Chapter 024: A Treasure-Hunting Mouse, and an Aura that Naturally Exudes Swagger

Suddenly, a collective gasp swept through the great hall.

Whether they were ancient patriarchs or young prodigies, everyone’s eyes widened in shock. They stared up at the dais where a young man had just… appeared.

There was no spatial fluctuation. No sound. It was as if he had simply materialized from nothingness, or perhaps, he had always been there, unnoticed by the world.

The young man’s expression was calm and indifferent. He wore a simple dark robe devoid of any ostentatious ornaments, yet he radiated an innate sense of nobility that looked down upon all creation.

Behind him stood the respectful Taixuan Holy Lord and a woman in white, her face half-hidden by a light veil. Her eyes were like autumn water, her brows like distant mountains—instantly captivating the hearts of the younger generation.

“That’s the Taixuan Holy Lord…”

“And the Holy Maiden, the ‘Number One Beauty of the Eastern Wilderness’…”

“Then the man in front… there is no mistake.”

“We pay our respects to the Young Lord!”

In an instant, every powerhouse in the hall bowed in unison, their posture radiating utmost humility.

Zhao Tian, Chu Wuji, Xiao Huo—these titans of the Eastern Wilderness felt their hearts tremble. The Young Lord’s strength was an abyss. They couldn’t sense even a wisp of his aura, yet standing before him felt like standing at the edge of a bottomless prison.

“There is no need for such ceremony,” Gu Changge said indifferently.

Making an appearance to flex his status? He certainly wouldn’t refuse.

This was also a perfect opportunity to subtly threaten the major powers of the Eastern Wilderness. He knew many of them had ties to Ye Chen. A single careless word from him would ensure that Ye Chen became a pariah, shunned by the entire world.

Those who follow the Dao have many helpers; those who lose the Way stand alone.

He was curious to see how long Ye Chen’s pathetic Luck Points could keep him afloat.

One by one, the leaders stepped forward to introduce themselves, desperate to leave a good impression. Gu Changge listened with disinterest, his expression remaining placid.

His mind was elsewhere, contemplating how to optimize his attribute interface.

As for Ye Chen? He had been harvested enough. It was almost time to finish him off.

The Spirit Gathering Pill wasn’t a gift without strings. Gu Changge had embedded a tracking mark within it using a secret technique from the Immortal Devouring Demonic Art.

If Yan Ji were at her peak, she might have noticed. But in her current weakened state? Impossible.

Where could Ye Chen run? He was nothing more than a treasure-seeking mouse in the palm of Gu Changge’s hand.

No one noticed Gu Changge’s wandering thoughts. He lowered his eyelids, sipping his wine with elegant languor.

Fortunately, his natural aura did the heavy lifting. As long as he didn’t smile, he exuded a sense of profound, terrifying mystery.

In common parlance: Natural Swagger.

Seeing his silence, the crowd grew even more terrified, fearing they had bored him. They scrambled to find topics, carefully probing for his purpose in the Lower Realm or trying to discern his hobbies.

Gu Changge enjoyed the adulation. Being a Villain really was sweet.

Everyone could see the dynamic: the Taixuan Holy Land’s closeness to Gu Changge was entirely due to Su Qingge. The title “Number One Beauty” wasn’t for show; she was a fairy in the hearts of men.

Many old monsters began plotting, mentally scanning their own clans for any granddaughters with peerless beauty. Of course, if they couldn’t match Su Qingge, sending them would just be an embarrassment.

Suddenly, Gu Changge’s gaze landed on a beautiful woman in the crowd.

“What is your name?” he asked, standing up.

“Ah… My Lord, are you speaking to me?”

The woman flinched, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and excitement. She hadn’t expected to be noticed.

“Wang Xue. A disciple of the Ten Thousand Flowers Palace.”

The hall fell silent. Envious gazes pricked her from all sides. To be addressed directly by the Young Lord was a supreme honor! What had she done to deserve this?

“Have we met before?” Gu Changge asked, his voice flat. “What is your relationship with Ye Chen?”

“Ah… Ye Chen…”

Hearing the name, Wang Xue panicked.

“Xue’er! The Young Lord asked you a question!” Her Master hissed beside her, sweating bullets.

“Reporting to the Lord!” Wang Xue stammered, forcing herself to calm down. “Ye Chen was my former fiancé. Three years ago, I annulled the engagement…”

“A while ago, at the edge of the Ten Thousand Beasts Forbidden Zone, you slew a terrifying beast of the Conferred Lord Realm with a single sword strike. I was nearby… you saved my life. So…”

Ye Chen’s ex-fiancée? The one from the “Three Year Pact” trope?

And I saved her by accident?

Gu Changge searched his memories. The original host had indeed visited the Forbidden Zone recently, hunting for opportunities. Naturally, he had found nothing but trouble.

No wonder she looks at me with such admiration. It turns out I planted a flag without even realizing it.

Hiss!

“A single sword strike… slaying a Conferred Lord Realm beast?”

The hall erupted in gasps of cold air.

Zhao Tian and Chu Wuji exchanged horrified glances, their scalps tingling.

Did we hear that correctly?

In this world, Great Power experts could dominate a region. Holy Lord experts ruled vast territories. But a Conferred Lord? They were invincible legends, found only in the deepest Forbidden Zones.

And this Young Lord… killed one with a single strike?

Doesn’t that mean he could wipe out every major power in the Eastern Wilderness with a wave of his hand?

No one doubted Wang Xue.

Even Su Qingge was shocked. This was the first time she truly understood the scale of Gu Changge’s power. The “Young Geniuses” of the Eastern Wilderness weren’t even ants in front of him—they were dust.

“Thank the heavens I didn’t ask about Ye Chen,” the Supreme Elder of the Yangxu Holy Land thought, his back soaked in cold sweat.

“From now on, my granddaughter is forbidden from seeing that boy.”

“That Ye Chen is seeking death! How could he offend an existence like this?!”