Eligibility

"Is there a possibility that Ye Xiu's strength actually came from borrowing some external aid?"

Just as everyone argued without end, a leisurely remark drifted over from the next table.

"What do you mean by that?"

The crowd that had been arguing turned toward the voice and saw a young man dressed in gray sitting upright nearby.

He held a wine cup with a smile on his face, his eyes glinting with mockery.

That gaze was as though he were looking at a pack of fools who knew nothing.

Bang!

Unable to bear that look, someone immediately slammed the table and rose to his feet.

"We can debate all we want, but at least we have some basis for it. What do you mean by spouting nonsense out of thin air?"

Using his divine sense, Ye Xiu could tell that the man opposite him possessed the cultivation of the seventh layer of Qi Condensation, while the identity Ye Xiu was disguising himself as was merely at the fifth layer of Qi Condensation.

What was more, the other man had been drinking and was in high spirits. Provoked like this, he naturally would not be polite.

"Evidence?"

But this was precisely the effect Ye Xiu wanted.

The smile on his face grew even more disdainful as he gently shook his head, as though he were looking at an uncivilized monkey.

"Some people sit at the bottom of a well and stare at the sky, using only the tiny world in their minds to discuss the heroes of the realm. Ridiculous—truly ridiculous to the extreme."

"You little bastard, you dare insult me?"

Having been struck like that, the disciple naturally could not endure it.

Those drinking in this tavern cared about their pride to begin with. Being mocked before everyone, and by someone whose cultivation was far below his own—how could he possibly stand for that?

Bang! The disciple shot into the air, a gust of sinister wind curling around him as both palms struck out together, charging straight at Ye Xiu.

"This kid is about to bring disaster upon himself with that mouth of his."

The disciples watching from the side were immediately delighted to have a spectacle to enjoy.

Whether the foul-mouthed kid in front of them got beaten or the provoked disciple got thrashed, either outcome was a fine dish to go with their wine.

But judging by the foul-mouthed kid's utterly ordinary cultivation and the lack of any precious spiritual treasure protecting him, it seemed he would not escape a beating either way.

Here he came.

With the advantage of his realm, Ye Xiu instantly determined the man's attack path. But this time, he did not need to rely on spiritual power to deal with him.

American Quickdraw! Kid!

Reaching for his waist with one hand, Ye Xiu firmly gripped a pistol. Seeing that the disciple before him was now only seven paces away, Ye Xiu pulled the trigger without hesitation.

Bang!

Everyone present shuddered in fright. The previously bustling tavern fell into dead silence in an instant.

What was that? Did someone cast a spell in the tavern?

This thought involuntarily flashed through everyone's minds.

Such a tremendous sound, aside from a handful of spells designed to intimidate, generally meant something not to be trifled with.

"Ah, wh-what is this..."

And the situation was indeed as everyone expected. The disciple charging at Ye Xiu abruptly halted mid-rush.

He stiffly looked down at his chest. The pain coming from it left his entire body weak.

Thud.

Before everyone's eyes, the disciple dropped to his knees and collapsed.

Everyone was stunned.

"Am I seeing things? That kid took down Zhao Ping in a single move?"

"Did anyone notice what spell he used? Why didn't I sense any spiritual power fluctuations at all?"

"My heavens, what kind of method was that?"

After a long while, when the first person finally spoke, the scene immediately erupted into an uproar.

The cultivators with lower cultivation spoke up to ask, but this time, those with higher cultivation were even more shocked.

Because the higher one's cultivation was, the more clearly one could sense that Ye Xiu had not mobilized even a trace of spiritual power during that brief battle.

He had slaughtered an opponent above his level without needing spiritual power!

This thought flashed through everyone's minds.

Looking at the tavern that had erupted into chaos, Ye Xiu naturally smiled in satisfaction.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

He slowly rose to his feet, looked at the disciple convulsing on the ground, and kicked him without hesitation.

As he flicked out the spent casing, a wild and unruly smile hung on his face.

"Well? Was I wrong to call you a frog at the bottom of a well?"

The disciple's eyes widened. He did not know how to respond, merely staring fixedly at Ye Xiu, his gaze flickering with fear, confusion, hatred, and all manner of emotions.

"Anyone know healing spells? Stop his bleeding. If this guy dies for nothing, I'm not taking responsibility."

Ye Xiu did not waste any more words on him. He leisurely sat back down in his chair and called out to the crowd behind him.

Honestly, with his fifth-layer Qi Condensation strength, he ordinarily would not have had that kind of standing in this tavern.

Demonic cultivators worshipped strength. The higher one's realm, the more privileges one enjoyed.

Among those drinking in the tavern, quite a few were above the seventh layer of Qi Condensation. There were even plenty at the eighth and ninth layers.

Yet after Ye Xiu said those words, several disciples actually came forward with smiles and helped him deal with the disciple on the ground.

Then, as though they had known him for ages, they brought their wine over to his side.

"How should we address you, junior brother?"

The disciples wore smiles on their faces. Ye Xiu inwardly thought that they had taken the bait, but he arrogantly turned his head away.

"Though I am merely a newly inducted outer disciple, not just any stray cat or dog is qualified to ask about my background."

To be honest, when Ye Xiu said this, everyone's first impression was that he was arrogant.

This kid was simply far too arrogant.

He was only at the fifth layer of Qi Condensation. What gave him the right to say such things?

Did he not know that quite a few people here could crush him to death with a single hand?

But soon after, several cultivators at the ninth layer of Qi Condensation burst into laughter.

"Good. It's been a long time since I've seen such an interesting newcomer."

A tall man slowly stepped forward from the crowd. Looking at Ye Xiu, he slammed a jar of wine onto the table with a thud.

"You said those without strength aren't qualified to ask your name. I agree with that. No matter what our realms are, when it comes to a real fight, doesn't it still come down to strength?"

The towering brute wore a hearty smile.

But his eyes were fixed firmly on Ye Xiu.

"My name is Xie Xun, ninth layer of Qi Condensation. If you care to ask around, you should hear about how I've slaughtered opponents of the same realm."

"So, does this level of cultivation count for something?"

"Do I have the qualifications to ask about your background, kid?"