Eternal life begins with saving my clan

Chapter 197: Who...are...you?

The morning sun cast a warm glow over Baiyun City, but it was the anticipation simmering within its walls that truly ignited the day.

A fever of excitement pulsed through the streets, fueled by the imminent Celestial Heavenly Store's Recognition Ceremony.

Rumors had swirled for weeks, each whisper adding a spark to the growing anticipation. Today, at long last, the city's most prettiest women and handsome young men would be recognized.

The air buzzed with the promise of rewards, recognition, and perhaps even glimpses of the store's fabled treasures.

Adding fuel to the fire was the enigmatic figure of Ye Zhen. His bold challenge to the store had reverberated throughout Baiyun City, leaving everyone breathless with the audacity of it.

Would the powerful Celestial Heavenly Store deign to respond? Would Ye Zhen, the city lord's son and a rising star in his own right, finally meet his match?

As the sun climbed higher, the excitement only intensified. People streamed towards the Inner City in droves, eagerly paying the fifty silver coins required for entry.

The streets thrummed with their chatter and laughter, a vibrant tapestry of anticipation woven together.

Inside the Inner City, the atmosphere crackled with energy.

The magnificent Celestial Heavenly Store stood at the heart of it all, adorned with intricate ornaments and bathed in the warm morning light.

The air itself seemed to vibrate with anticipation, as if the city collectively held its breath, waiting for the grand ceremony to begin.

In front of the main store, a makeshift stage adorned with beautiful decorations had been set up.

Gradually, people began to gather in front of the podium, whispering and talking in hushed voices.

No one dared to cause trouble in front of the store, as the fear of its power surpassed that of any clans or city lords.

The store had made it clear that messing with them came with dire consequences.

After an hour, thousands of people were already waiting for the commencement of the events.

"Look!" a voice called out, and though he tried to raise his voice, it stood out in the quiet atmosphere.

Everyone turned to see one of the top ten handsome young men arriving, instantly turning the quiet atmosphere into a frenzy of screams from his fans.

The young man, dressed in blue and a robe, acknowledged the adoration with a light smile before standing at one corner, exuding pride like a proud peacock.

Slowly, the rest of the top ten arrived one after the other, both from the male and female rankings.

The air filled with cheers and cries as everyone defended their idols.

"Look, that is Xiao Chunhua," a girl called out, and instantly, everyone turned to see the beautiful girl walking towards a specific spot with pride and a cute smile on her face.

Her adoring presence melted the hearts of many.

Various comments flew back and forth as they observed the top rankers.

It was almost time for the event's commencement, and almost all the top rankers had arrived, except for the first and second in the men's ranking.

The crowd was puzzled by their absence, and the bustling atmosphere slowly became quiet as they turned their gaze to a young man with shoulder-length hair and almond eyes walking slowly toward a specific position.

"Is that…?" a voice whispered.

"Yes, that is Zi Haoran, the number one most handsome man of our generation."

"Are you sure he is a man?"

"No, I'm not."

"I knew it. No man can ever be that pretty. He's even prettier than many ladies."

"Idiot. Of course, he is a man."

"Really!"

"No!"

"What are you saying? You're confusing me, and at this rate, I may go mad."

"That would have been for the best if you can't recognize a man from a woman."

The air buzzed with different comments, but many found it challenging to accept that Zi Haoran was a man.

His handsomeness seemed to defy conventional expectations.

With Zi Haoran's arrival, the door to the store opened, and a group of attendants walked out with calm expressions on their faces.

They mounted the podium, and a young man stepped forward, raising his hand. The murmur and gossip instantly disappeared.

Though just an ordinary Qi Refinement warrior and a measly attendant, no one dared to go against his order.

"Please be quiet. The event has started," he calmly announced.

All eyes focused on him, holding their breath with anticipation.

They expected him to continue, but he stepped back and joined the other attendants at the back, as if waiting for an important person.

Creak!

The door to the store opened, and two people came out - kids not older than 12 or 13.

