Chapter 2108: Frustration

"Master, that Chi Xiao has been shouting outside for days, saying he wants to challenge you in front of the whole city."

As soon as Ye Yuan came out of seclusion, Gu Hong greeted him.

"Oh? Let's go take a look." Ye Yuan raised an eyebrow and smiled.

The two walked out the gate and found it surrounded by people, layer upon layer.

Challenging a sub-sage, especially in front of the whole city, naturally held great appeal.

Moreover, everyone present already knew that Chi Xiao was a disciple of the Red Feather High Priest, so his strength was bound to be formidable.

Their pill duel was sure to be spectacular and highly entertaining.

"Sub-Sage, I, Chi Xiao, am unworthy but wish to challenge you!"

"Sub-Sage, see? Everyone is looking forward to your move!"

"Sub-Sage, if you cower like this, won't you tarnish the name of the Holy Ancestor High Priest?"

...

Outside the gate, Chi Xiao shouted intermittently, his voice spreading all around.

Most of these people were probably drawn by his loud voice.

But this time he had learned his lesson, repeatedly saying "Sub-Sage" without any presumptuous behavior.

Seeing Ye Yuan come out, Chi Xiao's eyes lit up. He bowed respectfully and said, "Sub-Sage, I have been waiting here for a long time!"

Ye Yuan said indifferently, "You want to challenge me?"

Chi Xiao nodded. "Now the city says that the Sub-Sage is unworthy of his reputation. How can a mere True God realm, six-star priest hold the title of Sub-Sage? So I volunteered to ask the Sub-Sage to give some guidance before the whole city's demons, to clear the Sub-Sage's name."

"Yes, Sub-Sage, if you want our recognition, show us some real skill!"

"We really want to see what qualifies you to be Sub-Sage!"

"If you don't show us your strength, we will never acknowledge you as Sub-Sage!"

...

Many of the onlookers were priests, who took the title of Sub-Sage very seriously.

Chi Xiao's words immediately resonated with many.

Ye Yuan narrowed his eyes, seeing through it all.

Someone as arrogant as Chi Xiao couldn't possibly have such cunning; someone must be pulling the strings behind the scenes.

But since he dared to come to the Western Spirit Domain, he naturally wasn't afraid of challenges.

Ye Yuan wore a playful expression and smiled. "Defeating you proves the title of Sub-Sage? Chi Xiao, don't you overestimate yourself?"

Chi Xiao was taken aback, and the others fell silent.

Indeed, what kind of existence was a Sub-Sage?

A pill dao powerhouse second only to the Holy Ancestor High Priest—how could a mere Chi Xiao compare?

Chi Xiao realized that before Ye Yuan, he was utterly naive.

He was like a lump of clay, to be molded however Ye Yuan pleased.

How frustrating!

"Sub-Sage, are you trying to avoid my challenge?" Chi Xiao gritted his teeth.

If Ye Yuan used this as an excuse to refuse battle, no one would dare say a word against it.

You want to challenge me? You're not even qualified!

"Heh, would this Saint avoid a fight? I'm telling you this just to make you understand your place! I know you think that having reached the Ancestral Realm makes you worthy of challenging this Saint, so let me show you how vast the gap between us is!"

Chi Xiao raised an eyebrow and laughed, "You said it!"

"I said it," Ye Yuan replied calmly.

……

The battle between the Sub-Saint and Red Feather High Priest's disciple Chi Xiao swept through the city like a storm.

The square was packed with people, so dense that not even a needle could fit through.

The priests of the demon clan craned their necks, trying to squeeze closer.

On the arena, Chi Xiao looked smugly at Ye Yuan and said with a smile, "Lord Sub-Saint, I'm going to repay all the humiliation you've brought me these past days."

Ye Yuan's gaze sharpened, and he said in a deep voice, "Humiliation? You mean when I punished you for showing no respect to your elders by making you kneel and repent, that was humiliation?"

Chi Xiao nearly bit his tongue off upon hearing this.

How frustrating!

He had fallen into the trap again without realizing it.

It was too hard for him to maintain a humble attitude toward someone of a lower cultivation level.

In his words, he would inadvertently reveal his true feelings.

"N-no... I... I didn't mean that. I meant I wanted to ask Lord Sub-Saint to kindly instruct me," Chi Xiao stammered.

In front of so many people, if he were made to kneel again by Ye Yuan, he would be utterly disgraced.

Today was about humiliating Ye Yuan, not himself.

Chi Xiao seethed inwardly, vowing to make Ye Yuan lose disgracefully!

Ye Yuan, however, laughed inwardly, though his face remained calm as he said, "Rest assured, this Saint will instruct you well."

"Hmph, we'll see who instructs whom! Go ahead and gloat; you'll be crying soon enough!" Chi Xiao sneered to himself.

He was extremely confident in his own strength and was certain he would not lose to Ye Yuan.

This battle also drew attention from many quarters.

On an inconspicuous turret, Gongyang Lie stood with his hands behind his back, with Xin Luo behind him.

He naturally saw Chi Xiao's discomfiture in its entirety.

Gongyang Lie couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "Chi Xiao is indeed highly talented, but he has too little experience; he's no match for Ye Yuan!"

Xin Luo smiled and said, "Heh, I imagine this battle will be of great help to Lord Chi Xiao. He was favored by Lord Red Feather at a young age and has had smooth sailing ever since; in terms of cunning, he naturally falls short of the Sub-Saint."

Gongyang Lie's eyes sharpened as he said, "This Ye Yuan—I wonder what his background is. Young as he is, he handles himself like an old monster. Proud but not arrogant, domineering yet measured. Even I have to tread carefully around him."

Xin Luo agreed, "The title of Sub-Saint has been used to its fullest by him. He doesn't let it go to his head, yet he uses it to oppress us until we can barely breathe. He's a tough opponent."

Gongyang Lie's gaze fell on Ye Yuan in the distance, and he asked, "What do you think are Chi Xiao's chances in this battle?"

Xin Luo smiled and said, "In this battle, Lord Chi Xiao will surely win!"

Gongyang Lie was surprised, "Oh? How so?"

Once one reaches the Ancestral Realm, it's a whole new level.

It's hard to say who is stronger.

Gongyang Lie had to admit that Ye Yuan's talent surpassed everyone's, including Chi Xiao's.

Xin Luo seemed to know what Gongyang Lie was thinking and said with a smile, "Talent is one thing, strength is another. We, who haven't reached the Ancestral Realm, are helpless before Ye Yuan, but Chi Xiao stepped into the Ancestral Realm a thousand years ago, while Ye Yuan, at most, has only a few hundred years, or even less. Moreover, Lord Chi Xiao was personally trained by High Priest Red Feather, and he was sent out this time specifically to test Ye Yuan's strength. This shows that High Priest Red Feather has great confidence in Chi Xiao! If I had to choose between the two, I would naturally pick Chi Xiao!"