Chen Family, Chen Chang'an

Liu Chengfeng's face darkened as an overwhelming aura erupted from his body.

As a peak expert of the True Qi Realm, Liu Chengfeng stood far above Chen Zhengyuan, the strongest of the Chen family, who had only recently broken through to the True Qi Realm.

No one in the Chen family could withstand Liu Chengfeng's oppressive presence!

"Hahahaha!"

"The Chen family today is truly pitifully weak."

"Kid, remember this—if you want to talk tough, you need the strength to back it up!"

"Without power, your words are nothing but a joke!"

Liu Chengfeng looked at Chen Yunxuan with disdain. How dare a mere waste who hadn’t even reached the Core Formation Realm show disrespect to the Liu family?

Facing Liu Chengfeng's mockery, Chen Yunxuan met his gaze firmly, standing tall against the crushing pressure.

To Liu Chengfeng's shock, Chen Yunxuan not only remained standing but straightened his back, unyielding!

Their eyes locked, and Liu Chengfeng sensed an unshakable resolve in the young man.

"This boy has an iron will and extraordinary determination!"

"If he’s allowed to grow, he might become a threat in the future!"

"No—this one cannot be left alive!"

In that moment, Liu Chengfeng felt genuine killing intent. A mere teenager at the Spirit Gathering Realm had somehow made him feel… threatened.

Chen Zhengyuan noticed the shift in Liu Chengfeng’s demeanor and realized the man now intended to kill.

Yet Chen Yunxuan stared straight at Liu Chengfeng, his voice sharp as a blade:

"One day, the sleeping dragon shall rise with the rain; today, the crane soars freely into the sky."

"The Chen family will reclaim everything we’ve lost."

Reclaim?

What a joke!

With a family that barely numbered a hundred?

"Hmph! Then let’s see if you even live past today!"

Clap! Clap! Clap!

"Well said."

"What was lost should indeed be taken back!"

Liu Chengfeng, about to strike, was interrupted by the sudden applause.

Everyone turned to see a young man standing at the entrance of the Chen family hall, seemingly having appeared out of nowhere.

Beside him was a large yellow dog—though its eyes burned with resentment, as if glaring at everyone with silent curses.

Both Liu Chengfeng and Liu Mengyan were stunned, as were the Chen family members.

No one recognized this stranger.

"Who are you?" Liu Chengfeng demanded, frowning.

"Me?"

"Chen family… Chen Chang'an."

A member of the Chen family?

The declaration left the Chen family bewildered. None of them had ever seen this man before.

Was he some long-lost illegitimate child?

Only Chen Zhengyuan’s eyes flickered with recognition, as if recalling something.

"Unbelievable. The younger generation of the Chen family grows bolder by the day."

"That one at least has some cultivation, but you—you don’t even have a shred of power, yet you dare speak so arrogantly?"

"Are you not afraid I’ll kill you?" Liu Chengfeng sneered.

"Kill me?"

"Try if you dare." Chen Chang'an replied dismissively.

"Insolent!"

Liu Chengfeng didn’t attack. Instead, he unleashed his aura again, confident that the sheer pressure alone would crush an ordinary man like Chen Chang'an.

Yet Chen Chang'an remained completely unaffected, even looking bored.

Is this all?

Having trained under his master, Mu Yunyao—a peak Great Emperor—Chen Chang'an had long grown accustomed to such oppressive forces.

"Da Huang."

Ignoring Liu Chengfeng, Chen Chang'an glanced at the yellow dog.

Reluctantly, the dog trotted over, picked up a chair with its mouth, and placed it beside Chen Chang'an.

As Chen Chang'an casually took a seat, the onlookers gaped in shock.

Not only was Chen Chang'an unharmed, but even his dog moved freely under Liu Chengfeng’s pressure?

"Impossible!"

"This can’t be real!"

"Who… who are you really?"

Liu Chengfeng’s mind reeled. This defied all logic.

This man couldn’t possibly be powerless—he must be hiding his strength!

But how? He looked so young. Since when did the Chen family have such a monster?

While Liu Chengfeng struggled to comprehend, Liu Mengyan studied Chen Chang'an intently. The situation had spiraled beyond their control.

"Chen Chang'an? Chen Chang'an!"

Suddenly, Chen Zhengyuan shot to his feet, his entire body trembling with shock.

The others exchanged confused glances. Did Chen Zhengyuan know this man?

"You… you are truly Chen Chang'an?"

"Chang as in 'eternal,' An as in 'peace'?" Chen Zhengyuan’s voice quivered.

You?

Chen Zhengyuan had used the respectful form of address!

What did this mean? Was this man of a higher seniority than even the family head?

"It seems the Chen family hasn’t entirely forgotten my name. Saves me the trouble of explaining." Chen Chang'an smiled faintly.

At these words, Chen Zhengyuan shuddered, then rushed forward and—to everyone’s astonishment—dropped to his knees.

"Chen Zhengyuan, the 135th head of the Chen family, greets the Ancestor!"

Ancestor?!

This young man was the Chen family’s forefather?

"Why are you all still standing? Kneel and pay respects to the Ancestor!"

Chen Zhengyuan’s furious roar snapped the others into action. Though bewildered, they obeyed.

"Chen Zhengming, 135th-generation member of the Chen family, greets the Ancestor."

"Chen Zhengxiao, 135th-generation member of the Chen family, greets the Ancestor."

"Chen…"

One by one, the Chen family members prostrated themselves, leaving Liu Mengyan and Liu Chengfeng utterly lost.

"If the Chen family had an Ancestor, how could they have fallen so low?"

"Is this some kind of act?"

"But they couldn’t have known we were coming. This doesn’t make sense…"

Liu Mengyan frowned, but Liu Chengfeng’s expression darkened with realization.

"Young Mistress, I… think I’ve heard of this before."

"There was once a rumor that a Chen family ancestor was taken away by a supreme expert. But since he never appeared, everyone assumed it was a lie—or that he’d died."

"Yet here he is, returning at this very moment?"

Liu Chengfeng had only heard fragments of the tale and never took it seriously.

"Uncle, you mean to say the Chen family truly has an Ancestor?"

"But why have I never heard of this?" Liu Mengyan asked, stunned.

"It’s not surprising. The rumor dates back centuries. Our Liu family was once close to the Chens, but now, only a handful remember."

"Centuries?!"

Liu Mengyan looked at Chen Chang'an, who appeared to be only around twenty years old, her heart filled with astonishment.

If this were truly the case, how powerful must Chen Chang'an's cultivation be after living for several centuries?

"If it's really true that he hasn't died for hundreds of years, then his strength must be comparable to the strongest of the Great Zhou Imperial Family, right?" Liu Mengyan said nervously.

"Hmph, hundreds of years?"

"Our ancestor left our Chen family... over ten thousand years ago."

Ten thousand years?

"What!"

"He... he's lived for ten thousand years?"