Chapter 1651 Is It You?

• Yin Yanmu’s words made everyone jolt. If it were just leaving Liushan, fine. But kneel and kowtow? That was straight-up humiliation. If this lone cultivator really caved like that, he’d never lift his head again. He might as well kiss his life in the immortal world goodbye. And this time, Yin Yanmu didn’t even care about the reclusive disciple’s master. He just threw down that ruthless line. Looked like his mind was made up. A few free cultivators looked toward the earth immortal who represented them, only to find him sitting there with his eyes closed, resting, as if he hadn’t seen a thing. The other earth immortals kept the same posture too. Their message couldn’t be clearer: turn a blind eye and let it slide. Sure, their stance felt cold, but it made sense. The immortal world is a place where strength does the talking. These earth immortals were here to keep order and prevent major blowups. Even if something did flare up, they weren’t allowed to make a move—only talk it down. Otherwise, if trouble really broke out and accountability came later, the moment they interfered, they’d be dragged into it. So basically, they were not going to act. And right now, seven sect disciples challenging a reclusive disciple? That didn’t count as a huge conflict. Those seven had entire sects behind them, which could snowball into bigger sect feuds. But one lone recluse? What did he have? Even if his master was strong, Yin Yanmu was only challenging the reclusive disciple. Perfectly reasonable. The earth immortals had no grounds to say no. So they could only let things play out and look the other way. “Hey, kid, don’t be scared. Get up there and fight him!” Just then, the Saintess of Xuanling shouted toward Michael Shephard. She’d already made up her mind: just for that slick line he’d tossed out earlier, if Michael couldn’t beat Yin Yanmu later, she’d step in and help this recluse. But Michael still didn’t move. He looked up at Yin Yanmu floating in the air, calm and flat, like none of this had anything to do with him. Every gaze locked on him, waiting to see what he’d decide. Some recluses were already imagining what they’d do in his place. Yin Yanmu’s terms were insulting, no doubt. But in a real fight, the tide flips fast, and accidents happen. And Yin Yanmu clearly came for the recluse. So “just a friendly spar” was never going to happen. If you wanted to live, you had to do what Yin Yanmu said. Kneel. Kowtow. It was shameful, sure. But better to live to fight another day than end up dead. Around Michael, the recluses and free cultivators watched him—some worried, some gloating—waiting to see what he’d do next. And at that moment, Michael, who hadn’t moved at all, suddenly did. His plan was crystal clear now. For the moment, he was a recluse. And being a recluse was the perfect cover. With that identity, moving through the immortal world to do what he needed was way easier. Right now, at a grand gathering like this Qushui Assembly, was exactly the time to make a name for himself as a recluse. After this Qushui Assembly, the immortal world wouldn’t just have one teenage prodigy. It would also have a prodigy among recluses—Chen Wendao. “You sure you want to challenge me?” Michael Shephard smiled and asked Yin Yanmu.