Volume One, Chapter 20: How Can Ants Shake Heaven’s Might?

The few showed no respect to Ye Dong at all, causing his gaze to turn icy cold. Yet, he ultimately chose silence, simply watching quietly without uttering a word. Meanwhile, Zhang Haolong, Jin Ziyang, and Yi Haoran sneered at Ye Dong before continuing to fix their eyes on Yun Qianbai.

“Kid, weren’t you so arrogant before? Why so quiet now?” Zhang Haolong’s face brimmed with smugness, as if he already pictured Yun Qianbai lying beneath their feet.

“What’s there to say to such trash? Just kill him and be done with it!” Jin Ziyang waved his hand impatiently, as if crushing Yun Qianbai was as easy as squashing an ant.

Yi Haoran, however, regarded Yun Qianbai with keen interest, a playful smile curling at his lips. “I’m quite curious — how exactly did you manage to defeat that useless Han Yue?”

Seeing no escape, Yun Qianbai steeled himself and decided to provoke them. “All three of you against me? I’m afraid you can’t afford to lose.”

“Hahaha!” Zhang Haolong burst into laughter as if hearing the greatest joke. “You? Expecting us to gang up on you? You must think very highly of yourself!”

“What’s the matter, scared?” Yun Qianbai shot them a cold glare.

“It’s not about fear, it’s contempt!” Jin Ziyang sneered with disdain. “One of me is more than enough to deal with trash like you!”

“Enough talk, just attack!” Yi Haoran’s eyes flickered with murderous intent.

“Wait!” Yun Qianbai suddenly said, “I have a proposal — how about a one-on-one duel? Loser kneels and kowtows three times to the winner, calling him ‘grandpa.’”

“Oh?” Yi Haoran raised an eyebrow. “Interesting. But why should you think you’re qualified to duel us?”

“Because I’m at the Fourth Layer of the Innate Realm, while you’re at the Eighth, even the Tenth!” Yun Qianbai’s voice rang with conviction. “Tell me, you so-called masters — do you lack even that much courage?”

“Trying to provoke us?” Zhang Haolong sneered coldly. “It won’t work!”

“Yeah, who do you think you are, wanting to duel us?” Jin Ziyang chimed in. “Do you even deserve it?”

“Deserve or not, why not try and find out?” Yun Qianbai stood his ground. “Or are you scared? Scared to lose to a ‘waste’ at the Fourth Layer?”

“Nonsense!” Zhang Haolong growled. “Afraid of you? What a joke!”

“If you’re not afraid, then come on!” Yun Qianbai pressed forward. “Don’t tell me you three so-called Hidden Sect masters don’t even dare accept a challenge from a Fourth Layer Innate Realm fighter!”

“Fine, you asked for it!” Yi Haoran’s eyes flashed with cruelty. “Since you want to die, I’ll oblige.”

“But before the duel, there’s another matter to settle.” Zhang Haolong suddenly said. “You openly attacked inside Human City, breaking the laws of the Abnormal Abilities community. So anyone can kill you now. We’re just enforcing the law.”

“Fabricating charges is never in short supply!” Yun Qianbai sneered. “Bottom line — you’re just too scared to duel me!”

“Say what you want,” Yi Haoran shrugged. “You’re a dead man today!”

“Stop talking, just attack!” Jin Ziyang was eager to see Yun Qianbai trampled beneath them.

Just as Zhang Haolong, Jin Ziyang, and Yi Haoran prepared to strike, a powerful pressure suddenly descended like Mount Tai pressing down, suffocating everyone present.

“Stop!”

A deep, authoritative voice echoed like thunder, ringing in everyone’s ears.

Following the voice, all eyes turned to see a middle-aged man in a green robe walking calmly forward. His cold and stern face radiated an aura of command, each step striking the hearts of those around, evoking awe.

It was none other than Shen Guannan, the sect leader of the Hidden Sect in Qing Shi City.

Seeing Shen Guannan, the arrogance on Zhang Haolong and the others’ faces vanished without a trace, replaced by deep apprehension and a barely perceptible fear.

“Sect Leader!” The three bowed deeply, their respect unmistakable.

Shen Guannan ignored them and approached Yun Qianbai, scanning him up and down before speaking slowly: “Your sister is safe. Rest assured, we won’t harm her.”

He paused, his tone laced with a hint of condescension. “I promised her I’d protect you. Today’s incident never happened. You may leave. I’ll give you some money and escort you out of Qing Shi City. How does that sound?”

Though his voice was soft, it carried an unshakable authority. His offer seemed like a tremendous favor.

Yet Yun Qianbai, as if hearing a great joke, twisted his previously calm face into fury. His eyes blazed with anger, as if ready to burn everything in front of him.

“Don’t mention my sister, or else you’re dead!”

His voice was low and hoarse, each word squeezed out through clenched teeth, dripping with bitter hatred.

Suddenly, he lifted his head, eyes bloodshot, glaring fiercely at Shen Guannan, shouting, “You treat my sister like a petri dish! Is that your version of ‘not harming her,’ you hypocritical fraud!”

With that, Yun Qianbai recklessly charged at Shen Guannan, his fist coated with faint poison, striking hard at Shen Guannan’s chest.

The scene stunned everyone present.

No one expected a mere Fourth Layer Innate Realm wretch to dare attack Shen Guannan, a Tenth Layer Outer Realm master — it was suicide!

Zhang Haolong and the others smirked with schadenfreude, eager for Yun Qianbai to enrage Shen Guannan and be crushed with a single palm.

However, Shen Guannan merely shook his head slightly, disappointment flickering in his eyes.

He didn’t even dodge, standing still and allowing Yun Qianbai’s fist to land on his chest.

“Bang!”

A muffled thud sounded as Yun Qianbai’s fist struck solidly.

Yet Shen Guannan did not move an inch. Instead, the backlash forcefully flung Yun Qianbai backward, crashing heavily to the ground, spewing blood.

“Overestimating yourself.” Shen Guannan said coldly, full of disdain.

“Cough, cough…” Yun Qianbai struggled to rise but felt as if every bone had been shattered, powerless.

All he could do was glare at Shen Guannan with murderous hatred, as if willing to tear him apart with his gaze.

Seeing this, Shen Guannan’s heart surged with inexplicable irritation.

He shot a cold warning glance at Ye Dong, filled with menace and threat, as if saying, “Control your man, or don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

Ye Dong’s heart jolted; he quickly lowered his head, unwilling to meet Shen Guannan’s gaze.

He understood this was a warning not to manipulate Yun Qianbai for their own ends.

Shen Guannan ignored Yun Qianbai further and turned to Zhang Haolong and the others. “Take him away from here. Don’t let me see him again.”

“Yes, Sect Leader!” The three replied swiftly.