Outside the Capital City, on the wide official road, the Imperial Court, Sect Alliance, and noble scions—three groups, each as a squad, were all waiting for the people from the Martial Arts Academy.

A moment later.

Yang Tianji arrived, tearing through space, with the prodigies of the Martial Arts Academy.

As soon as Ye Chen's foot touched the ground, he felt many eyes focusing on him.

Most of the gazes carried hostility.

Ye Chen didn't mind.

It's just not convenient to start a fight now; otherwise, he would draw his sword and cut them down!

"I've long heard of the fame of Cangxing Martial Arts Academy's Ye Chen. I'm finally meeting you today. I look forward to your guidance,"

said Li Tianyi from the Sect Alliance with a faint smile.

Ye Chen glanced at Li Tianyi and said, "Who do you think you are?"

Li Tianyi's face immediately turned beet red.

Although they were destined to be opponents, on the surface, they hadn't torn their faces yet. He planned to exchange some polite remarks, but he never expected Ye Chen to be so rude.

"Haoyang Sect, Li Tianyi!"

Li Tianyi gritted his teeth and announced his background.

Ye Chen said, "I asked who you are, not your name."

"Ye Chen, you..."

Li Tianyi considered himself cultured, but after exchanging two sentences with Ye Chen, he was already furious and nearly exploded with anger.

"What about me? Want to make a move? Try it?"

Ye Chen asked three questions in a row.

Standing next to Li Tianyi, the Ten Thousand Poison Sect's prodigy Wu Ke quickly pulled on Li Tianyi's sleeve.

This trip to Lingyun Mountain had rules: no infighting!

Even though these rules were just for show and wouldn't be followed once they entered Lingyun Mountain, for now, they weren't there yet.

Ye Chen's teacher, the legendary powerhouse who combines spirit and martial arts, Yang Tianji, was just standing by. If they attacked Ye Chen, it would give Yang Tianji a perfect excuse to strike.

"Senior Brother Li, why bother arguing with this hooligan?" Wu Ke said.

Ye Chen glanced at Wu Ke, his eyes gleaming coldly.

His senior brothers and sisters were poisoned previously, and it was the poison concocted by this venomous woman.

And that poison specifically targeted those who practiced the fusion of spirit and martial arts like them.

Earlier, Yang Tianji had also warned Ye Chen that Wu Ke's cultivation realm wasn't strong, but she was the most dangerous person.

So, even before meeting this Sect Alliance crowd, Ye Chen had already drafted his kill list in mind for this expedition.

Wu Ke, number one!

"Ye Chen, this time we are heading to Lingyun Mountain as representatives of the Great Zhou Dynasty. We are just about to set out, and you're already instigating conflicts. Do you really think you're that impressive?!"

The Ninth Prince, Zhou Chengyun, shouted at this time.

Ye Chen looked at Zhou Chengyun, a cold smile appearing on his lips, and said, "The matter at Unparalleled County's Demon Suppression Valley, I haven't forgotten it."

Zhou Chengyun's face darkened, and he said, "I don't know what you're talking about!"

"It's okay if you don't remember. I'll make sure you do," Ye Chen's tone was filled with killing intent.

"Enough, stop arguing. Ye Chen, you keep quiet too!" Zhou Chengqian yelled angrily.

"What thing do you consider yourself?!" Ye Chen retorted unceremoniously.

Anyway, they were all enemies; no need for false courtesy or deceit!

Zhou Chengqian's expression hardened.

He was the pride of the Great Zhou Royal Family!

Now, facing so many people, Ye Chen was calling him a "thing." Zhou Chengqian's mood was very similar to that of Li Tianyi's earlier.

If not for fearing Yang Tianji, he would have already lashed out in anger.

At this time,

the leading power of the Sect Alliance looked at Yang Tianji and said, "Elder Yang, shall we set off?"

