<h4>Chapter 351 – Disrespecting Elders</h4>


    To be honest, Zhao Qingyun had been cornered.


    The Third Demon Elder was just too smart; he had attacked right at his weakest spot. If Zhao Qingyun insisted on giving Long Chen Traceless Demon Shadow, then Zhao Qingyun’s reputation would fall. The image of him in the bright-eyed disciples would bepletely distorted. If they felt that the Heavenly Demon Lord was a person who favored his own disciples without regard for right and wrong, wouldn’t that mean that no matter how hard they worked, they would never be as strong as a person with the right rtions?


    Zhao Qingyun told them to get up, but no one did. The Third Demon Elder was privately smug to see this happen. He really wanted to see how Zhao Qingyun would clean this mess up.


    “Pce Lord, if you don’t give us an exnation for this, we aren’t getting up.” These elders were all here because they had been instructed by the Third Demon Elder toe support him. Furthermore, they indeed felt that Zhao Qingyun’s decision was inappropriate; therefore, they continued to kneel and refused to get up.


    This made Zhao Qingyun look very bad, which achieved the Third Demon Elder’s objective.


    The smugness he felt was indescribable.


    Even Long Chen never expected this. He looked up to see Zhao Qingyun in deep thought, trying to look for a perfect solution. Long Chen knew that Zhao Qingyun wanted to give Traceless Demon Shadow to him. The fact that he did not give up even under this much pressure moved Long Chen, which was why Long Chen had no choice but to step up.


    “Everyone, let me say something.” Long Chen took a few steps forward, standing next to Zhao Qingyun. His gaze swept across the group of kneeling elders, as well as the Third Demon Elder. Then he said, “I was the one who asked my master for Traceless Demon Shadow. Coincidentally, Senior Yang Jun also wants it today. Since the beginning of time, the stronger party takes the treasure. You all seem to think that Senior Yang Jun is the stronger party and that I, Long Chen, am not fit to cultivate Traceless Demon Shadow. However, how did you alle to the conclusion that Yang Jun is stronger than I am?”


    “What do you mean by that?” Yang Jun asked suspiciously, ring like a tiger.


    Everyone froze and looked at Long Chen in confusion. Was the nepotism baby implying that he was stronger than Yang Jun? Was this a joke?


    Even the Third Demon Elder did not know how to react.


    Long Chen’s gaze fell on the kneeling elders and he said coldly, “Elders, you all should get up. You are all people of status in the Heavenly Demon Pce. If you start falling on your knees and crying over such a small matter, it’s hard to reconcile these actions to your lofty identities. The Pce Lord had asked all of you to get up, and you refused. What is the meaning of that? Are you forcefullybeling the Pce Lord to be evil and unjust? I think you all should reflect on yourselves!”


    The elders’ faces and ears turned red with Long Chen’s harsh words, slowly realizing that they had crossed the line.


    With Zhao Qingyun’s personality, he merely did not care to argue with them. That was the only reason they were still alive. If they had a different Pce Lord, all of them would have lost their heads already.


    When one person stood up hesitantly, everyone else followed.


    There was pride in Zhao Qingyun’s eyes. To be honest, he really had been forced into a corner. If he used violence to suppress them, it would backfire. The most suitable person to speak up was Long Chen, and Long Chen did not disappoint him—he had resolved the awkward situation with just a few sentences.


    When everyone started standing up because of Long Chen’s words, the Third Demon Elder’s mouth twitched. He demanded coldly, “Brat, what are you trying to say?”


    “What are <i>you </i>trying to say? Didn’t you say that giving Traceless Demon Shadow to me is unfair? Tell me, then, what do you think is fair? I, Long Chen, will oblige,” said Long Chen without a hint of obsequiousness, staring straight into the Third Demon Elder’s eyes.


    “You’re very bold, you brat! How can you speak to me with that tone? This is utterly insubordinate! Did your parents not teach you respect?” The Third Demon Elder was enraged to hear no respect in Long Chen’s tone. There was already killing intent in his re.


    “How can I speak to you with that tone? Third Demon Elder, I’d like to ask you, then, how could you speak to my master with that tone? That was even more insubordinate, right? Didn’t your parents teach you respect? Are you an animal?” Long Chen asked.


    The Third Demon Elder had ced pressure on Long Chen using the insubordination excuse, but unexpectedly, Long Chen had thrown it right back at him, and he was even called an animal. The Third Demon Elder had been high above everyone for countless years, so he never expected to be insulted like this. Blood rushed into his head, and if Zhao Qingyun was not standing next to Long Chen, he would have attacked.


    Long Chen had already made him lose his temper once when they were at the Demon Pavilion. Now Long Chen had done it once more. The Third Demon Elder had to swallow his mes of anger back into his belly; one could only imagine how suppressed and resentful he felt.


