Swordholder

On Five Finger Peak.

Inside an elegant room, a father and daughter are facing off.

"Hmph, you're bringing trouble upon my Chen family!"

Chen Xiaoying stared at the burly, white-haired old man with murderous intent in her phoenix eyes, her chest heaving violently as if a great rage was rising within her.

"He's my grandson, of course I'll protect him with my life."

Chen Qingcang, with his neck stiff, spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"snort!"

Chen Xiaoying flicked her sleeve and snorted coldly, "Is he your own grandson?"

Are you really going to support someone of unknown origin and risk the entire Chen family?

"..."

After a moment of silence, Chen Qingcang's voice softened, and he said, "He... deserves it!"

Chen Xiaoying stared straight at Chen Qingcang, and finally sighed, "Dad, you don't really think of him as a substitute for my eldest brother's son, do you?"

I know you love your grandson, but you can't just pick anyone.

Chen Qingcang's expression softened.

The tense atmosphere between the father and daughter eased slightly.

"He is not a substitute..."

Chen Qingcang murmured, turned to look outside, his hands behind his back, his gaze gradually becoming unfocused.

As if lost in thought, dazed and in pain, he murmured:

"He is another Chen Yuan, the same Chen Yuan as my grandson, but with extraordinary talent, far surpassing even your great-grandfather."

"Heaven took away my own grandson, but it made up for it by bringing back a grandson with even better potential..."

After a pause, a sharp glint flashed in Chen Qingcang's eyes, and he continued to murmur:

"he······"

"This is the hope for the revival of our human race!"

"I hope he can grow up and become a future hero..."

Immediately afterwards, Chen Qingcang quickly revealed some of Chen Yuan's background information.

When Chen Xiaoying heard that Chen Yuan had transformed all his acupoints into spiritual acupoints and had broken through from the Dharma Body Realm to the mid-stage of the Yellow Court Realm in just a few months, she froze!

All of this seemed like a divine revelation.

Even with her extensive experience in the Wangdong Prince's Mansion, she had never seen such an extraordinary person.

She was stunned for a long time, even doubting whether she had misheard or whether her father was talking nonsense.

But after confirming it again and again, he was shocked to find that what his father said was true!

"this······"

Her beautiful eyes trembled slightly, and she spoke in a hoarse voice, "Does such a heaven-defying existence truly exist in this world?"

"have!"

Chen Qingcang stared directly at Chen Xiaoying, nodding emphatically, "Xiaoying, such an extraordinary being is a chosen one, born extraordinary!"

"Now that he has come to our Chen family, we must seize this opportunity!"

"But······"

Chen Xiaoying's eyes were still filled with deep worry. "The faster human cultivators grow, the more attention they attract from those above, and in the end, they will only become resources for the cultivation of those in power."

"If we are implicated by him, all the efforts of our Chen family ancestors for generations will be in vain, turning to dust in an instant!"

"I know!"

Chen Qingcang nodded emphatically, his eyes filled with emotion, "Our ancestors obtained the Origin Yang Pearl, and through the spiritual seed bestowed by the Origin Yang Pearl, they embarked on the path of cultivation."

"Through the efforts of several generations, we have transformed from farmers into a thousand-year-old family, firmly establishing ourselves within the city of Tianqing, and even acquiring Five Finger Peak as our clan's territory..."

Chen Xiaoying said, "Therefore, one wrong step can lead to utter ruin!"

"All our possessions have vanished into thin air!"

"This is a huge gamble!"

"I know!" Chen Qingcang stared at Chen Xiaoying, his eyes filled with unprecedented determination.

"This is a gamble that will affect our entire clan. If we win, we will be loyal subjects of the new emperor!"

"Losing isn't a big deal. In this filthy world, there's no point in living!"

Seeing the bloodshot eyes and the resolute look in Chen Qingcang's eyes, Chen Xiaoying sighed softly.

She knew that ever since her mother was killed by those beasts in Xiangjing City, her old father had hated the Great Xiang Empire to the core.

If she could support someone who could overturn the world... her father would definitely go all out.

Chen Qingcang patted Chen Xiaoying's shoulder, noticing the weariness still etched on her face despite the makeup, and said with heartache:

"Xiaoying, in all these years at the Wangdong Prince's Mansion, you have walked on thin ice, constantly on edge, having to navigate the world of those mythical beasts and creatures while also protecting the Chen family here from the storms of life..."

As he spoke, Chen Qingcang's voice was hoarse, his eyes reddened, and filled with deep affection as he said in a strained voice, "You've had a tough time all these years."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaoying felt a strange sense of disorientation.

All the past hardships melted away like a layer of icy mist, condensing in her beautiful eyes.

But in an instant, she snapped back to reality, her gaze quickly returning to its cold intensity.

After a moment's thought, she finally spoke with a sigh, "You are so ambitious, wanting to be a loyal subject who serves the emperor, but that boy may not have such ambitions."

Hearing this, Chen Qingcang took a deep breath and smiled, "I once asked him what his ambitions were."

"What is it?"

Chen Xiaoying became curious.

Chen Qingcang raised his finger and pointed to the sky, saying, "This world!"

Chen Xiaoying's gaze sharpened!

Chen Qingcang continued:

He said he wanted this earthly realm, supposedly ruled by gods!

"He wants those gods who enslave all living beings to pay a bloody price!"

He said... he wanted to bring lasting peace to the people at the bottom of society!

