Chapter 438: Brother Chen, That

The Tianhong Great Realm, the Chaotic Stone Forest.

Zhang Hao leapt like a spiritual monkey, darting nimbly through the Chaotic Stone Forest.

That group of freelance cultivators had summoned a divine demon of the Chen ancestral clan; Zhang Hao had no choice but to continue fleeing through the Chaotic Stone Forest, relying on his miraculous Fei Chen Pearl and the land's natural array and rugged terrain to evade the divine demon's pursuit.

Several times Zhang Hao narrowly escaped death, almost caught by the Chen ancestral clan's divine demon.

Fortunately, at critical moments the Fei Chen Pearl erupted to protect its master, blocking the divine demon's attacks, enraging the Chen ancestral clan's divine demon to the point of fury—and making him even greedier.

Zhang Hao possessed such an ultimate treasure; if he himself obtained it, his combat power would surely surge.

In fact, after Zhang Hao killed Chen Xuan, the Chen ancestral clan had already suspected he held an ultimate treasure or a heaven-defying technique, otherwise he could not have slain Chen Xuan.

No one understood better than the Chen ancestral clan what kind of life-saving trump cards Chen Xuan carried.

Chen Xuan was the Chen ancestral clan's future clan master heir; his life-saving trump cards naturally would not be weak—this was known to all major immortal and demonic factions, yet they still underestimated Chen Xuan's life-saving trump cards.

This was why no major immortal or demonic faction had probed Zhang Hao.

In their view, Zhang Hao had slain Chen Xuan because his life-saving trump card was stronger than Chen Xuan's; but since Zhang Hao was the sole direct disciple of Bai Yuanxianjun, it was normal for him to possess even stronger trump cards.

After all, Bai Yuanxianjun had only one disciple, so all the best treasures naturally rested with Zhang Hao; Chen Xuan was different—he was indeed the future clan master heir, but a great clan's heir was not necessarily unique, and there must be backups.

It was natural to grant a clan heir life-saving trump cards, but a great clan had countless talented youths; it could not give all its life-saving trump cards to one person, lest Chen Xuan's trump cards be stolen, leaving the clan in dire loss.

Thus, generally speaking, the life-saving trump cards given to Chen Xuan were kept within acceptable limits—no one could let a young prodigy roam around with an ultimate treasure; if any immortal or demonic force learned of it, theft would be inevitable.

Therefore, Chen Xuan's life-saving trump cards were meant to counter divine demon-level threats; as for why he wasn't given immortal-demonic-level trump cards, it was because such trump cards were exceedingly precious.

Second, the Chen ancestral clan was an ancient great clan; as long as Chen Xuan didn't recklessly provoke trouble, it was nearly impossible for any immortal or demonic force to dare assassinate a Chen ancestral clan heir and incur the wrath of the entire clan.

Thus, all major immortal and demonic factions misjudged Chen Xuan's life-saving trump cards, and consequently underestimated Zhang Hao's trump card level.

Only the Chen ancestral clan's high elders knew that Chen Xuan was not merely the current clan master's son and future heir—he was in truth the secret illegitimate son of the Chen ancestral clan's Laozu.

To avoid the scandal of a Laozu fathering an illegitimate child, they concealed his true identity as the current clan master's son.

When Chen Xuan died, the Chen ancestral clan erupted in Lei Ting rage—it was the Laozu himself who was furious, his most beloved youngest son dead; how could he not be enraged?

Because Chen Xuan was an illegitimate son, the Chen ancestral clan's Laozu granted him life-saving trump cards reaching the immortal-demonic level, no less potent than those of the clan master himself.

The Chen ancestral clan's high elders knew this, deduced the terrifying nature of Zhang Hao's trump card, and stirred with greed, wanting to claim it for themselves.

Such a trump card—even the Chen ancestral clan coveted it—could become a great immortal or demonic faction's ancestral treasure.

Now.

Upon seeing the Fei Chen Pearl, the Chen ancestral clan's divine demon no longer concealed his greed; he even wished to seize it for himself without reporting to the clan.

Zhang Hao knew this Chen ancestral clan divine demon was greedy—that was precisely why he revealed the Fei Chen Pearl to save his life; in the Chaotic Stone Forest, only he and the enemy remained, so he had no fear of the Fei Chen Pearl's secret spreading, because the enemy would never report it.

Of course, Zhang Hao had no other choice.

He was merely a Life Cultivation Stage Five cultivator; under divine demon pursuit, he could not survive without revealing the Fei Chen Pearl.

"Zhang Hao, stop running. Your master, Bai Yuanxianjun, has already been severely wounded by my clan's Ancestor and other great powers—his life or death is now uncertain. Don't count on Bai Yuanxianjun saving you. Hand over your treasure, and I may spare your life."

The Chen ancestral clan's divine demon spoke, a flash of cold light appearing.

His expression clearly showed no intention of mercy—it was the look of a murderer ready to plunder.

"If my master suffers even a hair's breadth of harm, I'll make the entire Chen ancestral clan pay with their lives!"

Zhang Hao fled, his face no longer showing panic; instead, it grew colder, his entire demeanor unnervingly calm, radiating a chilling aura.

"Pay with your lives? Do you think you can escape? Let me tell you plainly—the clan didn't send just me; they sent three other divine demons, one of whom is on the verge of entering the immortal-demonic realm. Do you really think you can escape?"

