Shen Yuan Ring

Chapter 194 Competition

From the moment Ye Fan and Du Xiaolong started picking a fight, Ji Daoyi acted like an outsider, quietly watching their performance without saying a word or getting angry.

Looking at his nonchalant expression, Ye Fan felt his anger flare up like a volcano.

"Ji Daoyi, are you even a man? All you know how to do is cower behind girls. If you're so capable, then stop hiding like a turtle behind Cheng Ke'er."

Ye Fan was clearly getting anxious. They couldn't out-argue the quick-witted Cheng Ke'er, and they didn't dare to lay a hand on her easily.

After all, Cheng Ke'er's master was an honorary elder, on the same level as their own ancestor. Although elders generally wouldn't be too harsh on the squabbles between juniors, there had to be a limit.

At the same time, Cheng Ke'er was exceptionally talented, and her alchemy skills were superior to theirs, but she had always been at odds with them.

The discord between Cheng Ke'er and Ye Fan and others is largely attributable to Ye Fan and his group themselves.

Back then, Ye Fan and his friends were anything but well-behaved, and they would often provoke Cheng Ke'er.

Perhaps at that time they thought Cheng Ke'er was there to take away their resources, just like people from wealthy areas who have a strong sense of superiority and always think that people from other areas will encroach on their resources.

However, to everyone's surprise, Cheng Ke'er suddenly emerged like a phoenix with hidden potential!

Whether it was the speed at which his cultivation level improved or his astonishing alchemy skills, he rapidly caught up with and surpassed Ye Fan and the others.

There are deeper reasons why Cheng Ke'er is so determined to protect Ji Daoyi.

She saw in Ji Daoyi how she looked when she first came to Zhongzhou.

Before Cheng Ke'er could speak, Ji Daoyi, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.

Ji Daoyi's calm gaze slowly turned to Ye Fan. His voice was not loud, but each word was clear and forceful: "I am indeed not a man! Because I am just a boy now!"

After saying this, Ji Daoyi did not stop, but instead scanned the surrounding crowd.

He then said, "You should be glad we didn't meet in the ruins right now. Otherwise, given how arrogant and aggressive you were towards me just now, I wouldn't mind teaching you a lesson in how to behave."

Although Ji Daoyi maintained a calm tone throughout his speech, every word he uttered was like a cold wind in winter, carrying a chilling aura that pierced straight into the hearts of everyone present.

In that instant, everyone present involuntarily shivered, as if a chill rose up from their spine.

Suddenly, someone shouted rudely at Ji Daoyi: "Ji Daoyi, stop spouting nonsense! Let me tell you the truth, there are plenty of trash like you here. Go cool off somewhere else!"

Immediately afterward, others chimed in, "That's right! We don't welcome mediocre trash like you here!"

These people's purpose is obvious. They are unwilling to give Ji Daoyi any opportunity to grow and rise, and are trying to force him to leave on his own with such vile words.

After all, they had already seen through it all; even Dan Daozi didn't seem to have much affection for Ji Daoyi.

Otherwise, how could Ye Fan and his group dare to bully Ji Daoyi so brazenly and openly in front of Dan Daozi?

If it were an ordinary, emotionally fragile child, they probably wouldn't have been able to withstand such humiliation and oppression and would have slunk away.

However, Ji Daoyi was no ordinary child.

From childhood, his parents constantly instilled in him many wise sayings about how to conduct oneself in society and how to survive in the world.

That is why he could be so decisive and ruthless when he fought against his enemies.

Ji Daoyi's eyebrows shot up sharply, like two sharp swords, and his piercing gaze stared straight at the person in front of him.

You should know that from childhood to adulthood, no one has ever dared to so openly call him trash to his face.

Ji Daoyi originally thought that since he had just arrived in this unfamiliar place and was unfamiliar with the people and the land, he did not want to make too many enemies so quickly, so he did not bother with Ye Fan and the others.

However, the more he backed down, the more Du Xiaolong and his gang took advantage of him, becoming increasingly brazen.

After all, he wasn't a mindless block of wood that could be bullied at will without fighting back.

Such constant insults and provocations have crossed his bottom line. If he doesn't retaliate, it would truly be inconsistent with his usual style of doing things.

He stepped out from behind Cheng Ke'er and said coldly, "Fine, since you're spouting nonsense and calling me trash, then let's have a good fight today and see who's the real trash!"

"Martial arts or alchemy, it's up to you! And don't say I'm bullying you!"

Even Dan Daozi, who was watching coldly from the sidelines, couldn't help but gasp at Ji Daoyi's recklessness. Although he had hoped that Ji Daoyi would retaliate and not embarrass their lineage, he never expected him to be so arrogant and conceited.

"Haha, Brother Fan, he actually said we can choose between martial arts competition and alchemy. Ji Daoyi, are you kidding me?"

"You even have the audacity to say you want to bully us. You're just a mid-stage Nascent Soul Realm cultivator who only knows how to refine Qi Cultivation Pills. Who gave you such courage to say such things?"

"That's the funniest thing I've heard all day!"

Not to mention Ye Fan and the others, even Cheng Ke'er, who was standing next to Ji Daoyi, had her face instantly stiffen, and she gently tugged at Ji Daoyi's sleeve with worry.

"Dao Yi, stop fooling around."

“You are no match for them now. I know that you may be exceptionally strong in your country and have few rivals among your peers, but this is Zhongzhou, a place where geniuses and prodigies gather. Although Ye Fan and the others can only be considered average in the Pill Hall, they are not outstanding.”

"But compared to people from other states, they can be considered geniuses."

"You must not act rashly for the sake of momentary pleasure, and don't forget, you are not yet a disciple of the Pill Hall. If you lose this competition, then you..."

Ji Daoyi waved his hand, interrupting Cheng Ke'er before she could finish speaking.

He knew that if he lost this competition, even if he successfully became a disciple of his master Dan Chenzi, he would not be valued by him.

"Ke'er, don't worry! I know what I'm doing."

"We agree. We're all alchemists, so if we're going to compete, let's compete in alchemy! Don't say we're bullying you. We'll compete in refining Qi-Nourishing Pills and see who can refine the highest quality and the largest quantity!"

To prevent Ji Daoyi from going back on his word, Ye Fan readily agreed and even asked Dan Daozi to be the notary for their duel.

"It is fortunate that the elder is here. We would like to ask the elder to witness our duel!"