Suddenly, an ear-piercing laughter rang out from afar.
The crowd turned to the source of the sound, startled.
Swish, swish, swish...
The sound of rushing wind filled the skies as two figures landed in the Chen Clan mansion. Their imposing auras exploded, sending people tumbling.
“Enemy attack!” shrieked the private troops, ready to pounce on the enemies.
“Simpletons,” Elder Yingwu said with disdain, his demeanor akin to that of a noble envoy handling ignorant peasants.
He flung his sleeves, and a terrifying qi force immediately erupted, shaking heaven and earth and sweeping away everything in its path.
As the fierce wind howled, the nearby troops were sent hurtling backward, spewing blood as they crashed to the ground in agony.
“Stop!” shouted Chen Zhengqing. He and the others had rushed out, so the private troops halted, not attacking the intruders.
“You're the ones behind this assault on the Chen Clan? Who are you?” Chen Zhengqing questioned coldly, looking at Elder Yingwu and Elder Xiongwu with an icy gaze.
Elder Yingwu gave Chen Zhengqing a dismissive glance and replied, “I guess, there is no harm in telling you. We’re inner sect elders from the Spring Autumn Sect. And as for why we're targeting you? It's because your son, Chen Fan, has offended someone he shouldn't have. Now, you and your clan are caught in the crossfire and will face annihilation!
“I’m sure you’ve already sent a distress signal to him, but what you may not know is that we orchestrated the recent chaos in your clan to bait him out of hiding. It's much easier to deal with him outside the sect.
“Since you’re about to die, I’ll show you some kindness and share with you another piece of news: Chen Fan is already dead; don’t wait for him.
“Allow me to unite you with him. In hell, I mean. If you want to blame someone, blame yourselves for raising a son who doesn't know his place in the world!"
Elder Yingwu and Elder Xiongwu’s cultivation erupted.
The immense aura shocked heaven and earth, shrouding the space. It formed a powerful force field, oppressing the crowd and making their minds tremble.
Suddenly, an icy voice rang out from behind Chen Zhengqing and the others.
"How fascinating. I return, only to find some ants rushing headlong to their death."
Chen Tianshi, Chen Hualong, and the others opened up a path one after another, letting Chen Fan walk out slowly.
Elder Yingwu and Elder Xiongwu’s qi momentarily wavered when they saw Chen Fan. Their expressions shifted to shock as if they had seen a ghost.
Elder Yingwu pointed at Chen Fan, his legs trembling, and said, “You... how is this possible?”
Didn’t the merit elder kill him?
Chen Fan walked up to Chen Zhengqing’s side and looked at Elder Yingwu and Elder Xiongwu coldly. “You must be nothing but cannon fodder to Duan Jingtian. What, did you think those old coots like Merit Elder and Elder Liehuo could kill me?”
“What? Even Elder Liehuo is involved!” Elder Yingwu and Elder Xiongwu were shocked again. They had only known about the merit elder's involvement.
Chen Fan snorted and said mockingly, “Ignorance suits you. That doesn’t matter, though. You’ll be dying for certain today. No one can save you.
“Honestly, I forgot about you two clowns, but look at you guys, reminding me of our grudge. Good. If death is what you want, I’ll grant your wish.”
Chen Fan’s words were like a sharp sword stabbing Elder Yingwu and Elder Xiongwu’s hearts. A palpable sense of dread washed over them, chilling them to the core.
Reacting instinctively, Elder Yingwu and Elder Xiongwu channeled their primeval force, executing their advanced movement skill to escape.
“Hahahaha, Elder Yingwu, Elder Xiongwu, you think you can escape? You’re simply delusional!” Chen Fan smiled coldly.
He would truly be a joke if he let Elder Yingwu and Elder Xiongwu escape. With a swift motion, he reached out, his hand engulfing the space before him.
“Down!” An unseen force surged forth, gripping the very fabric of space as if it were clay in Chen Fan's hands.
Elder Yingwu and Elder Xiongwu were immediately restrained, hanging in the air like sculptures. Next, an invisible palm struck them.
With two bangs, the two plunged from the sky like meteors, smashing two large holes into the ground, the earth shaking violently.
The impact was brutal, causing Elder Yingwu and Elder Xiongwu to spew blood uncontrollably, their bones and tendons shattered and their vision blurred.
They knew Chen Fan was powerful, but experiencing the firsthand experience drove home just how outmatched they were. They were indeed nothing but ants before him. Terror engulfed their hearts.
They had come to the Chen Clan with great excitement to massacre its clansmen. Then, they would claim credit in front of Duan Jingtian after finishing their mission. However, Chen Fan had shattered their fantasy.
“You fools, did Elder Liehuo and the others not send you a warning? Clearly, they sent you here to die. This is what happens when you serve Duan Jingtian like a dog. What, do you still have anything to say?”
Elder Yingwu and Elder Xiongwu’s faces were devoid of color, feeling bitter inside and unable to speak of their suffering.
They knew that Chen Fan was right.
The merit elder, Elder Liehuo, and the others had failed to ambush Chen Fan, but they didn’t inform them of their failure. Consequently, they had walked right into a trap and sent themselves to their deaths. A tide of hatred surged within them toward Duan Jingtian, the merit elder, and Elder Liehuo.
“You can’t kill us, Chen Fan. We’re inner sect elders of the Spring Autumn Sect. If you kill us, the sect would surely investigate the matter. And then, even you won't escape unscathed," Elder Yingwu retorted, his voice strained.
Chen Fan said with a cold smile, “You’re using that to pressure me? How funny! If Elder Liehuo hadn’t interrupted, I would have even killed the merit elder. Now, tell me, do you think I care about you two?
“Also, you violated the sect’s rules and dared to make a move on my clan and kill my clansmen. Even if the sect found out, they wouldn’t do a thing to me.
“Even if you manage to talk an iron tree into blooming today, it won’t save your lives. You were destined to die the moment you laid hands on my clan.”