In this suffocating silence, a figure slowly emerged from the back of the crowd.
His appearance surprised everyone, even triggering a low murmur of commotion.
It was Hong Longxiang!
This prodigy, who had once had considerable grievances with the Immortal Spirit Holy Land and whose family had been destroyed because of Chen Chang'an, now wore a calm expression, though his eyes were complex and inscrutable.
He first gazed deeply at Chen Xingcai standing at the front, that look seeming to contain a thousand unspoken words, which finally crystallized into a thread of resolve.
He walked step by step to the front of the formation and, under the watchful eyes of countless people—eyes filled with suspicion, scrutiny, and even hostility—slowly and solemnly dropped to both knees before Chen Chang'an!
"Immortal Venerable!"
Hong Longxiang's voice was low but clearly reached every ear.
"I know that you look down upon my Hong family... and upon me personally."
"The Hong family's past actions were indeed deserving of death. The past is the past, and the Hong family has been destroyed."
He raised his head, meeting Chen Chang'an's gaze directly, carrying an almost tragic plea:
"But I beg you, Immortal Venerable... for the sake of the Lower Realm's survival hanging by a thread, give me a chance!"
"A chance... to clear the name of those in my Hong family who were not irredeemably evil, and to clear my own name, Hong Longxiang!"
He drew a deep breath, his voice suddenly turning sonorous and forceful, carrying the resolve of one who would spare no expense even of his own body:
"I, Hong Longxiang! Request to be the Immortal Venerable's chess piece!"
"I am willing to enter this game and fight the Upper Realm Immortal Venerables—in battle!!!"
At these words, the entire crowd was stunned!
Even Xiao Chen, Han Yu, and the others furrowed their brows, their gazes toward Hong Longxiang filled with scrutiny and wariness!
Chen Chang'an remained silent, his profound gaze fixed on Hong Longxiang kneeling before him.
To be honest, Hong Longxiang's voluntary request planted seeds of doubt in his heart.
This one was far too dangerous!
Although after the Heavenly Alliance Grand Competition, he had secretly investigated Hong Longxiang's experiences over the years and learned that his family's destruction had led to a life of wandering, which had actually refined his Dao heart—
But the Hong family had, on the surface, been destroyed by his own hand!
Who could guarantee this wasn't him enduring humiliation, biding his time for revenge?
In such a crucial confrontation, if he switched sides on the battlefield, the consequences would be unimaginable!
Just as Chen Chang'an was deep in contemplation, an unexpected voice rang out.
"Father!"
It was Chen Xingcai stepping forward once again!
She walked to Hong Longxiang's side and said to Chen Chang'an with unwavering certainty:
"Hong Longxiang is worthy of the title of prodigy. His temperament is resilient and his talent exceptional."
"Though your daughter doesn't know what Father is concerned about, if the crux of Father's hesitation lies in loyalty..."
She paused here, actually raising her hand and pressing it lightly against her own heart, her eyes clear and certain:
"Your daughter can sense... he may have his obsessions, but he... will absolutely never betray the Lower Realm!"
Chen Xingcai's words and her peculiar "intuition" sent a shock through Chen Chang'an's heart.
He gazed deeply at his daughter, then turned to look at Hong Longxiang kneeling on the ground, whose complex eyes nonetheless held a trace of openness.
'The current Hong Longxiang, having endured countless hardships, has a Dao heart that is purer and more resilient than before. He is indeed an extremely powerful combatant...' Chen Chang'an weighed rapidly in his mind.
'There are no more suitable candidates at present... perhaps, it's worth the gamble?'
Ultimately, he made his decision. He chose to trust his daughter this once, and chose to give this former adversary a chance.
He slowly spoke, his voice calm yet carrying unquestionable authority:
"...Granted. Hong Longxiang, take your place."
"Thank you, Immortal Venerable!"
Hong Longxiang kowtowed heavily, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tremble, then rose and stood at the end of the line, his gaze lowered—no one could read the expression in his eyes at this moment.
Nine!
Just one more!
Just as everyone was speculating who this final chess player would be, a gentle female voice drifted leisurely from the depths of the Immortal Spirit Valley:
"Husband, how could a confrontation concerning the fate of two realms possibly lack me?"
