C9 Arrogant

Often, you'll notice that those enigmatic individuals live lives indistinguishable from the average person. Yet, those with little to no talent seem to carry themselves with an air of superiority.

The tall youth had spent his years atop Shu Mountain, cut off from society. He was unfamiliar with the concepts of modesty or reverence for elders and affection for the young. In his view, society was inherently hierarchical, with the lower classes doomed to a life of subservience, forever struggling in obscurity, unable to lift their heads.

In times of peace, one's birthright dictated their social standing, and as adults, their accomplishments further distinguished them. After Earth's transformation, these disparities were exacerbated to an extreme degree.

The more powerful one became, the more dignity they commanded in this transformed world.

The tall youth brazenly challenged, "Old man, I'm causing a stir right here. What are you going to do about it?"

Despite his continued arrogance, the bald man opposite him had become significantly more subdued. The young man might have been naive about the ways of the world, but the bald man understood all too well.

Moments before, the elderly man had effortlessly pushed him aside without expending any energy. This was no fluke but rather an exhibition of absolute, flawless physical strength.

The bald man had pledged allegiance to Yang Xiaoyan after Earth's mutation and, as a reward, received an Ancient Fruit. This gift granted him a powerful super ability. With rigorous training, his body had become as tough as iron, and his strength was immense, capable of delivering blows exceeding a thousand kilograms.

Yet, the old man had simply brushed him aside with ease.

Recognizing his place, the bald man stepped back, observing the Sword Cultivator's confrontation with a detached gaze.

"Ao Yuan, show some respect!"

A meteor blazed across the bright sky, heralding the arrival of an elder in a Taoist robe, levitating on a flying sword. His white hair and eyebrows gave him an air of otherworldly wisdom.

With hands clasped behind his back, the elder paid no heed to the tall youth, instead exchanging a silent glance with the white-haired old man suspended in the air.

"Master!" The tall youth's face lit up with delight upon seeing the white-haired elder, and he cast a defiant look at the old man, as if to challenge his authority.

The white-haired elder nodded at the towering young man before turning his gaze to another elder, who stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His eyes betrayed a hint of complexity as he addressed him, "Elder Chen, I presume you've deduced that a Strange Treasure is destined to emerge in Chen Village. We at Shu Mountain have no desire to be adversaries, so we shall abstain from the contest for the Strange Treasure. However, our younger members are keen to test their fortunes. Might you permit them to reside in Chen Village for a time?"

"Chen Village is a community, and as such, naturally accommodates residents. As long as there are villagers willing to host them, I see no reason to object," the old man replied after a moment's contemplation. He was well aware that a Strange Treasure was soon to manifest within the village. Maintaining the usual tranquility of Chen Village was not a feasible expectation; a multitude of Evolvers would soon converge here in pursuit of the Strange Treasure.

His best course of action was to prevent the older generation of practitioners from getting involved. These individuals had begun their cultivation in a time of peace and had prepared themselves to achieve greatness amidst the profound changes of the world. If even a few from that group were to arrive, they would undoubtedly plunge Chen Village into disarray.

He also recognized that the other party had extended a diplomatic courtesy.

"Since you wish to safeguard Chen Village, I will send a handful of the younger ones, whom you oversee. In doing so, you have granted me considerable respect."

After imparting a few instructions to the trio of Sword Cultivator youths, the white-haired elder transformed his flying sword into a streak of light and vanished from sight.

"Hahaha, look at you, all at a loss for words, old man! You've got nothing to say now, have you? Hurry up and summon the villagers of Chen Village. I'm eager to see who's willing to offer me lodging," Ao Yuan, the tall youth, bellowed with laughter. He believed the elder from Chen Village had been cowed by his master's presence, prompting the concession.

The gatekeeper paid Ao Yuan no heed, turning on his heel and departing.

Yang Xiaoyan and the bald man were astute enough to realize that the entry of outsiders into Chen Village had been tacitly approved. They discreetly followed the gatekeeper, cautiously making their way into the village.

After they departed, the damaged Mecha touched down not far from Chen Village. A diminutive girl emerged from the cockpit, gazing at the still-hovering Mecha for a long while before sprinting toward Chen Village.

Ao Yuan, having been disregarded by the elderly gatekeeper of Chen Village, restrained himself from reacting angrily. Instead, he clenched his fists and, along with his two companions, made his way into the village.

Meanwhile, Yang Huang was in the guest room at Chen Min's house, having locked the door behind him. Laid out neatly on the table before him were strips of yellowed talisman paper. He had prepared these in the lab before his arrival, inscribing them with Genuine Qi. However, the talismans remained invisible until activated.

"Twenty talismans in total: ten Illusion Disaster Misfortune Talismans, six Thunder Talismans, and four Six-fire Bright King Talismans," Yang Huang declared, sweeping his arm over the table, making the talismans vanish as if by sleight of hand.

"The Rank Two Mustard Storage Talisman is beyond my current ability to craft. But, luckily, after Earth's transformation, a peculiar black stone emerged. I stumbled upon it a month ago. This stone contains a material that can alter spatial structures, perfect for enhancing the Mustard Storage Talisman." Yang Huang had learned about the different ranks of talismans from the Void Step Array Dao Talisman Divination Record, which detailed nine ranks in ascending order.

A Rank One Talisman, known as a Void Talisman, signifies an incomplete manifestation of its power, essentially a prototype. It requires activation with a Magic Spell and can only be used once. Yang Huang, however, had no trouble crafting and using Rank One Talismans with ease.

Talismans like the Mustard Storage Talisman are considered Rank Two, or Dao Talismans. They necessitate the cultivation of a Primordial Spirit and the condensation of Divine Sense for use. Unlike the Void Talisman, they do not require a Magic Spell for activation and can be reused.

Talismans from Rank Two to Rank Five are all categorized as Dao Talismans. Should a talisman's quality surpass Rank Five and reach Rank Six, it is deemed a Spirit Talisman. At this level, there's no need to refine the talisman into paper or inscribe it with a brush. Instead, one simply harnesses the energy of the universe, and the talisman materializes instantly, possessing immense power and limitless applications.

The Immortal Talisman was of Rank Seven, a thing of legends.

Yang Huang bore a curious symbol on his left arm, resembling a tattoo, which concealed the Mustard Storage Talisman. Currently, the talisman's space was limited to a mere three square meters, insufficient for large items, but adequate for a few personal effects.

Bang!

While meditating on the bed, deeply engrossed in the Void Step Array Dao Talisman Divination Record, Yang Huang was startled by the sound of a door being kicked in. He frowned, instantly aware of the cause of the disturbance.

Ao Yuan and his companions were stirring up trouble at the entrance to Chen Village, and of course, Yang Huang was well aware of it.

He rose and made his way to the living room, only to encounter three sword-wielding youths exuding hostility as they scanned the area. Upon laying eyes on Yang Huang, their confusion was quickly replaced by a haughty disdain.

How could they not recognize that the man before them was merely an ordinary individual, devoid of any discernible energy fluctuations?

"Kid, I'm going to count to three, and you'd better get out of here," one of the sword-wielding youths sneered with overbearing arrogance. "If you make a good show of it, I might just spare you, assuming I'm in a generous mood." They had pegged Yang Huang as an outsider, which only emboldened them further.