Quick, Say: Dragon King, Please Smirk

At the mention of the Blood-Robed Sword God, the expressions of those present shifted in varying ways. A Dao technique was cast, temporarily sealing off the conversation here from the outside. "Fellow Daoist, how dare you wear a blood-red robe? Aren't you afraid the host, Huang Tu, will see you and cause trouble for you? The Palace of Light can't cause trouble for the Blood-Robed Sword God, but causing trouble for you... they certainly can," Zhao Buyu, a male cultivator at the same table, said softly. He was also the only person at this table ranked on the Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Roll, and the one receiving the most attention from those present. The others looked toward Qi Yuan as well. Currently, two matters drew the most attention in Cuiyun Continent. First was the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle. Second was the feud between the Blood-Robed Sword God and the Palace of Light. Of course, because the second matter had unfolded so rapidly and many prodigies had only just arrived in Cuiyun Continent, they were not entirely clear on the details. Hearing this, Qi Yuan was a bit bewildered. He had only swapped off his main identity to attend the banquet out of fear of being looked down upon. Yet now, putting on the Blood-Robed Sword God alt account would also bring trouble? Wasn't this going too far? Beside him, Rogue Immortal Venerable muttered inquisitively, "Are you all members of the Divine Flower Society as well? How do you know about the Blood-Robed Sword God?" His news regarding the Blood-Robed Sword God was still stuck on earlier events. "We're not from the Divine Flower Society." The five people present shook their heads. The woman asked in confusion, "What does this have to do with the Divine Flower Society? Recently, the Blood-Robed Sword God arrived in Cuiyun Continent. Slaying gods if gods stood in his path, slaying Buddhas if Buddhas stood in his path! I hear he has already killed dozens of the Palace of Light's Purple Mansions. Alas, we have never had the fortune of witnessing the Blood-Robed Sword God's heroic bearing, nor are there any shadow-recording stones that captured his likeness." She spoke excitedly, little stars glittering in her eyes. When the suona blared, the Blood-Robed Sword God appeared, and a Purple Mansion fell. Each time, the Blood-Robed Sword God struck and vanished so quickly that very few people had ever seen his true form. And yet, none who had seen him could manage to depict his face. Beside them, Rogue Immortal Venerable was utterly dumbfounded. He sent a voice transmission: "Origin Celestial Venerable, what are they talking about?" "They're bragging," Qi Yuan answered sincerely. Hearing this, the stone in Rogue Immortal Venerable's heart fell to the ground, only for Qi Yuan to add: "Where would I find dozens of Purple Mansions to kill? I've only killed nine of the Palace of Light's Purple Mansions," Qi Yuan transmitted. Rogue Immortal Venerable: "..." He was completely dazed. The Blood-Robed Sword God had killed nine Purple Mansions? The sect he belonged to was no small force in Leixing Continent, yet it possessed only five Purple Mansion cultivators in total. The Blood-Robed Sword God... At this moment, his mind was in utter turmoil, completely unable to think straight. The woman who had spoken earlier looked at Qi Yuan. "Fellow Daoist, it would be best to heed Brother Buyu's advice and change into different clothes, lest you invite displeasure." Rogue Immortal Venerable looked at Qi Yuan with a complicated expression. "Why don't we just leave?" His mind was still in total chaos. Everything before him felt like an illusion. It's all fake, all fake. Hearing this, Qi Yuan said, "We haven't watched the Fish-Dragon Golden Core Dance yet. I'm not leaving." He was still waiting to witness the Fish-Dragon Golden Core Dance and record it for Xiao Jia to watch. Seeing that he couldn't be persuaded, the woman said nothing more. They were mere casual acquaintances, after all. At the table, Qi Yuan continued eating spiritual fruit. Meanwhile, not far away, dozens of prodigies welcomed Fairy Tianhun. Huang Tu wore a face full of smiles. Yet Xu Tongchen, standing behind Huang Tu, had his thoughts drifting who knew where. Because just a moment ago, the True Solar Fire inside his body gave another violent leap. The sensation was as if Qi Yuan