"Chen Xiaoxian."
Chen Jinnan furrowed his brow, his vigilant face growing even paler.
"Who is he?" Chen Yang asked indifferently.
"Being born in the Chen Family but not raised in it, it's only natural that you're unaware of many people and things." Chen Jinnan stared intently at the approaching figure, a fierce light flashing in his eyes. "This Chen Xiaoxian is considered a peerless talent of his generation alongside your uncle Chen Hua. Although there is a slight gap between them, it's not very significant."
"It's only because of Chen Hua's flamboyant and aggressive style that his reputation eclipses the other's."
A peer of Chen Hua? That alone spoke volumes of this Chen Xiaoxian's power.
At this moment, Chen Hua was entangled by men from the other three great royal families and was unable to break free. This meant that Chen Xiaoxian possessed the strength to crush everyone present.
Chen Jinnan continued, "Moreover, this Chen Xiaoxian is Chen Bo's father."
Chen Bo could undoubtedly guess what Chen Jinnan and Chen Yang were thinking. The corners of his mouth curled slightly as he leisurely played with the Feather Arrow in his hands. "You two, do you see? There's no way out for you today."
"Chen Jinnan, I know you're hoping for the Inner Court factions to clash and check each other's power so that no one will interfere, right?" he said, glancing at Chen Yang with a playful look. "Indeed, some people are covetous of his talent and want to recruit him for their families. Unfortunately for them, they aren't strong enough to fight us."
"Annoying, isn't it?"
"And then there's Chen Hua, opposing all the great royal families for an ant destined to die young. Utterly foolish."
Just a moment ago, he was addressing Chen Yang as his cousin. Now, he was grudgingly calling him an ant. It even gave the impression that this heir apparent to the Sovereign considered the man—the one who should have died twenty-nine years ago and arrogantly believed he had severed the Chen Family's Bloodline Power—to be less than an ant.
"Foolish?" Chen Jinnan sneered. "How dare an arrogant junior like you call Chen Hua foolish?"
Chen Bo shrugged.
"Why waste words? Just kill him." Chen Xiaoxian, clad in a black robe, walked over. He merely glanced at Chen Yang and, without another word, issued the Death Order.
"Such trash. Just looking at him is irritating," Chen Lan added.
WHOOSH.
Chen Bo flicked his right hand gently. The sharp sound of something tearing through the air resumed as a streak of rainbow light fiercely sliced through the sky. Its target was clear: to publicly execute Chen Yang.
This Feather Arrow was shockingly powerful, its speed unimaginably fast. As it flew, Chen Xiaoxian raised his hand and pointed. The arrow's light intensified, illuminating the entire sky as it shot straight for Chen Yang.
Chen Yang's gaze was focused as he swung his long spear out to meet it. But the Feather Arrow, already a mid-grade Treasure Weapon, became unimaginably powerful with Chen Xiaoxian's enhancement.
BOOM!
Chen Yang was sent reeling back dozens of meters. He stabbed his long spear into the ground, struggling to remain standing. However, the blood-drenched spear was completely incapable of withstanding an attack of this magnitude. With a sharp CRACK, it shattered into several pieces.
Broken… Looking at the broken weapon, Chen Yang's gaze grew complex. He stood in a daze, reminiscing about how this long spear had accompanied him through every great battle. When he was young and full of bravado, he had proudly declared, "While the spear stands, so do I. If the spear shatters, I perish." He had never imagined this day would actually come.
COUGH, COUGH.
Half-kneeling on the ground with blood trickling from his lips, Chen Yang ran a trembling hand along the broken shaft. Even in defeat, his form ragged and unsteady, in the eyes of everyone around, he was still a man of indomitable spirit who commanded respect.
They remembered. Not long ago, he was the War God of the State who wore the Python Sparrow Devouring Dragon Robe, who slaughtered the Barbarians until rivers of blood flowed, and who planted the Azure Dragon War Banner in the Barbarian Capital.
Today, even bloodied and struck to the ground, the pride and backbone of a Martial Guard still shone brightly, making him a dazzling figure.
