Sure enough, the Mittel Auction House's announcement denying the rumors had no effect. People scoffed at it and paid it no heed whatsoever. Some began posing as customers and entering the auction house, preparing to assassinate Ye Tian.
Meanwhile, Ye Tian and the two women had already reached the city gates. After paying the gold coins required for entry, the three entered Wutan City.
Once they reached the street, Ye Tian noticed something strange in the passersby's gazes. Besides surprise, there was greed.
"Stay alert. People have their eyes on me. We may have a tough fight ahead."
Seeing this, Ye Tian immediately took out some Qi Recovery Pills and distributed them to Ya Fei and Xiao Yi Xian, telling the two women to remain vigilant.
"The soldiers at the gate seemed to look at us strangely, too."
"Could someone have leaked our secrets? Are they planning to kill us and steal our treasures?"
Ya Fei and Xiao Yi Xian quickly put away the Qi Recovery Pills and prepared to fight. They had spent a month training hard with Ye Tian in the mountains; this was the perfect chance to test their skills.
"Stay calm. With me here, everything will be fine."
"Come on. Let's draw them out."
Ye Tian told the two women not to worry. Whatever came, he would meet soldiers with generals and rising waters with earth. Then he deliberately led them into a deserted alley to see whether he could lure out those harboring ill intentions.
Whoosh, whoosh...
Sure enough, as soon as the three entered the alley, six masked men in black approached from ahead, blocking their path.
"Kekekeke...! Ye Tian, you brat, you've certainly kept us waiting!"
A burly man in black brandished his saber and pointed it at Ye Tian.
"I'll deal with their leader first. You two can practice on the rest of the trash."
Ye Tian sensed that these men were nothing special. Only one was a Low-tier Dou Master; the rest were Dou Zhe. He immediately drew the Great Cang Divine Sword, used the Carefree Travel Body Method, and charged in first.
Whoosh...
Ye Tian became a blur, instantly appearing before the Black-clothed leader as the Tai Cang Sword swept toward his throat.
"What?"
The Black-clothed leader reacted swiftly, raising his saber to block Ye Tian's divine sword.
Crack... slash...
But the moment his saber met the sword, it was sliced apart like tofu. Ye Tian's divine sword took his worthless head off along with it.
Thud...
An instant later, the Black-clothed leader's towering body toppled rigidly backward and slammed into the ground.
"I hadn't even put any strength into it, and you already fell."
Ye Tian counted it out. Only three seconds had passed between his attack and the Black-clothed leader's collapse. The man had barely had time to react.
Clang...
Seeing Ye Tian kill their leader in an instant, the remaining five black-clothed assassins were frightened witless. Their sabers fell straight from their hands.
Whoosh, whoosh...
Just then, Ya Fei and Xiao Yi Xian's Flowing Cloud Flying Sleeves swept toward the remaining five men.
Crack, crack, crack...
"How are they so strong?"
The two women's dou qi turned into purple ribbons that lashed like a pair of long whips, battering the men in black into a scattered heap.
"Ah...!"
Xiao Yi Xian's Dou Technique, in particular, carried deadly poison. The men struck by it immediately let out screams like pigs being slaughtered.
Moments later, Ya Fei and Xiao Yi Xian had easily left all five men gravely wounded.
"Why did you try to kill me?"
Ye Tian stepped forward, stripped the men of all their Rings of Holding, then questioned them curiously.
"Ye Tian, word has already spread that you possess an Earth Tier Cultivation Method."
"Now you're like a rat scurrying across the street—everyone wants you dead. We're only the first wave."
"Kekeke..."
Knowing they could not escape, the men in black began laughing madly.
Still going 'kekeke'...? Do you think you're from the Soul Hall?
Whoosh...
Having learned the reason, Ye Tian waved his hand and released several flames, burning the men in black to ashes.
"Xiao Tian, how did they know you have an Earth Tier Cultivation Method?"
Ya Fei was surprised as well. At present, only she and Xiao Yi Xian knew that Ye Tian possessed a super cultivation method.
"It was probably the Myriad Medicine Shop owner."