    This would have been better if Long Chen made no sense. Unfortunately, Long Chen’s words made too much sense. The Third Demon Elder had indeed spoken rudely to Zhao Qingyun.


    Zhao Qingyun was privately pleased to see the Third Demon Elder so miserable after a few words from Long Chen. He now knew why Long Chen had managed to turn his fate around in such a shocking manner. One major reason was the courage he disyed!


    Everyone else was stunned. They had initially ignored this teenager, but who would have thought that he would be this bold with such a sharp tongue?


    Did this person of unknown background who had be the Pce Lord’s direct disciple due to nepotism have something outstanding in him?


    Amidst the group’s discussion, the Third Demon Elder suppressed his anger with great difficulty, then he threatened fiercely, “Your name is Long Chen, right? Are you saying that you want topare yourself and Yang Jun to see who is stronger? To see who is more suited for Traceless Demon Shadow? Alright, I’ll let Yang Junpete against you. Do you dare take this challenge?”


    “Since I’m the one who brought it up, I am obviously not going to take it back,” said Long Chen with his chin up.


    “Alright! Pce Lord, Long Chen has agreed. If my disciple Yang Jun proves to you that he is countless times superior to Long Chen, will Traceless Demon Shadow be given to my disciple?” The Third Demon Elder’s gaze passed Long Chen and fell on Zhao Qingyun.


    Long Chen turned to give Zhao Qingyun a confident look. Zhao Qingyun was initially hesitant, but he was assured by the look in Long Chen’s eyes. He knew that Long Chen had killed the six royalmanders and the whole dwarf tribe. He was a vicious person who could hold up against the Ninth River Stage Lin Zichen. With such viciousness and confidence, he would be able to fight Yang Jun, the third-strongest disciple of the Heavenly Demon Pce.


    “Since you all have made your decision, then we shall do it. Whoever performs better today will get to cultivate Traceless Demon Shadow. All of this will depend on your own capabilities. Do not me me for not showing mercy if anyone decides to change their minds. There are many things I let slip, but that does not mean I will avert my gaze forever.”


    Zhao Qingyun’s re was like a bolt of lightning. Everyone he looked at felt their scalps go numb as they regretted their actions. It was a fact that Zhao Qingyun was stronger even if all the masters of the Heavenly Demon Pce were added up. Therefore, wasn’t it stupid to disobey the pir of the Heavenly Demon Pce?


    Now that Zhao Qingyun’s permission had been obtained, everything would be much easier.


    The Third Demon Elder sighed in relief and eyed Long Chen suspiciously. “Since the Pce Lord has agreed, then I shall set the rules. The most suitable method topare two people is a duel, but with such arge gap in cultivation level, some people will surely say that Yang Jun had an unfair advantage. Let’s put it this way. Both of them will attack me, and I will not retaliate. All I can do is dodge and block. Anyone who canunch an attack above their own level and show me the most impressive attack will be the victor. What do you guys think? Using this method, we are judging your potential, not your current strength.”


    The Third Demon Elder looked at them with glee.


    He was implying that Long Chen was no match for Yang Jun at all. And since the master-disciple duo did not want to have an unfair advantage, he had suggested theypare their potential instead.


    This put the Third Demon Elder on a moral high ground, showing that they were fair andpassionate. Long Chen did not think so, because they were both attacking the Third Demon Elder. With the Third Demon Elder’s abilities, he could definitely control the performance of both sides. He could be slightly lenient with Yang Jun and easily make his disciple’s attack look much more impressive.


    Long Chen was impressed that the Third Demon Elder could think of such an airtight n that even ced himself on moral high ground within such a short time.


    However, all of these cheap tricks were nothing in the face of true strength. Long Chen felt no fear.


    Everyone praised the Third Demon Elder’s idea, then he turned to ask for Zhao Qingyun’s opinion. “Pce Lord, what do you think?”


    Zhao Qingyun naturally also saw through this cheap trick, but he trusted Long Chen. Also, he wanted to personally see how extraordinary Long Chen’sbat abilities were for him tomit such shocking acts.


    “That will do. This is your own idea. When the results are out, you must respect them fully and stop spouting nonsense. You’re one of the Demon Elders; you must know that you need to uphold the Heavenly Demon Pce’s image, and your own image. I can make you a Demon Elder, but I can also cripple you.”


    Zhao Qingyun spoke impassively, but the Third Demon Elder sensed a power strong enough to threaten him within this tone.


    “I will naturally keep the promises I make. Let’s not waste any more time, then. You’re the senior out of the both of you, so you’ll go first!” said the Third Demon Elder after taking a few steps back.


    Everyone backed away to reveal a patch of empty space.