Chapter 387: The Killer, Chen Yan

Indeed, as Lu Xuanzhi said, only by completely devouring Chen Yan could he achieve the greatest improvement.

"Heh heh." Lu Xuanzhi sneered:

"Then should I go and challenge him to a duel now?"

"No, I worry that even if he has returned to Xiaoyang, he wouldn't dare to show his face." Lu Ming'an spoke up:

"I have already sent someone to disguise themselves as Chen Yan; when you issue the challenge, the fake Chen Yan will accept it."

Lu Ming'an smiled:

"Even if experts can tell, the public cannot; they will only think that Chen Yan has accepted the challenge.

When the time comes, if Chen Yan does not appear, he will lose all face."

Lu Xuanzhi's eyes flickered, and he licked his lips.

…………

Xiaoyang City, a hotel building near the downtown area.

Inside a room on the top floor.

Chen Yan, wearing a mask and hood, entered quietly.

Inside the living room, a figure suddenly stood up.

"Where is his hand!"

An Qing roared; it was clear he hadn't slept at all these past few days, and his eyes had turned red.

Chen Yan waved his hand:

"Sit down first."

"I'm asking you, where is his severed hand?!" An Qing roared.

Boom.

Chen Yan stomped one foot onto the floor, rolling power surging and vibrating instantly, forcing An Qing to sit on the sofa.

"You!" An Qing's pupils constricted; the person who had come was an expert.

Bloodshot light appeared in his eyes, and his breathing was extremely heavy, like an angry lion waiting to feed.

"What about the Bright Moon-grade Breathing Technique?"

Chen Yan asked.

An Qing glared at Chen Yan, gritting his teeth, and a jade tablet appeared in his hand, covered in inscriptions.

Chen Yan frowned slightly:

"Forging Derivation of the Firmament's Edge, is this the breathing technique created by Lu Xunyang?"

He only glanced at it before sensing a familiar aura from this breathing technique.

Surprisingly, it was still a breathing technique of the 【Heaven-Patrolling】 path.

"Nonsense, the most precious breathing techniques in Qinzhou were all created by Lu Xunyang!" An Qing roared with red eyes:

"My father once followed Lu Xunyang until he died in battle, and only then was the An family rewarded with the first half of Forging Derivation of the Firmament's Edge; I spent my whole life piecing this breathing technique together."

Great sorrow appeared in his eyes:

"Ordinary people cannot practice this breathing technique at all; only my son could."

As he spoke, tears streamed from his eyes, and he then instantly retracted 【Forging Derivation of the Firmament's Edge】 into his own space ring.

"Your son couldn't." Chen Yan said indifferently.

"He could, he was a Limit-Breaking Prodigy!" An Qing shrieked.

"A Limit-Breaking Prodigy, that wasn't him." Chen Yan said.

An Qing's eyes became even more terrifying.

Chen Yan, however, continued speaking nonchalantly:

"I've always wanted to ask a question; you are, after all, a city-level Martial Suppression Division Chief, guarding a region.

Before your son died, he was willing to follow Yu Changsheng to slaughter examinees; he deserved to die, can't you see that?"

"You bastard!"

An Qing roared, his anger erupting completely because of this sentence from Chen Yan.

His body trembled slightly, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white and making a 'clack' sound.

"You're lying, you're lying!"

Chen Yan shook his head:

"I am not lying; this is a fact witnessed by tens of thousands of examinees."

Chen Yan stood up and stood before the floor-to-ceiling window of the room.

Through the brand-new glass, he could see the vast Xiaoyang City outside.

His eyesight was excellent; with one glance, he scanned the buildings and streets, the people coming and going.

There were citizens shouting in front of the Martial Suppression Division building.

There were commoners calling out his name.

There was a girl covered in blood, carrying a fuel tank, appearing in the central square.

Chen Yan frowned slightly and looked intently.

