Chapter 1727: Without Strength, It's Just Arrogance

When Ye Zhangqing said this, his tone was calm, as if he were talking about an insignificant trivial matter.

But the confidence in his words was clearly felt by everyone present.

Even Luo Jiuyou and Hei Lin, who had retreated to the side because of the Lock Heaven Grand Formation, furrowed their brows with a complex expression.

The two had actually been thinking all along about how to deal with the Lock Heaven Grand Formation; even though Ye Zhangqing had confidently told them to step back earlier, they still didn't think he had any chance of winning.

So, what they kept thinking in their hearts was to make a move.

But now, Ye Zhangqing's words gave the impression that he didn't take Qing Shen Ji and Tian Xing seriously, yet facing two opponents, he had no chance of winning.

Admitting that Ye Zhangqing's combat strength is strong, even in a one-on-one fight, his chance of winning is estimated to be around sixty or seventy percent.

But a one-versus-two situation is completely different; everyone here is a top prodigy, not ordinary people.

When numbers are on one's side, it means having an overwhelming advantage—there's no doubt about that.

So, Luo Jiuyou and Hei Lin both wondered where Ye Zhangqing's confidence came from.

Upon hearing this, Qing Shen Ji and Tian Xing—Tian Xing didn't speak, only a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Qing Shen Ji, meanwhile, let out a light laugh and said with a mocking expression.

"Ye Zhangqing, you're being overly arrogant. My ancestors said you could match the Ancestor Realm, but they weren't referring to your combat strength—they meant your cooking skills. Unfortunately, cooking is useless here."

In response, Ye Zhangqing said in a flat tone.

"It's only arrogance when you lack strength; when you have strength, it's confidence."

As he spoke, Ye Zhangqing's space ring flashed, and the kitchen knife he usually used appeared in his hand.

This kitchen knife had long been upgraded to Emperor-level by the elder of the Artifact Masters' Alliance; it's normally used for cooking, but on the battlefield it can just as easily be used to slay enemies.

Don't treat the kitchen knife as anything less than a blade.

Holding the gold-patterned kitchen knife, Ye Zhangqing's aura began to rise; besides spiritual power and law power, there was also a thick Blade Intent.

Blade qi swirled around; at this moment, Ye Zhangqing gave off a feeling completely different from usual, as if he were a different person.

Sensing Ye Zhangqing's continuously rising aura, Qing Shen Ji and Tian Xing also made preparations for battle.

And Ye Zhangqing stopped talking nonsense; since he couldn't dodge this fight, he wouldn't dodge.

With a movement of his feet, neither Qing Shen Ji nor Tian Xing could see the footwork Ye Zhangqing used; in the next instant he appeared before them.

A flicker of astonishment crossed their eyes—Ye Zhangqing's speed was absurdly fast.

Before they could think further, a blade light sliced across; Ye Zhangqing had already struck, the blade light heading straight for Qing Shen Ji.

"Be careful."

Seeing this, Tian Xing shouted in a deep voice, and Qing Shen Ji also retreated immediately.

Where the blade light passed, space was torn apart like paper, inch by inch; a spatial rift, like a tail dragged out by the blade light, spread along its trajectory.

This strike made Qing Shen Ji feel threatened, and it was merely the power of Ye Zhangqing's casual blow.

While retreating, she formed seals with both hands to block Ye Zhangqing's blade light.

In the end, the blade light violently collided with Qing Shen Ji's divine power, ultimately forcing her back several steps before she managed to block it.

Although she successfully blocked Ye Zhangqing's attack, neither Qing Shen Ji nor Tian Xing felt any relaxation.

In fact, the pressure in their hearts was even greater than before.

That blade Ye Zhangqing just unleashed truly exceeded their imagination; his combat power.................

Facing Ye Zhangqing, who gave them no chance to catch their breath, Qing Shen Ji and Tian Xing had long lost their earlier ease; instead, they felt as if facing a formidable foe.

Even if the two joined forces, and even though Luo Jiuyou and Hei Lin, wary of the Lock Heaven Grand Formation, dared not act rashly, they could only stand aside and watch obediently.

Qing Shen Ji and Tian Xing also felt immense pressure; this pressure was obviously far beyond what they had anticipated before the battle.

Not only them, but even Luo Jiuyou and Hei Lin, watching from the sidelines as Ye Zhangqing fought two opponents and yet turned the tables, had their eyes widened.

Brother Changqing's combat power.................

Luo Jiuyou opened his mouth, his face showing an expression as if he had seen a ghost.

Considering he's somewhat a friend of Ye Zhangqing, during this time at the Dao Yi Shengdi, the three have sparred quite a bit.

Of course, basically it was Luo Jiuyou and Hei Lin pulling Ye Zhangqing along.

Ye Zhangqing isn't interested in this either; with that time, couldn't he just lie down comfortably?

But after sparring so many times, the combat power Ye Zhangqing displayed could only be considered average.

Indeed, he had reached the level of a top prodigy—not weaker than them, but not significantly stronger either.

What's more, look at now—facing two opponents yet not falling behind in the slightest.

This strength is clearly different from what Ye Zhangqing usually shows.

Watching one person fight two and still be able to trade blows, even taking the initiative—Ye Zhangqing.

Luo Jiuyou and Hei Lin both had complex expressions, and the same thought welled up in their hearts: during those spars, Ye Zhangqing had never exerted his full strength.

"So, in those previous spars, Brother Changqing had been hiding his strength?"

Luo Jiuyou said with a strange expression, his heart feeling a mix of emotions.

And Hei Lin beside him still had a dead-fish look, speaking in a heart‑piercing way.

"It's not that he hid his strength; he was just playing with us. After all, every time we sparred, weren't you the ones soft‑hard‑pressing Brother Changqing to make a move?"

In Hei Lin's view, Ye Zhangqing never had any intention to spar; it was all Luo Jiuyou, that rascal, using every trick.

He pestered Ye Zhangqing to the point of annoyance, so Ye Zhangqing finally had no choice but to reluctantly agree and just go through the motions.

Otherwise, Ye Zhangqing wouldn't have lifted a finger at all.

Hearing this, Luo Jiuyou's face became complex; it seemed to be the case, after all Ye Zhangqing had never taken the initiative to want to spar.

Furthermore, each spar was proposed by Luo Jiuyou, and each time it took considerable effort before Ye Zhangqing would agree.

Looking at it this way, Ye Zhangqing's previous spars were just him casually going through the motions with the two of them—he never took them seriously.

Upon learning the truth, Luo Jiuyou felt somewhat struck.

No wonder Ye Zhangqing could say those words so confidently just now.

Without ability, it's called arrogance; with ability, it's not arrogance, merely a straightforward statement of fact.

Seeing Qing Shen Ji and Tian Xing, who still hadn't gained any advantage over Ye Zhangqing, Luo Jiuyou fell silent for a moment, then spoke with a complex heart.

"Brother Ye Zhangqing really kept us in the dark; I suddenly feel like I'm studying with the crown prince."

"Who let you cling to people all day? But it's still too early to say these things; Qing Shen Ji and Tian Xing still have moves they haven't used. If this continues, they'll be driven to desperation and surely won't hold back anymore. I don't know if Brother Ye Zhangqing can withstand them."