Welcome the Ancestors Out of Seclusion!

The moment he said this, the Chen Family's hidden powerhouses behind him nodded furiously.

A Clan Elder of extremely high seniority could not help cutting in, "Yes, Ancestor! Those little brats are all out there. It is the perfect chance to broaden their horizons and show them what a truly invincible prodigy is!"

Another Clan Elder was so excited that his beard stood on end. "Ancestor, the aura when you opened your eyes just now nearly frightened this old man into taking half a step back. If you take the stage to give a lecture, won't you utterly subdue those little brats who swagger around all day as if they are invincible beneath the heavens?"

In short!

These Saint King Realm experts, who could dominate an entire region in the outside world, now resembled mischievous old children eager to watch a spectacle. They could not wait to haul Chen Changqing onto the high platform.

Ancestor Chen Haotian stroked his beard and smiled. His face, restored to its prime, was filled with teasing amusement. "Changqing, I have not spent much time within the Divine Source, but I would also like to see just how capable the Chen Family's little brats are nowadays."

"Besides, once you give your lecture, perhaps a few of them will come to their senses."

He patted Chen Changqing's shoulder, his tone brimming with interest. "Come, come, come. No day is better than today!"

"The Sequence Ranking Battle?"

Chen Changqing murmured to himself. Back then, it was in the Sequence Ranking Battle that he swept through countless Chen Family prodigies, became the First Sequence, and was named the Chen Family's sole Divine Son!

A million years had passed. In this golden age, what level had the Chen Family's current generation of prodigies reached?

Thinking of this, Chen Changqing could not help feeling expectant.

Purple Sun Peak, the largest mountain in the Chen Family.

The Chen Family's ancestors had used heaven-reaching methods to slice off its summit, turning it into a vast open platform spanning dozens of li.

Upon the platform stood forty-nine arenas scattered like stars. Dense protective formation runes were engraved around every arena, enough to withstand the full-force strike of a Great Sage Realm expert without collapsing.

Above the arenas, a purple sun condensed by a formation hung high in the sky, casting down boundless radiance and bathing all of Purple Sun Peak in daylight.

Around Purple Sun Peak lay dozens of mountain ranges, layered one upon another in uneven heights.

Spectator stands had been built atop these peaks, and they were now packed densely with Chen Family disciples.

From the direct line to the branch families, from the older generation to the younger generation, nearly every Chen Family member who had embarked upon cultivation was present.

This was the once-in-a-century Sequence Ranking Battle, a paramount event for any immortal imperial clan.

For it concerned not only the allocation of resources among the younger generation, but also represented the family's future potential.

At this very moment—

Fierce battles raged across the arenas.

"Chen Yu, take this move of mine—the Blazing Sun Heaven-Turning Palm!"

On one arena, a young man clad in crimson battle robes roared. He thrust both palms forward, and the force of his palms carried surging flames that transformed into a hundred-zhang fire phoenix. Flapping its wings, it charged at his opponent. Wherever the fire phoenix passed, the air warped under the scorching heat, and even the surface of the black iron arena faintly glowed red.

The young man opposite him, Chen Yu, snorted coldly. Neither retreating nor evading, he formed hand seals before his chest. Spiritual energy surged wildly around him, condensing into a hundred-zhang-tall golden battle soul phantom behind him. The battle soul pressed its palms together, and a golden barrier appeared from nothing, forcibly blocking the fire phoenix three zhang away.

"Damn, Chen Yu's Nine-Turn Battle Soul Art has actually reached the sixth turn!"

"The Blazing Sun Heaven-Turning Palm is a top-grade Saint-tier cultivation art, yet Chen Lie has trained it to the major mastery realm!"

"To achieve this much at such a young age, their talent is utterly monstrous!"

"This year's battle for the Sequences truly is a clash of dragons and tigers!"

The spectators on the surrounding peaks exclaimed in amazement, their discussions rising and falling without end.

On another arena, a girl in white wielded a three-foot azure sword. Her sword light spilled like liquid silver across the ground, and every thrust was accompanied by the phantom of an ice phoenix, forcing her opponent back again and again.

On still other arenas, spirit artifacts crashed against one another, their treasure light shooting into the heavens. Magical treasures radiating formidable auras collided in the air, scattering dazzling showers of light.

There were also Chen Family prodigies who cultivated their bodies, battling each other in close combat. Their fists struck flesh with flesh, producing deafening booms like clashing metal...

For a time, all manner of mystical arts and radiant techniques emerged one after another across Purple Sun Peak. Spiritual energy churned like a raging storm, painting the entire heaven and earth in brilliant colors.

The Chen Family's older generation nodded repeatedly as they watched, while the younger generation boiled with passion. Waves of cheers resounded through the clouds.

However—

At the very height of the fierce fighting.

An indescribably vast pressure descended from the sky without warning.

Boom!

The entire void seemed to have been completely sealed by some terrifying force.

Every mystical art, radiant technique, spirit artifact, and flying sword... all froze in midair.

Even the purple sun condensed by the formation seemed to have its radiance suppressed, dimming by several degrees.

In that instant, all of Purple Sun Peak fell into absolute silence.

Tens of thousands of Chen Family disciples changed expression at once, unparalleled horror flooding their eyes.

They wanted to speak, yet discovered that they could not even move their lips.

This pressure carried no hostility, yet it suppressed everyone so completely that an irresistible sense of insignificance arose from the depths of their souls.

What kind of terrifying pressure was this?

Just as everyone stood stunned.

A cold, majestic voice exploded over Purple Sun Peak like thunder from the nine heavens.

"All Chen Family clansmen!"

"Follow me in kneeling and paying respects. Welcome the Ancestors!"

That was the voice of Family Head Chen Lingfeng!

Everyone struggled to look in the direction of the voice, and their pupils suddenly contracted.

At the highest ceremonial platform of Purple Sun Peak, dozens of figures had appeared silently at some unknown time.

The aura emanating from each of them was like a sleeping volcano—unfathomable and awe-inspiring.

"That is... Supreme Elder Chen Daojun? Wasn't he said to have entered death seclusion three thousand years ago?"

"And that one! Supreme Elder Chen Xuanyi! They say he is the only peerless expert from the Chen Family in ten thousand years to reach the peak of the Saint King Realm!"

"Chen Qingsong, Chen Jiuyuan, Chen Yunhe... Heavens, these are all Saint King Realm foundation ancestors recorded in the clan genealogy! Under normal circumstances, they might not appear even once in several thousand years!"

"They have actually appeared at the same time?"

One legendary Supreme Elder after another revealed themselves. Every identity recognized sent the minds of those present reeling.

Ordinarily, these Supreme Elders were elusive, their heads seen but their tails unseen.

Even during every previous Sequence Ranking Battle, so many Supreme Elders had never appeared at once!

Heavens!

What had happened?

What could have drawn so many Supreme Elders out of seclusion together?

Yet before everyone could recover from this shock—

An even more unbelievable scene unfolded.

Chen Lingfeng, the current Family Head of the immortal imperial clan and a supreme expert at the peak of the Great Sage Realm, actually bent forward and clasped his hands in salute.

Using the most solemn ancient rite, he bowed deeply toward the purple-robed old man and the blue-robed youth beside him.

"Chen Lingfeng, current Family Head of the Chen Family—"

No longer majestic, his voice rang across all of Purple Sun Peak, trembling slightly with fanatical excitement as he enunciated every word.

"On behalf of the entire Chen Family, I welcome Ancestor Haotian and Ancestor Changqing out of seclusion!"

Boom!

It was as though a bolt of thunder had struck directly into everyone's minds.