Who could have imagined it? Who could have imagined that a man who had been defeated twenty-eight years ago, crippled by infighting, and kept under strict confinent ever since, would one day return like a king?
And now, he stood before them.
Myriad sword gleams hung suspended in the air, tearing it apart and stunning everyone present.
Silence.
The vast grounds were now deathly silent.
A high-ranking mber of the mighty South Pole Royal Family had just been decapitated, and he hadn't even had a chance to resist death's approach.
The disparity in strength was astonishing.
This man, Chen Jinnan, stood there like a sword immortal. A single breath or glance from him was enough to awe the entire crowd.
Chen Jinnan held an iron sword in one hand, the other clasped behind his back. His gaze was like a torch, his indifferent eyes scanning the crowd. He was as calm as an ancient well, without a single ripple of emotion.
His stance alone made everyone on the grounds hold their breath, daring not to move.
GULP.
Not far away, Li Chenyang took a deep breath. He finally understood why Li Qian had warned him to keep quiet and not say another word.
Who would dare utter a word now?
A great wind begins from the faintest breeze, hidden in the silence.
A father and son.
The father, with flowing robes and a guard of myriad swords, looked like a god or a king.
The younger one, clad in iron armor with a long spear in hand, was in the pri of his life, his presence as magnificent as the clouds.
Their deanors were seventy percent similar, their gazes identical.
The two stood one behind the other, eight ters apart. The space between them was like a mirror of ti; to look at one was to see a reflection of the other's past and future.
Their divine might was vast, unconquered in this world.
Looking at the man before him, Chen Yang felt no joy. Instead, his brow furrowed. He could see that the man's life force was burning away at a frantic pace.
Is he burning his boats, sacrificing the rest of his life, just to protect ?
What a lantable, painful sacrifice…
He knew this man was trying to make ands to him—for the twenty-eight years he had lost, for the mother who had passed away, and for all their kin.
But as for him… From a frontline Martial Guard to the renowned Commander-in-chief, then to the Zhennan Prince fad throughout the eight wastelands, and finally standing at the peak as the War God of the State.
In just over a decade, all by himself, he had moved forward step by step, never fearing hardship or danger.
Even when covered in scars and weathering the world's tempests, he walked his path alone, his principles unblemished.
Ti flows on; flowers bloom and fall.
The father he had so often imagined now stood before him. His chest wasn't broad, but he was awe-inspiring. Knowing death was imminent, he was like an old tiger, burning all he had left to protect his cub.
"Go, invite the Pill Dragon King here," Chen Yang instructed Yang Hu, a glimr of tears welling in his eyes.
No one, not even he himself, noticed.
"Call a bully for picking on the weak or for crushing them with my power. I don't care. Anyone who dares to insult my son will be killed without rcy."
As Chen Jinnan's indifferent voice rippled through the air, the faces of many in the crowd turned pale. This was especially true for those who, just monts before, had been eager to trample all over Chen Yang.
When Chen Jinnan's gaze settled on the mbers of the West Sea Royal Family, Li Chenyang trembled violently. The other experts tensed, bracing for a fight without exception.
Any one of these people was a powerful master in their own right. Yet now, they were quietly retreating, afraid to even breathe too loudly.
This scene left the countless onlookers dumbstruck. This was the very definition of subduing an enemy without a fight.
A single, short sentence was like a greeting from the Grim Reaper, forcing even the experts of a Royal Family to retreat.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
Chen Jinnan strode forward, a formation of swords following close behind.
Li Chenyang, having already sensed the dangerous aura, subconsciously took two steps back, clutching Li Qian's clothes and half-hiding behind him.
Despite this, a terrifying pressure still washed over him, making his hair stand on end and a cold sweat pour down his back.
Chen Jinnan ca to a stop before him. The previously arrogant Descendant of the Royal Family of the West Sea—the one who had spoken as if he could command the world and boasted of grinding Chen Yang under his heel—was now pale with terror.
Li Chenyang's throat worked several tis before he managed to choke out the words, bowing deeply. "This junior greets Senior."
But as soon as he finished, Chen Jinnan said indifferently, "Raise your head."
Li Chenyang froze, saying nothing.
Those three short words struck him like a deafening clap of thunder exploding right next to his ear.
Nearby, Li Qian opened his mouth several tis, ready to make excuses for Li Chenyang. But a sudden, chilling killing intent swept over him, almost freezing him solid.
This… The sword formation in the sky was aid directly at him.
Chen Jinnan didn't even glance at him. He kept his eyes fixed on Li Chenyang. "A mont ago," he said, "you claid that if the Chen Family hadn't struck first, you, Li Chenyang, would have ground my son under your heel. Is that correct?"
Li Chenyang was speechless.
He's being so direct. How can I possibly defend myself?
Finally, Li Chenyang forced a smile and stamred, "Senior, I... I was drunk. It was just so drunken nonsense. I hope you won't take offense. Besides, it was just trash talk between us juniors. There's no need for a senior like you to take it so seriously or blow it out of proportion."
The subtext was clear: it was an accident, and if Chen Jinnan made a move on him, he would be the unreasonable one.
But Chen Jinnan was unmoved. "Do you believe that your birth into a Royal Family gives you the right to trample on my son? Or perhaps you're just that confident in your own strength?"
Li Chenyang couldn't answer. "I..."
Cold sweat stread down the pale face of the Descendant of the Royal Family of the West Sea. He instinctively glanced at Li Qian, his terrified eyes screaming with a desperate will to live. He looked listless, a far cry from his earlier bravado.
Not far away, Dugu Ming lowered his head slightly, looking tense. He too had said that a stray dog like Chen Yang was no different from an ant or a bug in his, Dugu Ming's, eyes.
Li Qian finally spoke up. "Chen," he began, "Li Chenyang was indeed spouting nonsense earlier. On his behalf, I apologize. I hope a man of your stature can overlook the slights of a junior. Please don't take it to heart."
Chen Jinnan glanced at Li Qian and said flatly, "I do mind."
As he spoke, Chen Jinnan reached out. Li Chenyang, who was already trembling, went into a full-body convulsion.
"I have already yielded and offered a sincere apology! You still intend to harm him?" Li Qian roared, his anger flaring as he pointed at Chen Jinnan.
"Just because you apologize, do I have to accept it?"
Li Qian was rendered speechless.
WHOOSH!
With a flick of his forearm, Chen Jinnan tossed Li Chenyang into the air. The sword formation whirled into action.
Witnessing this, countless onlookers were horrified. Is that… Li Chenyang? The proud Descendant of the Royal Family of the West Sea? Is he being torn to shreds by that formation of swords?
Li Qian's eyes turned bloodshot, blazing with murderous intent. "CHEN JINNAN!" he roared. "You've killed a mber of my clan! Are you declaring open war on the West Sea Royal Family?"
"You're seeking death!"
Blinded by fury, Li Qian took a step forward.
I already tried to be reasonable. Since he's too ignorant to accept it, he can't bla for being ruthless.
"Declaring war?" Chen Jinnan squinted. In that instant, his gaze shot out like a pair of divine swords, so brilliant that they seed to dim the blazing sun. "Does trash like you have the right to declare war on ? Even your Sovereign of the West Sea wouldn't dare!"
BOOM!
A gleam of sword light exploded.
Li Qian, who had appeared so fierce just a mont ago, suddenly collapsed, bleeding from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
"Kneel."
Those two simple words were like a clap of thunder from a clear sky.
"Even your Sovereign wouldn't dare!"
That line made the Divine Spirits of everyone present, both inside and outside the arena, tremble. How could this man utter such astonishingly audacious words?
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