WHOOSH!!
A fierce snowstorm swept in through the broken window.
Everyone present, including Tu Huan, felt an intense chill that pierced their bones, eventually making even their breath feel freezing. In this room, despite the air conditioning being turned to its maximum setting, it felt as if they were standing scantily clad in a blizzard. Involuntarily, their limbs began to stiffen.
Upon hearing the huge commotion, hundreds of members of the Falcon Army responsible for the Elders' Court's defense instantly rushed over, their armor clattering as they surrounded the area.
When they saw the sceneâespecially Tu Huan, who sat across from Chen Yang with a deathly pale face and blood trickling from the corner of his mouthâeveryone was stunned and looked at each other in bewildered silence.
What in the world is going on?!
Subsequently, they turned their gazes to their commander, Ning Kun.
At that moment, although Ning Kun's condition was somewhat better than Tu Huan's, his limbs were trembling violently as he struggled to remain standing. He knew the Former Chief Military Commander was strong, but he had never imagined he could be *this* powerful.
"I'm waiting for your answer," Chen Yang said indifferently, holding his cigarette between his index finger and thumb. He tapped the ash off with his middle finger, turning his body slightly to squint at the raging blizzard outside.
"This⊠this is impossible!" Tu Huan forced his head up. Although his eyes were filled with horror, they now blazed with an even greater, boundless rage. "What gives you the right to coerce me into submission?"
"I, Tu Huan, am from the Imperial Clan!"
As soon as he said this, Tu Huan's confidence surged. He continued, "As a representative of the Imperial Clan, never mind an insignificant Former Chief Military Commander like youâeven the four great royal families must respectfully address me as Falcon Master when they see me."
"I'll give you one chance. Retract your aura immediately, kneel, and apologize! Otherwise, I, Tu Huan, swear that I will decimate your entire lineage!"
Finally, he added, "The people of my Imperial Clan always keep their word!"
"Imperial Clan?" Chen Yang raised an eyebrow and glanced at Yang Hu with a puzzled expression.
Yang Hu's expression was grave. "It's said that the Imperial Clan's lineage far predates the four great royal families. They receded from the world fifty years ago."
"Aside from their own members, the Imperial Clan also grants a few spots every year to recruit outside talent. In reality, however, the only ones they favor are individuals who were once powerful enough to cover the sky with one hand, commanding the winds and summoning the rain. Besides a few top Fist Masters, the rest are all former bigwigs."
"It is rumored that the former Prime Minister Zuo Chang was inducted three years ago."
The Imperial Clanâas the name suggests, they were an existence that claimed sovereignty in the mortal world. For the title of "Imperial" to have been passed down for so many years, whether self-proclaimed or bestowed by others, was a testament to their formidable strength.
"Exactly!" Tu Huan sneered malevolently. "Every inch of this land, every corner of this vast world, is within the reach of my Imperial Clan! Even those cultivation sects on Yuning Mountain wouldn't dare act rashly before my Imperial Clan!"
At this, Tu Huan was indescribably proud and arrogant. He scoffed, "You cur, now do you know what to do?"
Chen Yang finally understood. So, the so-called noble families I killed before were nothing more than insignificant underlings, and even the four great royal families were merely second-rate. And this Imperial Clan is the true power pulling the strings? That must be it! Otherwise, why would they directly appoint a representative to take over the Elders' Court? And why would even the former Prime Minister willingly join them?
Although this was the first time he had heard of them, Chen Yang could already imagine the sheer scale of the territory and influence this so-called Imperial Clan controlled.
"I asked you, do you know what to do now?" Tu Huan bellowed.
THUD!
The Longsword fell to the floor, emitting a trembling sound. Immediately afterward, the chair beneath Tu Huan, who had still been managing to sit upright, exploded into splinters, and he crashed to his knees on the ground.
CRACK.
"Ahhh!" Tu Huan threw his head back and screamed, his face twisting into a mask of agony.
"Now, do you know what to do?" Chen Yang retorted.
Tu Huan was silent.
The crowd was speechless.
He already announced his connection to the Imperial Clan, yet this guy not only refused to back down but actually escalated things? The sound of sharp intakes of breath could be heard from all around.
"Hmm?!" Chen Yang pressed.
After a long moment, Tu Huan finally regained some composure. His blood-red eyes stared death at Chen Yang. "You⊠youâŠ"
SLAP.
Chen Yang spread his fingers and slapped him from across the air.
The floor beneath Tu Huan suddenly shattered, causing him to sink several inches as blood gushed from his wounds.
So ruthless! If not for Tu Huan's Sixteenth-Step cultivation, he would have been reduced to ash not just from that palm strike, but from the earlier impact of the sword hitting the ground.
"Cough, cough!" Tu Huan coughed violently, spraying blood everywhere. His body swayed, looking as if he might collapse at any moment. "By humiliating me, you are humiliating the Imperial Clan! You, Chen Yang, will pay a grievous price for this!"
This was the ultimate shame. The dignified representative of the Imperial Clan was being repeatedly humiliated before countless eyes, his and the Imperial Clan's dignity trampled into the dirt.
"You deserve to die!" Tu Huan trembled uncontrollably with rage. He had lost all semblance of the dignified master of the Elders' Court, now resembling a common shrew screaming insults in the street, capable only of verbal attacks.
SLAP.
Chen Yang waved his hand, delivering another heavy slap across his face.
"You⊠try hitting me again if you dare."
SLAP.
Another slap rang out.
"YouâŠ"
SLAP.
"I stopped talking, yet you still hit me!"
By now, Tu Huan's face was a mess of torn flesh and bruises. Seeing Chen Yang's hand still raised, he hurriedly called out to Xie Hai, "Quick, issue a document! Announce to Ning Kun and the entire Hanyun Valley Martial Guard that I, Tu Huan, offer my sincere apology."
"Yes, yes, of course!" Xie Hai nodded, wiping cold sweat from his forehead. He didn't dare even glance at Chen Yang. He was too terrifying!
"And?" Chen Yang asked.
Tu Huan was stunned. And? What else is there? His mind whirled as he cursed Chen Yang. 'What else could there be? Just say it, you bastard! Stop trying to be mysterious!'
"The⊠the stipends! Yes, yes, the stipends." Tu Huan continued to instruct Xie Hai, "Also, for every Martial Guard who participated in this national war, allocate two hundred thousand! And for those who died in battle, add another million per person."
"Carry it out immediately, no delays!"
Xie Hai fled through the door as if his life depended on it.
Chen Yang said nothing, simply waiting in silence.
About twenty minutes later, Yang Hu handed his phone to Chen Yang, displaying two documents that had just been issued by the Elders' Court.
SWISH.
Chen Yang flicked his sleeve.
A shard of broken wood shot up, impaled Tu Huan through the shoulder blade, and carried him several meters through the air, pinning him diagonally against the wall.
The rest of the onlookers were left somber and silent.