"All of you, retreat!"
Chen Nan walked forward, his gaze indifferent, devoid of any emotional fluctuation. "Sixth brother, I appreciate your good intentions. But,"
"We can't run anymore!"
"A true man, born between heaven and earth."
"What joy is there in life?"
"What fear is there in death?"
"In truth, people like us should have died long ago."
"Instead of living on like stray dogs, clinging to existence for ten thousand years."
At these words, the others fell silent.
Dusty memories flickered before their eyes. They didn't fear death. It was just that they harbored a sense of unwillingness. It was precisely because of this that they had fled ten thousand years ago, hoping to make a comeback and rebel once more. But the outcome was not as they had imagined. Even though they had escaped, their lives over the past ten thousand years had been worse than death. This was because the prospect of overthrowing the reign of Emperor Fengdu became increasingly distant, filling them with despair and regret for their escape. If they hadn't fled, they wouldn't have carried such intense obsession and pain. Just as Chen Nan had said, this time, they couldn't escape. Even if they died, what was there to fear?
"You think a mere sword can destroy us?" Chen Nan sneered. "Even if it's an Emperor Sword, it depends on who wields it!"
With that, he extended a palm.
The next moment, Gao Yuan's pupils constricted violently. His body was uncontrollably lifted into the air, his face turning a liverish hue, as if an invisible hand were crushing his throat. He struggled relentlessly, but it was all in vain.
"I thought you would have paid attention to the situation in Fengdu City."
"After all, so much has happened. A little attention would have revealed that it all started because of me."
"For example, three days ago, I went to the Zheng family and killed their Ghost King realm expert."
"And the matter of me beating Yama King black and blue."
"Why is it that even the Zheng family knows it was me, but you don't?"
"Could it be that the Zheng family has suppressed the news?" He looked genuinely perplexed, curious about this matter.
These words struck Gao Yuan like a bolt from the blue. He couldn't fathom that Chen Nan had killed a Ghost King realm expert from the Imperial Tutor's Mansion. Nor could he have imagined that Chen Nan had beaten up Yama King, a supreme expert at the peak of the ninth level of the Ghost King realm!
"Of course!"
"None of that matters now."
"What's important is..."
"I once swore to avenge Third Brother."
"And now is the time to fulfill that promise." His eyes blazed, unleashing a terrifying killing intent.
"Sword!"
"Come!" Chen Nan roared. His soul power enveloped the Emperor Sword.
*Hummm, hummm, hummm!*
The Emperor Sword, suspended in mid-air, trembled rapidly, as if trying to break free from Chen Nan's control. However, Chen Nan possessed the strength of a peak Ghost King, and he had mastered four types of elemental law. Especially the Human Path and Beast Path within his soul, which suppressed the sword spirit of the Emperor Sword.
*Swish!*
The Emperor Sword streaked through the air, like a rainbow, slashing towards Gao Yuan.
"No!"
"No!"
"No!" Gao Yuan let out a heart-rending scream. He wanted to dodge, but his body felt as if it were sinking into a swamp, utterly unable to move. He could only watch as the Emperor Sword approached him.
"Yue Shan, even if you kill me today, my father will avenge me..."
*Squelch!*
Before his words could finish, the Emperor Sword pierced through Gao Yuan's chest, spraying blood across the sky, interrupting his vengeful threat. A pierced chest was not fatal to those above the Body Seizing realm, but this was the Emperor Sword that had pierced Gao Yuan's chest. The terrifying Emperor's authority exploded within him, causing golden cracks to appear around his wound, spreading outwards at a visible rate.
"Third Brother died because of your Gao family."
"You!"
"Are merely a small portion of the interest."
"I will eradicate your Gao family; only then can I truly honor Third Brother's spirit."
"Therefore, you don't need to speak of the Gao family seeking revenge on me." Chen Nan's voice was icy. As soon as he finished speaking, a terrifying golden light erupted from Gao Yuan's body, and with a 'poof,' it exploded, leaving him with no remains, vanishing from existence.
This scene stunned everyone. Even though they knew Yue Shan possessed space law and had gained fortuitous encounters from the Fire God Sect, they never expected him to be so powerful as to instantly kill a peak Heavenly Ghost realm expert. He had even forcefully seized the Emperor Sword belonging to the Gao family. However, thinking back to his previous claim of crushing Yama King, they felt a sense of understanding. If even Yama King was no match for Fifth Brother, what was a mere Gao Yuan?
Although the traitor had been exposed and Han Zongyuan had been avenged, the atmosphere remained heavy. Even though Chen Nan's strength was immense, they weren't particularly happy. Because they had resigned themselves to death, but now they didn't have to, they felt a sense of confusion. Yes, because they had never expected to survive this day, nor had they considered what would happen afterward.
Chen Nan broke the silence, "Brothers, have you considered the future?"
"Will the revenge still be sought?"
"Will we continue with what was left undone ten thousand years ago?"
Fourth Brother sighed, "Ten thousand years ago, Emperor Fengdu was solely focused on his cultivation, disregarding the lives of the people, leading to widespread suffering. If we hadn't been driven to desperation, would we brothers have rebelled?"
"And now..."
"The world is at peace, and the common folk live prosperous and fulfilling lives."
"That matter... it's best left unsaid!" The other brothers, though silent, agreed with Fourth Brother's sentiment. If the Underworld had been like this ten thousand years ago, they would not have risked the annihilation of their entire clans to rebel.
Chen Nan said softly, "I know you brothers are unwilling to accept this, but have you considered?"
"In truth, we have already won."
"If we hadn't rebelled ten thousand years ago, would the current situation exist?"
"No!"
"The previous Emperor would still have been busy with his cultivation, neglecting state affairs."
"Even if the Cult Master had died tragically, failing to replace Emperor Fengdu."
"But our emergence,"
"Made the current Emperor Fengdu realize the importance of people's livelihoods."
"Our initial goal... was it not to let the common people live without worry about food and clothing?" As he said this, he suddenly felt a surge of emotion, tears welling up. He felt an inexplicable sensation of tears flowing down his cheeks. He instinctively reached out to wipe them, only to discover that his right hand was stained with blood. The fluid he shed was not tears, but blood.
The next moment, a dizzying weakness washed over him. His heart trembled violently. He immediately understood that he had been poisoned. He looked at Ji Ba with anger, "You poisoned the wine?"
Ji Ba grinned, revealing a maniacal smile. "Should we call you Yue Shan, or Chen Nan?"
"Did you really think I didn't know you killed Fifth Brother and replaced him?"