was nearby. However, a cursory sweep revealed no trace of Qi Yuan. Suddenly, his gaze landed on a figure clad in a blood-red robe. A strange look appeared in his eyes. "Qi Yuan?" Although that person looked completely different from Qi Yuan, the feeling he gave Xu's True Solar Fire was identical to what Qi Yuan had given him before. He was almost certain that was Qi Yuan. "Why is he dressed like that?" He was bewildered. At the same time, he quickly withdrew his gaze. He feared Huang Tu might notice Qi Yuan's attire. Of course, Xu Tongchen did not know that Qi Yuan was currently exercising the Great Oblivion Heart Scripture, consciously or unconsciously. Unless someone deliberately made an effort to look at him, no one would notice him. Everyone would merely subconsciously overlook him. At that moment, atop a high building, two Divine Infant cultivators stole a glance at that blood-red robe, then hurriedly looked away. "Is it him?" The two Divine Infant cultivators looked like peeping shrimp-headed perverts. They hailed from Yunzhong Court, responsible for maintaining order at this Fish-Dragon Banquet. They paid close attention to every prodigy at the banquet. And as they watched, that blood-red robe entered their sight. Both of them had been startled out of their wits. "I don't know. This old man has never seen the Blood-Robed Sword God. And him... I cannot see through him." The taller Divine Infant cultivator's face bore a wary look. Nowadays, among the high-level cultivators across Cuiyun Continent who weren't in secluded cultivation, who didn't know of that god of slaughter, the Blood-Robed Sword God? Over a dozen Purple Mansions, killed just like that. Such strength made him a ruthless figure even across the entire Eastern Lands. "Ti Xiu will be here shortly. He once saw the Blood-Robed Sword God face-to-face; perhaps he can recognize him," the shorter Divine Infant cultivator said. The Blood-Robed Sword God coming to the Fish-Dragon Banquet—such a thing was utterly bizarre. How many factions across Cuiyun Continent currently had their eyes fixed on the Blood-Robed Sword God? And in secret, how many Purple Mansions wanted to establish ties with him? After all, the Palace of Light was overbearing to the extreme; in Cuiyun Continent, plenty of factions wished nothing more than to see the Palace of Light destroyed. Of course, they understood that the Blood-Robed Sword God alone could not destroy the Palace of Light. Still, inflicting more damage on the Palace of Light was always welcome. The two Divine Infant cultivators occasionally stole glances at Qi Yuan, silently praying for Ti Xiu to arrive quickly. Once Ti Xiu identified him, if it wasn't him, all the better; if it was, it would be best for the Court Master of Yunzhong Court to step forward. Two minor Divine Infants like them wouldn't dare confront a god of slaughter like the Blood-Robed Sword God. What if it were true, and the Blood-Robed Sword God went mad and slaughtered every prodigy at the Fish-Dragon Banquet? That would be a catastrophe. ... Within the banquet, more and more prodigies arrived. Three of the top ten prodigies had already shown up. The outer hall and inner hall grew livelier. At this time, Gao Ji'en wore a fawning smile. "Brother Zheng is handsome and talented. I'm afraid your rank on the Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Roll will advance once more!" Gao Ji'en was ranked higher than Zheng Fangxing on the roll, but he shamelessly flattered Zheng Fangxing. After all, Zheng Fangxing was a prodigy of Cuiyun Continent and was very close with Huang Tu. Building a good relationship with Zheng Fangxing would help Gao Ji'en get acquainted with Cuiyun Continent's number one prodigy, Huang Tu. "This Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle is of vital importance, and there are more prodigies participating than in previous years. It's difficult." Zheng Fangxing was not in a good mood right now. His master had fallen. His only backer was gone. He felt that the glances directed at him from the people behind Huang Tu were different from before, carrying contempt. Such was the fickleness of the world. He had a bellyful of fury with nowhere to vent it. "I have a junior brother who also possesses a lightning-attribute spiritual root, just like you, Brother Zheng. Would you care to meet him and offer a few pointers?" Gao Ji'en said to Zheng Fangxing. Generally