A deep, aged voice resonated from the heart of Liuyao Pavilion, instantly drawing every gaze. Cold sweat seeped down the temples of the ordinary cultivators, as if a razor-sharp blade hovered directly above their heads.
Then, an aura erupted, like mountains collapsing and oceans splitting apart. The sky was suddenly shrouded in ashen clouds, lightning danced wildly, and silver streaks writhed like colossal serpents hunting their prey in the heights. Guests from the VIP room hurriedly fled, abandoning the recently bustling auction hall, as if some primal instinct warned them that this place would soon become a battlefield.
"This… this scene…"
"Could it… be a Heavenly Sovereign?" someone gasped, eyes wide with disbelief.
"What?!"
A ripple of panic spread like wildfire over dry grass. Ordinary cultivators trembled. To them, an expert above the stage of Heavenly King was a presence that could only be heard of. A Heavenly Sovereign—an existence like a dragon in the sky—rarely showed itself to the mortal world. Only upon entering the Central Region of Tianxian Continent did the possibility of encountering one increase.
"Could it be an elder or ancestor from Liuyao Pavilion?" someone whispered, voice trembling.
"Most likely."
"As a middle-tier force, Liuyao Pavilion is far from lacking in experts of this caliber."
"But… is the elder from the Yusheng Dynasty weak?"
Rumors swirled in the air, heightening the tension. Every eye fixated on the sky, anticipating the meeting of two tigers who would never peacefully coexist.
Soon, an elderly man appeared in the air. A simple red linen robe wrapped his body, yet the contours of his muscular frame remained clear, even as his white hair betrayed his age. The red fabric undulated with a terrifying aura radiating from him. His face was impassive, his gaze indifferent, but it was clear he bore no fondness for the Yusheng Dynasty's arrogance. How could Liuyao Pavilion be trampled so easily when faced with someone like him?
Yao Yue's eyes widened at the sudden appearance of the elderly man. Her heart skipped a beat, then relaxed in waves. She quickly clasped her hands together with deep respect.
"Greetings, Elder Chi Yang."
All visible members of Liuyao Pavilion bowed lightly in unison. The old man was a senior elder of the pavilion.
The elder of the Yusheng Dynasty merely narrowed his eyes. He showed no sign of fear, as Chi Yang's aura did not surpass his own. Confidence steadied his expression.
Meanwhile, the VIP guests watched with keen interest, some itching to claim the Immortal fragment, though restraint held them back.
Yu Tianlei clenched his fists, his face serious, yet a wave of relief coursed through him. To him, Liuyao Pavilion was just a slightly larger ant, while behind him towered the Yusheng Dynasty—a mountain that required no worry.
"So it's you, Old Man Chi Yang," the Yusheng Dynasty elder spoke flatly.
"Yu Hanhai, enough talk. Step forward if you wish to fight!" Chi Yang's voice rose, carrying a thunderous threat that vibrated through the air.
The Yusheng Dynasty elder, Yu Hanhai, sneered inwardly, maintaining a calm facade. Before he could reply, Yu Tianlei stepped forward, his voice loud and brimming with indignation.
"Elder Chi Yang, your guest dared to insult the prince publicly. What is Liuyao Pavilion's intention? Have you forgotten whom you face?"
His tone, firm and furious, resonated with authority. Yu Tianlei was the prince of the Yusheng Dynasty; how could he be treated so? In his mind, Liuyao Pavilion should bow, grovel, and apologize obediently. Yet, reality contradicted his expectations.
"You, little prince, with no power backing you, who exactly are you?" Chi Yang retorted, his sarcasm sharp.
"You…!" Yu Tianlei's chest tightened. Already humiliated by unknown parties, now a wild old man had the audacity to insult him further. His anger blazed, yet he swallowed it, accustomed to smoldering rage within.
Yao Yue opened her mouth, ready to berate Yu Tianlei, but before she could speak, an invisible pressure suddenly descended, pinning Yu Tianlei to the ground.
Startled, Yao Yue instinctively glanced at Elder Chi Yang, only to see his expression slightly puzzled. If not Chi Yang, then who had acted? Could it be an ancestor? Her brows furrowed as a sudden thought struck her, and she quickly scanned the surroundings. Where were Yifan and the others?
Seeing Yu Tianlei crushed so pitifully, Yu Hanhai snorted. Liuyao Pavilion's audacity was astonishing! He waved his hands, attempting to lift the pressure from Yu Tianlei—but it backfired, striking him as well. His body felt as if an invisible mountain bore down upon him. Shock surged through him, and a storm of curses erupted silently in his mind.
