237: One move and you're done for!

Ding.

A soft sound rang out, and time seemed to freeze.

That iron spear, possessing overwhelming power capable of piercing through metal and stone, stopped dead half a foot in front of Ye Chen's chest.

The tip of the spear was firmly caught between two of his fingers.

It didn't budge an inch.

Sima Wei's violent forward momentum came to a screeching halt. His rugged face turned beet red, the muscles on his arms bulged, and he desperately channeled his true qi, trying to force the iron spear forward...

However.

Those two fingers seemed welded to the spear tip. No matter how much force he applied, the iron spear felt as if it had fallen into a bottomless abyss—completely motionless!

Instead, the marble beneath his feet began to spiderweb with cracks.

"This... this is impossible!"

Sima Wei's eyes widened, filled with sheer horror.

His full-strength strike as an Earth Realm mid-stage expert was actually caught by the opponent with just two fingers...

And so effortlessly?

This was too damn bizarre!

"That's it?"

Ye Chen spoke calmly, his fingers applying a bit of pressure.

Crack!

The tip of that iron spear let out a crisp snap on the spot, and then...

It shattered!

Countless metal fragments flew in all directions!

Sima Wei felt as if he'd been struck by lightning. The webbing between his thumb and forefinger split open, dripping with blood, and his entire body was sent flying back by the force of the recoil.

Then.

He slammed into the hall's wall like a broken sack of flour, creating a crater before sliding to the ground. He coughed up large mouthfuls of blood, unable to crawl back up.

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.

One could have heard a pin drop.

Everyone's mouths hung open, their eyes bulging like copper bells, their faces masks of absurdity.

Two fingers...

To catch and shatter the full-strength strike of an Earth Realm mid-stage expert?

Is he even fucking human?

The sneer on Sima Nong's face froze completely.

He stared blankly at Sima Wei, who was slumped against the wall coughing blood, and then at the composed Ye Chen on the balcony. His mind went blank.

Yan Qingwu shook her head and whispered to herself, "I warned you just now, but you didn't believe me. Happy now?"

Chu Niubi snapped out of his shock and began dancing with excitement.

"Awesome! Master is so awesome!!!"

"I knew it!"

"What 'Iron Spear Sima Wei'? In front of Master, he's just a broken fire poker!"

Bai Wanqing also breathed a sigh of relief; she had been ready to call Old Master Xuanyuan...

But Ye Chen ignored the crowd, releasing his fingers and letting the metal fragments clatter to the floor.

His gaze then shifted toward Sima Nong.

"Alright."

"Our game is over. Do you..."

"...still want to keep playing?"

Sima Nong trembled all over as if waking from a nightmare. He asked in shock, "You... you're a Heaven Realm Expert?!"

Ye Chen shrugged.

"If you think so, then I am."

"I'm only asking you now: are you still going to stop me?"

Sima Nong's expression shifted erratically, turning from pale to red.

Shock!

Anger!

Unwillingness!

Apprehension!

All sorts of emotions collided violently in his eyes.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his churning emotions, and said gloomily.

"Ye Chen... do you truly intend to engage in a fight to the death with my Sima Family?"

"If you insist on taking this silk scroll today, you will be making an absolute enemy of my Sima Family!"

"The consequences... are more than you can bear!"

Hearing this, Ye Chen actually laughed.

"When I, Ye Chen, do things, I only care about right and wrong, not background."

"We followed the rules to bid and won the item with cold, hard cash. That is within the rules."

"I refused your compensation and only want the item I won; that is also within the rules."

"If your Sima Family can't afford to play, you shouldn't have brought it out to embarrass yourselves in the first place."

He paused, his gaze suddenly turning cold.

"Others might yield to your Sima Family..."

"But I won't."

Every word was like a nail driven into the silent hall and into Sima Nong's heart.

Sima Nong's chest heaved violently, his old face alternating between red and white.

"Good! Very good!"

"Ye Chen, I have taken note of your attitude today!"

"And I will bring it back to the Sima Family word for word!"

"That silk scroll... please be sure to keep it safe."

Sima Nong's voice was bone-chillingly cold, carrying an undisguised threat. "We... will come for it."

Ye Chen nodded.

"If you come for it openly and honestly, you're welcome."

"But if you want to play dirty tricks or stab me in the back..."

He tilted his head slightly, his tone soft, yet it sent an inexplicable chill down the spines of everyone present.

"Then your Sima Family had better be prepared."

"To see just how arrogant a person who is even more sinister and lawless than you..."

"...can truly be."

Sima Nong choked, all his threatening words stuck in his throat.

He gave Ye Chen one last deep look, then snorted and turned to leave.

Two attendants ran in to help the heavily injured Sima Wei up, and they walked toward the auction hall exit without looking back.

The storm seemed to have reached a temporary conclusion with Sima Nong's departure.

But everyone knew that this matter was far from over.

The grudge between Ye Chen and the Sima Family of the Capital was now firmly established.

But Ye Chen didn't care.

He already had plenty of trouble; he didn't mind a bit more.

