The Chen family.
Chen Yuan led a group of cultivators out and said, "The demon infestations in Lin'an County are wreaking havoc among the people, with Fulong Manor preying on them as well. On top of that, court fugitives have been running amok, killing wantonly. Today, I must rely on all of you."
"Let's go."
"This is, after all, our duty."
"For cultivators like us, slaying demons and purging evil must be done today."
The group spoke one after another, impassioned and full of righteous valor.
Within the crowd, Huang Yan was there as well, her brow furrowed slightly, as though preoccupied.
These past few days, she had been observing everything in Lin'an County, and the matter of the demon infestations didn't appear to be as straightforward as it seemed, especially when Li Fan dismantled the City God Temple the other day. The young girl he rescued turned out to be the woman abducted from the Chen Residence that night. Was this truly just coincidence?
*But why did Li Fan claim that the Chen family colluded with demons?*
*"Forget it,"* Huang Yan thought to herself, deciding to bury these matters deep in her heart. Such affairs were not ones she could get involved in.
Her thoughts turned to Li Fan, and she found herself in disarray.
Ahead of her, Chen Luoyun also seemed troubled.
*Li Fan's words kept lingering in his mind. He had asked his father about it, but his father dismissed it, saying he overthought things. Despite being a Li Mountain Disciple, Li Fan was arrogant and self-righteous, abusing the lethal sharpness of his Sword Aura to kill the innocent.*
*But was that truly the case?*
*Why had the sect sent people here?*
*And what of the Chuzhou Chen Family's presence? What were they doing in Lin'an County?*
*Could they truly have traveled such a long distance merely to kill demons?*
"What's on your mind?" Chen Yuan asked Chen Luoyun.
"Nothing," Chen Luoyun replied, reining in his thoughts.
"Li Fan killed your younger brother and colluded with demons. You must devote yourself to cultivation and avenge your brother." Chen Yuan urged. Chen Luoyun nodded, determined that no matter the odds, he would avenge his brother Chen Li's death.
"That bastard Li Fan murdered the Second Young Master! Should we encounter him on this trip, we must kill him." A martial artist next to them shouted.
"Indeed, we must execute that traitorous scoundrel Li Fan."
Each person carried an air of 'righteous might,' ready to slay demons and purge evil, marching outward in a grand procession.
"Boom..."
From afar, a tremendous noise erupted, followed by someone running hastily toward them in disarray. They stumbled heavily and rolled across the ground several times.
Behind him came the sound of pounding hooves, as someone rode on horseback to intercept and kill him. Sword light flickered—it cut instantly—and blood sprayed forth.
"Who dares act so brazenly here?" Chen Yuan roared.
"What nerve!" Several people beside him rushed toward the charging horse. The white steed hurtled toward them at breakneck speed, galloping fiercely. As they got a good look at the figure on horseback, their eyes widened in shock. The rider leapt from the saddle in mid-air and descended from above, crushing one unfortunate soul beneath his foot.
"Boom..." Another deafening crash thundered through the air, accompanied by the faint sound of a dragon's roar. Those who had rushed forward were sent flying, spitting blood as they tumbled across the ground.
The figure stood tall and poised. Chen Yuan squinted his eyes—it could only be Li Fan.
"Li Fan."
"It's that wretch! Kill him together!" The leading martial artist shouted. Yet his steps involuntarily retreated; they all knew by now of Li Fan's 'infamous reputation'—slaying Chen Li, annihilating the City God, defying all laws.
Looking again at those who had charged forward just moments ago, their outcomes were truly tragic.
Li Fan took a step forward; instantly, the crowd retreated even further. Seeing the taunting expression in his gaze, they felt their faces burn with humiliation.
Glancing at the vast number of people on their side, including Qi Cultivators from across Lin'an County who had come to slay demons, they hesitated in their advance.
With so many cultivators gathered, shouldn't they be able to crush Li Fan through sheer quantity? What was there to fear?