The girl who appeared in the square was the very same girl he had seen on the display screen at Jiang Yuan's house.

Her mother had been raped and murdered by Lu Xuanzhi, and she had gone to the Martial Suppression Department to file a complaint; clearly, someone had already taken her to process the case.

Why would this Ye Ziqing appear here?

That look of despair was extremely familiar to Chen Yan.

Behind Chen Yan, An Qing had already fallen into a state of madness.

"Hahaha!!!"

He laughed recklessly and aloud.

"My son was only trying to save himself, what did he do wrong?" An Qing's eyes surged with murderous intent:

"Chen Yan didn't need to kill my son at all, but he killed him anyway.

Chen Yan deserves to die, he deserves to die!"

Chen Yan turned his head to look at An Qing, who was already streaming with tears and snot, looking almost inhuman:

"As a Director of a region, can you not even distinguish right from wrong? Your son violated military discipline and deserved to die."

An Qing glared at Chen Yan, the surrounding air seemingly freezing due to his rage:

"My son can kill whoever he wants; he is a Realm-Breaker.

Those examinees are all bugs; if bugs die, they die. My son cannot die!"

Chen Yan's expression was calm, and he let out a long sigh:

"Before I came, I still held hope for you; I thought the reason you killed Chen Yan was simply out of vengeance for your son."

Chen Yan's eyes revealed disgust:

"Yet as a City Director, you actually view others as bugs, extinguishing the fate of the living."

He found it hard to imagine just how many people had fallen into despair because of An Qing within that Desolate City.

Just like that girl sitting in the plaza, staring blankly while guarding a gasoline drum.

In this vast human world, has human life ever been valued?

Heaven and Earth have no heart; the living have no fate.

Chen Yan felt a chill in his heart; is that so-called First-Rank General Star really that important?

On the third level of the Dream Abyss, Lu Xunyang had said clearly to the Great Xia Lord.

He is not a general of Great Xia, but a general of the human race.

Behind him, An Qing was already angry to the extreme.

"I told you to kill Chen Yan, not to lecture me."

If it weren't for the fact that the person before him was a powerhouse, he would have already suppressed and killed him with one hand.

Yet at this very moment.

Boom!

Between heaven and earth, a roar sounded like a thunderclap rising from flat ground.

Above the earth, golden lightning condensed and instantly exploded into the high heavens.

It was as if a great sun had risen from the earth; the sky-piercing radiance made all living beings on the ground feel incomparably blinding.

People watched in shock, using their arms to shield their sight.

The entire Xiaoyang fell silent, and everyone turned their attention toward that figure wreathed in golden lightning.

Lu Xuanzhi stepped through the void, his entire body wrapped in golden lightning, baleful aura and lightning light intertwined, appearing terrifying; he spoke to the four directions with a sinister gaze:

"Today is my fourth time challenging the Great Xia Top Scholar Chen Yan to a duel. If this Chen Yan truly doesn't dare to come out, then so be it!"

He laughed aloud:

"A cowardly rat has become the Great Xia Top Scholar; Great Xia is truly pathetic!"

As his voice fell, it instantly provoked sounds of dissatisfied angry shouts from the earth below.

"Lu Xuanzhi is too rampant!"

"Once Chen Yan makes a move, he can completely suppress him!!!"

Outside Xiaoyang City.

The thousands of General Stars still guarding the Lightning-Strike Treasure Land all soared into the air at once, also looking over with angry eyes.

"Damn it, Chen Yan is a General Star after all; Lu Xuanzhi is insulting us General Stars!" someone roared in a low voice.

The seven Second-Rank General Stars also looked over in unison.

"Is this Chen Yan going to keep avoiding the fight and not come out?" Jidao Wu frowned and said.

"Avoiding the fight is the wise choice. This Lu Xuanzhi is definitely not normal; if Chen Yan fights, he will lose even more miserably," Yin Youming said.

Above another Lightning-Strike Treasure Land in Xiaoyang.

