With a single glance, Ye Yunfei knew the two men were alchemists. They were undoubtedly the Lin Alchemist and Guo Alchemist mentioned by the crowd.
"This is an attempt to cow me from the get-go." Ye Yunfei understood immediately, sneering inwardly.
"Brother Ye, everyone I've recruited here possesses genuine skills," the Third Prince explained with a somewhat stiff expression, lowering his voice. "They are all proud and arrogant, difficult to restrain. I must ask for your understanding."
"It seems the Third Prince has recruited a large group from the jianghu, but he doesn't seem truly capable of controlling them," Ye Yunfei thought with a cold laugh. He could tell the Third Prince's personality was amiable and easy-going. No doubt the prince had treated these people with constant courtesy, and gradually, they felt he was a pushover, becoming somewhat undisciplined.
"Hahaha, Your Highness," Ye Yunfei laughed heartily, his ordinarily calm face suddenly shifting to one of immense ferocity. "If you wish to accomplish great deeds and contend for the crown prince position, recruiting this motley crew will hardly bring success. It's nothing but a waste of resources."
"Bastard! What did you say!"
Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the hundred or so men and women present all flew into a rage, shouting one after another.
"Looks like you are all very unconvinced of me. Fine. Who isn't convinced? Step forward!" Ye Yunfei stood up, placed his hands behind his back, and spoke with icy indifference.
"Hahaha, kid, you're too arrogant and ignorant," someone mocked relentlessly. "Even if you know alchemy, your path in martial arts must be weak and feeble. What qualifies you, one person, to challenge over a hundred of us?!"
"Hmph! Putting on airs! Let's see what skills you truly have!" The first to cause trouble for Ye Yunfei, a fat-headed, big-eared middle-aged woman, stood up with a cold laugh. She had been entrusted by the two alchemists to deliver a sharp dose of harsh intimidation to this newcomer Ye Yunfei during the banquet, so naturally, she stepped up to take the lead.
"Kid, I don't know alchemy," the middle-aged woman sneered contemptuously at Ye Yunfei. "Dare you fight me?"
"Hahaha, Lu Qiaomei, with your fat head and big ears, and this kid's thin legs and scrawny arms," loud laughter continuously sounded. "He'd probably be crushed all over if you just sat on him once! Aren't you just bullying him?"
"Everyone, that's enough," the Third Prince frowned, stepping forward to intervene with a displeased tone. He feared Ye Yunfei, a Fourth-Grade Alchemist—a type known for immense pride—would fly into a rage and storm off.
"Your Highness, it's alright." Ye Yunfei said with a cold laugh. "Today, let me help Your Highness filter out some of the dregs who only waste resources."
"Kid, how shamelessly he boasts!" The fat middle-aged woman let out a vicious screech, heightened the spiritual power throughout her entire body, and leaped into the air. Like a starving tiger pouncing on prey, she threw herself at Ye Yunfei, her feet kicking out in rapid succession, causing the air to explode with loud cracks.
Her pair of fat legs were like two thick steel whips, lashing out incessantly, dense as a sudden downpour, making one's eyes dazzled and blurring reality!
Howling winds began to swirl throughout the great hall, carrying oppressive pressure.
However, under the perception of Ye Yunfei's Soul Power, the movement trajectory of those fat legs was clearly discerned, as if in slow motion.
"You're too weak."
Ye Yunfei didn't move a muscle, shaking his head with a disdainful laugh.
"Haha, look! The kid's scared stiff! He's not even dodging!"
"This Thirteen Ghost Shadow Legs style of Lu Qiaomei's emphasizes speed! Once unleashed, the leg techniques are dense and interlinked, difficult to separate reality from illusion, and extremely powerful. How could this kid possibly withstand it?"
"Lu Qiaomei, kick his head clean off!"... Waves of raucous laughter continuously sounded.
The moment those fat legs were about to strike, Ye Yunfei's right hand abruptly shot out. With a forceful grab, he directly seized one of the legs by the ankle.
With a savage heave, he swung the fat woman around in a circle like a windmill, then slammed her down.
*BANG!*
The woman named Lu Qiaomei landed like a huge boulder, smashing a large concave pit in the center of the hall. Blood gushed wildly as her fat body convulsed incessantly, whether dead or alive unknown.
Instant defeat! And appearing supremely violent!
"Ahh..."
In the great hall, many instinctively took a step back. Watching the convulsing fat woman, their scalps prickled with fear, a shocking sight for all.
Everyone's gaze focused on Ye Yunfei. They saw his expression was as calm as still water, composed and unflustered, as if nothing had happened at all.
"This guy's methods for fighting are too savage, like a human-shaped savage beast!" everyone inwardly shuddered.
"Who else is unconvinced? Step forward now," Ye Yunfei's gaze slowly swept over them as he spoke lightly.
"Hmph!"
Hearing his words, many snorted coldly. However, in the end, no one else stepped forward.
That Lu Qiaomei wasn't weak in battle prowess, yet Ye Yunfei had defeated her instantly with a single move. This made everyone here uncertain of Ye Yunfei's true depths. No one wanted to risk testing it publicly anymore.
"Hmph! The Third Prince invited you back to participate in the Alchemy Competition, not a martial competition," suddenly, a slightly plump middle-aged man stood up, speaking coldly and arrogantly. "So what if you can fight? It precisely shows your alchemy skills must be extremely poor. Look at the fierceness all over you. Such a temperament is fundamentally unsuitable for alchemy. Know this: alchemy emphasizes calmness, peace, and patience above all. A person like you, someone who casually resorts to violence, achieving accomplishments on the path of alchemy is nothing more than a fool's idle talk."
"Alchemist Guo is correct! Your Highness, you must not be deceived by this kid."
"Letting this kid compete will undoubtedly hinder the competition."... Upon hearing this, others chimed in, pointing fingers at Ye Yunfei.
"A mere Third-Grade Alchemist, worthless, not even comparable to trash, dares speak to me about matters of alchemy? How laughable." Ye Yunfei shook his head with a derisive laugh.
"Kid! What did you say?!" the Guo Alchemist flew into a rage at his words. He slammed the table and shouted severely, "I am a deacon of the Great Qin Empire's Alchemist Guild! How dare you insult me?! Do you believe with just a word from me, you won't be able to move a single step within the Great Qin Empire?!"
"I don't believe it," Ye Yunfei replied lightly. "What a pile of shit the Alchemist Guild is. It counts for nothing in my eyes."
"You…! Fine, very good! Even the Alchemist Guild you dare to insult! Just you wait! I will surely report this to the guild. Soon, you won't be able to move a single step in the Great Qin Empire!" The Guo Alchemist trembled all over with anger.
"Your Highness, this kid is nonsensical, arrogant, and conceited," a tall, slender man stood up and said to the Third Prince. "I think Your Highness should break off ties with him sooner rather than later. Otherwise, he will surely cause you to lose face one day."
"Alchemist Lin is right! Your Highness, drive this kid out immediately!" the others also spoke up.
That tall, slender man was surnamed Lin, also an alchemist. This time, the Third Prince had invited three alchemists: Alchemist Guo, Alchemist Lin, and Ye Yunfei. Both Alchemist Guo and Alchemist Lin were Third-Grade Alchemists. Having heard the Third Prince was holding a banquet tonight for a newly arrived alchemist, they had come prepared long ago to deliver a harsh dose of intimidation.