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As the Saintess of the Divine Flame Emperor Palace, Zhang Ke'er's cultivation aptitude was already extremely heaven-defying. Furthermore, she had Empress Lin Shuwang as her master, receiving personal instruction as her pro-disciple.

Although she was only twelve or thirteen years old, Zhang Ke'er had long since broken through to the Spirit Communication Realm and possessed the strength to battle across realms.

Ye Han's talent wasn't bad, and the Ye family did not lack cultivation resources. However, she spent her days revolving entirely around Ye Xuan, solely focused on coaxing him and making him happy. Whenever she found a good cultivation method or a heavenly spiritual object, she would immediately offer it to him. She was an absolute sycophant who could not endure the slightest bit of hardship.

As a result, even though Ye Han was a few years older than Zhang Ke'er, their strength was simply not on the same level.

The instant they clashed, Zhang Ke'er beat Ye Han until she was utterly defenseless, coughing up blood incessantly. Seeing that she was about to be frozen into an ice lump by the terrifying cold currents, Ye Lingyue finally could not hold back.

Ye Lingyue struck out ruthlessly. Relying on a realm and cultivation base far superior to Zhang Ke'er's, she forcefully repelled the girl and rescued the terrified Ye Han.

The cultivation base of a Ninth Heaven Divine Fire Realm expert was indeed terrifying. If she didn't act, the waters remained still; the moment she struck, she completely dominated the battlefield.

But just as Ye Lingyue believed she could forcibly drag Chu Chen away with her strength alone, the most powerful person present was kicked "awake" by Chu Chen. In an instant, Ye Han and Ye Lingyue experienced what true terror felt like!!

A Third Heaven Great Saint, Zhong Sheng, made his move!!

Just how terrifying was the might of a Saint?

They comprehended the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth and wielded the divine power of the void.

With bare hands, they could tear apart the fabric of space and freely traverse the boundless void.

If he hadn't been kicked in the backside by Chu Chen-a lowly Ninth Heaven Essence Condensation Realm cultivator-causing him to stumble and nearly fall right before striking, Zhong Sheng's glorious image and divine martial bearing at this moment would have been enough to rival a Divine King!!

Great Saints were venerated as Saints. When they remained still, the world was at peace; the moment they struck, the heavens and earth would resonate, and the void would tremble in fear.

Not to mention, Zhong Sheng had been so infuriated by Ye Han at the auction that his beard had bristled with rage. He had been bottling up a stomach full of anger. Upon seeing Ye Han and Ye Lingyue, he had been secretly gathering his power the entire time.

Without Chu Chen giving the word, no matter how bold Zhong Sheng was, he dared not act rashly. No matter how wronged or aggrieved he felt, he could only swallow it down.

But when Chu Chen kicked him in the rear and ordered him to strike, Zhong Sheng completely erupted!!

Having suppressed himself for so long.

Having endured for so long.

A dignified Saint, repeatedly suffering setbacks and humiliations before a junior.

This sheer humiliation had finally met its moment of reckoning.

Rumble!!

The terrifying power of space erupted violently, like an active volcano that had lain dormant for thousands of years suddenly detonating.

Like a shattering spiderweb, it rippled outward in all directions, centering on Zhong Sheng's body.

In the blink of an eye, it enveloped the surrounding radius of several dozen zhang.

It encompassed Chu Chen, Zhang Ke'er, Ye Han, and Ye Lingyue, as well as several hundred spectating residents of Shenhuo City.

Those eating.

Those cracking melon seeds.

Those watching the spectacle.

Those fighting.

Those boasting.

...

Within this radius of several dozen zhang, no matter what these people were doing, their bodies were instantly bound by the terrifying spatial power, locked rigidly in place.

Ye Han and Ye Lingyue's eyes went wide. They stared at the unremarkable Zhong Sheng in absolute disbelief. Never in their wildest dreams could they have imagined that this old man, trailing behind Chu Chen like a lowly old servant, was actually... actually a Great Saint expert! He was even more terrifying than Zhang Ke'er!!

If the two of them remembered correctly, the only reason this old ghost Zhong Sheng struck was because Chu Chen had kicked him.

This...

What in the world was going on?!

A little piece of trash at the Essence Condensation Realm actually dared to kick a Great Saint expert???

What the hell...

A Great Saint expert who could dominate the heavens and the earth-did he have no temper at all??

Even if Chu Chen had managed to reconnect his cultivation path, he was still merely at the Essence Condensation Realm. How exactly did he manage to command this?

Furthermore, hadn't Ye Han claimed that Chu Chen-in order to survive, to get a full meal, to avoid being beaten to death...

Had become a slave, groveling for a pitiful existence?

But looking at this situation...

It was completely different from what they had imagined.

Something was extremely wrong!!

"Young Master, they are all suppressed!"

After completely immobilizing Ye Han and Ye Lingyue with a single move, Zhong Sheng dusted his hands off, feeling immensely satisfied. He then obediently walked up to Chu Chen, cupped his fists, and bowed deeply:

"Whether to kill them or spare them, please give the word, Young Master!"

As he spoke, Zhong Sheng snapped his fingers. The spatial power enveloping Chu Chen and Zhang Ke'er instantly dispersed, restoring their mobility. Meanwhile, the Ye sisters remained rigidly locked in place by the spatial suppression, unable to move a single muscle.

