Judgment Upon the Ruins

Three days later.

The atmosphere in Qingyang City was suppressed to the extreme.

The confrontation between the Wang, Li, and Zhao families ultimately ended in a stalemate under the strong mediation of the City Lord's Mansion.

But everyone could see that the three-family alliance was already a mere formality, and the suspicion and hatred between them had been deeply buried in their hearts.

The Wang Family had become a complete island.

The mansion gates were tightly shut, and all the guards had retreated within, no longer daring to step out even half a step.

The entire Qingyang City was waiting.

Waiting to see where the vengeful phantom named "Chen Chen" would appear next, and in what manner he would stir up new bloodshed.

However, for two consecutive days, Chen Chen seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth, with no news whatsoever.

This eerie calm did not bring any relief to the Wang Family; instead, it made them even more fearful.

The calm before the storm was often the most terrifying.

On the third day, at dawn.

As the first rays of sunlight illuminated the Chen Family's mansion, which had long since turned into ruins.

A solitary, proud figure, at some unknown time, had appeared at the highest point of the ruins, atop the ancestral temple whose frame was all that remained after being burned.

He wore a simple gray cloth robe, his figure as upright as a spear, letting the morning breeze ruffle his jet-black hair.

He wore no hat, nor did he disguise himself in any way.

He stood there, in his truest form, appearing openly in everyone's sight.

Chen Chen!

"It's Chen Chen! He's appeared!"

Someone, unable to hold back, was the first to exclaim.

This news, like a massive stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirred up colossal waves throughout Qingyang City!

Countless windows were pushed open, and countless gazes converged on the ruins from every corner of the city.

There was shock, curiosity, fear, and also... schadenfreude.

Chen Chen ignored those gazes.

He simply stood there quietly, his eyes piercing across half the city, locked firmly onto the luxurious and oppressive Wang Family mansion in the distance.

He slowly raised his hand and circulated the Nine Nether Soul Refining Art to its limit.

An invisible, majestic soul power spread out from him in all directions.

In the next second, a cold, indifferent, yet incredibly clear voice echoed in the ears of everyone in Qingyang City.

"Wang Wei!"

"Get out here and die!"

The voice was not loud, yet it seemed to carry a strange magic, penetrating all walls and obstacles, directly resonating in everyone's minds.

The entire Qingyang City instantly fell into dead silence.

Everyone was stunned speechless by this miraculous method.

What... was this ability?

Inside the Wang Family mansion, Wang Wei, who was cultivating in a blood pool, suddenly opened his eyes!

That voice, like a demonic sound from the Nine Netherworlds, exploded directly in the depths of his soul!

"Pfft!"

His mind trembled violently, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. The blood-colored demonic heart before him also trembled violently.

"Chen! Chen!"

Boundless malice and killing intent erupted in Wang Wei's eyes.

He never would have imagined that the other party would declare war on him in such a manner!

This was an open scheme!

A naked, open scheme!

Challenging him to a fight to the death in front of the entire city!

If he did not respond, if he remained holed up, then he, Wang Wei, and his entire Wang Family, would become a complete laughingstock of Qingyang City, never able to hold their heads up again!

"Patriarch! This is bad! That... that brat is challenging you from the ruins of the Chen Family!" A guard scrambled into the forbidden area.

"I heard him," Wang Wei's voice was as cold as ten thousand years of profound ice.

He slowly stood up from the stone platform, his aura exuding from him even more evil and powerful than three days ago.

Half-step Qi Condensation!

With the power of the blood pool, he had already touched the threshold of the Qi Condensation Realm!

"He thinks this will force me out?" A cruel sneer appeared on Wang Wei's face. "He underestimates me, Wang Wei! And overestimates himself!"

"Pass my order! Activate the Ancestral Protection Formation! All elders, guards, and Blood Guards, assemble at the training grounds!"

"If he wants to play, I'll play with him to the very end!"

