Chapter 82: Chapter 82: The Fight Broke Out
Ye Chen, seething with fury, made his way towards the exit of the auction house. His eyes were locked onto the figures of Yu Haotian and Su Ling, who had just stepped out of VIP Room Seven. The sight of them together only fueled the flames of his anger. He couldn't believe that Su Ling, his cherished senior sister, was with that bastard Yu Haotian.
The man had not only stolen the Thunder Law Weapon, but now he was also keeping company with the woman Ye Chen admired.
He had been branded an enemy of the Starry Sky Sect after his involvement with demonic cultivators was exposed, although he was innocent, and seeing Su Ling, his former senior sister, now in league with Yu Haotian only deepened his hatred. There was no more room for sweet gestures or subtlety.
His anger was beyond reason; he would not stand by while Yu Haotian—his sworn enemy—walked away with everything he desired.
There was no way he would allow this to continue. He had to take action.
"How could she be with that bastard?" Ye Chen fumed internally. "He's nothing but a schemer"
As Yu Haotian and Su Ling moved towards the exit, Ye Chen stepped forward. His mind was consumed with anger and jealousy.He quickened his pace, pushing through the crowd as he sought to confront them.
His eyes were cold, his expression one of pure malice. "Yu Haotian!" he called out, his voice filled with venom.
In the distance, Aric—disguised as Yu Haotian—walked calmly alongside Su Ling. His demeanor was one of relaxed confidence, completely unfazed by the chaos and tension of the auction hall. Su Ling, by his side, cast occasional glances of admiration towards him, her heart fluttering at the thought of how effortlessly he had outmaneuvered everyone else in the auction.
As they stepped out of the auction house, Su Ling turned to Aric, her voice filled with concern, "Senior brother, I have a feeling we might be followed. Should we take precautions?"
Aric smiled reassuringly. "There's no need to worry, Su Ling. Let them follow if they wish. I'm prepared for anything."
[Su Ling's Favorability: 35 → 45 (Close Friend)]
[Ding! Congratulations Host! You gained +1,000 Villain Halo and +10,000 Villain Points for increasing Su Ling's favorability and making her admire you.]
The notification only bolstered Aric's mood. He was reveling in his success, both in acquiring the Thunder Law Weapon and in his growing influence over Su Ling.
Soon they heard, Ye Chen's voice.
Both Yu Haotian and Su Ling stopped and turned, Su Ling's expression immediately hardening upon seeing Ye Chen. The warmth that had once been in her eyes when she looked at him was gone, replaced by disdain and distrust.
"Ye Chen," she said coldly, her voice lacking any of the affection it once held. "You have no place here. You should leave before you cause more trouble for yourself. Otherwise, you will not wake up to see the sun tomorrow."
Ye Chen's lips curled into a sneer. "Trouble for myself? No, Senior Sister, I'm here to make sure that you don't end up regretting your decisions. Do you really think this bastard has your best interests at heart?"
Yu Haotian stepped forward, placing himself between Su Ling and Ye Chen. His gaze was icy, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword. "You've fallen far, Ye Chen. You're nothing more than a disgrace to the Starry Sky Sect. I suggest you turn around and crawl back to whatever hole you came from."
Ye Chen's eyes flashed with murderous intent. "You think you can just take everything from me? My sect, my status, the Thunder Law Weapon… even Su Ling?" His voice was low, dangerous. "I'll take back what's mine, and I'll start with your head!"
Aric had been anticipating Ye Chen's desperation and fury, so he had prepared for just this moment. As Ye Chen's anger boiled over, Aric silently sent out a signal. Moments later, chaos erupted in the auction site as a group of demonic cultivators burst inside the auction hall.
What shocked everyone most was that these attackers were all dressed in the robes of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, the same sect to which Ye Chen claimed allegiance.
Their robes fluttered as they began their killing spree. Cries of people could be sound from every corner as they unleashed their brutal attacks on the unsuspecting crowd.
"In the name of our leader, Ye Chen, we will destroy you!" the demonic cultivators shouted, their voices resonating with malicious intent as they slaughtered anyone in their path. Their dark robes billowed like shadows as they unleashed their fury on the unsuspecting crowd. Panic spread like wildfire through Dongzhai City as the once peaceful auction house transformed into a battlefield.
The name "Ye Chen" was on the lips of every attacker, spreading terror and confusion throughout the city.
Su Ling watched in horror, her face pale with shock as the scene unfolded before her. Her gaze shifted to Ye Chen, who stood frozen in place, his expression a mix of desperation and disbelief. "Ye Chen, I thought you were innocent. But I guess I was wrong. Once can be a coincidence, but twice cannot," Su Ling said, her voice cold and full of contempt.
"You're actually a demonic cultivator, aren't you? You're harming innocents. I shouldn't have ever helped you," she added, her words like daggers piercing Ye Chen's heart.
Ye Chen's eyes widened in panic. "No, Senior Sister! This isn't me! I'm innocent! I was framed!" he pleaded, his voice desperate. He pulled out the token of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, showing it to her with trembling hands.
"See my clothes, see this token. I'm a disciple of the Heavenly Dragon Sect. If I were a demonic cultivator, would they have accepted me?"
Su Ling's gaze hardened. "So, you even fooled the elders of the Heavenly Dragon Sect? Or did you kill one of their disciples to steal that token? Whatever the truth is, it will come out in time. But first, you must be punished."
