Chapter 124: Universal Homage, Unprecedented and Unparalleled

While the world was in an uproar over Chen Shanhe’s entry into the secular realm, the low-key Jiang Yu sat cross-legged in his room.

The Qin girl stood quietly to one side, her curious gaze sweeping over him again and again. After several days of observation, there was no longer a trace of hostility toward Jiang Yu in her heart. In fact, there was a faint sense of reverence. Even though he had slaughtered the members of the Qin clan right before her eyes—even a half-step grandmaster had perished in the Cold Pool—she found she could not bring herself to hate him. If she felt any hatred at all, it was only for those short-sighted people in the Qin clan who, for the sake of immediate gain, had abandoned the family’s integrity and provoked a monster like Jiang Yu. She wondered what expression those arrogant clansmen would have when Jiang Yu eventually came knocking at their door.

Chen Chuwang, her brother, and Chen Shanhe stood with their heads bowed in respect. Since the death of Chen Jianyan, the position of Chen family head had passed to Chen Chuwang, marking the first time a woman had held the title since the family entered the hidden clans. As for Chen Shanhe, having reached such a realm of cultivation, he had long since grown indifferent to wealth and fame. What they pursued was that final, elusive step toward greater heights. People living on different planes naturally possessed different mindsets.

"Teacher, are you leaving?" After a long silence, Chen Shanhe broke the icy, tomb-like atmosphere of the room. Only by reaching the Earth Immortal realm could Chen Shanhe feel even more clearly the bottomless nature of Jiang Yu’s cultivation. Two hundred years ago, he had felt insignificant in Jiang Yu’s presence. Two hundred years later, even as a newly ascended Earth Immortal standing before him, that feeling persisted. It was as if no matter how hard he chased, the gap could never be bridged—like a man standing on the earth looking up at the sky, feeling the distance was vast. Even if that man were to stand on the world’s highest peak and look up, the sky would remain just as unreachable.

Jiang Yu closed his eyes and said, "I came this time only to see you. Next, I must pay a visit to the Qin clan. As I said before, as the price for offending me, I will leave them with a legacy of ashes."

Everyone was shocked. They could clearly hear the implication: Jiang Yu intended to trample the Qin clan into oblivion.

"Do not worry about me; do what you must. Do not be bound by the laws of this secular world. Those of our kind pursue freedom of heart. If the sky falls, I am here to hold it up for you."

Chen Shanhe smiled helplessly. "Your habit of shielding your own hasn't changed." Jiang Yu naturally saw Chen Shanhe’s concerns; he was worried that his actions would implicate the Chen family.

The Qin girl felt her world view collapsing. She bit her lip, her heart a tangled mess of emotions. Was the Qin clan’s fate truly sealed? Yet, she still believed that as long as Chen Shanhe did not intervene, the two grandmasters, several half-step grandmasters, and the various peak-level experts in her family should be able to block Jiang Yu’s path. In this world, how could anyone be so monstrously strong?

"Master Jiang, I admit the Qin clan was wrong, but it is not a mistake worth dying for. If you are willing to spare them, we are prepared to offer you satisfactory compensation." The girl could no longer hold back.

Jiang Yu let out a cold hum. "Did your elders never warn you that the dignity of a grandmaster cannot be violated? The Qin clan sought to execute me first and provoked me after. I gave you chances, but you did not cherish them. Since you have offended a grandmaster, you must be prepared for the consequences."

"Even if it means the end of the clan?" The girl clenched her fingers.

Jiang Yu nodded. "Even if it means the end of the clan."

Chen Kun looked at the girl with a gloating expression. "Where did the Qin clan’s backbone go? I’ve learned something today. I never thought a genius of the Qin clan would bow and beg for mercy in the face of true power. I thought you were all people who would rather die than surrender." The girl glared at him, ready to retort, but the memory of what the Qin clan had done to the Chen family over the years suddenly surfaced. Her confidence vanished; compared to what the Qin clan had done, what did a few taunts from the Chen family matter?

"And if I refuse to lead the way?" The girl’s gaze flickered before turning firm.

Jiang Yu showed an amused expression, though his tone remained indifferent. "The choice is yours. I never force anyone. If there is the slightest defiance, I simply kill them. There are thousands who know the Qin clan; if you are unwilling to lead the way, I will kill you and find someone else." His tone suggested that if she dared to utter one more harsh word, he would kill her on the spot. "Actually, leading the way for me is not without its benefits. At the very least, I will leave behind a remnant of your clan's lineage—that is better than having none at all."

