Elder Tie was thoroughly frustrated. His original plan had been to use this Jiang Chen fellow as leverage — threaten and intimidate him into handing over half his haul, thereby slapping the old man in the face and exposing his lies.
Who could have known that this brat would be completely impervious to pressure, and would even insinuate that he, Elder Tie, was nothing more than a bully who picked on the weak while being afraid of the strong — unable to do a thing about Ye Chonglou, yet happy to throw his weight around against a young man.
Well, that was the truth. But the more truthful it was, the more embarrassing it was in a situation like this.
"You… what is your name? Which family in Tiangui Kingdom are you from? Do you have any idea what protocol is? Do you even know who I am?"
Jiang Chen looked at Elder Tie with genuine bewilderment. Are you out of your mind? I already called you Elder Tie — how could I not know who you are?
Of course, he had no intention of locking horns with a Treasure Tree Sect elder. He let out a bitter laugh and prepared to simply leave on his own. A mad old dog barking in front of you — even if it never bit, the sound was still unpleasant.
But the moment he took a step to walk away, it utterly enraged Elder Tie.
This… this was outright contempt for a Treasure Tree Sect elder!
"Stop right there!"
Jiang Chen paid him no mind, but at that moment Ye Rong walked over and grabbed Jiang Chen's arm. "Brother, just say a few conciliatory words and let it blow over."
Elder Tie pointed at Ye Rong. "Kid, get lost. This doesn't concern you."
Ye Rong smiled wryly. "Elder Tie, he's young. Please don't be angry, sir."
Elder Tie's anger had absolutely nothing to do with Jiang Chen's age. What displeased him was Jiang Chen's uncooperative attitude.
"Good, good, good! The young people of Tiangui Kingdom are growing more and more defiant these days. Boy, you refuse to give your name? Don't think I won't be able to find out who you are."
Jiang Chen gently pushed Ye Rong's hand away and raised his sharp brows. "Elder Tie, there's no need to investigate. My name is Jiang Chen. Remember it — 'Jiang' as in the great river, 'Chen' as in a speck of dust."
"Very well! Boy, you've got some nerve! Jiang Chen, is it? Let me make this perfectly clear — in this lifetime, you can forget about ever setting foot inside the Treasure Tree Sect."
Elder Tie had stewed for quite a while, and this was the most damaging threat he could think of.
Jiang Chen had never intended to cause trouble in the first place. This whole ordeal was nothing but unprovoked misfortune. Elder Tie had gotten a face full of dust from old Master Ye and decided to take his frustration out on Jiang Chen.
But Jiang Chen was no doormat.
Out of respect for the man's status as a Treasure Tree Sect elder, Jiang Chen had initially chosen to endure and simply ignore him.
Who would have thought the fellow would keep pushing his luck, growing more and more outrageous? In the end, he even went so far as to publicly declare that he would represent the Treasure Tree Sect in blacklisting Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen had endured long enough. Patience had run its course. Even the best composure could not withstand an unreasonable fool like this.
"Elder Tie, is it? Honestly, whether I get into the Treasure Tree Sect or not, I couldn't care less. But since you've put it that way, I fully intend to get in — just to show you. Not only will I get in, I'll do it in grand fashion, and I'll make your Treasure Tree Sect come begging me to join! Mark my words. We shall see."
Having vented the fire in his belly, Jiang Chen couldn't be bothered to look at Elder Tie's expression. He let out a cold laugh, flicked his sleeve, and strode away.
Elder Tie had clearly overestimated his own authority and underestimated Jiang Chen's courage. In his mind, a young man from a mundane kingdom was supposed to bow three degrees lower in the presence of the Treasure Tree Sect. And with his own status as a sect elder, the slightest pressure ought to have been enough to break the boy's resolve.
Once the blacklist declaration was out, what young person in Tiangui Kingdom could possibly withstand it?
He had assumed the young man would cave, would lower his head and apologize. He never expected that this young man refused to follow the script at all.
Not only had the boy refused to beg or submit — he was even more brazen than the Treasure Tree Sect elder himself!
He simply could not believe that young people these days had such temper, such backbone!
Quaking with rage, he jabbed a finger at Jiang Chen and roared, "Jiang Chen! I don't care how powerful your backers are — if you can set foot in the Treasure Tree Sect in this lifetime, I, Tie, will use my own head as your cushion!"
He was a respected elder of the Treasure Tree Sect, and yet he had been publicly cornered by a young man. The fury inside him was beyond imagining. He swore to himself that even if Ye Chonglou recommended the boy, he would rally his colleagues and make absolutely certain this Jiang Chen was shut out!
As long as he, Elder Tie, drew breath within the Treasure Tree Sect, Jiang Chen would never be allowed in!
As a member of the sect's Elder Council, he held no small amount of power. Blocking a mundane youth from entering the sect was no difficult matter at all.
Ye Chonglou was strong, certainly — but no matter how powerful he was, he could not call the shots for the entire Treasure Tree Sect.
The atmosphere on the scene had already been somewhat oppressive, but this unexpected clash left the young men from every faction thoroughly stunned.
In their eyes, this was simply inconceivable.
A mundane youth, openly clashing with a Treasure Tree Sect elder? Had his brain been squeezed by a door? Kicked by a donkey? Picking a fight with a Treasure Tree Sect elder — wasn't that just asking for death?
And sure enough, he had been blacklisted by the sect elder.
No matter how talented you were, no matter how gifted — if you couldn't get into the sect, how far could you possibly go in life? At most, you would enjoy the wealth and glory of the mundane world, and nothing more.