Chapter 376: Having a Good Meal

Watching his younger sister walk away, the smile at the corners of Chen Yan's mouth faded.

He sensed his martial path meridians, and upon one of the tips, the figure of Shen Yiwu appeared.

Shen Yiwu was still in closed-door cultivation, his entire body overflowing with terrifying sword light, his brows filled with a murderous aura, as if he were a god of slaughter about to be born into the world.

Chen Yan sighed inwardly; he knew Shen Yiwu was in seclusion because of him.

The other party still believed Chen Yan was dead and wanted to break through his shackles to strike at the Aristocratic Family Alliance.

"Old Shen, if you can emerge from seclusion, I will at least prepare a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Treasure for you."

Chen Yan murmured to himself; he did not intend to influence Shen Yiwu.

The previous Shen Yiwu had almost given up due to his declining strength, so his renewed fighting spirit now was a good thing.

Chen Yan sat on the sofa, closing his eyes to rest his mind.

Within the room where he was, at a certain hidden location.

Two voices were conversing in private.

"This Chen Yan looks so honest."

"Indeed, he is rewarding those who once helped him with Morning Star-level spiritual treasures just like that."

"Being too honest isn't good either; giving away such precious spiritual treasures just like that."

"Later, we really should report this to the State Overseer."

These two were still discussing.

Yet Chen Yan's voice suddenly rang out:

"You two, you have been spying on me for a long time; it is time to come out."

As Chen Yan's voice fell, the two voices that had been conversing instantly choked off.

Immediately following, ripples appeared in the space within the living room.

Two figures, one old and one young, walked out.

An old woman, wearing a gray robe, holding a withered wooden staff.

The other was a little nun in white, about thirteen years old.

The little nun had fair skin and a pretty face; at this moment, her eyes were full of astonishment as she looked at Chen Yan:

"How did you discover us?"

Chen Yan did not answer; he had long since sensed two emotional presences within the room.

It was just that they had never shown him any malice, so Chen Yan had roughly guessed who they were.

Chen Yan stood up and smiled at the two:

"Are you two the Grand Ancestral Elder and the Lesser Fate Controller?"

The old woman smiled and nodded, a look of astonishment also appearing in her eyes:

"I am not 'lesser'; just call me Fate Controller. The State Overseer sent us to prepare the General-Bestowal Ceremony for you."

Chen Yan pursed his lips and looked at the little nun:

"Then, you are the Grand Ancestral Elder."

The little nun said with slight resentment: "Just call me Ancestral Elder; I am only thirteen."

Chen Yan nodded; he felt that the aura of this thirteen-year-old Ancestral Elder was unfathomably deep.

How did she cultivate this?

Or was it that she possessed a powerful inheritance?

Chen Yan nodded:

"I will leave the General-Bestowal Ceremony to you two."

"You don't need to worry about the General-Bestowal Ceremony. The State Overseer also entrusted us with the fact that you possess the Ten Thousand Prison Nether Thunder, which requires you to exterminate human life within a short period of time," the Ancestral Elder said, looking at Chen Yan and asking:

"Do you have any targets to exterminate?"

Chen Yan nodded.

It was also at this moment that a strange fluctuation emerged from Chen Yan's palm.

Chen Yan condensed a communication array disk and narrowed his eyes.

Currently, the only people who could contact him via this communication array disk were Jiang Yuan and Chen Xiyuan.

Chen Yan connected.

Chen Xiyuan's voice came from within the communication array disk.

"Chen Yan, it's me, Chen Xiyuan."

Chen Yan's gaze was indifferent, and murderous intent had already surfaced in his heart.

He hadn't even looked for her yet, and she had actually come to find him.

This was just as well; Chen Yan did not intend to drag it out any longer. Before he left the college entrance examination secret realm, he had already been contemplating how to exterminate Chen Xiyuan.

Although he was thinking this, Chen Yan revealed a smile:

"Xiyuan, I have been waiting for you to find me."

On the other side of the communication array disk, Chen Xiyuan was clearly stunned; her expression, which had been somewhat anxious, softened at this moment.

The thing she feared most had not happened.

Chen Yan's adoration for her remained the same as always.

A faint smile appeared at the corners of Chen Xiyuan's mouth, but Chen Yan spoke again:

"Xiyuan, I have already found the Youlan, but there are too many experts in Xiaoyang City now, and I cannot meet you within the city."

Chen Xiyuan's eyes flashed:

"Really?!"

She had already given up hope for the Youlan, but she never expected Chen Yan to give her such a huge surprise.

Inside the room, the Grand Ancestral Elder and the Lesser Fate Controller looked at each other in dismay.

