Chapter 56: No Third Round

Ye Jiuyao emerged to find everyone wearing expressions of anger. Pretending not to notice, he became all the more cheerful, raising his voice, “Wow, so many people here to welcome me?”

“I just came, no need for such a warm welcome, you all are too polite…” Ye Jiuyao’s shamelessness was unmatched in Xuantian Town; even as murderous gazes bore into him, he waved his hand nonchalantly.

Jian Yunzi merely smiled, then rose to his feet, seemingly ready to announce the list of candidates for the next round.

With everyone present, the light screen closed. Ye Jiuyao spoke up.

“Don’t miss your chance as you pass by—tokens on clearance sale! One for a thousand spirit stones, bundled sale, nine tokens for ten thousand…”

A collective stifled groan welled in countless chests, a suffocating frustration blocking their breath.

This auction was outrageously ruthless.

Without several years of cutthroat business experience, no one could say such things with a straight face.

“Of course, for those who didn’t escape, one token each—guaranteed entry into the top three thousand! Since the selection isn’t over yet, we can just seize them!”

Everyone was momentarily speechless, hearing such a lofty and brazen method of robbery for the first time. Jian Yunzi’s lips twitched.

“Big guy, the Four Heavenly Kings are ready to grab; that delicate boy Zhong, you’ll get a share after snatching; and you, the one leading that fierce woman—yes, you, come lend a hand!”

Ye Jiuyao issued orders on the spot. The four brothers of the Mo family were elated—their names sounded so much better than everyone else’s.

Zhong Shaoshan wore a look of fury, but still moved, darting into the crowd. Crackling sounds erupted; in a flash, hundreds fell.

“If you two don’t help, you won’t make it into the top three thousand!” Ye Jiuyao threatened Su Wuquan and Cao Youshi directly. Their expressions changed, knowing all their tokens were with Ye Jiuyao.

Ye Jiuyao’s actions made the onlookers even angrier, yet plenty cheered him on. Those without tokens seized the opportunity, mixing into the chaos with Zhong Shaoshan and others, launching surprise attacks.

“You… ruthless, my descendants…”

“Who’s touching me?”

“Thief…”

Suddenly, chaos erupted among nearly twenty thousand people. Jian Yunzi said nothing, quietly watching.

“Bang, bang, bang…”

“All done, finished!” The Mo brothers’ teamwork was flawless, growing more skilled with every move, their joy fueling terrifying power.

Zhong Shaoshan and Xing Juexing needed no further mention; as top talents of the younger generation, their explosive strength was overwhelming.

Su Wuquan and Cao Youshi worked together as if their minds were linked, their coordination perfect, like old friends.

Ye Jiuyao, meanwhile, sat aside, looking half asleep. Seeing this, everyone gnashed their teeth in hatred.

“What are you staring at? If you’re not satisfied, come fight me!” Suddenly, someone glared at Ye Jiuyao, his aura surging. Ye Jiuyao’s eyes narrowed, and he slapped out.

A crisp slap rang out, sending the man spinning with no blind spots, a clear five-finger mark blooming on his face.

“So fast!”

This thought flashed across everyone’s minds, even Jian Yunzi’s eyes flickered with surprise.

That slap was executed with seamless fluidity, carrying a hint of Dao intent, the movement perfectly natural, free of any flaw.

“One minute left!” Jian Yunzi’s voice rang out at the right moment. Ye Jiuyao glanced at him, feeling he was quite sensible.

“Gaishi…”

“Feng’er…”

Suddenly, voices shouted from the crowd. Li Gaishi and Jiang Feng were helped out.

“Do you want tokens? If not, you can’t enter.” Ye Jiuyao eyed Li Gaishi and the others, his gaze turning shrewd, eyes spinning rapidly.

“Not buying!”

“Thirty seconds left!”

Upon hearing this, Ye Jiuyao’s face lit with wild joy.

This kid’s got the right idea.

Jian Yunzi’s words put real pressure on Li Gaishi and his companions. Li Gaishi was anxious, his gaze darting toward the Li family.

Jiang Feng was no exception, his eyes repeatedly seeking answers. Those who had tokens wore smug expressions.

Especially those with weaker cultivation, holding several tokens, their smiles shone like sunlight as they looked at the stronger cultivators.

“Time…”

“I’ll buy!”

“I’ll buy…”

Just as Jian Yunzi prepared to announce, Li Gaishi and the rest surrendered to Ye Jiuyao’s unbeatable prices.

Ye Jiuyao handed over the tokens, smiling, “If you try to renege, think carefully about how you want to die.”

Everyone stared silently at Ye Jiuyao. They’d seen forced sales before, but never anything so shameless. This was the first time.

“Time’s up. Those without tokens, withdraw.”

“Ow…”

“It hurts… it hurts so much…”

The replies to Jian Yunzi were cries of misery, but he paid no heed, waving his hand to unleash a powerful force that drove everyone back.

He was surprised, however, upon seeing those who remained. Though he had witnessed everything, he was a bit stunned.

Only a little over a thousand people were left, most with weak cultivation and just barely adequate talent, giving him a headache.

His mood improved slightly upon seeing Ye Jiuyao and his companions.

“The third round… there is no third round. The three sects are arriving. Choose your sects and begin cultivation.”

“What?!”

“No third round?!”

A wave of uproar swept the crowd; the onlookers exploded in disbelief at this year’s unprecedented selection.

“Which sect will you choose?” Zhong Shaoshan asked Ye Jiuyao.

Ye Jiuyao replied, “Tongxuan!”

Jian Yunzi ignored them, sitting cross-legged to await the arrival of the sect representatives.

Soon, three figures descended from the sky.

“Senior!”

“Uncle!”

The trio greeted Jian Yunzi.

“Choose!”

Quickly, the thousand or so candidates chose their sects.

The three representatives looked at the uneven group behind them, their faces darkening, eyes seeking Jian Yunzi, but he simply nodded, signaling permission to return.

Ye Jiuyao and his companions naturally chose Tongxuan Sect; Li Gaishi and others chose Fallen Leaf Sect; Jian Ming and Lin Yibai entered Sky Sword Sect.

The rest were scattered, though most joined Fallen Leaf Sect. Sky Sword Sect had few; as for Tongxuan, apart from Ye Jiuyao and his group, there was no one else.

Thus, the selection ended like a child’s game.

This year’s selection sparked endless discussion, especially among the powerful figures who had traveled from afar, only to lose to Ye Jiuyao. Their hatred for him was bone-deep.

And high above, one person was even more so—Ye Chaofeng.

His eyes, sharp as an eagle’s, locked fiercely onto Ye Jiuyao, as if seeking a chance to deliver a killing blow!