In the past, Ling Tianyou had always crushed him so thoroughly that he could not even lift his head, and now that he had finally caught a rare opening, Wei Yidao was certainly not about to let it slip.

The moment the words left his mouth, the others around them all wore the knowing, mocking looks of people settling in for a good show. Some even chimed in with jeering laughter. Whatever side one stood on, witnessing a top-tier prodigy like Ling Tianyou lose face was always a pleasant diversion—and since Wei Yidao was the one sticking his neck out, they were only too happy to fan the flames from safely behind him.

Ling Tianyou had not intended to waste words on Wei Yidao at all, but now he had been made the target of the crowd with just a few taunts—especially in front of Wei Zhao, no less—and his expression immediately turned hard to maintain. In a low voice he said, "Wei Yidao, this is not the Middle Island. On the Taishe Island, there is no rule forbidding disciples of Taigu sects from openly brawling. Which is to say, if you spout any more nonsense, I will not be holding back."

"Is that so? Then why not go ahead and try?" Wei Yidao's eyelid twitched. By rank he held the advantage—he was at the great perfection of the Foundation Establishment stage, a full tier above Ling Tianyou—but the trouble was that this man simply defied all common sense. He knew perfectly well that he could not possibly withstand the other's Thousand Blades in Flight!

That said, it did not mean he was truly afraid of Ling Tianyou. If it were just the two of them here, he might well have been cowed. But with so many outsiders present, if Ling Tianyou really did strike him down in public, word would inevitably travel back to the Middle Island. Even if Taishe Island had no rule against private duels, it would still be bound to enrage the entire Tyrant Blade Sect.

The Thousand Blades Sect had once been mighty for a time, but now it was nothing more than an ordinary sect. Its strength was on par with the Tyrant Blade Sect's—if anything, somewhat inferior. With the centuries-old grudge between the two sects, add to that a new score involving their lead disciples, and it would inevitably come to blows. The Thousand Blades Sect truly could not afford that outcome.

As the young sect master of the Thousand Blades Sect, Ling Tianyou bore the whole weight of restoring the sect's fortunes. Wei Yidao knew very well that he did not have the nerve.

"You really think I don't dare?" Killing intent surged in Ling Tianyou. In the past he had indeed been cautious and hesitant to make a move. He had believed that with time, as long as he grew strong enough, he would surely be able to restore the Thousand Blades Sect, and that there was no need to court trouble over a moment's anger. But those thoughts had been flung to the back of his mind the moment he met Wei Zhao.

Wei Zhao's arrival had made him suddenly realize that there is always a higher heaven and a greater earth—that he was not the only top-tier prodigy under the sun. If he kept cringing and holding back, he would sooner or later be left behind by the others, and the gap would only grow wider and wider. What restoration could there be then?

Every prodigy carries ambitions higher than the heavens—and a top-tier prodigy like Ling Tianyou all the more so. Once he made up his mind, a man like Wei Yidao was no more than a dead man in his eyes.

Seeing Ling Tianyou like this, Wei Yidao's heart gave a sudden lurch. He had been utterly certain that the man would never dare lay a hand on him in front of everyone, but now he truly could not tell. If Ling Tianyou really did bare his fangs, he was a frightening sight indeed.

"Young Sect Master Ling is welcome to try," the old man at Wei Yidao's side spoke up at that moment. His name was Lin Zhen, one of the top five senior elders of the Tyrant Blade Sect, his strength at the late Golden Core stage. However fearsome Ling Tianyou's Thousand Blades in Flight might be—and rumor even had it that he could contend with Golden Core experts—before a late-stage Golden Core expert like himself, it still fell somewhat short.

Ling Tianyou's standing in the Thousand Blades Sect was a hundred, a thousand times more important than Wei Yidao's in the Tyrant Blade Sect. Should anything happen to Ling Tianyou, the entire Thousand Blades Sect would go berserk and inevitably take frenzied revenge on the Tyrant Blade Sect. Still, Lin Zhen could not simply stand by and watch Wei Yidao be bullied by Ling Tianyou. If Ling Tianyou truly meant to act, he would first have to get past Lin Zhen.

"I have long heard that Elder Lin has comprehended the fifth layer of the Tyrant Blade. Today is a fine chance to test it for myself," Ling Tianyou said with a grin. Any other Foundation Establishment cultivator facing a late-stage Golden Core expert would have been weak in the knees with fright, yet he showed not the slightest fear—after all, his regular sparring partners were of that very caliber, and he had long grown used to it.

"Bold indeed," Lin Zhen said, his face darkening. To be looked down upon by a mere junior at the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage—even if it was the renowned Thousand Blades in Flight, Ling Tianyou—was a thoroughly unpleasant, infuriating feeling.

His temper flaring, Lin Zhen was about to make his move, when Yu Hou finally intervened: "Gentlemen, a moment, if you please. Though my Taishe Island does not forbid you from settling matters with your hands, this place is hardly suitable. After all, I am still here waiting to collect the entry spirit jade. If you gentlemen have grievances, might I suggest you settle them once you are inside?"

"Very well. Since Steward Yu has spoken, I will of course give you that face," Lin Zhen said, promptly taking the out offered to him. He had never truly wanted to lay hands on Ling Tianyou in the first place. Moreover, Yu Hou's standing on Taishe Island was that of a half-owner—even the sect master of the Tyrant Blade Sect himself would have to show him a measure of deference, let alone an elder.

"In that case, we will settle it once inside," Ling Tianyou said, likewise taking a step back.

"Inside? Heh heh. So does Young Sect Master Ling plan to go in alone, or bring your friend along? To drag someone all this way and then leave him standing outside waiting because he lacks spirit jade—that is treating a man like a monkey on a string. Truly an honor to be your friend," Wei Yidao said, still unable to resist needling him.

Ling Tianyou's face was ashen, but the other man had spoken the truth. Matters having come to this, he could only grit his teeth and say, "Brother Lin, I failed to prepare properly this time, and I have made a fool of myself before you. How about this: you go in alone first, and I will return to the Thousand Blades Sect to fetch spirit jade and come back again."

It was awkward, and he would inevitably be laughed at, but it was the only way out he could think of at present.

"No need." Wei Zhao swept his gaze over everyone present, letting it linger a moment on Wei Yidao, who was waiting to enjoy the spectacle, then suddenly smiled and said, "Brother Ling, you worry too much. I have received your kindness, but you must have heard that the one thing I am least short of is spirit jade. Let this spirit jade be on me."

With that, Wei Zhao pointed behind himself, and only then did everyone notice that at some point a sack of spirit jade had appeared at his back—and by the look of it, no small quantity at that.

For a moment everyone thought their eyes were playing tricks on them. Such a large sack of spirit jade simply lying on the ground, and not one of them had noticed it beforehand?