What is integrity?
Some would rather die than submit.
What is reputation?
Some would sacrifice everything for it.
In this world, there are always people who hold fast to principles that seem incomprehensible to others.
They don't understand, they can't comprehend.
Yet these incomprehensible principles are precisely the proof of what makes us human, what allows us to stand between heaven and earth!
Heaven and earth condemn me, all beings despise me.
What should I do?
Words are useless, protests are futile.
There is such a person who will not tolerate injustice!
Lian Que, the creator of the famous artifact 'Chang Xiang Si' (Everlasting Longing).
With this masterpiece, he had instantly become the most brilliant genius of the Lian clan, the most attention-grabbing weaponsmith.
He had only recently opened the Gate of Heaven and Earth, still in his early twenties, with a promising future.
Today in Nanyao City, distinguished guests filled every seat, VIPs gathered like clouds—all here for his creation.
His brilliance had only just begun.
Yet he decisively struck his own palm in suicide, destroying everything with his own hands. Just to prove his morality and honor!
Such was his unyielding character.
Inside Lian Que, his blood roared like a furnace, his palm blazing red.
He was already using his full strength, holding nothing back, determined to die.
"Que'er, you cannot do this!" Ancestor Lian Zhuping cried out in shock and anger.
Elder Lian Luyue was also stunned speechless.
The Lian clan's influence had been declining in recent years, and they urgently needed external support.
In the eyes of the Lian clan's higher-ups, the fourteenth prince Jiang Wuyong was an excellent partner.
First, his royal status could help the Lian clan resolve many troubles. Second, Jiang Wuyong himself was not powerful enough, so the Lian clan could cooperate with him as equals rather than becoming completely subservient.
As long as they forced Lian Que to agree, this matter would have little impact on the Lian clan.
After all, as Lian Zhuping had said, Lian Que had agreed to forge a sword for Jiang Chen, but hadn't specified what kind of sword.
What happened inside the forge, how the sword was forged—outsiders could never know.
It would only be Lian Que breaking his word, which was insignificant.
They had thought that sacrificing a little personal reputation for the family was inconsequential.
They had thought that even with his fierce temperament, Lian Que would know what he should do for the family's reputation.
They had thought that Lian Que would at most throw a temporary tantrum. In the end, he would understand what the right choice was.
They truly hadn't expected things to turn out this way.
They truly couldn't imagine that Lian Que would have such resolute determination.
Driving the clan's genius weaponsmith to suicide—such a terrible reputation was something they couldn't bear.
After their deaths, they wouldn't be able to face their ancestors.
This palm strike came suddenly, almost no one had anticipated it, so no one could react in time.
Except... Jiang Chen.
When Lian Que was speaking, he had already sensed something was wrong.
He had initially thought Lian Que was about to attack and turn against his family, secretly preparing to help.
He hadn't expected it to be used at this moment.
Lian Que's palm struck toward his own crown, blazing red and scorching hot, but suddenly paused for a breath.
Wooden qi arose from within, surging outward, freezing him in place.
Jiang Chen's second instant-cast Dao art engraved in his Celestial Palace: Binding Tiger!
In that brief moment, Jiang Chen rushed to Lian Que and grabbed his wrist: "Brother Lian Que, there's no need for this! I believe you!"
"Yes, yes, yes! Que'er, think twice! Everything can be discussed!" Lian Zhuping also said urgently.
Sizzle...
Lian Que's palm temperature was too high. Jiang Chen grabbed it hastily, without sufficient preparation, and blood blisters had already formed on his hand. But apart from a slight raise of his eyebrows, his grip didn't loosen even slightly.
Lian Que had already resolved to die, and being suddenly stopped, he was still shaken.
Hearing the voice, he was startled and hurriedly released his strength.
Looking at the blood blisters on Jiang Chen's hand, Lian Que felt even more remorseful: "Brother Jiang, I..."
Jiang Chen interrupted him: "This has nothing to do with you. I'm not a confused person."
He turned to face Jiang Wuyong: "Fourteenth Prince, I think anyone with eyes can see whose sword this is. Lian Que's integrity doesn't need to be questioned further. As a royal prince, will you continue these underhanded tactics?"
