After a thousand years of cultivation, he returns at the pinnacle!

"Mom, I'm eating out tonight, don't wait for me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Chen pushed open the door and went out.

As soon as he stepped out of the residential area, a group of reporters swarmed over like dogs seeing shit. They held microphones, flashes went off everywhere, and one question after another rang in Jiang Chen's ears.

"Jiang Chen, what are your thoughts on the fact that you are the only person in the history of China, and even the world, without any abilities?"

"Is your inability to awaken your abilities related to your excessive indulgence in sex?!"

"Jiang Chen, what are your plans for the future?"

While such a situation was somewhat expected, isn't the claim of excessive indulgence a bit too much?

Looking at the reporters swarming around me like flies, I realized why my mom had told me to rest as much as possible and avoid going out. So that's why.

"Sorry, I have no opinion."

Jiang Chen was being pushed forward by the crowd, but in the next second...

"Holy crap, where did everyone go?!"

Jiang Chen, who had just been squeezed into the crowd, had disappeared. The reporters looked at each other, but could not find Jiang Chen anywhere.

Jiang Chen was already a hundred meters away.

He glanced back at the noisy entrance to the residential complex, then calmly walked away.

Only three days have passed since the day of awakening ended, and the entire Jiangzhou has remained unchanged, but for Jiang Chen, it is a memory that has been sealed away for a thousand years.

The streets haven't changed, the shops haven't changed, everything still tastes like it did in my vague memory.

Looking back, Jiang Chen was once the school's pride and joy. Wherever he went, people would talk about him, saying he was someone else's child, someone to be envied. But now... the talk still exists, and he is still someone else's child, only now he's been labeled a so-called once-in-a-century incapacitated person.

Jiang Chen had already spent a whole day just strolling around the city where he had lived for more than ten years. It was already evening, and under the sunset, his tall figure had arrived at the entrance of the Emperor Hotel.

This is the most famous hotel in Jiangzhou, known for its expensive drinks, but the food is delicious.

Jiang Chen was about to go in when he bumped into Wang Kai.

He was a tall, thin guy wearing a simple casual T-shirt. He had just arrived at the hotel and was chatting with his friends when he saw Jiang Chen. The moment he saw Jiang Chen, his eyes changed instantly, and he excitedly ran to Jiang Chen's side!

"Brother Chen, you're still alive?!"

"What nonsense are you spouting? Do you think I'm going to die?!"

"Isn't it because I'm afraid you might do something rash? Your replies to my messages have been sporadic these past three days, and I'm really worried that you'll just end up like this."

Before his awakening, Jiang Chen had seen too many sycophants, but only Wang Kai seemed to be genuine. After experiencing so much deceit and treachery in the cultivation world, Jiang Chen's judgment of people was incredibly accurate, and his eyes were filled with sincere worry.

"It's nothing, just a small matter."

Is that all?

Wang Kai clearly didn't quite believe Jiang Chen's words, but since Jiang Chen had said so, he seemed to have no choice but to believe him.

but...

"By the way, Brother Chen, are you here because you have a family gathering, or...?"

Seeing Jiang Chen's calm expression, Wang Kai's lips twitched.

"You can't possibly be here for Liu Ruyan's victory celebration, can you?!"

It's perfectly reasonable for Wang Kai to attend Liu Ruyan's celebration banquet as a classmate. Moreover, as classmates who will be together for another year, even if he wants to speak up for Jiang Chen, he should still give him the respect he deserves. But under normal circumstances, there's no way Jiang Chen would come here!

This is her ex-girlfriend, who has now awakened an S-level talent and is considered a prodigy, while Jiang Chen is the only person in the entire school, and even the world, without any abilities.

With all those buffs stacked up, nobody would dare come here, right? Wouldn't this just be asking for trouble?

Before Jiang Chen could answer, Wang Kai already had the answer in his heart.

"Brother Chen, you're not here because you've given up all hope, are you? Just give the order, and I'll definitely go with you to take down that Liu Ruyan!"

"..." What on earth is this kid imagining?

However, upon reflection, Jiang Chen was still unsure of his purpose in coming. Perhaps he wanted to see Wang Kai and other old classmates, or perhaps he wanted to see his ex-girlfriend, whose memory of him had become hazy? Or was he simply there to freeload a meal, or perhaps to humiliate her?

"Stop guessing. The food at the Emperor Hotel is delicious. Eat more later."

"Let's go, I think the private room is number 888."

After saying that, the two of them took the elevator together and headed to VIP room 888.

As an invincible being in the cultivation world, Jiang Chen's ears were naturally sharp, so... even before he reached the door of the private room, he could already hear the sounds of laughter and merriment coming from inside.

"Ruyan, congratulations on awakening your S-rank talent! Don't forget us if you achieve great success in the future!"

"I knew long ago that Ruyan would definitely awaken a powerful talent. Everyone has seen her hard work. It's just a pity that Ruyan is also love-struck. Back then, all she knew was to follow Jiang Chen around. If she hadn't done that, she might have awakened an even more powerful talent!"

Love-struck? Who breaks up so decisively when they're in love?

If Jiang Chen remembered correctly, Liu Ruyan had followed him around willingly back then, so what did it have to do with him?

