed at Gu Xuan: "I don't know the consequences, nor do I need to know. But I do know that if you keep making noise, I'll throw you down immediately!"
At the end of his words, a flash of cold light erupted from his eyes.
It was as if the eighteen layers of hell had opened. Gu Xuan's heart fiercely trembled, feeling that the Ye Chen before him was no ordinary person, but a peerless great evil that had lain dormant for countless ages.
But soon, he returned to normal, tightly clenching his fists, thinking the earlier sensation was just an illusion. He glared darkly at Ye Chen, killing intent flaring.
The crowd erupted in an uproar. This kid was truly arrogant.
Not only did he call Nangong Xue self-important, but he also said he would throw Gu Xuan down.
Immediately, the cultivators from both the Qinghua Sect and the Xue Sect darkened their expressions.
Especially Gu Xuan, whose gaze turned cold. A powerful Divine Transformation might emanated from his body, instantly lowering the temperature in the pavilion. Many cultivators shivered uncontrollably.
Even the eagle beast beneath them felt the oppressive pressure, shaking violently as if it might plummet at any moment.
Ye Chen's gaze turned slightly cold. If Gu Xuan truly made a move, he wouldn't mind showing a bit of his strength.
At that moment, an inconspicuous, plainly dressed middle-aged man in the pavilion suddenly spoke with a tone of indifference: "All of you, stop."
Boom—
A terrifying Saint might erupted, like a volcano exploding. Everyone shivered, looking at the middle-aged man in horror.
"A Saint!"
"This journey truly has tigers crouching and dragons hiding. Not only have Heaven's Pride talents from the Qinghua Sect and Xue Sect come, but even a Saint is here."
Many were inwardly shocked, feeling that this pavilion indeed concealed many formidable figures.
Unfortunately, they did not know that the truly fearsome person was actually the Ye Chen they were mocking—a being capable of overturning the entire Weiyang Great World.
Under the suppression of the Saint might, even a super Heaven's Pride like Gu Xuan had to restrain his aura. He could only glare fiercely at Ye Chen and say, "Kid, you're lucky this time. But once we reach our destination, you won't be so fortunate."
A threat!
A blatant threat!
Ye Chen paid it no heed.
In his eyes, Gu Xuan was nothing more than an ant. Why should he bother with the clamoring of an ant?
Nangong Xue's expression was complex. She could sense that Ye Chen wasn't deliberately trying to attract her attention; rather, she truly held no attraction for him.
Just who was he?
It must be said that Nangong Xue was now growing increasingly interested in Ye Chen.
Riding the eagle beast pavilion, they traveled for half a day, arriving at another relay station ancient city thousands of li away.
Afterward, Ye Chen continued switching eagle beasts, heading deeper into the Shenwang Valley.
It's worth mentioning that the cultivators from the Qinghua Sect and Xue Sect also kept switching, which resulted in several groups changing along the way, but they always remained on the same pavilion.
This included the mysterious Saint.
During the journey, there were several crises—attacks by demonic beasts from the Shenwang Valley's mountains and forests. However, the eagle beast pavilion had many powerful cultivators aboard, and with the Saint presiding, they passed through each danger safely.
Both Gu Xuan and the other Qinghua Sect cultivators, as well as Nangong Xue and the Xue Sect cultivators, took action at times. The mysterious Saint even personally slew a half-Saint great demonic beast.
The only person who never took action was Ye Chen.
No matter when, facing whatever fearsome great demonic beast, he remained as calm as an ancient well, facing it with tranquility.
At his level, so-called Saint-realm great demonic beasts were merely slightly stronger ants in his eyes. Why should he act?
When the Douzhan Shengwang did not act, it was fine. Once he acted, it represented heaven collapsing and earth splitting.
However, his inaction led everyone to believe he was cowardly and afraid to act, making the people in the pavilion despise him even more.
Ye Chen offered no explanation.