"Not only will I kill him, but I will also extract his soul in front of the entire city and burn it day and night with the Demonic Fire of the Blood Pool, ensuring he never finds peace!"

The ruins of the Chen Family.

Chen Chen stood quietly, waiting.

He knew Wang Wei would come out.

A ruthless hero pushed to the brink would never tolerate his dignity being trampled like this.

What he wanted was to lure out all of the Wang Family's strength, all at once, from their turtle shell!

And then...

Catch them all in one net!

A quarter of an hour later.

The gates of the Wang Family mansion finally boomed open.

Wang Wei, clad in a blood-red robe, his face pale and his eyes sinister, strode out at the forefront.

Behind him followed the Wang Family's four elders, each a master of the Eighth Level of Body Tempering or higher.

Further back were thirty elite Blood Guards and nearly two hundred Wang Family guards!

A mighty force, their killing intent soaring to the heavens!

The entire Wang Family had come out in full force!

They marched through the long street, advancing step by step towards the Chen Family ruins.

The entire Qingyang City held its breath.

Countless people poured into the streets, watching from afar.

They knew that the ultimate battle that would determine the future landscape of Qingyang City was about to erupt!

On the high towers of the Li and Zhao Family mansions, their patriarchs watched the scene with complex expressions.

"They're crazy, all of them are crazy," the Li Family patriarch muttered to himself.

"Wang Wei is gambling the entire family's fate on this battle. If he wins, he will completely control Qingyang City. If he loses..." The Zhao Family patriarch didn't finish, but the implication was clear.

If he lost, the Wang Family would be completely wiped out of Qingyang City!

Soon, Wang Wei's army arrived outside the ruins, facing Chen Chen from a distance.

"You little beast, I have to admit, you've got guts," Wang Wei said, his voice hoarse, looking up at Chen Chen on top of the ruined ancestral hall. "Unfortunately, courage is worthless in the face of absolute strength."

Chen Chen looked down at him, his eyes indifferent, as if looking at a dead man.

"Wang Wei, the blood debt of my Chen Family's three hundred and sixteen souls will be settled today, starting with you."

"Hahahaha!" Wang Wei roared with laughter as if he had heard the biggest joke. "With just you? To settle the score with my entire Wang Family?"

His laughter stopped abruptly, and he swung his arm forward, his eyes flashing with killing intent!

"Attack! Chop him into mincemeat!"

He didn't bother with any martial ethics or one-on-one duels.

He intended to use their overwhelming numbers to crush Chen Chen to death!

"Kill!"

Behind him, the four elders, thirty Blood Guards, and nearly two hundred guards let out a thunderous roar like a bursting dam and surged towards Chen Chen in the ruins!

The clash of blades and swords, the roar of Blood Essence!

The terrifying killing intent almost dyed the sky blood-red!

However, facing this offensive that resembled a massive army, Chen Chen's face still showed no fear.

Instead, the corners of his lips curled into a sinister smile.

"Finally... they're all out."

He murmured to himself.

The next second, he stomped his foot fiercely!

"Boom!"

The ruined ancestral hall beneath his feet collapsed with a roar!

But this was not the end, it was the beginning!

As his foot fell, it was as if a switch had been flipped.

"Rumble--!"

Deep beneath the ruins of the entire Chen Family mansion, a series of muffled explosions rang out!

Flames erupted from the depths of the earth, shooting towards the sky!

It was the Fire Luring Thunder!

Chen Chen had spent the past two days burying all the hundreds of Fire Luring Thunder brought by Uncle Fu beneath the ruins!

He used his familiarity with the terrain to set up a chain of interconnected explosive formations!

At this moment, the formations were activated!

The earth trembled violently, cracking apart!

The ground beneath the dozens of Wang Family guards charging at the front instantly collapsed, swallowing them whole along with their screams into the raging flames and tumbling earth and stone!

A meticulously prepared feast of death had begun!