WHOOSH!
The world fell silent, save for the howling wind and snow.
BOOM!
Watching his own grandfather get torn apart, Dugu Tianlong collapsed to his knees in terror, kowtowing and apologizing repeatedly.
The other descendants of the Dugu Family trembled as they begged for rcy. Even their Sovereign had been ripped to shreds. The other two royal families had encountered life-or-death crises mid-journey, forcing them to retreat. To top it all off, the entire Dugu Family was now besieged by the Martial Guard. They never could have imagined such an outco, not even in their wildest dreams.
"I-I'm sorry! We were blind and failed to recognize your greatness! Please, my lord, spare us!"
With his hands braced against the ground, Dugu Tianlong continued to kowtow, his eyes brimming with tears as he pleaded, "And besides... my grandfather is already dead. Isn't that punishnt enough?"
Chen Yang walked over, his face devoid of expression. He slapped him across the face, and Dugu Tianlong died instantly.
Everyone stood in stunned silence.
His thods… they were too brutal.
With this, the core of the Dugu Royal Family was all but wiped out. They were bound to fall from their royal status and be devoured by other families.
Chen Yang fell to one knee, supporting himself with his sword as he gasped for breath. It was a testant to his extraordinary willpower that he had managed to hold on for this long. If Dugu Hanxiao hadn't been severely weakened—on his last legs, with less than a tenth of his power remaining—even Chen Yang's rage-fueled attack couldn't have killed a Heavenly Saint Realm powerhouse.
He knew many people had helped him.
For instance… Chen Yang's gaze fell upon the sedan chair.
Amid the blizzard, the luxurious sedan chair didn't seem out of place at all. In fact, it beautifully complented the snow-covered river. He had learned from Chen Shangwu that it was the person inside this sedan who had blocked the other two Sovereigns from heading south and had severely wounded the Sovereign of the Southern Pole, Tang Jinyuan.
"Hello, Chen Yang."
The woman did not show her face. A jade-like hand erged from the curtain, leisurely playing with a three-inch knife. "My na is Liu Qingi. Your mother, Liu Xu, was my aunt. That makes your cousin."
Chen Yang was astonished. My mother had a connection like this?
"You've done well. You're truly one of us from the Red Lotus Valley," Liu Qingi said with a laugh.
Chen Shangwu imdiately beca unhappy and blurted out, "What do you an? Chen Yang is clearly one of our Chen Family."
The air suddenly fell silent.
Only Liu Qingi's nimble fingers moved, the three-inch knife leaping between them.
Chen Shangwu's face fell, his expression changing unnaturally. He waved his large sleeve and conceded, "Fine. He belongs to your Red Lotus Valley."
Many people struggled to hold back their laughter at the old man's comical reversal.
"If you hadn't done the right thing today, I would have had you killed. And in these nine heavens and ten earths, who could have protected you?" Liu Qingi's indifferent tone seed to freeze the very air.
Chen Shangwu's heart sank, and a chill spread throughout his body. At the sa ti, he was imnsely relieved that he had chosen to stand with Chen Yang at the last mont. Otherwise… the entire Chen Royal Family would have been reduced to ashes.
"Greetings, Cousin," Chen Yang said, shaking himself from his brief stupor.
"You're quite a likable child," Liu Qingi said, her previous indifference replaced by a cheerful tone. "I have urgent matters to attend to, so I can't stay. Visit the Red Lotus Valley when you have ti. Your mother left so things for you, and many people there are eager to et you."
"I'll be going now."
The sedan chair swayed gently, gradually disappearing into the snowstorm.
As Liu Qingi departed, the tension in the air eased. It was rumored that this woman was the one who had severely wounded Tang Jinyuan of the Southern Pole Royal Family, forcing two of the royal families to turn back. It was clear just how formidable she was.
PFFT!
Chen Yang struggled to his feet, only to spit out a mouthful of blood, his body instantly going limp. If Chen Jinnan and Chen Shangwu hadn't caught him in ti, he would have collapsed.
"Are you alright, kid?" Chen Shangwu asked.
Chen Yang shook his head, his gaze distant as he looked toward the Qingyuan River and the Chen Family Ancestral Mansion on the opposite bank.
Is Mother's revenge finally complete?
His gaze swept past the Chen Family Ancestral Mansion to the bustling Cangyun City. Under the vast sky, the city was once again radiant with light as night began to fall. Dots of light began to bloom along the streets and alleys. He had witnessed the myriad lights and dazzling neon of Cangyun City countless tis, but never before had he been so deeply moved.
Is this the relief of surviving a calamity, or is the world finally returning to its rightful clarity?
"In my lifeti, I've seen countless talented youths, many filled with pride and ambition, but none have ever been like you." Chen Shangwu patted Chen Yang's shoulder, his gaze following Chen Yang's across the vibrant, colorful capital. "I am proud of you."
These words held extraordinary significance for many people, especially the mbers of the Chen Family.
"If you are willing, I will abdicate imdiately. You can ascend to the position of Sovereign tomorrow," Chen Shangwu finally stated, turning to look Chen Yang straight in the eye.
He did not whisper these words; he spoke them for all to hear. An imdiate uproar erupted from the crowd. So fell silent, while others were so stirred with emotion that they wanted to accept the offer on Chen Yang's behalf.
Chen Jinnan, however, remained impassive. Having spent this ti with him, he had co to understand Chen Yang's character and style.
Just as he had suspected, Chen Yang shook his head. "Not interested."
He, Chen Yang, had once been the Zhennan Prince, guarding his own territory. Later, he rose to the rank of Supre Martial Commander, leading the five armies. In this life, he had fought on battlefields and known the glory of having thousands answer his every call. Why would he covet the position of Sovereign?
In this life, being carefree and at ease is such a rare blessing.
Afterward, Chen Yang bowed respectfully to Chen Hua.
COUGH. COUGH.
The sudden cough turned Chen Yang's already pale face a deathly gray. His body swayed like a fragile boat on the vast ocean, adrift and alone. Then, dragging his Traveling Dragon Sword, he slowly walked away with Chen Jinnan's support, eventually disappearing from view.
A short distance away, Zhou Yufei stood under a tree, crying tears of joy as she gazed at the gradually fading figure.
Li Si was already in a car on the way to the airport.
If you are well, then my skies are clear.
While the outside world was still discussing the final battle, a piece of news from the Martial Departnt shattered the peace of Cangyun City, stunning everyone into silence.
The Barbarians had launched a large-scale invasion. Fighting had erupted once more just outside the borders of Hanyun Valley.
Leading a powerful counterattack, the Mountain-backed King, Chen Jian, annihilated 30,000 enemy soldiers and achieved a resounding victory.
"The Barbarians have finally grown restless. They're starting a major invasion, aren't they?"
"Thank goodness this passionate land of ours has such brave and heroic n! I never thought this Mountain-backed King would be so impressive!"
As war erupted again, the entire nation was swept up in heated discussions. The most discussed figure was the Mountain-backed King, Chen Jian, a man barely in his thirties. Amidst the praise, rumors began to circulate that he would be the next Chen Yang.
This battle against the Barbarians was to be the one that made his na.
After all, this vast nation had no shortage of talent.
In just one hour, all talk of the battle at Qingyuan River and the stories of Chen Yang were completely overshadowed. The only clamor that remained was of the war in Hanyun Valley. The forr battle had been spectacular, to be sure, but it felt distant to ordinary people. This war, however, was relevant to every single person.
「Three days later.」
The Elders' Court announced its decision to promote the Mountain-backed King to Supre Martial Commander. He would lead the five armies in a full-scale counterattack against the Barbarians.
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