Chapter 402: Registration
To Song Shanqi's surprise, however, the young man beside Song Yubing seemed completely unfazed, only giving him a detached glance.
His eyes even held a glimmer of mockery.
This made Song Shanqi's brow furrow.
'Am I imagining things?'
'A mere Divinity Transformation Realm youth can meet my gaze without flinching, completely unaffected?'
After all, during that previous glance, he had used the power of his Divine Soul, intending to put Ye Chen in his place!
But in the end, the result left him somewhat disappointed.
"Impressive."
Song Jiuming, who was standing to the side, chimed in, saying coolly, "I hear the helper you found once repelled a group of Divinity Transformation Realm experts outside the Dragon Prison Cave in Lei Province."
"That being the case, just to be safe, the family sent a few of us old-timers over."
"Besides, it's been a while since we've stretched our legs. It's no harm to come and have a look."
Song Yubing bit her lip, her expression grave.
Coming from the Song family, she knew full well that they always dealt with their enemies decisively, using overwhelming force to crush them.
They never underestimated an enemy for being weak, nor did they ever let their guard down.
This was precisely what made the Song family so difficult to deal with!
Once someone was identified as an enemy, the Song family would directly dispatch powerful experts to sweep away all opposition!
Even against a weak enemy, the Song family wouldn't waste time, opting for a swift and decisive resolution.
Because of this, the Song family was able to secure its position as one of the four great families of Dongxuan Province, remaining unshaken by any other power to this day.
No one wanted to become an enemy of the Song family. Everyone knew just how ruthless they could be!
"So you're the Ye Chen who displayed such might at the Dragon Prison Cave?"
Song Xuanxing looked at Ye Chen, sizing him up and down. He couldn't help but comment, "Divinity Transformation Realm? Not bad, not bad at all. To reach this level at your age... you're not much worse than those prodigies in Dongxuan Province."
"I'm genuinely curious how you achieved so much in a barren place like Lei Province... No wonder Song Yubing took a liking to you and asked you to fight for her at the Peach Blossom Banquet!"
Song Jiuming, however, snorted coldly. "He might have what it takes to win at the Peach Blossom Banquet, but if he really runs into those other prodigies, the outcome is hard to say. The one from our Song family alone should be enough to suppress him."
"Be that as it may, it's better to be safe," Song Shanqi said with a chuckle. "The relic left behind by those wretches is of great importance. We can't afford to take any chances. We must eliminate all potential risks and secure it."
The "wretches" he spoke of were, of course, Song Yubing's parents.
This enraged Song Yubing, and her body trembled with fury.
Ye Chen, on the other hand, was looking down, lost in thought.
'Listening to the Song family Elders' assessment, I realize now that my Cultivation Realm already places me at the forefront of Dongxuan Province's younger generation.'
'In fact, across the entire eastern region of the dynasty, I'm considered a leading figure among my peers!'
'Of course, that's just based on my apparent Cultivation Realm.'
'When it comes to my actual strength, I've long since stopped comparing myself to Cultivators of my own generation.'
'The only ones who can truly challenge me are those unfathomably powerful seniors from older generations.'
"So, you plan on fighting me?"
Ye Chen, who had been silent until now, slowly raised his eyes and finally spoke.
As he spoke, the gazes of all the Song family experts instantly focused on him.
Amused expressions appeared on their faces.
"Fight? You think you're worthy?"
One of the Divinity Transformation Realm experts sneered, "The only reason the Elders came to intercept you themselves isn't because they think you're important. It's because they value the relic left behind by those two wretches!"
"Do you really think your meager strength is enough to warrant the Elders' attention?"
As soon as he finished speaking, all the Song family experts burst into roaring laughter.
They clearly didn't take Ye Chen seriously.
To a behemoth like the Song family, a Divinity Transformation Realm Cultivator couldn't even be considered an opponent.
In fact, beings of this level held an extremely transcendent status in many other provinces.
But in Dongxuan Province, the number of Divinity Transformation Realm Cultivators serving under the Song family alone was a dime a dozen.
A mere Divinity Transformation Realm youth... how could he possibly be a threat?
He wasn't even worth their notice!
"Is that so?"
Ye Chen looked at the Song family expert who had spoken. "In that case, how about you and I have a match?"
"HAHAHA! What, you don't dare to provoke the Elders, so you pick a fight with us instead?"
The Song family expert roared with laughter. "Fine, I don't mind playing along. I'll teach you a lesson today. Your paltry abilities are nowhere near enough to make the Elders act."
The other Song family experts also looked over, their expressions full of ridicule.
"Don't be rash!"
Song Shanqi's brow twitched. He shot a glare at the expert who had spoken and said in a calm tone, "Our Song family has no grievance with young friend Ye Chen. How can we just attack someone without reason? It's utterly unbecoming!"
"Indeed. This young friend Ye Chen has merely been misled by Song Yubing. He can't be considered an enemy of the Song family."
Song Xuanxing also spoke up. He glanced at Ye Chen and said, "If young friend Ye Chen can forsake the darkness for the light, choose to part ways with this Demon Cultivator, and be a guest at our Song family home, then it's not impossible for us to become friends."
"The Elder is absolutely right. It was I who was too impulsive." The Song family expert showed a look of shame.
Watching this scene unfold, Song Yubing clenched her fists in anger, murderous intent surging in her eyes!
'These words from Song Shanqi and the others... they're deliberately trying to drive a wedge between us!'
'We're already under pressure from the Song family's might. Now the Song family experts are playing good cop, bad cop, working in concert. It would be easy to shake our resolve!'
'Someone with a weaker will would have probably already surrendered to the Song family, leaving me all alone!'
'If even the helper I found was swayed by just a few of their words, the blow to my mind and spirit would be unimaginable!'
But clearly, Ye Chen was not troubled by this.
He simply asked with curiosity, "So you didn't block our path today to fight?"
"Of course not. We only need to delay you here."
Song Jiuming said in a cold voice, "Perhaps you don't know, but to participate in the Peach Blossom Banquet, you need to register."
"After registration, the provincial government shuffles the order of the registrants and then decides their opponents."
"And in one more hour, registration will close."
"Once you miss the registration deadline, no one can appear at the Peach Blossom Banquet! It doesn't matter how much of a prodigy you are, or how astounding your talent is!"