Si Yan didn’t get angry when the thin, middle-aged man sitting opposite him mocked him. He didn’t even acknowledge the man, focusing instead on pouring himself a cup of wine and taking a delightful sip.
Thinking back, Si Yan couldn’t help but find it amusing.
Once, when Si Yan was in one of the regions of the Ten Thousand Worlds, a prince of a divine dynasty had started a dispute with him over a woman. Si Yan remembered it clearly; it was because of Yanyan. Back then, Yanyan was only 14 years old, yet that prince had harbored wicked intentions. He had declared that if Yanyan wasn’t handed over, he would slaughter everyone in the Destiny Pavilion and wipe them out. At that time, Yanyan already had two Senior Male Disciples who had followed Si Yan for many years, and their techniques were already perfected. On Si Yan’s orders, the two flew over the Kyoto of that divine dynasty, utilized Spirit Projection, and transformed into phantoms thousands of feet tall! They looked down upon the dynasty from above the palaces. The Emperor at the time was so terrified he nearly wet himself, and the civil and military officials all kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy. After the Emperor learned what had happened, he quickly ordered his men to bring his wicked son forward. He personally executed the prince at the Demon Slaying Platform and burned the body afterward, which finally managed to settle the matter.
After all, to that Emperor, he could always have more sons, but he only had one life.
Thus, Si Yan wasn’t particularly angry. Instead, he suddenly found the situation quite interesting.
‘If these people knew who they were insulting, how would they react?’
Li Yuxia also took a sip of wine and said with a cold, mocking tone, “Pavilion Master Si truly has a good temperament. You drink so calmly. No wonder you can remain so relaxed even though you only have three disciples in your sect.”
The guests at the main table were all influential figures within their respective sects, and many knew Nan Tianxing and Li Yuxia. When they heard Li Yuxia speak, they all erupted into laughter.
Even City Lord Lu joined in, indifferently stroking his beard.
In their eyes, Si Yan was so young that he was clearly a junior. Furthermore, Si Yan hadn’t shown them the slightest bit of respect earlier, so they felt no need to hold back.
The thin man mocked him again, “To think you dare call yourself a sect with only three disciples. I wonder, Pavilion Master Si, where did you find such rustic peasants to be your students?”
Li Yuxia’s gaze fell upon Si Yan’s face—which looked like that of an honest man, someone who might even be easily bullied—and said with a look of disgust, “Those people are probably just farmers working under the Pavilion Master’s mountain. I suppose they only come to listen to your teaching when they have nothing better to do? As for tuition, it’s probably just some assorted grains.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd erupted into fits of snickering.
This was especially true for Nan Tianxing, Li Yuxia, and the middle-aged man who had been the first to chime in.
Su Tao’er was so angry her hands were trembling. She wanted to snap back several times, but she saw Si Yan blinking at her, signaling her not to speak. As for Cheng Yilin standing nearby, she felt quite vindicated seeing this.
Si Yan pursed his lips and asked the thin, middle-aged man, “How should I address you, fellow cultivator?”
The man replied with a contemptuous expression, “I am Yang Lingqing, a Hall Master of the Seven Swords Sect in the Kingdom of Tiansheng. As for that ‘fellow cultivator’ bit, let’s just forget it. There is quite a difference between you and me, Pavilion Master Si. If you want to call me a fellow cultivator, I’m afraid you aren’t qualified.”
Nan Tianxing, Li Yuxia, and the many cultivators present laughed once more.
Yang Lingqing was full of disdain. He thought about how he, as a Hall Master, oversaw more than 100 inner and outer disciples. This man was so young, yet he dared to call him a fellow cultivator; it was simply ridiculous.
Si Yan shook his head, looking a bit regretful as he said, “This Hall Master Yang is quite dignified. It really is a pity…”
Yang Lingqing paused and asked in a questioning tone, “What’s a pity!?”
“Hall Master Yang, this Master Li here, and several others present.” Si Yan pointed his finger at each person who had mocked him. “All of you have a Darkened Forehead. I’m afraid none of you will live much longer.”
The moment he said this, Hall Master Yang was immediately enraged. He slammed his hand on the table and stood up. Like the others present, his eyes were wide with fury as he shouted, “Impudent! I am a cultivator of the Seven Souls Realm with a lifespan of hundreds of years, yet you dare say my end is near! You’re looking for death!”
The other leaders of various sects also stood up and shouted in anger, “Arrogant!”
“How dare you, boy!”
“Lowly peasant!”
“Killing you would be as easy as killing a chicken!”
“You pig-like, dog-like thing!”
Si Yan merely smiled calmly and raised his hand to take another sip of wine.
By this point, City Lord Lu had become anxious. He never expected Si Yan to be so bold!
To think he would dare to provoke these heavyweights like this! He was afraid that the Treasure Appraisal Convention would turn into a brawl before it even started, so he quickly said, “Everyone, please don’t be angry, don’t be angry… Please, give me some face!”
However, the crowd was already beyond care and ignored him entirely.
“City Lord Lu, are these the kind of guests you invite!? Since he’s sitting at this high table yet dares to insult us, he’s simply seeking his own death!”
“Boy, do you dare to stand up and trade blows!? This old man could kill you with a single palm strike!”
“If this person were in my Ancient Lake Sect, I would have him beaten to death on the spot! I’d hang his corpse up for the eagles to peck at until nothing was left but sun-bleached bones!”
Nan Tianxing smiled from the side. He held back Li Yuxia, who also wanted to strike, and coughed twice. Raising his voice slightly, he said, “Everyone, seniors! Please listen to me!”
Under Nan Tianxing’s persuasion, the crowd quieted down slightly.
Then, they heard him say, “This Pavilion Master Si was certainly rude, but today is still City Lord Lu’s Treasure Appraisal Convention. I ask that you seniors give me some face. Even if you really want to take action, you should wait until after the convention is over to settle your grievances outside! Please, give me some face!”
Nan Tianxing was the son of the Grand Marshal of the Kingdom of Tiansheng and was said to be highly valued by the Emperor. He had cultivated to the Seven Souls Realm at a young age. Seeing that Nan Tianxing had spoken, the crowd temporarily suppressed their anger, though they still glared at Si Yan.
“Fine! Since Master Nan has said so, we will give City Lord Lu some face. This fellow speaks with such arrogance; once the Treasure Appraisal Convention is over, we will settle this outside!”
Yang Lingqing said, “You, with the surname Si! Don’t you dare leave! Once the Treasure Appraisal Convention is finished, I can kill you with a single strike!”
City Lord Lu also had a cold face now. He hated Si Yan in his heart and said to him, “Pavilion Master, I invited you here, but you came to cause trouble. Today, I won’t be able to protect you!”
Si Yan continued to pour and drink for himself, smiling as he said, “City Lord Lu needn’t protect me. There’s no need for you to trouble yourself.”
Because of the dispute at this table, everyone attending the banquet was looking over curiously. However, amidst the crowd, there was one old man with a long beard and white hair. He possessed an ethereal, immortal-like aura and sat among the others, drinking alone.
Although the old man had just arrived and didn’t know what had happened, he appeared completely uninterested in the matter.
“All right, City Lord Lu,” Si Yan said. “Hurry up and start your Treasure Appraisal Convention. I want to see that Meteoric Iron.”
Because of Si Yan, the Treasure Appraisal Convention was sped up.
With the combined effort of ten porters, the Meteoric Iron was carried up.
City Lord Lu personally lifted the red cloth and announced to everyone present, “Today is not only my Treasure Appraisal Convention! It is also a day to make friends through martial arts! Whoever can emerge victorious in today’s competition, I will give them this Meteoric Iron for free!”