speaking, most people had a fondness for playing teacher. Gao Ji'en used asking for guidance as an excuse to draw closer. Hearing this, Zheng Fangxing raised an eyebrow. "Fine, let's meet." Currently, he was surrounded by Cuiyun Continent prodigies. Those prodigies seemed to be ostracizing him now, so he also wanted to leave that area. Guided by Gao Ji'en, Zheng Fangxing arrived at the secluded corner where Rogue Immortal Venerable and Origin Celestial Venerable sat. "Brother Zheng, this is my junior brother..." Gao Ji'en was just about to make introductions. Suddenly, a thick wave of baleful aura erupted from Zheng Fangxing. He glared at Qi Yuan, his expression darkening. "Very well! So everyone is out to make trouble for me, Zheng Fangxing, is that it?" An adult's breakdown happens in an instant, silently. When he learned of his master's demise, Zheng Fangxing had not flown into a rage. When he was quietly ostracized by the Cuiyun Continent prodigies, he had paid it no heed, gritting his teeth and enduring it. Yet now, when he saw Qi Yuan dressed in blood-red robes... He could no longer hold back. Everyone in this world had come to bully him, had they? Beside him, Gao Ji'en was bewildered. "Brother Zheng, what's wrong?" Those at Qi Yuan's table, however, understood immediately. The woman looked at Qi Yuan with an expression of watching a good show. *Told you to change clothes earlier and you wouldn't; now look who despises you!* "My master died at the hands of the Blood-Robed Sword God, and he... he imitates the Blood-Robed Sword God's attire! He is deliberately trying to provoke me!" Zheng Fangxing declared loudly. If the other party were a renowned prodigy, Zheng Fangxing might have swallowed his teeth and endured it. But on the way over, Gao Ji'en had already explained: The red-robed man wasn't listed on the Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Roll, nor did he come from an illustrious background. Naturally, he had no reason to endure it any longer. "Take off those clothes!" Zheng Fangxing's voice dripped with murderous intent. Gao Ji'en was still at a total loss. Having just arrived in Cuiyun Continent, he had never heard of any Blood-Robed Sword God. Not far away, Luo Cha watched this scene, schadenfreude glinting in his eyes. Lei Chong glanced at Qi Yuan and remarked, "Wearing a blood-red robe to attend the Fish-Dragon Banquet—this kid has guts. Is he here to slap Huang Tu in the face? Strange, a blood-red robe is so conspicuous, why didn't Huang Tu notice?" Qi Yuan looked at Zheng Fangxing with an innocent face. He had deliberately put on the Blood-Robed Sword God's outfit specifically to avoid being looked down upon. Yet because he was too handsome, he ran into a homosexual? "Have you ever heard of sartorial freedom?" Qi Yuan held high the banner of clothing freedom. "Did my wearing this eat your family's rice?" Hearing this, Zheng Fangxing's rage burned even hotter. A nobody dared speak to him like this? "You're lucky. This is the Fish-Dragon Banquet, where fighting is forbidden. Once the banquet ends, you'll get what's coming to you!" Zheng Fangxing glared deeply at Qi Yuan, murder in his eyes. Everyone present could feel the dense killing intent in Zheng Fangxing's words. At this moment, a bewildered Gao Ji'en snapped out of his daze and spoke up: "Brother Zheng, I brought him here. If he unintentionally offended you, I am willing to apologize on his behalf. Your words just now went a bit too far." This was his junior brother's friend, and he had brought him along to the banquet; he had to protect him no matter what. Zhao Buyu also stood up and said, "Brother Zheng Fangxing, this fellow Daoist may not have intended any offense." Hearing this, Zheng Fangxing grew even more incensed. Ever since his master died, he had faced obstacles at every turn. Now, a nobody had picked a fight with him, and others were actually speaking up for this nobody! "You are very lucky," he looked at Qi Yuan, issuing another threat. Gao Ji'en breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the storm had passed. To everyone's surprise, Qi Yuan spoke up: "Your luck, on the other hand, isn't so good. You won't need to wait for the Fish-Dragon Banquet to end; you're going to die right here." As soon as these words were spoken, the entire table was shocked. In particular, Zhao Buyu, who had just spoken up for Qi Yuan, was completely baffled. The