The Hong Family, as the backer of the Dongfang Family, would be ridiculed if they didn’t intervene now that the Dongfang Family was in trouble.
Moreover, Chen Chang'an was eyeing the Dongfang Family’s resources—resources that were regularly offered as tribute to the Hong Family.
A significant portion of the Hong Family’s endless supply of resources came from these subordinate families.
This was why many powerful families or factions maintained a network of vassal forces. The relationship was more of a mutual collaboration: one side provided protection, while the other supplied resources.
A disguised form of protection fees!
Chen Chang'an’s actions clearly threatened the Hong Family’s interests. How could they remain indifferent?
If they hadn’t known, that would be one thing. But since they were aware, they had to step in.
“You want to interfere in my affairs?”
“Do you really think you’re capable?” Chen Chang'an asked with a smile.
“Perhaps I’m no match for you, but don’t forget—behind me stands the entire Hong Family.”
“Don’t lump us together with the Dongfang Family.”
“Chen Chang'an, you’re strong and talented, but can you withstand an Immortal Emperor?”
“Let me remind you—the Hong Family has an Immortal Emperor-level powerhouse overseeing us.”
“Not just anyone can provoke us.”
“You’d better think carefully about the consequences.” Young Master Hong sneered, looking down on Chen Chang'an with disdain.
To the world, Chen Chang'an’s greatest strengths were his unparalleled cultivation talent and monstrous combat prowess.
But he had one glaring weakness—his background. No one had ever heard of him having any powerful backing.
His talent and strength had earned him many offers of alliance and goodwill, but no matter how much of a genius he was, until he truly grew into his power, he was still just an ant that stronger figures could crush at will.
At least, that was how Young Master Hong saw him.
So he felt no need to compromise or yield just because of Chen Chang'an’s reputation.
Standing above him now filled Young Master Hong with an indescribable thrill.
The top-ranked prodigies on the Heavenly Genius Ranking all had backgrounds he couldn’t afford to offend.
Yet here was the number one genius right in front of him—and he could still look down on him.
This kind of satisfaction was something Young Master Hong had never experienced before.
“Big brother, their family has an Immortal Emperor.”
“That means… they must have even better treasures, right?”
“This is a real big fish!” Da Huang said excitedly.
“Hmm, compared to the Dongfang Family, this one is indeed a big fish.”
“And one that delivered itself to us.”
“Seems like our luck is holding up.” Chen Chang'an nodded with a smile.
Originally, Chen Chang'an hadn’t been too impressed with the Dongfang Family’s resources, thinking this trip might be a waste of time.
But who would’ve thought a big fish would swim right into their net? The Hong Family, with an Immortal Emperor and numerous vassal forces, must possess resources far beyond what the Dongfang Family could offer.
Still just a grasshopper, but definitely a plump one.
“Chen Chang'an, what do you mean by that?”
“Are you looking down on my Hong Family?” Young Master Hong asked coldly.
“Isn’t it you who’s meddling in my business?”
“This is between me and the Dongfang Family. You’re the one who butted in.”
“Do you really think you can stop me?” Chen Chang'an replied with a grin.
“And do you think I can’t?” Young Master Hong retorted sharply.
Sigh.
Chen Chang'an shook his head helplessly. Since the other party was so eager, it would be rude not to oblige.
“Master of the Dongfang Family, what’s your choice?” Chen Chang'an asked.
Choice?
Hearing this, the Master of the Dongfang Family hesitated. Neither Chen Chang'an nor the Hong Family were opponents he could afford to provoke.
“Master of the Dongfang Family, what are you afraid of?”
“Do you really think our Hong Family would fear Chen Chang'an?” Young Master Hong demanded coldly.
“I wouldn’t dare!”
“But… Young Master Hong, a wise man knows when to retreat.”
“After all, the Hong Family’s Immortal Emperor isn’t here right now.”
“If Chen Chang'an were to act…”
The implication was clear—if Chen Chang'an struck now, none of them would escape. What good was being from the Hong Family if you were dead?
“Ahem!”
“Well, I’m just a bystander here.”
“Master of the Dongfang Family, I have matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave.”
“Young Master Chen, I’m not part of the Dongfang Family. May I go?”
Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, the Master of the Wei Family wanted no part in this mess.
“Master of the Wei Family, have you forgotten our earlier discussion?” the Master of the Dongfang Family snapped.
“Master of the Dongfang Family, my apologies. Consider today’s meeting null and void.”
“Farewell!”
The Wei Family’s departure left the Master of the Dongfang Family livid. Was this the same man who had sworn to form an alliance through marriage?
Hmph!
At least his true colors were revealed now. If they had gone through with the alliance, he would’ve been unreliable anyway.
“Master of the Dongfang Family, there’s no need for such distress.”
“Even if he’s gone, the Hong Family remains.”
“Though our Immortal Emperor isn’t present, if anything happens to me, he’ll arrive in the shortest time possible.”
“By then, Chen Chang'an won’t escape.”
“I refuse to believe he’d take such a risk.” Young Master Hong said coldly.
Hearing this, the Master of the Dongfang Family felt somewhat reassured. Chen Chang'an didn’t strike him as a fool.
Would he really risk offending an Immortal Emperor just for resources? It wasn’t worth it.
“Chen Chang'an!”
“You heard it yourself—the Dongfang Family has the Hong Family’s backing.”
“We can pretend today’s events never happened.”
“Just return the resources you took and release Dongfang Yin.”
“Otherwise, think carefully about the consequences.” The Master of the Dongfang Family spoke firmly, emboldened by his newfound support.
Little did he know, an Immortal Emperor meant nothing in Chen Chang'an’s eyes.
Even if an Immortal Emperor couldn’t kill him, Chen Chang'an was confident he wouldn’t lose in a fight.
“Since you refuse the easy way, you’ll get the hard way.”
“Don’t blame me for being impolite.”
“I’ll take the resources—and your lives too!”
The moment these words were spoken, everyone’s expressions changed. Was Chen Chang'an really going to act? Did he truly not fear the pursuit of an Immortal Emperor?
Just as Chen Chang'an was about to strike, his brow suddenly furrowed.
“Hahaha!”
“What’s wrong?”
“Too scared to move?”
“I knew you were just bluffing!”
ing gift was a patch of barren land, and disciples were all picked up along the way. He spent fifty years diligently building three "ramshackle little sects," thinking he could finally live a carefree life relying on his disciples. But right at the fifty-year mark, he was suddenly swept away by a spatial rift and exiled to the Chaos Desolation, the Disorderly Ruins. There was no spiritual energy there, only slaughter. Relying on the cultivation feedback from his disciples, Gu Changyuan hacked his way through a sea of blood for eleven hundred years. When the system finally fished him back out, he discovered the ramshackle little sects he'd built back then had developed a rather... unusual style. Hold on... I vanished for a thousand years, so how did my ramshackle little sects become holy lands?!
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
ver to a world of cultivation and returned invincible. Modern medicine is child's play compared to elixirs; technological might crumbles before true cultivation. My name is Qin Ning, Earth's sole cultivator!