Yu Haotian stepped forward, his eyes filled with disdain. "Our Starry Sky Sect has issued a kill order on you, Ye Chen. I will fulfill it in our master's stead," he declared.
Ye Chen's desperation turned to rage. "Yu Haotian, I will kill you!" he roared, launching himself at Aric in a furious attack.
Aric easily deflected the attack, his movements calm and composed. This sudden aggression from Ye Chen shocked Su Ling, who watched in disbelief as the situation spiraled out of control.
"Ye Chen, if you won't stop your followers from attacking innocent people and cease your fight with Senior Brother Haotian, then I will fight you too," Su Ling warned, her voice cold and resolute.
Ye Chen was dumbfounded, his heart sinking as he realized that his Senior Sister, who had once trusted him, now stood against him, protecting Yu Haotian.
"Junior Sister, don't worry," Aric said confidently. "He's just an ant. Even if he thinks he can do whatever he wants with the support of the demonic sects, it won't happen."
The battle between Aric and Ye Chen intensified, with the two exchanging blows. Aric, still suppressing his true cultivation level, fought with the appearance of someone at the first stage of the Spirit Severing Realm. Despite his efforts, Ye Chen found himself gradually overwhelmed, his body accumulating injuries as the fight dragged on.
As the commotion near the auction hall grew, several Divine Transformation Realm protectors arrived, their powerful auras immediately quelling the chaos around them. They approached the scene where Aric and Ye Chen were locked in combat, their expressions stern.
"What's happening here?" one of the protectors, a stern-looking elder named Elder Zhong, demanded, his voice carrying the weight of authority.
"Elder, I am Yu Haotian of the Starry Sky Sect," Aric said, stepping forward with a respectful bow. "This man is Ye Chen, a demonic cultivator spreading chaos in the area. He attempted to steal treasures from us. Moreover, the Starry Sky Sect has declared an order to kill him."
Elder Zhong's eyes narrowed as he regarded Ye Chen with disdain. "So this is Ye Chen. I've received communication from your sect leader that if a man by this name enters here, we are to hand him over immediately."
"No, I am not a demonic cultivator! I am a cultivator of the Heavenly Dragon Sect! I was framed!" Ye Chen protested, his voice filled with desperation. But the Divine Transformation Realm protectors were unmoved by his pleas.
"Enough. We will take you into custody," Elder Zhong declared coldly, stepping forward to capture Ye Chen. But as they moved in, Ye Chen, realizing the dire situation he was in, made a desperate bid for freedom, attempting to flee.
The Divine Transformation Realm protectors quickly moved to suppress him, their overwhelming power making it nearly impossible for Ye Chen to escape.
Ye Chen's heart pounded with desperation. Seeing the situation not in his control, he clutched the communication crystal tightly in his hand. He send out a distress signal to the one person he believed could help him—his master, Fu Hong.
"Master, it's me! Ye Chen!" His voice trembled as he spoke into the crystal, his eyes darting around the chaotic scene. "I've been framed! They say I'm a demonic cultivator, but it's all a lie! I need your help, please, Master, you have to come!"
The crystal glowed faintly in response, and Fu Hong's deep, reassuring voice echoed from the other side. "Ye Chen, hold on. I'm coming to you. No one will harm my disciple while I still draw breath."
Moments later, a brilliant flash of light tore through the air, and Fu Hong materialized at the scene, his powerful aura sending shockwaves through the crowd. His presence was overwhelming, like a mountain towering above a field of grass.
"Who dares to harm my disciple?" Fu Hong's voice was thunderous, his gaze sweeping over the protectors, Yu Haotian, and the entire auction site. His eyes narrowed as they fell on Ye Chen, bruised and battered, his heart seething with anger and indignation.
Yu Haotian, always eager to provoke, stepped forward with a mocking grin. "Old man, are you here to defend this traitor? Or perhaps you're here to join the demonic sects yourself? After all, your disciple seems to be quite cozy with them."
Fu Hong's expression darkened, but before he could respond, Elder Zhong, one of the Divine Transformation Realm protectors, interjected. "Ye Chen is accused of colluding with demonic cultivators. The Starry Sky Sect has issued an order for his capture. We cannot allow him to leave."
Fu Hong's anger flared, his voice laced with righteous fury. "This is nonsense! Ye Chen is innocent! He has been framed by those who envy his potential and fear his rise. As his master, I will not let you take him!"
Aric, who had been observing the exchange with a smirk, couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire. "Innocent, you say? Hard to believe when your disciple's name is being chanted by those very demonic cultivators as they wreak havoc on this city. Maybe you've been in league with them all along, Fu Hong. Perhaps the Heavenly Dragon Sect isn't as pure as it claims."
Fu Hong's eyes flashed with fury as he turned to Aric. "You dare slander my name and my sect? Watch your tongue, boy, before I teach you a lesson you won't forget."
The protectors, sensing the imminent conflict, stepped forward, their auras combining into a formidable force. Elder Zhong's voice was firm and unyielding. "Fu Hong, we have our orders. Ye Chen is to be detained and handed over to the Starry Sky Sect. If you insist on obstructing us, we will have no choice but to act."
Fu Hong's patience snapped. "You think you can stop me? I will protect my disciple, no matter the cost!"