Boom!
As the words fell, the originally silent grand hall grew even quieter in that moment, and everyone hurriedly turned to look toward the entrance.
When the crowd saw the middle-aged man dressed in luxurious attire, their pupils involuntarily constricted, revealing expressions of shock and dread. At the same time, the way they looked at Ye Qingchen turned to one of mockery and schadenfreude.
"He’s here!"
"Didn’t expect the Zhan Family to arrive so quickly!"
"Haha, there’s a good show to watch now!"
"True to their reputation, the Zhan Family makes no concessions right from the start, directly confronting Ye Qingchen. I wonder how Ye Qingchen will respond?"
The surrounding crowd began whispering to one another.
The two Patriarchs of the Yan Family couldn’t help but also narrow their eyes, snapping back to reality as they hurriedly looked forward. Meanwhile, everyone else either had a mocking smile or a sarcastic expression as they gazed toward the center, eager to see how Ye Qingchen would deal with this situation!
Amidst the converging gazes, Ye Qingchen’s eyes also fell on the opposite party.
It was well known that, given his current strength, typical Earth Immortal clans didn’t even have the courage to stand against him openly. Didn’t they see how many Earth Immortals fell silent as soon as he stepped into the field?
Yet, this middle-aged man dared to speak out provocatively.
But judging by his extraordinary demeanor alone, it was evident that he wasn’t some product of an ordinary Earth Immortal clan, but more likely a powerful figure from a top-tier Earth Immortal family!
Yet why would Ye Qingchen care about such things?
He slightly raised his eyes and said indifferently:
"Were you speaking to me just now?"
"Mr. Ye, this is the Patriarch of the Zhan Family, Zhan Kuang!" Luo Xin hurriedly stepped forward to mediate, quietly introducing the other party to Ye Qingchen.
He knew well that Ye Qingchen had quite a hot temper and wouldn’t tolerate someone challenging him openly. Meanwhile, Zhan Kuang wasn’t an easy character to deal with, and besides, he himself was an Earth Immortal!
Not to mention, the family behind him!
Luo Xin hoped that Ye Qingchen would be somewhat apprehensive of the Zhan Family’s influence.
"Zhan Family?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingchen couldn’t help but frown slightly.
The Zhan Family, being a Major Race of the xtreme North, was naturally not unheard of by Ye Qingchen. He was also well aware of the sheer power of this family, which was quite terrifying. In the xtreme North, they held a position akin to a dragon’s head.
With the Zhan Family present, families like the Luo Family and Yan Family paled in comparison. It wasn’t just about comparing their family influences; the sheer number of Earth Immortals on their side could crush you to death.
Merely by witnessing the silence following Zhan Kuang’s entrance and the mixture of awe and reverence on everyone’s faces, it became evident that this was the confidence that allowed the Zhan Family to lord over all in the xtreme North!
"If not you, then who?"
Zhan Kuang stood arrogantly at the doorway, his face full of insolence as he looked at Ye Qingchen, "Didn’t you hear what I said? Hurry up and roll over here to invite me in, won’t you?"
As he spoke, his gaze swept over the other people present, half-smiling as he said:
"I never imagined the Luo Family Ancestor to be so useless, being killed by some brat! In the span of just one night, even the Luo Family changed hands, who would have thought!"
The words sent a wave of shock through the crowd, everyone staring at Zhan Kuang in surprise, clearly not expecting him to be so unabashedly offensive as to say this publicly.
This was blatant mockery and ridicule, utterly disregarding Ye Qingchen!
"It seems like the Zhan Family is here specifically to suppress Ye Qingchen this time!" The second in command of the Yan Family couldn’t help but say, frowning as he watched the scene unfold, "It’s good, it’s good..."
In his view, as long as Ye Qingchen was willing to bow his head, he could pass this tribulation today.
"It’s good?" The head of the Yan Family shook his head, watching Ye Qingchen with a half-smile, "This is a lifelong humiliation! Being publicly humiliated and ridiculed like this is tantamount to having one’s dignity crushed and then trampled upon! Yet in the face of such humiliation, one must bow their head!"
While speaking.
The head of the Yan Family squinted his eyes slightly, clearly recalling some unpleasant memories.
Others remained silent.
They had all experienced the overbearing nature of the Zhan Family time and again; such scenes were nothing to them. They had even endured more humiliating situations.
But in the face of the powerful Zhan Family, they dared not utter a word in anger. What did dignity matter? Surviving in the face of the Zhan Family was most important!
Taking in everyone’s expressions, the pride in Zhan Kuang’s eyes grew even more pronounced.
This time.
He had come specifically to suppress Ye Qingchen.
This young man’s arrogance had gone too far, flattening Ice City, killing Luo Yunfei. His momentum needed to be curbed. If the other party was willing to submit, the Zhan Family wouldn’t pursue it further.
After all, the Zhan Family could accommodate Luo Yunfei, and they could naturally accommodate Ye Qingchen as well.
They wouldn’t mind throwing out a bone to gain another henchman!
Of course.
Should Ye Qingchen refuse, they would simply dismember the entire Luo Family!
While Zhan Kuang was contemplating these matters, suddenly Ye Qingchen laughed.
"What are you laughing at?" Zhan Kuang raised an eyebrow, asking coldly.
"I’m laughing at how foolish your Zhan Family is, thinking you can just step on anyone. I’m not Luo Yunfei, nor am I a dog of your Zhan Family! I’m not someone you can casually humiliate!"
Ye Qingchen lifted his head with a half-smile,
"I remember, Luo Xin didn’t invite your Zhan Family; who gave you the qualification to enter?"
"Break your own legs and crawl out!"
Ye Qingchen had just slain Jian Chen, Jing Tian’an, and Zhu Army at Taotian Palace, trampling down Seven Peaks, an event that hadn’t yet reached the xtreme North.
Even if some had heard, they likely wouldn’t believe it.
If the Zhan Family knew this news, they wouldn’t dare, they wouldn’t have the audacity to barge in so openly. But since they did, Ye Qingchen wouldn’t show them any courtesy!
"What did you say?"
Zhan Kuang’s face changed.
He, who ran rampant in the xtreme North, wherever he went, was treated as an honored guest in Earth Immortal clans. Never had anyone dared to speak to him like this!
"Patriarch Zhan, Mr. Ye doesn’t mean it, what Mr. Ye means is..." Luo Xin tried to mediate in earnest.
But Zhan Kuang wouldn’t listen to any explanation, his gaze frosty as he said grimly, "Ye Qingchen, how dare you publicly humiliate my Zhan Family. I will kill you today and then destroy the Luo Family to let the world know the price of insulting my Zhan Family!"
Boom!
As the words landed, the surroundings erupted in an uproar.
Could just one sentence determine the downfall of a thousand-year-old Earth Immortal clan?
But Ye Qingchen didn’t waste any more words. Facing the enraged Zhan Kuang, he merely raised his right hand slowly!