Chapter 128: You Beast, Let Go of That Animal!

Ye Jiuyao accompanied Qian Qing as they walked toward the crowd, followed by the members of the Qianye Sect from the other four districts, not to mention the leaders of the minor factions who were trailing behind the four districts like shadows.

"What were you all talking about?"

"Once..."

"Nothing... nothing at all."

Just as the man was about to speak, he caught sight of Zeng Li following behind Qian Qing and immediately changed his tune with practiced tact. While he might not recognize Qian Qing, he certainly knew Zeng Li; after all, these disciples belonged to minor sects in the Eastern District. Although they lacked the qualifications to attend hearings in the main hall, their own sect leaders had repeatedly warned them about who they must not provoke. Furthermore, high-ranking members like the elders of the Qianye Sect often patrolled the four districts on behalf of the Upper Realm's main sect, and they had surely visited those minor sects before. Thus, recognizing Zeng Li was hardly a surprise.

"Little brother, go ahead and speak. Lord Qian will ensure your safety!" Ye Jiuyao stepped forward, looking at the man while signaling him to play along. The man understood instantly.

"But... I am afraid that once I leave, he will come to silence me. I need Essence Crystals; once I have them, I will flee far away..."

"This..." Qian Qing suddenly hesitated. After all, spending his own money on someone else’s wager didn't seem worth it.

Noticing Qian Qing's discomfort, Ye Jiuyao added casually, "Lord Qian, you could ask Elder Zeng to provide them first. After all, he is the one who started this whole affair..."

"Hmm?" Qian Qing looked at Zeng Li, his eyes clouded with confusion. Something felt off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Elder Zeng, why be so stingy with the crystals? Are you saying you really were slandering me? Were you trying to use Lord Qian to bar our Southern District from participating so that you could reap the benefits?" Ye Jiuyao rattled off a stream of accusations, his tone sharp. "Do you really think the brilliant, wise, and dashing Lord Qian would believe your nonsense?"

"..." Ye Jiuyao’s rapid-fire delivery was so convincing that many began to believe him. If they hadn't heard Ye Jiuyao speaking just moments ago, they might have even been pleading on his behalf. How could anyone be so thick-skinned? His ability to turn black into white was truly formidable.

"You brat! How dare you spout such drivel!" Zeng Li, his hatred reaching a boiling point, ignored all decorum and pointed at Ye Jiuyao, roaring with rage.

"Lord Qian, look at that. He’s such a miser. Perhaps he has some... peculiar hobbies," Ye Jiuyao remarked with a meaningful glint in his eye.

"Fine! Lord Qian, I concede. I will pay the crystals, but if he cannot provide a reasonable explanation, our Western District will not be trifled with!" Zeng Li declared, glaring at Qian Qing.

"Very well. I shall preside over this. If he cannot provide a satisfactory explanation, I will personally see to it that the Southern District’s resources are halved from this day forth!"

"Agreed!"

Bai Mei and the others frowned deeply, while the members of the other two districts were inwardly jubilant, though they kept their expressions neutral.

"Speak, how much?"

"One..."

"One hundred? Fine, take it..." Zeng Li interrupted before the man could finish.

"No... not one hundred. One million!"

"What?! Do you take me for a fool?"

"Hm? Is Elder Zeng going to go back on his word? With so many people watching, that wouldn't look good, would it?" Ye Jiuyao stepped in. After all, this man was a partner of his "Brother Li," who should be busy collecting crystals from others right now. One million crystals, combined with what they had already gathered, would be enough to sustain their cultivation for a long time.

"You... fine! Fine, you Southern District lot!" Zeng Li grit his teeth, pulled a blue crystal card from his storage ring, and tossed it to the man.

"Well... I will speak now, but you must protect me." The man pocketed the blue card and looked at Qian Qing with a serious expression.

"I give you my word!" Seeing the man's earnest demeanor, Qian Qing grew more solemn, his aura expanding to envelop the surrounding crowd.

"It is actually about Elder Zeng."

"Oh? What is it?" Qian Qing asked, his inner confusion mounting.