Before the words had fully faded, a dazzling seven-colored radiance soared from the valley!
Within that celestial light, a woman of peerless beauty and graceful bearing, yet carrying a transcendent immortal aura, descended gracefully and landed at Chen Chang'an's side.
It was Ji Hongli!
This was her first appearance before everyone in her true form after years of seclusion!
And the aura she radiated was as vast as a sea of stars, as profound as the abyss, incomparably boundless—actually... not inferior in the slightest to the ten Upper Realm Immortal Venerables!
"Immortal Venerable! Another Immortal Venerable!!"
"So Chen Immortal Venerable's Dao companion is also an Immortal Venerable!!"
"Heaven blesses our Lower Realm! Two Immortal Venerables! Our chances of victory have greatly increased!!"
"There's hope! The Lower Realm has hope!"
The Lower Realm's camp instantly erupted in earth-shaking cheers and passionate shouts!
Ji Hongli's appearance was like a shot of adrenaline, injecting itself into the hearts of all Lower Realm cultivators!
Chen Chang'an was not at all surprised by his Dao companion's appearance.
As Dao companions, they shared fortune and misfortune together. If he failed, the Upper Realm would never spare Ji Hongli.
Just as when his father had failed in the past, none of those close to him met a good end!
This was a destiny long sealed. He looked at Ji Hongli, their eyes meeting, and everything was understood without a single word.
Thus, the ten chess pieces were decided!
Chen Chang'an, Ji Hongli, Xiao Chen, Han Yu, Jiang Che, Ji Lingxiu, Lu Xiaoluo, Li Hanzhou, Chen Xingcai, and Hong Longxiang!
Ten figures stood between heaven and earth, representing the Lower Realm's last hope and strongest will!
Chen Chang'an nodded and turned back to the Daoist who had been standing quietly in the void, holding a fly-whisk.
The Daoist seemed to have already understood his intention.
With a wave of his fly-whisk, he bowed and said:
"Since this is so, the ten pieces are decided. This confrontation shall be presided over by this humble Daoist, Jiang Shang, acting on behalf of my teacher."
"Chen Immortal Venerable, do you have any objections?"
Chen Chang'an shook his head.
"None."
Jiang Shang said no more.
He turned to face the endless Immortal Palace and the ten Immortal Venerables, declaring in a resonant voice:
"I invite the ten Immortal Venerables... to enter the board!"
HUM!
The ten Upper Realm Immortal Venerables opened their eyes simultaneously, their pupils seeming to hold the rotation of sun and moon, the birth and death of stars!
Without the slightest hesitation, they transformed into ten streams of brilliant light, each a different color yet equally containing supreme Dao principles and terrifying power.
Like shooting stars streaking across the sky, they plunged instantly into the Immortal Spirit Holy Land below, which was shrouded by the Chaos Bell and transformed into a massive chessboard!
All eyes returned to Chen Chang'an.
Chen Chang'an slowly turned, his gaze sweeping across each of his disciples, his beloved, his daughter...
His gaze lingered on Xiao Chen's resoluteness, Han Yu's cold intensity, Jiang Che's steadiness, Ji Lingxiu's heroic spirit.
It lingered on Lu Xiaoluo's purity, Li Hanzhou's resolve, Chen Xingcai's courage, Hong Longxiang's openness... and Ji Hongli's warmth and support.
A thousand words, endless exhortations and worries, were all contained within this single glance.
Everything was understood without speaking.
Chen Chang'an drew a deep breath, as if inhaling the entire Lower Realm's expectations and destiny into his chest.
His voice was calm yet carried the weight of a thousand mountains, clearly reaching the ears of all ten:
"Everyone..."
"I leave this in your hands."
The ten straightened, their expressions turning solemn.
They cupped their hands in unison, their voices merging into a resolute, boundless torrent that resounded across the heavens:
"We will not fail our mission!!!"
As those words fell!
Ten figures transformed into ten streams of brilliant light, each a different color yet equally resolute and dazzling.
Like shooting stars flying in reverse, they threw themselves without hesitation into the depths below!
...
[
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