“If Young Master Yujin pricks himself with a needle and sheds a few drops of blood, I will tell you,” Ye Chu said, smiling at Young Master Yujin.
Yujin glanced at Ye Chu. Ye Chu had expected him to refuse, but the outcome was highly surprising. Yujin actually produced a silver needle and jabbed it sharply into his finger.
“As a cultivator, what is there to fear from a single needle prick?” Young Master Yujin said coldly, staring at Ye Chu. To him, the significance of the jasper was far greater.
Seeing the blood flow from Yujin’s finger, Ye Chu was overjoyed and said to him, “Young Master Yujin, suspend the blood dripping from your finger in the void, and then try taking out the jasper!”
Yujin was puzzled but still tapped his finger, leaving the blood suspended in mid-air. Just as he was about to retrieve the jasper to test it, Ye Chu pointed his own finger and shot a beam of energy directly at that drop of blood.
Yujin never expected anyone to try and steal his blood. Caught off guard, the drop was swiftly snatched away by Ye Chu.
“What is the meaning of this!” Yujin’s face darkened as he stared fixedly at Ye Chu.
“Oh dear! I probably read too many novels and always believed treasures require blood recognition to bind to a master. I only just realised I was living in a dream. Therefore, to mock people like me who live in illusions, and equally to save both you and me from embarrassment, I naturally could not truly let you perform blood recognition.” Ye Chu spoke with complete seriousness. Had they not known Ye Chu’s true nature, Ye Jingyun and Nuoran would have been completely fooled by him.
“Does Young Master Yujin not merely wish to know what the jasper represents? What harm is there in telling you?” Ye Chu smiled. “The Divine Palace of the continent has reappeared. I once happened to see a pattern on the jasper, and it matches a pattern found within the Divine Palace exactly. Young Master Yujin might not be aware, but this pattern is called the Eight Trigrams Diagram. It was created by a peerless grand sage, and it is reputed to know both past and future, and to reverse heaven and earth.”
Ye Chu’s words caused Nuoran and the others to grow solemn. The news was far too shocking. Anything connected to the Divine Palace was undoubtedly extraordinary.
Everyone finally understood why they had fought over it at such a high cost.
“That much goes without saying! I only want to know what use the jasper actually has? Although its pattern resembles one in the Divine Palace, I have been unable to discern anything from it. Perhaps it merely shares a similar design.” Seeing the crowd staring at him with intense eyes, Yujin remained unfazed. He did not fear them trying to snatch it.
Upon hearing Yujin say this, everyone instantly lost interest. They thought that if it merely bore a similar pattern, what use was it? Their initially fervent minds vanished in an instant!
“Then I do not know!” Ye Chu shrugged. “I bid for it only because the pattern looked similar. As for what it actually is, I have no idea. Otherwise, how about you lend it to me to study for ten days or half a month? Once I figure it out, I will tell you!”
Yujin felt as though a breath was stuck in his chest. He stared coldly and fixedly at Ye Chu and said, “You do not know what it is? Then why did you offer such a high price?”
Yujin had the urge to kill Ye Chu. He had initially bid recklessly precisely because Ye Chu’s determined aura had convinced him the item was extraordinary.
Yet this fellow actually claimed he knew nothing about it.
“This young master has money! What business is it of yours? When I drink soup, I drink one bowl and pour another away!” Ye Chu said, looking at the other with deep disdain. “A penniless bumpkin, actually trying to compete with me for something.”
“…” Nuoran could barely listen anymore. He thought that Ye Chu actually spoke such shameless words so fluently. Had he forgotten who actually won the jasper at the auction?
Yujin took a deep breath, struggling to suppress his urge to wipe out this nouveau riche looking youth. He stopped paying attention to Ye Chu, turned to Nuoran, and said, his gaze involuntarily sweeping over Nuoran’s curvy figure. “Miss Nuoran has called us here. Can you finally tell us what this is all about?”
Nuoran was about to speak when Ye Chu turned his gaze to Gu Xing. “I see that your bone structure is extraordinary, and you will surely achieve great things in the future. You only need to prick your finger, and I can divine your future for you. If you do not believe me, you are welcome to try!”
“Oh my! Young Master Liu Kai, your forehead is full and your aura is robust, but there is one flaw. Your fingers are far too thick. Only by shedding some blood can you soar to the heavens.”
“Young Master Ma Teng, why are you hiding from me? Have you not noticed your fingers are far too dark? Oh, do not leave. Let me discuss the benefits of blood exchange with you. Do you understand metabolism? What? You do not? It is truly terrible to be uneducated! Let me tell you, sturdy individuals like you should donate blood more often when you have nothing else to do!”
“…”
Watching Ye Chu corner every person he saw to demand their blood left Nuoran and the others utterly dumbfounded. Nuoran could not help but ask Yang Hui beside him, “Is Young Master Ye Chu still mentally sound? I know a pill master who specialises in treating cultivation deviation. Should I introduce him?”
Yang Hui’s delicate face flushed crimson. She felt too embarrassed to face anyone. Looking at Ye Chu, who was pestering others for blood, she blushed and said to Nuoran, “Young Master has a free and easy temperament. He enjoys relaxing himself through all sorts of comical behaviour. It is harmless! In truth, Young Master is a kind, upright, and noble person…”
“…” Nuoran stared at Yang Hui in shock, wondering how Ye Chu could possibly deserve such praise.
“Just a madman. I thought he was someone of consequence?” Yujin glanced at Ye Chu with contempt, then turned to Nuoran. “Ignore him. Young Master Nuoran, please speak!”
Nuoran nodded. “I have gathered you all today because a ruin has been discovered in the western mountain range of the city. According to the rules of the Heavenly Prodigy Path, when a ruin is discovered, only the younger generation may enter. Only if they fail to gain entry may the older generation explore it. Therefore, I have asked everyone to come. I wish for us to join forces to break through to the ruin and enter it!”
“A ruin?” Bright light flashed in everyone’s eyes, but they quickly added, “That is indeed a fine opportunity. However, the city’s annual tournament is approaching soon. The Heavenly Prodigy Path will select this city’s champion and distribute its resources. Rushing into a ruin at this moment, would it not be…”
A city’s resources are naturally vast. If one can claim the championship, they can secure a significant share of those resources. There are tens of thousands of Qingyuan Pills, and countless other treasures. If acquired, one could recruit innumerable cultivators to follow them. No matter where they travel, they would never fear being outnumbered.
The city championship has always been the goal everyone competes for. The benefits of earning this title are simply too great.
“My proposal is that this year’s Heavenly Prodigy Path tournament be held within the ruin. Whoever stands supreme among the heroes in the ruin shall be the champion. Every family in this city must grant them a tenth of the resources.” Nuoran said, “This proposal requires your consent. Once you all agree, we can announce it to the city.”
Nuoran’s words caused everyone to frown. The implications were too significant. Such a tournament was unprecedented. They pondered whether this method offered them any advantage, because the championship was far too alluring. Securing it would allow one to instantly become one of the most powerful figures in the city.