Chapter 283: Rebirth - I Became the Grandpa (Part 7)
Liu Yuehong was dead.
An unprecedented fury surged through Chen Xuan. Yuan Ziyi's death had only left him with a faint sense of sorrow. Liu Yuehong was different. She was the first woman he had truly fallen in love with at first sight.
"Whoever dares to touch my women—even if it's the King of Heaven himself—will pay the price!" Chen Xuan swore inwardly.
Yet after several months of searching, he had found nothing.
Worse still, aside from the revenge mission, the system had not issued a single new task in all that time.
This was very bad.
Chen Xuan knew he was not a genius. Everything he possessed came from the system. Without new missions, his cultivation would stagnate. He grew increasingly restless and began to waver.
As a transmigrator, he had never been particularly close to the Chen Family. To him, everyone except Chen Lanlan was no different from an NPC in a game. Staying here any longer would only waste his time. Especially now that the favorability of Princess Yun Mengyan—who had returned to Stone Mountain City with him—was steadily dropping.
Yun Mengyan was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her graceful and noble bearing fascinated him. He had spent enormous effort and time raising her favorability to 80, only for it to fall to 60.
This was terrible news.
"Young Master Chen, I need to return to the imperial palace. I have been away for so long, and my father is worried about my safety," Yun Mengyan said.
Her patience with Chen Xuan had finally worn thin. As a princess of the Great Wind Dynasty who had grown up in luxury, how could she stay long in such a remote backwater?
Seeing this, Chen Xuan blurted out, "I'll accompany you back, Mengyan."
Yun Mengyan nodded. "Good. You are my savior, so you should come with me. I will repay your kindness."
Chen Xuan's face lit up with joy.
"However…" Yun Mengyan's tone suddenly turned firm. "I will only allow you to return to the imperial city with me. No one else! You are not permitted to bring anyone with you."
Chen Xuan's face paled.
Yun Mengyan's attitude was resolute. She would not even allow Chen Lanlan to come along.
One was the person who had accompanied him since his transmigration. The other was the woman he had pursued so bitterly—the imperial princess of the Great Wind Dynasty.
After a difficult internal struggle, Chen Xuan made his choice.
...
Ever since killing Liu Yuehong, Dongfang Yunxing had not rushed back to Stone Mountain City to confront the Chen Family.
He followed his master's teachings and carried caution to the extreme. He hid in the shadows, quietly gathering information on Chen Xuan.
When he learned that Chen Xuan had returned to Stone Mountain City, he did not let anger cloud his judgment and charge in recklessly. He was still no match for Chen Xuan. Instead, he chose to train day and night, growing stronger.
Under Su Chen's devilish regimen, he repeatedly danced on the edge of death without retreating or crying out from the agonizing pain.
Su Chen put away the medicinal ingredients and flicked his finger, sending a pill into Dongfang Yunxing's mouth.
Yesterday, Dongfang Yunxing had challenged a Spirit Sea realm demonic beast, only to discover it still had a hidden move. He was chased and, in his misfortune, stumbled into a battle between two Spirit Soul realm powerhouses.
The shockwaves from their fight had struck him, leaving him gravely injured. If not for Su Chen's timely intervention, he would have been ground to nothing by the residual forces. Even so, every bone in his body had been shattered. For anyone else, this would have ended their path of cultivation forever.
But to Su Chen, this was nothing. Using the remaining medicinal materials, he had refined a special fourth-grade pill called the Four-Turn Golden Bone Pill.
After swallowing the pill, Dongfang Yunxing felt a vast surge of energy seep into his bone marrow drop by drop, bringing a refreshing coolness.
A golden glow radiated from within his body. The Four-Turn Golden Bone Pill transformed every one of his bones into golden bones. Through the principle of breaking before rebuilding, his physique advanced dramatically after the remodeling, reaching a level comparable to a Spirit Sea realm expert.
Three days later, his injuries had mostly healed. He felt stronger than ever before.
"What an amazing pill!" Dongfang Yunxing exclaimed in admiration. "Master, are you a pill refiner?"
Su Chen replied lightly, "Just some minor tricks. Nothing worth mentioning."
In this world, a Four-Turn Golden Bone Pill was more valuable than most fifth-grade pills. Yet in Su Chen's eyes, it was insignificant.
