Under the gaze of countless eyes, a thunderous roar like an earth-shattering clap of thunder burst overhead, deafening all who heard it. BOOM!!
A vast palm print enveloped the entire square. The ground shattered, punching straight through the foundations of the Martial Association and fracturing the very earth veins below. The mbers of the Martial Association in the square were all subrged in dust, and even the building behind them swayed on the verge of collapse.
Billowing clouds of dust surged in all directions, coursing through the streets and over the sky. Only when the torrential rain washed them away did the dust finally settle.
The man, his presence overwhelming, his figure as solid as the heavens and earth, had already turned and descended the stairs. He did not deign to even glance at the scene of destruction behind him.
"Is... is it completely leveled?"
"The Martial Association is destroyed. Its foundation has been severed."
Countless people were dumbfounded, their mouths agape enough to fit a fist inside, and for a long ti, they could not close them. How startling and unprecedented was this scene? The mighty Martial Association had been completely uprooted.
Under countless gazes of reverence and awe, Chen Yang walked into the distance with his hands clasped behind his back, his figure gradually shrinking.
...
Amidst a torrential downpour, the Martial Association vanished like smoke into the clouds. Vanishing with it were Li Chenfeng of the West Sea royal family and his eight Iron Guards. The powerful and influential figures who had rushed from all over to curry favor with the Martial Association and pay their respects to royalty did not escape their fate either. The destruction of the Martial Association and the death of a royal mber—each a world-shaking event on its own.
In less than an hour, the news fernted and escalated dramatically, sweeping across Cangyun City like a storm before radiating outward in all directions.
"What a brutal man! No wonder he was stripped of his title as the Zhennan Prince! Mr. Li graciously requested an audience, and he responded by savagely murdering him?"
"I heard that the Zhennan Prince was dismissed in the first place because of his poor character and bloodthirsty nature!"
"Thank goodness he was removed. Now we have the War God of the State. If that man had been left to his own devices, who knows what kind of disasters he would have caused."
In an instant, a wave of condemnation swept through Cangyun City. Forces from all sides began to issue public statents, vowing to seek justice for the Martial Association and Mr. Li Chenfeng. They declared that certain people who acted wantonly, emboldened by their forr high status, must be punished.
Though their words sounded righteous, everyone knew it was just a performance. They were deliberately taking a stand for the patrons behind the Martial Association and the West Sea royal family to see. Things had co to this, so neither of those powers would sit idly by. Action would most likely be taken within a few days. Therefore, if they spoke out now and were noticed by these two great powers, even a little support could lead to a teoric rise.
A torrent of condemnation rolled in. However, it was all just talk. No one was foolish enough to actually go and look for trouble with Chen Yang. It was all for show. If anyone truly rushed out, they wouldn't even know what killed them.
In just a few hours, the news had spread to other regions. The narrative was almost entirely one-sided, unanimously condemning Chen Yang as bloodthirsty and ruthless, arrogant and despotic because of his forr high status. The darker, greedy side of human nature was on full display.
An opportunity lay before them. Even if it was accompanied by great danger, many would still take the risk for a chance to soar to new heights. As the saying goes: humans die for wealth, and birds die for food.
Among them, the Gan Family of the Xuanse Sect was the most vehent. After all, two of their younger generation had perished at the Martial Association Headquarters. Gan Tai, Head of the Gan Family, called out Chen Yang by na. "You, the forr Zhennan Prince, should have been reduced to dust and ashes long ago! I, Gan Tai, do not wish to blow this out of proportion. I now command you to imdiately resign from your position and take your own life as an apology.
"Otherwise, even if the West Sea royal family doesn't hold you accountable, I, Gan Tai, will not let you go!"
His words were assertive and resounding. Anyone who didn't know better might have thought the Gan Family had an intimate relationship with the West Sea royal family, and that hundreds would answer their call.
As the man at the center of the incident, Chen Yang turned a deaf ear to the discussions outside. He was currently discussing matters concerning the Gao Family and the Chen royal family's Twelve-winged Iron Cavalry with Yang Hu and Liu Wu.
"The Gao Family must know that you destroyed the Martial Association, Boss. With public opinion so one-sided, I bet they won't let this go. They'll probably ride this wave and try to crush you under their heel," Yang Hu said, baring his teeth, a fierce glint in his eyes. "What's more, they now have the Chen royal family backing them."
"Who cares if they've set a trap? Since they've laid out a deadly feast, how could we not attend?" Liu Wu waved his hand grandly. "I'll have our n surround the Gao Family right now and demand an explanation from them."
"They want our Boss to obediently kneel and commit suicide as an apology? I'd like to see just how many heads that old fool has for to chop off!" Yang Hu was hot-tempered, but Liu Wu was even more so.
"Let's go," Chen Yang said with a wave of his hand. "Inform the person in charge of the Gao Family that I will be there in ten minutes. Tell him to prepare a proper welco."
"You got it!" Yang Hu grinned coldly and imdiately took out his phone to dial a number.
...
「Gao Family Ancestral Ho」
Gao Tianyu, Head of the Gao Family, was dining with a guest from the Chen royal family. After hanging up the phone, Gao Tianyu, a man well past seventy, said slowly, "He... he said he'll be here in ten minutes."
"He just wiped out the Martial Association, and now he's coming straight to your Gao Family? The man is certainly decisive!" Across from Gao Tianyu sat a young man in his late twenties. His sword-like eyebrows lent his otherwise ordinary features a handso and imposing air.
This was Chen Feifan, one of the most outstanding youths of the Chen royal family's third generation. He was the one who had led the Twelve-winged Iron Cavalry here to set an inescapable trap at the Gao Family estate, waiting for the man they called a traitor to appear.
"Mr. Chen, why is he so powerful? What is his level of strength, exactly?" Gao Tianyu asked, his brow deeply furrowed.
Chen Feifan swirled the wine in his glass, a smirk playing on his lips. "What? Are you scared?"
Gao Tianyu's expression changed slightly. It would be a lie to say he wasn't scared. That was the Martial Association they were talking about. And the result? A single palm strike, and it had completely crumbled into dust. Even a mber of the West Sea royal family was killed without a mont's hesitation. His Gao Family, rely one of Cangyun City's eight powerful families, was nothing compared to the Martial Association Headquarters. How could he not be terrified?
"The Martial Association Headquarters was just an empty shell, filled with puppets on a string. As for the West Sea royal family, they were simply overconfident. Besides, the one who died was just a relative by marriage, soone of no real importance." Chen Feifan took a sip of wine and said leisurely, "This ti, our Chen royal family is determined to kill this traitor. Do you really believe he has any chance of walking out of your Gao Family alive today?"
*Phew.* Gao Tianyu let out a small sigh of relief. He hurriedly raised his glass, his tone sincere. "Mr. Chen, we are indebted to you for this. From now on, the Gao Family will follow your lead."
"By the way, are you aware that the other day, a Saint Realm expert from our Chen royal family cleaved the heavens with a single sword?" Chen Feifan changed the subject, his tone heavy with insinuation.
Gao Tianyu was speechless. "..."
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