"It is rumored in the Southern District that Elder Zeng likes to brag, and there is a type of beast in the Southern District—a beast known as the 'Essence-Channeling Bull'—that is known for its lecherous nature and its mastery of yin and yang, capable of mating with humans..." The man continued, "Everyone has long known of Elder Zeng's... 'hobby,' but out of respect for his status, no one dared to speak of it, until now."

Suddenly, under the weight of the man's words, the crowd began to cast strange, wary glances at Zeng Li. Many members of the four districts even backed away. Bai Mei and the others wore bizarre expressions, stifling their laughter for fear of Qian Qing discovering their earlier schemes.

"You are courting death! You are slandering me!" Unable to contain his rage any longer, Zeng Li unleashed his inner energy, ready to strike, but Qian Qing stopped him.

"Stop!" A powerful aura instantly suppressed Zeng Li’s strength.

"Lord Qian, he is slandering me!"

"Whether it is slander or not, I shall judge for myself. Let him continue!"

"Lord—"

"Shut your mouth! One more word, and I will dismantle your Southern District!"

"..."

"So domineering!" Ye Jiuyao silently applauded Qian Qing. All eyes returned to the man, who was now visibly trembling.

*Damn, this kid’s acting is top-tier. He deserves a lifetime achievement award,* Ye Jiuyao thought, his respect for the man growing as he watched the trembling legs and panicked expression.

"M-my lord... c-can I not speak further?"

"Speak! He dares not touch you!" Qian Qing, observing the man's actions, gestures, and tone, had long since dispelled his own doubts and was now largely convinced.

"Just a moment ago, after Elder Zeng finished arguing with the Southern District and departed, a cow in a nearby shed in the Eastern District let out a piercing scream... and that place was left in a ruinous state..."

"This..."

"Elder Zeng, you... you are disgusting!" Ye Jiuyao pointed at Zeng Li with a look of revulsion.

"Old man Zeng, I once asked you why you didn't seek a female companion. So, this is why..."

"Elder Zeng, you..."

It wasn't just Ye Jiuyao; Bai Mei looked at him with a gaze of pity, and the eccentric disciple from the Western District stepped forward to voice his own doubts.

"This is an insult!"

"I never left their sight after I departed! If you don't believe me, ask them!"

"Kid, you aren't trying to frame me, are you?"

"If you don't believe me, ask others." Ye Jiuyao shrugged at Qian Qing with an indifferent expression.

Qian Qing proceeded to question them one by one. Many people gave identical accounts, which left Qian Qing feeling deeply unsettled.

"That's not right, Elder. You were gone for exactly thirty-five seconds. I was counting sand grains at the time. If you don't believe me, look at this hourglass." The Western District disciple produced an hourglass containing grains of sand, with exactly thirty-five grains trapped on one side.

"Pfft..."

"Hahaha... Lord Qian, I told you Elder Zeng had designs on you..."

"But..." Qian Qing still harbored doubts, his face etched with hesitation. Seizing the moment while everyone was watching Zeng Li, Ye Jiuyao gave the man a quick signal.

"It is also rumored that Elder Zeng has a penchant for—"

"Shut your mouth!" Zeng Li roared, breaking through Qian Qing's suppression with a burst of terrifying energy.

"Audacious!" With a wave of his hand, Qian Qing dispersed Zeng Li's energy, causing him to cough up a mouthful of blood.

"Elder Zeng, there is no need to be so embarrassed and angry. This man risked his life to bring your secrets to light; you should be thanking him!"

"Exactly! I wonder how you did it, Elder. Did you say, 'You beast, let go of that animal and let me handle it' before you started?"

"Pfft..." Stung by Ye Jiuyao's words, Zeng Li spat out another mouthful of blood and fainted on the spot.

Watching this, a cunning smile curled on Ye Jiuyao’s lips. *Nice try, fighting with me.*

The others looked on with lingering fear, their gazes toward Ye Jiuyao now filled with greater gravity, while Bai Mei and his group began to laugh.

"Lord Qian, Elder Zeng is truly disgusting. Let's head to the martial competition; the tournament is what matters..."

Hearing this, Zeng Li's breathing grew shallow, but he dared not wake up, for too many eyes were fixed upon him. In this moment, he had become the center of everyone's attention.