Chapter 11: Mass Offensive

As they ascended to the highest floor, the hostess glanced nervously at Li Wei.

"A lot of the city's young elite are up here, sir," she said cautiously. "You might find it difficult to compete for the items."

Li Wei chuckled, his voice reverberating off the stone walls. "Difficult? If I truly desired something, not even the heavens could stop me."

The hostess managed a tight-lipped smile while inwardly rolling her eyes. 'He seems kind, but he's full of hot air.'

Leng Yue followed a step behind, her expression blank. Yet, her thoughts betrayed a faint exasperation: 'How many more people will I have to strip and toss out today? I miss when young master's recklessness had a touch of adventure to it.'

The trio stepped into the highest floor, and the atmosphere shifted instantly. The low hum of conversations, punctuated by the clink of fine porcelain, gave the space an air of exclusivity. The shelves were lined with treasures that radiated faint auras, tangible even to the untrained eye—a sure sign of high-quality items.

A poised and confident hostess approached them, her steps measured. "Welcome to the pinnacle of the Heavenly Treasures Pavilion. I'll be your guide."

Li Wei waved her off dismissively. "Unnecessary. You," he pointed at their original hostess, "will continue showing me around."

The younger hostess blinked, visibly flustered. "Sir, I'm not familiar with the prices or details of these items. It's best I return to my assigned floor."

Li Wei smirked, the corners of his mouth curling with mockery. "There's nothing here I can't afford, and everyone else in this room is just trash in expensive clothing."

The words landed like a gong struck in a silent hall. Conversations ceased abruptly, replaced by a suffocating silence as the upper floor patrons turned to gape at him.

After a brief pause, a torrent of outrage erupted.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" a young man in elegant blue robes demanded.

"Such arrogance! You'll regret that," snapped a woman in crimson.

"Talking big doesn't make you big," growled a burly, shaved-headed man.

Li Wei stood taller, his expression unwavering. "Who am I?" he asked, his voice carrying across the room. "I am the man your ancestors dreamed of becoming."

Another silence fell, heavier this time. His audacity left even the boldest speechless.

Toward the front of the room, a familiar face froze mid-step. Liu Mei, flanked by her escort, turned sharply at the sound of the voice she hadn't hoped to hear again. Her eyes narrowed as she confirmed it was indeed Li Wei—the same insufferable braggart who had humiliated her before. Anger flared in her chest. 'Does this man exist purely to taunt me?'

The whispers began almost immediately.

"That's Liu Mei," someone murmured. "Does he even realize who her fiancé is?"

"Her fiancé? Zhao Tian, of the Zhao Clan! The nerve to insult her—he's signing his own death warrant."

Liu Mei's face darkened as the murmurs grew. She stepped forward, her glare sharp enough to cut stone, but before she could speak, Li Wei preempted her.

"Little Mei Mei," he called out with exaggerated familiarity. "Is that you? I almost didn't recognize you with your clothes on. Frankly, I preferred you without them."

GASP

The collective intake of breath was deafening. Shock and scandal rippled through the crowd like wildfire.

"I didn't think Liu Mei was that kind of woman," someone muttered.

"Her fiancé's been humiliated. A green hat and all," another whispered, shaking their head.

Liu Mei trembled with fury, her fists clenched so tightly that her nails bit into her palms. Her escort, a composed man with a measured air, stepped forward to defuse the situation.

"Friend," he said, his voice calm yet commanding, "this sort of behavior is beneath top cultivators. We must set an example for those still finding their way."

The crowd buzzed with intrigue.

"That's Zhou Wen!" someone whispered.

"A Nascent Soul expert, invited as a guest by the Liu Clan. He's supposed to be immensely powerful."

"And he's speaking to that brat with respect? Could it mean…"

Liu Mei glared at Li Wei, her anger palpable. Zhou Wen, however, remained steady, his gaze never leaving Li Wei.

Finally, someone in the crowd murmured, "Zhou Wen will handle him. The brat's done for now."

Li Wei, predictably, showed no intention of backing down. Instead, he threw his head back and laughed, the sound bold and mocking.

"Who is this 'friend' you speak of?" he said with a smirk. "I have no friends, only subordinates. And you, unfortunately, don't qualify."

GASP

Once again, the crowd was stunned.

"He… he just insulted Zhou Wen?" someone stammered, disbelief clear in their voice.

"This guy's insane," another whispered.

Zhou Wen's expression remained unshaken, though something flickered in his eyes—curiosity? Amusement? It was impossible to tell.

Li Wei's gaze swept the room, reveling in the collective shock. His smile widened as he delivered his parting blow.

"And as for this 'we' you mentioned," he said, addressing Zhou Wen directly. "There is no 'we.' There's only me—the only top cultivator here."

The crowd erupted in hushed whispers, caught between disbelief and grudging admiration.

"Arrogant or powerful… which is it?" one man muttered.

"Maybe both," another replied.

Liu Mei's fury simmered beneath the surface as Zhou Wen finally broke the tension with a faint smile. "You are… quite confident," he said, his tone unreadable.

"And you're quite observant," Li Wei shot back, his grin never faltering.

The confrontation lingered in the air, tension crackling like static. Everyone in the room waited, breath bated, to see who would make the next move.