Chapter 1754: You Still Want More?

"Yan Ye, I think you should worry about yourself first!"

Just as Yan Ye was about to step forward and stand in front of Yun Xiao, he heard a familiar voice. Without even looking, he knew it was Yu Xu who spoke, which instantly caused his face to darken.

Moreover, after Yu Xu spoke, he intentionally or unintentionally stepped forward a few steps and stood between Lu Ye and Yun Xiao, making his intentions clear.

"Yu Xu, do you really want to tear off all pretenses with me?"

Seeing Yu Xu’s actions, Yan Ye was furious beyond measure. The deep voice from his mouth also contained a hint of urgency, as the former’s strength was indeed a small realm higher than his.

"Tear off all pretenses? Yan Ye, you really think highly of yourself. If not for that individual... humph, in any case, if you want to help that brat today, you’ll have to get past me first!"

Yu Xu of the Heavenly Realm Middle Stage was also full of anger. For a Heavenly Realm Early Stage like Yan Ye, if not for the big figure supporting him, Yu Xu would have already dealt with him.

At today’s Drunken Immortal Conference, Yu Xu hadn’t seen the figure behind Yan Ye, so he acted without much concern. Furthermore, believing he had connections with the Emperor Palace, he was even more fearless.

To strike at Yan Ye here, Yu Xu may not have the courage, but just to block him, it was effortless.

Especially with this move, he might let that annoying rough-clothed brat suffer a setback, which was undoubtedly something Yu Xu would be delighted to see. Why wouldn’t he do it?

In Yu Xu’s eyes, that scrawny kid, if he really provoked Chang Shuo, might get his head smashed in with a hammer, saving him some hassle.

"You..."

Seeing Yu Xu exuding powerful energy, Yan Ye knew the situation he was in. He knew it was impossible to get past this guy.

He might even get himself killed if he started a fight, and even the Drunken Immortal Restaurant wouldn’t be able to defend him then.

"Brother Yun Xiao, please don’t act rashly!"

At this point, Yan Ye could only pray that Yun Xiao wouldn’t let pride cloud his judgment. Sometimes, retreating can open up a world of possibilities. Standing up for face when lacking absolute strength would only lead to losses.

Even though Yan Ye thought this, neither him, Yu Xu, nor the onlookers believed that rough-clothed youngster would yield. After all, they had all seen the boy’s pride just now.

Amidst the gloating gazes of many, a strong aura of Meridian Qi emerged from Chang Shuo, causing some nearby Heavenly Realm Early Stage cultivators to retreat a couple of steps in fear of being caught up.

"Since you want it, then it’s yours!"

However, just as everyone believed Yun Xiao wouldn’t easily give in, came a soft voice from the rough-clothed boy, greatly disappointing Yu Xu and the others.

"Humph, I thought this kid had a backbone, but it turns out he’s just spineless!"

Yu Xu spat lightly, feeling a bit of disappointment, but knowing that if the boy had given in, the fight wouldn’t happen. The scene he wanted wouldn’t occur.

On the other hand, Yan Ye sighed in relief, thinking that knowing when to concede is a sign of a true man. Yun Xiao’s concession might pave the way for a smoother future, at least he wouldn’t face losses right now.

"Consider yourself sensible!"

Compared to the mixed reactions of the onlookers, Chang Shuo, one of the parties involved, was quite pleased, thinking his strength had made the youngster back down. He stepped forward to snatch the stone from Yun Xiao’s hand.

Whoosh...

However, Chang Shuo’s grab ultimately came up empty. Yun Xiao’s wrist moved lightly, dodging his grasp, making Chang Shuo’s face drop the smile and turn extremely sullen again.

"My good man, are you sure you only want this stone, and not anything else, right?"

Yun Xiao wouldn’t care about Chang Shuo’s gloomy face, but he asked again, as if trying to get a promise from him, words that to the onlookers stirred mixed reactions.

"Kid, don’t think you can trick me. I want just this stone. Give it to me, or you know the consequences!"

Though irritated, Chang Shuo retained a shred of rationality, instinctively feeling the boy was trying to deceive him into giving up the stone. But how could the world be so conveniently accommodating?

"I see!"

With Chang Shuo’s reminder, the onlookers realized the situation, casting disdainful glances at the rough-clothed boy, thinking that such clumsy words couldn’t even fool a three-year-old.

"Alright!"

Seeing that the other party was set on that stone, Yun Xiao could only sigh helplessly, then extended his right hand to pass the stone to Chang Shuo, which made the latter both astonished and delighted.