Xi Congyun and Mu Zigui stood quietly together.

"As long as Chen Yan loses, his status in the hearts of the impoverished faction will diminish," Mu Zigui said softly:

"At that time, you can step in to suppress Lu Xuanzhi."

Xi Congyun nodded:

"I am worried that Chen Yan will still avoid the fight."

"Hmph, if he doesn't come out, he will disappoint Xiaoyang!" Mu Zigui smiled faintly:

"The first time I saw this person today, I knew his ambition was extremely great; perhaps he wants to rely on his status as a Third-Rank General Star to contend for the First-Rank General Star.

But he doesn't even stop to think if his strength is enough."

Xi Congyun nodded.

As long as Chen Yan's reputation fell, the first stumbling block in his path would be gone.

Yet at this very moment.

"Lu Xuanzhi!"

An indifferent voice suddenly resounded from within Xiaoyang City.

In an instant, it reached the sky above.

Like another great sun, brilliant to the extreme.

A handsome youth wearing a general's star uniform stood in the high sky, locking eyes with Lu Xuanzhi:

"I, Chen Yan, accept the challenge!"

This voice resounded in an instant.

Cheers erupted across the earth in an instant.

"Chen Yan!"

Zong Heng and other powerhouses of the Military Guard also appeared, looking in astonishment at this 'Chen Yan' who had suddenly popped up.

Zong Heng was stunned; he had not expected that after Chen Yan had not appeared for so long, he would immediately agree to the duel upon showing up.

This... is unwise.

Lu Xuanzhi is already at the Fifth Rank.

Chen Yan is only at the Fourth Rank.

But Zong Heng sighed inwardly; Chen Yan was also forced into a corner.

Otherwise, to be constantly talked about as the Great Xia Top Scholar who dared not accept a challenge was too stifling.

Zhang Ting also appeared.

He looked at that 'Chen Yan' from afar, his brows furrowed.

His strength was extremely high, and he could detect a trace of a flaw.

This 'Chen Yan' is fake.

"Childish." Zhang Ting said indifferently, turning to return to his office.

Outside, that fake 'Chen Yan' had already begun to set a time with Lu Xuanzhi.

"When will we fight?" Lu Xuanzhi sneered.

"The day after tomorrow!" 'Chen Yan' spoke.

"If you want to stall for time, why not fight now?" Lu Xuanzhi smiled disdainfully; although he knew this was a fake 'Chen Yan', it did not stop him from using this to mock the Great Xia Top Scholar who had never shown his face.

On the plaza.

In despair, Ye Zhiqing poured a bucket of gasoline over herself.

At this moment, she glared at Lu Xuanzhi high in the sky.

"Beast, beast!!!"

She screamed at the top of her lungs, coughing up blood from her throat.

She had prepared to immolate herself before the world, shouting that beast's name before she died.

But this beast had appeared just like that.

Appearing grandiosely, in the spotlight, and incomparably powerful.

No one would pay attention to her.

Even the citizens around the plaza who had originally been trying to persuade her had their gazes instantly drawn away.

Everyone was focused on the two great prodigies about to fight.

She was clearly a human, yet why was she not treated as one?

"Mom...!" The young girl wailed, taking out a lighter.

Click.

She was terrified, but she pressed it.

It didn't light.

Click.

It didn't light.

Ye Zhiqing took a deep breath.

Click!

There was no flame.

Tears flowed from her eyes.

Cli...

A large hand pressed down on the lighter; Jiang Yuan, who had disguised himself, looked at the girl and said:

"Someone told me to come save you; he didn't want to watch you die.

But I think Heaven doesn't want you to die either.

He has already given you three chances."

The girl named Ye Zhiqing was stunned; she was dazed and helpless as she looked at Jiang Yuan:

"Who?"

She didn't care who it was; she wanted to die.

But the curiosity in her heart still made her ask this question.

