After a night of heavy rain, the sky was a brilliant, clear blue. The vegetation was lush and vibrant, looking as if it might burst with life.
A single downpour had thrust Cangyun City directly into spring.
「Early in the morning.」
Yang Hu went to find Su Yan and brought back a set of battle armor, identical to the standard-issue armor of the Hanyun Valley Martial Guard.
Chen Yang sat in the courtyard, ticulously wiping down every corner of the armor. Images from his twelve years on the battlefield replayed in his mind, fra by fra.
Perhaps it was out of habit.
Chen Yang still preferred to wear the heaviest armor, wield the sharpest sword, and face the mightiest foes.
Later, Yang Hu took the armor and draped it over Chen Yang.
"Rember my instructions," he said calmly, holding his Longsword.
He stood tall and imposing, his body like iron and his bearing heroic. His spirit was no less fierce than when he was on the battlefield.
Yang Hu remained silent, gazing at the peerless figure before him, wondering if this clear blue sky could endure forever.
In a certain small town, Wu Xing and Jin Zheng stood side by side, looking toward Cangyun City with complicated expressions. Though they had a thousand words to say, they all converged into a single sentence, "Survive!"
In Lingjin City, on Qiyun Road, and in Chu City, countless people gazed up at the sky, their expressions numb, all muttering softly, "Don't die. You must survive."
"Survive!"
Throughout the vast empire, across the Myriad Mile Territory, hundreds of millions of people prayed as one.
And starting early that morning, countless people planted flags at their doorsteps.
Silent support was the most moving of all.
On this day, the sky was clear for miles. A gentle breeze lifted thousands of flags, causing them to flutter and snap in the wind.
Countless wishes converged in the ether.
You... you must survive.
Over the years, Chen Yang had killed so many of the powerful and influential that their clans and families now fell eerily silent. Their usual arrogance and sense of invincibility had completely vanished.
For the general public, wasn't this a breath of fresh air?
Unfortunately, the world today has no need for, nor tolerance of, such righteous individuals. What the powerful wanted were collaborators who would band together to exploit the masses for their own gain.
To right the wrongs of the world? That undoubtedly ant making an enemy of the world. If you did not die, those who held power could never rest easy.
Otherwise, why would the Imperial Clan, who traditionally kept to themselves, make such a brazen show of force by bringing a large army into the secular world? They were, after all, the core architects of the world's rules, and they expected unconditional obedience. Anyone who tried to change the status quo had to be ruthlessly eliminated.
A storm was brewing, pervading every corner of Cangyun City.
Though the city should have been bustling and lively, it was unspeakably quiet. This bright, sunny sky and this blazing sun failed to dispel the gloom or the suffocatingly oppressive atmosphere.
「Qingyuan River Plaza.」
The azure sky stretched overhead, a cool breeze caressing the face.
Chen Yang, Longsword in hand, looked up slightly, gazing toward the center of the plaza where a statue once stood. Now, only the ruins of its base remained.
Are so people simply not ant to exist in this world?
Each heavy step he took echoed with a dull thud. His aura surged, swirling like a storm consuming the clouds.
This sight made the hearts of the countless onlookers tremble.
Majestic as a mountain, unparalleled in the world.
"I... I get a sense of a hero in his twilight, a great general past his pri."
"To face the Imperial Clan all alone... how heartbreaking is that?"
"Alas, this man has shouldered burdens he never should have had to bear. He is truly a National Scholar without peer."
But no matter what, the figure before them was indeed resplendent.
Since ancient tis, whether kings, nobles, generals, or ministers were rely putting on a show to fish for fa, or whether they stood tall with genuine skill—one could tell a great deal just from their appearance. The body of a man, the stature of a hero. This was the very picture of it.
BOOM!!
The plaza, which had only echoed with the howling wind, abruptly resonated with a trendous booming from all directions, as deep and deafening as thunder.
It was the sound of war drums.
The forr Chief Military Commander—how could he be without valiant n from the Martial Departnt to sound the battle drums for him?
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The scale this ti was far greater than the first battle at the Qingyuan River. An almost tangible battle intent and a grim, murderous air, carried on the sound of the drums, perated every inch of the plaza.
CLANG!
Thrusting his Longsword into the ground, Chen Yang looked with a neutral expression toward a group of people not far away.
A table, more than a dozen bowls, a bottle of wine, a pot of tea.
A young man in a white robe with immaculately grood hair, who was none other than Tu Su, sat alone at the table, savoring a hearty breakfast.
"My young master is having breakfast. You can stand there and wait," said Zhou Jinshui, Tu Su's personal guardian, his face expressionless and his tone indifferent. "Just enjoy the lovely scenery. After all, it won't be long before you'll never see it again."
Swirling his wine cup, Tu Su didn't even look up as he leisurely enjoyed his breakfast. "I must say," he said languidly, "your influence in this secular world is imnse. All these battle drums and prayers...
"It's a pity that since ancient tis, this world has never had a need for heroes. You are destined for tragedy!"
This show of pomp—having breakfast in the middle of the plaza—could have been a personal quirk or a deliberate ploy to attract attention. Regardless, his Imperial Clan had the right and the confidence to act this way before the entire world.
"I had intended to grant you a comfortable death, but what a pity..."
Tu Su took a towel from a servant, wiped his mouth, and only then slowly looked up. "Yesterday, you launched a sneak attack on the manor and killed my Imperial clansn?"
He didn't ntion Zuo Fan's death. Compared to the people of his Imperial Clan, Zuo Fan was nothing but worthless trash.
"My Imperial Clan's majesty is vast. Even one of our dogs is more precious than anyone in this secular world," Tu Su said, gripping his cup, his deep eyes locked on Chen Yang. "So, can you imagine what your fate will be today?"
His voice was so loud it resonated throughout the plaza.
Many people in the crowd fell silent, filled with trepidation.
In terms of sheer presence, this outstanding young man from the Imperial Clan seed to have an aura that surpassed even Chen Yang's.
"Garbage!"
"A word of advice: kneel now," Zhou Jinshui advised with a mocking smile. "Once my young master makes his move, your death will be hideous. Our young master possesses the True Dragon Form; once he acts, even a god would be slain."
Chen Yang stood firm, not uttering a word.
But in the next second, his gaze swept across the plaza and settled on the Chen Family estate across the Qingyuan River.
BOOM!!
Amidst great explosions from across the water, even the surging river began to churn.
Then, a bloody mist rose into the air.
Chen Yang's pupils constricted sharply.
"See that?" Tu Su sipped his wine and shrugged. "I chose this location for the sole purpose of letting you watch the Chen Family get wiped out.
"I believe that when you do, you will unleash even greater potential!"
Where his gaze fell, under the assault of the Imperial Clan's forces, the mbers of the Chen Family were cut down one by one. Even Chen Hua was grievously wounded in the first clash.
SWOOSH!
His armor reflected a dazzling light. Chen Yang, who had been standing as still as a statue, suddenly looked down, and his eyes, deep as an abyss, locked onto Tu Su and every mber of the Imperial Clan.
It was as though in the darkest night, a single lamp was lit.
CLANG!
A fierce gleam of light flashed, but in the blink of an eye, it vanished without a trace.
Tu Su, who was suprely confident and looked down on the entire world, suddenly shot up from his chair and dodged aside with the speed of lightning.
BOOM!
The dining table, along with the ground beneath it, was blown apart, and a cloud of dust and smoke filled the air.
"You're quick," Chen Yang comnted.
Tu Su was speechless.
The onlookers were speechless.
What... what just happened?!
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