The oppressive aura of ten Upper Realm Immortal Venerables pressed down like primordial divine mountains, heavy and suffocating upon the hearts of all Lower Realm cultivators.
It was not merely a gap in power, but an absolute crushing disparity in life level and Dao rank!
Despair and powerlessness surged like icy tides, nearly extinguishing the fighting spirit that had just been kindled.
Chen Chang'an's gaze swept across the crowd behind him, finally settling on his eldest disciple, Xiao Chen, who stood at the forefront with a posture as straight as a pine and eyes as resolute as iron.
He slowly reached out and gently grasped Xiao Chen's wrist.
At the point of contact, he could feel the surging, boundless power and unyielding will coursing through the other's bloodline.
"Chen'er," Chen Chang'an's voice was low and solemn, carrying a trace of barely noticeable concern, "do you understand what kind of existence you will face in this confrontation?"
His gaze was profound, as if piercing through the void itself, directly meeting the eyes of the ten Immortal Venerables whose auras were as deep as the sea.
"The realm of Immortal Venerable is not something attainable by strength alone; it is the pinnacle of the Dao."
"Those who reach this realm have all endured countless tribulations, bearing heaven-defying fortune and carrying the will of a world's Heavenly Dao. Calling them 'Children of Destiny' would be no exaggeration."
His voice echoed through the silent sky, every word heavy as a thousand weights:
"To stand against them is to... defy resplendent Destiny itself!"
"To go against the very laws that govern the ten thousand realms!"
"The danger far exceeds any battle you have ever fought. A single misstep means the annihilation of body and soul, the shattering of your true spirit, and eternal damnation with no hope of rebirth!"
These words fell like a bucket of ice water, instantly sobering many cultivators whose blood had been running hot.
Their faces grew even paler as they involuntarily took a half step back.
However, Xiao Chen, feeling the warmth from his master's palm and hearing the warning-laden words, showed not a trace of fear.
Instead, a carefree and resolute smile appeared on his face.
His gaze was clear as he looked directly into Chen Chang'an's eyes, his voice steady yet carrying an unquestionable firmness:
"Master, this disciple... is not afraid."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the junior disciples standing shoulder to shoulder behind him—Han Yu, Jiang Che, Ji Lingxiu, Lu Xiaoluo, and Li Hanzhou.
Finally, his eyes lingered briefly on Xiao Ling'er in her pale yellow robes, a flash of tenderness and protectiveness crossing his gaze before igniting into an even fiercer battle intent!
"If it is for the Lower Realm's billions of mortals to have even a sliver of hope, for Master's years of guidance and protection, and to fight alongside my fellow disciples..."
His voice rose sharply, like a divine sword drawn from its sheath, resolute and ringing across the heavens:
"It is even more for those I love, those I must protect!"
"This disciple—what regret could there be in giving this body?!"
"If others seek to destroy me, then I shall destroy them! If Heaven seeks to destroy me—"
He threw his head back, his gaze like two physical blades fiercely stabbing toward the vast heavenly might and the ten Immortal Venerables!
"Then I shall defy Heaven!!!"
BOOM!
A boundless, surging battle intent and conviction erupted from Xiao Chen's body—though less condensed than the Immortal Venerables' oppressive aura, it was purer, fiercer, and utterly unstoppable—briefly shattering that suffocating pressure!
"Eldest Senior Brother!"
Han Yu stepped forward to stand alongside Xiao Chen, icy eyes blazing with fierce flames.
"Disciple Han Yu requests to be Master's chess piece! I am willing to enter this game and fight the Upper Realm Immortal Venerables!"
"Disciple Jiang Che requests to be Master's chess piece! I am willing to enter this game and fight the Upper Realm Immortal Venerables!"
"Disciple Ji Lingxiu requests to be Master's chess piece! I am willing to enter this game and fight the Upper Realm Immortal Venerables!"
"Disciple Lu Xiaoluo requests to be Master's chess piece! I am willing to enter this game and fight the Upper Realm Immortal Venerables!"
"Disciple Li Hanzhou requests to be Master's chess piece! I am willing to enter this game and fight the Upper Realm Immortal Venerables!"
Six figures stood like six divine swords about to be unsheathed, ready to cleave the heavens.
They stood before Chen Chang'an, facing the ten supreme Immortal Venerables!
Their auras might be far less vast than their opponents', but their wills had merged into an unyielding torrent of steel!
Chen Chang'an looked at them, a complex light flashing in his eyes—pride, gratification, and deep, deep worry.
He slowly nodded.
"Granted."
