A grand mansion, ancient and elegant, hovered in mid-air.
Above the mansion stood a colossal palace, resplendent with gold and jade, adorned with intricate carvings and beams, its grandeur akin to a celestial realm.
This was the Chen Clan's ancestral estate.
Within the mansion's grounds, the lighting was dim, yet it was possible to discern many elders of the Chen Clan seated in the main hall. An atmosphere of oppression permeated the air.
An elder clad in a purple robe sat at the head, his eyes deep and vast, as if containing the cosmos and stars, exuding an aura of solemnity and might.
"This time, the Chen Clan Patriarch met his demise within our own ancestral headquarters," the purple-robed elder slowly opened his eyes and spoke.
"The Patriarch dying at the hands of an outsider is a disgrace to our Chen Clan."
Another middle-aged man stood up, snorting coldly, "With the Patriarch dead, where does the honor of our Chen lineage lie? We must eradicate the root of this problem."
At this moment, all members of the Chen Clan had gathered in the hall.
Almost everyone present was a master, with the weakest being at the Spirit Master level.
Each of these masters had reached the Spirit Venerable realm.
Moreover, each was exceptionally skilled in coordinated attacks, their teamwork seamless.
"The Patriarch was a peak Spirit Master cultivator. Even if he couldn't defeat Zhou Yan, he wouldn't have died so quickly, would he? And how did Zhou Yan suddenly become a peak Spirit Master martial artist?"
Another Chen clan member furrowed his brow and asked, "Did the Patriarch offend any enemies?"
"After the Patriarch's death, someone broke into the Chen Clan's ancestral shrine, killed the Patriarch, and also took his storage ring."
The purple-robed elder said coldly, "This matter is by no means accidental.
The Patriarch was likely murdered."
"Hiss!"
Upon hearing the purple-robed elder's words, the surrounding individuals gasped, their pupils contracting.
The Chen Clan Patriarch, the foremost expert within the Chen Clan, had died at the hands of an outsider.
Who exactly was Zhou Yan? Why did the Chen Clan place such importance on him?
Furthermore, Zhou Yan's possession of a Flame Soul was utterly perplexing.
"We must apprehend the culprit as soon as possible. Otherwise, if we allow the perpetrator to grow stronger, our Chen Clan will become a laughingstock throughout the Great Yan Dynasty."
Another middle-aged man stated gravely.
"News of the Patriarch's death has already spread throughout Nanfeng Prefecture. If we don't act soon, the entire Nanfeng Prefecture might fall."
"We should immediately convene a family meeting to discuss countermeasures."
"Indeed!"
"Precisely, our Chen lineage must unite as one."
"......"
In the hall, discussions erupted, echoing in everyone's ears.
.......
In a certain restaurant in Nanfeng Prefecture City.
Chen Clan disciples gathered here, their gazes fixed on Zhou Yan, their eyes glinting with sinister coldness.
At this very moment, their hatred for Zhou Yan was immeasurable!
"Zhou Yan, this time, we will not let you off."
"You murdered our Patriarch, a crime for which there is no forgiveness. We, the Chen Clan disciples, swear to tear you limb from limb!"
"Zhou Yan, you are destined to die today!"
"......"
Sharp killing intents surged like a tide.
Their hatred for Zhou Yan had reached its zenith.
At this point, a Chen Clan disciple spoke, "Zhou Yan, you killed the Patriarch. This debt cannot be settled so easily! You must pay with blood."
A cold smile curved Zhou Yan's lips, "What do you intend to do?"
"You killed the Patriarch, you must pay with your life!" the Chen Clan disciple roared.
Hearing this, Zhou Yan sneered dismissively, "I, Zhou Yan, have never needed to pay a price for taking a life.
Today, Chen Clan disciples, your own blood will be used to wash away this humiliation!"
"How audacious! Who do you think you are?
To kill the Patriarch of my Chen Clan, even our Chen Clan Patriarch would have to pay a heavy price!" a Chen Clan elder bellowed, "You must pay a terrible price!"
"Hahaha......"
Zhou Yan threw his head back and laughed, an arrogant and overbearing aura emanating from him.
"I, Zhou Yan, what does it matter if I killed Chen Shixiong?"
"I do not place the Chen Clan in my eyes."
"If you are wise, then surrender to me obediently, and perhaps I can spare your lives!"
Upon hearing Zhou Yan's arrogant and domineering words, the Chen Clan disciples became enraged.
"Arrogant whelp! We would rather perish together with you than yield!"
The Chen Clan disciples unleashed bursts of killing intent, charging madly towards Zhou Yan.
Among the Chen Clan disciples were two early-stage Spirit Emperors.
Additionally, there were four or five mid-stage Spirit Emperors.
Their target was Zhou Yan; they intended to kill him and avenge their Patriarch.
"Since you are incorrigible, I shall kill you first, and then seek out your Clan Master for revenge!" Zhou Yan sneered repeatedly. He waved his hand, vast spiritual energy converging, forming a colossal sword that, with the might of thunder, struck towards the two early-stage and three mid-stage Spirit Emperors of the Chen Clan.
"Pfft!"
"Rumble!"
A deafening explosion reverberated through the restaurant, shaking the entire establishment.
The Chen Clan disciples spat blood and were sent flying, crashing to the ground, trembling all over, their eyes filled with disbelief.
The Chen Clan, after all, consisted of the most outstanding disciples, possessing formidable strength.
Yet, even so, they were defeated by Zhou Yan in a single move, utterly incapable of resisting.
"I... How could I possibly lose?" one of the Chen Clan disciples murmured in disbelief.
He knew Zhou Yan was strong, but he never imagined he could defeat so many of them in a single move!
The Chen Clan was no ordinary family; it possessed deep foundations and numerous trump cards. How could they be defeated by Zhou Yan so easily?
Zhou Yan looked at the fallen Chen Clan disciples with a cold smile and said, "What? Not convinced? If you're not convinced, you can continue fighting!"
The faces of the Chen Clan disciples flickered with indecision.
They were truly unwilling to die like this!
However, Zhou Yan's strength had far surpassed their imagination; they were utterly incapable of contending with him.
"The Patriarch's revenge must be exacted!"
"But, what should we do now?" one of the Chen Clan disciples asked softly.
Another Chen Clan disciple said through gritted teeth, "Naturally, we wait for an opportunity and assassinate Zhou Yan."
"As long as he dies, this matter will not be implicated on us."
"I think this is a very good opportunity."
Another Chen Clan disciple's eyes gleamed with intense greed. "Once Zhou Yan is dead, we will immediately leave the Chen Clan sect, flee a thousand miles away, and then return for revenge."
"What a pity that the Patriarch's hard work has gone to waste like this."
The remaining few Chen Clan disciples showed expressions of regret.