The heavy, carved wooden door of the private room was ajar, and the noise inside easily drowned out the soft music in the corridor.

However, Liu Ruyan did not seem to respond to them. Just then, a deliberately raised male voice, filled with undisguised sarcasm, entered their ears.

"If you ask me, some people are just born unlucky. They act all high and mighty all the time, but what's the result? Incompetent!! Hahaha, I heard this term even trended globally. Jiangzhou has become famous in a different way now!"

It was Li Haoran's voice. Jiang Chen remembered him; he was a boy who used to always follow behind him with a warm smile.

"Shh, keep your voice down, just in case..." a slightly hesitant female voice rang out.

"What are you afraid of?" Another sharp female voice interrupted her. It was Liu Ruyan's little follower, who had a very good relationship with Liu Ruyan. Back when Jiang Chen treated Liu Ruyan to dinner, she often ate along.

"Is Jiang Chen even going to this victory celebration? Does a powerless person like him even have the right to be here? We're here to congratulate Ru Yan! Do those so-called 'only powerless people' in history even have the face to come? Coming here would only humiliate them! Thinking back to his arrogant attitude before, it's laughable now. He just used up all his luck; he's a complete loser at heart!"

Laughter erupted, like countless fine needles piercing the doorway.

Jiang Chen and Wang Kai had already reached the door, but they hesitated to go in.

Wang Kai's face flushed red, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. He turned to look at Jiang Chen, only to find his face expressionless, his eyes calm as if he were listening to a farce that had nothing to do with him. Jiang Chen even had the leisure to adjust his cuffs, his posture as if he were about to step into a boring tea party.

"Brother Chen, how about we..."

"Go in," Jiang Chen said calmly, pushing the door of the private room open with a slight effort.

The room fell silent.

Beneath the luxurious crystal chandelier, about twenty people sat around a huge round table, all familiar faces. At this moment, their eyes were all fixed on Jiang Chen standing at the door, surprise, mockery, schadenfreude, a hint of embarrassment... a variety of emotions fermented in the brief silence.

Liu Haoran sat near the head of the table, a smile still lingering on his face. Upon seeing Jiang Chen, that smile instantly transformed into exaggerated surprise: "Oh! Look who's here! Isn't this our world-renowned Jiang Chen? What, you also received Ru Yan's invitation? Or... did you come to the wrong place?"

He emphasized the words "famous all over the world".

Liu Ruyan's best friend covered her mouth with her hand and giggled, her eyes scanning Jiang Chen up and down.

"Jiang Chen, I heard you haven't left the house for the past few days? Well, I wouldn't dare to show my face either. But you've got some courage today, coming to celebrate with your ex-girlfriend? With that kind of composure, no wonder you're considered incompetent, you've got a thick skin."

The people around him kept echoing his sentiments, but Jiang Chen had long forgotten their names.

"Brother Chen, don't be discouraged. Even if you don't have the ability, you can study history! You yourself are a living historical specimen! Maybe you can even be included in a textbook someday, with the title 'On the Fish That Escaped the Catch in the Era of Spiritual Resurgence,' hahaha!"

Malicious mockery poured in like dirty water. Some feigned coughs to hide their laughter, some lowered their heads to fiddle with their cutlery to avoid eye contact, but most watched with a condescending pity or naked ridicule as this genius, whom they once looked up to, fell into the mire.

Wang Kai was so angry that the veins on his forehead throbbed. He was about to speak when Jiang Chen stopped him with a look.

He had seen far too many of these kinds of scenes in the world of cultivation, but he never expected to encounter such a thing so soon after returning.

Jiang Chen walked calmly into the private room, seemingly oblivious to the gazes and whispers around him. His gaze swept lightly over the faces, some familiar, some unfamiliar. In his thousand years of cultivation, he had experienced countless trials and tribulations, life-or-death situations far more treacherous than this. The childish and sarcastic mockery before him was not even a speck of dust in his Dao heart.

He even sat down in an empty seat next to Li Haoran—a secluded corner that no one wanted to sit in—and casually picked up the teapot on the table to pour himself a cup.

His movements were fluid and effortless, as if no one else was around.

This complete disregard left the mockers feeling more frustrated than any vehement rebuttal, as if they had punched empty air.

Li Haoran's expression turned ugly. He raised his voice, "Jiang Chen, everyone's talking to you! With this attitude, do you still think you're that genius you used to be? Face reality! Ruyan is the main character now, you're not even worthy to carry her shoes!"

Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open again.

A faint, cool fragrance wafted in first, followed by a slender figure walking in, surrounded by several people.

Liu Ruyan wore an exquisite moon-white dress that accentuated her snow-white skin. She slightly raised her chin, her neck graceful, and wore a perfectly measured smile befitting a victor and the center of attention.

Her gaze swept across the entire room, pausing slightly when it passed over Jiang Chen.

His gaze was complex, with a fleeting hint of surprise, the arrogance of an awakened being, and perhaps a barely perceptible ripple of past traces, but ultimately, all was covered by a calm detachment.

Just then, Jiang Chen's gaze fell on the girl who was also in the private room.

That was his ex-girlfriend whom he hadn't seen for a thousand years.