At this moment, both were somewhat speechless.

Chen Yan was not even avoiding them when communicating with the Chen Clan.

This was a First-Rank General Star who was about to be appointed as a general.

Moreover, he was even going to give the Youlan to someone else.

"Is this honesty, or has he already defected to the Chen Clan?" the old Fate Controller transmitted her voice, feeling somewhat uncertain.

The thirteen-year-old Ancestral Elder also twitched her face:

"I don't know, I feel like I need to report this matter to the State Master."

Soon, Chen Xiyuan's voice sounded once again:

"We can meet. You are a genius destined to return to the Chen Clan, so what would happen if you met with me?"

Chen Yan's expression was calm, but murderous intent had already surfaced in his heart.

Afterwards, Chen Xiyuan and Chen Yan agreed on a meeting time, and the communication hung up.

Just as Chen Yan hung up, the Ancestral Elder spoke:

"Chen Yan, what exactly are you trying to do?"

But just as she spoke, Chen Yan smiled:

"I want to kill her, but it's not convenient to make a move within Xiaoyang City."

Chen Yan sat on the sofa and began to ponder.

He did not want to hide his intentions; the two people before him had no malice toward him and possessed great strength, so they could help him.

He did not want to let Chen Xiyuan continue to live.

Before, he had been playing along, but now he already possessed a sufficiently powerful trump card.

As for the Chen Clan, he also had no desire to return.

Straddling two boats is the behavior of a petty person.

Chen Yan was still pondering.

The Ancestral Elder and the Fate Controller were both stunned.

The young nun who served as the Ancestral Elder raised her eyebrows, feeling that she had been blind before.

Looking at Chen Yan's current appearance, he was actually seriously thinking about how to take action against Chen Xiyuan.

She slapped her forehead with her palm.

She had previously thought the other party was honest.

Who would have known that this person was smiling while communicating, yet in his heart, he was calculating how to kill.

…………

As for the other side.

Chen Xiyuan hung up the communication array disk with satisfaction, a faint smile appearing at the corners of her mouth:

"Chen Yan..."

She crossed her legs, never having expected that she had still underestimated Chen Yan's love for her.

In this way, everything would be easy to handle.

It was also at this moment.

A sword shadow appeared in the room, then immediately entered the cultivation chamber; Chen Xiyuan's eyes flashed, and she entered the cultivation chamber.

Inside the cultivation chamber, the sword shadow transformed into the figure of Chen Changyuan.

Chen Changyuan glanced at Chen Xiyuan indifferently and said:

"It seems Chen Yan has truly developed a fondness for you."

Chen Xiyuan sighed lightly:

"I harbor no malice toward Chen Yan."

She was also somewhat hesitant; Chen Yan's strength had grown significantly, and he had even awakened the Immortal Body.

But she had seen with her own eyes Chen Yan sensing that Seventh-Rank Fist Intent Stone; he must have condensed a Crystal of Malice within his body.

Now, Chen Yan dying was the best choice for her.

But she would not make a move.

The person to make the move would only be Luo Chen.

Chen Changyuan smiled faintly:

"You first mediate and let me, Luo Chen, reconcile with Chen Yan.

A few days later, when he goes out, I will come to exterminate him."

Chen Xiyuan frowned:

"You aren't making a move these two days?"

"I am not making a move; I am leaving Xiaoyang," Chen Changyuan said:

"I do not understand the matter of the Thunder Strike Treasure Land, and I do not wish to be in an environment I cannot control."

He was telling the truth, and he had his own matters that needed to be done.

Chen Xiyuan nodded and sighed lightly:

"I will only go this far; I think you also understand that you and Chen Yan are mortal enemies."

Chen Changyuan said nothing and left directly.

Chen Xiyuan did not want to gamble.

She always felt that only if Chen Yan died completely would it be the best outcome for her.

The sense of oppression Chen Qi brought her was too intense; once he truly discovered Chen Yan's abnormality, he would definitely make a move against her.

Her expression was unsightly.

Everything was ruined by her own hand.

Had she known Chen Yan was so enamored with her, she should never have harmed Chen Yan from the very beginning.

Otherwise, it would definitely have been a win-win.

But unfortunately, now, Chen Yan must die.

…………

"Nowadays, Xiaoyang City is full of experts; I worry there are many who want to make a move against me." Chen Yan spoke, looking at Zongbo and Siming.

The thirteen-year-old Zongbo was speechless; was Chen Yan counting them in as well?

"Rest assured, I am very strong." Zongbo spoke:

"Chen Qi has already left, so I am the strongest person within Xiaoyang... one of them."

Chen Yan nodded.

