Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 646 Colluding with Each Other

The onlookers surrounding Ye Qingchen couldn’t stop shaking their heads.

"You’re just hopelessly naive, kid. It’s obvious Jiang Xiaoyi was setting a trap, and you walked right into it... Sigh..."

"Tell me about it. I really don’t get what goes through you young people’s minds."

"The Mountain and Rivers Sheji Map has been displayed here for so long, and not a single person has been able to decipher it. How dare you make this kind of bet with him? Aren’t you just asking to be humiliated?"

"He’s still too young. He doesn’t know how cruel the world can be!"

The crowd muttered amongst themselves, their eyes filled with sympathy for Ye Qingchen.

Jiang Xiaoyi, on the other hand, could barely contain his glee, the smile on his face impossible to suppress. At first, he thought he’d never recover the face he’d lost because of this guy. He never expected that someone who seemed so capable was actually a complete fool. The guy had even jumped right into the pit he’d dug for him! Jiang Xiaoyi hadn’t admired many people in his life, but he had to hand it to this fellow!

Ye Qingchen heard the gist of the crowd’s murmuring; most of them clearly didn’t think highly of him. A mere second-level cultivator in the Martial Emperor Realm daring to cause a scene on the Jiang Ancient Clan’s grounds was bound to make a fool of himself!

Ye Qingchen ignored their comments and looked at Jiang Xiaoyi with a serious expression.

"I hope you remember the promise you just made."

"Of course, of course, I’ll definitely remember! But you’d better remember my terms, too. If you really can’t comprehend it, you’ll give me all the money you have on you. On top of that, you’ll have to kneel and call me ’Grandfather’!"

Jiang Xiaoyi waved his hand, his face flushed with excitement. His generational seniority had never been elevated like this before, and to think someone was serving it up on a silver platter. If his ancestors knew, their graves would probably be smoking with pride!

"Young man, if you really can’t do it, just apologize to him," the same person who had spoken up for Ye Qingchen earlier advised, stepping forward with a worried look. "He’s normally very concerned with his pride, and this time he’s been pushed too far. If you just placate him, you won’t have to suffer such a great humiliation!"

Ye Qingchen glanced at the Mountain and Rivers Sheji Map in the center and shook his head decisively.

"Admitting defeat without even trying? If my sect found out, I’d definitely get a plank beating!"

Upon hearing this, the onlookers’ expressions shifted. If he knew he risked disgracing his sect, why had he so foolishly walked into someone’s trap?

Ye Qingchen didn’t engage the crowd any further. He strode toward the Mountain and Rivers Sheji Map in the middle of the hall. Intrigued by the bet, the onlookers were eager to see what would happen and instinctively cleared a path for him.

On either side of the path, people huddled together in small groups, whispering amongst themselves.

Those in the innermost circle were all relatively powerful cultivators. Seeing this unwelcome upstart brazenly approach, the contempt in their eyes deepened.

"So you’re the one who claims he can decipher this painting?" a young man said arrogantly. His arms were crossed over his chest, and his clothes were made of a rare defensive fabric, marking him as no ordinary person.

Jiang Xiaoyi was watching the show from the back. When he saw who was blocking the path, his disdainful expression changed in an instant. He eagerly scurried over to the young man’s side.

"My goodness, if it isn’t Young Master Kuang! My apologies, I’m so blind, I didn’t see you here from the back. Had I known you were present, I never would have made this bet. Please forgive me for interrupting your attempt to comprehend the painting. It’s all my fault!"

Jiang Xiaoyi’s fawning was so obsequious he looked ready to prostrate himself like a servant.

Kuang Tie shot him an irritated glare. "The Jiang Ancient Clan has provided this opportunity. If you can comprehend it, then stay and focus. If you can’t, then get the hell out of here and stop wasting our time! Otherwise, I’ll cripple you where you stand!"

Ever since the Jiang Ancient Clan had put this opportunity on display, he had secured a spot at the very front, waiting for the moment he might finally achieve enlightenment. His clan elders had told him that the Mountain and Rivers Sheji Map concealed the Great Dao itself. If he could comprehend it, he would absolutely become one of the most distinguished figures in his clan.

He had been here for three days and three nights, staring at this painting without food or drink! Kuang Tie hadn’t managed to make heads or tails of it, and his frustration was already at its peak. The last thing he needed was someone causing trouble. His pent-up fury finally erupted, all of it directed at Jiang Xiaoyi.

Hearing this, Jiang Xiaoyi trembled violently. He prostrated himself on the ground, gasping for breath as he stuttered out a reply. "Young Master Kuang, Young Master Kuang, please, calm your anger! I... I only did this because I couldn’t swallow my humiliation!"

When the tense atmosphere eased slightly, Jiang Xiaoyi slowly raised his head.

"It’s this guy! He just brazenly claimed he could comprehend the painting. Just think, Young Master Kuang, you’ve been here for days without sensing anything, yet this brat dares to make such a boast! He’s clearly showing you no respect! Someone like him needs to be taught a lesson, so I brought him to your attention!"

Kuang Tie listened, then lifted his gaze to sweep over Ye Qingchen, the disdain in his eyes growing even thicker.

"What is the meaning of this? How could the esteemed Jiang Ancient Clan let someone like him in? He looks to be merely at the second level. What could he possibly comprehend?! You, boy. Go back where you came from and stop wasting my time. Otherwise, you’ll be sorry!"

Though Kuang Tie’s words were harsh, the crowd couldn’t help but breathe a collective sigh of relief. The newcomer had fallen into a trap, but now a powerful figure had unexpectedly intervened, saving him from his predicament. What a stroke of luck!

Jiang Xiaoyi felt like an ant on a hot pan. He had been so close to getting his dignity back, and now this man was about to ruin everything with just a few words. He wouldn’t allow it! He scrambled to his feet and scurried to Kuang Tie’s side, whispering urgently in his ear.

Kuang Tie’s wrathful expression slowly relaxed, and a calculating glint appeared in his eyes as he stared intently at Ye Qingchen.

Once Jiang Xiaoyi finished speaking, he straightened up and stepped to the side, his previous servile demeanor gone without a trace.

Kuang Tie cleared his throat, glanced at the people nearby, and announced with an air of authority, "Since this is a wager between you two, we won’t interfere. However, there must be a time limit. After all, the rest of us need to continue our own attempts. Let’s set the duration of your bet to one quarter of an hour. Whoever can comprehend the mysteries of this painting within that time will be the winner!"

With that, Kuang Tie had drastically shortened the time allowed. Everyone present looked at Ye Qingchen with a hint of pity.

"That young man is completely done for today!"

"I thought he might have found a way out of it, but who knew Young Master Kuang would be in cahoots with Jiang Xiaoyi!"

"Exactly! Others have failed after trying for three days and nights straight. Who could possibly succeed in just a quarter of an hour?"

"Well, it’s his own fault for not quitting while he was ahead. He just had to make that bet, and now he’s backed himself into a corner!"

The crowd buzzed with comments—some were enjoying the drama, some were sympathetic, and others were contemptuous.