As soon as he spoke,

Zhang Hao's expression darkened.

Sure enough, the system wasn't fully reliable—some of it was lies. It promised enemies would all be turncoats, endlessly delivering experience points to boost my strength.

Fuck, four divine demons—and I'm only Life Cultivation Stage Five.

Reality is cruel, and this is exactly what it means: the stronger the faction, the less likely they are to be foolish. Knowing Zhang Hao possessed an ultimate treasure, knowing his capabilities, knowing his master was Bai Yuanxianjun—how could they possibly prepare nothing?

Their only goal was to ensure absolute certainty: kill Zhang Hao and seize the treasure.

"The other three divine demons' tortures are far crueler than mine. If you fall into their hands, you'll wish you were dead. But I have mercy—if you hand over your treasure, I'll spare your life.

Let me tell you plainly: the Chen ancestral clan is furious over Chen Xuan's death, and the Laozu is furious. The only one who can save you now is me. Hand over your treasure, and I'll find someone to kill in your place.

Otherwise, you'll live only in endless pursuit until death."

The Chen ancestral clan's divine demon was cautious, never forgetting to provoke with words during the chase.

There was no choice: Zhang Hao's treasure gave him an instinctive sense of threat—he didn't want to be caught off guard.

Unfortunately, Zhang Hao ignored him, fleeing in silence.

After continuous pursuit, the Chen ancestral clan's divine demon's patience wore thin; if he couldn't catch Zhang Hao, his own clanmates would arrive.

Yet reality rarely obeys human wishes.

The other three divine demons sent by the Chen ancestral clan arrived; together, they finally trapped Zhang Hao.

"The Chen ancestral clan's dignity cannot be violated! Zhang Hao, descend to hell and repent!"

The Chen ancestral clan's divine demon nearing the immortal-demonic realm opened his massive hand, as if grasping a stretch of starry sky, bringing it crashing down.

Yet at the eleventh hour,

"Who dares touch my disciple?!"

Immortal aura surged violently; the entire Chaotic Stone Forest boiled as if the terrain itself would be reshaped—mountains moved, seas filled, gale winds froze, and the natural array trembled.

Then the Chen ancestral clan's divine demons were filled with horror.

Above the nine heavens, Bai Yuanxianjun descended from the sky, followed by Gui Hong Mo Zu and a host of terrifying beings equal to Bai Yuanxianjun.

Boom!!

Bai Yuanxianjun struck with one palm.

"My disciple is not for you to punish."

No cry escaped—the three Chen ancestral clan divine demons vanished into ash, leaving only the one nearing the immortal-demonic realm.

That was deliberately left by the Miti Dasheng Army to deliver a message to the Chen Family Ancient Clan, informing them that today Bai Yuanxianjun would come with others to settle accounts over his disciple being hunted and himself being surrounded.

"The Group Leader got us to Tianhong Realm, and Zhang Hao is still from the Initial Realm—surely we must do something, right?"

When asked why he had sent word to the Chen Family Ancient Clan to provoke a response, the Miti Miti Dasheng Jun replied:

"The Initial Realm has been too silent, so long that other realms have forgotten the Initial Realm, forgotten the sacrifices of the Initial Realm's gods and demons who fought on the earliest battlefields, forgotten the gods and demons buried at Hangu Pass—others must be made to remember the Initial Realm again."

His words were endorsed by Jiuzhou Di Yi Xian and others.

……

Tianhong Realm, Chen Family Ancient Clan.

Upon learning the news, the Chen Family Ancient Clan erupted in thunderous rage, especially their ancestral elder—Bai Yuanxianjun was clearly treating him with utter contempt.

"Go notify the Ancestral Lord of the Heavenly God Hall, the Elder Spirit-Traveler, and Shenming Mozun." The Chen Family Ancient Clan's ancestral elder narrowed his eyes and sneered: "Bai Yuanxianjun, you think your injuries have healed enough to challenge me? You think having Guihong Mozu as your ally lets you stand against the Chen Family Ancient Clan?"

"You think bringing one ally turns this into a three-vs-three? Do you think I have no hidden cards?"

The Chen Family Ancient Clan's ancestral elder was meticulous—he would never fight a battle without preparation. Even when Bai Yuanxianjun fled to Hongmo Sect, they had already made arrangements and contacted Shenming Mozun for support.

The Ancestral Lord of the Heavenly God Hall, the Elder Spirit-Traveler, and Shenming Mozun arrived at the Chen Family Ancient Clan.

The moment they stepped in and had just exchanged pleasantries with the Chen Family Ancient Clan's ancestral elder—"Brother Chen, no need to worry; today we'll make sure Guihong and Bai Yuan never leave alive"—Bai Yuanxianjun and his party arrived.

"Perfect timing!"

Shenming Mozun roared loudly and burst out of the Chen Family Ancient Clan's territory; the Chen Family's ancestral elder and his companions followed closely behind.

Then…

They froze.

Wait, what's going on? Did I hallucinate? Brother Chen, this isn't what you told me! You said Bai Yuanxianjun would bring at most two immortal-demons, and even in the worst case, it'd be four-vs-four—but Bai Yuanxianjun was still injured, so four-vs-four should've favored us!

Where's the advantage here?!

Including Bai Yuanxianjun, the other side has eight divine beings and six-step immortal-demons!! Twice our number!

……