Even with the storm of trouble bearing down, even if an army came crashing toward him, he remained perfectly calm and composed.
Suddenly, Jiang Chen's Heavenly Eye Divine Pupil flickered, and he called out, "If you want to cause trouble, at least do it with some dignity. Core disciples of the esteemed Danqian Palace, don't behave like common street thugs, inciting these ignorant people to make a ruckus. If it doesn't disgust you, it certainly disgusts me."
As he spoke, his Heavenly Eye Divine Pupil had already scanned everything within a ten-li radius.
He saw figure after figure pouring out from every direction, hurtling toward his location at top speed.
It was clear that
Whether these people came of their own volition or not, the fact that so many had answered his call spoke volumes about the kind of sway Yan Hongtu wielded here in the Lingyun District.
"Anyone else? Might as well come out together," Jiang Chen sneered repeatedly.
One core disciple after another parted from both sides, clearing a path down the middle.
At the end of that path strode a silver-robed young man, his eyes sharp as blades, paired with a distinctive hawkish nose that lent him a thoroughly vicious air. Flanked by several core disciples, he advanced toward Jiang Chen in long, sweeping strides.
"Senior Brother Yan."
"Greetings, Senior Brother Yan."
"Senior Brother Yan graces us with his presence — and you, Jiang Chen, still aren't hurrying to welcome him?"
Jiang Chen cast a indifferent glance over, regarding this so-called Senior Brother Yan who carried himself as though the world owed him obeisance. With this kind of entourage, he wore a look of absolute self-satisfaction — clearly a man long accustomed to being adored, savoring every moment of having crowds fawn over him.
This man's cultivation should be around the fifth or sixth level of the Origin Realm. While not yet at the Heavenly Origin Realm, among the core disciples of the Lingyun District, he certainly held an overwhelming advantage.
A person's face reveals their heart. One look at this man's features told you everything — he was the type to hold grudges over the slightest slight, ruthless and scheming, someone who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
Anyone who defied his will or offended him would surely face his unscrupulous retaliation.
This spectacle today had clearly been orchestrated deliberately to crush Jiang Chen.
A faint smile hung at the corner of Jiang Chen's lips, making no move whatsoever to welcome Yan Hongtu.
Seeing Jiang Chen's arrogant bearing — not even the slightest acknowledgment upon laying eyes on him — Yan Hongtu's fury surged. He felt as though his throne had been gravely challenged.
"So you're that Jiang Chen?" Yan Hongtu stepped forward, regarding Jiang Chen with a half-smile, his gaze dripping with insolence.
"Yan Hongtu, is it? I have no interest in wasting words with you. If you want to make trouble, come at me with real swords and real spears. Why send these ignorant pawns to disgust everyone?"
Jiang Chen was thoroughly sick of the little games Yan Hongtu played. He didn't even have the patience for empty words with this kind of person.
A textbook scoundrel.
"How dare you! Jiang Chen, how dare you address Senior Brother Yan by name?"
"You survive in the Lingyun District and yet show no respect for Senior Brother Yan — are you trying to get yourself expelled?"
"Senior Brother Yan is the rightful overlord of the Lingyun District. Coming to your dwelling is doing you a favor. You uncouth brat — do you have any concept of proper decorum?"
Yan Hongtu hadn't even opened his mouth yet, but his lackeys were already shouting out one after another, tripping over themselves to curry favor.
Jiang Chen let out a cold laugh. Sycophantic toadies like these were everywhere — he'd long since stopped being surprised.
His gaze swept across Yan Hongtu's face, carrying a hint of mockery. "I, Jiang Chen, respect only those with real ability and genuine magnanimity. Do any of you deserve my respect?"
Yan Hongtu was so enraged that he actually laughed. "Jiang Chen, I've heard of your reputation — I know you're an arrogant man. But don't accuse me of bullying you. These followers of mine are also Danqian Palace disciples, and they have their dignity too. You drag every stray cat and mangy dog into Danxia Valley — that's an offense to everyone here. You've broken the rules."
"What rules? Which rule in the sect's code states this?" Jiang Chen scoffed.
"It may not be in the sect's code, but it's a rule of the Lingyun District. Even if the Lingyun District has no such rule, I, Yan Hongtu, say it exists — and so it exists."
Yan Hongtu's tone was domineering. "In the Lingyun District, even the lowest menial worker is at least at the Heavenly Spirit Realm. You drag in Spirit Realm cats and dogs — Earth Spirit Realm, Minor Spirit Realm strays — and if you don't feel ashamed, the core disciples of our Lingyun District certainly do!"
"Exactly! Jiang Chen, you're disgracing the entire Lingyun District!"
"We absolutely cannot let this brat trample our rules!"
"Jiang Chen, if you need followers, the inner sect is crawling with them. Letting these stray cats and dogs into Danxia Valley is a desecration of this sacred ground!"
"The Lingyun District will absolutely not tolerate this kind of trash!"
The core disciples were clearly in collusion, their denunciations rising like waves, each louder than the last, assailing Jiang Chen without pause.
Jiang Chen ignored them entirely. Then his brow shot up and he bellowed, "Shut up!"
The voice boomed like a great bell, instantly silencing every last whisper.
Jiang Chen smiled with cold indifference. "My followers — what business is it of yours? I, Jiang Chen, know only the sect's code of the Danqian Palace. I know nothing of whatever dog-eared rules your Lingyun District pretends to have. If such a rule truly exists, then change it — right now. And if it doesn't, then go back to whichever hole you crawled out of. The farther away you get from here, the better!"
Yan Hongtu waved his hand and said with a sinister grin, "Jiang Chen, surely you don't intend to go against the entire Lingyun District?"
Yan Hongtu was deeply cunning. Every word he spoke was calculated to push Jiang Chen into direct opposition with the whole of the Lingyun District.