News of Chen Yang's ascension to sainthood naturally reached the other three great royal families.
Initially intending to let the Chen Family handle Chen Yang themselves, the three great royal families could no longer sit still. After a brief moment of profound shock, they all began making their way to the Chen Family. This time, it was not Elders or Protectors they sent, but the three great Sovereigns themselves.
How much time had even passed? It had been less than a year since the battle on the banks of the Qingyuan River, where this very man had personally destroyed his noble Chen Family bloodline and been reduced to a mere mortal. In their minds, he was completely finished, with no possibility of ever rising again.
And the result? In less than a year, not only did he rise again, but he advanced even further, breaking through the barriers of the Demi-Saint Realm to successfully enter the Saint Realm. Given more time, who could possibly restrain him? Without a doubt, the mere Saint Realm was not his endgame; the Divine Conquest was.
Therefore, Chen Yang had to die. Even if it meant earning the infamous reputation of being powerful families bullying the weak, it was a price they were willing to pay. If Chen Yang did not die, then soon, it would be their great royal families facing extinction.
...
"What if I say no?"
Chen Yang's words made the atmosphere tense once more. Countless people held their breath, their wide eyes fixed on the scene, unblinking, afraid of missing the most exciting part.
"You know if you don't let him go, you will die," Chen Linan said indifferently after a moment of thought. "Although you've entered the Saint Realm, to me, killing you is as easy as slaughtering a dog."
"So, a life for a life. It's fair."
"Heh heh..." Chen Yang chuckled and shook his head, his eyes suddenly bursting with a piercing chill. "You slaughtered my entire lineage, and now you have the gall to talk to me about a life for a life?"
"You dare speak to me of fairness?"
Chen Linan was speechless.
"Also, have you misunderstood something? I, Chen Yang, did not come here today merely to kill a few people and vent my anger." As he spoke, Chen Yang flashed a ferocious smile. "I came to exterminate the entire Chen Family."
Chen Linan was speechless.
Everyone else was speechless.
That was unbelievably domineering!
At the same time, hearing Chen Yang's words, many in the crowd felt a deep empathy. Along with a shared sense of burning anger, a passionate fervor surged within them.
"Kill him!"
"We support you! Wipe out this damned Chen Family!"
Many people raised their fists, roaring with all their might. Slaughtering your own kin over internal strife... were these people even human? Did such a person, such a family, even deserve to exist in this world?
Facing this one-sided wave of public opinion, Chen Linan's expression remained unchanged. His voice was grave as he said, "Chen Yang, the dead are gone, and the living must go on. If you release my son today, not only will I spare your life, but I will also hand over the position of Chen Family Patriarch to you with both hands."
"As for myself, I, Chen Linan, will leave the Chen Family forever and never return." Pausing, Chen Linan took a deep breath and said patiently, "How about it?"
"What do *you* think?" Chen Yang shook his head. "You acted as the executioner, and now you dream of living out your final years in peace? Are you dreaming, Chen Linan?"
"You..." Chen Linan's face shifted through several expressions before finally darkening completely. He never imagined this man's stance would be so unyielding.
"Then let's start with this precious son of yours."
As soon as the words left his lips, Chen Yang gave his wrist a slight flick.
BANG!
Witnessing this, the pupils of everyone present violently contracted. He had just killed Chen Linan's only son, right in front of the boy's own father. The most critical point was that Chen Linan was a veteran of the Saint Realm.
This guy was absolutely ruthless!
"You deserve to die!"
Chen Linan's eyes turned blood-red as he shot forward, consumed by rage.
BOOM!
Without another word, he struck down with his palm. In an instant, a colossal palm print filled the sky, looking as if it would shatter the very heavens and earth. His target was clear, his killing intent overflowing as he charged unstoppably toward Chen Yang.
Immediately after, the void trembled. Behind Chen Yang, a golden light erupted as a giant Dharma Golden Body rose from the ground. Solemn and majestic, it pointed one hand to the sky and the other to the earth. Its right hand clenched into a massive fist and smashed down from dozens of meters in the air. As the fist descended, it blotted out the sun, casting a huge shadow that completely enveloped Chen Linan.
"Suppress!" Chen Yang roared.
The Dharma Golden Body's speed surged, meeting Chen Linan's palm strike head-on.
BOOM!
A savage collision, like an earth-shaking thunderclap, sent a terrifying gale sweeping in all directions.
CRACK.
The fist print shattered first, annihilating into the void. Chen Linan stumbled back several steps, blood pouring from his palm. Meanwhile, the towering, several-dozen-meter-tall Dharma Golden Body flickered unstably, looking as if it might completely collapse at any second.
Chen Yang spat out a mouthful of blood as his legs plowed two deep furrows into the ground. He slid back for seven or eight meters before he barely managed to steady himself.
"Cough, cough." Chen Yang coughed up large mouthfuls of blood, his expression drained.
The scene fell silent for a moment. They were certainly surprised that Chen Yang could withstand the blow, but so what?
"It's over. Chen Yang has lost."
"A pity. Such a peerless prodigy... But a royal family is still a royal family. Even with his unprecedented talent, he couldn't shake them! Alas, what a waste..."
Soon, the crowd erupted into discussion. For the aristocratic families, however, it was a moment of schadenfreude. They gloated, utterly triumphant. How dare a piece of trash challenge the Chen Family Patriarch? Serves him right. He got what he asked for, so he could die quietly.
Chen Yang seemed to hear nothing. He took a sharp step forward, bent his body, and reached out in a grasping motion. The Dharma Golden Body, once again blazing with resplendent golden light, mimicked his actions and snatched the long spear from the ground.
"BREAK!" Chen Yang bellowed, his eyes bloodshot and looking as if they might split from rage.
Behold, the spear shot out like a dragon.
The mountains and rivers trembled.
WHOOSH!
The long spear transformed into a silver bolt of light. Carried on a ferocious gale, it stabbed toward Chen Linan with the speed of thunder, too fast for the eye to follow.
In that instant, heaven and earth fell silent, leaving only a wind that cut like blades.
Although Chen Linan managed to draw his battle saber in time, he was powerless to stop the devastating silver streak.
In the blink of an eye, his battle saber shattered. Chen Linan was sent flying like a sandbag.
BANG.
He crashed heavily to the ground over ten meters away. His eyes, fixed on Chen Yang, were filled with utter horror and terror.
Of course, the surrounding crowd was just as stunned.
"..."