Could this person's acting skills actually be on par with his

The people present were no fools.

In a flash, countless seemingly unrelated clues frantically pieced themselves together in their minds!

That old man from the Qingfeng Sect, why was he the very first to jump out and stick his neck out?

A coincidence?

Why did Su Ji set up some "auction" to publicly humiliate everyone?

To establish his dominance?

Why did the Second Elder of the Puppet Heaven Holy Land have to appear at this exact moment, offering such uncompromising terms and pushing Su Ji into a "dead end" step by step?

Everything was calculated!

From the Qingfeng Sect elder's "righteous words," to Su Ji's "true feelings," and then to the Puppet Heaven Holy Land's "domineering descent"...

How the hell was this a succession ceremony!

This was clearly a well-rehearsed trap, a deadly banquet tailor-made specifically for them, the "guests"!

And they were just a bunch of pigs tricked into the slaughterhouse, smugly thinking they were here to watch a good show!

A chill shot up from everyone's tailbones straight to the crowns of their heads.

The Holy Lord of the Puppet Heaven Holy Land was completely dumbfounded at this moment.

He looked at the Second Elder kneeling on the ground, crying a river of tears.

He felt like his brain wasn't quite enough to process this.

What was going on?

Wasn't this woman... my subordinate?

How did she become the enemy's mole?

The Holy Lord's lips moved, wanting to say something, but he found he couldn't utter a single word.

He didn't look at Su Ji again, nor did he look at the Second Elder.

He simply turned around.

Then, he took a step forward.

His figure vanished from the spot.

He didn't even leave behind a token parting remark.

Today, his Puppet Heaven Holy Land had fallen.

Fallen completely and utterly.

Continuing to stay here had no meaning other than bringing humiliation upon himself.

Watching the Holy Lord's wretched departure, the atmosphere in the plaza became extremely oppressive.

Their biggest backer had run away.

Now, it was their turn.

Su Ji straightened his slightly messy robes.

He walked back to the edge of the high platform, looking down condescendingly at the shivering "guests" below.

"Alright."

Su Ji clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.

"It's time... to settle our accounts."

He picked up the gift list that Li Fan had retrieved and spoke unhurriedly.

"Blood Fiend Sect, right?"

He locked his gaze onto the middle-aged man with red hair.

The middle-aged man trembled, forcing out a smile uglier than crying.

"Sect... Sect Master Su, let's talk this out, let's talk this out..."

"Of course we can talk."

Su Ji nodded with a grin.

"I am the most reasonable person there is."

He paused, the smile on his face becoming incredibly radiant.

"How about this? Seeing as you guys yelled the loudest just now and contributed the most entertainment value to this banquet."

"I'll give you a discount."

The red-haired middle-aged man shuddered all over, a chill shooting from the soles of his feet straight to his scalp.

He raised his head tremblingly, squeezing out a smile uglier than a crying face, his voice shaking uncontrollably.

"H-how much of a discount?"

"Heh."

Su Ji was amused.

"You actually dared to answer that?"

Su Ji stopped smiling, leaned forward, and got a bit closer. The gentle smile on his handsome face was enough to give anyone the creeps.

"I'll give you a break... a bone break. Do you want it?"

The red-haired middle-aged man didn't dare to speak anymore.

His mind raced.

The money belonged to the sect.

His life belonged to himself.

Figuring this out, the red-haired middle-aged man instantly made a decision.

He gritted his teeth, as if making a monumental resolution, and shouted in a loud voice.

"One hundred thousand!"

"My Blood Fiend Sect is willing to offer one hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones to beg Sect Master Su to forgive our earlier offenses!"

As soon as these words came out, the entire venue fell into a bizarre silence once again.

One hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones?

This generosity could not be understated.

Don't mind the fact that the Holy Land had coughed up two million top-grade spirit stones.

Although there was only a one-tier difference between the two, the foundation of a Holy Land compared to a first-tier sect was worlds apart.

Hearing this, Su Ji raised an eyebrow, seemingly satisfied with the number.

He didn't agree immediately, but instead cast an inquiring gaze toward the other sects.

"The Blood Fiend Sect is offering one hundred thousand."

"What about the rest of you?"

"Is there anyone with more sincerity than him?"

Over at the Joyous Union Sect's side, the alluring woman in the lead—the same one who had mocked Su Ji earlier—had long since lost the seductive smile on her face.

She took a deep breath, stepped forward, and gave Su Ji a graceful bow.

"My Joyous Union Sect is also willing to offer one hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones."

Su Ji cast a meaningful glance at the woman but said nothing.

With the Blood Fiend Sect and Joyous Union Sect taking the lead, how could the remaining sects and aristocratic families dare to hesitate in the slightest?

One by one, they scrambled to call out the number of spirit stones their factions were willing to pay in compensation.

"My Wang Family of the North is willing to offer eight thousand top-grade spirit stones!"

