"Yay, that's great!" the little girl exclaimed excitedly.
Chu Chen patted her head, a sigh escaping him.
The Chu family, once a preeminent noble clan in Nanling Prefecture.
The Chu family's patriarch, Chu Wuyang, was even hailed as the foremost martial artist in Nanling.
Alas, that Chu Wuyang, ten years ago.
While attempting to break through the Martial Master realm and ascend to the Saint realm, he ultimately failed.
This resulted in damage to his cultivation foundation, a plummeting of his power to rock bottom, and his life force depleted, leading to his death!
If not for the destruction of the Chu family's old manor, they would have moved long ago.
The incident of the Chu family's old manor being burned down had been a sensational topic for the past decade.
But the Chu family, after all, was a powerful entity, and its influence persisted.
Therefore, even with a poor reputation in the outside world, the Chu family still held a significant position in Nanling County.
Many families sought to curry favor with them, having to beg and plead.
"Alas, it's a pity. Although I have inherited the memories and experience of Chu Baxiang.
My cultivation has not yet recovered. Otherwise, with a casual display of secret techniques, I could suppress them and extort the whereabouts of the Blood Dragon Crystal!"
Chu Chen shook his head, feeling quite helpless.
His original intention for coming to Nanling County was to find the Blood Dragon Crystal and use its power to recover his cultivation.
But now, it seemed this plan was temporarily shelved.
Unless he could find a treasure to completely replace this body, he would be unable to utilize any martial arts techniques.
Chu Chen pondered for a moment, his gaze sharpening, "First, to the Chu family ancestral hall!"
Chu Chen took a step forward and arrived at the Chu family's ancestral hall.
Inside the ancestral hall.
The elders of the Chu family were gathered, and all the clan members were present, awaiting the awakening of the clan leader, Chu Batian.
Chu Batian, the patriarch of the Chu family, possessed immense cultivation. It was rumored he had touched upon the Martial Master realm, making him a half-step Martial Ancestor!
However, he had been in seclusion for several days and still had not awakened, causing great worry among the Chu family members.
Chu Batian had always been the stabilizing force of the Chu family.
If he were to fall, the Chu family would inevitably be affected.
At this moment, within the ancestral hall.
The core elders of the Chu family were assembled.
"Patriarch, why hasn't the clan leader woken up yet!"
"Yes, the clan leader has been in a coma for more than ten days. If he doesn't wake up soon, I fear the worst."
"I heard a young man brought Yaoyao to our Chu family.
What is going on? How could Yaoyao know such a powerful expert!"
"..."
A group of people chattered incessantly.
They were extremely wary of this young expert.
After all, the ability to kill a Martial Ancestor realm cultivator was a top-tier master, even in the entire Nanling Prefecture!
And their Chu family was merely a remote village.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approached.
"Patriarch, he's here!"
A clan member spoke.
"Mm, let him in!"
Chu Xiong, the head of the Chu family, slowly opened his eyes, a cold glint appearing within them.
Chu Batian was his only brother!
He would not allow anyone to harm his brother!
"Creak!"
The ancestral hall door opened.
Chu Chen strode in, clad in flowing white robes.
A long sword hung at his waist, and he exuded an aura of transcendent detachment.
"Chu Chen!"
Upon seeing him, the Chu family members immediately showed surprise, stepping aside to clear a space.
Chu Chen surveyed his surroundings, noticing several of his uncles and elders were present.
"Eh?"
Just then, a young man in a green robe amidst the crowd noticed Lin Yuxi, who was beside Chu Chen.
His eyes sparkled with interest: "I didn't expect there to be such a beautiful young lady here. It's truly a pleasing sight!"
"This girl's beauty is in no way inferior to those other great beauties.
I wonder what kind of vixen crawled out of which mountain gully."
On the other side, another young man in a blue robe licked his lips, a greedy glint in his eyes.
These two were Chu Chen's cousins, who usually acted arrogantly, relying on the Chu family's authority.
"Hmph! Don't think bringing a little girl can change anything.
Today, whoever dares to obstruct us from saving someone is an enemy of the entire Chu family!"
"Heh heh, these people are timid as mice, lacking even a shred of courage."
The others also sneered mockingly.
"Oh? Are you talking about me?"
Chu Chen raised an eyebrow, a mocking curve on his lips.
"That's right! You useless piece of trash, get out!"
The two young men in green robes shouted sternly.
"Trash, who are you calling trash? Believe it or not, I'll smash your dog mouth!"
Chu Chen's expression instantly turned grim, his eyes flashing with icy coldness, his killing intent surging.
"Oh really?" the young man in blue scoffed, "A mere ant dares to be so arrogant?
Do you think you've cultivated some trash martial arts these past few days.
And now you think you can sweep aside your peers, that you can be invincible in this world?"
"Haha, with you, who isn't even at the ninth stage of Martial Apprentice, daring to act tough in front of me?"
"Chu Chen, do you remember how we used to bully you?
Now that your wings have hardened, you dare to come to the Chu family ancestral hall to cause trouble. I think you're tired of living!"
"You two scoundrels! Kneel down for me!"
Chu Xiong roared in fury. These two unfilial descendants.
How dare they humiliate his son in front of everyone, it was a capital offense!
*Slap!*
*Slap!*
Two loud slaps landed on the faces of the two young men in green robes.
The Chu family members were all stunned, looking at Chu Xiong in disbelief.
"Patriarch, why are you hitting them? They are your own sons."
"Father, you are..."
Everyone else was dumbfounded.
The patriarch of the Chu family had actually hit his own sons!
Chu Xiong ignored their reactions and quickly stepped forward.
He grabbed Chu Chen's arm and apologized hastily, "Child, it's Father's fault!
It is Father's failure to discipline his sons that has caused you to suffer humiliation. I apologize to you on behalf of these beasts."
After speaking, Chu Xiong knelt down with a thud. "Father!"
"Patriarch!"
"Quick, help him up!"
In the ancestral hall, the clan members cried out in surprise, reaching out to help Chu Xiong up from the ground.
But Chu Xiong stubbornly remained kneeling before Chu Chen, looking at him with deep remorse.
"You..." Chu Chen was slightly taken aback.
He had not expected Chu Xiong to be so loyal and righteous, willing to kneel and apologize to him just to protect Chu Yao.
He had not expected Chu Xiong to be so loyal and righteous, willing to kneel and apologize to him just to protect Chu Yao.
This gratitude touched Chu Chen.
However...
"Enough! This matter ends here. You can leave. You are not welcome here,"
At this moment, Chu Feng, Chu Xiong's third brother, said coldly.
"Moreover, what can a good-for-nothing like you do even if you return? You're just wasting food!"
"Heh heh, that's right. What use is such a waste of space in our Chu family?
It's better to send him away early, lest he hinder our cultivation!" said the Chu family's second brother.