"What?"
The Chen clan members turned pale in shock, disbelief written all over their faces.
Chen Wangxu was a Second Realm Martial Emperor, yet Yang Cheng had forced him to kneel with just a single glance? How terrifying had Yang Cheng's strength become?
"Wangxu!"
Chen Juefeng's heart twisted in pain as he roared furiously at Yang Cheng, "Yang Cheng! If my son suffers even the slightest harm, you'll never leave the Chen clan alive!"
Yang Cheng's eyes slowly fell on Chen Wangxu, who was kneeling on the floor, his face twisted in humiliation and rage.
"I had no intention of killing you," Yang Cheng said evenly. "But just for your father's words alone, I no longer have a choice."
"You dare!" Chen Juefeng shouted, his qi and blood surging as he prepared to rush forward.
But Yang Cheng moved first.
He flicked his finger lightly, and an invisible stream of finger force shot forth, piercing straight through Chen Wangxu's forehead.
Chen Wangxu's pupils dilated in disbelief. His body went limp, falling to the ground without a sound.
Ding!
[Detected that the host not only prevented Chen Wangxu from turning into a demon but also killed him. This result far exceeds system expectations.]
[Mission completed. Reward: Four-Star Shura Sword Domain.]
[Bonus compensation: One Crystal of Time and Space.]
The system's messages appeared before Yang Cheng's eyes.
The brief, indifferent tone of the system almost made him uneasy.
It seemed the system had become numb to his repeated "miracles."
"Wangxu!"
Chen Juefeng, witnessing his son's death with his own eyes, let out a roar of anguish. Blood vessels burst in his eyes as he released his full power—an aura belonging to a peak Insight God realm cultivator exploded outward without restraint.
In the next instant, his figure blurred into a phantom as he charged at Yang Cheng. "I'll make you pay with your life!"
Yang Cheng's gaze sharpened. He no longer held back.
With a mere thought, the Shura Divine Sword appeared in his hand.
He swung it once, and the Two-Star Shura Domain unfolded instantly. A cold, terrifying sword aura spread through the hall as a brilliant sword light slashed downward toward Chen Juefeng.
"Pchhh!"
The sword light flashed. Chen Juefeng's attack shattered instantly, his body sliced apart and driven deep into the ground. The earth split open beneath him, leaving behind a dark, bottomless pit. His life or death was uncertain.
The Chen clan fell silent. Faces turned pale as ash. No one dared to move.
At that moment, Chen Xuanshan, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke. His eyes flickered with complicated emotion before he stepped forward and bowed deeply to Yang Cheng.
"The Chen clan is willing to submit to Your Highness."
"Ancestor!"
The Chen clan members gasped in disbelief, their eyes wide as they stared at Chen Xuanshan.
But Chen Xuanshan ignored them, keeping his gaze on Yang Cheng.
Yang Cheng said calmly, "If you want to submit to me, then cleanse your clan of all who oppose me."
"Yes," Chen Xuanshan replied without hesitation.
"You're insane, Brother!"
From within the crowd, a figure stepped out—it was the Chen clan's Grand Elder, Chen Xuanzhong, Chen Xuanshan's own younger brother. He glared angrily. "Why should we bow to this brat? The Chen clan has no reason to fear him!"
Chen Xuanshan's eyes turned cold. Without another word, he struck with his palm.
"Pfft!"
Caught off guard, Chen Xuanzhong took the full force of the blow to his chest. Blood spurted from his mouth as he stared at Chen Xuanshan in disbelief. "Brother… you…"
Before he could finish, his body fell limply to the ground, lifeless.
His cultivation was not weak—stronger even than Chen Juefeng's—but he had been unprepared. That single strike had ended him instantly.
The rest of the Chen clan stood frozen in horror. No one dared to speak again.
Suppressing the pain in his eyes, Chen Xuanshan swept his gaze across the hall. "Who else refuses to acknowledge His Highness Yang? Speak now—or be killed without mercy."
The hall fell utterly silent.
No one answered.
Yang Cheng looked at Chen Xuanshan, a faint trace of approval flashing in his eyes. He gave a small nod. "Very good. I accept your submission."
An hour later, Yang Cheng sat in the main seat of the Chen clan's grand hall.
