Flowing Cloud Domain's Proud Elite City

"Gone?"

"Yes, gone!"

"Ah, finally gone!"

The Ancestor of the Qi Family slumped into his chair, as if all his vitality had been drained.

Five years!

A full five years!

Chen Chang'an had been in seclusion at the Qi Family for five years.

And the result?

The Ancestor of the Qi Family's lifelong savings had practically been squeezed dry by Chen Chang'an.

If Chen Chang'an hadn't left, the Ancestor wouldn't have known what to do next—would he have had to dip into the Qi Family's public treasury?

"Ancestor, are you... alright?"

"Do I look alright to you?"

Hearing this, Qi Fang instinctively nodded, but when he noticed the Ancestor's sharp gaze, he quickly shook his head.

"No, no, Ancestor, you're... hale and hearty, strong as ever, venerable..."

"Are you saying I'm old?"

"How about you take over the Qi Family from now on, huh?"

"No, no, Ancestor, I wouldn’t dare, I really didn’t mean it that way!"

Qi Fang was terrified out of his wits, but upon reflection, was what he said wrong? The Ancestor was indeed old—and still tough as nails.

"You, go spread the news that Chen Chang'an has returned to the Liuyun Domain."

"Especially to those few people—you know who I’m talking about, right?"

The Ancestor's words sent a shiver down Qi Fang’s spine. Was the Ancestor planning a backstab?

This wasn’t very honorable.

"Ancestor, those matters were all agreed upon by you."

"Now that he’s left, you’re pulling this move."

"Isn’t that a bit... underhanded?" Qi Fang said nervously.

"Do you think your Ancestor is that kind of petty man?" the Ancestor retorted angrily.

"Then why are you doing this?"

"You don’t understand a damn thing."

"Why should I be the only one suffering? If I’m going down, I’m taking them all with me."

"Nobody gets to escape."

Huh?

Was that not petty? This still wasn’t exactly honorable, was it?

You’ve already suffered, and now you want to drag everyone else into the same misery?

"Ancestor, isn’t this... still underhanded?"

"Today, I just don’t care about honor!"

"They need to experience this pain too."

"What are you standing around for?"

"If you delay any longer, Chen Chang'an might even leave the Apex City by the time you act."

"Hurry up and go!"

"Use Voice-Transmitting Jade if you have it. If not, go in person."

"No matter what method you use, make sure those old geezers get the news as fast as possible."

"If we suffered together back then, they’re not skipping out on it now."

Qi Fang could only sigh in resignation. When it came to suffering, the others had indeed endured plenty—but back then, hadn’t the Ancestor been having the time of his life? Had he really suffered?

Watching the Ancestor’s wicked grin, Qi Fang couldn’t help but remark, "Ancestor, right now, you really look like a villain."

"Huh? What kind of nonsense is that?"

"Do you know the phrase ‘upright gentleman’?"

"Yes."

"That’s me."

"I—"

"Wait, you’re copying Chen Chang'an’s way of speaking now."

"How did you know?"

"I heard it."

"Ahem, you misheard. That was my own line."

"Oh... I misheard?"

"Yes, you misheard."

"Right, the Ancestor is always correct."

Meanwhile, after leaving, Chen Chang'an decided to head straight for Apex City this time.

When he had departed from the Xuantian Domain, Lu Xiaoyun had once told him that he must participate in the Apex Rankings’ grand competition. No doubt, this was also Chen Tian’s arrangement.

"Big Bro, with your strength, joining the Apex Rankings is just bullying, isn’t it?"

"I almost feel bad for these people—minding their own business, only to run into a freak like you," Da Huang mused.

"If you don’t know how to talk, then shut up."

"Focus on getting there faster," Chen Chang'an said impatiently.

"Big Bro, me hurrying won’t help. Yi Tuo’s the one who needs to pick up the pace—right, Yi Tuo?" Da Huang glanced down at Yi Tuo.

"Stop rushing me, I’m already sparking from friction!"

"I’m doing my best," Yi Tuo grumbled.

"Tch!"

"Useless, the lot of you."

"When it matters, I have to rely on myself."

Chen Chang'an shook his head helplessly, then with a thought, the scenery before Yi Tuo suddenly changed.

"What... just happened?" Yi Tuo asked, bewildered.

"Not there yet. Keep going."

Chen Chang'an utilized the power of spatial law, drastically shortening the journey to Apex City.

"We’re here!"

"Holy shit!"

"That fast?"

"The Ancestor of the Qi Family said it’d take us over half a year!"

Seven days!

A trip that should have taken more than half a year was completed in just seven days.

Yi Tuo was utterly stunned, even more curious about what kind of technique Chen Chang'an had used.

"You don’t understand a thing. My Big Bro is invincible."

"If he wanted, we could’ve reached Apex City ages ago."

"None of you get it."

"Nobody knows Big Bro like I do," Da Huang boasted.

"Pfft, that was before. Now, I’m the closest to my foster father."

"Little Worm, do you still want me to take you out to play? Aren’t we good brothers?"

"Yeah, yeah, good brothers. I won’t fight you for this."

"That’s more like it."

Chen Chang'an ignored their bickering. The priority now was to enter Apex City and find a place to settle in.

However, the moment he reached the city gates, a group of people was already waiting to greet him.

Judging by their attire, Chen Chang'an recognized them as disciples of the Nine Clouds Immortal Sect—likely arranged by the sect master.

"Greetings, Elder Supreme."

Elder Supreme?

The actions of the Nine Clouds Immortal Sect disciples drew many curious glances, but when the onlookers saw Chen Chang'an, they couldn’t help but frown.

Forget his eye-catching appearance—his cultivation was only at the Golden Immortal Realm’s fifth layer? What kind of joke was this?

Had this guy saved the Nine Clouds Immortal Sect in a past life? How else could someone at this level become an Elder Supreme?

"No way, this guy’s an Elder Supreme of the Nine Clouds Immortal Sect?"

"If he can be one, then I should be too—I’m even at the Heavenly Immortal Realm!"

"You? You couldn’t even be a turd in comparison. You think you’re worthy?"

"Then why can he?"

"How the hell should I know why he can?"

Ignoring the murmurs around him, Chen Chang'an addressed the Nine Clouds Immortal Sect disciples.

"Are accommodations arranged?"

"At your sect’s outpost, or at the Apex Pavilion?"

"Wait, is there an Apex Pavilion here?"

"Reporting to Elder Supreme, there is an Apex Pavilion here, but it’s just an ordinary inn."

"Does Elder Supreme wish to stay there?"

Just an ordinary inn?

In that case, there was no point.

"Forget it. Take me to your place."

"As you command."