Chapter 46: Father's Doubt

Pfft.

Jiang Ming, the Dharma Protector, escaped; he entered a cave heavy with yin qi, which was one of his main bases, activated the formation to hide himself, sat cross-legged inside the cave, and regulated his breath.

In this battle, he almost got killed; Chen Yuan and Shang Yingnian were too ruthless, chasing him to kill, determined to kill him—Chen Yuan, that madman, didn't even want his own son, truly insane.

After regulating his breath for half an hour, his injuries stabilized slightly.

"Damn Chen Yuan, this debt—I, the Dharma Protector, won't let it go."

"Cough cough cough, plus Shang Yingnian—his true qi is overbearing, the Shang Clan's Overlord Fist is truly fearsome; this time I've fallen."

"Good, Chen Chusheng is still in the Dharma Protector's hands; Chen Yuan, you have lost completely this time."

"Your son is still in my hands; I will—"

The next second, he froze; inside the main base, there was no aura of his disciple Luo Youduolan, and Chen Chusheng seemed not to be here either.

He suddenly stood up, looked around, took out a jade slip, prepared to contact his disciple, and found the jade slip shattered.

The jade slip shattered into dust; on it was a strand of his disciple's soul, which broke, signifying that his disciple Luo Youduolan had died completely, with no soul escaping.

"No!"

"How could the Dharma Protector's obedient disciple die? She was—"

"Who exactly is it?"

"Ahhh!"

For a moment, ghostly qi surged.

The surrounding resentful spirits wailed incessantly, truly like a human purgatory.

Elsewhere.

Chen Yuan and Shang Yingnian also fared poorly; both were injured, Chen Yuan more seriously—determined to kill Jiang Ming, yet he still got away.

"Old Brother Chen, are you alright?"

Chen Yuan shook his head: "I'm fine; Jiang Ming couldn't stay; my son Chusheng may be in more danger than safety."

"Cough cough cough."

The eldest son who fell into the Yin Gui Sect basically has no hope.

He clearly knows Jiang Ming's methods, and also knows the Yin Gui Sect's methods.

It is very likely that from now on, his eldest son will no longer be human.

Thinking of this, Chen Yuan doesn't know how to explain to his wife; when he left, he had promised his wife to bring back his eldest son.

Now he has gone back on his word.

"Old Brother Chen, observe a moment of silence."

Shang Yingnian thought the same; if they had kept Jiang Ming, perhaps they could... rescue Chen Chusheng.

But now, neither of them can detain Jiang Ming; that person is too cunning, the Yin Gui Sect's methods are too strange, and a moment's carelessness let him escape.

They lost this battle.

They lost completely.

"I'm fine, I—"

Chen Yuan gritted his teeth and stood up, not knowing how to explain.

This time, he miscalculated.

If it weren't for the critical moment when the formation broke, they might all have had to answer for it here.

Jiang Ming's Myriad Ghost Formation is too strong; those ghosts cannot be killed.

"Let's go back."

"This place is very dangerous."

Chen Yuan nodded and rose to leave.

Ahead, a sound came; the two exchanged a glance and assumed fighting stances.

In an instant, a figure ran out from ahead, and the two attacked simultaneously.

As soon as they moved, it was a lethal strike.

When the attack reached them, Chen Yuan saw clearly who it was and immediately pulled back.

"Chusheng?"

"How is it you?"

Upon hearing that, Shang Yingnian also immediately pulled back; the two retreated, stepping back a meter before stopping.

Chen Yuan and Shang Yingnian raised their heads in surprise, looking at the man before them—none other than Chen Chusheng, who had been taken away.

Chen Yuan, somewhat disbelieving, asked: "Are you Sheng'er?"

Chen Chusheng blinked and replied: "It's me, Father, and Uncle Shang—why do you look like this?"

The two confirmed that this was indeed Chen Chusheng.

But this is too strange.

After repeated confirmation, Chen Yuan was certain his son had returned, unharmed.

Moreover, his cultivation had broken through—this also...

"Sheng'er, you weren't captured by a disciple of the Yin Gui Sect? How did you come back?"

"How did you manage to escape?"

Shang Yingnian stared at Chen Chusheng's back, fearful that a Yin Gui Sect ghost might be following.

Chen Chusheng was dazed and shook his head.

"I don't know either."

"When I woke up, it was like this—just in the nearby mountains ahead, with nobody around."

Chen Chusheng briefly described the situation then; he saw nothing, and upon waking, it was like this.

Not only was there no incident, his body was in excellent condition, and his cultivation had also broken through.

He also didn't know why?

Hearing movement over here, he came running.

Then, that was the situation when they met.

Chen Yuan and Shang Yingnian exchanged a glance, feeling it was utterly surreal; such a thing was too absurd—Yin Gui Sect disciples would not be so kind, nor would they release him and let him return; there must be some conspiracy.

Chen Yuan reached out to examine his eldest son's condition; upon checking, he was dumbfounded.

Very good, there was nothing wrong.

Even those ghostly qi had been completely cleared away.

Shang Yingnian didn't believe it, followed up with an examination, and then his expression matched Chen Yuan's—blinking, his face full of doubt.

The three decided to go to the place where he woke up to have a look; perhaps they could find some clues.

Upon arriving, sure enough, they discovered something amiss.

This place bore traces of battle.

"There are battle traces, and also fresh blood."

"The Yin Gui Sect disciple is dead."

"He was killed instantly."

"That senior seems to have been refining pills here?"

After Chen Yuan and Shang Yingnian examined the scene, they were somewhat bewildered.

Upon hearing the two words "pill refining," Chen Yuan's heart skipped a beat; looking at his eldest son, he thought of something.

Continuing the inspection, there was nothing else.

He realized something, bent down, and wiped the dew from the nearby flowers.

Without speaking, he looked around again.

"Formation?"

"Mist?"

"Pill refining?"

"And there are traces of earth fire."

All of this pointed to one person.

A person he deemed impossible.

Chen Yuan did not speak out; inwardly, doubt arose.

Shang Yingnian didn't notice Chen Yuan's change in expression and said, "Nephew Chusheng, your luck is truly good—you actually managed to encounter a senior's assistance; this time, you've escaped disaster."

"Such a senior is hard to come by."

Chen Yuan echoed, "Elder Brother Shang is quite right; this time my son survived a great calamity, and there will surely be future blessings."

Chen Yuan bowed his hands and said, "This time, thank you, Elder Brother Shang, for your assistance; the Chen Clan is deeply grateful."

Shang Yingnian discerned the meaning in Chen Yuan's words—not him, but the Chen Clan; this favor, the Chen Clan will remember.

This is a favor of a clan, and it is great.

Shang Yingnian laughed and said, "Our two families are as one—shared honor, shared loss; helping your Chen Clan is helping my Shang Clan."

"What Elder Brother Shang says is true, but this time, Chen Yuan and his son are deeply grateful."

"Easy to say, easy to say."

This is Chen Yuan's gratitude; he will certainly repay it.

Shang Yingnian was very pleased; this time his intervention was not in vain.

Chen Yuan is well worth helping; he is a person who knows gratitude.