"I'm currently managing some of the family businesses, and I happened to arrange a meeting here with people from the Yu Chi family to discuss a deal," Nangong Yi explained.
Ye Bufan noticed that Nangong Yi seemed more reserved than before. The way he looked at Ye Bufan was no longer that of a friend, but more like that of a humble person looking up to a dignitary.
"You seem nervous seeing me. It was better when you were like before," Ye Bufan reminded him gently.
Nangong Yi chuckled upon hearing this and said to Ye Bufan, "You are now the idol of all martial artists in Jiuzhou, including myself. Your achievements are too great. Facing you, I feel a pressure that comes from the very depths of my heart."
Ye Bufan became even more confused. For the past few months, he had either been at Taiyi Divine Sect or in secluded cultivation, completely unaware of external affairs.
"You don't know yet?" Nangong Yi looked at Ye Bufan with disbelief.
Ye Bufan shook his head blankly.
Seeing this, Nangong Yi began to explain, "Ever since the Martial Alliance updated its new martial artist ranking system, your record was also publicized in the underground city."
Nangong Yi continued, "Ye Bufan! You! The youngest Martial God in our Jiuzhou! The Core Formation Martial God! My grandfather, and even other Martial Saints, pursued this realm their entire lives, and you achieved it with such ease."
"So that's how it is," Ye Bufan finally understood. The current martial artist ranking system was now connected to cultivators. Therefore, becoming a Martial God was possible for many younger Martial Saints, and even Great Martial Saints.
Especially Ye Bufan's accomplishments, which inspired the younger generation of Martial Saints.
At the same time, Nangong Yi opened his phone and casually browsed a social media app, searching for topics related to Ye Bufan. All of them were about Ye Bufan being the youngest Martial God, with super topics garnering over a hundred million followers.
Nangong Yi's eyes twinkled, and he asked, "Are you busy right now?"
Ye Bufan shook his head. Nangong Yi was overjoyed and said, "I haven't had the chance to properly thank you for what happened last time. How about I treat you to dinner tonight?"
"Sure." Ye Bufan thought he had nothing else to do recently and readily agreed.
"Then would you like to come with me to discuss business? You know the old master of the Yu Chi family, and Jin Yuchen will probably be here later as well," Nangong Yi suggested.
"Oh?" Ye Bufan's curiosity was piqued. He wondered what kind of business Nangong Yi was about to discuss, and why two prominent families from the capital, the Yu Chi and Jin families, would be attending.
Ye Bufan followed Nangong Yi to a famous hotel in the capital. It was said that this hotel had been operating since the late Qing Dynasty. Its backers were incredibly powerful, making it impossible for anyone to investigate, and it maintained no business ties with any of the major families, thus remaining neutral.
Consequently, it was a safe choice for important business gatherings for various families.
The hotel was called Yue Ban Hotel. As Ye Bufan and Nangong Yi arrived at the entrance, they saw a throng of frenzied fans surrounding the hotel, making it impossible for them to enter.
"Young Master, shall I drive them away?" the man in the suit next to them asked.
"Never mind. Call and instruct the staff at Yue Ban Hotel to send someone out to clear a path," Nangong Yi instructed.
"Yes!" The man in the suit took out his phone and began contacting the hotel.
Ye Bufan looked at the scene outside the hotel and saw a poster of the female celebrity Yao Tong displayed at the entrance. He realized that the female celebrity from earlier had also come to this hotel.
"What? Are you interested in that female celebrity?" Nangong Yi noticed Ye Bufan's gaze and teased him.
Ye Bufan smiled faintly and said, "Earlier, near the ancient city walls, I happened to see this female celebrity passing by. I was blocked by her two fanatical fans."
"Hahahaha!" Nangong Yi burst into laughter. "Truly ridiculous. The idol of tens of thousands of martial artists nationwide, and you're interested in a celebrity's fan? Don't you even know who you're dealing with."
Nangong Yi's voice was quite loud, causing some of Yao Tong's fans to turn unfriendly gazes towards Ye Bufan.
"Hmm?" The moment the person saw Ye Bufan, his expression instantly changed. He hurriedly pulled someone next to him and pointed at Nangong Yi and Ye Bufan, murmuring something.
The two then called out to their companions. Several of them pulled out their phones, seemingly doing something.
Shortly after, someone in the crowd shouted, "It's Martial God Ye Bufan! Our youngest Martial God in Jiuzhou! It's him! It's really him!"
Following this, the following scene unfolded.
Amidst Yao Tong's fan group, the vast majority of male fans suddenly broke away and charged towards Ye Bufan and Nangong Yi, leaving some female fans stunned.
Only when they realized that the youngest Martial God of Jiuzhou had appeared at the hotel did they also rush over.
Ye Bufan and Nangong Yi were startled by the sudden turn of events. They were pushed back incessantly. A cultivator at the Core Formation stage and a Great Martial Venerable were thus surrounded by a crowd.
However, since both were martial artists, Ye Bufan led Nangong Yi to soar into the sky and then descend, appearing at the hotel entrance and rushing inside.
Thus, the shouts of Yao Tong at the hotel entrance disappeared, replaced by the shouts of Martial God Ye Bufan.
Soon, news of Martial God Ye Bufan's appearance at the Yue Ban Hotel in the capital spread. Most martial artists in the capital wanted to catch a glimpse of the Martial God's true appearance.
Instantly, more and more martial artists appeared at the Yue Ban Hotel, which, to everyone's surprise, deployed many martial artists to maintain order outside.
Inside the hotel, Yao Tong was secretly pleased, seeing so many fans gathered for her, thinking that her contract termination would be a breeze.
At this moment, Yao Tong's agent walked in with a grim expression.
"Sister Ting, what's wrong?" Yao Tong looked at her agent, Zhang Ting, feeling a sense of unease.
"Did you see that crowd downstairs?" Yao Tong nodded. "Aren't those all my fans?"
"Sigh!" Zhang Ting plopped onto the sofa, rubbing her temples. "They were all your fans. But a Martial God has arrived at Yue Ban Hotel."
"So what if there's a Martial God? Could it be that youngest Martial God, Ye Bufan?" Yao Tong asked.
Zhang Ting remained silent, looking at Yao Tong. Upon seeing Zhang Ting's gaze, Yao Tong's heart sank.