However, in the eyes of the Cleansing Flame Hall, he very much looked the part. For one thing, he was an unfamiliar face, and people naturally felt a measure of distrust toward strangers. For another, he looked far too young — he simply didn't look like someone who could compete for the main stage lord position.
Even if a young person wanted to vie for the main stage lord seat, they'd need to be the heir or successor of an emperor-level power. An ordinary young genius becoming the main stage lord was practically impossible.
Going for a sub-stage lord position? Now that, with the right connections, might just be within reach.
So, in the eyes of the Cleansing Flame Hall, Jiang Chen was without question someone suspected of trying to cheat his way in.
But Jiang Chen didn't bother with much in the way of self-defense. Actions spoke louder than words — he simply slapped a deposit of one hundred million Holy Ling Shi down on the counter.
At any time, money was more persuasive than any amount of talk.
Even if he was trying to cheat his way in, so what? He had money, and having money meant he could afford to be a little willful.
Even if he didn't win the main stage lord seat, would someone who could produce one hundred million Holy Ling Shi really care about having ten percent deducted?
Obviously not.
In Pill Fire City, a young man who could casually produce one hundred million Holy Ling Shi wasn't unheard of. There were certainly a few in that category.
But those people wouldn't necessarily be so reckless with it.
The Cleansing Flame Hall steward's expression grew complicated as he studied Jiang Chen several times. Though his distrust hadn't changed one bit, the young man had the deposit — and there was really no grounds to refuse him.
Left with no choice, he followed the rules.
The deposit receipt and the qualification certificate for the main stage lord selection were duly issued to Jiang Chen. The steward added a reminder: "Six days from now, come back for the official main stage lord selection. Remember the date — if you miss it, no extensions will be granted. Your deposit will still have ten percent deducted."
Despite his distrust, the man maintained professional standards. All necessary paperwork was handled, all instructions were given. Nothing was left undone that could be used against him later.
Jiang Chen understood that the steward didn't trust him, but he didn't take it to heart. He simply smiled, accepted the documents and the participation token, and turned to leave.
He hadn't taken more than a few steps when a mocking sneer drifted from behind him: "The world's gone mad these days. A wet-behind-the-ears brat wants to enter the Bounty Stage? Am I out of touch, or has the world really changed?"
"Heh heh, young people just don't know their place, do they?"
"Come on, lay off. The kid's got money. When you've got money, you've got the right to do as you please."
There was no doubt that Jiang Chen's youthful appearance had rubbed people the wrong way. Most of those who had come to register for the Bounty Stage were old-timers, with a fair number of middle-aged participants thrown in. At the very least, they all looked well past their prime.
Jiang Chen, with his face that looked barely into his twenties, was an extremely conspicuous presence at the registration venue.
Of course, some of the powerful figures hadn't come in person — they'd sent their disciples, apprentices, or servants to register on their behalf. That happened too.
So most people figured the young man was probably registering for his master or some family elder, and there was no need to rush into putting him down.
Jiang Chen let all of this wash over him like a breeze past his ear, giving it no thought whatsoever.
This world had never lacked people who loved to make cutting remarks. If you took every cynical word to heart, there'd hardly be anyone left alive — they'd all have been angered to death.
"Maybe next time I attend a grand event like this, I should dress myself up to look a bit older?" Jiang Chen thought with an amused grimace.
He was about to walk out of the Cleansing Flame Hall when a sudden commotion erupted from outside the door.
Then someone cried out in shock: "Heavens — am I seeing this right? That... that senior — isn't that the Peerless Emperor?"
"The Peerless Emperor? Who's that?"
"Oh my — how ignorant can you be? You don't know the Peerless Emperor?"
"Tsk, tsk. The Peerless Emperor — he's the most renowned independent cultivator in all the Northern Regions! One of the very few independents who reached the emperor realm without ever founding a force of his own!"
"The Peerless Emperor — surely he's not here to enter our Bounty Stage?"
"He's probably just passing by. The Peerless Emperor made his name a thousand or two thousand years ago — surely he wouldn't look twice at a Bounty Stage that only comes around once a decade?"
"Nonsense! Emperor-level powerhouses do show up at the once-a-decade Bounty Stage now and then, you know!"
"Rarely though, right? It's happened only a handful of times in thousands of years!"
"Either way, I think the Peerless Emperor might actually be here to compete."
"If that's true, then this Bounty Stage is going to be absolutely spectacular! A man's name carries weight like a tree's shadow — with the Peerless Emperor's reputation alone, the number of participants flocking to this event will skyrocket."
For a moment, opinions flew in every direction.