Chapter 26: Live Broadcast: Bargaining

To Wei Chen, the movement of the Sacred Flame Valley disciple leader appeared in his eyes like slow motion, similar to those channels that showcase various objects in slow motion. Even though this guy was much faster than the first one he had bitch-slapped, Wei Chen could still clearly see his flaws and patterns.

Since the disciple leader rushed at him with full killing intent, using a combat technique meant to burn him to a crisp, Wei Chen quickly grasped the inner workings of the technique. In fact, he felt he could even imitate it, adapting it with his own understanding and knowledge.

This must be the work of the Samsara Sovereign’s Scripture, which he had chosen as his main cultivation method.

To put it bluntly, if he were to be retransmigrated into his previous world and study again, he was certain he could graduate from MIT with Summa Cum Laude award, instead of being a dropout from a second-rate college like he once was.

Wei Chen avoided the attack by a hair’s breadth before slapping the attacking hand, causing the Sacred Flame disciple to lose his stance and reveal a wide opening.

Slap!!

A resounding slap echoed through the air. This time, it was Wei Chen’s right backhand striking the Sacred Flame lead disciple.

Of course, there was a slight delay compared to his previous move. This lead disciple was at the early Nascent Soul Realm, which made him stronger than the last one, who was only at the Core Formation stage. It took Wei Chen a little more effort to break through his stance.

The lead disciple was slapped hard. His heart filled with disbelief, his vision spun, and his body twirled through the air in a perfect arc before crashing to the ground, still dazed and confused.

What happened?

Who am I?

Why am I here?

These were the questions floating through the Sacred Flame lead disciple’s mind. He never imagined he would be this weak when facing someone whose cultivation he couldn’t even sense.

Wait! Could it be that this guy has a much higher cultivation than me and just hides it?

If that was the case, then it made sense that he lost. He turned toward his elder, wanting to ask him to intervene since he had clearly kicked an iron plate without realizing it.

“Vagabond, it’s not a gentlemanly thing to bully the weak. You know that my disciples have lower cultivation than you,” the Sacred Flame Elder said.

“Last I checked, they attacked me first. If I didn’t slap them back, they would think I’m a pushover,” Wei Chen replied.

He didn’t bother correcting the misunderstanding, even though his cultivation was actually lower than that of the Sacred Flame disciples. As far as he knew, appearing to have higher cultivation served as a good deterrent, a layer of protection against unnecessary trouble.

Besides, he was doing a live broadcast right now. If he corrected the misunderstanding, it would only bring him more problems. He would have to deal with all kinds of brainless idiots trying to prove themselves by challenging or killing him.

So, he simply let them assume he was stronger. As for pretending to be some genius who could defeat cultivators above his level? He wasn’t some protagonist who needed to prove himself to his sect or his parents who saw him as trash. Why would he bother doing that?

“Even so, you shouldn’t be so heavy-handed!” the Sacred Flame Elder tried to reason.

Wei Chen smirked. “I see. You mean… if some idiots with lower cultivation than you attacked you with the intent to kill, you’d just stand there, let them hit you, and then pat them on the back afterward? Is that what you’re saying?”

Outside the broadcast, Mo Xingyao chuckled. This guy was truly wicked. Who would ever do that? Even the kindest people she knew would at least beat their attackers into the ground, not just slap them like Wei Chen did. She wondered what Wei Chen would do if that elder chose to be shameless and said yes.

As if foretold, the Sacred Flame Elder snorted, glaring at Wei Chen with disdain.

“Of course. Since you have higher cultivation and probably lived much longer, seniors like us must be more tolerant than juniors. The saying ’respect the old and love the young’ is not something we hear and ignore; it’s something we should live by,” the Sacred Flame Elder declared self-righteously. He didn’t believe it himself, but he just saying this to gain face, and moral high ground, a little bit of shamelessness never hurt.

Hearing this, Wei Chen’s smile widened. This guy shamelessness is off the chart, if he had a shameless o-meter this guy would have surely explode it!

He clapped his hands as if he had just heard something deeply moving.

“Very commendable. So…” He turned toward the group of Heavenly Sword Sect disciples. “Who wants to kill him?” He asked, pointing at the Sacred Flame Elder with his thumb.

The Heavenly Sword Sect disciples were startled, looking at each other in confusion.

Of course, they wanted to kill that old bastard! But none of them believed his words. What if that shameless elder decided to go back on his statement and strike them down instead?

Jian Heng frowned at Wei Chen’s question. He knew this shameless elder didn’t mean what he said, but then he remembered—this was being broadcast. Could it be that this guy wanted to ruin the elder’s reputation live on air?