"Ohh, the old man's being pressed too? Could there be another hidden expert from Liuyao Pavilion?" Linghan's voice rang with curiosity.
Jingxue remained silent, eyes narrowed in intense focus. The man in white beside her also stayed quiet, observing the situation. Across from them, Yao Yue's certainty grew—the perpetrator had to be Yifan or Yun Xi.
Yu Hanhai unleashed aura after aura, trying to free himself from the pressure. Winds howled, the sky darkened, and the threat of a storm returned. His aura slammed in every direction, making the ground quake.
"Chi Yang, I didn't expect Liuyao Pavilion to play dirty," Yu Hanhai said sharply.
"You came merely as a distraction while another expert attacked from the shadows. Truly despicable!"
Elder Chi Yang fell silent, face marked with confusion. He had only just arrived, yet accusations were already hurled at him? There was no justice here; he felt no other elders hiding nearby, and ancestors would not intervene unless in dire circumstances. Then who? Was someone deliberately throwing mud on Liuyao Pavilion, forcing a collision with the Yusheng Dynasty?
"Hmph, this is hardly enough to restrain me!" Yu Hanhai asserted with renewed confidence.
Yu Tianlei, momentarily crushed, now felt relief as he watched his elder truly take the matter seriously. Though still prone on the ground, a cruel smile curled his lips. Humiliated multiple times before, he would now make Liuyao Pavilion pay. Laughter of satisfaction burst from his throat.
"Hahaha, Liuyao Pavilion! Witness the wrath of my Yusheng Dynasty elder! Too late to regret!"
Pride blazed in Yu Tianlei's eyes. He wanted to see Yao Yue's despair as well. But when he turned, she stood calm, utterly unshaken. His face darkened. Why wasn't she panicking?
'Hmphh! Yao Yue, just wait!' he thought furiously. His gaze returned to Yu Hanhai, and his triumphant laugh resumed, wild as a madman's.
"HAAAA!"
Yu Hanhai's roar split the sky. The wind surged, his golden robe billowed, his face radiating authority. Like a war god descending from heaven, his aura made many tremble.
"DESTROY THEM FOR ME!"
His voice shook the heavens, forcing everyone to hold their breath. Yet at the very peak of tension, the scene took a turn that froze the world in its tracks.
Brukk!
Yu Hanhai collapsed to the ground, face-first, arms splayed rigidly. The fearsome aura that once commanded respect now looked utterly ridiculous, evoking stifled laughter from those watching.
Even the chirping of crickets and croaking of frogs seemed to appear from nowhere. The suffocating tension evaporated, replaced by a frozen awkwardness.
"Hey, did you see that? The elder slipped!" came a timid voice from the crowd.
"Ridiculous! No way a Heavenly Sovereign slips! He's clearly being suppressed!" another replied, unable to hide a grin.
Yu Tianlei, who had been laughing smugly, froze. His mouth hung open, eyes wide, face flushed crimson. He looked absurd, like a clown stripped of his role.
"Impossible…"
"Elder, why are you sleeping?" he asked innocently, utterly bewildered. Why was his mighty elder now flat on the ground? His mind felt as if water had flooded in, leaving him dazed.
Yu Hanhai, now aware of the question, scowled darker. He wanted to curse, veins standing out on his temples.
"Sleep your own eyes!" he snapped, exasperated.
The Yusheng Dynasty prince was behaving like a child. Yu Hanhai's embarrassment was immense. Fallen, now he was mocked by the foolish words of a child.
Elder Chi Yang, who had been stern until now, bowed slightly, trying to suppress his laughter. Both men truly amused him. Yet his eyes soon regained their icy calm. Who could so easily suppress a Heavenly Sovereign?
Yao Yue covered her mouth, unable to stifle a small laugh. To her, the sight of the two was utterly comical. One, overconfident, only to fool everyone's hearts; the other, unwittingly the butt of public ridicule. Some distant observers chuckled softly, while others grew more serious, trying to deduce the true nature of what had just occurred.
A calm, youthful voice suddenly echoed, breaking the silence.
"The people of the Yusheng Dynasty sure do enjoy sleeping on the ground. Quite the surprise."
The voice was light, as if the previous incident were merely a passing breeze. Slowly, several figures emerged from the gaps in the void.