Over endless years, he had stood unrivaled across the universe and reigned supreme over myriad realms. He had collected countless ancient secrets and pill formulas, ranging from first-grade to those surpassing ordinary Emperor-grade pills.
Dongfang Yunxing spoke with reverence, "When will I be able to become a powerhouse like you, Master?"
Su Chen chuckled softly. "Perhaps… one day you will."
Encouraged, Dongfang Yunxing decided to challenge that damned Spirit Sea realm demonic beast again.
Watching his disciple brimming with energy and fighting spirit, Su Chen shook his head helplessly.
With Su Chen's help, Dongfang Yunxing hunted beasts and leveled up at a meteoric pace. His cultivation soared rapidly. Soon, he reached the peak of the Spirit Vein realm and began his second Nirvana.
Under Su Chen's guidance, he completed the process safely after a full month. Dongfang Yunxing clearly felt his cultivation speed had increased several times over.
He broke through to the Spirit Sea realm. All of this had taken him merely a year and a half.
With the Nirvana Art, the Heaven's Mandate Pearl, and Su Chen as his master, Dongfang Yunxing's progress nearly rivaled Chen Xuan's system-assisted cheating—even while Chen Xuan had wasted several months.
Dongfang Yunxing tied his long black hair high with a silk ribbon. After the Nirvana, his previously bronze skin had become fair and smooth. With sword-like brows and bright eyes, he gazed into the distance, full of vigor and ambition.
The black sword at his waist hummed softly.
Chen Xuan had already left Stone Mountain City. His departure signaled that the time for revenge had come.
"The Chen Family…"
A gentle breeze blew past. Dongfang Yunxing's figure vanished from the distant mountain peak.
...
In the end, Chen Xuan chose to follow Yun Mengyan back to the imperial capital of the Great Wind Dynasty.
"Young Master will definitely come back," Chen Lanlan murmured, resting her chin on her hands as she stared out the window, lost in thought.
She remembered the promise Chen Xuan had made before leaving. He said that when he returned next time, he would be famous throughout the world and would take her to live in the imperial capital.
In truth, Chen Lanlan did not yearn for life in the imperial capital. She only wanted to stay by her young master's side, even if it was a simple and ordinary life.
She recalled that day…
After falling into the water and waking up, her young master had become a completely different person. The once timid youth had transformed into a towering genius. From that day onward, their peaceful life had ended.
But perhaps this was fine too…
Chen Lanlan comforted herself with that thought.
Chapter 284: Rebirth - I Became the Grandpa (Part 8)
Chen Lanlan was still lost in thoughts of the future when a panicked voice suddenly interrupted her reverie.
"Sister Lanlan, something terrible has happened! Someone has attacked the Chen Family!"
It was a young maid from the Chen Family. Though pretty, she paled in comparison to Chen Lanlan.
Chen Lanlan's thoughts scattered at the urgent tone. She frowned at the girl and said, "Xiao Ling, don't talk nonsense. The Chen Family is the strongest power in Stone Mountain City. Everyone else avoids us. Who would dare attack?"
Though she spoke sternly, her words were also meant to protect the maid. If the family elders heard such talk, punishment would surely follow.
"I'm not lying, Sister Lanlan!" Xiao Ling insisted. "It's chaos outside. Many Chen Family elders have already been killed. We need to escape now!"
Chen Lanlan's brow furrowed deeper. Her cultivation talent was poor. Even with the many treasures Chen Xuan had given her, she had yet to reach the Spirit Gathering realm. She had only vaguely sensed some commotion outside.
Still, she refused to believe anyone would dare assault the Chen Family. In her eyes, the Chen Family was untouchable.
"Why are you so flustered? Our ancestor is a Spirit Sea realm expert. If anyone dares invade, he will handle it…"
Before she could finish, a furious roar echoed across the entire Chen estate.
"What audacity! You dare attack my Chen Family!"
The Chen Family's Spirit Sea realm ancestor—now the undisputed strongest expert in Stone Mountain City after Chen Xuan's departure—had taken action.
Yet in the next instant, the ground shook violently as two powerful experts clashed. A figure shot through the air like a cannonball, smashing through countless buildings.
Chen Lanlan's eyes widened in horror. It was the Chen Family ancestor.
The number one expert of Stone Mountain City had been defeated in a single exchange.
Chen Lanlan's mind went blank. The Chen Family members felt as if the sky itself had collapsed.
