Chapter 572: My Canglan Sect Has Not Yet Been Extinct

The bright moon hung high above Yinyue, its cold lunar radiance falling upon her; though she bore the appearance of a young girl, at this moment, to other cultivators, she seemed sacred and noble.

The Empress of the Yuepo Clan!

Unlike those unfamiliar with Dongfang Canglang, many disciples from super sects—such as Jiang Chen—knew of the existence of ancient bloodlines and understood what the moon above Yinyue and the crown upon it represented.

It represented the supreme throne of the Yuepo Clan!

Although the ancient bloodlines were few in number compared to the great super sects, each possessed innate bloodline abilities, ensuring their number of high-level experts was no less than that of the major sects.

“Yinyue?”

Lin Chen turned his head toward Yinyue; he had not expected her to appear here at this moment.

“I originally planned to wait for you in the Thousand Fold Secret Realm, but there were many matters within my clan that kept me occupied. Later, I received word that you had left the Thousand Fold Secret Realm, and I knew you would not miss the appearance of the Sacred Fire Hall.”

Yinyue smiled at Lin Chen; after receiving word from the Shang Clan that Lin Chen had departed the Thousand Fold Secret Realm, she had initially prepared to send someone to Canglan Sect to find him, but upon learning of the Sacred Fire Hall here at Wan Huozong, and knowing Lin Chen as she did, she was certain he would not pass it up.

Zhuang Qiang and Zhuang Wei, the brother and sister beside her, heard Yinyue’s exchange with Lin Chen and, sensing the dependence in the new Empress of the Yuepo Clan’s tone toward Lin Chen, both were filled with astonishment.

The Yuepo Clan was famously cold—not only toward outsiders, but even among themselves.

Yet now, the Empress of the Yuepo Clan spoke to her Imperial Son-in-Law as if they were siblings.

When had the Imperial Son-in-Law become so familiar with the Empress of the Yuepo Clan?

As Yinyue and Lin Chen conversed, the elder behind Dongfang Canglang was whispering: “Young Master, this Empress of the Yuepo Clan has come bearing the clan’s supreme treasure and can wield the power of a Myriad Forms cultivator. Unless Master Xu intervenes personally, I cannot handle her.”

He was merely at the peak of the Sixth Realm; though only one step away from Myriad Forms, as long as that step remained unstepped, the difference was as vast as heaven and earth.

Only Master Xu could suppress this Empress of the Yuepo Clan.

Dongfang Canglang’s expression was equally grim; Master Xu was the bodyguard assigned to him by his father, yet the reason no one from Wan Huozong—neither the Sect Master nor the Elders—had appeared was because Master Xu was currently clashing with Wan Huozong’s Supreme Elder.

“So it seems the Yuepo Clan intends to oppose this young master. After barely surviving a rebellion, you do not seek rest and recovery—do you not fear repeating the same mistake?”

“That is no concern of yours, Young Master Dongfang.”

Yinyue replied coolly; after quelling the rebellion within her clan, she now knew Dongfang Canglang had been involved, but the time had not yet come to break ties—both sides understood the truth without needing to speak it aloud.

“What if this young master refuses to release him?”

“Then do not blame this Empress for offending you.”

Dongfang Canglang stared fixedly at Yinyue; Yinyue stood her ground without yielding an inch.

The atmosphere grew heavy.

“Yinyue?”

Lin Chen sent a mental message, his voice filled with concern—he feared Yinyue might truly act, for if she did, her clan would likely face retaliation.

The Yuepo Clan had just endured a rebellion and now needed rest and recovery.

“Don’t worry. This Young Master Dongfang cares more about his face than anyone else, especially since this is his first public appearance. Even if he knows I dare not truly harm him, even being subdued by me would be unbearable.”

Yinyue gave Lin Chen a reassuring glance; this Dongfang Canglang would never allow his dignity to be damaged.

“Young Master Dongfang, since the Empress of the Yuepo Clan has appeared in person, we should grant her due respect. How about this: both sides take a step back. Since Lin Chen refuses to swear a Heavenly Oath, let him endure three strikes from your old servant. If he survives all three, this matter ends here!”

Yan Hui spoke with a smile; calling a Sixth Realm cultivator an “old servant” was a clear insult.