These words stirred up a storm in Chen Xiaoying's heart!

"He also said something on Palm Lake that shocked the Lake Lord to no end."

Seeing his daughter's shocked expression, Chen Qingcang became smug and immediately declared, "Divine authority has fallen, humanity should be respected, the world has changed hands, and peace reigns!"

Chen Xiaoying's body trembled slightly, her lips trembling as she murmured, "Divine authority has fallen, humanity should be respected..."

"Humanity should be respected..."

A sharp glint appeared in her eyes as she suddenly looked at Chen Qingcang.

Her two fair hands were already tightly clenched together.

The father and daughter gazed at each other for a long, long time...

Finally, Chen Xiaoying sighed and said, "Alright, I'll go crazy with Daddy."

Chen Qingcang smiled.

He knew that his precious daughter would support him.

Because his personality is so much like his deceased wife.

"However, A Yuan can no longer stay in the Chen family. He needs to change his identity in order to save his life."

Chen Xiaoying and Chen Qingcang looked at each other and spoke almost simultaneously.

"The Formless Sect!"

The father and daughter smiled knowingly.

·············

Outside the door.

Chen Yuan and Chen Zhaoning waited anxiously.

"Ah Yuan, was your previous arrogance and recklessness your true nature, or were you instructed to do it?"

Chen Zhaoning stood close to Chen Yuan, the two of them side by side.

She leaned close to Chen Yuan's ear and asked in a soft, fragrant breath.

"It was the old man's order."

Chen Yuan shrugged and said helplessly, "I don't understand why either. The more arrogant you are, the more you offend those five great beast-eating families, right?"

Chen Zhaoning tilted her head and thought for a moment, "Is it only by being forceful and completely exposing them that I can convince Lord Song?"

"Perhaps it's not that complicated."

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes. "They all want to kill us, so we don't need to show any mercy. The old man probably wants to have some fun too."

"..."

Chen Zhaoning nodded slightly, thinking it resembled her grandfather's personality.

Want to have some fun?

But what happens after the pleasure?

"Won't Auntie blame us?"

She pressed her head against the door again, eavesdropping quietly.

She quickly returned, took Chen Yuan's hand, and said resolutely, "But no matter whether your aunt punishes you or not, I will face all the storms ahead with you!"

"Um."

Chen Yuan nodded and patted the back of her hand.

"You two come in."

At that moment, two gentle voices came from inside the room.

Chen Zhaoning winked at Chen Yuan and whispered, "We're here. Let's be careful when we're facing Aunt."

Chen Yuan nodded, and together with Chen Zhaoning, they pushed open the door and went inside.

······

Inside the room, Chen Xiaoying, exuding an air of nobility, stood sideways, while Chen Qingcang sat in the main seat, leisurely sipping his tea.

"Grandpa, Auntie!"

Chen Yuan and Chen Zhaoning bowed simultaneously, their expressions respectful and obedient.

Especially Chen Yuan, where was the god of death he had been in the square before?

He's such a sunny, cheerful guy.

Chen Qingcang nodded slightly, glanced at Chen Yuan, and said, "Yuan, I have a question for you."

"Please ask, sir."

Chen Yuan looked at him curiously.

"Would you mind becoming an orc?"

Chen Qingcang narrowed his eyes and suddenly said.

"???"

Chen Yuan looked puzzled.

What do you mean?

At this moment, Chen Xiaoying coughed lightly, her voice icy cold, and said, "Your talent is too good, which will make the imperial court wary of you, and may suppress, ban, or even kill you."

Chen Yuan's gaze sharpened.

"Oh? Auntie, you have to help him!"

Chen Zhaoning spoke anxiously.

Chen Xiaoying glared helplessly at Chen Zhaoning, then looked at Chen Yuan and continued, "Human beings have exceptional talents, but they only have one way to survive: to be used by the imperial court."

Chen Yuan pondered for a moment, "Does Aunt mean for me to join the imperial court?"

Chen Xiaoying nodded, "That's right, it's about joining the Wuxiang Sect."

Chen Yuan was stunned.

He has one identity: the swordsman.

He still inherited Lu Chengfeng's title as the Gold Medal Swordsman!

The Formless Sect, on the other hand, is specifically designed to deal with those who wield the sword.

Could it be...?

Am I to become a double agent?

Chen Yuan's mind raced with thoughts.

Chen Xiaoying continued, "By joining the Wuxiang Sect, you will become a person of the Emperor of the Great Xiang Empire."

Of course, you might be suppressed at first, and there's a very real possibility that those people will turn you into an orc, that is, half-human, half-beast!

"Only in this way will they believe that you are not a complete human being, and only then can they feel at ease with your strength and allow you to grow freely."

Chen Zhaoning felt increasingly uneasy. "Huh? A-Yuan is going to become a beastman, then he..."

Chen Qingcang seemed to see through Chen Zhaoning's thoughts and smiled, "Of course, it is still possible to become a Daoist partner with a human. You can rest assured about this little Ning."

"What?!"

Chen Zhaoning seemed to have his thoughts read, and immediately became anxious, his face turning red.

Chen Xiaoying glanced helplessly at Chen Yuan and continued:

"Only when you become a Formless Guardian can you legally cultivate, legally possess the Dharma Ark, and even legally possess the Dharma Ship!"

Hearing this, Chen Yuan's eyes lit up.

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