He was truly worried that the people on his side would be stirred by Ye Chen and lose control of their emotions, angering Yang Tianji, which wouldn't be a good thing.

Yang Tianji remained very calm, without any change in expression, and said faintly, "Let's set off."

The young prodigies of the Sect Alliance and Imperial Court were all simmering with anger in their hearts, but there was nothing they could do.

The prodigies of the Martial Arts Academy all had an indescribable feeling in their hearts. Over the years, the Great Zhou Martial Arts Academy had indeed declined year by year, and compared to the Imperial Court and Sect Alliance, the Academy lagged behind.

Today, Ye Chen represented the Academy, and the way he made Li Tianyi and Zhou Chengqian's faces turn ashen made the prodigies of the Martial Arts Academy feel elated!

The prodigies of the Noble Family Alliance remained silent.

After all, they were the weakest.

They couldn't afford to provoke the Great Zhou Martial Arts Academy.

They couldn't afford to provoke the Imperial Court.

And they also couldn't afford to provoke the Sect Alliance.

They decided to peacefully remain neutral and avoid stirring up trouble.

Under the leadership of Yang Tianji, the prodigies from the four major factions set out towards Lingyun Mountain.

It didn't take long.

The noble scion Hua Ao Bone left their group and joined the side of the Great Zhou Martial Arts Academy, intending to make friends with Ye Chen. This journey to Lingyun Mountain would require Ye Chen's protection.

"Ye Chen..."

Hua Ao Bone called out.

Ye Chen turned his head, glanced at the approaching Hua Ao Bone, ignored him, and continued on his way.

Brat.

Previously calling him brother-in-law, and now just calling him Ye Chen?

No respect!

Hua Ao Bone felt utterly wronged... Ye Chen ignored him, and with so many people watching, it was truly embarrassing!

Hua Ao Bone sped up and rushed directly to Ye Chen's side, traveling side by side, saying: "Ye..."

Before he finished speaking, Ye Chen interrupted him directly, saying: "Call me brother-in-law!"

Hua Ao Bone: "..."

Not far away, Zhou Chengqian suddenly clenched his fists, his nails piercing into his palms!

"Brother-in-law!"

Hua Ao Bone gritted his teeth and shouted out these two words. Last time he tested Ye Chen, proving that Ye Chen was indeed qualified, not tempted by beauty, and had already acknowledged Ye Chen in his heart.

The reason he didn't call him just now was because Zhou Chengqian was right next to him.

But if he didn't call him brother-in-law, Ye Chen wouldn't pay attention to him, so Hua Ao Bone, with no choice, had to compromise.

"Hua Ao Bone, what do you mean!" Zhou Chengyun yelled angrily again, "Your sister and my sixth brother have a marriage contract, yet you are here calling Ye Chen brother-in-law. Your Hua Family is disrespecting our royal family. Believe it or not, with one decree from the royal family, your Hua Family's nine clans could be exterminated!"

As soon as Zhou Chengyun finished speaking.

A golden light suddenly flashed under Ye Chen's feet.

"Swish!"

A fierce sword light appeared in front of Zhou Chengyun.

"Boom!"

In the next moment, the sword light exploded.

The leading powerhouse of the imperial court had already stood in front of Zhou Chengyun.

And Ye Chen once again exhibited the Vertical Earth Golden Light, returning to the ranks of the Martial Arts Academy's talents.

As for Zhou Chengyun, he was already scared pale, his legs weak.

Ye Chen looked at Hua Ao Bone and said: "You call me brother-in-law, I'll look out for you."

Hua Ao Bone: "..."

The leading powerhouse of the imperial court shouted angrily: "Elder Yang, wasn't Ye Chen's action a bit excessive?!"

Yang Tianji didn't even intend to turn his head to look, responding indifferently: "Did that sword hurt Zhou Chengyun?"

Just those few words left the leading powerhouse of the imperial court speechless.

Zhou Chengyun wasn't harmed, only frightened badly.

