"No!"

Lu Densi roared furiously, his aura suddenly erupting as a dazzling white light burst forth from his body.

Swoosh!

A beam of white sword energy swept across the crowd. In an instant, all the members of the Holy Court and Na Lita vanished, as if they had never existed. Across from Jiang Chen and his group, only Lu Densi remained standing!

"Whoa, are Saint Realm Experts really this powerful?" Yan Hu was stunned and spoke in disbelief.

Jiang Chen raised his head to glance at Fa Rang, muttering to himself, "This is beyond the capability of an ordinary Saint Realm Expert. Could it be the power of a Divine Artifact?"

Thud!

Lu Densi opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood. His aura instantly withered, his face pale as he half-knelt on the ground.

"Jiang... Jiang Chen, what do you mean? I'm a peak-level Venerable Realm expert, and you're going to sacrifice me as well?" Lu Densi looked up at Jiang Chen, his gaze filled with malice. "I demand to see the divine being! I refuse to believe the divine being would allow me to be sacrificed!"

"Sacrifice? Do you people even deserve to use that word? Your deaths are nothing but deserved!"

Jiang Chen sneered, curling his lips disdainfully before speaking mockingly, "You want to see the Eight-Headed Serpent? What's the point of telling me? Until I can defeat him, I have no desire to meet him!"

Lu Densi froze in place, his brows furrowing tightly as he growled, "What do you mean? How dare you call the divine being that?! You're blaspheming the divine being!"

"Oh, for goodness' sake!"

Jiang Chen rolled his eyes helplessly, then looked up at Fa Rang in the sky and said, "Fa Rang, Judgment Chief, you let yourself get schemed against by someone like this? Your intelligence... truly concerning!"

Behind Jiang Chen stood Xi'er and the other two, their Heaven and Earth Vital Energy sealed, and their faces showed a hint of peculiar expression as they suspiciously watched Jiang Chen. Meanwhile, Yan Hu and his group exchanged knowing smiles.

Fa Rang landed beside Jiang Chen, smiling faintly as he said, "Indeed, letting a fool like this scheme against me does make my intelligence questionable!"

"What—what are you implying?" Lu Densi suddenly snapped out of his stupor, staring at Jiang Chen incredulously. "You didn't pledge allegiance to the divine being?"

"You wish!" Jiang Chen said with an expression of utter disgust. "Pledge allegiance to that blasted bug? You're overthinking!"

"But..."

Jiang Chen shifted his tone, speaking playfully, "Thanks to your protection, I was able to concentrate and help Fa Rang, Judgment Chief, break free from the control of the Divine Lock Chain!"

"You..."

Thud!

Lu Densi's face changed dramatically, and he spat out another mouthful of blood, staring at Jiang Chen in utter fury.

He finally understood everything—he'd been completely deceived by Jiang Chen. Not only had he unknowingly helped protect Jiang Chen while he worked to undo the trap he'd risked his life to set, but...

"Oh, that reminds me—I should thank you!"

Jiang Chen spoke again, "I've never felt this good cursing out a peak-level Venerable Realm expert before, much less slapping one in the face. Twelve slaps—this time, I got my fill!"

"You—you scoundrel!"

Thud!

Lu Densi cursed, spat out yet another mouthful of blood, his eyes widened in disbelief, his breath faltered, and his body stiffened before slowly toppling over.

Bang!

Lu Densi's body hit the ground, lifeless and devoid of any vitality!

"What the... did he die from anger?"

Yan Hu stared in shock at the fallen Lu Densi, then turned to Jiang Chen, raising a thumbs-up. "Young Master, impressive as ever! You've managed to anger a peak Venerable Realm expert to death!"

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow and stepped forward to check carefully. Scratching his head in disbelief, he muttered, "Did he really die of anger?!"

"Mr. Jiang, congratulations—you've become the first in history to accomplish this!"

Fa Rang forced a laugh and glanced at Xi'er and the other two, then waved a hand to release their seals.

As the seals were lifted, Xi'er and his companions hesitated, glancing between Jiang Chen and Fa Rang, doubt lingering in their expressions.

Jiang Chen chuckled, looking at Xi'er and the others. "What's wrong? Even Lu Densi figured out I was lying. Are you still doubting me?"

"Well..." Xi'er hesitated, opening his mouth but finally staying silent.

"Are you injured?" Fa Rang asked softly.

Xi'er and the others were momentarily stunned before shaking their heads in unison.

"You fought desperately, while these three deliberately controlled their power. You were obviously no match, yet you came out unscathed under such circumstances. Doesn't that strike you as strange?" Fa Rang calmly pointed out.

Xi'er and the others blinked, glanced at Yan Hu and his group, and finally realized what was going on.

"Mr. Jiang, forgive us. We..." The trio apologized, their expressions filled with guilt as they looked at Jiang Chen.

"It's fine."

Jiang Chen waved them off lightly. "Your suspicion and actions actually made Lu Densi trust me even more. If anything, you helped quite a lot!"

Xi'er and the others laughed awkwardly, scratching their heads in embarrassment.

"Alright, this matter is resolved. Let's head back to the Holy Court." Fa Rang called out, then turned to Jiang Chen. "Mr. Jiang, I won't say anything more—the gratitude I owe you, I'll always remember."

Jiang Chen smiled faintly, speaking softly, "Let's go check on His Holiness the Pope."

Fa Rang nodded, and the group leapt into motion, heading along the road where their vehicle was still parked.

At the headquarters of the Holy Court, inside a secret chamber...

The chamber was awash in gold, white, and black hues!

At the center of the chamber sat two elderly men in a meditative posture. One of them emitted a thick black fog, his twisted expression revealing intense pain, while a white staff hovered above him, radiating soft white light.

Behind the elder, Dragon Saint rested his hands on the back of the elder's head, emitting a dazzling golden glow as pure streams of Soul Power flowed from his hands into the elder's body.

Beside the two elderly men stood a young man wearing a Crystal Crown. His face was solemn, his eyes faintly laced with worry, and his Inner Qi continuously infused into the crown above his head. The crown radiated divine white light, illuminating the elder in front of Dragon Saint.

Rumble!

Suddenly, a rumbling noise echoed, and a doorway appeared in one wall of the chamber. Fa Rang entered with Jiang Chen, and as they stepped inside, the stone door closed seamlessly, merging back into the wall.

"Mr. Jiang, you're finally here. Any later and I fear I wouldn't have been able to hold on!"

A weak voice echoed through the chamber. Dragon Saint glanced briefly at Jiang Chen but continued his actions without pause.

"This bad?!" Jiang Chen paused, frowning as he quickly walked toward the three figures.

"So, you're Jiang Chen?"

Beside them, the young man glared at Jiang Chen, his gaze burning with unspoken anger!

Jiang Chen froze, baffled by the cause of the youth's fury.

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