"Ridiculous!" Jiang Wuyong certainly couldn't back down now, even if he hadn't originally intended to escalate matters. He was already riding a tiger with no way to dismount.
If he left dejectedly once Chongxuan Sheng appeared, what would others think?
He couldn't slap his own face to enhance Chongxuan Sheng's prestige!
"All treasures in the world belong to the virtuous! What virtue or ability do you, Jiang Chen, have to deserve this famous artifact?"
Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow and retorted: "What is virtue?"
Jiang Wuyong stepped forward, his purple robe fluttering: "Might is virtue!"
The ten Heaven-Piercing realm bearers who accompanied him all leaped onto the stage together.
Additionally, a pale-faced middle-aged man who had been silent beside him suddenly swept his sleeves, his aura instantly soaring to the heavens—he was clearly an Inner Fane realm powerhouse!
Although Jiang Chen had divine skills to look forward to, he was only at the Heaven-Piercing realm.
Jiang Wuyong knew that after Lian Que's outburst, the Lian clan's higher-ups couldn't openly curry favor with him anymore. Otherwise, their own clan members' scorn would drown them.
At this point, he could only rely on force.
Bullying others with might certainly didn't sound good, but it was still better than completely losing his prestige.
As a prince, as long as he still harbored even a sliver of ambition for the throne, he could be domineering, but he couldn't be weak, couldn't lose face for the royal family.
Facing Jiang Wuyong's attitude, Chongxuan Sheng stood beside Jiang Chen without hesitation, giving an extremely tough response.
With his movement, a short, fat old man seemed to appear on stage out of thin air.
This person had no imposing aura, just smilingly watching the pale-faced middle-aged man: "Sir, I think we don't need to interfere in the disputes between juniors?"
The Inner Fane realm powerhouse behind Jiang Wuyong immediately stood aside, lowering his eyes and not saying a word.
Chongxuan Sheng could compete with Chongxuan Zun for the family head position, so naturally he also had powerful supporters behind him.
This short, fat old man who stepped forward now was enough to easily suppress the chief eunuch by Jiang Wuyong's side.
Meanwhile, from below the stage, people kept walking up, one after another.
Exactly ten more people, all at the Heaven-Piercing realm cultivation!
Before entering the Celestial Residence Secret Realm, Chongxuan Sheng had been short on manpower, unable to find even a second Heaven-Piercing realm expert he could trust with his life. But after emerging victorious from the Celestial Residence Secret Realm, in such a short time, his forces had almost taken initial shape.
This wasn't something achieved overnight, but rather long-prepared, just waiting for that one risky gamble, to instantly transform like a dragon in the wind!
Chongxuan Sheng was today clearly showing his hand to slap Jiang Wuyong in the face. It was both to show his unreserved support for Jiang Chen and to use this powerless prince to announce his own current status. To make more people open their eyes and choose sides properly.
Sending more and stronger people to swarm forward wouldn't have been as terrifying as what he was showing now.
Precisely because whatever card Jiang Wuyong played, Chongxuan Sheng would always be one step ahead, always slapping him in the face—this was what made people unable to gauge his depth, feeling he was unfathomable.
Being able to survive among those terrifying older brothers and sisters, and even extending his influence to the Lian clan—Jiang Wuyong was not incompetent.
He had only misjudged Chongxuan Sheng's level of support for Jiang Chen, and misjudged Chongxuan Sheng's strength. He had also misjudged Lian Que's determination to defend his integrity.
"I hear you, Jiang Chen, are also a victor from the Celestial Residence Secret Realm. In our great Qi, it's said that those who dare enter the Celestial Residence Secret Realm are among the strongest below the Soaring Dragon realm." Jiang Wuyong's expression didn't change, seemingly completely ignoring the tense standoff of everyone present.
He didn't seem to have any intention of swarming forward to overwhelm with force.
Instead, he stood with his hands behind his back, saying arrogantly: "As it happens, I also haven't opened the Gate of Heaven and Earth yet. Do you dare to exchange a few moves with me, to see which of us the famous artifact better suits?"