But to trade a disciple’s life for that… even if it gained the sect some face, Jian Heng didn’t want to risk his disciples’ lives over it.

{What do you think you’re doing?} Jian Heng asked, sending a telepathic message to Wei Chen.

Wei Chen looked back at Jian Heng, who was staring at him as if demanding an answer.

{Do you trust me?} Wei Chen asked through the same telepathic link.

{No. We just met. I don’t know you well enough to gamble with our disciples’ lives.}

{You’re not fast enough to help them, are you?} Wei Chen asked.

Jian Heng was silent. He didn’t respond, but his expression showed hesitation. He wasn’t sure if he could stop whatever this shameless elder might do in time.

Wei Chen pressed further. {If you’re not sure, I’ll help them myself. But if I resolve this, can I consider it that you owe me a favor?}

{I’m not in a position to make the entire sect owe you anything,} Jian Heng replied.

{No, I mean just you. Even if it involves the sect, I promise it won’t be anything dangerous,} Wei Chen negotiated.

{Fine! But if any of our disciples lose their lives, you’ll bear the consequences!} Jian Heng warned.

{Believe me, it won’t come to that. Just watch,} Wei Chen smirked.

After getting that assurance, Jian Heng turned toward the group of disciples.

“Who wants to put the Sacred Flame Elder’s words to the test?” Jian Heng asked.

The disciples looked at each other nervously, whispering among themselves, but none dared to move.

Seeing this, the Sacred Flame Elder smirked. This was expected. Who would risk their life over such a bet?

Even if they did attack him, they were all at the Foundation Establishment stage. None of them were Core Disciples at Core Formation or Nascent Soul who could actually threaten him.

He had done his homework. These beaten-up disciples were just outer disciples, not the elites of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

But then, a chubby-looking outer disciple stepped out of the group, determination burning in his eyes. It was clear he wanted to prove himself.

“I… I’ll do it!” the chubby disciple declared.

“What’s your name, disciple?” Jian Heng asked.

“Answering Vice Sect Leader, this disciple’s name is Pang Hu!” Pang Hu said, cupping his fists respectfully.

Jian Heng nodded and signaled for him to begin.

The Sacred Flame Elder smirked and swaggered forward. “Go ahead! If I raise my hand to defend, I’ll change my surname to Dog!” he said confidently. There was no way this fat little trash could harm him.

Hearing this, Wei Chen turned toward the camera. “He said it, folks. You all heard him,” Wei Chen said with a smirk toward the invisible audience.

“Who are you talking to, vagabond?” the Sacred Flame Elder frowned.

“Oh, nothing important. You don’t need to worry about it,” Wei Chen replied with a sunny smile.

Outside the broadcast, on Mo Xingyao’s side, she sat upright, watching with anticipation. She wasn’t the only one excited, Ximen Hao also found the scene on the strange screen highly entertaining.

Handsome Tall and Rich: [Hahahaha! That’s right! If this fatty can hurt the Sacred Flame Elder, I’ll give you one million spirit stones! But if he can’t, you have to serve me as my bodyguard, vagabond!]

Little Wealthy Demon: [Huh? Ximen Hao, why do you suddenly want him as your bodyguard? Doesn’t your family already assign you one?]

Handsome Tall and Rich: [Of course I have bodyguards, but a Soul Transformation bodyguard isn’t easy to find! This vagabond slapped a Nascent Soul cultivator like it was nothing. He must be at least at the Soul Transformation Realm!]

Little Wealthy Demon: [Just one million for a Soul Transformation bodyguard? Is your family that poor, Ximen Hao? Do you think someone at that level works for pocket change? That’s even cheaper than that artifact you bought at auction!]

Handsome Tall and Rich: [Fine! Five million! I’ll raise the bet to five million spirit stones!]

Little Wealthy Demon: [Wei Chen! I’ll give you eight million spirit stones! Be my bodyguard instead!]

Handsome Tall and Rich: [You dare compete with this young master!? Fine! Fifteen million! That’s the same as my father’s bodyguard’s pay!]

Little Wealthy Demon: [Tch!]

Handsome Tall and Rich: [HAHAHAHAHA!]

Ximen Hao laughed in the chat room, but then Wei Chen received a private message from Mo Xingyao.

Little Wealthy Demon: [Hey, I already helped you bait him. If you win the bet, give me half of that amount, okay?]

Wei Chen smiled wryly. Why the hell did I become this girl’s bargaining chip?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep