?!

Facing the question from his Dao Protector Zhong Sheng, Chu Chen used all his strength to slightly blink his eyelids in response.

A Great Saint powerhouse had descended. The power of space swept through the entire Spirit Herb Hall. Everyone present, except Zhong Sheng-whether in the Earth Opening Realm, Heaven Opening Realm, or Spirit Communication Realm-was immobilized by the formidable spatial power. Chu Chen was no exception.

Before a Great Saint who had mastered the Laws of Space, this was an absolute suppression, an overwhelming crush!

"I almost forgot. You cannot speak right now."

Seeing that Chu Chen could still blink at him despite being restrained by spatial power, Zhong Sheng was greatly astonished.

Without overthinking it, he waved his hand. The spatial power binding Chu Chen instantly receded, restoring his freedom of movement.

As for the others, they remained frozen in place like clay statues and wooden puppets. Clearly, Zhong Sheng could not be bothered with them; he had questions for Chu Chen alone and did not wish to be interrupted.

"Greetings, Elder Zhong!"

After regaining his mobility, Chu Chen stretched his limbs while cupping his hands in salute to the white-haired Elder Zhong before him.

Regardless, this old man was his Dao Protector. Given his own penchant for stirring up trouble, he would inevitably need this old fellow to fight for him, shield him from disasters, or even die in his place in the future~

A bit of respect was only proper.

"Hmm! Hmm?!"

Elder Zhong waved his hand, then widened his eyes, glaring at Chu Chen with his beard bristling. Clearly, he was dissatisfied with being addressed merely as "Elder Zhong."

He was a Great Saint powerhouse, an Elder of the Red King Palace, possessing a revered status. He should at least be addressed as "Elder" or "Your Excellency."

But recalling Chu Chen's identity, Zhong Sheng impatiently stroked his beard and said no more on the matter. Instead, he changed the subject and demanded:

"Kid, I am a Great Saint of the Third Heaven. I have long comprehended the power of space."

"I was hidden within the surrounding spatial turbulence, my aura completely concealed. Logically, even a fellow Great Saint would find it difficult to detect me before I made a move. You are merely at the Qi Gathering Realm-how did you know of my existence?"

"Could it be that the Palace Master told you? That shouldn't be! After the Palace Master sent me a spiritual transmission, he directly teleported to the Heavenly Demon Gorge to search for the Undying Elixir."

Looking at the somewhat rigid and slow-witted Zhong Sheng before him, the corners of Chu Chen's mouth curled up slightly.

Cupping his hands in another salute, he slowly spoke:

"This junior is merely at the Qi Gathering Realm, so naturally, I could not sense your presence, Elder Zhong. My master never informed me about a Dao Protector either."

"I guessed it all. I was so certain entirely because of the deep bond between my master and me. I believed that before leaving, my master would definitely find someone to secretly protect me."

"Otherwise, with my arrogant nature and habit of courting trouble, if no one had my back, wouldn't I be dead by now~"

"..."

Hearing that Chu Chen had merely guessed, Zhong Sheng stroked his beard and let out a faint sigh.

This kid was clever, but still far too reckless. He would struggle to achieve greatness in the future.

To actually stake his own life on someone else-this was a massive taboo for cultivators!

He had gambled correctly this time, but what about the next? And the time after that?

With this thought, Dao Protector Zhong Sheng's gaze toward Chu Chen shifted, gaining a distinct hint of disdain.

Chu Chen smiled but did not bother to explain.

Staking his life on someone else?

Did he, Chu Chen, look that stupid?!

Not to mention the jade pendant imbued with a Saint King protective talisman refined by Qi Lao'er, he also possessed a Saint-level flood dragon he had subdued in the Heavenly Demon Gorge.

If it truly came down to life and death, he would simply release that Saint-level flood dragon and use its claws to slaughter the entire Spirit Herb Hall.

Of course, Chu Chen's true trump card was the Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon within his body-the Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar.

This was his anchor, his ultimate killing weapon. Until the absolute final moment, Chu Chen would never expose it.

Claiming to have gambled his life on his Dao Protector Zhong Sheng was nothing more than a convenient excuse.

Naturally, saying this served another purpose: to test whether Zhong Sheng knew about the Saint King-level protective jade pendant refined by Qi Lao'er.

Judging by Zhong Sheng's reaction, he did not know.

This detail was crucial. It would be of immense use when it came time to shake off this Dao Protector in the future!!

Chu Chen ignored Dao Protector Zhong Sheng. Instead, while the high-ranking Law Enforcement Hall disciple Zhou Song and the others were still restrained by spatial power, he stepped forward. Then, under Zhong Sheng's utterly incredulous gaze, he raised his right hand and delivered one resounding slap after another straight across Zhou Song's handsome face.

Slap!

Slap!

Slap!!

...

After a flurry of slaps, Zhou Song's originally fair and handsome face instantly swelled up like a pig's head.

What nonsense about 'a gentleman can wait ten years for revenge'?

He, Chu Chen, was a petty man. If he had a grudge, he settled it on the spot. Otherwise, he wouldn't sleep well at night and would easily suffer from insomnia!!

Zhou Song's face was flushed crimson-whether from the beating or from sheer fury, it was hard to tell.

His eyes were fixed dead upon Chu Chen, glaring so fiercely they seemed ready to spit fire. It was a terrifying sight.

