"What exactly does the Dragon's Dive Pavilion want? Are you planning to use your power to bully others?" Wang Lee angrily demanded.

However, Wu ignored him, his gaze fixed resolutely on Chen Zheng.

Chen Zheng stared back at Wu and spoke slowly, "Please convey my thanks to the Pavilion Master for his kind offer, but I have already made my stance clear. I will not join the Dragon's Dive Pavilion."

The Dragon's Dive Pavilion was undoubtedly acting this way because of their previous friendly exchanges. Still, Chen Zheng would always remember their timely aid during his hour of need.

Wu sighed helplessly and quietly stepped aside.

Upon hearing this, joy blossomed in the hearts of Wang Lee and Wang Mu like cherry blossoms in spring. They shot Chen Zheng a glance that was laced with contempt. They knew perfectly well that if the Dragon's Dive Pavilion had truly decided to protect Chen Zheng, their Wang Family would have been powerless. However, since Chen Zheng had no interest in joining, the Pavilion had no reason to shield him from the storm.

Wang Mu spoke again, his voice filled with authority. "Very well, the Dragon's Dive Pavilion may leave! Chen Zheng, hand over the formula and go to the Wang Family to apologize! Do that, and you may be spared death!"

His purpose in coming here was to display the might of the Wang Family to the entire Imperial Capital. It was an undeniable fact that every major and minor family in the capital was watching these events unfold. The Wang Family intended to use this opportunity to establish their prestige and declare to all that they were not to be trifled with.

"And if I refuse?" Chen Zheng asked, looking at Wang Mu indifferently.

"It's of no consequence. I won't force you," Wang Mu declared, sweeping his arm with arrogance. "You can choose to refuse. In that case, our Wang Family will gladly eradicate you and the Guo Family together. Oh, and your relatives in Yun City, too… haha…"

A sinister smile curled Wang Mu's lips as he finished speaking. He failed to notice, however, that his words had instantly ignited a blazing inferno of fury within Chen Zheng.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully triggering a choice mission!]

[Choice One: Follow your heart. Reward: Upgrade to Silk Condensing into Sword.]

[Choice Two: Cower and beg for your life. Reward: Too Cowardly.]

Chen Zheng immediately selected the first option.

In the next second, a torrential power erupted from within his body, sweeping through the surroundings like a hurricane.

BUZZ!

The very air seemed to tremble. A powerful current of energy radiated out from him, swirling like a tornado.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

Wu, who was closest to Chen Zheng, was so startled he stumbled back several steps. Wang Lee's eyes sharpened as a tumultuous shockwave surged through him.

"Young Master, be careful!" he cried out urgently.

Just then, Chen Zheng's figure vanished like a phantom. In an instant, he was standing directly in front of Wang Mu. His icy gaze pierced Wang Mu's soul like a razor-sharp sword, making him feel as if he had been plunged into a frozen cellar. His entire body went rigid, unable to move a single inch.

Wang Lee, a peak Grandmaster, reacted with lightning speed. His hand shot out like an eagle's talon to grab Wang Mu and pull him from danger.

But Chen Zheng was faster.

In Wang Lee's vision, Chen Zheng's hand lifted gently, tracing a graceful arc through the air like a dancer. The next moment, everything became a blur, and his own arm felt as if it had been seized by a massive claw of ice. The power he was about to unleash instantly stagnated.

This is impossible!

Wang Lee's eyes widened in utter astonishment. His arm was frozen solid, as if it had been locked in time, completely devoid of feeling.

"Do you know how to write the word 'death'?" Chen Zheng's voice was as cutting as the winter wind. He swung his other hand.

SWISH!

The sound of the air tearing apart was like a summons from Death itself. Wang Mu stood dumbfounded, his eyes filled with horror and bewilderment.

"Young Master!" Wang Lee's voice echoed through the air. He had just felt a terrifying power erupt and then vanish without a trace.

Wang Mu did not respond. His body slowly began to split apart, the two halves slumping to either side.

"Damn you!" Wang Lee roared. He unleashed a powerful blast of True Qi from his other arm, striking fiercely at Chen Zheng.

BUZZ!

The air cracked as ripples of energy rapidly expanded outward. Chen Zheng turned his head and looked at him, his face an emotionless mask. In that instant, Wang Lee's pupils constricted.

However, Chen Zheng made no move to defend himself. A massive phantasmal bell materialized before him, enveloping him completely.

BUZZ!

A deep, sonorous chime echoed from the great bell, spreading through the air in waves. The melodious sound, however, instantly became piercingly sharp. Ripples spread wildly across the bell's surface before contracting rapidly like a receding tide. Before Wang Lee could even react, he was struck by the violent rebounding force and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

At that moment, Chen Zheng's hand closed around his frozen arm. With a gentle squeeze, the ice-encased limb shattered like fragile glass, breaking off at the shoulder.

Wang Lee spat out another spray of blood as his body was flung back like a stone from a catapult, slamming into the wall and embedding himself within it. He stared at Chen Zheng, his eyes wide with terror. He couldn't believe the person before him possessed such immense power.

Is this truly the power a peak Grandmaster should possess? How is this possible?

Wang Lee's mind reeled in confusion.

Wu and the others were also struck dumb by the scene. As Grandmasters themselves, they hadn't been able to clearly see Chen Zheng's movements in the two seconds the entire exchange had taken.

By now, Chen Zheng had already approached the embedded Wang Lee. He took two light steps that seemed as effortless as a passing breeze and stood before him.

A cold voice spoke beside his ear, "You were acting quite arrogant, weren't you?"

Wang Lee used every ounce of his remaining strength to force out a single sentence. "The Master… will surely… kill you…!"

"Wang Choutian? I shall await his arrival." Chen Zheng's voice was like a frigid wind slicing through the air. With a casual wave of his hand, a dazzling light blossomed in the sky.

SWOOSH!

The light streaked across the heavens like a meteor, aimed directly at Wang Lee. He watched the scene in terror as his vision gradually blurred, finally succumbing to darkness.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for making a choice. You have received the following reward: Upgrade to Silk Condensing into Sword.]

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on obtaining Sword Qi.]

A deeply buried memory surged into Chen Zheng's mind, and he instantly grasped the secrets of Sword Qi. An indescribably sharp aura began to radiate from his body. However, he paid it little mind, retracting his aura and walking toward Wang Mu's corpse. His gaze flickered, and as he extended his hand, a single drop of Wang Mu's blood floated into the air.

Chen Zheng took out a Bloodline Erasure Card and let the blood merge into it. The card, like a ravenous beast, pulsed with a dark red glow upon contact with the blood before quietly fading. This action was undoubtedly a measure to create an escape route from the Wang Family's inevitable pursuit.

"Handle this, quickly!" Guo Xiancheng commanded his three sons, finally snapping out of his daze. They didn't dare delay for a second, moving swiftly toward the two lifeless bodies.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.