Dongfang Yunxing never forgot the principle of eradicating roots and leaves. With a formation arranged by Su Chen, he had sealed off all escape routes. He charged into the Chen Family like a tiger into a flock of sheep, slaughtering without mercy.
The Chen Family ancestor was merely at the first layer of Spirit Sea. Although Dongfang Yunxing was also at the first layer, the difference in their techniques and martial skills was vast. The ancestor could not even withstand a single move.
Dongfang Yunxing left no survivors. The entire Chen Family was wiped out.
Just as he prepared to leave, Su Chen's voice sounded in his mind.
"Foolish disciple, two fish have slipped through the net."
Dongfang Yunxing immediately stopped and turned back.
There were still two survivors!
...
Chen Lanlan trembled uncontrollably. Everyone else in the Chen Family was dead. Only she and Xiao Ling remained alive. They had survived thanks to a treasure Chen Xuan had given her before leaving—a mirror containing a protective array.
She remembered his instructions clearly: "Lanlan, if you encounter danger, activate the array in the mirror immediately. It will hide you from detection. Don't worry. Once the array is activated, I will sense it right away and return before its energy runs out."
Fortunately, the murderer who had annihilated the Chen Family had not noticed them.
Just as Chen Lanlan breathed a sigh of relief, the footsteps that had been fading into the distance suddenly returned.
This time, they were growing closer. That person had come back!
After countless hardships, Chen Xuan finally arrived at the imperial capital of the Great Wind Dynasty with Yun Mengyan.
Although Yun Mengyan remained somewhat wary of him, he had saved her life after all. Her favorability toward him still stood at 60.
Thanks to his connection with the most favored imperial princess, Chen Xuan quickly gained fame in the capital. Countless high officials and nobles flocked to visit him. With the help of his system, he rose rapidly and became a renowned young prodigy.
Recently, he had stunned the capital by reciting ancient poems he remembered from his previous life as a horse slave. This earned him the admiration of Tao Wan, the daughter of a great contemporary scholar.
Tao Wan was renowned for her beauty across the capital and ranked among the Four Great Beauties of the Great Wind Dynasty. Her looks were in no way inferior to Yun Mengyan's. Chen Xuan fell in love at first sight with this graceful, intellectual woman.
When he saw the invitation Tao Wan had sent him, a smug smile spread across his face. He had casually recited a few verses, yet her favorability toward him had already risen to 80.
At 80 favorability, he could establish a romantic relationship. With just a little more effort each day, he could easily win her over—gaining both a beauty and the support of the powerful Tao clan.
Chen Xuan was still grinning foolishly when his smile suddenly froze.
[Ding! The host's one-time artifact, the Ghost Shadow Mirage Mirror, has been activated.]
The Ghost Shadow Mirage Mirror was the treasure he had left with Chen Lanlan. Its activation meant she was in dire danger—perhaps facing a life-or-death crisis. The entire Chen Family might already be dead.
[Ghost Shadow Mirage Mirror countdown: 6 days 23 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds.]
Staring at the system notification, Chen Xuan wished he could return to Stone Mountain City immediately. He stood up, but his gaze fell on the invitation lying on the table.
Tao Wan had invited him to the Four Nations Poetry Gathering.
[If the host wins first place in the Four Nations Poetry Gathering, rewards: Random Spirit Physique 1, cultivation +3 minor realms, Random Sovereign-grade technique or martial skill 1.]
[If the host abandons the Four Nations Poetry Gathering, Tao Wan's favorability -80.]
Chen Xuan looked at the rewards and the warning. He picked up the invitation once more.
A drop of 80 favorability was a price he could not afford.
"Lanlan…"
He gripped Tao Wan's invitation so tightly that his knuckles turned white. In his heart, he had already made his decision.
...
Chen Lanlan realized the figure was drawing closer and closer. With every second, her heart and Xiao Ling's rose to their throats.
Suddenly, the ground trembled.
In that moment, what filled Chen Lanlan's mind was not the fear of death, but the scene of Chen Xuan handing her the artifact before leaving with the woman from the imperial capital—without the slightest hesitation or reluctance.
At that moment, she had felt deeply hurt. She had felt like a discarded toy, a burden Chen Xuan had grown tired of.
"If Young Master were here… He would never see Lanlan as a burden."
Chen Lanlan smiled, as if a weight had been lifted from her heart. It was a smile as beautiful and fleeting as a poppy in bloom. Perhaps, for her, this was the best ending.