In truth, Chen Chang'an's true body had long since quietly descended.
With his own disciple being pressured like this, how could he, as a master, not be present?
However, rather than immediately appearing to back up his disciple, he wanted to personally see Jiang Che's choice. He wanted to know how this disciple, who had experienced betrayal and death and was reborn in the Xianling Holy Land, would make his decision when facing the tremendous pressure of the past, the shackles of familial ethics, and the absolute deterrence of Saint Realm power.
If he ultimately softened his heart, chose to compromise, chose to return to that "home" that made him suffocate with pain, Chen Chang'an would feel sad and regretful, but would only respect his choice and offer his final blessings as an elder.
Fortunately, Jiang Che did not disappoint him.
Those cold and resolute words, that accusation of injustice, that declaration of severing the past, and finally that "not being polite" that seemed "overreaching" yet was filled with unyielding pride—all made the hidden Chen Chang'an secretly nod in approval, feeling gratified in his heart.
This disciple hadn't been taught in vain.
This temperament was worthy of his Xianling Holy Land.
So, when Jiang Huai's extremely mocking words about "how to not be polite" had just fallen, Chen Chang'an felt it was time.
It was time for him, as a master, to come out and back up his disciple.
Thus, that calm, gentle voice so naturally followed up.
"It's very simple."
"I am his 'not being polite'."
The moment the voice rang out, Chen Chang'an's figure had silently appeared at Jiang Che's side.
He hadn't displayed any earth-shattering movement technique, hadn't released any heaven-destroying, earth-extinguishing aura. He had simply taken one simple step, as if he had been standing there all along.
However, the moment he stood still—
The terrifying pressure that had been like a physical entity enveloping the entire arena, pressing down until countless cultivators could barely breathe—that came from two Saint Realm cultivators, Jiang Huai and Bright Moon Saint Venerable—was like spring snow under warm sunlight, silently and rapidly melting away!
Not neutralized, not resisted, but as if it had never existed, erased by an even more profound and fundamental power.
The suffocating pressure in the world suddenly emptied. Many cultivators even swayed from using force to resist the pressure, their faces filled with shock and bewilderment, not understanding what had happened.
But on the high platform, Jiang Huai and Bright Moon Saint Venerable's expressions changed drastically at the same time!
In their perception and field of vision, when that voice fell, a man wearing a loose hemp robe, looking about thirty-something, with a handsome face carrying a somewhat lazy demeanor, walked out.
He looked so ordinary, even somewhat unremarkable.
But the instant he appeared, Jiang Huai and Bright Moon Saint Venerable's pupils simultaneously contracted violently!
In their spiritual perception and vision, the entire world seemed to suddenly lose all color, blurring all backgrounds. Mountains, rivers, crowds, flying vessels, arenas... everything became illusory and unreal.
All the brilliance, laws, and even the meaning of existence of the entire world seemed to converge onto that single person!
He was clearly just standing there, not deliberately releasing any aura, yet he seemed to become the center of heaven and earth, the master of all things. An indescribable, irresistible awe originating from the essence of life and the laws of the Great Dao instantly flooded their minds like a tide!
They were not completely ignorant people.
In the upper realm, they had also sensed from afar the supreme majesty of Immortal Venerable-level existences. Although they couldn't approach closely, that unique sensation of "heaven and earth revolve around me alone, all else is void" was absolutely unmistakable!
This man before them gave them exactly this feeling! And it was more real, more... terrifying!
He was truly and genuinely—an Immortal Venerable existing in the present!
This thought was like billions of thunderbolts simultaneously exploding in their minds, making their souls tremble and their limbs go cold!
And what made them feel even more boundlessly terrified, even despairing, was—
Facing this suddenly appeared, unfathomably terrifying existence, Jiang Che only slightly turned to the side. His attitude was respectful but not surprised. He cupped his hands in a salute, his voice clear and steady:
"Disciple Jiang Che greets Master."
Mas... Master?!
This address was like the final straw, completely crushing Jiang Huai and Bright Moon Saint Venerable's psychological defenses.
Jiang Che's master?
This Immortal Venerable... was actually the master Jiang Che had bowed to in the lower realm?!
This Xianling Holy Land... actually had an Immortal Venerable existing?! And from the looks of it, he fully supported Jiang Che!
In an instant, all reliance, all arrogance, all calculations, under the calm gaze of this lazy man, turned to dust.
Enormous fear, like a cold abyss, completely swallowed them.
...
Although Jiang Huai and Bright Moon Saint Venerable's hearts had already been tossed by stormy waves, with bitterness and fear intertwined, facing a living, breathing Immortal Venerable with unfathomable cultivation, they dared not show the slightest negligence.
Almost instinctively, the two immediately restrained all their aura, suppressing the shock in their hearts. They both bowed toward Chen Chang'an, their postures extremely humble, their tone carrying unprecedented respect:
"Junior Jiang Huai (Bright Moon) did not know of the Immortal Venerable's arrival and has committed many offenses. Please, Immortal Venerable, forgive our transgressions!"
Chen Chang'an, however, seemed not to see their salute, nor did he acknowledge their apology.
He slightly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the Jiang family and Bright Moon Sect flying vessels hovering in the air like two enormous dark clouds blocking the sunlight. His brows lightly furrowed, and as if complaining about the weather, he casually muttered:
"Too big, blocking the light."
Before his voice fell, without any visible action, he simply raised his right hand and made a virtual grabbing motion toward the sky, then gently pulled downward—
It was as if it were just the simplest pulling motion.
However, in the next instant, something happened that made everyone in the arena, including Jiang Huai and Bright Moon Saint Venerable, dumbfounded and their souls scatter in terror!
The two massive vessels in the sky, large as mountains, flashing with runes and emanating powerful auras, were like paintings erased by an invisible giant hand—instantly... vanishing without a trace!
No earth-shattering explosions, no spatial tearing ripples, not even a wisp of spiritual energy fluctuation escaped.
They just silently, completely disappeared!
As if they had never existed at all!
And the disciples of both families who had been standing on the flying vessel decks fell from mid-air like dumplings, exclaiming in shock. Fortunately, their cultivation wasn't weak. Although caught off guard, they quickly stabilized their figures and landed awkwardly on the empty ground at the edge of the square, their faces filled with bewilderment and terror.
"What happened?!"
"Where's the flying vessel?! Where did our flying vessel go?!"
"What just happened?!"
They looked around in panic. Then, they saw a scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives—their supreme family head (Grand Elder) in their minds was now maintaining an almost humble bowed posture toward an unremarkable-looking young man!
This... what exactly was going on?!
And at this moment, the entire martial arts arena, after a brief silence, finally completely reacted!
Someone took the lead in excitedly screaming, their voice trembling and distorted from extreme awe:
"An... Ancestor! It's the Ancestral Master of Xianling Holy Land! He is Chen Chang'an!!"
"Hush... How dare you call out the Immortal Venerable's name directly!"
"Immortal Venerable! Greetings, Immortal Venerable!!!"
...
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