Chapter 67 Three Masters of the Northern Dipper Realm

"Good! Take him down in one go!"

At these words, the others hesitated no longer, each unleashing their full strength as they charged at Ye Tian.

"Young Master Ye, do you need my help?" Tang Long asked with an awkward smile.

"Out of my way, I haven't forgiven you yet," Ye Tian replied with a laugh and a curse, then casually slapped away the foremost attackers, sending the elite fighters flying with a few swift blows.

Only Li Shuze, whose cultivation was the lowest, managed to escape unharmed, simply because he failed to keep up with the others' movements. But it was clear Ye Tian had no intention of letting him go. With a sidestep and a flying kick, Ye Tian sent Li Shuze hurtling off the stage, crashing through a row of tables and chairs below.

For a moment, absolute silence fell over the arena. These so-called martial artists of the Mount Tai realm—some of whom were renowned figures in their regions—could not withstand even a single move from this young man. Was it that their reputations were hollow, or was Ye Qiu simply far too formidable?

"You're courting death!"

From amidst the wreckage below, Li Shuze reemerged, eyes blazing with fury as he leapt three zhang in a single bound, returning instantly to the stage. This time, both hands gripped swords. His footwork, though chaotic, held a hint of method; the twin short blades in his hands glinted like claws, as he lunged and leapt, launching a relentless assault towards Ye Tian.

Anger had clouded his vision. When had Li Shuze ever suffered such humiliation, to be toyed with by an unknown upstart? It was a disgrace beyond measure! Today, Ye Tian would die by his hand!

"Looks like Li Shuze is going all out!"

"He's even using the White Tiger Clan's secret technique—does he mean to kill Ye Tian?"

Exclamations arose from the ancient martial families, many turning to watch closely. Some couldn't help but mock:

"This young man surnamed Ye must have reached the Northern Dipper realm. Compared to him, Li Shuze is like mud and clouds!"

"Isn't he just throwing his life away?"

But soon, someone from the White Tiger Clan sneered in rebuttal:

"You ignorant fools, what do you know!"

"Our White Tiger secret arts consume one's own vitality and blood, but they can easily break through the protective qi of Northern Dipper experts. Killing above one's realm is routine!"

"Our young master has mastered the White Tiger technique to its peak. Even if he can't kill a Northern Dipper, he won't lose to that Ye Qiu!"

"Don't measure the young master's true power by your shallow standards!"

"Fine, fine, the White Tiger bloodline is indeed unique."

The guests stopped arguing and turned back to watch the fight on stage.

Auction Platform.

As Li Shuze attacked, Ye Tian merely sneered and retreated two steps, easily evading both short swords—moving with relaxed grace, as if strolling through a garden. The more at ease Ye Tian appeared, the more enraged Li Shuze became.

"Curse you, curse you—damn it!"

"I'm burning away my life, giving everything to fight you, and you act as though you don't care at all!"

"Ye Qiu, don't let my blade touch you!"

With a furious roar, Li Shuze thrust his short sword at Ye Tian's heart—a sudden, close-range attack! The blade tip pierced through the protective qi without resistance, and was about to break the skin.

A collective gasp swept the crowd. The spectators felt a chill for Ye Tian. Li Shuze's short sword, known as the White Tiger Sting, was made to pierce protective qi—without such defense, not even a martial master could withstand its edge.

Gu Qing'er’s heart went cold and her face tensed with anxiety.

"It's over. Ye Tian was too careless—he slipped at the crucial moment..."

As the sword struck, the onlookers could only sigh in regret—a young Northern Dipper master, brought down so easily by Li Shuze.

"He has only himself to blame for lacking connections. The White Tiger Sting is just too unreasonable. If Ye Qiu had known about its effects, he wouldn't have been so careless."

"What a pity!"

All lamented inwardly.

But just as everyone believed Ye Tian’s heart had been pierced and he would die before their eyes, the situation turned again!

Somehow, everything seemed to freeze in place.

Li Shuze, locked in his forward thrust, was suddenly immobilized—unable to move a muscle. Ye Tian gently brushed aside the White Tiger Sting and turned to the host. "It seems there’s no suspense now. I’ve won."

An uproar swept the crowd.

"What technique did he use? Why can’t Li Shuze move?"

"Was it a pressure-point strike? But I didn't see any such movement!"

The audience erupted with disbelief. Even Gu Qing'er, who had just been nervous, widened her beautiful eyes in shock. From her vantage point, Ye Tian had done nothing—he simply stood there, as if waiting for Li Shuze to stab him. But the next instant, Li Shuze was frozen, completely unable to move.

"I suppose this match counts as my victory?"

Ignoring the commotion, Ye Tian glanced at Tang Long, confirming the latter had no intention of contesting him, and then addressed the host.

"Young Master Ye, you have bested all challengers. The victory is yours," the host named Ji replied with a smile, signaling his assistant to bring forth the Black Tortoise Head and present it to Ye Tian.

"Wait!"

Suddenly, three figures appeared in a flash, surrounding Ye Tian. A powerful aura descended, enveloping the entire auction house. Instantly, everyone held their breath.

Such pressure! It could only be three Northern Dipper masters!

"There is something suspicious about this battle. Putting aside your victory, why won’t you release our young master from this immobilizing technique?"

Following the voice, three gaunt elders stood with piercing gazes, their combined aura sharpening into a tangible threat. The tallest, reed-thin elder spoke first:

"Young Master Ye, please release our master. If you refuse, the three of us will demand an explanation from you today."

He pointed at Li Shuze, who remained frozen, not even blinking.

"He is merely under my immobilization spell," Ye Tian replied calmly. "It will wear off in an hour."

"Release him now, or how can we know if our young master is dead or alive?"

The elder frowned.

At this moment, they couldn’t sense the slightest trace of life from Li Shuze; all that lingered was an empty shell, as if his soul had been stripped away.

As the guardian elders of the White Tiger Clan, their sole mission was to ensure Li Shuze returned alive—nothing else concerned them.

"Are you out of your mind?"

Ye Tian, already annoyed by their unreasonable demands, snapped, "It was your master who tried to kill me. I immobilized him to avoid further trouble."

"You didn’t stop him earlier, but now you accuse me of murder? How very reasonable of the White Tiger Clan!"