Chapter 10: The Chen Family

At the foot of Shunan City, in the town of Starlight, the Chen Family.

The annual meeting was approaching, and the Chen Family was bustling with activity. The young members were filled with anticipation and longing for the upcoming annual meeting, while undercurrents of tension swirled within the family.

"Chen Laoer hasn't come out all day, which is a huge piece of good news for us. Now, even the Elder Patriarch is on our side, not to mention the Second Elder hasn't spoken against us," Chen Lao Liu said excitedly to his elder brother.

"Since Chen Laoer became the family head, he has achieved nothing. Now that he has no children, he can no longer hold the position of family head. At this year's meeting, we will make Chen Laoer step down completely!" Chen Lao San chimed in.

"I am also thinking of the family's best interests. Laoer is indeed not fit to be the family head." As he spoke, a shadow of gloom passed over Chen Lao Da's eyes. He still couldn't understand why his father had passed the position of family head to his weak second brother, a knot in his heart that he had been unable to untie for twenty years.

At this moment, in another large courtyard of the Chen Family.

"Family Head, the annual meeting is approaching. If you continue to ignore family affairs, it will be hard to silence the gossip. Lao Da, Lao San, and Lao Liu are all watching you!" A middle-aged man stood outside the family head's door, earnestly trying to persuade him.

"Lao Si, you can leave. I will appear at the family meeting," the man inside said indifferently, his face stern and his eyes occasionally flashing with a cold light.

"Ah, Er Ge, why do you do this to yourself?" the man called Lao Si sighed.

"Tian'er, as a father, I have never been able to take good care of you. Because of my indulgence, they have become so rampant. Rest assured, on that day, I will make those people pay with their lives to honor your spirit!" The man's eyes flashed with an indelible killing intent.

As the New Year approached, the towns and cities became bustling with activity. Many disciples of various sects returned to their families to reunite with their loved ones.

Although Starlight Town was a town-level city, it was the largest town within Star Spirit City.

The Chen Family's First House was the largest inn in Starlight Town. At this moment, the young generation of the town was gathering in the inn.

"I heard that Chen Yue of the Chen Family awakened her martial soul at the Sunset Gate and has made rapid progress, already advancing to the Martial Disciple stage. Brother Chen Yan, is this true?" A handsome young man, fanning himself, asked a member of the Chen Family.

"Ha ha." Chen Yan smiled calmly, but his expression was one of great pride: "Of course, after my elder sister Chen Yue advanced to the Martial Disciple stage, her strength has greatly increased. If Shunan City holds a clan competition, I believe our Chen Family will shine brightly."

"Ha ha, but she has only just entered the first level of the Martial Disciple stage. My brother Wen Feng from the Wen Family returned from the Hell Gate and is already at the second level of the Martial Disciple stage. I doubt Chen Yue can match him," a member of the Wen Family sitting opposite Chen Yan mocked.

The four major families in Starlight Town were the Wen Family, which had ties to the royal family of Shunan City and was the strongest, followed by the Qiu Family and the Gu Family. The Chen Family had only appeared in Starlight Town a hundred years ago and was the weakest.

"Time spent in the Martial Disciple stage does not determine strength. My brother Gu Feng from the Gu Family is already at the third level of the Martial Disciple stage. I doubt anyone can match him except for the Princess of Shunan City," a member of the Gu Family said, not to be outdone.

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces changed slightly. Gu Feng had already reached the third level of the Martial Disciple stage, a talent that was indeed remarkable.

"Wen Renyan, did you invite us here just to talk about how strong others are? If so, it's too boring."

"Ha ha, of course, I invited you here to tell you an important piece of news. After the family's New Year celebration, the city lord will hold a grand martial competition. All young disciples can participate, and the winner will receive the Yang Essence Fruit as a reward!"

"What? The Yang Essence Fruit? This is the holy fruit for advancing from the Martial Disciple stage to the Martial Master stage. The city lord's generosity is indeed impressive." Everyone exclaimed in surprise, their faces filled with envy.

Wen Renyan sneered, "Chen Yan, I heard that your family's waste, Chen Tian, is already dead. Is this true?"

