Junior sister, keep forbear for a while, I almost become invincible as soon!-Chapter 704 - 703 A Variable
Huangzhou.
The slaughter initiated by the Divine Clan had ended with the reawakening of Ancestor Zhang. However, news concerning the Sword Immortal Heritage, the Divine Clan's Big Shot, and the Human Emperor's sword was now spreading like wildfire across this land.
Everyone was shocked. So the rumors were true.
Subsequently, a continuous stream of powerful experts, influential factions, young geniuses, and others began to arrive.
「The Divine Clan!」
After decades of planning that ended in defeat, they were not reconciled to it. This time, however, their retreat was ostensibly due to Ancestor Zhang, but the true reason was an "unexpected variable."
At this moment, deep within the Divine Clan's territory, over a hundred high-ranking members had gathered. They sat on the ground, a mix of elderly men, vigorous middle-aged individuals, and energetic youths. Most possessed peculiar appearances, and the light radiating from them differed, as did the fluctuations of their auras. Divine Princess Wang Lin was also among them.
After waiting for about an hour, a figure wreathed in golden light emerged from the depths of the Divine Clan's domain.
He was tall and powerfully built, his upper body bare. His muscles rippled, dense and defined, like a coiled dragon, emanating not only immense power but also an indescribable aesthetic. His golden eyes shone with a brilliant light, radiating an intimidating aura. Viewed from a distance, he resembled a god looking down upon all mortals, exuding a terrifying oppressive presence.
The Clan Leader of the Divine Clan, Yun Lian.
When he arrived, everyone looked up, their hearts jolting fiercely. This Clan Leader had grown even stronger! The Bloodline Power within him had grown even more potent, nearing the standard level for the Divine Clan. Perhaps it wouldn't be long before he could leave this fractured land and head for the Heavens.
"Speak…" Yun Lian murmured, his tone gentle yet coercive.
Among the figures seated before him, one slowly rose. He, named Imperial River, had been responsible for the invasion of the Zhang Family's territory. During the retreat, he had been severely wounded by Ancestor Zhang. Fortunately, that Ancestor had shown no killing intent; otherwise, he would most certainly not have returned alive.
Imperial River spoke, "There is an unexpected variable."
The beginning, the process, the end—none of it mattered. Defeat was defeat; he would not offer lengthy explanations. Focusing on the crucial point was what the Clan Leader wanted to hear.
Just as expected, when he uttered the words "unexpected variable," Yun Lian's expression darkened.
He had lived from Wenliang's era to the present. In his youth, brimming with vitality, he had constantly clamored to venture out and gain experience. Later, he went to the Southern Diaspora, the birthplace of Wenliang. As a favored son of the Divine Clan, he had arrogantly lorded his superior status over others, looking down on everyone and repeatedly suppressing the Human Clan's geniuses. And he possessed the strength to do so.
Until one day, he encountered Wenliang.
For the first time, the favored son of heaven was defeated, and in a single move by Wenliang's hand.
Yun Lian, unreconciled, entered seclusion for a time before seeking Wenliang out once more. The result… was obviously a second defeat. This dealt a heavy blow to him, a favored son of heaven. Naturally, his unwillingness to accept defeat grew, and the desire to kill Wenliang intensified.
Later, when plans needed to be laid in Huangzhou, he was entrusted with the critical task. He remembered biding his time for a full thirty years, waiting for Tiger Land to appear, so he could open that great tomb and witness the God Grid of a great Divine Clan entity. He had never imagined he would hear those words: "There is an unexpected variable."
Not a formidable enemy, but an unexpected variable.
At the time, significant controversy arose among the Divine Clan's upper echelons. Many dismissed the so-called "variable" as mere nonsense. They had toiled painstakingly for decades. The Divine Clan had waited for generations, and now that an opportunity had finally arisen, how could they relinquish it so easily?
The faction advocating for slaughter prevailed, and their plans proceeded accordingly.
「That day...」
The high command announced the reactivation of their Divine Skills and initiated the slaughter in the Zhang Family's territory to break open the way to Tiger Land.
That was his third encounter with Wenliang.
He finally understood what this "unexpected variable" truly was. It was definitely not the Emperor Realm powerhouse of the Zhang Family, nor the legacy left by the Human Clan's ancestors, but that person, Wenliang—an uncanny power.
Back then, he had barely entered the Saint Realm! Yet, with his strength alone, he had forcefully shattered the Divine Clan's meticulously laid plans, pinning their Divine Skills firmly beneath that very sky.
It was a horrifying scene. Those who had not witnessed it could never imagine its terror.
He was defeated by Wenliang for the third time.
The favored son of heaven was struck down once more, his Dao Heart almost shattering.