Ye Chen also spoke at this moment: "Traveling is boring, just swinging a sword for fun, who knew some people were so easily scared, no wonder in Demon Suppression Valley battlefield, as the commander, they abandon the army and flee."

Zhou Chengyun was so ashamed he wanted to find a crack in the ground to hide in!

Hua Ao Bone then gathered courage and said: "Brother-in-law, actually my sister and the royal family do not have any marriage contract. Initially, it was just a casual statement by Emperor Zhou, that if my sister and the Sixth Prince developed mutual feelings as they grew up, this matter would be facilitated. In fact, my sister holds no feelings for the Sixth Prince."

Zhou Chengqian was so infuriated he had nothing to say.

It was indeed the case.

He didn't expect Hua Ao Bone, the scoundrel, would dare explain the detailed situation in front of him.

Ye Chen hummed and responded: "If rumors outside say some random people have a marriage contract with your sister in the future, just come to me, I'll handle it!"

Zhou Chengqian couldn't bear it anymore, shouting angrily: "Ye Chen, who do you call random people!"

Ye Chen glanced at Zhou Chengqian and said: "Why, do you see yourself as random people?"

Idiot.

No names were mentioned, yet he comes forward to respond.

Had previously thought Zhou Chengqian was much smarter than Zhou Chengyun, turns out they are about the same, all brainless.

Zhou Chengqian took a deep breath, stopped talking, his expression incomparably grim.

On the Sect Alliance side, Li Tianyi and Wu Ke exchanged a glance, relieved.

Ye Chen, now with Yang Tianji backing him, was extremely arrogant, which is a good thing for them. The more Ye Chen offends Zhou Chengqian, perhaps they wouldn't even need to act later.

However, Dongfang Xiu, who knew Ye Chen best in the Sect Alliance, didn't think so.

The current Ye Chen has changed significantly compared to before.

He is more flamboyant!

This flamboyance is not reckless ignorance.

Nor is it relying on Yang Tianji's backing unapologetically.

But it is an extremely strong self-confidence!

Dongfang Xiu's mind recalled recent events related to Ye Chen from this half year, realizing where Ye Chen's strong self-confidence came from.

In such short time, from a destitute youth with a shattered home, to reaching this level, creating one unbelievable miracle after another, he has every right to be so confident!

Dongfang Xiu privately decided to ease relations with Ye Chen this time when going to Lingyun Mountain; following the Sect Alliance is pointless, teaming up with Ye Chen is the real deal!

This time heading to Lingyun Mountain, just after setting off, Ye Chen and the Sect Alliance, as well as the imperial court, already have tensions high; everyone knows that these emotions will fully erupt once they truly enter Lingyun Mountain.

Along the way, diverse personnel still have occasional verbal clashes, but except for Ye Chen swinging a sword nearly causing Zhou Chengyun to soil himself, no one has physically fought.

Like this, the rapid travel lasting half a month finally stopped.

Yang Tianji led everyone standing atop a high mountain.

Surrounding, countless peaks, like swords, pierced clouds, beautifully resembling a fairyland.

Yang Tianji said: "Ahead is already Lingyun Mountain's territory, next on the road you might meet great demons blocking the path, so behave obediently behind me, otherwise, dying means dying."

Upon hearing Yang Tianji's words, quite a few people displayed colors of trepidation on their faces.

Yet Ye Chen's heart stirred.

He never speaks when he can act; these half-months of travel were suffocating.

This is good now.

Soon can start fighting!

Ye Chen's gaze swept over Zhou Chengqian, Li Tianyi, and Wu Ke.

As for Zhou Chengyun, he didn't even bother looking; eliminating him is just incidental.

And Zhou Chengqian, Li Tianyi, and Wu Ke, almost simultaneously, look at Ye Chen.

They held similar thoughts to Ye Chen.

Once entering Lingyun Mountain, they can start acting!

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