"Bitch?"
Was that referring to Du Yuemian?
Upon hearing the word, Ye Ming narrowed his eyes, a hint of sinister red flashing in their depths.
"Blood Saber Martial Emperor, you are a senior with a long-standing reputation in the ancient martial arts world. Don't you find such actions shameless?" Before Du Yuemian could speak, Xi Yao, standing beside her, spoke first, her tone turning cold.
"Hahahaha! Shameless?"
Xi Yao's words made the middle-aged man laugh heartily. "Although you are the Phoenix Son of Dragon Phoenix Pavilion, you are still just a naive young girl inexperienced with the world! The ancient martial arts world has always respected strength! Even if I am shameless, what can you do to me?"
His words undoubtedly embodied arrogance to the extreme.
"Furthermore, the opportunities within the Heaven Guard Land are for the capable to obtain!" The middle-aged man looked at Du Yuemian and sneered sinisterly, "A celestial spiritual material like the Enlightenment Fruit is not something that bitch can possess!"
Enlightenment Fruit?
Upon hearing these three words, everyone around brightened, and a hint of greed appeared in their gazes towards Du Yuemian.
It was widely known that the Enlightenment Bodhi Tree could help Martial God powerhouses break through their realm limitations and advance to another profound state.
The fruit of the Enlightenment Bodhi Tree, the Enlightenment Fruit that Du Yuemian had obtained, possessed a similar effect.
However, the former helped Martial Gods break through, while the latter could assist Martial Emperors.
In a sense, the practical value of the Enlightenment Fruit might even surpass that of the Enlightenment Bodhi Tree.
After all, throughout the entire ancient martial arts world, the number of individuals who had reached the Martial God realm did not exceed two.
"Oh! Right!"
At this moment, a ruthless glint flashed in the middle-aged man's eyes, and he said with a cold smile, "If I recall correctly, that bitch should have ten Enlightenment Fruits on her!"
Ten!
Hearing this number, the gazes of the crowd towards Du Yuemian were no longer merely greedy, but filled with frenzy.
"Heavens… heavens! Ten of them! This…"
"If all of them were obtained, wouldn't that directly allow ten Martial Emperors to break through and become supreme Martial Gods?"
"Ten Martial Gods! My goodness!"
"Even the four super-forces of the ancient martial arts world today likely don't have ten Martial Gods within their sects!"
"If those ten Enlightenment Fruits were obtained, wouldn't it be enough to elevate a first-rate sect to the status of a super sect?"
"..."
After a brief exchange of thoughts, countless hearts began to tremble.
Such a great fortune.
It was believed that no ancient martial artist would remain unmoved?
"Hmph! Bitch! If you had obediently given me those ten Enlightenment Fruits back then, none of this would have happened!" the middle-aged man thought maliciously. "Since I can't have them, you shouldn't have them either. Not only will the Enlightenment Fruits on you incite a frenzied struggle, but you yourself will likely be torn to shreds! Hahaha!"
At this moment, the middle-aged man felt immensely pleased.
He knew that with Dragon Phoenix Pavilion as her sanctuary, he couldn't do much to her.
However, by spreading the news of the opportunities she possessed, once it circulated, even Dragon Phoenix Pavilion, as one of the four super-forces, would be unable to protect her.
"You bastard! There are only five Enlightenment Fruits, not ten..."
"Alright! Sister Yao, it's useless!"
Upon hearing the middle-aged man claim Du Yuemian possessed ten Enlightenment Fruits, Xi Yao's anger instantly flared.
But before she could finish her sentence, Du Yuemian interrupted her. "They won't believe it!"
Yes!
No one would believe it!
In reality, Du Yuemian truly only had five Enlightenment Fruits.
This... was the most malicious part of the middle-aged man's scheme.
Even if Du Yuemian handed over the five Enlightenment Fruits she possessed, others would still believe she was hiding five more.
The middle-aged man's actions had cut off all of Du Yuemian's escape routes.
"Did you enjoy calling out those two words just now?"
At this moment, Ye Ming, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke.
However, his tone seemed devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
It was cold!
And distant!
He looked at the middle-aged man before him, the alluring red light in his pupils seeming to flicker.
"Oh! So you're her old flame!"
The middle-aged man strode forward, raising an eyebrow. A terrifying imperial aura surged from his body, and he said coldly, "What? Are you angry? Since you like listening, I'll say it a couple more times for you. Bitch... Ah..."
But before he could finish speaking, he let out a chilling scream.
No one present saw what had happened.
By the time they regained their senses, they found the middle-aged man being held aloft, his throat being choked tightly, his eyeballs bulging almost out of their sockets.
His face had already turned purple, and the air was a luxury for him.
Ye Ming increased the force in his grip, his expressionless face questioning, "Keep yelling! Why aren't you yelling anymore?"
"Ah... Hck!"
The middle-aged man struggled, his brain beginning to starve for oxygen, and boundless fear spread through his heart. He saw the scythe of death raised towards him in his mind, ready to claim his life at any moment.
From beginning to end, he couldn't understand how he had been locked by the throat.
He was a peak Martial Emperor!
At this moment, from within the crowd, an old man wearing a purple robe, with sunken eyes and a goatee, suddenly stepped forward and cupped his hands towards Ye Ming. "My lord! Could you do this old man a favor and let this matter rest?"
As the old man with the goatee stepped forward, people immediately recognized his identity.
"Three-Stance Martial God, I didn't expect him to intervene to plead!"
"Three-Stance Martial God? Could it be the renowned Three-Stance Martial God of the ancient martial arts world, the one who achieved divinity with just three saber stances – Song Santong!"
"That's right! It's Martial God Song!"
"Now that he has stepped forward, the middle-aged man should be out of danger!"
"Yes! It's just that we don't know what their relationship is?"
"..."
Seeing Song Santong step forward, Xi Yao's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.
With a Martial God involved, things were becoming difficult.
"Do you a favor?"
Ye Ming glanced at him indifferently and said, "What right do you have to ask for such a thing?"
Hiss!
Upon hearing this, most people present gasped.
This young man was… too arrogant!
Song Santong's face turned grim, and he said coldly, "Young man, leave a way out for everything. Sometimes, taking a step back is for the best. Otherwise, you might invite disaster."
As Song Santong spoke, the scene suddenly fell silent, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.
"Take a step back?"
Ye Ming uttered softly, then took a step towards Song Santong in front of everyone, saying, "I'm sorry, I prefer to move forward!"
As the words fell!
He tightened his grip!
Crack!
Something… broke.