End of the month — requesting monthly votes!!
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Seeing that Yang Kai showed him no courtesy whatsoever, Jiang Changfeng's expression turned awkward, and he knew better than to press the matter. After all, he had been the one to overreach and probe Yang Kai with his spiritual sense first. Who could have guessed the other's methods would be so bizarre, catching him off guard and leaving him at a disadvantage in an instant?
He took a deep breath to settle the churning Qi and blood within him, suppressing his anger before speaking: "Might you be Purple Star's third Honored Venerable?"
Yang Kai glanced at him without the slightest intention of responding. Instead, he walked casually to the table, picked up the freshly cut Qishan Cloud Mist Tea, poured himself a cup, and took a light sip. A look of bliss crossed his face, and he offered generous praise: "Excellent tea, truly excellent tea!"
Jiang Changfeng's weathered face darkened to the point where it looked like frost might scrape off. He understood that the other's deliberate disrespect was payback for what had just happened. Being treated this way put him in an impossible position — there was no one else present to witness it, but he was still a Void King Realm cultivator. When had he ever been so casually dismissed? He couldn't help but let out a cold snort: "This old man is Jiang Changfeng, Eighth Elder of Purple Star. Might I ask whether you are indeed our third Honored Venerable?"
Yang Kai idly dug at his ear, leaning sideways in his chair and regarding Jiang Changfeng with a flippant look. "Old thing — who exactly are you calling 'this old man' to, and who gave you permission to play friends?"
"You—" Jiang Changfeng was incandescent with rage, his entire body trembling.
Yang Kai snorted coldly: "Since you already know this seat is a Purple Star Honored Venerable, you still dare to be so disrespectful? Did you waste all your years on a dog's life?"
From the moment he learned the visitor was Jiang Changfeng, Yang Kai had been in no mood for pleasantries. A crooked top beam leads to crooked bottom ones — he had already experienced Jiang Chao's despicable character firsthand, so he had no doubt Jiang Changfeng was no better.
And seeing how Jiang Changfeng had coerced and bullied Xia Jingwu and the others only stoked his anger further.
The Five Directions Trading Company and their group had been dragged into trouble because of him, so Yang Kai naturally intended to repay in kind. His attitude and tone were anything but friendly.
Those who held the Purple Star Honored Token were recognized as Purple Star Honored Venerables, holding status so exalted they ranked alongside the top three Elders. Jiang Changfeng was merely the eighth-ranked Elder. By protocol, he should have shown deference to Yang Kai, and Yang Kai was leveraging that rule ruthlessly — no matter how furious Jiang Changfeng was, there was nothing he could do about it.
So even though Yang Kai's words burned in his gut like fire, Jiang Changfeng had no choice but to swallow his rage.
He took another deep breath to quell his anger, then his eyes darted with cunning. "So you claim to be an Honored Venerable, and that makes you one? Only those granted the Honored Token by the Master personally can become our Purple Star Honored Venerables. To date, the Master has bestowed only two — and as far as I know, neither of them is you!"
Yang Kai looked at him, then simply produced the Purple Star Honored Token and tossed it against his head, his tone arrogant: "Open those dog eyes of yours and look carefully. Tell me whether this Honored Token is real or fake."
Jiang Changfeng fumbled to catch the token, turning it over and examining it thoroughly. Once he confirmed its authenticity, a look of suspicion crept across his face: "This Honored Token is indeed genuine. However... why has the Purple Star Elder Council received no news of a third Honored Venerable? And when exactly did the Master bestow this upon you?"
"What's it to you?" Yang Kai sneered. "What? Does the Eighth Elder think the Master needs to report to you before taking action?"
Jiang Changfeng's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly replied: "I wouldn't dare say such a thing. The Master's actions are certainly not for me to question."
"If you have no right to question, then why are you still running your mouth?"
Jiang Changfeng's face shifted through several shades before he finally forced down his anger. He cupped the Honored Token in both hands, walked up to Yang Kai, and spoke in a grave tone: "The Honored Token has been verified without error. I can confirm you are indeed our Purple Star's third Honored Venerable. This old man's previous offense was a grave mistake — I humbly ask the Venerable to forgive me!"
Yang Kai shot him a sidelong glance and continued sipping his tea, speaking indistinctly: "You think I care about being your Purple Star's Honored Venerable? If Purple Dragon hadn't begged me on and on, I never would have accepted this token. What rubbish!"
Jiang Changfeng stared, mouth agape, looking at Yang Kai with undisguised shock. He couldn't tell whether this was empty boasting or the actual truth — there was simply no way to verify it.
But he couldn't keep standing there holding the token forever either. Seeing that Yang Kai showed no sign of taking it back, he could only place it respectfully on the table and retreat.
"The Eighth Elder didn't come all this way just to verify my identity, did he?" Yang Kai spat out a tea leaf and regarded him with an indifferent look.
Jiang Changfeng's heart skipped a beat. In the midst of their confrontation, he had nearly forgotten his actual mission. He immediately straightened his expression: "The Venerable is perceptive. This humble one has come under the Grand Elder's orders."
"The Grand Elder?" Yang Kai raised an eyebrow.
"Indeed. The Grand Elder was greatly pleased to hear that Purple Star has gained another Honored Venerable, so he specifically commanded this one to come and invite the Venerable to the inner city for a meeting."
"Not interested." Yang Kai curled his lip dismissively.
"What?" Jiang Changfeng stared at Yang Kai, his face a mask of disbelief.
"Can you not understand human speech? I said I'm not interested. You may leave now."
Cold sweat instantly broke out on Jiang Changfeng's forehead, and he stammered: "Venerable — I said the Grand Elder has extended an invitation!"
"I heard you. So what?"
So what? Jiang Changfeng suddenly realized that his earlier humiliation had been entirely deserved. This inexplicable Honored Venerable wouldn't even grant face to Purple Star's Grand Elder — why would he care about an Eighth Elder?