Who has ever seen someone strike through a plaza with a single palm, shattering its very foundations? Who has ever witnessed fingers, held together like a blade, unleashing the might of a holy realm—a light that illuminates half the nation as it turns a compound of thousands of square meters into rubble?
Has anyone seen such things?
I have. With my own eyes.
This man, who possesses such godlike abilities, is named Chen Yang, the Supreme Martial Commander.
On this very day, at this very moment, here at the foot of Cangyun City, he annihilated the Martial Association and battled the Combat Emperor Clan. His actions made it unmistakably clear to half the city's population just how terrifying this young man was. Though barely thirty, he possessed the power to dominate his contemporaries.
Some say he is at the sixteenth stage. Others claim he is infinitely close to the holy realm. And still others speculate… In short, with a mere raise of his hand, he could fracture the earth, sunder the clouds and seas, and shake the very mountains and rivers.
Across the entire nation, there are perhaps a fair number of such mighty beings. But how many of them are so young?
Everyone once believed that the Supreme Martial Commander was only formidable in leading troops into battle. Now it seemed he was proficient in all aspects. A single man holding the pass against ten thousand, impenetrable. He had already become a true titan standing at the apex of the pyramid. The most stunning fact is that he is not yet thirty—still in his prime.
"In our generation, might we have the opportunity to witness him reign supreme over the world and rule as an emperor over the land?"
After two consecutive battles, the fact that the current War God of the State was none other than the Zhennan Prince had become common knowledge. Public discourse, like a tumultuous tidal wave, once again surged into a clamorous uproar. Opinion fractured, splitting into two opposing camps.
One faction stood firm in their support. Their reasoning was simple: whether as the former Zhennan Prince or the current War God of the State, he had campaigned for over a decade and fought in over a hundred battles. Not only had he never known defeat, but he had also forged the nation's prestige and defended its dignity. From Night Quiet Valley to Hundred Flowers Valley, to planting the battle flag in the Barbarian Capital—who else could compare?
As for annihilating the Martial Association and disregarding the majesty of the royal families, it could only be said that they had brought it upon themselves. With the precedent of Jiang Hong using fifty thousand men as bait only to be beheaded by Chen Yang on the battlefield, these supporters had every reason to believe that both the Martial Association and the royal family's Li Chenfeng were men who deserved to die.
Following this line of reasoning, the common people gradually understood. The "State" in "War God of the State" was never solely about guarding the nation's borders. Perhaps it was also about suppressing the injustice and chaos in the world, restoring a clear sky for the common people. As this theory spread, it quickly garnered the support of countless individuals.
At the same time, Chen Yang's status in the minds of these people was elevated to an incomparable degree, as if he were a deity.
Meanwhile, the other faction, just as before, accused Chen Yang of being unworthy of his position, harboring a deep-seated killing intent, and abusing his power. They pointed out that he had not only annihilated the Martial Association but had also dared to attack and kill members of a royal family. They demanded he take responsibility and resign, giving the public a satisfactory explanation. With deliberate instigators fanning the flames, petitions were signed and street protests organized—they tried every extreme measure available.
However, no matter how much of a stir they caused, the Elders' Court turned a blind eye and offered no response. Knowing that someone was pulling the strings from behind, why would they bother giving them any attention? To even acknowledge them with a single word would be to admit defeat.
「Night falls.」
"The son of Chen Jinnan, the Chen Clan's first-in-line heir from back then, is still alive!"
"Do you know who this person is? It's our War God of the State!"
This news, emerging from an unknown source, was like fuel poured on a fire, completely igniting the already fervent atmosphere in Cangyun City.
Even the Elders' Court was left in shock, their jaws dropping to the ground.
"This… this child actually has such a background?" The Great Elder, a man who had weathered countless storms in his lifetime, nearly dropped the teacup he was holding.
"No wonder that fellow was asking me about the Chen royal family," Jin Zheng muttered, staring dumbfounded at the document in his hands.
The sky was overcast, the rain relentless. In the streets and alleys, the teahouses and taverns, a strange stillness descended.
"The War God of the State is the only son of the Chen royal family's former Family Head?!"
"This…"
In an instant, the entire city was thrown into chaos. Everyone was dumbfounded. Who could have imagined that this individual, who had started as a frontline Martial Guard and climbed to the pinnacle one step at a time, possessed such a heritage? Those who had been vociferously calling for Chen Yang's condemnation were left completely stunned.
Rumors of the infighting within the Chen royal family twenty-eight years ago had long circulated among the common folk. This meant that the current Clan Leader, Chen Linan, held an illegitimate title, having usurped the position. If not for that incident, Chen Yang would have been the first in line to inherit the leadership.
So, if he was still alive and held a high position, what would become of the Chen royal family?
A shockwave rippled through every corner. However, as the turmoil intensified, the Chen royal family offered no explanation, acting as if they were completely unaware of the situation.
"My god! If this Supreme Martial Commander decides to seek revenge…"
"Is this rumor even true?"
The news was so sudden that people struggled to process it.
「Elders' Court.」
"The Chen royal family is about to be thrown into massive turmoil!" The Great Elder opened his teacup, blew the floating leaves aside, and took a gentle sip, his brow deeply furrowed.
"This royal family is far from simple." Wu Xing, a man of few words, looked just as grave as the Great Elder. He spoke in a low voice, "It is said that the family is divided into an Inner and Outer Court. People like Chen Linan are merely figureheads put on display."
"The conflict twenty-eight years ago was, in reality, a product of an internal power struggle within the core of the Chen Clan's Inner Court."
This meant that the true culprits behind the tragic deaths of Chen Yang's mother and the rest of the direct lineage were core members of the Inner Court. The current Clan Leader, Chen Linan, was merely their executioner.
With Chen Yang's personality, once he began investigating the massacre of his family, would he not pursue the truth to the bitter end? The most critical point was that Chen Yang's branch of the family was clearly being utterly suppressed.
At this thought, all three Elders were filled with trepidation, each raising a hand to his temple. If even they, as outsiders, felt this way, one could only imagine the pressure on Chen Yang and the Chen royal family, who were caught in the eye of the storm.
This was a delicate situation where one wrong move could bring down the whole structure; it was a crisis impossible to avoid. Once chaos erupted within the Chen royal family again, the other three great royal families would certainly not sit idly by. These murky waters would only grow more turgid with the stirring.
「Three days passed.」
Despite the increasingly wild rumors from the outside world, the Chen royal family still gave no response. However, according to inside sources, many new strangers with imposing auras had appeared within the Chen Clan's residence, leading to speculation that members of the Inner Court had intervened.
Meanwhile, the Chenlong Martial District issued a public statement. The Supreme Martial Commander had concealed his background. Now, as a scion of a royal family nursing a deep-seated vendetta, who could guarantee he would not abuse his public office for personal revenge?
Martial Guards should die on the battlefield, not in their commander's private feud.
This was, in essence, a blow meant to destroy the spirit, not the body. The moment these words were released, it was as if a catalyst had been thrown into the mix, causing the situation to spiral completely out of control.
…