Chapter 127: Who Do You Think You Are?

At the summit of Fotian, it appeared like a fortified village. Yet, it resembled more a town resistant to outside influences, inhabited by many ethnic groups, each adorned in their distinctive attire and customs.

Su Ye and Gangjin stepped onto the unique bluestone slabs and entered. The houses here were strikingly characteristic, and clear streams ran through the settlement. In the shallow waters stood a bridge paved with round stones.

Upon entering, many locals turned their gaze toward the two, for their clothing was noticeably different. Some children giggled, covering their mouths as they approached for a closer look.

“Young master, this way—” Suddenly, a man dressed in ethnic garb hurried toward them, a smile playing on his lips.

Through his large sunglasses, Su Ye recognized Uncle Zhong, who seemed like a different man in his new clothes.

“Uncle Zhong.”

“Heh, you’ve arrived! The journey must have been tough. Why are you still wearing those sunglasses?” Uncle Zhong waved them forward toward the large courtyard ahead.

Su Ye felt helpless; he dared not remove the sunglasses.

“Has the clan head arrived?”

“Yes, they’re all inside! Waiting to negotiate with a Gu sorcerer. This is their territory, and without the sorcerer's aid, continuing will be difficult.” Uncle Zhong glanced around cautiously, then confided earnestly in a low voice, “Ye Lingyun is here too! They also want to cooperate with the sorcerers. But only you possess the Thunder Taming Pearl. You must be careful. If it’s too dangerous, hand the Pearl over to the clan head for safekeeping; you don’t need to risk yourself.”

Su Ye nodded. Finding the legendary Thunder City was harder than he had imagined. Not to mention whether it could be found at all; the search itself was enough to claim many lives. Even if found, it would never be so simple.

“No matter, I will meet him sooner or later,” Su Ye said grimly. He had now reached the third level of Qi Gathering. While he might not defeat Ye Lingyun outright, he could at least ensure a safe retreat.

Entering the front courtyard, he realized the place was bustling.

Though everyone had changed into special attire indistinguishable from the villagers, their postures and the aura they emitted clearly marked them as outsiders.

Many showed subtle reactions upon seeing Su Ye, some even smiling faintly.

“Oh? He’s finally here.”

“Hmph, so this is the person you’ve been talking about? Just a cocky brat. I expected someone formidable.”

Su Ye heard but said nothing, merely adjusting his sunglasses, inwardly cursing Jiang Liuying. If not for that little witch shaving off his handsome hair, would he have to endure this?

Passing through the courtyard, he reached the grand hall’s entrance.

Clearly, people inside had seen him. Jiang Ziyang’s voice called out, “Su Ye, come in! We’ve all been waiting for you!”

Su Ye walked in and immediately spotted Ye Lingyun seated there.

One could not deny Ye Lingyun’s extraordinary appearance and physique; his presence was sharp and imposing, impossible to ignore.

Beside him was a pale-faced girl, dressed more heavily than others, looking weak. It was Yu Zhisha, whose thunder veins had been severed.

“She’s here too!” Su Ye’s heart tightened, fists clenching involuntarily.

Surprisingly, despite the fatal blow she suffered, Yu Zhisha had recovered swiftly and was present here. Given their deep hatred, their reunion was truly a meeting of sworn enemies.

When Yu Zhisha saw Su Ye, a fierce light exploded in her eyes, a sudden sharpness breaking through her frail state. Even the nearby warriors were taken aback.

Gritting her teeth, she said, “Glad you’re still alive.”

Her words implied that if Su Ye had died, she would have avenged herself personally.

Everyone present frowned at the tense, explosive atmosphere, displeased since they had come here to seek Thunder City.

Su Ye didn’t hold back either. The Yu family had been wiped out. Had Yu Zhisha kept a low profile, he might have spared her. Yet she dared to taunt him openly.

“Heh, you should cherish your life. Why come here to court death?”

Bang!

Ye Lingyun slammed his palm hard on the table, his voice sharp with old and new grudges. “Su Ye, who do you think you are, threatening the woman standing before me?”

A powerful Qi burst forth with a whoosh!

This was a Qi release technique, unique to the Qi Gathering realm, where even without moving, one could unleash a fierce Qi wave.

“And who are you to me?”

Su Ye clenched his fist, thunderfire roaring inside him. With a bang, a “fire man” sound burst out as he launched a strange technique.

