Chapter 298: Only to Show Off

Time passes in the blink of an eye.

The setting sun casts a dazzling golden hue.

Outside the towering, pitch‑black monolith, crowds weave like fabric, streaming in endlessly, each clutching an invitation as they file in like fish.

Yuan Yao and her three companions clutched their delicate invitations and stepped toward the Xue Nu Chang.

Just as they were about to cross the threshold, a sudden clamor erupted from behind, shattering the calm.

Yuan Yao and the others turned their heads in unison.

A massive procession came into view, led by a graceful youth of about sixteen or seventeen.

The boy wore a tight black robe that fluttered in the wind; his glossy short black hair was unevenly cut, giving him a wild, carefree air, and each ear bore a string of crystal‑clear blue tassels that jingled pleasantly with his movements.

At that moment he cradled a spiritual melon in both hands, munching noisily, the red juice smearing his mouth in an unsightly way.

Someone in the crowd shouted first, "Niebai!"

Many present were from the Eighth Continent, so they instantly recognized the boy's identity.

"He must have come for the Treasure Map as well..."

"This Treasure Map concerns…," the voice cut off, clearly taboo.

Niebai finished the melon and tossed it aside.

Immediately, a guard behind him handed him a damp cloth.

Niebai wiped his mouth and hands.

He then tossed the cloth into the guard's arms.

Niebai slowly lifted his head, paying no heed to those around him.

Yuan Yao and her three companions felt no goodwill toward his behavior; as he approached, Song Yan spoke, "Let's go in."

"Alright."

With their invitations, Yuan Yao's group entered the Xue Nu Chang swiftly.

The attendants of the Xue Nu Chang led them into the main hall.

Because their invitations were of the lowest tier, they were only allowed to sit in the hall.

Not even that; they had no right to sit.

They were only permitted to stand.

Yuan Yao's group: "... This Li Er Geng is so stingy!"

Moreover, standing patrons were few, so whenever others took seats, they cast disdainful glances at them as if looking at paupers.

"No spirit stones yet you're in the Xue Nu Chang, haha," someone sneered.

"These folks probably never witnessed a grand scene in their lives, buying cheap invitations just to slip in."

"Could they be those righteous cultivators?"

"Only righteous cultivators would be this miserly! Wearing masks, probably truly afraid to show their faces!"

"Being such a mess, they'd be better off as evil cultivators!"

"These girls' figures are impressive, I wonder what their faces look like?"

"Why not join me? I can get you a seatable invitation."

"Hahaha..."

Hearing this, most of the evil cultivators in the hall burst into laughter, eyeing Yuan Yao's party with contemptuous amusement.

Zong Yu'er clenched her fists tightly.

Lin Xuechen, after all these years, had never endured public humiliation, and his complexion turned sour.

Song Yan furrowed his brows.

Instinctively he tried to shield Yuan Yao behind him, blocking the evil cultivators' hostile gazes.

But just as he reached out, Yuan Yao grasped his wrist.

In the next instant—

Buzz!

The mocking evil cultivators suddenly grimaced in painful fury, clutching their heads and screaming.

"To me...," Yuan Yao transmitted a telepathic command, her voice booming like a great bell in their minds, as if to shatter their heavenly spirit veils.

"Confess, repent."

Those two words struck their nerves like thunder.

They wailed in agony, faces filled with terror and disbelief.

Even in their stupidity, they now realized they had provoked someone they should not have.

They tumbled from their seats, knelt toward Yuan Yao's group, repeatedly bowing their heads.

"I was wrong!"

"I was tongue‑sharp! Spare me!"

"Ah—my head is splitting!"

Most of the evil cultivators in the hall knelt in pleading, instantly throwing the scene into chaos.

Others stared at Yuan Yao's party with astonishment and dread.

Lin Xuechen and Zong Yu'er were stunned.

They hadn't realized it was Yuan Yao handling the evil cultivators.

At that moment, an evil cultivator suddenly looked up, his eyes blood‑red, fixed on Yuan Yao's group; he darted forward, claws extended, intending to slay them all.

Yet as soon as he rose, his spiritual awareness was utterly shattered, his body stiffening as he moaned in pain.

"Ah—"

He bled from his seven orifices, like a walking corpse, took a few steps, then with a "Bang—" fell to the ground, eyes unclosed in death.

The expressions of those present shifted.

The other evil cultivators, seeing this, instantly abandoned any thought of resistance and kowtowed toward Yuan Yao and the three others like madmen.

He shouted, "I'm wrong!"

"Where did I err?" Yuan Yao suddenly asked.

Her voice rang out, instantly startling everyone present as well as those in the private rooms.

Because the voice was clearly that of a young girl.

And it was very pleasant.

At the same time, Lin Xuechen and Zong Yu'er stared in astonishment at the masked Yuan Yao, deeply shocked.

They had just guessed that Eldest Senior Brother had acted behind the scenes, but never expected it to be the junior junior sister!

The junior junior sister has become this strong?!

From the moment the junior junior sister decided to cultivate seriously to now, less than a year has passed, and she can already hold her own!

So many evil cultivators…

Directly kneel and beg the junior junior sister for mercy!

They suddenly realized that the junior junior sister's earlier array of formations intended to make the evil cultivators repent was serious!!!

"I shouldn't have mocked you!" one evil cultivator reacted extremely quickly.

"Right, I won't dare it again!"

The evil cultivators each uttered apologies, yet none were sincere.

Because their Awakening Value did not increase as a result.

"Yao Yao." Song Yan whispered to her, "We must not act too boldly now, or we'll be expelled from Xue Nu Chang."

Yuan Yao also had no intention of letting them repent at this moment.

She withdrew her spiritual energy.

The Second Hall Officer of Xue Nu Chang, after hearing that trouble had broken out in the main hall, hurried over and also learned the incident from a server.

His expression shifted, and he already had a plan in mind.

He immediately ordered the server to bring four chairs and place them in the front row of the main hall, then invited Yuan Yao and the three others: "Honored guests, if you don't mind, you may sit in the front row."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao exchanged a glance with Song Yan and the other two.

"Very well."

The Third Hall Officer showed a suitable smile and said, "Honored guests, should you have any grievances or need assistance in the future, feel free to send someone to find me. However… I hope today's incident does not recur. Otherwise, Xue Nu Chang will have to ask you all to leave."

Having said that, he gave them a meaning‑laden glance.

The four of Yuan Yao understood that he was verbally admonishing them.

"Fine." Yuan Yao raised an eyebrow in agreement.

After they took the front seats, countless eyes, both overt and covert, stared at them, especially at Yuan Yao.

Yuan Yao could naturally sense their scrutiny.

"Junior junior sister, you're amazing!" Zong Yu'er whispered, "But aren't we being too flamboyant now?"

She couldn't help but feel a bit worried.

Yuan Yao gently reassured, "Senior Sister Zong, since we're wearing masks now, no one can recognize us; being so flamboyant poses no real problem."

Moreover, if Second Senior Sister and her group fail to secretly rescue Ao Su senior brother, they may have to be even more flamboyant.

I wonder whether Second Senior Sister and her group have already escaped?

Why is there still no news up to now?