"My Chen Family of the Southern Borders also offers eight thousand!"

"We small sects lack financial power, but the Twelve Sects of the South are willing to pool together fifty thousand top-grade spirit stones. We hope Sect Master Su can be magnanimous!"

For a time, the plaza was filled with the rising and falling sounds of people shouting prices.

The scene was more lively than any auction.

Listening to this string of numbers, the smile on Su Ji's face grew brighter and brighter.

He nodded in satisfaction and raised a hand, pressing down lightly in the air.

"Alright."

"Since everyone is so sincere, we'll consider today's matter settled."

"Everyone, get up. A bunch of people kneeling on the ground, what does that look like?"

"I don't like seeing this either."

As soon as he said this, all the cultivators still kneeling on the ground felt as if they had been granted a grand pardon, letting out long sighs of relief.

They tremblingly climbed up from the ground. When they looked at the back of the young man on the high platform, there was no longer a shred of contempt, only a bone-deep reverence.

However, just as everyone stood up.

There was one group of people who remained kneeling stiffly on the spot, completely motionless.

It was the people from the Qingfeng Sect.

Su Ji looked over in some surprise.

He pointed at the elder he had previously forced to kowtow.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Addicted to kneeling?"

Hearing this, not only did the Qingfeng Sect elder not stand up, but he forcefully pressed his forehead against the ground again, shouting in a nearly devout voice.

"Sect Master Su! You misunderstand!"

He suddenly raised his head. His old face was actually covered in tears, written full of reverence.

"The reason we remain kneeling is not because of the Sect Master's oppressive aura, and even less so because we fear the Sect Master's strength!"

These words were spoken with resounding force, causing the crowd who had just stood up to freeze again.

Not because you're afraid?

Then what the hell are you kneeling for?

Who are you putting on an act for?

They saw the elder take a deep breath and speak, enunciating every word.

"Our Qingfeng Sect's admiration for you is like a surging river, endless and continuous!"

"Today, we are not kneeling to absolute power, we are not kneeling to strength, nor are we kneeling to the Xiangsi Sect!"

At this point, his voice suddenly pitched higher.

"What we are kneeling to is our wholehearted devotion to Sect Master Su's far-sightedness and world-shaking talents!"

Boom!

These words left everyone completely dumbfounded.

The red-haired middle-aged man from the Blood Fiend Sect opened his mouth so wide you could stuff an egg into it.

The alluring woman from the Joyous Union Sect had her peach-blossom eyes wide and perfectly round.

Even Su Jiu, who had been standing quietly behind Su Ji the entire time, could not help but twitch the corner of her mouth, nearly failing to maintain her cold and aloof expression.

Shameless!

Too fucking shameless!

You can actually play it like this?

This old geezer, just to kiss ass, has completely thrown his dignity out the window?!

However, the Qingfeng Sect elder's performance was far from over.

As if completely oblivious to the dumbfounded stares around him, he continued his impassioned speech.

"To think of our Great Xia cultivation world, over tens of thousands of years, when has there ever been a figure like you, Sect Master?"

"You treat the Holy Lands as nothing, making them bow their heads while merely laughing and chatting!"

"You view wealth as dirt. Even when demanding spirit stones from us, it is merely to teach us a lesson."

"Just think about it, what if they had not met you today, but someone else?"

"With such offense! I am afraid they would have lost their lives!"

"A few spirit stones to buy a lesson, that is all!"

"Thinking carefully, one can see the deeper meaning. With Sect Master Su's strength, if you wanted spirit stones, you could have obviously just robbed us by force. Why bother putting on such an act?"

"He is making a tremendous contribution to the Great Xia cultivation world!"

"What boldness! What spirit!"

"We mortals were blind before, failing to see the vast valleys in the Sect Master's chest, the universe in his heart. We are truly ashamed, truly embarrassed!"

"Seeing the Sect Master's true face and hearing his true words today, we finally know that there are skies beyond skies, and people beyond people!"

"My kneel today is out of complete and utter submission! I throw myself at your feet! I am completely won over by your personality and charm, which shines as bright as the radiant moon in the night sky!"

After finishing his speech, the elder kowtowed heavily once again.

With a loud thud, the sound echoed throughout the venue.

The few Qingfeng Sect disciples behind him finally snapped out of their daze.

Although they still did not quite understand what sickness had possessed their elder.

But following their elder's lead definitely could not be wrong!

"We submit wholeheartedly!"

"We are completely won over by your charismatic charm!"

Below the stage, the various cultivators who had just stood up looked at each other, their facial expressions incredibly colorful.

They suddenly felt that standing up just now might have been... a bit too hasty?

It was as if someone had said, Whoever wants to die, step forward.

No one wanted to die, so no one stepped forward.

But suddenly, some sneaky bastard took a step back...

...

Up on the high platform.

Su Ji looked at the old man below, who was now covered in snot and tears, and was rendered speechless for a long while.

Was this guy's acting skill actually on par with his own?