Chapter 248: Gathering of Geniuses

Chen Yan only then remembered that he had an appointment to meet Shen Yiwei today.

This was a necessary step.

Chen Yan needed to swap identities with that formation puppet which had already entered Xiaoyang City.

As for Bing Yi, after Chen Yan's college entrance examination, he would still appear within the Celestial Dipper Boxing Tournament.

The method was also very simple; someone would impersonate Bing Yi and appear.

This was a plan proposed by Shen Yiwei, and the specific implementation would be carried out by Old Chi.

Chen Yan trusted Shen Yiwei.

Bing Yi being Chen Yan was a point that Chen Yan did not intend to hide from the world permanently.

The reason he disguised himself as Bing Yi was because he had an enemy named Chen Changyuan hanging over his head.

Perhaps it was destiny, but Luo Chen truly seemed to be Chen Yan's destined enemy.

If Chen Changyuan did not die, Chen Yan would not feel at ease.

Chen Yan found it difficult to determine whether the Xia Imperial Clan was truly his ally.

During the Heaven's Pride Trial, Xia Hanzhou had indeed shown goodwill toward Chen Yan and had also promised to send people to protect Chen Yan's family.

But Xia Hanzhou had made it very clear at the time that he could not guarantee Chen Yan's safety.

Regardless of whether the other party had any reservations, Chen Yan could not entrust his own safety entirely to others.

Chen Changyuan...

Chen Yan lightly rubbed his chin with one hand, deep in thought.

Chen Changyuan was known as invincible at the Sixth Rank, and this had been the case for several years already.

Very strong!

Aside from Chen Changyuan, there was also Chen Xiyuan.

Chen Xiyuan had given Chen Yan a Seventh Rank fist-intent stone filled with malice, wanting to manipulate Chen Yan's consciousness.

This was a mortal enemy.

"If there is an opportunity to figure out exactly what Chen Xiyuan's strength is, since the other party is backed by the Chen Clan of the Five Clans, I must consider things more carefully before killing them."

A Master of Will is also human, and also faces the risk of death.

Chen Yan walked out of the room, and a Celestial Dipper Boxing Tournament attendant wearing a white mask had been waiting outside the door, though it was unclear when they had arrived.

"Mr. Bing Yi, you have finally come out; many experts have been waiting for you."

The attendant spoke with a fawning manner and let out a long sigh of relief.

Chen Yan inquired and only then learned that over a dozen forces and families of various sizes in Qinzhou had come to the Celestial Dipper Boxing Tournament to see him.

Because Bing Yi had been cultivating the whole time, they had all been waiting patiently.

"I have matters to attend to; tell them that Bing Yi has his own powerful master, and it is uncertain how long I can stay in Qinzhou, so I cannot bear their high regard."

After Chen Yan finished saying this, he turned and left.

"Mr. Bing Yi..."

The attendant was stunned, and upon seeing Bing Yi's back, he suddenly realized:

"As expected of a heaven's pride from a major force, perhaps even from the Five Clans; I was wondering how such a genius could appear in Qinzhou?"

After discussing with Old Chi for a while, Chen Yan left the Xiaoyang City Celestial Dipper Boxing Tournament.

Just like the Celestial Dipper Boxing Tournament in Yunmeng City, the routes to leave were accessible in all directions; Chen Yan walked out from a secret passage and only then realized he had appeared in the southern part of Xiaoyang City.

Slipping into the mountain forest, Chen Yan headed toward Shen Yiwei's location according to the geographical coordinates marked on his Martial Achievement Tablet.

…………

"What, Bing Yi won't see us?"

"Bing Yi is a descendant of a major force?"

"Sure enough, I said how could such a genius look favorably upon our local Qinzhou forces?"

Inside the Celestial Dipper Boxing Tournament, the representatives of the various major forces waiting for Bing Yi looked at each other, all secretly feeling it was a pity.

However, it was nothing.

They had come here not hoping to make a genius like Bing Yi submit to their own forces.

They had only come to express goodwill.

High above the sky.

Deacon Hu had a complex expression:

"A pity... a pity!"

Beside him, Chen Xiyuan appeared, her expression also somewhat unsightly:

"He didn't even give us a chance to win him over."

Deacon Hu shook his head and said:

"The news I received from the Martial Suppression Division is that the group of Luo Chen people from last night are all dead."

Chen Xiyuan's pupils trembled:

"Deacon Hu, are you saying..."

"It was likely the person behind this Bing Yi who took action; they dared to strike at my Chen Clan's collateral branch even while knowing I was in Qinzhou!"

Deacon Hu narrowed his eyes; although he did not like Chen Changyuan, Luo Chen was, after all, a collateral branch of the Chen Clan.

"This Bing Yi is likely a member of the Chi family, though there is also the possibility of him being a genius from the other clans; he has no connection to my Chen Clan."

As Deacon Hu spoke, he looked at Chen Xiyuan.

He knew that Chen Xiyuan's desire to recruit Bing Yi was extremely intense.

Sure enough, Chen Xiyuan's face was full of regret.

That is a genius who broke the limits of their realm, and they even cultivate Spear Intent.

In the dark, it all seems like a match made in heaven for her.

"Give up, your trip to Qinzhou was not in vain; that collateral branch member from Yunmeng City is also extremely outstanding—born in poverty, they entered the Dao only a short time ago but have progressed extremely quickly..." Deacon Hu comforted her.

