“Presumptuous!”
“You little Fox Demon, by what right do you stand there and speak such arrogant words?!”
The crowd was incensed.
It wasn’t that there had never been arrogant contestants in previous years, but someone as arrogant as Jiang Ke’er was definitely the first in history.
In this crisis-ridden Cultivation World, everyone understood that keeping a low profile and making a fortune in silence was the supreme rule for surviving until one reached immortality.
This was especially true now, as they were currently in enemy territory, fighting in an environment surrounded by powerful foes.
Yet, they were as straightforward as simpletons.
Jiang Ke’er naturally knew all of this.
Being overly arrogant and conceited would eventually turn one into a stepping stone for a Protagonist… but she simply couldn’t restrain her desire to be sarcastic.
Offending the organizers? It didn’t matter.
Regardless of whether she offended them or not, she would be targeted.
From the moment Venerable Ye personally took the stage to attempt murder, Jiang Ke’er had seen through the true nature of the so-called organizers.
Offending the audience? It didn’t matter either.
These Human Clan spectators didn’t like them anyway.
Although rotten eggs and spoiled tomatoes hadn’t physically hit the members of the Bagpipe Squad, they had certainly been hurled at the squad’s name and their identities as the Demon Race.
Since they had already thrown them, what kind of courtesy could they expect in return?
Besides, she was only telling the truth.
Even though she considered herself weak.
“But everyone sitting here is truly garbage,” Jiang Ke’er said, blinking her eyes as she repeated the sentiment amidst countless murderous gazes.
Naturally, weapons could not be drawn during the ceremony.
Although being provoked by Jiang Ke’er left everyone fuming with rage, she had not violated a single rule of the competition.
The tournament organizers not only couldn’t punish her, but they actually had to protect her… that was the most frustrating part.
“You yellow-mouthed brat, ignorant of the heights of Heaven and Earth!” One of the Honored Ones presiding over the scene turned ashen with rage.
“The wind will surely destroy the tree that stands taller than the forest. A show-off like her won’t live long,” another Honored One nearby said with disdain.
“A small fry like her is usually crushed to death before the Protagonist even needs to appear… Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad, and she has already reached her peak of inflation.”
“Regardless, arrogance never ends well.”
The insults from the audience and contestants, mixed with the cold, analytical remarks of the Honored Ones, reached the ears of the Bagpipe Squad’s little demons.
Jiang Ke’er didn’t show the slightest bit of restraint. Instead, she curled her lips into a contemptuous smirk, adding fuel to the fire once more.
“I didn’t come here to challenge anyone,” Jiang Ke’er said, looking down at the surrounding contestants. “I am not a challenger. I just wanted to see how much like garbage the Human Clan here is.”
“Unconvinced? Prove it to me.”
A stir went through the crowd.
Staring blankly at Jiang Ke’er, an unprecedented sense of satisfaction welled up from the depths of Si Lian’s heart.
This arrogant posture, these excessive remarks that completely disregarded any worldly etiquette…
This was simply the dream of the entire Demon Race!
Having bowed and scraped for so long, they had forgotten the pride and self-esteem they should have when standing tall.
Fortunately, there was still a little one who remembered. Or rather… she had never bowed her head to begin with.
“I’m finished. Hand out the prize.”
Facing the award presenter, who looked as if he had just swallowed a fly, Jiang Ke’er neither bowed in thanks nor showed the slightest hint of gratitude on her face.
From beginning to end, her acceptance speech did not contain a single word of thanks. Her style was abnormally devoid of social graces.
She believed she deserved this prize as a matter of course.
Regardless of whether there was any hidden hand manipulating the awards, this prize should have belonged to her.
It was the result she had exchanged for at the cost of 10,000 deaths in the System Space!
Since she was worthy of it and had earned it through her own efforts, the person she should thank was not anyone else, but herself, as well as the System and the System Dummy that had given her everything.
Next were Si Lian and the members of the Bagpipe Squad, and even Qiao Xiaoxian… but regardless, it had absolutely nothing to do with the organizers of this tournament.
The only reason they were awarding her the prize as agreed was to maintain the credibility of the Shenzhou Cup—after all, they outwardly claimed to welcome all races and never practiced racial discrimination.
Jiang Ke’er casually tucked the prize into her Qiankun Bag, pulled out a few items that Eggy currently needed for nutrition, and handed them over.
Then, she walked toward the Exit with the other members of the Bagpipe Squad, their heads held high.
It was as if they had already won the match before it even started.
“This is too infuriating!”
None of the 125 teams could stomach such mockery. They were so angry they wanted to rush forward and mob the Bagpipe Squad right then and there.
“Don’t be in a hurry. When we get to the arena, we’ll kill them all fairly and squarely!” The captain of the Fireblade Squad let out a cold laugh. “No one is allowed to lose! If any of you lose, you will be the shame of all Shenzhou forever!”
“You don’t need to tell us. If we lose to them, we won’t have the face to keep living,” the captain of another team spat. “What an arrogant bunch. In return, I’m going to torture them to death!”
“That’s right, torture them! Make them realize the gap between us and send them crawling back to where they belong!”
“Just you wait. we’re going to end the battle as easily as chopping melons and vegetables! When that time comes, the more excessive the bold words they spoke today, the harder they will fall!”
Every team was currently holding back a surge of energy.
They intended to vent all of today’s unpleasantness onto those demons and make them pay the price!
They would also make them realize… some things were destined to never change.
No matter how much one bared their fangs and claws, it was nothing more than a hollow bluff.
“In tomorrow’s match, you might encounter any team. The strength of your opponents will be several times higher than what you’ve experienced before. Remember, never underestimate the enemy,” Si Lian said solemnly after they returned to their residence.
“Mhm…”
The little demons nodded. Jiang Ke’er felt uneasy.
She knew her actions today had been a bit excessive. She had drawn the maximum amount of hatred, and she feared it would cause a lot of trouble for Si Lian.
However, the expected reprimand did not come.
“Aunt Si Lian, I’m sorry…” Jiang Ke’er lowered her head, clutching the corner of her shirt.
There wasn’t a trace of the murderous aura from before; she looked exactly like a child who had made a mistake. “I think… I might have gone a bit too far…”
Although the little demons had decided to take the stage with pride during their prior discussions, Jiang Ke’er’s behavior had already broken past the boundaries of conventional pride.
“There’s no need to apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong,” Si Lian said, instead stroking Jiang Ke’er’s head with a light smile.
“Regardless, losing means death anyway. From the moment we chose to step onto that stage, we had already offended the Human Clan from top to bottom. A few more stinking fish and rotten shrimp won’t make a difference.”
Jiang Ke’er stuck out her little tongue, looking exceptionally well-behaved.
“Besides,” Si Lian’s eyes were full of longing, “if one’s strength allows it, who wouldn’t want to live like that… We’ve been suppressed for too long. It’s time to be flamboyant for once!”
The little demons clenched their fists one after another.
“From now on, there’s no need to hold back any of your strength!”
“Your goal is—to kill them all as quickly as possible!”