"This waste was useless when he was alive, and it's better that he's dead. If he hadn't died, I would have made him pay at the family competition!" Chen Yan said smugly, though he was a waste, this boy was the son of the family head, and it was particularly annoying.

"Who are you going to make pay?" At that moment, a sudden voice came from the bottom of the inn. Everyone looked up to see a familiar yet unfamiliar young man riding a horse, wearing the uniform of the Heavenly Sect, none other than Chen Tian, who had returned from the Heavenly Sect after a long journey.

Chen Tian had just arrived at the Chen Family's First House and had clearly heard someone mention him.

"Isn't this Chen Tian?" Everyone looked at him in shock.

Chen Yan was even more stunned, blurting out, "Didn't you die at the Heavenly Sect? How are you still alive?"

"What, do you hope I'm dead?" Chen Tian's face was dark, and a hint of killing intent lingered in his eyes.

Chen Yan was the son of a Chen Family elder, at the sixth level of the Martial Warrior stage, with decent strength, but not enough to be a threat.

"Hmph!" Chen Yan snorted. Two months ago, Chen Wu had brought news of Chen Tian's death at the sect, which had delighted the family's young disciples. But they never expected this waste to be alive and back.

"If you're still alive, why don't you hurry back to the family and avoid embarrassing yourself here!"

"Do I need your advice on what to do? Get down from there!" Chen Tian suddenly shouted. As the son of the family head and the young master of the Chen Family, he had returned to show everyone that not just anyone could bully him.

Chen Yan was stunned by Chen Tian's sudden outburst. When had the weak Chen Tian become so arrogant and domineering?

Chen Yan was not one to back down: "Get down? Just you, a waste?"

"Are you not coming down?" Chen Tian kicked off with his foot and leaped directly to the third floor.

"Get down!"

Amid the shock of the young disciples, Chen Tian grabbed Chen Yan and threw him out of the window.

"Chen Tian, you, you actually dare to do this to me." Chen Yan landed heavily and pointed at Chen Tian, speechless.

"I am the young master of the family. What are you, to point fingers at me? If you do it again, I'll cripple you."

Chen Tian was indeed domineering.

"Ha ha ha, what a good show. What a fine dog fight, the young master of the Chen Family is truly different," Wen Renyan laughed maniacally.

The Wen Family had always been dissatisfied with the Chen Family, and seeing the Chen Family's young disciples bickering was a source of great excitement.

"Who are you calling a dog?" Chen Tian turned and glared angrily.

"Of course, I'm calling you!"

"Ha ha ha, what a fine dog calling me a dog. Wen Renyan, after a year, you can't even tell if you're a man or a dog anymore."

Wen Renyan realized he was being toyed with and immediately flew into a rage: "You barely managed to save your dog life, and you still dare to be so arrogant. Since that's the case, I'll send you on your way now."

"Just you, a sixth-level Martial Warrior?" As Wen Renyan was about to attack, Chen Tian moved first, and a loud slap echoed through the inn.

Everyone in the inn drew a sharp breath.

"Want to hit me?" Chen Tian slapped him again, and then another, slapping Wen Renyan several times until his face was unrecognizable.

Throwing Wen Renyan onto the street, Chen Tian coldly looked at the other young disciples: "Is there anyone else who wants to bully me? Come on, I'll deal with all of you today."

Arrogant!

What was arrogance? They had just witnessed it in Chen Tian. The once weak and useless young master had transformed, his words and actions now so domineering and arrogant.

"Hmph, you rats, boring." Seeing no one respond, Chen Tian dismounted from the inn and landed on his horse.

Chen Tian looked at Wen Renyan and Chen Yan on the ground: "Chen Yan, remember, I am Chen Tian, the young master of the Chen Family. If you do it again, I'll take your life."

"Wen Renyan, if you're not satisfied, come find me anytime."

"Yah!" Chen Tian rode away, leaving the young disciples staring at each other, their faces pale. Chen Yan and Wen Renyan, humiliated by a waste, felt a deep sense of shame and disgrace.

On the contrary, the elegant young man from the Qiu Family smiled as he watched Chen Tian ride away: "Ha ha, Chen Tian of the Chen Family, interesting, very interesting. This might really change the Chen Family."