Chen Xiyuan pursed her lips:

"Chen Yan is naturally a heaven-gifted genius, but recruiting him would also come at the cost of making an enemy of Chen Changyuan.

Besides, no matter how much of a genius Chen Yan is, how can he compare to Bing Yi?"

Deacon Hu shook his head; this woman, Chen Xiyuan, was the very definition of someone who is never satisfied.

"However, what is interesting is that both Bing Yi and Chen Yan began to reveal their natural talents in Yunmeng City," Deacon Hu said, lost in thought.

He had truly suspected the possibility that Chen Yan was Bing Yi.

Therefore, when Bing Yi was undergoing the fifth crossing of the Golden Body, he specifically used a secret technique to investigate Chen Yan, who was watching at the time.

The result was that no abnormalities were found.

He is a Sixth-Rank martial artist, and the secret technique he employed was incomparably profound, originating from the Chen family.

There is no one in all of Qinzhou who could shield themselves from his investigation.

Bing Yi and Chen Yan are simply two different people.

"Deacon Hu, are you saying there is something strange about Yunmeng City?" Chen Xiyuan asked; she naturally knew that Deacon Hu had investigated Chen Yan.

"There likely is; Yunmeng City was once the former residence of Xia Hanzhou, and after Shen Yiwei was deposed, he also happened to come to Yunmeng City..."

As Deacon Hu spoke, he looked at Chen Xiyuan:

"Since you have already recruited Chen Yan, find an opportunity to check if there is anything strange about this boy's body."

Chen Xiyuan nodded.

…………

Chen Yan followed the location marked on his Martial Achievement Token and arrived inside a mountain cave.

Inside the dim cave, another Chen Yan was sitting cross-legged on a boulder.

Chen Yan waved a hand, took off the General Star uniform from the puppet, put it on himself, and then stored the formation puppet into his space ring.

Removing his mask, Chen Yan breathed in the fresh air.

Changing back to his own identity felt really good.

On the outskirts of Xiaoyang City, inside a flying warship.

In the conference room, Shen Yiwei and Zong Heng were still talking.

In the lounge.

Shen Youning, Shao Hengyang, Xu Di, and other geniuses of the New Dragon Guard were sitting around chatting.

Zhan Hun, Li Qingyuan, and others would occasionally look at a girl sitting in the corner of the sofa, eating grapes and staring blankly.

"Hello, my name is Zhan Hun, may I ask who you are..."

Zhan Hun gathered his courage and walked up to the girl.

"Three..."

The girl named San Jin spoke.

Zhan Hun had a smile on his face, but after the girl only said this one word, his smile slowly stiffened.

"I won't disturb you then."

Zhan Hun hurriedly left and came to Li Qingyuan's side.

"What's wrong, Brother Zhan Hun?"

"You don't understand," Zhan Hun said, still feeling a lingering fear:

"She said 'three'."

Li Qingyuan's face twitched:

"And then?"

Zhan Hun's eyes revealed terror:

"Yesterday, that Zhu Lili said the words 'three, two, one' one by one, and then I was sent flying."

Li Qingyuan opened his mouth.

Zhu Lili, a Third-Rank General Star.

Fourth on the College Entrance Examination Heaven-Gifted Ranking, and also the strongest among the Qinzhou Military Martial Guard geniuses this time.

Not far away, the girl named San Jin pursed her lips, then lowered her head and continued eating her grapes.

She was powerful, so she naturally heard the conversation between Zhan Hun and Li Qingyuan.

"Hey, Brother Zhan Hun, not everyone is Zhu Lili; you must have misunderstood her," Li Qingyuan laughed, then walked toward San Jin and smiled gently:

"Hello, my name is Li Qingyuan, may I ask what your name is?"

San Jin looked slightly nervous and hurriedly spoke:

"Three..."

Li Qingyuan's expression stiffened, and he hurriedly reached out his hands helplessly:

"I'm sorry, I'm bothering you."

Cold sweat was breaking out on Li Qingyuan's back.

He realized it just then.

He was from Yunmeng City; he seemed like a genius, but in the context of all of Qinzhou, his strength was extremely low.

To those powerful geniuses, looking at him was undoubtedly like looking at an insect.

San Jin said nothing and lowered her head to continue eating her grapes.

To the side, Shao Hengyang saw this scene and frowned slightly:

"She is a genius brought by Department Head Zong and is our comrade-in-arms; do not casually misunderstand others."

Zhan Hun and Li Qingyuan were speechless.

Shao Hengyang gave a faint smile and came before San Jin:

"Hello, I am Shao Hengyang."

Yet, they saw that the girl was only lowering her head to eat grapes, not looking at Shao Hengyang at all.

Shao Hengyang was stunned for a moment and looked at Li Qingyuan and the others behind him.

Everyone was speechless.

Their expressions as they looked at San Jin all changed.

This was a genius with extremely strong power and a cold personality.

It was also at this moment.

The cabin door opened, and a youth wearing a Rank 6 General Star uniform walked in.

The youth had short hair, his pitch-black long coat rustled as he moved, his appearance was clean and handsome, and an extremely profound artistic conception radiated invisibly from his entire body.

"Chen Yan, you have come."

Everyone looked at Chen Yan, all revealing a hint of a smile.