Swoosh!

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, they saw Chang Shuo eagerly take out a jade bowl from his waist after receiving the stone, and just like Yun Xiao earlier, place the stone into the jade bowl.

Afterwards, Chang Shuo stroked his left hand again, and a wine pot appeared in the palm of his left hand. Then the familiar sound of flowing water accompanied by fragrance poured from the jade pot into the jade bowl.

"It’s clear wine!"

One of the wine enthusiasts, with quite sensitive senses, sniffed the aroma of the wine poured out, and spoke out with a realization, clearly understanding what Chang Shuo was trying to do.

"Could it be another Thousand Flower Stone?"

Seeing Chang Shuo’s actions, many people reacted. The movement was identical to Yun Xiao’s earlier attempt, obviously trying to mimic his method to have the Thousand Flower Stone reveal itself again.

Even Manager Zhou nearby had his eyes widened, wanting to know what was noteworthy about the stone picked by that mysterious youth; even he found it hard to fathom now.

"Ahem, I say, you don’t really think this stone is another Thousand Flower Stone, do you?"

Among those present, perhaps only Yun Xiao truly knew the truth. At this moment, he coughed twice, feeling a mix of amusement and helplessness at Chang Shuo’s actions. This attempt at imitation was just too haphazard, wasn’t it?

Truth be told, when Yun Xiao suddenly stepped forward and picked up the stone, it was because he sensed something unusual from it.

However, after Yun Xiao sensed the stone after picking it up, he realized that it had only been contaminated with some aura; the true fine wine was not within this stone—it was just an ordinary stone.

Furthermore, even assuming that this stone was indeed a Thousand Flower Stone, it still couldn’t reveal itself just with ordinary clear wine; it also required the Ice Cold Power from Yun Xiao’s left arm’s Ice Cold Ancestral Vein, which others were unaware of.

Besides that, in order to make the Thousand Flower Stone manifest, it could only be done with the intricate method known by Manager Zhou, which would take half a day to succeed. Chang Shuo’s actions were merely futile efforts.

"Go ahead and play by yourself!"

Seeing that Chang Shuo hadn’t realized the truth, Yun Xiao slightly shook his head and then didn’t bother anymore, walking forward a few steps and stooping to pick up another smaller stone.

"This..."

Though most people were focused on Chang Shuo, a small portion paid attention to Yun Xiao’s actions. As they watched him pick up another stone, quite a few felt something was off.

It seemed like Yun Xiao was strolling casually, checking out the stones one by one. If that was really the case, then Chang Shuo’s performance just now was quite amusing.

"It’s useless?!"

At the same time, Chang Shuo had already poured out all the clear wine from the wine pot, but the stone he placed in the jade bowl, aside from being soaked by the wine, showed no sign of change, leaving his face full of anger.

Earlier, Yun Xiao’s scene of pouring wine to reveal the Thousand Flower Stone had been seen clearly by many, including Chang Shuo, so he was eagerly copying the method.

Yet now, the stone didn’t emit mist, and the entire pot of clear wine had been poured out, but the stone remained a stone. Where was the Thousand Flower Stone?

"Kid, you dared to trick me?"

After waiting a while and seeing that the stone still showed no anomalies, Chang Shuo’s gloomy gaze turned back to Yun Xiao, his voice containing a suppressed, angry undertone.

"Trick you?"

Upon hearing, Yun Xiao lifted his head, staring at the angry face, gently shook his head, and said, "I’m very busy; where would I find time to trick you? That stone, you asked for yourself, and now that there’s no effect, it’s hardly my fault, right?"

When it comes to eloquence, even ten Chang Shuo’s would be no match for Yun Xiao. After these words, the brawny man’s face turned a mix of green and white, extremely colorful.

"I say, maybe you’re intending on getting the stone in my hand now?"

Observing Chang Shuo on the brink of an outburst, Yun Xiao remained oblivious to it, playfully tossing the smaller stone in his hand, and his next words almost made several chuckle.

The stone in Yun Xiao’s hand at that moment, aside from being somewhat smaller than the previous one, was practically no different, and everyone knew both fragments were knocked and flew out from the same fake mountain.

Since the last stone showed no anomaly, this one was unlikely to change much either. Could it be that the shabby-clothed youth, dissatisfied with tricking Chang Shuo once, wished to play him again?

If Chang Shuo was tricked once more, he would likely be so embarrassed and furious that he might act directly, but despite looking rough and sturdy, his mind was actually quite quick. This second round of deception likely wouldn’t go as smoothly, would it?