Although Zhou Song's body was restrained by spatial power, his senses were unaffected. He could still hear and feel everything; he simply could not move.

As a Heaven Opening Realm cultivator and a high-ranking disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall, when had he ever suffered such profound humiliation?!

Zhou Song silently vowed in his heart that the moment he regained his mobility, he would slaughter Chu Chen! He would absolutely slaughter Chu Chen!

A fight to the bitter end!!

Otherwise, what face would he, Zhou Song, have left to establish himself in the Law Enforcement Hall or the Divine Flame Emperor Palace?

He had just been slapped over a dozen times, and hundreds of surrounding disciples had witnessed it with their own eyes! Witnessed it with their own eyes!!

"Oh? Still dare to glare at me?!"

After delivering over a dozen slaps, Chu Chen's hand was aching. He took a closer look and saw Zhou Song glaring at him with utter defiance.

What the hell? I beat you, and you still have the nerve to be angry?

Could this be tolerated? Could this be tolerated??

Immediately, Chu Chen turned around, drew his longsword, and walked step by step toward Zhou Song.

Zhou Song snorted coldly in his mind. His gaze toward Chu Chen now held a bit more mockery and contempt, even a hint of provocation.

He was a Heaven Opening Realm powerhouse, a disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall, a prodigy of the Divine Flame Emperor Palace.

He refused to believe that Chu Chen would dare to kill him in front of so many people!

If he killed him, would Chu Chen even survive the consequences?!

Today, he, Zhou Song, would rather die than bow his head! He would rather die than fail to drag Chu Chen down with him! He would rather die than stop protesting against this tyranny and reliance on connections!!

Seeing Chu Chen draw his longsword and stride toward Zhou Song with surging Killing Intent, Dao Protector Zhong Sheng frowned, preparing to intervene.

Teaching him a slight lesson was justifiable, but if it resulted in a loss of life, it would be difficult to explain. After all, Chu Chen was not in the right here.

Furthermore, the Law Enforcement Hall of the Divine Flame Emperor Palace was no mere decoration to be casually trampled upon.

But soon, Zhou Song-who was full of courage and had already disregarded life and death-could no longer hold his composure.

Because the longsword in Chu Chen's hand was not aimed at his throat, heart, or any other vital spot, but rather...

But rather at his... his crotch. At Zhou Song's little brother!

Zhou Song shuddered violently, nearly scared out of his wits.

Killing him would mean an inescapable death penalty for Chu Chen.

But if he chopped off his little brother, then... even if it was a crime, it wouldn't warrant the death penalty!

When the icy blade pressed flat against his crotch, Zhou Song's entire body erupted in goosebumps. His gaze toward Chu Chen instantly filled with flattery and desperate pleading.

Zhou Song frantically mobilized the spiritual energy within his body, desperately trying to escape. Yet, even as his entire body flushed crimson from the exertion, he could not move a single inch.

Leaving him with nothing but a cold sweat and a fresh wave of goosebumps...

"Your name is Zhou Song, right? I, Chu Chen, have only been at the Divine Flame Emperor Palace for a few days. I have no grievances with you, so why target me?"

"You said that if my maidservant was taken to the Law Enforcement Hall, she would only have one path left-death. Were those your words?"

Zhou Song blinked frantically, wanting to explain, wanting to beg for mercy.

But his eyelids felt as heavy as lead, completely immovable. His eyes were bloodshot...

"Tell your little brother that in his next life, he shouldn't provoke people he can't afford to offend!"

Swish!

As soon as the words fell, Chu Chen's longsword flicked. Blood sprayed from Zhou Song's crotch, and a small, pitch-black lump fell to the ground.

Having already died once, what the hell was there to fear?

When he said castration, he meant castration-without the slightest hesitation.

After castrating Zhou Song, Chu Chen discarded the longsword with a look of utter disgust. After all, this sword was merely a mortal object, not even qualifying as a Dharma Treasure. Since it was dirty, he simply threw it away.

Clapping his hands clean, Chu Chen walked over to Yu Youwei, who was similarly immobilized, and swept his gaze across the hundreds of disciples present.

His originally playful gaze instantly turned murderously cold.

"I am Chu Chen!"

"Possessor of the Top Grade Five-Element Full Spiritual Root! Pro-disciple of the Divine Flame Emperor Palace! Beloved disciple of the Red King Palace Master! Master of Chaos Peak!"

As he spoke, Chu Chen grabbed Yu Youwei's small hand. His tone grew heavier, and his gaze became exceptionally fierce:

"Her name is Yu Youwei. She is the steward of my Chaos Peak, and more importantly, my personal maidservant!"

"It is true that she has been disfigured. But do you think she is ugly? Ugly?!"

"From this day onward, if any of you fuckers dare to bully my people-I don't care if you are in the Earth Opening Realm, Heaven Opening Realm, or Spirit Communication Realm! I don't care if you are an inner disciple, outer disciple, or Pro-disciple-I will slaughter you all the same!"

"Feel the heads on your shoulders. If anyone thinks their life is tougher than this eunuch named Zhou, come find me, Chu Chen!"

"I may only be at the Qi Gathering Realm, but I won't hide it from you-I am someone with connections! I have people protecting me!"

"Even Zhao Kongyang was beaten by me until he was crawling on the ground looking for his teeth. If you're not convinced, come and fight!!"

"..."