I knew it!
The moment Flender laid eyes on the Twenty Four Moonlight Bridge at Tang San's waist, his entire attitude shifted.
He'd rather take a loss than let Ye Yu walk away with the Fajin crystal—just to sell it to Tang San instead.
Ye Yu's expression darkened, a cold smile playing at the corner of his lips.
So that's how it is, Flender? If you don't want to play fair, don't blame me for what comes next.
Without another word, Ye Yu slipped the Fajin into his Jade Dragon Bracelet, turned around, and prepared to leave.
"You little brat—what the hell are you doing?!"
Flender blinked, stunned for a moment when he realized Ye Yu had just taken the crystal and walked off.
Then he slammed a hand on the counter and roared.
"Didn't you hear me?!"
"I said—I'm selling the crystal to him, not you!"
"Hand it over!"
"Oh? Selling it to him?" Ye Yu turned his head and gave a cold snort.
"I was the one who picked up that crystal and offered to buy it."
"Isn't first come, first served a basic rule in any shop?"
"I already paid for it. Whether you accept the money or not, I'm walking out of here with it."
Flender's face twisted with rage, his fury boiling over.
This was a first. Someone actually dared to go against his word in his own shop?
Some pampered noble brat thinks he can act lawlessly in my Owl Shop?
You've got some nerve.
Tang San, on the other hand, had just been filled with elation a moment ago—Flender had agreed to sell him the Fajin for just one hundred gold spirit coins.
But now Ye Yu had snatched it right out from under him.
Fury surged in Tang San's chest.
That damn bastard dared steal from me—Tang San?!
You're courting death.
"You! I'll say it one more time—leave the crystal behind!"
Seeing Ye Yu already at the door, Flender shouted coldly. In the next instant, he released a powerful Spirit Sage-level pressure that swept through the shop like a crashing wave, surging straight toward Ye Yu.
But Ye Yu didn't even flinch.
He simply walked out, completely unfazed, with a dismissive smirk on his face.
Flender froze in disbelief.
What?!
My spirit pressure... didn't affect him at all?
Still, Flender didn't believe Ye Yu's cultivation could possibly surpass his own. The only explanation, he assumed, was that Ye Yu must have some kind of high-level soul tool that blocked spirit power suppression.
"You brat—if you want to die that badly, then I'll grant your wish!"
With a furious shout, Flender's body flickered. In the blink of an eye, he appeared directly in front of Ye Yu.
Then—he lunged. His right hand curled into a claw, striking straight for Ye Yu's throat.
But unfortunately for him, Flender's every move was completely exposed under Ye Yu's sharpened spiritual perception.
Ye Yu didn't even turn his head.
He simply reached back with one hand—and caught Flender by the wrist.
Then with a clean, fluid motion—he flipped him hard over the shoulder, slamming him into the ground with a deafening CRACK.
Flender's eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
He felt like his bones were about to shatter, agony radiating from every joint. His face twisted in pain, his heart howling in disbelief.
What... what just happened?!
He's just a kid—he looks about the same age as Dai Mubai!
At most, he should be a Spirit Ancestor!
How the hell did he counter my move?
And how is he so absurdly strong?!
Flender lay on the ground, pain coursing through his body, unable to move for the moment.
"Four-Eyed Owl—Spirit Possession!"
Gritting his teeth, Flender bellowed as he tried to summon his Martial Soul.
But Ye Yu's gaze turned even colder.
Another effortless throw—another slam into the floor, interrupting the process before it could complete.
Grabbing Flender by the collar, Ye Yu hauled him upright—then shattered his glasses with a single punch, turning his face into a proper panda mask.
And that was just the beginning.
What followed was a one-sided beatdown.
With Ye Yu's fists raining down like a relentless storm, Flender couldn't activate his Martial Soul at all. He could only howl in pain as he was thrashed senseless in front of his own shop.
"Dammit!"
At the entrance of the Owl Shop, Tang San clenched his fists, teeth gritted in frustration.
He refused to give up the Fajin—but he couldn't deny what he just witnessed.
Flender had unleashed his full spirit pressure earlier. Tang San had felt it clearly—it was far beyond his own strength.
But even with that, Flender was being absolutely wrecked.
Yet judging by Ye Yu's appearance, Tang San couldn't believe that his cultivation could truly exceed Flender's.
It must've been a sneak attack... Tang San thought grimly. Flender didn't have time to activate his Martial Soul. If I can buy him just one moment...
Then maybe, just maybe—we can win this.
And I can take back the Fajin crystal!
Tang San's eyes sharpened.
Activating both his Purple Demon Eye and Mysterious Heaven Skill, he unleashed a flurry of Tang Sect hidden weapons.
Leaf-blade daggers, locust stones, coin darts, bone-piercing spikes—
All shot out like a hailstorm, whistling through the air toward Ye Yu's back.
But Ye Yu had already sensed them with his spiritual power.
Oh? The Tang Clan's "Little Buddha" wants to play dirty now?
Ye Yu couldn't help but laugh from sheer disbelief.
He had initially planned to let Tang San off the hook—for no other reason than because of Tang Hao.
But if Tang San wanted to play with poison-tipped blades behind his back...
Fine.
Then let's see just how strong Tang Hao really is.
In response to the incoming hidden weapons—
Ye Yu activated his self-created spirit ability: Thunder Magnet Armor.
Then, without hesitation, he grabbed Flender—and used him as a human shield.
"AAAAAAHHHH!!"
Flender's pained screams echoed through the street.
The entire volley of Tang San's hidden weapons struck Flender's back with a sickening thud.
To his credit, Flender had decent instincts. At the last second, his survival instinct kicked in and he activated his defensive spirit power, shielding his vitals from fatal harm.
But dozens of poisoned weapons still sank into his body.
Even if they didn't pierce through entirely, the toxin-laced tips began to sting and burn under his skin.
As an old hand in the world of Spirit Masters, Flender instantly realized the truth.
Poisoned! The little bastard poisoned me!
His eyes went bloodshot with rage.
Are you trying to kill me?!
"This isn't possible!"
Tang San's expression changed drastically.
He couldn't believe Ye Yu had actually used Flender as a shield—and still emerged unharmed.
Infuriated, he activated Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, darting through the battlefield to attack Ye Yu from multiple directions.
Another wave of hidden weapons flew through the air.
But to his shock—
Every single one of them veered off-course just before impact, as if hitting an invisible force.
None of them even grazed Ye Yu.
Tang San stood frozen.
That's impossible!
How could anyone be immune to the Tang Sect's hidden weapons?!
His very identity as a Tang Sect disciple felt shaken to the core.
Meanwhile, Ye Yu casually tossed Flender's battered body aside.
With a cold chuckle, he turned his gaze on Tang San.
Then his figure blurred—
and transformed into a bolt of lightning.
"Crap!"
Tang San barely had time to react before Ye Yu was already in front of him.
A whip-like roundhouse kick slammed into Tang San's torso.
CRACK!
He spat blood midair as he was sent flying—his body crashing into the wall of the Owl Shop with a resounding impact.