Chapter 241

Chapter 241

“The Vermillion Bird Saintess is of such noble status, and yet she resorts to snatching something from an ordinary Heavenly Fox disciple!”

“If this news gets out, won’t it bring shame to your Saintess?”

“Or perhaps you’re using her name to forcibly take things for yourselves? If that’s the case, do you really think the Saintess would spare you once she finds out?”

The black-haired girl’s eyes were filled with stubbornness. Despite the overwhelming pressure, her face turned red, but she stood her ground and spoke with determination.

“You…!” The middle-aged man’s face darkened, and through gritted teeth, he said, “You sharp-tongued brat!”

“Do you even know what you’re doing?”

The man couldn’t understand how an ordinary Heavenly Fox disciple dared to compete with their Saintess for an item. Was she tired of living?

“Of course I know!” she snapped back. “I saw this divine stone first, and I paid for it. If I bought it, it’s mine! Even if your so-called Saintess wants it, I’m not giving it up!”

Her unwavering defiance shocked the crowd. Was it really worth offending the Vermillion Bird Saintess over a mere divine stone?

Everyone knew that crossing the Saintess could lead to unimaginable consequences. She was, after all, just a regular member of the Heavenly Fox Clan, and the Saintess could kill her with ease.

At that moment, the Vermillion Bird Saintess frowned and slowly stepped forward. Looking down at the black-haired girl, she spoke coldly, “Put down the stone, and I will give you a thousand Divine Sources. That’s enough to buy ten of these stones or more.”

Hearing this, the onlookers couldn’t help but feel envious. If they were in the girl’s shoes, they would have agreed immediately. After all, the divine stones in the common area weren’t particularly expensive. The stone they were both eyeing was worth no more than fifty Divine Sources.

A thousand Divine Sources was more than enough to buy twenty such stones. It was an excellent deal. After all, no one knew if the divine stone even contained anything valuable, and on top of that, they wouldn’t dare provoke someone as powerful as the Vermillion Bird Saintess.

“I won’t sell it!” The black-haired girl remained as stubborn as ever, clutching the stone tightly, unwilling to let go.

“Do you realize the consequences?” The Vermillion Bird Saintess’s face darkened, her eyes revealing a flash of malice.

The stone wasn’t particularly precious, but when the Vermillion Bird Saintess had laid eyes on it, she had a feeling that it might be special.

She wanted it, but the black-haired girl had acted faster, which displeased her greatly. So, she had her subordinate try to obtain it by force, using her status to pressure the girl into handing it over.

Most people in the common area were of humble backgrounds, and they usually wouldn’t dare stand up to someone like the Vermillion Bird Saintess.

Normally, they would obediently hand over the stone. But this black-haired girl was an anomaly. Even after learning who she was up against, she didn’t seem to care, and that led to this confrontation.

The Vermillion Bird Saintess, seeing that her subordinate had failed, was naturally unhappy, but she couldn’t say much in front of the crowd. There were too many people watching, so she tried to end the situation quickly by offering a high price for the stone.

However, the black-haired girl’s refusal left her in an awkward position, her face shifting between expressions of frustration and anger.

For ordinary people, face might not matter much, but for someone like the Vermillion Bird Saintess, who held herself in such high regard, it was everything. Being defied by a mere Heavenly Fox disciple infuriated her.

Boom!

Suddenly, a terrifying wave of anger exploded from the Vermillion Bird Saintess, releasing a powerful aura that enveloped the entire space.

Feeling the immense pressure, the black-haired girl’s expression shifted, and cracks began to appear on her pale skin.

Seeing this, Yao Mingyue’s eyes grew cold, and she prepared to step in.

But just then, another formidable aura burst forth, blanketing the entire area. A woman with an ordinary face smiled faintly and said, “What an impressive display of power, Vermillion Bird Saintess. Unable to snatch the stone, and now you plan to kill someone on the spot?”

“This girl is, after all, a member of the Heavenly Fox Clan. If word of this reaches them, it won’t look good for you.”

“If your actions cause the Heavenly Fox Clan to be unable to join the Ancient Imperial Clan Alliance, you might become the greatest sinner of the entire Ancient Imperial Clan!”

Her words sent shockwaves through the crowd, and everyone immediately looked towards Yan Ruyu, wondering who she was to dare speak so boldly to the Vermillion Bird Saintess.

Thanks to the secret technique concealing her identity, the crowd couldn’t see through Yan Ruyu’s appearance or recognize her.

“Who are you?” The Vermillion Bird Saintess ignored Yan Ruyu’s words for the most part, her focus now on figuring out the woman’s identity.

Relations between the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan and the Ancient Imperial Clan were already tense. If this matter escalated, it could further strain their relationship.

Although this incident wouldn’t necessarily be the tipping point, it could provide an excuse for the Heavenly Fox Clan to sever ties.

The Vermillion Bird Saintess knew she couldn’t allow this to happen, so she refrained from escalating things further. She instead tried to probe Yan Ruyu’s identity.

Through her aura, the Saintess could tell that the woman was at the Quasi-Saint level, but her figure was concealed, making it impossible to determine who she was.

“Who I am isn’t important. I just can’t stand watching you bully others,” Yan Ruyu responded calmly.

The crowd’s curiosity only deepened. Who could this person be, to openly defy the Vermillion Bird Saintess’s authority? Judging by her aura, she seemed to be human. This realization led many in the crowd to speculate about which human powerhouse she could be.

Meanwhile, Dugu Yun, standing nearby, observed the scene with flickering eyes. He had arrived early, intending to intervene when the black-haired girl was being oppressed. However, someone else had beaten him to it.

Moreover, ever since someone else intervened first, Dugu Yun’s heart had been deeply unsettled. It felt as though something important had been taken from him, and this feeling was eerily similar to when Jing Muyu was taken away.

It seemed as if the black-haired girl in front of him held some significant connection to him, though he couldn’t quite understand why.

He sensed a faint familiarity with the aura of the woman who had just intervened, as if he had felt it somewhere before.

“Yan Ruyu!” Suddenly, it clicked for Dugu Yun. The aura belonged to none other than Yan Ruyu. He had faced her many times in the past. When he was about to fight Jiang Chen, it was Yan Ruyu who intervened.

When Jing Muyu was snatched away, it was also Yan Ruyu. And now, in the matter concerning the black-haired girl, Yan Ruyu had appeared once again.

A surge of anger rose in Dugu Yun’s heart. Why was it always Yan Ruyu? Why did she seem to be his nemesis, always blocking his path at crucial moments?

“If she’s here, then the man beside her must be Jiang Chen!” Dugu Yun’s eyes shifted toward Jiang Chen, a glint of malice flashing in his gaze.

This was the first time he had seen Jiang Chen up close, and he harbored deep hatred for this man whom he had never met.

Sensing Dugu Yun’s stare, Jiang Chen glanced back at him. His gaze was calm, almost indifferent, but there was a hint of pity in his eyes. In that moment, Dugu Yun felt his hair stand on end, his scalp tingling with fear.

That gaze… it was as if Jiang Chen had seen right through him, leaving nothing hidden. It felt as though his entire being was exposed under Jiang Chen’s eyes.

“He recognized me!” Dugu Yun’s heart raced, panic rising as he thought to himself, “He saw through everything!”