A full Sixth Realm cultivator, reduced to the role of a bodyguard—like a servant.

The elder’s expression remained unchanged, as if Yan Hui’s words were not directed at him.

Meanwhile, Zhuang Qiang and Zhuang Wei spoke almost simultaneously: “Imperial Son-in-Law, do not agree!”

“Lin Chen, don’t be reckless—this elder is at the peak of the Sixth Realm. Even three strikes are beyond your capacity to endure.”

Yinyue also warned Lin Chen; she knew his spiritual sense had reached the Sixth Realm, but he was still no match for this elder.

Dongfang Canglang was surprised by Yan Hui’s suggestion and glanced at him with new interest—he saw that Yan Hui, like himself, wanted Lin Chen dead.

“I don’t need you to endure three strikes. Just survive one strike from my servant, and today’s matter is settled.”

“One strike?” Yinyue smiled. “Then perhaps Young Master Dongfang should endure one strike from this Empress—or better yet, let your old servant take one strike from me. If he survives, I will leave immediately and never interfere in Lin Chen’s affairs again.”

A single realm gap was an unbridgeable chasm.

“Agreed!”

Lin Chen spoke up and accepted. Yinyue and Zhuang Qiang both cried out:

“Imperial Son-in-Law?”

“Lin Chen?”

Yinyue turned back to Lin Chen: “There are no Myriad Forms cultivators here. If you choose to flee, they cannot stop you.”

“I know. But one strike—I might have a chance.”

Lin Chen gave Yinyue and Zhuang Qiang a reassuring look; his current strength meant ordinary Fifth Realm cultivators were no longer his match. Facing a Sixth Realm, one strike was not without possibility.

He did not want to drag Yinyue into this. As for revealing he had received the ancestral legacy of Wan Huozong and hoping the sect would rescue him from this predicament—it was unrealistic.

He had accepted the ancestral legacy of Wan Huozong, along with some of the ancestor’s memories, and knew clearly that the legacy left behind had no connection to Wan Huozong.

The path of the Fire Seal cultivation was entirely different from the cultivation method the ancestor had left to Wan Huozong.

Exposing his acquisition of the legacy would only intensify this Dongfang young master’s desire to kill him.

Upon hearing Lin Chen’s acceptance, the cultivators present reacted with varied expressions.

Zeng Xi of Qianji Sect wore a look of concern, as did Zhao Haoyang and others from Wan Huozong.

“Why isn’t the Sect Master appearing?”

“Young Master Zhao, the current situation has clearly spiraled beyond our sect’s internal affairs.”

Meng Bing sighed; Lin Chen was the Empress of an ancient bloodline and the Imperial Son-in-Law of the Hua Clan, while the opposing side was Young Master Dongfang, plus the Crown Prince of the imperial family—each faction held power equal to or greater than Wan Huozong.

Over the years, Wan Huozong had been in decline; the sect now had only one Myriad Forms Supreme Elder to hold its ground, and it had fallen out of the top tier among super sects.

Had it not been for the unique geography of Wan Huo Domain—where neighboring sects had little interest in its resources—it would not have been Canglan Sect and Bahuang Sect that first erupted into sect war, but Wan Huozong itself.

“Quite brave. Then instruct Lin Chen.”

Dongfang Canglang, upon hearing Lin Chen’s acceptance, immediately took over, speaking to the elder behind him, giving Lin Chen no chance to retract.

“Very well.”

The elder responded, stepping forward to the center. Lin Chen did not hesitate—he also stepped forward and stopped a hundred zhang away from the elder.

This distance was a mere instant for both of them.

The cultivators present quickly retreated; the elder was clearly a Sixth Realm cultivator, and though Lin Chen was only a Fourth Realm, his displayed power within the Sacred Fire Realm meant no one treated him as an ordinary Fourth Realm cultivator.

Still, most present did not believe Lin Chen could win.

Even if Lin Chen was strong, at best he might endure a few strikes against a Fifth Realm cultivator—against a Sixth Realm, he had no chance at all.

Yinyue’s gaze was locked tightly on the scene; if there was the slightest sign of danger, she would strike immediately and would not allow Lin Chen’s life to be threatened.

On the other side, Yan Hui stood with his hands behind his back, calm and composed. Beside him, Yan Feng gazed at Lin Chen in the center, his expression complex.