Countless people were deeply moved. They clenched their fists, their eyes red as they shouted, "Supreme Martial Commander, we stand with you! Get up!"
"Commander!"
Let alone the azure sea and sky. Across thousands of mountains and myriad rivers, through the turn of seasons and the biting wind and snow; wherever the rivers flow, wherever the undying light of the sun and moon shines, if one but stops to listen, the masses are all chanting your name:
War God of the State.
You are a god.
To the outside, you suppress; to the inside, you protect.
At the same time, one Azure Dragon War Banner after another shot up from the banks of the Qingyuan River and from every corner of Cangyun City. They faced the fierce gales defiantly, unafraid of the storm, fluttering loudly in the wind. Amidst the violent storm, only our Azure Dragon War Banner dared to vie with heaven and earth.
Even those noble clans who desperately wanted him crushed to dust were utterly astonished. This young man, who had known no defeat for a decade, had an influence so extensive and a reputation so high that it was simply shocking. If he did not die young, the world would remain his for decades to come.
Not far away, a shocked Chen Bo watched, his deep and gloomy eyes flashing with intense jealousy and roiling with Yin Evil Qi.
What right did a dying ant have to be revered by others? He doesn't deserve it!
He then took a step forward, his fingers forming a blade that he slashed down toward Chen Yang. The Feather Arrow, having circled around, now descended from above, heading straight for Chen Yang.
"Ants should die. This worldwide glory rightfully belongs to me, the future Sovereign," Chen Bo proclaimed, standing tall with an air of haughtiness.
"Hmph, it's just a Treasure Weapon, isn't it?" As Chen Bo moved to attack again, a young man pushed through the crowd of spectators, producing a Longsword over 1.5 meters in length.
Chen Yang felt it and was overjoyed.ŸŸŸ
He reached out his right hand.
SNAP.
Grasping the hilt, Chen Yang shot to his feet, facing the onrushing rainbow light. "I have a sword."
"To slay all under heaven!" the young man, who was none other than Su Ling, bellowed, clenching his teeth and raising a fist.
"Insolent creature, you still dare to resist?" Chen Xiaoxian sneered coldly. He pointed a finger at the Feather Arrow, infusing it with a burst of power as if injecting it with adrenaline. Its speed and might increased drastically.
Chen Yang paid him no mind, raising the sword high. A flicker of cold light flashed first, then the sword swept out in all directions. A piercing explosion erupted, deafeningly loud, at the very instant the sword and arrow met.
"Overturning clouds and shattering skies, one sword strike to banish ghosts and gods!" Yang Hu laughed excitedly. For a moment, it was as if he could see Chen Yang in his resplendent armor, sweeping across the battlefield, his emotions soaring and his blood surging.
BOOM!
Endless sparks exploded in the void, their brilliance outshining the rain and altering its course.
The Feather Arrow was sent flying back across the sky.
The web of Chen Yang's hand split open, and blood spilled from his lips, but instead of retreating, he advanced. He gripped the sword with both hands and slashed it through the air.
"The sword is a soaring dragon; even a thousand troops are nothing before it!" Su Ling's face was flushed, his eyes shining with a brilliant light.
Seeing the sword light coming straight for him, Chen Bo was terrified. He shuddered, his legs suddenly feeling as heavy as lead, rooting him to the spot.
Nearby, Chen Xiaoxian reached out, flung Chen Bo aside, and caught the rebounding Feather Arrow to face the attack head-on.
BANG!
Like a thunderclap on a clear day, the impact was immense. The Feather Arrow was knocked from his grasp and slammed into his chest, erupting in a spray of blood.
His chest a mess of torn flesh, Chen Xiaoxian was thrown backward like a kite with a snapped string. He flew back more than ten meters, crashed heavily to the ground, and then skidded for several more meters, leaving a shocking trail of blood before finally coming to a stop.
As for Chen Yang, though soaked in his own blood, he stood tall and proud, his sword pointed toward the southern sky, towering and unwavering as if holding up the heavens themselves.