Chapter 361: Three Elders Speak in Unison, Nine States Tremble

Ice-blue Canglan energy surged forth from the token like a torrent, instantly dyeing the entire sky an endless ice-blue starry river.

The token hovered in midair, radiating blinding light, its surface covered in dense, ancient runes.

These ancient runes coalesced continuously in the air, finally forming a blue pillar of light shooting straight into the heavens.

……

Liang Guo, Canglan Martial Academy.

The disciples of the Canglan Martial Academy looked up at the ice-blue starry river above the sky, their eyes filled with awe.

Especially those who had entered the Canglan Lake and absorbed Canglan energy—now their blood and qi surged uncontrollably within them.

"Is this Canglan energy?"

Principal Hua Hua Qianwu's aged eyes held shock; such an intense concentration of Canglan energy, filling the entire sky, was beyond his imagination.

……

Han Guo.

Hanbing City Imperial Palace.

Fei Jun was discussing with his junior how to harvest primordial energy when both men suddenly looked up at the sky, their eyes instantly filled with reverence at the rolling ice-blue energy.

"Canglan energy—could a powerful Canglan Sect elder have arrived?"

……

Xiang Guo.

Yan Guo.

Zhao Guo.

Wu Guo.

……

All martial artists and civilians across the nine states saw the transformation above their heads.

This celestial phenomenon caused many civilians to kneel involuntarily, praying devoutly for divine protection.

……

The seas.

Several massive ships sailed across the ocean.

"Senior Uncle, what's going on?"

A young man on deck, watching the sky change color, shouted urgently toward the cabin.

From within the cabin, a fifty-year-old elder emerged; upon seeing the ice-blue sky, his eyes filled with confusion: "Canglan energy—could a powerful Canglan Sect elder have come here, drawn by the dissipation of the Annihilation Storm?"

The ships, spaced hundreds of miles apart at closest, over a thousand miles at farthest, all stared in shock at the sky above.

They had all come here following the dissipation of the Annihilation Storm, searching for desolate martial islands, hoping to find some martial resources.

……

Outside Lord Lingxiao City.

Complete silence.

Zhang Xun and the four others stared intently at the Canglan Token in the sky; their earlier smirks froze on their faces—they had never heard the Canglan Token could produce such a celestial phenomenon.

BOOM!

Like a thunderclap, the ice-blue starry sea above the sky suddenly rotated—the starry sea vanished, replaced by the faint silhouette of a mountain peak, where the characters "Canglan" were barely visible atop.

The moment the mountain silhouette appeared, a vast pressure descended like a collapsing sky, engulfing all around.

Zhang Xun and the four others turned pale; their primordial Gang qi spontaneously shattered under the torrent of pressure, their bodies staggering backward several steps—all martial artists present were choked by the pressure.

Fortunately, the pressure lasted only an instant—but even so, it left all martial artists present with pale faces.

Only Lin Chen remained utterly unaffected.

Black hair whipped wildly, robes flapping, the mountain silhouette appeared like a halo behind and above his head, making him seem like a god descending upon the mortal world.

"I am Zhou Zhou Zhifeng, Elder of the Canglan Sect!"

A solemn, ancient voice suddenly echoed across the land; the Canglan energy in the sky surged violently, carrying the voice throughout all nine states.

"I am Mei Dai Jingfeng, Elder of the Canglan Sect!"

Another voice rang out, deep and powerful.

"I am Qu Qu Guanfu, Elder of the Canglan Sect!"

Three voices, distinct yet each like thunder rolling through the nine states, deafening all who heard.

"Lin Chen is my personal disciple as an Elder of the Canglan Sect. Whoever dares harm him in the slightest, I swear the Canglan Sect will crush your mountain gate and exterminate your entire bloodline."

This was Qu Qu Guanfu's voice—his arrogance laid bare.

No matter what Lin Chen had done, if anyone dared attack him or retaliate, they would face the Canglan Sect's annihilation of their sect and total extermination of their descendants.

The words stunned everyone.

But the next two elders' words were even more tyrannical.

"Lin Chen is my personal disciple as an Elder of the Canglan Sect. Anyone who dares invade the lands he protects is deemed an enemy of the Canglan Sect—there will be no place left for you within the Yanhuang Dynasty's borders!"

"Lin Chen is my personal disciple as an Elder of the Canglan Sect. Wherever he walks, all sects must retreat a hundred li! The land he treads is henceforth under the protection of the Canglan Sect. If even a single blade of grass or tree withers because of you, I shall light your soul as a lamp and burn you in eternal fire for a hundred years."

Hisss!

"The Canglan Sect is this ruthless."

"Protecting Lin Chen from harm isn't enough—they demand all other sects retreat a hundred li from his very location… this…"

The martial artists of the nine states were stunned by the three elders' words—could such tyrannical threats truly force sects like the Nine Quarters Sect to submit?

Many turned their gaze toward Zhang Xun and the others.

Zhang Xun and the four others turned pale—Lin Chen's identity as a personal disciple of a Canglan Sect Elder was undeniable.

The Canglan Sect's three elders had spoken directly—this was no ordinary disciple. With the power of even one Canglan Sect Elder, they could crush their sects and slaughter every member from top to bottom, let alone three elders.

Frustrated?

How could they not feel humiliated by such tyrannical words?

Just as they had been tyrannical toward the nine states, the nine states had felt the same humiliation.

But they knew better than to defy them.

The Canglan Sect's elders were not someone they could afford to offend.

From this moment on, they must pray Lin Chen suffers no mishap—for if he does, even if unrelated to them, the Canglan Sect will make them pay with their lives.