But immediately after, Zongbo continued:

"But Siming and I cannot leave Xiaoyang; once we leave, the Thunder-Striking Treasure Land will become unstable."

Chen Yan frowned.

And it was at this moment.

Outside, a clamor of noise suddenly arose.

Chen Yan perceived toward the window; a long-haired Second-Rank General Star had arrived in Xiaoyang, his whole body glowing with cyan rosy light, his aura domineering.

The moment this Second-Rank General Star arrived, he drew the attention of all of Xiaoyang:

"My name is Xi Congyun; I have come to Xiaoyang by order of the General Star Command to guard the Thunder-Striking Treasure Land."

The long-haired youth had a handsome face and an elegant way of speaking, instantly drawing exclamations from many of the younger generation.

"Xi Congyun, he's no simple character; he is the only one among the few Second-Rank General Stars who appeared who comes from a humble background!"

"I heard he once suppressed ten Sixth-Rank experts with his Fifth-Rank strength; he is too powerful, even Yin Youming among the Second-Rank General Stars has been defeated by his hand."

…………

Waves of discussion resounded.

High in the sky, Xi Congyun wore a smile and said:

"How many years have passed, and my Humble Faction still struggles to produce heaven-gifted talents; it is not that our aptitude is poor, but that our resources are scarce.

The Aristocratic Family Alliance did indeed revive the market, but they also monopolized our resources!"

His voice was resonant, carrying a cold sigh:

"I hope that more heaven-gifted talents can emerge among the children of the humble."

He sat down cross-legged, his whole body radiating divine brilliance, with various visions diffusing around his body.

"I, Xi Congyun, shall lecture on the Dao in Xiaoyang today to open a new path for my humble brethren!"

As his voice fell, cheers resounded across the land.

Immediately, Xi Congyun began his lecture; Dao-essence flowed around him, his life-force and physical strength intertwined, shedding five-colored rosy light, appearing incomparably miraculous.

All around, many young martial artists appeared.

Some sat cross-legged on the ground, others sat on tree branches, sensing with focus.

Inside the room, Chen Yan watched this scene.

Behind him, the old woman Siming chuckled:

"This Xi Congyun is no simple character; he has already guessed that the Thunder-Striking Treasure Land concerns the First-Rank General Star, so he wants to canvass for votes in advance and gain the favor of the Humble Faction."

"He is seizing your base," the thirteen-year-old Zongbo's mind was quite sharp:

"I arrived early and know that your influence within the Humble Faction is great."

Chen Yan nodded and smiled faintly:

"Lecturing on the Dao is a good thing."

He did not intend to pay it any mind; no matter how much effort the other party exerted, it was a waste, because the First-Rank General Star had already been decided internally.

Who would have thought that the future First-Rank General Star would be a collateral branch member of the Chen Clan?

Chen Yan watched from afar.

Outside, someone suddenly shouted:

"The Humble Faction has more than just Xi Congyun; there is also Chen Yan. In my opinion, Chen Yan is even more astonishing!" The one who spoke was a local examinee.

His cultivation was at the Fourth Rank; what Xi Congyun was lecturing on was First and Second Rank content, so it was useless for him to listen.

This person was clearly targeting the largest group of people.

He was sharp-minded and had already sensed the clues.

In an instant, this person sparked a topic, and many responded:

"That's right, Chen Yan has only been on the path of the Dao for too short a time, otherwise he would have been a Second-Rank General Star long ago."

"Chen Yan's merits deserve a Second-Rank General Star!"

"He saved tens of thousands of examinees; his merit is boundless!"

Xi Congyun, who was still lecturing, narrowed his eyes slightly, but quickly returned to normal and smiled:

"The Humble Faction needs more heaven-gifted talents like Chen Yan to emerge; if war breaks out in the future, we talents can then serve the country!"

He spoke extremely cryptically, but by mentioning war, he also touched upon the Five Clans.

Although he did not explicitly state that Chen Yan was a collateral branch member of the Chen Clan, the meaning was already conveyed.

As his voice fell, the sound of discussion rang out everywhere.

Xi Congyun continued his lecture, not finishing until evening.

Yet the discussions regarding Chen Yan never ceased.

Xi Congyun stood up, his expression remaining calm, but there was a faint sigh in the depths of his eyes.

He had long since heard of Chen Yan's name, but he had not expected Chen Yan's reputation to be so high.

Now, many people had already begun to frantically praise Chen Yan, demanding a Second-Rank General Star through public signatures.

An old woman on the street was streaming with tears and snot:

"That child Chen Yan is good; my two kids nearly died in the College Entrance Examination Secret Realm, and after they returned, they both said it was Chen Yan who saved them!"

