The Virtuous Chen Chang'an

"You... what are you doing running to me?"

Chen Chang'an glanced at Fan Yi, who lay severely wounded on the ground. Why had this guy fled to him? Had he defected to the right side?

"The only way I can survive is by coming here."

"Chen Chang'an, I... I tried my best, but the Hall Master is dead set on his course. There was no stopping him."

"And... the Left Guardian—I suspect something’s off about him."

"He’s been acting strange. No matter what I say, he contradicts me, targeting me at every turn."

"It’s like he’s overly concerned about my objections."

"I think... I think the Left Guardian might be compromised too." Fan Yi’s expression was grave. Suddenly, the entire Blood Slaughter Hall felt unfamiliar to him—even the Left Guardian seemed like a stranger.

Hearing Fan Yi’s words, Chen Chang'an chuckled lightly. "I already knew you wouldn’t be able to stop or persuade them."

"But so what?"

"It just means a few more corpses."

"They’re coming."

"And I’d like to see for myself just how powerful this Blood Slaughter Emperor really is!"

Chen Chang'an smiled faintly, his gaze drifting toward the distance.

Yao Niming and the others wore solemn expressions. They all knew Chen Chang'an was strong, but just how strong? That was something they couldn’t fathom.

Now, with the Blood Slaughter Hall’s forces moments away, the tension in the air thickened instantly.

Within Alchemy Emperor City, those who had stayed behind sensed an overwhelming pressure steadily approaching. Their nerves tightened in response.

"It’s... it’s starting already?"

"Wasn’t it supposed to happen later? Why the sudden advance?"

"Damn it, damn it! What do we do? Can the Alchemy Emperor and the others really hold off the Blood Slaughter Hall’s assault?"

"If you’re so scared, why didn’t you run? What’s the point of staying?"

"I tried! I left the moment I heard the Blood Slaughter Hall was coming, planning to observe from a distance. But who knew they’d attack today?"

"Ah, leave it to fate. Worrying won’t change anything now."

Panic spread through Alchemy Emperor City. Then, from atop the city walls, Da Huang suddenly let out a howl.

"Woo-woof!"

"Are you insane? Why are you howling like a wolf?"

Chen Chang'an shot Da Huang an exasperated glare. What was this idiot doing, acting up at a time like this?

"Chen Chang'an is mighty!"

"Chen Chang'an is invincible!"

"Chen Chang'an is unbeatable!"

"Chen Chang'an—"

"What are you all standing around for? Join in!"

"Weren’t we supposed to cheer him on?"

Seeing the bewildered looks on everyone’s faces, Da Huang quickly reminded them.

Yao Niming and the others were utterly speechless. So, he really had meant it when he said they’d just be shouting encouragement?

Whack!

Chen Chang'an smacked Da Huang on the head. "Shut up."

"They’re not even here yet. What’s the point of cheering now?"

"Wait until I win—then shout as loud as you can. Make sure the whole city hears you."

"Got it?"

Da Huang nodded sullenly, muttering under his breath, "No need to get violent just to make a point."

"Young Master, be careful." Gu Xian'er voiced her concern.

"Ah, right, right! Brother Chang'an, be careful!" Gu Fengyao chimed in belatedly, clearly still adjusting to her role as his fiancée.

Chen Chang'an gave them a nod before vanishing in a flash, reappearing high in the sky.

With a mere thought, an overwhelming aura erupted from his body, crashing down upon the approaching Blood Slaughter Hall forces.

Blood Slaughter Emperor Leng Tu’s expression darkened the moment he sensed it.

Such terrifying power!

Under this pressure, Leng Tu found his own aura buckling. Behind him, the thirty thousand Blood Slaughter soldiers broke out in cold sweat, their advance grinding to a halt.

"Is this man truly Chen Chang'an?"

"To possess such strength..."

"Left Guardian, you—"

Huh?

Leng Tu turned to reprimand the Left Guardian for his earlier nonsense, only to find the man had vanished without a trace.

This is bad.

Even someone as thick-headed as Leng Tu could now see that something was seriously amiss.

Had Fan Yi been right? Was the mastermind’s true target him, not Chen Chang'an?

"Yun Xiao?"

"How could a mere Divine Ability Realm cultivator orchestrate something like this? Does someone else stand behind him?"

Countless possibilities raced through Leng Tu’s mind, yet he couldn’t fathom who might be pulling Yun Xiao’s strings.

But there was no turning back now. His eyes locked onto Chen Chang'an in the sky. This was a battle between the two of them.

"Hmph!"

"What does it matter if this is a scheme?"

"I, the Blood Slaughter Emperor, am not someone to be trifled with!"

With a cold snort, Leng Tu prepared to strike.

But Chen Chang'an was faster.

A single palm strike sent forth a force capable of annihilating the heavens and earth, bearing down on Leng Tu.

Leng Tu’s face paled. So strong!

BOOM!

A deafening explosion rang out as Leng Tu was pinned in place by the crushing pressure. A massive crater, thousands of meters wide, formed beneath him.

Fan Yi clung weakly to the city wall, his mind blank with shock.

Chen Chang'an really is as monstrous as the rumors say?

The Blood Slaughter Emperor couldn’t even fight back?

Leng Tu had been an Emperor for ten thousand years! Yet even that wasn’t enough to withstand Chen Chang'an’s attack?

"Freak!"

"Absolute freak!"

"Thank the heavens he never fought back during our spars."

"Otherwise, how could I still be alive?"

Kuang Zhongtang shuddered at the memory of his relentless challenges to Chen Chang'an in the past.

Had he known just how strong the man was, would he have dared?

If Chen Chang'an had ever taken him seriously, would he even be breathing today?

"Ah, Brother Chen truly has the magnanimity of a true master."

"If it were anyone else, with power like his, they’d have struck down an ignorant fool like me long ago."

Hearing Kuang Zhongtang’s words, Da Huang barely held back a laugh.

Strike him down?

As if! Back then, Chen Chang'an couldn’t even fight his way out of a paper bag.

"You’ve got guts, daring to challenge him like that. The guy’s been a freak since the day I met him."

"Back then, your father—hell, even your ancestors—probably hadn’t been born yet."

"The fact that you’re still alive really does speak volumes about Chen Chang'an’s patience."

Lie Zhankuang’s words were blunt, but Kuang Zhongtang couldn’t argue. Every word was the truth.

"Besides, Brother Chang'an is the best—noble in character, upright in conduct, and truly the epitome of a great master. How could he ever be petty?" Gu Fengyao declared proudly.

Noble in character?

Upright in conduct?

Gu Fengyao's words drew skeptical glances from Yao Niming and the others.

If you said Chen Chang'an was strong, they’d agree. But upright in conduct?

They’d sooner die than accept that!

"What’s with those looks?"

"Did I say something wrong?" Gu Fengyao frowned slightly, puzzled by their expressions.

"Don’t mind them. They’re just jealous."

"They envy the Young Master’s exceptional virtues and lofty morals."

"Not everyone can possess such qualities."

"Only mediocrity escapes envy."

"This only proves how extraordinary the Young Master truly is!"

The moment Gu Xian'er spoke these words, Yao Niming and the others' expressions darkened even further.

Exceptional virtues?

Lofty morals?

What the hell did any of that have to do with Chen Chang'an?

Sure, they were close, but that didn’t mean they could lie through their teeth!

Just how much conscience had they trampled to say such things?

"Ah, Xian'er, you’re absolutely right."

"It’s just that Brother Chang'an is too outstanding for his own good."

"Exactly! That’s all there is to it!"

"Ugh…"