<h4>Chapter 152 - Calm Before the Storm</h4>


    Chen Fan’s return had surprised Chen Zhengqing and Chen Tianxiong in more ways than one.


    Not only had he be a Qi Grandmaster, but he had also gifted them rare treasures like the Buddhist Bone Relic, Sun Stone, Realm Breaking Pill, and Innate Golden Armor.


    The shock they felt was even greater than when Chen Fan had crippled Chen Hai’s arm.


    “Father, Grandfather, I have one more thing for you," Chen Fan dered after contemting. With a glint in his eyes, he squeezed out two drops of blood.


    “While training in the blessednd, I came across a fortuitous opportunity. Now, my blood has some great effects. Take one drop each, and consume it during a critical moment; it’ll bring you some unexpected benefits.”


    Chen Fan did not disclose that he had reforged his physique with dragon’s blood.


    Chen Zhengqing and Chen Tianxiong''s eyes gleamed with joy. For his blood to possess such potent effects, Chen Fan must have encountered some huge opportunity.


    They didn’t doubt Chen Fan’s words at all.


    The two drops of blood, tinged with a golden glow, exuded a palpable sense of weight and oppression.


    Chen Zhengqing and Chen Tianxiong carefully stored the drops, intending to consume them during their secluded cultivation.


    “Father, Grandfather, it''s time for you both to enter secluded cultivation, recover swiftly, and be Yuanfu realm experts,” Chen Fan said.


    Chen Zhengqing replied, “No hurries. Let’s wait until the matter with the two ns is settled.”


    Their concerns lingered despite Chen Fan''s apparent confidence and dismissal of the two ns. After the matter was resolved, it would still be a suitable time to start secluded cultivation.


    “Alright then.”


    Chen Fan relented, understanding that unresolved matters could hinder the effectiveness of their cultivation. On the contrary, they might even experience qi deviation.


    “Father, here are some natural treasures I found in the blessednd. While they aren''t of much use to me, they can nurture the talents of our Chen n.”


    Chen Fan handed several storage pouches to Chen Zhengqing, each containing precious items acquired in the Dragon Mountain Blessed Land. These items were precious treasures to Qigong martial artists at the fifth and sixth levels.


    Examining the contents, Chen Zhengqing''s eyes widened in amazement. He chuckled and remarked, “You little brat, the things in here are worth more than a year of our Chen n’s ie. With these, our n''s descendants can be stronger rapidly.”


    Chen Fan nodded and said, “Then I’ll go and see how Qingqing is doing first.”


    ......


    Chen Tianyin’s courtyard:


    “Damn it, these opportunists!” cursed the people who were resolute in following Chen Tianyin to the end.


    Some elders, initially on Chen Tianyin’s side, were frightened after witnessing Chen Fan forcefully cripple one of Chen Hai''s arms. They decided to withdraw from the situation, prioritizing their safety.


    “Enough!” Chen Tianyin shouted coldly, his expression horrid.


    He had nned to stir up trouble and coerce Chen Zhengqing into surrendering his position. However, Chen Fan had single-handedly thwarted his schemes, using his son, Chen Hai, to showcase his dominance.


    So be it if he wanted to establish his might, but did he have to cripple Chen Hai’s arm?


    “Father, we can''t let that little bastard get away with this!”


    Chen Hai''s face bore a deep-seated resentment, his eyes aze with intense hatred. Hisbat prowess had sharply diminished due to his crippled arm.


    “Grandfather, we must take revenge. Take revenge for Father!” Chen Tao’s eyes were also flickering with hatred.


    Once the foremost genius of the Chen n, boasting cultivation at the sixth level, he now found himself stripped of his genius status by Chen Fan. Moreover, he had crippled his father’s arm, creating an insurmountable vendetta.


    Chen Tianyin looked at Chen Hai with a sunken expression and said, “Dahai, you exchanged a move with that little bastard. Tell me, how strong is he?”


    Revenge?


    He wanted to take revenge, too!


    However, Chen Fan’s strength seemed enigmatic.


    How could he seek revenge without understanding his opponent''s strength and risking embarrassment?


    After a moment of contemtion, Chen Hai''s expression grew solemn, and he confessed, “Father, I believe there''s a strong possibility that the little bastard is already a Qi Grandmaster.”


    His revtion elicited gasps from those present.


    “Grand Elder, I still have some matters to tend to at home. I’ll be making a move first.”


    “Oh, right, my wife is still waiting for me to return. Grand Elder, I’ll be leaving first, too.”


    “......”


    The faces of the elders determined to follow Chen Tianyin to the end suddenly changed and hastily excused themselves one after another.


    Before long, only the three direct family members remained in the entire courtyard.


    <i>Bang!</i>


    Chen Tianyin mmed his palm on the stone table, smashing it into smithereens. He cursed, “Damn these people. They used others of being opportunists, yet they''re even worse!”


    “Father, what should we do now?” Chen Hai asked.


    Chen Tianyin pondered momentarily, a cold, scheming light gleaming in his eyes. “Hmph, so what if that little bastard is a Qi Grandmaster? Can he take on six Qi Grandmasters alone?”


    ......


    Tan n’s mansion:


    Several figures stood together in the middle of the living room, their expressions uniformly grim.


    These people were the Qi Grandmasters of both the Tan and the Liu ns. They had gathered here because of the assault on Tan Yunbao and Liu Ruyan.


    “Inws, what is your n for this matter?” inquired Liu Hongchen, a slightly plump man with an aquiline nose, thick lips, and d in a long, ck silk robe—the patriarch of the Liu n.


    Tan Feng, patriarch of the Tan n, stood tall and robust, exuding an air of authority. When he spoke, his voice resonated like thunder in the hall.


    “What else can we do? He crippled my son Yunbao and even pped Ruyan in public. He must die, and we''ll make the Chen n surrender half their shops. Otherwise...”


    A sinister look shed in Tan Feng’s eyes. “Inws, do we still need to worry about the Chen n?”


    “Although Chen Zhengqing was once a Yuanfu realm powerhouse, he is no longer one. Our ns’ old masters... Hehe, first spread the word. The Chen n must hand over Chen Fan and relinquish half their assets by noon tomorrow. If not, our ns will march on the Chen n and wipe them out!”


    “Haha, good, we’ll do as you said!” Liu Hong chuckled as if the destruction of the Chen n were a foregone conclusion.


    ......


    A piece of news spread from the Tan n, creating shockwaves in Xuanyang City.


    The two ns had decreed that the Chen n must surrender Chen Fan and half their assets by noon tomorrow or face a joint attack that would obliterate them without mercy.


    The entire city buzzed with the news, as the Chen, Tan, and Liu ns were the three most powerful martial ns in Xuanyang City.


    Their actions carried profound implications for the city''s inhabitants. With the Tan and Liu ns uniting against the Chen n, arge-scale confrontation seemed imminent.