Chapter 167: Give an Inch, Yun Xiao Takes a...


    Yun Xiao knew Chen Xi''s intentions. By using her identity, she attracted countless demons to the war. For what? Simply to eradicate the demons on a just and open stage. She was fearless, even in the face of starting a war, and she aimed for total annihtion.


    If she dared to plot this deep, what did Yun Xiao have to fear? Today, all he had aimed for was some wealth and a Saint Sword Ring. Although his subsequent actions were spontaneous, each step was calcted. Perfectly so. His derations were a prelude, setting the stage for Chen Xi''s uing maneuvers. Maybe at this moment, many would think he was just blindly spouting threats, but time, he believed, would reveal the truth.


    As expected, when Yun Xiao uttered those bold words, the demons actually hoped that the Eternal Joy Demon Emperor wouldn''t rush out to finish him off.


    "Blowing your own trumpet much?" a voice sneered. "Forget five thousand, any slightly older prodigy from my Demon Continent could tear you limb from limb!"


    "Yun Xiao, mark my words! The consequences of today''s actions will haunt your descendants for generations toe!"


    "Humans, just you wait!"


    The demons had never participated in the Heavenly Realm''s War of Immortals. But from that moment on, Yun Xiao had truly lit the fuse. Brave ones, step forward! Cowards, step back! You only live once, so why fear death? Why not embark on a thrilling adventure? A glorious death surely beats a life of mediocrity.


    "Wait for it!" The demons, tears of blood in their eyes, roared in fury, their voices filled with pure malice, as they withdrew in anger.


    "If many human prodigies die in the War of Immortals, it''s all on your head!" the fifth princess snapped.


    "No problem, just pin all their deaths on me!" Yun Xiao replied with a sly grin.


    The entire assembly at the Violet Sky Immortal Pce was left dumbfounded.


    "Magnificent! Truly touching!" Sword Saint Yu Qian of the Violet Sky Immortal Empire, shrouded in a ck cloak, gave Yun Xiao a sarcastic thumbs-up.


    "I must ask, sir, do you practice the sword or simply wield a cucumber?" Yun Xiao replied nonchntly.


    "Ha! Even the Sword Saint Sun wouldn''t dare speak to me in such a manner," Sword Saint Yu Qian scoffed coldly.


    "Lighten up a little! I''m just showing concern for my fellow man. I was afraid you mistook yourself for a dog chewing on a cucumber?" Yun Xiao remarked with a hint of amusement.


    "Ha!" Sword Saint Yu Qian chuckled, shaking his head. "You''re a character."


    "Look, just get lost," Yun Xiao retorted.


    "You''ve be quite the prize, but your head''s too rich for my blood. Your fiery words might stir your own heart, but to me? You''re just a naive pup barking in the wind," Sword Saint Yu Qian said, adjusting his hat. A glint of sword-light shone ominously from his shadowed eyes. "Soon you''ll grasp just how cruel reality can be."


    "I do hope you stick around long enough for me to see that," Yun Xiao responded with a smirk.


    Sword Saint Yu Qian shot back a cold, mocking smile and turned away, making his exit and shielding the two human princesses as he left.


    In the end, the bustling Spirit Treasure Pce stood silent. Only a band of humans remained, casting speechless nces towards Yun Xiao. Their fervor was reced by the weight of reality, and deep worries clouded their gazes.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, my apologies for today''s unexpected events. The Spirit Treasure Pce will be closed for three hours and will reopen thereafter. We seek your understanding," Zhao Xuanjian apologized to the attendees.


    "Understood."


    "Mister Zhao, maybe it''s best to discuss the current situation with the young one."


    "In this age, being hot-blooded alone won''t cut it."


    The crowd sighed in unison.


    "I''m honored by your confidence, but I can''t control him," Zhao Xuanjian confessed, shaking his head.


    With onest mixed nce at Yun Xiao, they bid their goodbyes, and the pce emptied in a sh.


    ?ι══????????══ι?


    Fifteen minutester, Yun Xiao and Zhao Xuanjian stood face to face in an opulent room atop the pce, the atmosphere thick with tension. Stray Dog crouched to the side, barely daring to breathe.


    "Was this orchestrated by Old Chen?" Zhao Xuanjian inquired earnestly.


    "No! My actions had nothing to do with the Chen n," Yun Xiao asserted.


    "So, from the moment you asked me for that Saint Sword Ring, you nned to entice and kill the Peacock Prince? Your father-inw wasn''t involved?" Zhao Xuanjian stared, dumbfounded, at the audacious young man before him.


    "Exactly," Yun Xiao nodded.


