Villain System: Stealing the Protagonist's Harem and Luck

Chapter 003: Showing Off? I Know How to Do That Too

“Young Lord Gu, this disciple Ye Chen lacks proper etiquette. I beg you not to take offense.”

The Taixuan Holy Lord’s expression grew increasingly grim. As he apologized to Gu Changge, he shot sharp, meaningful glances at several nearby Elders.

All the guests were watching the spectacle. When had the illustrious Taixuan Holy Land ever suffered such a loss of face?

“Holy Lord, allow me to apprehend Ye Chen. I shall offer him up to apologize to Young Lord Gu.”

At this moment, the Taixuan Holy Son, Chu Xuan, stepped forward to seize the initiative.

He wasted no time. Runes flickered into existence, dancing in his palm as he reached out toward Ye Chen.

Rumble!

Dull thunder rolled through the void. The runes intertwined, transforming into terrifying arcs of lightning that coiled like a thunder dragon.

As the Holy Son, Chu Xuan’s strength was naturally at the apex of his generation. Ye Chen was merely an inner sect disciple. The disparity in their cultivation realms was a chasm. How could he possibly be Chu Xuan’s match?

Within the great hall, artifacts glowed and defensive runes shimmered as the onlookers braced themselves.

Everyone watched the clash. Many, including the Taixuan Holy Lord, cared little for the process; they only awaited Ye Chen’s inevitable defeat.

It was crucial that a peer took him down. If the older generation intervened personally, it would invite scorn from the other major powers present, many of whom had spies embedded within the guest list. The Holy Lord refused to lose any more dignity today.

“Come then!”

Ye Chen, however, seemed exhilarated by the challenge.

He showed no fear. Instead, his Spiritual Energy surged as he met the attack with a palm strike of his own.

“This Ye Chen is truly overestimating himself. Has he no self-awareness? He is purely courting death,” an inner sect disciple sneered.

“Holy Son Chu Xuan is at the Half-Step Transcendent Realm. Ye Chen is merely at the Soul Palace Realm. Furthermore, the Holy Son possesses the Thunder Prison Divine Body…”

“There will be no surprises in this battle.”

The other disciples chimed in, convinced Ye Chen was digging his own grave.

The next moment, flames blazed and lightning erupted.

Hair whipped in the wind as scorching fire and dazzling lightning collided in the void.

Bang!

Chu Xuan’s body trembled, his powerful physique numbed by the impact. Ye Chen, however, stood firm like a young God of Fire, unmoving, his expression radiating confidence and power.

“What…”

“He… he’s actually this strong?”

Many young female disciples couldn’t help but reveal a flicker of admiration in their eyes. Ye Chen’s prowess had completely exceeded their expectations.

The crowd was stunned. The palm strike had ended in a draw.

“Ye Chen clearly only has Soul Palace Realm cultivation… yet he blocked the Holy Son, who is at the Transcendent Realm?”

Whispers of shock rippled through the disciples and Elders.

Even the Taixuan Holy Lord, whose face had been clouded with gloom, felt a tremor in his heart. Chu Xuan possessed the Thunder Prison Divine Body, granting him the ability to fight opponents above his level. He was nearly unrivaled among his peers.

Yet, facing Ye Chen—who was a full major realm weaker—he couldn’t suppress him with a single palm?

Did this mean Ye Chen’s talent was superior to Chu Xuan’s? Had everyone failed to notice a dragon hiding in their midst?

Of course, if there was anyone present who wasn’t surprised by this turn of events, it was Gu Changge.

After all, this was a Son of Providence. Face-slapping the arrogant and shocking the crowd was his daily bread.

Gu Changge leisurely took a sip of tea, his tone unhurried.

“You seem to have always had quite a bit of confidence in this Ye Chen, haven’t you?”

Hearing this, Su Qingge turned her head. Her originally calm gaze suddenly rippled with a layer of disturbance. A faint, elegant fragrance—like orchids and musk—wafted from her.

She didn’t speak. But her subtle reaction had already betrayed her inner turmoil.

Gu Changge’s eyes seemed unfathomably deep as he smiled. “Trying so hard to maintain this calm facade… is it to make me believe you have no relationship with Ye Chen? Are you afraid I’ll deal with him?”