"Hmph, not so arrogant now, are you?! Let's see you try to attack again!"

Before Chu Chen could speak, Zhang Ke'er could not hold back. Pointing straight at Ye Han's face, she mocked:

"I was wondering who had such a big mouth! Throwing Spirit Stones around at the auction like dirt, acting so tyrannical!"

"So it's someone from the Immortal Aristocratic Family Ye. No wonder."

"Your Ye family's elevation to an Immortal Aristocratic Family was entirely due to Chu Chen's merits. Who would have expected you to burn the bridge after crossing the river and kick him out? What a pack of ungrateful white-eyed wolves."

As she spoke, Zhang Ke'er drew her personal sword and pointed it directly at Ye Han's snow-white neck. Killing Intent flared instantly:

"Others might fear your Ye family, but my Divine Flame Emperor Palace does not!"

"Others might fear you Ye sisters, but I, Zhang Ke'er, do not!"

"I'd like to see if your Ye family dares to seek revenge against me after I kill you!!"

The razor-sharp sword tip instantly pierced the skin, and bright red blood trickled down from the wound.

Drip!

Drip!!

Under the threat of imminent death, the formerly insufferable Eldest Miss Ye Han could no longer maintain her facade. Bean-sized tears rolled down her cheeks one after another.

Her phoenix eyes were now filled with sheer terror and pitiful pleading.

She... Ye Han was truly terrified.

If her body wasn't rigidly locked by spatial power, Ye Han probably would have... would have dropped to her knees~

Chu Chen did not speak, nor did he intervene. Instead, he watched with keen interest, admiring the absolute terror on Ye Han's face and the desperate struggle in Ye Lingyue's eyes.

Swish!!

But just as Zhang Ke'er's long sword was about to sever Ye Han's head, a voice suddenly rang out within Chu Chen's mind.

Following that, the corners of Chu Chen's mouth curled up slightly.

"Ke'er, that's enough!"

Chu Chen finally spoke. Zhang Ke'er reluctantly stayed her hand, her little cheeks puffed out in indignation.

"Tell them to get lost."

Chu Chen offered no further explanation. He waved his hand and casually initiated Sword Riding, flying off toward the Divine Flame Emperor Palace on his own.

Seeing this, although Zhang Ke'er and Zhong Sheng felt their anger wasn't fully vented, they unanimously mounted their flying swords and chased after Chu Chen, vanishing into the distance.

The moment Zhong Sheng departed, the spatial power restricting Ye Han and Ye Lingyue completely dissipated.

"Huff, huff~ That scared me to death! Scared me to death!"

Ye Han repeatedly patted her chest, her soul still trembling from the fright.

"Xiao Han, are you alright? Are you injured anywhere?"

Ye Lingyue hurried forward, anxiously inspecting Ye Han's body as she spoke:

"Thank goodness Chu Chen spoke up to stop her, otherwise... otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable!"

"To think that after Chu Chen left the Ye family, he actually became a Pro-disciple of the Divine Flame Emperor Palace. Not only does the Saintess obey his orders, but he even has a Great Saint expert acting as his Dharma Protector! This... this is too unbelievable!!"

"However, Chu Chen is still biased toward our Ye family. Deep down, he still views you as his sister. He still cares for our blood ties and simply couldn't bear to see you killed!"

The moment Ye Lingyue finished speaking, Ye Han snorted coldly, her face filled with extreme displeasure:

"Eldest Sister, what are you saying?"

"That Chu Chen clearly didn't dare to kill me! He didn't dare to strike against the Ye family out of fear of our retaliation!"

"Don't think I don't know! That so-called Saintess, that so-called Great Saint, they were all terrified of our Ye family and were just looking for a stepping stone to back down! Even if I, Ye Han, stretched out my neck for them to chop, would they dare?! Would they?!"

"Isn't it just a mere Great Saint expert? It's not like our Ye family lacks them! Give me a few hundred years, and I can just as easily break through to the Saint Realm and achieve the throne of a Saint!"

"They barked so fiercely, but aren't they still terrified of the Ye family? So what if it's the Divine Flame Emperor Palace? So what if it's Shenhuo City? Three years ago, didn't our Ye family beat them..."

Before Ye Han could finish her sentence, Ye Lingyue hastily clamped a hand over her mouth. Then, under an unfriendly glare, she forcibly dragged Ye Han out of Shenhuo City, flying toward the outskirts.

This was Shenhuo City!

The city where the Divine Flame Emperor Palace resided, the absolute territory of Empress Lin Shuwang!

The residents of Shenhuo City already harbored intense resentment toward the Ye family. For Ye Han to openly shout such provocative words right on the street-if that wasn't courting death, what was?

In any case, they had already discovered Chu Chen's whereabouts. Since they couldn't force him back, it was better to return to the Ye family first, report to their father and Patriarch, and plot their next move.

Swish!!

The moment Ye Han and Ye Lingyue flew out of Shenhuo City, they plunged into the dense ancient forest without looking back, vanishing from sight.

What the two sisters did not know, however, was that the very instant they departed, a rift materialized out of thin air within the void.

Like maggots clinging to the bone, it followed closely behind them.

Utterly impossible to shake off...