Dressed in ethereal plain white uniforms with their hair tied in buns, they carried rectangular silver plates in their hands.

They were Ai and Aiguo. As the two kids walked slowly toward the podium, they exuded an aura of pride and confidence rarely seen in children their age.

Everyone inhaled sharply, not expecting such a twist in the event.

They had anticipated attendants or perhaps some middle-aged men or women, not children.

With the children's uniforms, unlike those of the attendants, hinted at a much higher status within the store.

Zi Haoran, Xiao Chunhua, and other rankers regarded the kids seriously, realizing the significance of the seemingly simple event.

Ai and Aiguo stood at the center of the stage, looking down on the crowd without a change in their expressions.

Aiguo waved his hand, and tens of small metallic balls came out of his storage.

With a flick of his hand, the metallic balls flew over the audience at a dazzling speed.

The audience held their breath, sweat dripping from the edges of their foreheads.

They realized the fear they had for the store was too great; their hearts pounded heavily against their chests.

Here is the proofread version of the story:

Even though they were scared, their spines tingling with cold sweat because of the strange floating balls, they remained rooted to their spots.

Just as they tried their best to conceal their fear, a new figure arrived.

Ye Zhen, clad in a blue and black robe, strode majestically towards the front rows.

He held his head high and puffed out his chest, each step brimming with confidence and pride.

He had deliberately waited for this moment, yearning for all eyes to be upon him, to announce to the world that he was back and stronger than ever before.

Feeling the weight of thousands of gazes, he knew his plan was working.

He twisted the corner of his lips and chuckled silently. "I don't care about their useless reward," he thought with confidence, "but when I challenge them now, let's see how they can ignore me."

Contrary to his expectations, the crowd stared at him in bewilderment, confused about his audacity.

They wondered where he got the courage to behave so brazenly right in front of the powerful Celestial Heavenly Store.

Among the crowd, the elders from the Ye clan looked at their young master with a mix of fear and anticipation on their faces.

Sighing, the old man whispered, "I hope this ends well..."

On the stage, Ai and Aiguo turned their gaze towards the newcomer, their eyes fixed on him for several silent seconds.

Ye Zhen stood at the center of attention, his gaze unwavering, meeting their stares. In his mind, he scoffed,

"What could these children at Early Qi Refinement Stage 1 possibly do to me?"

Ai slowly opened her mouth and asked, her voice soft yet carrying through the entire ceremony, "Who... are... you?"

Shock and confusion washed over the crowd. Those with higher cultivation levels recognized the floating balls as voice-enhancing artifacts, understanding their true purpose.

Despite the shock, their attention remained glued to the central stage.

Ye Zhen, momentarily stunned by the unexpected question, felt a sense of disbelief.

Who didn't know him? He was the first son of the city lord and the second in the men's ranking. Why would she ask such an obvious question?

Despite his surprise, he managed to compose himself and opened his mouth to respond, "I..."

Before he could finish, Ai cut him off with a dismissive, "I don't care," her gaze unwavering.

Silence filled the air, heavy and thick, leaving only the gentle breeze whispering through the crowd.

The sun hung high in the sky, its unrelenting rays beating down on Ye Zhen's head.

Ai's response, delivered with such chilling nonchalance, left him flabbergasted.

As he met her unwavering gaze, a cold realization washed over him. In their presence, he was nothing – just an insignificant speck in the vastness of their power.

He saw and felt their arrogance etched into their very being.

They held no regard for his status, his clan affiliation, or his supposed strength. In their eyes, he was a mere ant, unworthy of their attention.

This realization ignited a raging inferno within him. Never before had he felt so inconsequential, his life deemed no more valuable than that of a lowly insect.

Blinded by fury, he was about to unleash his anger when Ai's voice pierced through the clamor in his soul, cutting through his rage like a sharp blade.

"For your brazen audacity against us," she declared, her voice echoing with a chilling power, "you have three options to survive today."