Chen Yuan stared at Li Fan. By now, the entire Lin'an County was out to capture him—the Prefect himself had issued orders to apprehend the fugitive. Yet, he dared gallop openly into the Chen Residence.
*How could he dare come here?*
"The demons are raging outside, yet the Chen Residence seems untouched," Li Fan said as Sword Intent surged around him, his gaze brimming with killing intent.
Seated atop a horse behind Li Fan was a figure that the crowd finally recognized—it was Li Hongyi.
"Li Hongyi?" Several people showed a trace of astonishment. Li Hongyi, a prodigy equal to Chen Luoyun, was often considered destined to stand by his side, a match made in heaven.
*But now, why was Li Hongyi standing with this malevolent figure?*
"Li Hongyi, what is the meaning of this?" Chen Yuan asked coldly.
"The Chen family has been colluding with demons, sowing chaos in Lin'an. Why do you still choose to tolerate evil rather than oppose it?" Li Hongyi addressed the crowd.
"Insolence!"
Chen Yuan snorted coldly and said to those around him, "You all see clearly now. The daughter of Mr. Li has been bewitched by this court-rejected criminal. Publicly embracing such shamelessness aside, she goes as far as aiding and abetting in murder, tarnishing Mr. Li's illustrious name."
"An entire lifetime of Mr. Li's honor, utterly destroyed."
Many elders in the surrounding crowd fixed sharp gazes on Li Hongyi.
"Chen Yuan, come with me,"
Li Fan had no patience for unnecessary rhetoric. With a thought, Sword Aura enveloped him, surging upward to form a dazzling blade. Those assembled had worked up their courage, but upon seeing the sword suspended in the air, they again stepped back, their resolve to slay demons and purge evil now obliterated.
Chen Luoyun stepped forward, summoning his Innate Dharma Form. Thunder crackled overhead, and swords bathed in lightning radiated brilliant purple light.
"You killed my brother, Chen Li, and smeared my family's name. Today, you must not leave here alive." Chen Luoyun fixed his gaze on Li Fan, forming seals with his hands as his Dharma Form imbued with the thunder's might descended to strike.
Two swords clashed mid-air, producing dazzling streams of Sword Light. The golden and purple light entwined, weaving like serpentine dragons. Observing this spectacle, the martial artists couldn't help but marvel.
*A Sword Cultivator from Li Mountain; the Chen family genius, Chen Luoyun.*
Yet, Chen Luoyun's Dharma Form couldn't break through Li Fan's blade. Pressing forward, he immersed himself wholly in thunder energy, harnessing a Thunder Attribute cultivation technique with mana infused by the thunder's power.
In a single moment, Chen Luoyun descended like lightning, his arm sweeping toward Li Fan. A thunder whip appeared in his hand, slicing through the air to crack viciously toward his opponent.
Li Fan stretched out his left hand and grasped the whip bare-handed.
Chen Luoyun rose into the air, levitating mid-flight as his hands formed seals. His Dharma Form manifested behind him as radiant lightning enveloped him, exuding divine brilliance.
Beams of thunder light descended from the sky, raining death upon Li Fan. Behind Chen Luoyun appeared a thunder formation diagram—even his eyes emitted lightning. With a thought, his lightning-infused Dharma Sword cleaved the air, illuminating the heavens.
White Horse screamed as it was struck, collapsing instantly to the ground as Li Hongyi launched herself skyward.
At that moment, Li Fan moved. He surged forward, his body brimming with vitality as fierce as a Jiao Dragon. The boiling energy within him roared audibly like a mighty creature.
Extending his arm toward Chen Luoyun, his bones emitted explosive noises, his presence as unyielding as a hurricane.
Chen Luoyun felt as though he faced not mortal flesh but a roaring Jiao Dragon leaping at him.
The Thunder Sword shattered. Unstoppable, Li Fan advanced, his hand clawing like a dragon's talon. Bones cracked audibly as Chen Luoyun let out a muffled groan. Behind him, the formation diagram shattered under pressure as Li Fan closed in, grabbing Chen Luoyun by the throat.