Ye Tian and Xiao Yi Xian exchanged a glance. An instant later, both thought of that old fellow, Yao Wanqian.
"What happened? Tell your big sister," Ya Fei asked quickly.
"This is what happened..."
Xiao Yi Xian quickly described what had happened when she left the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.
"A group of men in black chased us back then. Xiao Yi Xian and I used a Flying Dou Technique to fly deep into the mountains, and they saw us. Yao Wanqian must have concluded that I'd encountered some tremendous opportunity in the Monster Mountain Range. But he was afraid I'd come after him later, so he spread rumors to make me the target of every arrow. Now that news has finally reached Wutan City."
After some analysis, Ye Tian reached his conclusion. He had to admit that the old schemer's move was vicious indeed.
"Damn him."
After hearing the story, Ya Fei trembled with anger.
"Sister Ya Fei, don't be angry."
"But this has dragged you into it, too, and I'm truly sorry. Once your strength is exposed, many people will assume that you also encountered a tremendous opportunity. Your days won't be peaceful anymore."
Ye Tian himself had little to fear. He was only somewhat worried that his enemies might use Ya Fei or Xiao Yi Xian to threaten him.
"Xiao Tian, don't say that. Without your help, I would be nothing but a pretty vase, someone the family could use to barter for benefits at any moment."
"You gave me all the strength I have now. I'm willing to face these difficulties with you. Honestly, I want to roam the world with you two right now. That way, I'd never have to deal with all that scheming and backstabbing again."
Ya Fei smiled radiantly, then tightly clasped Ye Tian's and Xiao Yi Xian's hands, making her stance clear.
"Then let's leave this place first! Let's see how many people want to kill me. Today, we'll carve a bloody path out."
Seeing how sincere Ya Fei was, Ye Tian felt warmth fill his heart.
"All right! We'll follow your lead."
"Even if it's a dragon's pool or a tiger's den, we'll brave it with you."
The two women held Ye Tian's hands, one on either side, as they left the alley.
"Xiao Tian, Sister Xian'er, what did you think of my fighting ability just now?"
Thinking back on her battle, Ya Fei felt quite accomplished. At last, she was no longer merely a pretty vase.
"Not bad! You're practically invincible among Dou Zhe, but don't get conceited," Ye Tian said with a nod.
"I don't think even a Low-tier Dou Master would necessarily be Sister Ya Fei's match."
Xiao Yi Xian added her praise from beside them.
"Surely you're exaggerating?"
Listening to their praise, Ya Fei felt sweetness flood her heart.
As time passed, the three soon encountered another wave of assassins, all high-ranked Dou Zhe.
Crackle...
Ye Tian wasted no words. He immediately used Eternal Heavenly Thunder, drawing the assassins toward him.
"Ahhh... aaargh..."
The powerful lightning shocked the assassins into howling, their hair standing on end.
Whoosh, whoosh...
At that moment, Ya Fei and Xiao Yi Xian simultaneously used the Carefree Travel Body Method, swinging their short swords to harvest the assassins' worthless heads.
"They... how are they so strong?"
Seeing Ya Fei and Xiao Yi Xian transform into gods of slaughter as well, the black-clothed assassins stared in disbelief before collapsing in bitter unwillingness.
"The real slaughter begins now."
After dealing with this wave of assassins, Ye Tian sensed many pairs of greedy eyes watching him from the shadows. He knew the challenges ahead would be fierce.
"Let them come!"
It was their first time fighting alongside Ye Tian, and Ya Fei and Xiao Yi Xian felt a great sense of accomplishment. After that first battle, combat now came readily to both women.
Whoosh, whoosh...
"Ahhh...!"
Sure enough, assassin groups appeared one after another in the time that followed. Ye Tian and the two women showed no mercy, sweeping straight through them.
"Will they ever stop?"
After dealing with several waves of assassins, Ya Fei and Xiao Yi Xian counted their kills. They had wiped out over a hundred assassins in total. It was sheer madness.
"Young Master Ye is incredible! He really deserves to be called the Little God of Slaughter!"
"Miss Ya Fei and that pretty young lady are formidable, too!..."
The battles between the three and the assassins drew the attention of countless nearby residents. No one dared approach, however; they could only hide far away and watch.
