How about making a bet

"Hey!"

"What's this? Trying to inquire about the limits of the advanced testing stele?"

"You think that's necessary for someone like you?"

"With your level of strength, the basic testing stele is more than enough. Don’t think that just because you're the Grand Elder of the Nine Clouds Immortal Sect, you actually possess the power to match that title."

At that moment, a voice laced with disdain rose from the crowd, shocking many.

Damn, this guy’s got some nerve!

Even if Chen Chang'an’s strength is lacking, his status is undeniable—Grand Elder of the Nine Clouds Immortal Sect. And yet, someone dares to mock him?

Chen Chang'an turned his gaze toward the speaker. The man was short, unremarkable in appearance, with a squint and a crooked mouth.

Standing in the crowd, he was like a chicken among cranes—utterly out of place.

"Grand Elder, this person is from the Howling Sky Palace."

"His name is Tie Shuai."

Tie Shuai?

Where’s the "Shuai" (handsome) in him?

How could he possibly have the audacity to give himself such a name? Was he compensating for his shortcomings?

"Tie Shuai, is it?" Chen Chang'an asked with a smile.

"Indeed!"

"A real man doesn’t change his name or hide his identity!"

"Tie Shuai—that’s me!" Tie Shuai sneered.

"Good, good. Never change it. Not even if you’re beaten to death."

"Otherwise, you’d have absolutely no connection left to the word 'handsome,'" Chen Chang'an said earnestly.

"You—!"

"Are you insulting me?"

As the saying goes, strike not the face, and expose not the flaws. Tie Shuai was most sensitive about his looks, and Chen Chang'an’s public remarks left him humiliated.

"Insult? When did I insult you?"

"I just feel your name doesn’t do justice to the word 'Shuai.'"

"It’s a shame, really. That poor character 'Shuai' must be suffering under your ownership." Chen Chang'an sighed and shook his head.

"Hmph!"

"All you can do is wag your tongue."

"Tie Shuai may not be much to look at, but his cultivation is at the peak of the Celestial Immortal Realm."

"What right do you have to mock him?"

Another voice chimed in from the crowd, taunting Chen Chang'an.

Yet, in response, Chen Chang'an merely smiled. "Ah, so you admit he’s ugly too, then?"

The moment these words left his mouth, the speaker froze, glancing awkwardly at Tie Shuai. "Brother Tie, that’s not what I meant."

"I know. He’s just trying to stir trouble. Don’t worry, I won’t take it to heart."

Though he claimed otherwise, Tie Shuai’s expression remained sour.

"Grand Elder, this is Cao Heng from the Windshadow Immortal Sect."

Excellent.

Another one steps forward.

Chen Chang'an knew there were plenty more in the crowd eager to make things difficult for him. Not necessarily to fight, but to humiliate him.

Their goal? To curry favor with their own factions’ elders when they arrived, using this incident to claim credit.

"Are you… strong?"

"Do you really think you have the right to stand here and mock me?" Chen Chang'an asked with a smirk.

"Though we may not have your illustrious status,"

"how many here are actually weaker than you?"

"You’re only at the fifth level of the Golden Immortal Realm. If not for your title, do you think you’d even be allowed here?"

"Everyone who dares enter and has the ability to do so is at least at the Celestial Immortal Realm."

"Every single one is a top talent of their respective factions."

"So tell me—what’s wrong with us mocking you?"

This time, a disciple from the Jade Brilliance Palace, one of the Two Great Palaces, spoke up.

"Good, another one."

"Any more?" Chen Chang'an asked, still smiling.

"What?"

"You enjoy being ridiculed?"

"Or are you just using this to draw attention and flaunt your status?"

"Without that Grand Elder title from the Nine Clouds Immortal Sect, you wouldn’t even be fit to stand before us—let alone warrant a single word from us."

"Am I right, everyone?"

Now, someone from the Blazing Flame Immortal Sect joined in.

"Absolutely!"

"That’s exactly right!"

"All he has is some dubious title—nothing else to his name!"

"Right, right! He’s just a worthless piece of trash coasting on his status!"

Chen Chang'an watched as one after another stepped forward, while disciples of the Nine Clouds Immortal Sect quietly briefed him on each person’s background.

Among the many factions present, only the Qi Family refrained from joining in.

The Qi Family weren’t fools—they’d already received word from their clan about Chen Chang'an’s true capabilities.

They were content to stand back and watch the show unfold.

"Had enough?"

"Enjoying yourselves?"

"Feeling proud of your little performance?"

"Mocking the Grand Elder of the Nine Clouds Immortal Sect—this must be a first for you, huh?"

"Exciting, isn’t it?"

"Thrilling?" Chen Chang'an asked with a grin.

Many in the crowd nodded shamelessly. Of course it was thrilling—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

"Tsk."

"Let me tell you—you’re overthinking things."

"You really think a few snide remarks from the likes of you can humiliate me?"

"Make me lose face? Leave me speechless?"

"Do you honestly believe that’s possible?" Chen Chang'an asked.

"Why not?"

"Do you have any grounds to refute us?"

"Do you have the qualifications? The strength?"

"Of course, if you want to hide behind the Nine Clouds Immortal Sect to intimidate us, we can’t stop you."

"But that just proves you’re relying on your sect, not your own power, to make us submit."

Hearing this, Chen Chang'an nodded with a smile. Beside him, the big yellow dog (Da Huang) watched intently.

The more Chen Chang'an smiled, the more dangerous the situation became.

Ah…

These poor fools. Trying to earn merit by provoking Chen Chang'an? They’d picked the wrong target.

"Since you all seem so confident,"

"how about we make a little wager?" Chen Chang'an suggested.

A wager?

On what?

Was this some kind of trick?

"What do you want to bet on?" Tie Shuai asked, frowning.

Seeing Tie Shuai’s scrunched-up expression, Chen Chang'an couldn’t help but frown too. Damn, he looked even uglier now!

"You’ve all been fixated on my status and strength, right?"

"Then let’s use my strength as the stakes."

"If my test results are worse than any one of yours here, I lose."

"How does that sound?" Chen Chang'an asked.

The crowd stirred. Why was he so confident? Had he been hiding his true power?

No, no—this had to be a trap!

"What’s wrong?"

"Not to your liking?"

"Or are you the ones lacking confidence?" Chen Chang'an pressed, smiling as the crowd fell silent.