The old woman wept, kneeling toward the direction of the Military Martial Guard.

Such incidents appeared in other places as well.

Xi Congyun felt it was troublesome and narrowed his eyes.

Can the dragon crossing the river not suppress the local serpent?

He could not let this continue, otherwise, the reputation he had gained from lecturing today would all turn into Chen Yan's.

Xi Congyun transmitted his voice toward the distance and spoke with a faint smile:

"Fellow Daoists, my lecture for today has ended, but this alone is not enough, so I have invited another Second-Rank General Star to lecture for everyone."

As his voice rang out, a wave of cheers erupted across the land.

Soon, a heroic and spirited female General Star stepped through the air and spoke to those around her:

"My name is Mu Zigui; at the invitation of Xi Congyun, I am here to lecture for everyone."

Soon, Mu Zigui's mouth blossomed with golden lotuses, and immortal light descended from her body, incomparably brilliant, as she began to lecture.

The land quieted down, and the martial artists began to listen carefully.

Many people felt grateful toward Xi Congyun; anyone could see that it was because of Xi Congyun that Mu Zigui had come here to lecture.

Mu Zigui lectured until midnight.

Outside Xiaoyang City, Jidao Wu, Li Muyun, and several other Second-Rank General Stars appeared.

"This Xi Congyun has some damn methods," Jidao Wu coldly snorted:

"This forces us to go lecture too; if we lecture, others will only be grateful to Xi Congyun, and if we don't lecture, it makes us look stingy."

Li Muyun shrugged, took a step forward, and also went to lecture:

"Methods or whatever, none of that matters; to be selected as a First-Rank General Star, one still has to rely on strength."

He sneered:

"In my heart, I only care about that hidden head of the Second-Rank General Stars."

Immediately, he also went to lecture in Xiaoyang.

Tonight, above the high sky of Xiaoyang, flames of light permeated, and secret scripts scattered between heaven and earth like broken gold.

Seeing that Li Muyun had also gone to lecture, Jidao Wu and Yin Youming knew they had to act as well.

However, there was fighting spirit in both of their eyes.

"It's not just him; I also only care about that hidden head of the Second-Rankers, I don't care about the others!" Jidao Wu smiled faintly.

Yin Youming also laughed out loud.

In the hearts of all the Second-Rankers, the greatest threat was not each other.

…………

"What a damn pity."

Inside a villa, the head of the Second-Rankers, Jiang Yuan, lay on a lounge chair on the balcony, watching Li Muyun lecturing in the sky from afar.

He had already given up.

He had known who the internally appointed First-Rank General Star was before the College Entrance Examination.

He had originally been somewhat dissatisfied, but after spending time with Chen Yan.

He was tired.

Even he, the head of the Second-Rankers, had given up.

Seeing these other Second-Rankers still working hard at this moment, Jiang Yuan just wanted to laugh.

It was right at this time.

Jiang Yuan frowned, raised his arm, and a communication array disk condensed into view.

"Are you short on resources lately?" Chen Yan's voice rang out from within the array disk.

Jiang Yuan was stunned:

"Are you trying to kill me?

I'm telling you, I never harmed you in the College Entrance Examination Secret Realm."

Chen Yan continued:

"I intend to strike at the underground organization of the Aristocratic Family Alliance; if you join forces with me, we will share the massive resources."

As Chen Yan's voice fell, Jiang Yuan was dumbfounded:

"Buddy, do you want me dead?"

"I'm not trying to harm you; the Great Xia will strike at the Aristocratic Family Alliance sooner or later. When that time comes, will the resources of the Aristocratic Family Alliance be left for you and me?"

Jiang Yuan pursed his lips:

"There is Chen Changyuan."

"I don't believe you wouldn't know.

Chen Changyuan has already left Xiaoyang City today," Chen Yan said.

"How did you know?"

"Zongbo told me."

Jiang Yuan jumped up:

"So that Lightning Strike Treasure Land really was prepared for you!"

Before Chen Yan could open his mouth, Jiang Yuan said slowly:

"Don't make a move yet.

Wait until tomorrow morning, and I will go find Luo Dongli to inquire about Chen Changyuan's specific location.

If he is far away, we will make our move and have a good meal together."

On the other side of the communication array disk, Chen Yan smiled faintly.

This was the true purpose of his invitation to Jiang Yuan.

This head of the Second Rank, hidden within the Aristocratic Family Alliance, was the most reliable source of intelligence!

Soon, the two finished their discussion.

Jiang Yuan glanced at Li Muyun, who was still expounding on the Dao.

How pitiful.