"How is this brat so fierce?"
Some assassins lurking in the shadows of tall buildings sucked in cold breaths as they watched Ye Tian harvest lives as easily as chopping melons and slicing vegetables.
"Without the strength of a Da Dou Shi, going up there is just handing him your head."
"Retreat! We're staying out of this."
Some Dou Master and Dou Zhe mercenary assassins gave up. If the slaughter continued like this, Ye Tian might kill every mercenary in Wutan City.
"Hey! Don't leave! Didn't you want to steal my Earth Tier Cultivation Method? Come over here!"
Just then, Ye Tian happened to spot several men in black fleeing and called out to them.
"Pfft...! We've already terrified them with all this killing. How would they dare come?"
Seeing Ye Tian's arrogant, commanding manner, Xiao Yi Xian and Ya Fei could not help laughing.
"Young Brother Ye, hurry and leave! You'll be in trouble once stronger assassins arrive."
Several old men hurriedly urged Ye Tian to leave. They had bought Foundation Establishment Pills at the auction house before, and Ye Tian had lowered the price for them then, leaving them with an excellent impression of him.
"Don't worry, old man. However many enemies come, I'll wipe them all out."
This time, Ye Tian intended to strike the mountain to frighten the tigers, instilling fear in anyone plotting against him.
After so many assassins had been wiped out, things finally grew much quieter. Ye Tian then led the two women leisurely toward the auction house.
"Kekeke...!"
"Brat, you're quite something. All those people, and none of them could catch you."
After passing through several streets, the three encountered another wave of even stronger assassins.
"Aren't you afraid of our Mittel Family?"
Ya Fei sensed that these enemies were not like the earlier ones who had served themselves up for slaughter. She immediately invoked the Mittel Family's name, hoping to intimidate them.
"Kekeke...!"
"Miss Ya Fei, the Mittel Family may be powerful, but it's so far from Wutan City. If we kill you all, who will ever know?"
The masked assassins laughed wildly in disdain, paying no heed to Ya Fei's threat.
"Ten Dou Masters at seven stars or above, one Three-Star Dou Grandmaster, and two One-Star Dou Grandmasters. If I'm not mistaken, you two must be the mercenary leaders who bought Spirit Gathering Pills from me a while ago!"
Using his powerful soul perception, Ye Tian quickly gauged the strength of the assassins before him.
"So what if you figured it out, brat? You're going to die today."
The two mercenary leaders froze when Ye Tian immediately guessed their identities. Still, neither took him seriously. The gap between a Da Dou Shi and a Dou Master was simply too great. This brat could not create a miracle.
"Brother Ye, Miss Ya Fei, I heard you ran into trouble. Need a hand?"
A voice came from nearby. Then Xiao Yan came rushing over, an iron rod in hand.
"Oh! Young Master Xiao, you want to help Ye Tian? You really don't know when you're courting death."
The masked assassins found it laughable that a mere Dou Zhe like Xiao Yan had dared come and join the commotion.
"Young Master Xiao, you'd better stay out of this."
Ya Fei and Xiao Yi Xian quickly urged Xiao Yan to leave. They had no idea what he was hiding in his gourd by appearing at Ye Tian's side this time.
"Ye Tian is my friend. If he's going to fight, then I, Xiao Yan, have to back him up."
Xiao Yan stated his position outright and stood firmly beside Ye Tian. As the saying went, adding flowers to brocade could not compare to delivering charcoal in the snow. Besides, his Teacher was with him, so he had nothing to worry about.
"Ye Tian, I heard on the street that you killed over a hundred assassins! That's incredible!"
Xiao Yan had just heard that Ye Tian was slaughtering enemies on all sides, so he immediately searched the streets, hoping to try his luck. To his surprise, he had actually found him.
"They were all clay chickens and pottery dogs. Nothing worth mentioning," Ye Tian said with a calm smile.
"Xiao Yan, you're too weak. Stay out of this."
"You three, stand farther away. I'm about to show off."
Ye Tian knew Xiao Yan's trump card, but he still had to resolve this matter himself if he wanted to strike the mountain and frighten the tigers. He therefore told Ya Fei and the others to retreat.
