Villain: After Slacking Off, The Protagonist Collapse

An intense silence filled the surroundings as many stared in shock, mouths agape. They hadn't expected Jiang Chen to openly rebuke Ye Changhe.

After all, Ye Changhe's status was anything but ordinary; as the head of the Ye Family, he held one of the most respected positions in the entire Nine Heavens Realm. Of course, Jiang Chen's status was also high, but there was still a generational gap.

Even the most arrogant prodigies would usually give a bit of respect to the heads of immortal forces. Yet, Jiang Chen showed not the slightest hint of deference.

Jiang Chen wasn't someone who disregarded etiquette—he just reserved it for those he deemed deserving. If it were the Emperor of Qin, the Pure Yang Holy Master, or elders from other immortal sects, he would show due respect.

But Ye Changhe? Jiang Chen had no intention of giving him face. In the original work, the Ye Family, under Ye Changhe's rule, was a toxic presence that wreaked havoc.

Moreover, the way the Ye Family was handling things ensured that Jiang Chen had no reason to show any courtesy. They wanted to kill him—why should he give them any face? That would be nothing less than self-abasement.

"Holy Son of Primordial is truly ruthless, to openly challenge Ye Changhe like this!"

"They brought this upon themselves. Such shameless behavior is bound to invite scorn!"

"Only someone as brazen as Jiang Chen could respond to such shamelessness in this way!"

"Honestly, what is the human alliance thinking, letting a despicable clan like the Ye Family hold a prominent position?"

"With the changes on the horizon, various forces will need to unite. But if they're seeking alliances, they could surely find better allies than the Ye Family!"

"No one knows what they're thinking!"

"Ye Changhe must be absolutely furious!"

"Well, perhaps not furious enough to lose control—after all, he's a supreme expert. His mental state wouldn't be affected by something like this!"

"That's true!"

The crowd kept their voices low, not wanting to risk becoming Ye Changhe's outlet for venting. Although it would be difficult for him to retaliate against the Holy Son of Primordial, targeting them would be a simple matter.

"I agree to the terms!" Ye Changhe spoke after a moment's contemplation, his face ashen before returning to an icy calm.

However, the glint of coldness in his eyes betrayed his inner turmoil, especially when he looked at Jiang Chen, a concealed killing intent flaring up briefly. If not for the deterrence of Jiang Chen's backing, he might have already made his move.

"He actually agreed!"

"If I'd known, I would have asked for more!" Jiang Chen feigned surprise, pretending to be caught off guard by Ye Changhe's unexpected compliance.

Seeing this, the onlookers were stirred.

"Was Jiang Chen bluffing? Was he just pushing to see how far Ye Changhe would go?"

"Now you're afraid!" sneered Ye Tian, convinced that Jiang Chen was showing weakness.

"Shut up!" Ye Changhe barked at Ye Tian before turning to Jiang Chen. "Holy Son of Primordial, spare us the theatrics. No one here is foolish enough to fall for such an act."

Jiang Chen suppressed a smirk and replied, "Who says no one fell for it? Didn't your Ye Family's Ye Tian believe it?"

"Honestly, hasn't this Ye Tian been alive for a few hundred years now? How could he be so gullible?"

The crowd was left speechless by Jiang Chen's brazen reveal. They had genuinely believed him, only to discover it was a complete act.

Meanwhile, within a resplendent pavilion, several Holy Sons of ancient imperial clans had gathered, exuding an aura of elegance and vigor.

Breaking his silence, Huang Qingtian commented, "The Ye Family is about to suffer a humiliating defeat. Ye Tian is no match for Jiang Chen!"

"Ye Family will lose big this time!"

Hearing this, Bai Chen furrowed his brows, seeming to come to a realization. "Jiang Chen doesn't appear the least bit anxious. Could he really possess the power to kill a Saint King at the peak of the Saint Realm? And not just any Saint King, but one of the highest-caliber prodigies?"