His casual tone made the girl’s heart grow cold. How could there be such a person in the world who viewed life with such apathy? It was as if he were devoid of human emotion, his heart as cold as stone, without joy, anger, or compassion. Were the immortals in the sky not the same?

Even Chen Chuwang fell silent, recalling the youth from a month ago—the quiet boy who sat at the base of a tree every day, chewing on a piece of compressed ration. At that time, how could anyone have guessed that the harmless-looking Jiang Yu would transform into a demon, single-handedly sweeping through the three great clans, seizing the Cold Pool, and displaying a dominance that left an indelible impression?

*If we offend him along the way, will he slaughter us all just like he did the three great clans?* Chen Chuwang pondered this question. Given his personality, it was not impossible.

With a soft sigh, the Qin girl fell silent. In front of Jiang Yu, she truly could not bring herself to die for her principles. A seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, accustomed to being the center of attention and holding a prestigious status, would choose to live without hesitation when faced with death.

"Well? Have you decided?" Jiang Yu asked casually.

The girl felt utterly helpless and could only nod. "I will take you there."

Jiang Yu was not surprised. This girl had no spine; setting aside her cultivation, she was merely a pampered child. A few threats were enough to break all her defenses.

For the next few days, Jiang Yu stayed with the Chen family. When he had nothing to do, he would sit under a peach tree and quietly light a cigarette. The Chen family, thinking he would want to indulge in luxuries, had specifically set aside a hundred million in funds for him to spend. Yet, after several days, Jiang Yu had not taken a single cent, nor had he even left the Chen family mountain, remaining as low-key as an ordinary person. The Qin girl was also well-behaved; she ate, slept, and played, and no one restricted her movements. Under the watchful eyes of Jiang Yu and Chen Shanhe, she knew her place. Chen Xiao and the others, unaware of her identity, played with her, and they all seemed to have forgotten the grief brought upon the family by the death of Chen Jianyan.

At noon that day, someone came running into the Chen family compound. "The head of the Han family, Han Jiuyang, has arrived."

A man with graying short hair and a suit walked into the courtyard, his face full of reverence. As soon as he entered the hall, Han Jiuyang fell to his knees. "Jiuyang comes to apologize to the Chen family. I offer ten billion in reparations, thirty luxury cars, and ten years of servitude." As he spoke, he pressed his face to the floor, as if worshiping a god.

The hall was silent; no one responded to Han Jiuyang. Ten billion and thirty luxury cars—this had emptied half of the Han family's assets.

Suddenly, a bearded man appeared outside the door. He walked on his knees, bowing every three steps, from the foot of the mountain all the way to the Chen family compound. His camouflage pants were torn at the knees, revealing blood-stained wounds. By the time he reached the courtyard, he was drenched in sweat and near collapse. Behind him followed two men dressed as bodyguards, each carrying a briefcase.

"Li Yongxu of the Black Water Security Company comes to beg for forgiveness." The man knelt on the ground, and the two bodyguards opened the briefcases, solemnly presenting a contract. "Li Yongxu is willing to cede 51 percent of Black Water’s shares to make up for our previous disrespect toward the Chen family. We hope Senior Chen will look upon us with favor. Furthermore, from this day forward, Black Water is willing to become an affiliate of the Chen family and serve as slaves forever."

The members of the Chen family gathered in the hall, looking at these big shots who were trembling like cicadas, feeling a mix of emotions.

"The Li family of the East Sea is willing to offer a luxury yacht."

"The Zhang family of Qingyang is willing to offer seventeen martial arts centers."

Offering yachts? Even Chen Chuwang was stunned; the thought process of these people was truly unique. Little did they know, with the emergence of an Earth Immortal in the Chen family, those who had participated in suppressing them were already terrified out of their wits. They offered whatever they had, not seeking the best, but the most expensive, just to show their contrition.

On the mountainside, Jiang Yu leaned against the peach tree, watching the continuous stream of people hiking up the mountain, his eyes calm. The Qin girl stood beside him, her fair face radiant in the sunlight like top-quality mutton-fat jade. She, too, watched the spectacle of the Chen family mountain without blinking, though she was saddened that there was no sign of the Qin clan among the crowds.

"Is this the final chance, and you all choose to ignore it?" She gave a lonely smile, looking lost.

Atop the mountain, voices of apology echoed one after another. From luxury cars to yachts, from shares to using beauty as a lure—on this day, the Chen family feast was unprecedented. With an Earth Immortal in the world, all directions came to pay homage!