The Yanhuang Dynasty is this way: the strong devour the weak.

"We did not know you were a personal disciple of the Canglan Sect. The Xuanming Sect immediately withdraws from Liang Guo… withdraws from the nine states."

Liao Kai of the Xuanming Sect chose immediate submission, deciding not to remain in the nine states at all. Though the Canglan Sect elders had warned that retaliation against Lin Chen or Liang Guo would lead to annihilation, he argued ignorance before the revelation absolved him.

But he dared not take the risk—since Lin Chen was a personal disciple of a Canglan Sect elder, the Canglan Sect would surely send someone to retrieve him; if Lin Chen spoke ill of him to the incoming Canglan Sect powerhouse, they might kill him on the spot.

As always: the weak have no right to argue before the strong.

"We did not know you were a personal disciple of a Canglan Sect Elder. I apologize. The Grand Void Gate also withdraws from the nine states."

The Grand Void Gate's primordial martial artist likewise chose to withdraw, sharing Liao Kai's fear: that once Canglan Sect reinforcements arrived, Lin Chen would have them settle old scores.

"The Shattered Star Sect also apologizes to you. From today, the Shattered Star Sect withdraws from the nine states."

"The Seven Stars Sect also apologizes to you. From this day forward, we withdraw from the nine states."

……

Zhang Xun and the others each spoke, their words leaving all martial artists present speechless.

Primordial martial artists bowed their heads in defeat—and withdrew from the nine states outright.

"This is the deterrent power of a Canglan Sect Elder's personal disciple—even primordial martial artists dare not resist."

"When I heard the Canglan Sect has thousands of primordial martial artists, and saw this celestial phenomenon, I already guessed."

"Liang Guo will now be the only state among the nine that need not fear interference from Yanhuang Dynasty sects—even if more Yanhuang primordial martial artists arrive, they will dare not pressure Liang Guo."

"I must return home immediately and bring my family to Liang Guo at once. I had thought the arrival of Yanhuang primordial martial artists would spark a martial boom among our nine states—but now I see these sects aren't here to cultivate us; they're here to plunder our martial resources."

Today's battle at Lord Lingxiao City didn't just show the nine states a dramatic twist—it revealed the true faces of sects like the Nine Quarters Sect.

……

Zhang Xun and the others did not linger; they left with grim faces—staying longer would only bring more humiliation.

"Brother Pei, stole your spotlight—don't hold it against me." Lin Chen tucked away the Canglan Token and smiled at the stunned Pei Pei Qingming.

"Good lad, I wish you'd steal even more spotlight."

Pei Pei Qingming, always the refined gentleman before Lin Chen, couldn't help but clap him on the shoulder.

Today's scene, as expected, would spread across all nine states—everyone had seen the celestial phenomenon, and Lin Chen's identity as a Canglan Sect disciple forcing primordial martial artists to retreat would be known everywhere.

"You are no longer merely the top of the Heavenly List, the greatest young genius of the nine states—you are now the undisputed number one of the entire nine states."

"Brother Pei, my strength is still far from enough."

"Strength means nothing to you."

Pei Pei Qingming knew well: with the Canglan Sect's displayed power, and Lin Chen being chosen as an Elder's personal disciple, his attainment of primordial realm was certain.

"I'm not flattering you—every martial artist in the nine states will recognize this."

"I…"

"You two don't need to flatter each other—you're both the future of Great Liang. Cough… cough…"

Kong Zhao Qifeng smiled, but before finishing, he began coughing; Lin Chen and Pei Pei Qingming hurried forward to support the old man.

"I'm fine. Let's go—enter the city first."

Kong Zhao Qifeng held one hand on Lin Chen, the other on Pei Pei Qingming; the old man, the youth, and the young master walked together into the wall-less Lord Lingxiao City, watched by all eyes.

"Great Liang, its future is infinitely bright."

Other nations' warriors looked on with emotion: a Liang that would not be oppressed by the Yan Imperial Court's external forces, with Pei Pei Qingming ahead and Lin Chen behind, would see both men enter the Primordial Realm within at most twenty years.

The struggle for supremacy between Liang and Han had ended at this moment.

In Lord Lingxiao Hall, Yu Yu Sanghua's aged face bore a complex expression as he looked at Lord Lingxiao Joining Wuyuan's dean, Hou Hou Zhan Tian: "The destiny of all nine nations seems to have converged upon your Great Liang."

No need to mention Pei Pei Qingming, who lay dormant for years before soaring to prominence—he had not yet entered the First Rank, yet could injure a Primordial cultivator, enough to shock all.

Yet there was also Lin Chen, whose brilliance outshone all, forcing even Primordial cultivators to yield.

Though it was due to Canglan Sect's involvement, had Lin Chen not revealed such extraordinary martial talent, would Canglan Sect's three Elders have jointly spoken up for an ordinary disciple?

…

Today, throughout Great Liang's territory, commoners and warriors alike spread the news— the gloom hanging over their heads had finally lifted.

Especially in Jiangnan Dao!

One step, two steps, three steps…

Before the Lord Lingxiao Joining Wuyuan gate, Lin Chen's expression suddenly turned strange.

"Lord Kong, Brother Pei, I must take my leave for a moment."

Kong Zhao Qifeng and Pei Pei Qingming froze, their gazes filled with confusion.

"I… I may be on the verge of breakthrough."

As he spoke, Lin Chen moved ahead toward the Joining Wuyuan, heading toward Lord Lingxiao Hall.

At this moment, his internal blood qi surged wildly, nearly beyond his control.

Lin Chen knew clearly: this was the 【Light of Great Liang】 acting once again.

(End of Chapter)