A man with nothing to lose has nothing to fear.

If the Sima Family dared to look for trouble in Xiamen City, he would give them a massive headache in return.

Ye Chen immediately looked at Lin Wei and asked calmly, "Can the items be delivered now?"

Lin Wei jolted and quickly bowed.

"Yes... Yes!"

"They will be brought to you immediately!"

Soon.

The handover process was completed shortly, and Ye Chen's group walked straight out.

Outside Tianque Pavilion, the night breeze was slightly cool.

Ye Chen carried the sealed box containing the buddha head in one hand and the climate-controlled case with the xuanyin silk scroll in the other, preparing to get into the car.

Madam Bai suddenly sighed softly and said helplessly.

"I finally understand now..."

"Ye Chen, you are a born troublemaker."

"Wherever you go, trouble follows."

"How many days has it been since you arrived in Yanjing?"

"The Wang Family was uprooted by you, the Soul Hall's claws were chopped off, and now even the Sima Family of the Capital..."

"...has been thoroughly offended by you."

"I really don't know whether to say your luck is too good or you're just too good at causing trouble."

Ye Chen's hand on the car door paused. He turned to look at her, a smile suddenly appearing on his face.

"What?"

"Is Madam Bai regretting it?"

"Regretting getting too close to a 'troublemaker' like me, fearing you'll be dragged into the mess?"

Hearing this, Madam Bai gave him a beautiful eye-roll.

"Am I that kind of person?"

"No matter how overbearing their Sima Family is, their reach doesn't extend to me."

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. "Speaking of which, I'm quite curious. What exactly is your background? You not only know a figure like Old Master Xuanyuan and can talk to him anytime..."

He paused, his gaze landing on Madam Bai's calm and exquisite face.

"From your tone just now, it seems you don't even think much of the Sima Family of the Capital?"

Before Madam Bai could speak, Chu Niubi suddenly poked his head out and started shouting with an exaggerated expression.

"Ah? Master! You actually didn't know?"

"Madam Bai is a member of the Bai Family of the Capital!"

Ye Chen was stunned. "Bai Family? Which Bai Family? It couldn't be..."

Chu Niubi slapped his thigh.

"Exactly! That Bai Family!"

"The Bai Family, one of the Five Great Families of the Capital!"

He counted them off on his fingers as if reciting a familiar list.

"The Five Great Families of the Capital: Yan, Bai, Xiao, Long, and Sima!"

"The Bai Family is ranked second! Their foundation is incredibly deep!"

Ye Chen was truly taken aback this time.

He turned to look at Madam Bai, his eyes filled with surprise and a hint of realization.

No wonder...

No wonder her temperament was so outstanding, her conduct so composed, and she could manage a massive commercial empire like the Tianyao Group so efficiently.

No wonder she knew Xuanyuan Huo and was so well-acquainted with the top circles of Yanjing and the Capital.

It turned out she hailed from such a family.

"So..."

Ye Chen rubbed his nose, a strange expression on his face.

"Madam Bai, you actually don't need my protection at all, do you?"

"With the Bai Family's power and status, there are probably very few people in this world who would dare to touch you."

Madam Bai was silent for a few seconds before gently shaking her head.

"That's all in the past."

"I am... no longer a member of the Bai Family."

Ye Chen was even more confused. "Huh?"

No longer a member of the Bai Family?

What did that mean?

Expelled from the family?

Or...

But Madam Bai didn't seem to want to dwell on this topic.

She looked up, a look of helplessness on her face. "It's a long story. If there's a chance in the future... I'll tell you slowly."

Seeing her obvious reluctance to talk more, Ye Chen, though curious, knew when to stop and nodded.

"Alright, tell me when you're ready."

He pulled open the car door and was about to sit in the driver's seat.

Just then—

"Ye Chen."

A cold, pleasant female voice suddenly came from behind them.

Ye Chen paused and turned around.

In the shadows of the Tianque Pavilion porch, a tall and graceful figure slowly emerged.

Her long white hair fluttered slightly in the night breeze. A black leather tube top and hot pants outlined her explosive, sexy figure in a breath-taking way.

On her exquisite face, those cold eyes were quietly watching him.

It was Yan Qingwu.

Chu Niubi poked his head out of the car window again. Seeing Yan Qingwu, his eyes lit up, and he let out a whistle.

"Oh! Eldest Miss Yan? Did you come specifically to thank my Master for saving your life?"

Yan Qingwu ignored him, her gaze fixed on Ye Chen.

She walked forward a few steps and stopped three or four meters away from him.

Their eyes met.

Moonlight and lamplight intertwined between them.

"Is something the matter?" Ye Chen spoke first, his tone calm.

Yan Qingwu pursed her lips before speaking.

"About just now... thank you."

"If you hadn't stepped in, the members of the Yan Family and I would likely have met a grim fate."

Ye Chen waved it off. "No need for thanks."

Yan Qingwu took a deep breath and continued.

"Also..."

"On behalf of the Yan Family, I would like to invite you to join us!"