“What a clever woman.”

His words pierced straight through her defense.

For some reason, Su Qingge felt this man was terrifying—far more unsettling than his previous aloofness. She pursed her lips, maintaining her silence.

Gu Changge glanced down at his teacup and spoke flatly. “Empty.”

Su Qingge looked at him, then silently picked up the teapot and gently refilled his cup.

“Interesting.”

Gu Changge’s smile held a strange nuance. He seemed to be muttering to himself, yet the words were clearly meant for Su Qingge’s ears.

Su Qingge’s hand trembled slightly as she poured.

Gu Changge could list hundreds of these clichéd tropes off the top of his head.

The reason Ye Chen was so agitated today was purely because he heard that the Taixuan Holy Lord had sent his daughter to Gu Changge’s palace last night.

However, the original Gu Changge had been a cultivation maniac with a cold temperament; he hadn’t touched Su Qingge at all.

But judging from these dynamics, Su Qingge was clearly the heroine. From a narrative perspective, Ye Chen rising from a small backwater, surviving the Hundred Dynasties War, and entering the Holy Land… the story was already transitioning to its mid-stage.

Su Qingge was talented, beautiful, and intelligent. She knew that Ye Chen facing Gu Changge was like an egg striking a rock.

She wouldn’t plead for mercy. She knew that doing so would only make Gu Changge despise Ye Chen more. The best strategy was to distance herself, making Gu Changge believe she didn’t care about the boy.

With a character setup like that, if she wasn’t the female lead, who was?

Unfortunately for her, Gu Changge saw through it all with the clarity of a god’s-eye view.

Especially now that he understood his role as the Villain, he had no intention of letting Su Qingge go.

A forcibly twisted melon might not be sweet… but it quenches thirst.

“I underestimated you.”

Meanwhile, in the center of the hall, Holy Son Chu Xuan’s expression was ugly. He spoke coldly, gathering his Spiritual Energy to strike again. Failing to instantly subdue Ye Chen in front of everyone—especially Gu Changge—was a humiliation he couldn’t swallow.

But before he could move, Gu Changge stood up and walked forward, waving his hand dismissively.

“Boring.”

This single word caused Ye Chen’s expression to stiffen. He froze, looking as if he’d been slapped.

“Since this matter is related to me, there is no need to trouble Holy Son Chu Xuan.”

Gu Changge looked down, his gaze indifferent.

“Is your so-called fearlessness born of ignorance?”

As his voice fell, a change occurred.

Boom!

A vast, terrifying Pressure descended. It felt as if the sky was collapsing and the earth was splitting. A crushing weight, heavy as a falling star, swept through the hall like a tidal wave.

The air in the great hall churned into a hurricane. Runes flickered wildly, and the surrounding Spiritual Qi was thrown into chaotic turbulence.

Everyone felt a fear that stemmed from the depths of their souls. Even the Elders’ expressions changed drastically as they trembled under the strain.

“Is this… Young Lord Gu’s true strength?” The Taixuan Holy Lord’s expression turned grave.

Thud!

Ye Chen, the target of this suppression, went pale instantly.

His legs turned to jelly, and he collapsed, knees slamming into the floor. His head was forced down, pinned against the ground, unable to move a single inch.

He was completely and utterly suppressed.

No matter how frantically he called out to the Master inside his ring, there was no response.

“How… how can his strength be this terrifying?”

Ye Chen struggled to lift his head, staring at the white-robed man who looked down on him as if he were an ant. His eyes were filled with disbelief and unwillingness.

Isn’t this just showing off?

I know how to do that too!

Gu Changge wore a mask of high-and-mighty indifference, but inwardly, he sneered.

He didn’t need to think to know Ye Chen’s plan. The battle with Chu Xuan would have ended with Ye Chen—the underdog—winning, shocking the crowd and slapping faces. Then, riding that momentum, Ye Chen would have challenged him.

A “Three-Palm Bet” or something similar? With the old grandpa in the ring, it would have been easy for the protagonist to pull off.

A nice thought.

But I am a transmigrator… and I have a Gold Finger too.