To everyone’s amazement, Su Ye sent forth a “clone” to meet the attack head-on.

With a crash, their Qi waves collided, producing a solid-like sound as if something was shattered. The Qi shattered and collapsed to the ground.

A draw!

“What? Third level of Qi Gathering!” someone exclaimed.

“A draw? But isn’t Ye Lingyun at the ninth level?” more voices expressed shock.

Everyone knew Su Ye’s cultivation; he had fought Ye Lingyun before, and that battle was known throughout Yang City. Everyone also knew Su Ye was then at the first level of Qi Gathering.

A boy once deemed a three-year waste suddenly revived, returning as a king, growing stronger day by day, reaching the first level — that alone shocked many warriors.

But how many days since that fight?

How did Su Ye rise from level one to three so fast? The gap of two levels might take most warriors ten or more years of diligent training. Many remained stuck at level one, unable to advance.

“Third level?” Even Ye Lingyun’s pupils contracted, disbelief and wariness flashing across his eyes.

Yu Zhisha’s face instantly paled.

She once held the title “Yang City’s First Genius,” known as the Blue Sky Sparrow. All was destroyed by Su Ye. Now she realized how far behind she was.

Could she still have her revenge?

She grasped Ye Lingyun’s hand tightly. She knew she still had a chance — this quest for Thunder City. If they could find the legendary Thunder City, even find her grandmother Luo Gui, then with her grandmother’s skills, they could tear Su Ye apart.

Right now, Su Ye was but a last defiant cry before death.

“Su Ye, don’t fight anymore!” Suddenly, a clear female voice called out sharply, reproachful.

She stepped forward from a group of warriors — it was Jiuyue!

She had come too!

“Su Ye, why do you have to fight Brother Ling Tian as soon as you arrive? He’s at the ninth level of Qi Gathering; you’re only at three. If I hadn’t asked him not to target you and hold back, you’d be hurt! Is it necessary to fight immediately? So many sorcerers are here — do you want to make a fool of yourself?” Jiuyue scolded, then addressed the crowd, trying to ease tensions.

Su Ye sighed inwardly. He didn’t want this, but did he have to be bullied just because he arrived somewhere new?

His gaze swept the hall. Around them were four or five groups, each with several strange men tattooed on their faces.

Their skin was dark and reddish, as if sunbaked for years. Their temples bulged grotesquely, deep-set eyes casting a chilling aura.

“Xiao Ye, come sit here! Heh, everyone, those were just personal grudges. Please don’t take offense!” Jiang Ziyang cheerfully stood, clearly pleased Su Ye had fought.

Su Ye now realized these were the legendary Gu sorcerers.

In ancient times, the Man, Wu, and Gu were distinct special beings. Over time, “Man techniques” became rare, leaving mostly Gu arts and remnants of Wu arts.

Originally, these special methods were to protect their own people but gradually spread and were twisted by malicious intent into “curse arts.” Now, many hearing of Gu sorcerers feel a chill, thinking them ruthless.

“No worries! Just don’t break our things!” one sorcerer chuckled, revealing yellowed teeth tinted by special medicinal soaking.

Su Ye was startled; he had heard tales of sorcerers’ terrifying lives, often pushing their bodies to unimaginable extremes without relent. Now he saw the truth of it.

He sat down and saw Ouyang Yunfeng nearby, but Jiang Liuying was absent.

“Heh, good! Fellow sorcerers, this is Su Ye, bearer of the Thunder Taming Pearl — take a look!” Jiang Ziyang gestured to Su Ye.

Before entering, Su Ye had already taken out the Pearl. Glancing at Ye Lingyun, he realized he could not keep it all to himself. He casually displayed it before pocketing it again.

The sorcerers leaned forward eagerly, eyes shining brilliantly.

“You actually have the Thunder Taming Pearl?”

“Quick, let me see it!” One sorcerer stood barefoot, reaching out.

Jiang Ziyang laughed. “We’re wanderers; it doesn’t work like that! This is undoubtedly the Pearl; you know it’s genuine! Now, can you lead us to your clan chief?”

The sorcerers exchanged worried glances. One, missing an arm, said, “We can take you to our chief. But here, we have rules. To meet the chief, you must all submit to Gu!”

Heh, may I ask, what rules are those?” Jiang Ziyang asked solemnly.

“You must all submit to the Gu!”