conflict had clearly been defused, so why do this? The woman looked at Qi Yuan with eyes full of disappointment. How could someone be so lacking in sense? "Splendid!" Zheng Fangxing was thoroughly enraged. Yet right at that moment, Qi Yuan gave a casual wave of his hand. "Allow me to send you to the underworld to reunite with your master." A plain, ordinary wave—no flashy techniques, no profound Dao arts. Before everyone's eyes, Zheng Fangxing's body stiffened. The expression on his face froze at that instant. And then... with a soft pop, he shattered. Shattered into seven or eight pieces. Zheng Fangxing... had died at the Fish-Dragon Banquet. Killed with a breezy wave of Qi Yuan's hand! The expressions of everyone present changed drastically. It all happened far too fast. Zheng Fangxing was a figure on the Heavenly Pride Roll, yet Qi Yuan had killed him so casually? This was huge! Everyone sensed that a great disaster was about to unfold. And at this moment, Qi Yuan looked at Rogue Immortal Venerable: "With a figure on the Heavenly Pride Roll dead, your rank on the roll has moved up by one." Rogue Immortal Venerable was stunned. Big brother, you're still thinking about rankings on the Heavenly Pride Roll right now?! He didn't know whether to be moved or what. Sure enough, Qi Yuan had killed someone, and that someone was a prodigy. This scene was instantly caught by the people in the grand hall. After all, at a banquet like this, the smell of blood was exceptionally rare. Nearly all eyes turned toward Qi Yuan, many flashing with astonishment. For these prodigies, after entering the hall, they would naturally scan the entire venue. Why hadn't they noticed this blood-robed figure before? Could he have slipped in later? "This guy is bold, actually killing someone at the Fish-Dragon Banquet!" "And he's dressed like the Blood-Robed Sword God; this is slapping Huang Tu's face." "His guts are as big as the Blood-Robed Sword God's." "You don't think he could actually be the Blood-Robed Sword God, do you?" "How could that be? Why would a senior expert like the Blood-Robed Sword God come to our Fish-Dragon Banquet for no reason? To watch Golden Cores dance? If he wanted to, female Origin Core cultivators would go to his room to dance for him." A few prodigies whispered amongst themselves. Many looked at Qi Yuan with the mindset of spectators enjoying a spectacle. At that moment, Huang Tu, clad in yellow robes, wore a terrifyingly grim expression. Flanked by dozens of prodigies, he strode out of the inner hall and came to a stop not far from Qi Yuan and the others. He looked at Zheng Fangxing's corpse on the floor, then at Qi Yuan, his voice raspy: "Fellow Daoist... you've crossed the line." Beside Huang Tu, Xu Tongchen was burning with anxiety. This Qi Yuan... was far too ferocious! Killing someone right at the Fish-Dragon Banquet? He was wracking his brains trying to think of how to save Qi Yuan's life. "How did I cross the line? He wanted to kill me, so I killed him first." Qi Yuan had always maintained that vengeance should never wait until tomorrow, lest delays bring complications. "What, are you here to avenge him?" As he spoke, he glanced at the numerous prodigies behind Huang Tu. "Are you all here to avenge him?" The prodigies exchanged glances, clearly not expecting this blood-robed man to be so audacious. Was he provoking all of them? Gao Ji'en's face looked sourer than anyone's. Before coming, his junior brother had told him that this friend was a bit unhinged and different from ordinary people. How was this just a bit unhinged? This was inhumanly insane! A single person daring to challenge dozens of prodigies! "If you are here to avenge him, then... you can only be my enemies, and I'll just have to... kill you all." Qi Yuan spoke casually, even glancing at Rogue Immortal Venerable. "If I kill them all, can you make it onto the Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Roll?" Hearing this, Rogue Immortal Venerable was completely speechless. Zhao Buyu at the table also quietly edged away from Qi Yuan. After all, this person clearly had a screw loose; he must be a cultivator of the Obsession lineage. Huang Tu's face had darkened to a terrifying degree. Beside him, Xu Tongchen hurriedly said, "Fellow Daoist, do you know who he is? He is ranked twenty-seventh on the Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Roll—someone you cannot