Chen Xuanshan stood before him, presenting the ledgers and records of the Chen clan's properties and businesses for Yang Cheng to inspect.
At that moment, a servant's voice came from outside the Chen residence. "Madam Chu Xianyin, invited by the Chen clan, has arrived to perform on the guqin."
Chu Xianyin's visit had been arranged several days earlier at the Chen clan's invitation. Yang Cheng's presence was merely a coincidence.
When Chu Xianyin entered the grand hall, her steps froze. The Chen clan members—once proud and unyielding—were now standing respectfully before a single young man.
Her eyes widened in shock.
When she finally looked closer and saw who the youth was, her expression turned even more stunned—it was Yang Cheng.
She couldn't understand what was happening.
Yang Cheng, however, paid no attention to her surprise. His gaze shifted toward Yu Hongluan, whose face was pale and eyes filled with turmoil.
"Do you want to die or live?" he asked calmly.
Yu Hongluan's body trembled. She hesitated for a long moment before gritting her teeth. "I want to live."
"Then open your Sea of Consciousness," Yang Cheng said indifferently.
Her face twisted with conflict. She knew what that meant—opening her Sea of Consciousness was to surrender completely, to let another leave a mark on her soul. Yet, after what she had just witnessed of his terrifying strength, resistance was pointless.
At last, she clenched her teeth and obeyed.
Yang Cheng extended his spiritual sense and planted a spiritual imprint within her Sea of Consciousness.
Once it was done, he drew out a large Immortal Peach and handed it to her. "This peach will help heal your injuries."
The peach emitted a sweet, refreshing aroma, its surface glowing faintly with spiritual light. Yu Hongluan and the Chen clan members stared in astonishment.
It wasn't an imitation—it was a true Immortal Peach, a divine fruit of legend.
"This… this is…"
Yu Hongluan's eyes trembled as she accepted the fruit. Her gaze toward Yang Cheng shifted, filled with awe and gratitude. Without hesitation, she bit into it.
A gentle yet overwhelming power spread through her body at once. The damage to her spiritual sea began to repair at visible speed, her complexion regaining its color.
The Chen clan members exchanged envious glances.
Yang Cheng's approach was both ruthless and benevolent—first the iron fist, then the sweet reward.
Turning toward the others, Yang Cheng said evenly, "I'll be giving the Chen clan exclusive rights to sell the Earth Spirit Heart Pill. From now on, all trade across the southern region of the Horn Constellation Realm will be under your control. Prepare yourselves accordingly."
"The Earth Spirit Heart Pill?"
Excitement swept through the Chen clan like wildfire.
That pill—one of Yang Cheng's own divine creations—was famed for its incredible effects and low cost. The potential profit was enormous. For the Chen clan, it was an unimaginable blessing.
Once he finished arranging everything, Yang Cheng didn't linger. He turned and left, taking Chu Xianyin with him.
They departed the Horn Constellation Realm and swiftly returned toward the Wasteland Realm.
Chu Xianyin's eyes were full of curiosity. She couldn't contain herself and asked, "What just happened back there? Why was the entire Chen clan acting like that?"
Yang Cheng smiled faintly. "Nothing special. They're simply afraid of my strength."
Her expression froze in disbelief.
After all, Chen Xuanshan was an Yin God realm powerhouse—a level few dared to provoke.
Even someone like him feared Yang Cheng?
Yang Cheng offered no further explanation. When they returned to the Wasteland Realm, he parted ways with Chu Xianyin and headed toward the Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy.
Meanwhile, back in the Horn Constellation Realm—
After Yang Cheng's departure, the suffocating tension in the Chen clan's hall finally eased.
Chen Juefeng, his face full of resentment, turned to Chen Xuanshan and asked, "Father, why did you bow so low to Yang Cheng? You are an Yin God cultivator! How could you fear a mere boy?"
At his words, the surrounding Chen clan members also turned their eyes toward Chen Xuanshan, confusion and disbelief flickering in every gaze.
In their minds, the Chen clan was one of the oldest, most powerful families in the Horn Constellation Realm. Their ancestor was an Yin God realm expert—why would they need to submit so humbly to anyone, no matter how powerful he seemed?