"Or perhaps the Holy Son of Primordial has something hidden up his sleeve?"

Bai Chen noted Jiang Chen's calm demeanor, which was almost unnerving. After the initial bluff, his expressions and actions revealed no signs of fear—instead, he seemed eager for the fight.

This behavior made Bai Chen feel that something unusual was at play. No matter how monstrous Jiang Chen's talent was, the gap in realms should be insurmountable. From a Saint to a Saint King at the ninth level, the difference was simply too vast.

"Could Jiang Chen truly kill Ye Tian? Or is he just putting on a show?" wondered Jin Changhe, equally perplexed.

Jiang Chen's overwhelming calmness was enough to make them doubt whether the advantage truly lay with Ye Tian.

While everyone speculated, a tear opened in the void, and an elder stepped through. His aura was formidable, so dense it seemed to weigh down the heavens.

"Patriarch!" The elder handed a ring to Ye Changhe, who took it and, without hesitation, tossed it outward.

Soon, three Quasi-Emperor Weapons, ten billion Divine Sources, and an ancient token floated into view.

The three Quasi-Emperor Weapons radiated a brilliant divine light, their powerful auras almost bursting the very space around them. Yet, most eyes fixated on the ancient token.

Only the size of a palm, it was black with intricate patterns resembling dragons and phoenixes, or perhaps some other kind of mythical beast in flight.

"Here are the items you requested!" Ye Changhe's tone was frigid as he glared at Jiang Chen.

"No rush!" Jiang Chen tossed out the All Heaven Mirror, which hung high above the sky. Almost simultaneously, he reached out to grasp the token.

"Stop!" Ye Changhe moved to intercept Jiang Chen's hand as it reached for the Eternal Token.

But before he could act, a bone-chilling sword aura enveloped the surroundings, forcing Ye Changhe to halt in his tracks.

"Why the rush? I'm not as shameless as your Ye Family!" Jiang Chen said nonchalantly. "I'm merely verifying the authenticity of the Eternal Token."

"We Ye Family would never stoop to such petty tricks!" retorted Ye Tian, unable to contain his indignation at Jiang Chen's relentless mockery of his clan.

"Oh, really? If you don't believe me, why not ask the other inhabitants of this ancient city?" Jiang Chen replied calmly.

Ordinary beings in the ancient city dared not speak up; they wanted to stay alive and avoid attracting the ire of the Ye Family. However, the members of the ancient imperial clans and the Pure Yang Holy Son were unafraid.

"It's true that most immortal sects would never resort to such disgraceful behavior, but with the Ye Family, it's entirely possible!"

"A shameless clan like them could do anything!"

"That's right!"

"While immortals may not always be paragons of virtue, there are limits they won't cross—except, of course, for the Ye Family!"

"They're the disgrace of the immortal sects!"

The crowd didn't hold back their contempt, mocking the Ye Family openly and with a biting tone.

Meanwhile, Jiang Chen infused the token with divine power, activating it and releasing an aura of supreme majesty. This was the Dao aura belonging to an Emperor—a mark that only an Emperor could engrave. It was almost impossible to forge unless done by an Emperor, and no Emperor would bother with such trivial deceit.

"It's genuine." Jiang Chen tossed the token into the air, letting it float above. He then looked at Ye Changhe with a casual gaze, saying, "Now that everything's ready, let's get started. The sooner I end this, the sooner I can leave."

The crowd was at a loss for words at Jiang Chen's remark. After all, his opponent was a Saint King at the ninth stage, a top-tier prodigy. Was it really appropriate to be so dismissive?

A hum filled the air as multiple experts channeled their power, forming a vast, interlocking void above, creating a battlefield in the skies. Jiang Chen and Ye Tian stepped into it, separated by a distance of several thousand meters, their gazes locked.

"Holy Son of Primordial—" Ye Tian began, only to be cut off by Jiang Chen.

"Enough talk! Get to the point and show me what you're made of. I don't want to hear any of your useless words!"