"Someone I dislike." Jiang Yuan smiled gently:

"Chen Yan."

Boom!

A terrifying explosive sound suddenly rang out from afar.

The top floor of a hotel building instantly burst into flames, and a golden light shot into the clouds.

Xiaoyang was shocked!

Two figures rushed out of the high-rise.

"Ahhhhh!!!!" An Qing roared in anger, as streaks of gilded secret scripts flowed over his body, gradually dissipating.

"Who are you, you want to kill me!!!" An Qing shrieked in terror, looking at the masked person who had also rushed out from the room.

This scene happened suddenly.

The crowd's gaze was instantly drawn over.

No one paid any attention to the play Lu Xuanzhi was performing with the fake Chen Yan anymore.

"Audacious!"

Low roars resounded, and one after another, experts from the Martial Suppression Division appeared, some glaring at Chen Yan:

"Audacious thief, daring to kill a city-level Martial Suppression Division Chief!"

Zhang Ting also appeared, looking coldly at Chen Yan:

"Who are you!?"

Above the earth, countless gazes looked over.

Some felt dizzy; how could all these things happen at once?

What kind of world is this, how could someone dare to even kill a Chief?

Chen Yan stood in the void, his eyes beneath the mask extremely cold.

He had not expected that An Qing would have a life-saving array pattern on him.

Just a moment ago, the strike he slashed toward An Qing was blocked by the life-saving array pattern, and it erupted with great momentum.

No wonder the other party wanted so much to watch Chen Yan die with their own eyes.

But the meeting place ultimately chosen was still in Xiaoyang.

At this moment, under the gaze of the masses, Chen Yan was someone who had assassinated a Chief.

Chen Yan took a step out and arrived beside An Qing in an instant.

Boom, boom, boom!!!

All around, streaks of blood-Qi radiance erupted.

One after another, Martial Suppression Division experts shouted in anger.

"Who are you!?"

"You dare!"

"Audacious and reckless, the city-level Chief is an official appointed by the Great Xia; do you want to be an enemy of Great Xia?!!"

Sounds of fury resounded through the firmament, and waves of terrifying power surged toward Chen Yan.

In an instant, the entire Xiaoyang City seemed to tremble as if the earth's veins were shaking, roaring continuously.

"Escape." A telepathic message rang out in Chen Yan's mind.

It was Jiang Yuan's voice.

"I will prepare a teleportation array pattern for you."

Jiang Yuan was helpless; he also hadn't expected it to turn out like this. Killing An Qing in private would have been fine.

But killing An Qing in the open was a major matter.

"You dare to kill me, you dare to kill me?!"

An Qing laughed out loud, shrieking shrilly:

"Come and kill me then, I am an official appointed by the Great Xia!

Today, no one can protect you!"

He was shrieking, roaring, and sneering.

He could not die!

Great Xia was protecting him.

An Qing looked at Chen Yan and roared:

"Who are you?!!!"

He looked on ferociously as golden light erupted from within the mask on the slender figure's face.

Waves of force tore the mask apart, and a face cold to the extreme appeared before the world.

The moment they saw this face clearly, An Qing's breathing faltered.

Between heaven and earth, there was instant silence.

Everyone was stunned.

The fake Chen Yan, who was still in the middle of the duel, opened his mouth wide in an instant, speechless.

Lu Xuanzhi frowned.

Under An Qing's gaze, which was a mix of shock and anger.

Boom!

Chen Yan threw a punch.

"No!" Zhang Ting spoke instantly.

But it was already too late.

The moment the fist made contact with the head, terrifying force pierced through An Qing's skull.

Under the shock of the rolling force, his head shattered.

Pfft!

Clusters of blood mist exploded violently, and a headless corpse fell into the sight of the world.

"The one who killed the Great Xia Chief."

The young man, his whole body blooming with golden light, stood in the high heavens, his gaze sharp to the extreme, looking coldly at his surroundings.

"Chen Yan!"