afford to offend!" He winked frantically at Qi Yuan, hoping Qi Yuan wouldn't be so arrogant and provoke public wrath. Qi Yuan replied languidly, "Right now, it's not that I'm offending him; he's the one offending me. Of course, I'm not someone who kills innocents indiscriminately. You may leave and pretend this never happened. I'll clean up this person's corpse so it won't affect you. Don't worry, I'm exceptionally experienced at disposing of bodies." As he spoke, Qi Yuan took out a bottle of corpse-dissolving water and, right before everyone's eyes, poured it directly onto Zheng Fangxing's corpse. As he poured, Qi Yuan sighed emotionally. Truly, strength was a man's greatest cosmetic and confidence. Back then, when he poured corpse-dissolving water over Yu Linglong, he had to do it sneaking around. Now, he dared to do it out in the open before everyone. The gazes of the crowd grew even stranger. Huang Tu's face was as dark as it could possibly get. "If a lunatic like you can walk out of this Fish-Dragon Banquet today, I, Huang Tu, am not worthy of remaining on the Heavenly Pride Roll!" Yet the moment his words fell, Qi Yuan suddenly vanished from the table. Everyone exchanged bewildered glances. Where was he? How did he suddenly disappear? Did he run away? The prodigies were startled, also amazed by Qi Yuan's speed. To vanish right before so many eyes—such capability meant he was definitely no nameless nobody on the Heavenly Pride Roll. "Even if you are among the top twenty on the Heavenly Pride Roll, I, Huang Tu, will not let you off!" Huang Tu stared at the empty seat, his gaze sweeping over Rogue Immortal Venerable and Gao Ji'en, murderous intent radiating from him. Right then, a languid voice drifted over: "I already walked out of the Fish-Dragon Banquet and walked back in. Are you unworthy of staying on the Heavenly Pride Roll now? Can you... strike your name off the Heavenly Pride Roll? That way, my brother might just make it onto the official list." Qi Yuan reappeared, his words astonishing, even tossing a glance at Rogue Immortal Venerable beside him. "..." "..." Silence fell over the venue. Many stared at Qi Yuan, finding it utterly absurd. This guy... was too ridiculous, wasn't he? Rogue Immortal Venerable was moved to tears—this time, he was genuinely touched. Huang Tu's face turned livid. "Today, you die!" At that moment, Huang Tu abruptly made his move against Qi Yuan. The other prodigies stood aside as though watching a joke. Just then, an urgent shout rang out. "Stop!" A sharp, overwhelming aura swept through. In that instant, the auras of every prodigy across the entire Fish-Dragon Banquet turned unstable. They felt the circulation of their spiritual energy turn sluggish, dropping from prodigies into mere mortals. "A Purple Mansion?" The prodigies were shocked. Why would a Purple Mansion appear at the Fish-Dragon Banquet? The Purple Mansion descended into the grand hall and, with a casual wave, halted Huang Tu. The prodigies in the room looked at the newly arrived Purple Mansion with both confusion and awe. "It's the Court Master of Yunzhong Court!" "A senior of the mid Purple Mansion!" The looks in these prodigies' eyes changed completely. Even though they were prodigies, and those in the top hundred of the Heavenly Pride Roll had an unimpeded path to reaching the Purple Mansion in the future, they were not Purple Mansions yet. To them, a Purple Mansion was still a lofty, distant existence. The Court Master of Yunzhong Court walked into the grand hall. Looking at Qi Yuan, a touch of reverence appeared on his face. "Senior Blood-Robed Sword God, why lower yourself to the level of these juniors?" As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present sucked in a sharp breath of cold air. This blood-robed man... was the Blood-Robed Sword God? The woman who had shared a table with Qi Yuan was thoroughly shaken. Gao Ji'en was also dumbfounded, his mind spinning. Xu Tongchen was even more so. Qi Yuan was the Blood-Robed Sword God? His mind was in utter disarray. My master is my good friend's old slave?! He felt the relationships were getting a bit tangled. Meanwhile, gazing upon all the reverent and flabbergasted looks in the room, Qi Yuan felt a myriad of emotions swell within him, brimming with high spirits. He looked toward the Court Master of Yunzhong Court, a smile touching his eyes: "Quick, say: 'Dragon King, please smirk.'"