"Pfft...!"
Hearing Ye Tian say something so funny at such a tense moment, Ya Fei and the others could not help laughing.
"Kekeke...!"
"You're pretty funny, brat. We'd like to see just how you plan to show off."
Even the masked assassins before him nearly laughed. Relying on their superior strength, they wanted to see what tricks this brat could pull.
"Then watch closely!"
Ye Tian swallowed two Top-grade Qi Recovery Pills and immediately activated the Critical Strike Secret Technique.
Hum...
An instant later, the blood inside Ye Tian's body began to boil, and a powerful aura erupted like a mountain flood.
Whoosh, whoosh...
Almost simultaneously, Ye Tian conjured countless green leaves with both hands. They interwove into several enormous pythons that surged toward the assassins to crush them.
Whoosh, whoosh...
Knowing Ye Tian was unleashing a Di Tier Dou Technique, Xiao Yi Xian and Ya Fei immediately pulled Xiao Yan back into the distance.
"How is that possible?"
"Aaah..."
In an instant, ten High-tier Dou Masters died on the spot, while the bodies of the three Da Dou Shi were also pierced through, leaving them unable to fight.
Strike while they were sick! Take their lives!
"Whoosh, whoosh..."
Immediately afterward, Ye Tian drew the Great Cang Divine Sword and rushed forward to finish them off, lopping off the three Da Dou Shi's mangy heads before starting to swipe their Rings of Holding.
Counting the Rings of Holding he had swiped earlier, Ye Tian had now collected sixty-eight.
"My heavens! That's way too fierce!"
Seeing Ye Tian dispose of these assassins so quickly, Xiao Yan sucked in a sharp breath.
"If I'm not mistaken, the Dou Technique Ye Tian used was at least Earth Tier. Moreover, the aura he unleashed just now indicated that his strength had instantly increased roughly tenfold at the very least. It was probably some powerful Critical Strike Secret Technique."
Old Man Yao Chen, who was hidden on Xiao Yan's person, was also stunned by Ye Tian's performance. This Little Fellow truly was a monster!
"An Earth Tier Dou Technique? A tenfold Critical Strike Secret Technique? Teacher, do you have any? Teach me a few!"
Seeing that Ye Tian possessed such powerful killing moves, Xiao Yan felt a little envious, so he quietly asked Old Man Yao Chen.
"I don't have a tenfold Critical Strike Secret Technique, but I do have Earth Tier Dou Techniques. Once you grow a little stronger, I'll teach you!"
Old Man Yao Chen chuckled, then reminded Xiao Yan to keep working hard at his cultivation.
"Gasp! This kid is terrifying..."
Meanwhile, the Xiao Family Great Elder, Oba Pa, and the others hiding in the shadows could not stop their legs from trembling. Ye Tian's strength had exceeded their expectations.
"Whoosh..."
At that moment, Xiao Zhan jumped down from a tall building and landed steadily before Ye Tian and the others.
"Father, why are you here too?"
Xiao Yan was a little surprised to see his father appear.
"If you're here, how could your father stay away?"
After learning that Xiao Yan was searching for Ye Tian, Xiao Zhan had no choice but to follow him in secret to prevent any mishaps.
"Young friend Ye, you're incredible! You actually killed so many enemies instantly with a single move!"
Seeing the corpses of the black-clad men strewn across the ground, Xiao Zhan could not help giving Ye Tian a thumbs-up.
"A trifling matter, not worth mentioning."
Ye Tian spoke calmly. He was already using cheats; if he still could not handle these clay chickens and pottery dogs, he might as well find a block of tofu and dash himself to death against it.
"Patriarch Xiao, Xiao Yan, thank you for your support."
"We'll be leaving now."
"Whoosh, whoosh..."
Then Ye Tian and the two women thanked the Xiao father and son before activating their Flying Dou Techniques and flying away.
At this point, Ye Tian no longer cared about exposing his Flying Dou Technique. After all, the Earth Tier Dou Technique he had just used had consumed a great deal of Dou Qi. He needed to leave as soon as possible and find somewhere secluded to recover his strength.
Before you continue