His gaze swept across the six as he spoke gravely:
"However, the opponent has ten pieces. Our side... still lacks four."
The moment those words fell—
"Father!"
A clear yet resolute voice rang out.
Chen Xingcai stepped forward and came before Chen Chang'an. She lifted her chin, her peerlessly beautiful face now filled with unquestionable determination.
"Count me in!"
She spoke before Chen Chang'an could dissuade or hesitate, her tone absolute.
"I grew up in the Holy Land, cultivating, playing, and enduring hardships alongside all of you senior brothers and sisters!"
Her gaze swept across Xiao Chen, Han Yu, Jiang Che, Ji Lingxiu, Lu Xiaoluo, and Li Hanzhou one by one, her eyes brimming with deep bonds and trust.
"We are already connected by blood, our hearts as one! Today's battle concerns everyone, concerns our home! How could I be the only one missing?"
She looked back at Chen Chang'an, her eyes clear and resolute.
"We were born here together! Naturally, we fight here together!"
"Even if I die... I will have no regrets!"
Chen Chang'an looked at his daughter's stubborn gaze, knowing he could no longer change her decision.
His heart surged with a thousand emotions, which finally condensed into a heavy sigh and boundless pride.
He gave a firm nod.
"...Granted. Xingcai, take your place."
"Yes!"
Chen Xingcai broke into a radiant smile, bright as the morning sun, and quickly moved to stand beside Lu Xiaoluo, pressing close to her.
Seven!
Still three short!
Chen Chang'an's gaze once again fell upon the dense crowd behind him.
Wherever his eyes landed, countless cultivators subconsciously lowered their heads, avoiding his gaze.
It was not cowardice—the Immortal Venerables' oppressive aura was simply too terrifying, an awe and fear stemming from the very instinct of life itself!
Face Immortal Venerables in a confrontation? They couldn't even dare to imagine it!
Of course, there were also those with heaven-defying talent and arrogant spirits among the crowd, their eyes flickering with the fire of eagerness to fight.
But under these circumstances, none dared to speak out easily.
Amidst this brief silence and oppression—
"Grandmaster!"
A clear voice, trembling slightly yet extraordinarily resolute, rose from the ranks of the Immortal Spirit Holy Land's disciples!
A young man in a green robe stepped forth from the crowd—handsome of face, yet with eyes as tenacious and unyielding as a wild wolf's!
He strode quickly to the front and, under the gaze of countless eyes, dropped to one knee before Chen Chang'an with a heavy thud!
He raised his head, eyes burning bright, his voice quivering with excitement yet filled with unquestionable resolve and fearless courage:
"Disciple Ye Fan, third-generation disciple of the Immortal Spirit Holy Land, begs Grandmaster... to allow this disciple to be your chess piece!"
"This disciple is willing to enter this game and face the Upper Realm Immortal Venerables—"
He drew a deep breath, summoning every ounce of strength in his body, and unleashed an earth-shattering cry:
"In battle!!!"
The soundwaves rolled, reverberating across heaven and earth, carrying the reckless audacity of a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, and the absolute resolve to shatter one's body for the sake of conviction!
At this moment, every eye was fixed upon the kneeling young man.
Chen Chang'an looked at him, at those eyes overflowing with longing and determination, tinged with an instinctive fear of a powerful opponent that had been forcibly suppressed—and saw the hope of a torch being passed to a new generation.
He slowly spoke:
"Ye Fan, do you understand—"
"This disciple understands!"
Ye Fan jerked his head up, cutting in, his voice hoarse yet firm.
"The opponents are Immortal Venerables! Supreme existences! This path leads to certain death nine times out of ten!"
"But this disciple also knows that when the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact! If the Holy Land falls and Grandmaster is defeated, this disciple will have nowhere to flee!"
"Since that is the case, why not fight to the death, and earn a breath of righteous spirit for our Immortal Spirit Holy Land, for the mortals of the Lower Realm!"
"Prove a path of defiance!"
"Even in death... I will die standing!"
Chen Chang'an listened in silence while simultaneously weighing Ye Fan's past in his mind.
This person's loyalty should be beyond question. More importantly, his particular skills might prove surprisingly effective in the coming confrontation.
After a long while, he slowly nodded.
"Granted."
"Thank you, Grandmaster!"
Ye Fan kowtowed heavily, then rose to his feet and took his place beside Chen Xingcai.
Though his body trembled slightly, his spine was ramrod straight!
Eight!
Still two short!
The atmosphere congealed once more. Everyone's heart was in their throat.
Who else? Who else would dare to step forward?
...
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