Yun Lian took a deep breath, his once-bright eyes now clouded as he emerged from his recollections. What he hadn't expected was that after such a long time, he would once again hear those two words: "unexpected variable."
Yun Lian whispered, "You have been dead for ages. Can you revive to hinder my Divine Clan? With your Divine Soul shattered and your existence erased, you can never enter Reincarnation. You have no chance of revival."
He slowly raised his head. The oppressive might emanating from him surged like a vast, boiling river.
Only after a long moment did he calmly ask, "Where is this variable?"
Imperial River spoke, "There are two individuals. One is Zhang Ziyu of the Zhang Family's younger generation; he has inherited the legacy of the Human Sword Immortal and wields its power. The second is a young man of unknown origin."
An unknown origin? Yun Lian's gaze was profound. "Investigate!"
He had waited for far, far too long. If they failed this time, perhaps... he would never get another chance.
An unexpected variable, true, but still a variable. Fortunately, the Divine Clan had retreated, so the variable would not have a chance to develop so quickly. If they could find this variable beforehand and eliminate it, they might still have a chance.
"His name is Chen Pingping!" the Goddess opened her eyes. "I have fought him before."
"And how did that go?" Yun Lian looked towards her.
"It's difficult to say. When he fought me, he used Physical Strength and managed to suppress me," Wang Lin'er stated.
The Divine Clan's high-ranking members present were all astounded, their hearts shaken. That kid could actually suppress Wang Lin'er?
Even Imperial River looked astonished.
A Divine Clan Elder inquired, "You have already cultivated the Immortal Body of the Divine Race; even if his physical body has reached sainthood, he shouldn't be able to affect you in the slightest. Why is that?"
Wang Lin'er shook her head. "I cannot comprehend it either."
The current Goddess of the Divine Clan was undoubtedly a terrifying existence. Her strength far surpassed any in history; indeed, the Divine Clan's upper echelons had even detected fluctuations of a "God Grid" within her. They suspected Wang Lin'er might also be a reincarnated great deity of the Divine Clan. However, her Wheel of Reincarnation had not yet awakened.
Before anyone else could speak, Wang Lin'er continued, "Now that our Divine Clan has retreated and decades of planning have crumbled, those supreme experts of the Human Clan have no reason to wage war against us. If I were to challenge Chen Pingping and the Sword Immortal's Successor now and succeed in slaying them, it stands to reason... the Human Clan elders wouldn't dare to intervene."
It was an unwritten rule in the cultivation world: elders must not interfere in challenges between the younger generation.
A powerful Divine Clan expert asked, "Does the Goddess have confidence?"
"Of course!" Wang Lin'er chuckled. "Although that Chen Pingping defeated me, the circumstances were different then. I was ambushed by him and caught unprepared. If we were to battle seriously, even if his Physical Strength has reached sainthood, I could still slay him."
"It's said that the Sword Immortal's Successor is merely average in strength and has yet to comprehend the Opening Heaven Sword Intent. If he accepts the challenge, slaying him should also be quite easy," another Divine Clan expert chimed in.
"Indeed," Wang Lin'er nodded.
"For the Goddess to venture into Human Clan territory alone seems unwise. Who among you is willing to accompany the Goddess into battle?" an Elder scanned those behind him. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
There sat about ten young prodigies of the Divine Clan, Li Chaoge among them.
From the moment the clan conflict began, to the mention of "variables," and then to the utterance of Chen Pingping's name, he had remained entirely calm, silent, and reticent.
In contrast, the young prodigies beside him were repeatedly astounded. The first surprise was due to the concept of "variables," which alone had shattered the Divine Clan's decades of meticulous planning. They felt Imperial River was making a mountain out of a molehill. The second surprise was that a fellow named Chen Pingping had actually suppressed the Goddess.
It can't be true, can it? Even though the Goddess herself had said it, they found it hard to accept.
Now, hearing the Elder's words about selecting a prodigy to accompany the Goddess to Human Clan territory to slay Zhang Ziyu and Chen Pingping, the roughly ten young geniuses all spoke up, "I'll go! I'll go... Elder, let me go! I will undoubtedly slay Chen Pingping and the Human Sword Immortal's Successor…"
They vied with each other to be chosen, thumping their chests and making all sorts of guarantees.
The elderly Elder glanced over them, then, noticing the silent Li Chaoge, he asked, "Chaoge, why do you not speak?"
Accompanying the Goddess was a rare opportunity. Moreover, if one could slay Chen Pingping and Zhang Ziyu, it would be a great meritorious service to the Divine Clan. They naturally vied for the chance. But Li Chaoge, your silence... what does it mean?
For a moment, all the Divine Clan's high-ranking members fixed their gazes upon him.
Li Chaoge slowly raised his head and uttered one word: "Difficult."