Chen Luoyun, held by Li Fan, looked ashen-faced.
*How could he be so utterly defenseless?*
"Let him go!" Chen Yuan hadn't anticipated Li Fan's immediate takedown of Chen Luoyun. He leaped forward, unleashing the aura of a Martial Artist halfway into the Innate Realm. His footsteps shook the ground as he rocketed forth, his monstrous vitality erupting, delivering a punch aimed at Li Fan.
Li Fan raised his left arm and blocked the attack. Bones cracked audibly as his Jiao Long Demon Bone Fist exploded outward like a furious dragon roaring toward Chen Yuan. Their fists collided mid-air.
"Boom..." An oppressive sound resonated as Chen Yuan, a top-class Grandmaster partially into the Innate Realm, was struck and sent flying, his feet skidding across the ground upon landing.
"Attack together!" The others rushed in simultaneously, one moving the fastest—his mana condensed into piercing needles that surged toward Li Fan, accompanied by fire serpents sweeping toward him in tandem. Several others launched spells all at once.
Li Fan swept his gaze toward the foremost attacker. From between his brows, Sword Light erupted, a Flying Sword streaking forth like lightning. With a sickening squelch, the man's head was pierced clean through.
The three-inch Flying Sword continued wreaking havoc, puncturing through another man's chest. He looked down, shocked to find a bloody hole in his torso, and let out a panicked scream.
Sword Aura danced through the group, blood spraying like rain as cries of pain erupted. Bodies dropped rapidly, staining the ground a vivid crimson.
The survivors looked at Li Fan as if he were a harbinger of death. Their steps involuntarily retreated, all traces of their initial bravado gone. Gazing upon the strewn corpses, fear gripped their hearts.
*Today, Li Fan unleashed a merciless slaughter.*
*It must be noted—plenty of those killed were Refining Realm cultivators, including figures from nearby Qi Refining sects.*
Sweeping an icy glare across the crowd, Li Fan dragged Chen Luoyun forward to take a step closer. His Flying Sword hovered aggressively, compelling the crowd into retreating yet again.
A group of cultivators, supposedly here to slay demons, had been terrified by a lone youth into retreat.
"Miss Li, keep watch over him," Li Fan said, tossing Chen Luoyun back harshly. Chen Luoyun hit the ground as a frigid spearpoint pressed against his throat. Looking up, he saw a familiar face—the Heavenly Pride, Li Hongyi, once heralded alongside him.
Chen Luoyun was filled with despair. The glory and prestige of the past felt like fleeting dreams. Innate Dharma Form? Lin'an County's first prodigy?
Li Hongyi swept a chilling gaze over him but quickly dismissed him, her attention shifting to Li Fan on the battlefield.
Li Fan walked toward Chen Yuan. With each step, his Sword Aura intensified further. Chen Yuan's face turned ashen as his steps involuntarily retreated. Not just him—the whole crowd retreated alongside him.
"How audacious of you." A languid voice suddenly emanated from behind the crowd, prompting them to instinctively part for a pathway. Emerging from the masses was a group of figures.
Leading them was a young man in luxurious attire, whom Li Fan had encountered before. He was the one who had confiscated County Magistrate Wang's token and killed the City God at the temple.
Behind him stood several elders, whose casual demeanor exuded an oppressive and dangerous aura. These individuals hailed from the Chuzhou Chen family clan.
"Daring to come here at all?" The elegantly dressed young man glared at Li Fan.
*This boy had stunned him at the temple before, suppressing him with Sword Intent to prevent his interference.* *Yet now he dared storm the Chen Residence alone, acting as if the Chuzhou Chen family clan meant nothing.*
*Perhaps such arrogance might have been justified in the past. But Li Mountain's collapse was imminent, and yet he still swaggered brazenly.*
*Relying on a single Sword Intent, he presumed he could act this recklessly?*