Lu Qingyun, come out and face me

"Lu Qingyun?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone turned to look at Chen Chang'an in shock.

How audacious! Who was Lu Qingyun? He was the founding patriarch of the Qingyun Sect, a powerhouse at the half-step Emperor Realm.

Was Chen Chang'an out of his mind?

"Holy shit, I always knew this guy was arrogant, but I never expected him to be this insane!"

"He actually dares to call the Qingyun Patriarch by his name? He’s dead for sure!"

"The Qingyun Sect will never let this slide."

"I heard the Qingyun Patriarch has been in seclusion for years, trying to break through to the Emperor Realm. Otherwise, the Patriarch could just slap him to death with one hand."

"What a joke—does he even need the Patriarch to deal with him? The four Peak Masters alone would be enough."

Most of the guests thought Chen Chang'an had lost his mind. Only Fang Yunxi knew the reason behind his confidence—because everything he said was true.

Meanwhile, the members of the Qingyun Sect glared at Chen Chang'an with fury. Lu Mengran was no exception. Not only had this man dared to utter their Patriarch’s name, but he also disrespected him?

This was unforgivable!

"Good, very good!"

"It’s been years since the Qingyun Sect last encountered someone so brazen."

"Do you truly believe that just because our sect is benevolent, we lack the temper to put you in your place?"

Hearing Lu Mengran’s words, Chen Chang'an merely smiled faintly before speaking again.

"Lu Qingyun, do you still recognize my voice? Roll out here and face me!"

His voice wasn’t loud, yet it echoed throughout the entire Qingyun Sect.

That simple sentence seemed to pierce through everything, reaching the ears of everyone present.

And with those words, the crowd was petrified once more.

Roll out here and face him?

Did he think he was an Emperor Realm expert or something?

Unless one had reached the Emperor Realm, who would dare speak to Lu Qingyun like that?

Silence.

The entire Qingyun Sect fell into a deathly stillness—not a single sound, not even breathing could be heard.

Lu Mengran took a deep breath, his gaze icy as he stared at Chen Chang'an. This brat had repeatedly provoked the Qingyun Sect. His crimes were inexcusable.

"Peak Masters of the Four Peaks!"

"Here!"

"Take this arrogant fool and—"

Before Lu Mengran could finish, dozens of terrifying auras suddenly erupted. In the next moment, dozens of Qingyun Sect elders appeared before the crowd.

The sight deeply shocked everyone. It was rare to see so many Qingyun Sect elders gathered at once.

And this wasn’t even all of them—many were currently away from the sect. Otherwise, every elder-level figure would have shown up.

"Who dares to call our Patriarch by name?" The Grand Elder’s cold gaze swept across the crowd.

"Grand Elder, it’s this man." Lu Mengran pointed at Chen Chang'an.

Him?

The Grand Elder and the others frowned as they studied Chen Chang'an. A mere brat, daring to cause such a disturbance in the Qingyun Sect?

"Good. Very good."

"It’s been a long time since I last fought. Today, let this Grand Elder see just what gives the younger generation the audacity to disrespect our Qingyun Patriarch."

What?

The Grand Elder was going to make a move himself? Wasn’t that giving Chen Chang'an too much face?

"Grand Elder, is this appropriate?"

"There’s nothing inappropriate about it. The Patriarch is in seclusion. Since this man dares to look down on our Qingyun Patriarch, it’s only fitting that I act in his stead."

The Grand Elder of the Qingyun Sect personally stepping forward made Ye Zhiqiu frown in concern as he glanced at Chen Chang'an.

"Master..."

"I told you, the sky won’t fall."

Seeing Chen Chang'an so composed, Ye Zhiqiu relaxed slightly. But his curiosity only grew—was his master’s strength truly this terrifying?

"What a bold claim—that the sky won’t fall."

"Let’s see how you hold it up."

"Lest I be accused of bullying the weak, I’ll let you strike first," the Grand Elder said coldly.

"Wouldn’t that make me the one bullying the weak?"

"Don’t rush. He’s here."

He’s here?

Who’s here?

Chen Chang'an’s words left everyone puzzled. But in the next instant, the winds shifted, and an overwhelming aura enveloped the entire Qingyun Sect.

Sensing this presence, the Qingyun Sect disciples froze.

The Patriarch’s aura?

The Patriarch has left seclusion?

Just a wisp of his aura alone made everyone feel the oppressive weight of death. Even the Qingyun Sect members were stunned.

Why was the Patriarch so agitated that he couldn’t even control his aura?

As everyone stood bewildered, a figure suddenly appeared before Chen Chang'an.

"Senior… is it really you?"

Lu Qingyun had been in deep seclusion. When he heard Chen Chang'an’s voice, he thought it was an illusion.

But no matter what, if there was even the slightest chance Chen Chang'an had appeared, Lu Qingyun would pay any price to confirm it.

Forcing himself out of cultivation, combined with his overwhelming excitement, left him momentarily unable to rein in his aura.

When he finally laid eyes on Chen Chang'an, he could hardly believe it.

Over five thousand years had passed. He never imagined Chen Chang'an would come to the Qingyun Sect of his own accord.

All these years, Lu Qingyun had trained relentlessly and worked tirelessly to strengthen the Qingyun Sect.

There was only one goal—to fulfill the condition Chen Chang'an had set for him long ago.

Though the Qingyun Sect was now powerful, Lu Qingyun still felt it wasn’t enough. Just a little more.

That was why he desperately sought to break through to the Emperor Realm. Only then would he have a chance.

To outsiders, Lu Qingyun’s obsession might seem foolish. Once he reached the Emperor Realm, with the entire Qingyun Sect under his command, why cling to the idea of becoming Chen Chang'an’s servant?

But no one understood what truly drove Lu Qingyun. This was a vow—a dream etched into his very soul.

"After all these years, you’ve reached the half-step Emperor Realm."

"Not bad."

Chen Chang'an looked at Lu Qingyun and nodded approvingly. Those two simple words—"not bad"—made Lu Qingyun tremble with joy.

"Thank you for your praise, Senior."

"Qingyun’s efforts all these years… have not been in vain!"

Lu Qingyun’s words left everyone present utterly dumbfounded. Just who was Chen Chang'an?

Lu Qingyun actually called him "Senior" and treated him with such reverence?

The Qingyun Sect members, in particular, stood slack-jawed, unable to process what they were seeing and hearing.

Senior? Their Patriarch addressed Chen Chang'an as Senior?

Did that mean Chen Chang'an was an Emperor Realm expert?

What had they just done? They had actually tried to attack an Emperor Realm powerhouse?

"No wonder Ye Zhiqiu refused to join the Qingyun Sect. No wonder both master and disciple rejected the sect without hesitation. If even the Qingyun Patriarch calls him ‘Senior,’ how strong must he be? Why would someone of that stature stoop to joining the Qingyun Sect?"

"So Ye Zhiqiu's heaven-defying prowess stems from his master. If only I could become a disciple of an Emperor-level expert, I wouldn't be inferior either."

"Pah! Dream on! Do you think Emperor-level experts have nothing better to do? That they'd take just anyone as a disciple? It's only because Ye Zhiqiu's talent is exceptional that he caught the eye of such a powerhouse."

Earlier, the crowd had thought Ye Zhiqiu was foolish for even rejecting the Qingyun Sect—an act of sheer idiocy. Now, it seemed the real fools were them.

"Esteemed Senior, what brings you to our humble Qingyun Sect?"

"This... what exactly has happened?"

"Could it be that our Qingyun Sect disciples have offended you?"

"If that's truly the case, I swear they won't escape punishment!"