    "Have youpletely given up on this world?" Zhao asked, a hint of sadness in his voice.


    "I follow the Heavenly Dao. Men can die, but their spirit must never waver!" Yun Xiao dered.


    "The problem is... even if you just killed that Peacock Prince, your father-inw could protect you on the grounds of a duel to the death. But desecrating his corpse in public? You''ve pped the face of everyone promoting peace between humans and demons! No matter how eloquent you are, or how you cling to the excuse of avenging a wronged spirit, this changes the game for the higher-ups. It''s awkward for everyone." Zhao Xuanjian sighed. "Kid, when we''re the underdogs, we can''t give our enemies an inch or a reason to rally against us. The human race must fight only righteous battles. Otherwise, internal strife, deceivers, rampant traitors, and schemers are more than enough to drown us."


    "I know that! That''s why I said all of this was my personal choice! It has nothing to do with the Chen n or any of you. If trouble reallyes knocking, you can hand me over like those billion Sword Cultivators, offer a truce to the Demon Continent. I''m not afraid to die," Yun Xiao dered.


    "Don''t talk nonsense. Your father-inw and I aren''t from the Ye Royal Family." Zhao Xuanjian inhaled deeply, continuing, "The current issue is, if those demons decide to act shamelessly ande after you in the next few days, your father-inw will have a hard time justifying protecting you. How''s he supposed to stand against multiple Demon Emperors and 108 Saints on his own?"


    "It''s okay. To be frank, if you hand me over, it''ll solve the problem. I''ve humiliated their Demon Prince; I''d be satisfied even in death! But if I couldn''t insult him, living would be worse than dying," Yun Xiao countered.


    "Why couldn''t you have waited a few more years to humiliate him? You have so much potential!" Zhao Xuanjian eximed in exasperation.


    "A few years? I can''t even wait a day. If I hold a grudge but can''t act on it, what''s the point of a future?" Yun Xiao chuckled.


    Zhao Xuanjian just stared, speechless.


    "Bro, you''re a true-blue Sword Cultivator," Stray Dog interjected with a grin, grinding his teeth, "At least to me, with that attitude, you could make it into the War of Immortals, right? ording to its rules, if someone dies, everyone has to ept it!"


    "Yes, indeed! Youngsters like you should just grow and thrive! Older folks like us should handle these matters... s," Zhao Xuanjian gazed at Yun Xiao, a pang of pity in his heart. He understood better than anyone the storm Yun Xiao would soon find himself in, caught between the might of both the Divine and Demon Continent. That was a force magnitudes beyondprehension.


    How would a mere young man in white robes survive, surrounded by countless powerful foes? How would he endure?


    "Uncle Zhao, all this talk doesn''t do much good. I''d prefer something more... tangible," Yun Xiao said, breaking into a smile.


    "What do you mean by that…?" Zhao Xuanjian asked with a jolt.


    "My father-inw once said..."


    Before Yun Xiao could finish, Zhao Xuanjian quickly interrupted, his eyes widening in rm. "You''d better keep that trap shut! Old Chen had a hard enough time raising a daughter. Don''t drag him deeper into this mess!"


    "Ahem." Yun Xiao grinned sheepishly, "Alright then, let me speak for myself. Uncle Zhao... how about handing over all the remaining Saint Sword Rings you have?"


    "Hand them over?!" Zhao Xuanjian stammered, bbergasted. "You''ve got some nerve! After ying the fool and snatching up all that loot from the Peacock Prince, you can''t scrounge up 30,000 Saint Stones?"


    "You have the audacity to say that? You ced secret bets on me, and the amount you won must have been astronomical!" Yun Xiao chuckled.


    "Nonsense! My Spirit Treasure Pce closed for over three hours today because of you! Today was supposed to be our best business day, and you''ve cost me a fortune! Not to mention, I still have to pay taxes to the Immortal Empire!" Zhao Xuanjian eximed, almost pained.


    "You think I''m a fool? The money you won from the bets is your personal wealth. The loss from the closure? That''s the Spirit Treasure Pce''s debt. Bottom line, you still profited," Yun Xiao ruthlessly pointed out.


    Zhao Xuanjian was dumbfounded. Stroking his beard, he finally shook his head, "There''s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. I can''t. It goes against my business principles."


    On hearing this, Yun Xiao unsheathed his Sword Soul, pointing at the Saint Realm Sword Ring on it. He smirked, "Well then, I''ll just head out to the main street and announce that you gifted me this Sword Ring. Naturally, everyone will assume that your Spirit Treasure Pce was behind the murder of the Peacock Prince. Sounds usible, right?"


    "..." Zhao Xuanjian''s eyes went wide.