Chapter 2564: Chapter 2567: It Really Is You

"You..."

Lin Zhong’s face changed; he truly couldn’t afford to provoke the Gold-devouring Rat Clan.

Gritting his teeth, Lin Zhong turned to Jiang Chen and snarled, "Boy, how dare you kill my son? You’re making enemies with the Canglan Army. Just wait for the Canglan Army’s wanted order on you!"

"You can’t represent the Canglan Army."

Jiang Chen spoke calmly, "It was your son who insulted my academy first, and he also agreed to a duel to the death. Even if this matter reaches the Great Emperor, I’m still in the right."

"Hmph! Reach the Great Emperor? Do you think you are worthy? I’m telling you, having killed one of our Canglan Army members, you must die!"

Lin Zhong gritted his teeth looking at Jiang Chen, his eyes glinting coldly.

"Is the Canglan Army such an unreasonable place? Luckily, when Princess Chang and the little princess invited me to join the Canglan Army, I refused!"

Jiang Chen spoke with a distant demeanor.

"What?"

"Princess Chang and the little princess invited him to join the Canglan Army?"

"Oh my god, is that for real?"

"Is he bluffing?"

The crowd was astounded, looking at Jiang Chen with skepticism in their eyes.

Jin Tianqiong and Jin Ang both turned to look at Jin Ming.

Jin Ming pondered for a moment before nodding slightly.

Although he hadn’t seen Si Luan’er and others invite Jiang Chen, due to Cheng Huang’er’s repeated defense of Jiang Chen in the town, their relationship wasn’t ordinary.

Therefore, there was a possibility that Cheng Huang’er invited Jiang Chen into the Canglan Army. Moreover, Jiang Chen wasn’t the type to speak carelessly without reason, so he believed Jiang Chen’s words.

"What nonsense are you spouting? How could you, of all people, be invited by Princess Chang and the little princess..."

Lin Zhong’s full disbelief was evident, but as he was about to scold, a thought struck him, eyes wide in shock: "Are you the Jiang Chen who singlehandedly helped Changlin Academy avert annihilation? The one who exposed Zhang Yubo’s collusion with the Nether Kui Snake?"

"What? Singlehandedly helped Changlin Academy avert annihilation?"

The crowd on the square all looked at Jiang Chen in shock. They were less aware of the affair with Zhang Yubo and the Nether Kui Snake, but the first point alone was enough to astound them, given that it was a crisis of an academy, and at his level?

"Changlin Academy, Jiang Chen, my master, Hu Yiqiu, the Wine-crazed!"

Jiang Chen spoke indifferently.

"It’s really you!"

Lin Zhong’s expression shook with intense remorse sweeping over him. Of all people to challenge, it had to be this guy!

His eyes flickered with intense change, and Lin Zhong declared sternly, "This matter won’t end here!"

"I’ll be waiting any time!"

Jiang Chen’s tone remained utterly indifferent.

Upon hearing this, Jin Ming retracted his momentum.

Lin Zhong gave Jiang Chen a fierce glare, fully aware that with Jin Ming and others watching, he had no chance to attack Jiang Chen.

With a flicker of his figure, Lin Zhong dashed onto the altar on the eastern side of the square. An arcane fluctuation flickered, and he directly departed from the Gold-devouring Rat Clan.

"Ahem!"

Jin Tianqiong cleared his throat, awakening the crowd from their shock, and called out again, "Participants, take the stage!"

Swish, swish, swish!

Silhouettes flashed as Jiang Chen, Huo Qiong, and the others each ascended to a platform.

"The melee begins!"

Jin Tianqiong shouted loudly.

Whoa!

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

Great Dao Divine Light flickered with continuous booming sounds.

Intense battles erupted instantly on the eleven platforms, except for Jiang Chen’s stage, where the four Gold-devouring Rats looked at each other, ultimately turning their gazes to Jiang Chen with extreme wariness.

They inwardly knew that none of them was confident they could withstand Jiang Chen’s sword.

Jiang Chen glanced at the four, chuckling lightly, "I suppose, letting you guys just step down would leave you unsatisfied. Why not come at me together?"

The four Gold-devouring Rats remained silent for a moment before exchanging a look and all nodded.

"Forgive us!"

The four clasped their fists and arched their hands, their expressions earnest as a shapeless pressure soared to the sky, with mysterious Great Dao fluctuations emanating from their bodies.

"Devouring Path!"

Jiang Chen spoke softly, with a hint of expectation in his eyes.

He had long heard of the Gold-devouring Rat Clan’s Devouring Path. However, when testing on the Abandoned Plains with Jin Wenhao and others, they mostly used the Golden Path, not using their clan’s Lifeline Avenue, the Devouring Path. Now witnessing these four execute the Devouring Path, Jiang Chen felt a subtle excitement.

Allegedly, those Extraterritorial Alien Races were proficient in the Devouring Path. With the big contest approaching and a dash to the Extraterritorial Battlefield imminent, previewing the Devouring Path would undoubtedly benefit future battles there!

Whoa!

With this thought, Jiang Chen’s entire body burst with radiant Five-colored Divine Light, and a five-colored sword shadow instantly coalesced over his head.

"This..."

Jin Tianqiong paused in surprise, looking at Jiang Chen. The current Great Dao Attack Jiang Chen was gathering was somewhat weaker than during his battle with Lin Jianghuan.

"What is this kid doing? Does he look down on my Gold-devouring Rat Clan?"

Supreme Third Elder Jin Ang furrowed his brow, speaking in a low voice, with a hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes.

"Supreme Third Elder, Jiang Chen isn’t in the wrong for slaying Lin Jianghuan!"

Jin Ming approached Jin Ang, speaking softly.

Jin Ang’s face changed slightly as he looked at Jin Ming and casually commented, "I wasn’t considering that matter. I’m talking about his current attack!"

"If Jiang Chen wanted to determine the outcome, a single strike would suffice. He’s doing this as a courtesy to my Gold-devouring Rat Clan."

Jin Ming spoke calmly.

Jin Ang paused, then suddenly understood, softly murmuring, "Does this kid really have that kind of consideration? I thought he was arrogant beyond measure!"

"He holds steadfast to his own beliefs. Changlin Academy holds extraordinary significance for him, a pure land in his heart, inviolable!"

Jin Ming gently explained. He had investigated Jiang Chen, understanding the bond between Jiang Chen and Changlin Academy. Therefore, when Lin Zhong wanted to act against Jiang Chen earlier, he firmly held him back, allowing Jiang Chen to slay Lin Jianghuan.

"To have such feelings towards his academy, this person must be of deep loyalty."

Jin Tianqiong spoke softly, casting a glance at Jin Ang, gently advising, "Let’s just put the matter of Lin Jianghuan to rest here."

Jin Ang hesitated briefly, a flicker of doubt in his eyes, and then lightly nodded.

He had ties with the Canglan Army, which prompted someone to approach him to bring Lin Zhong and his son, resulting in this visit. Now that Lin Jianghuan was killed, he pondered how to explain this to those who had approached him. Angered that Jiang Chen didn’t give him face, because however troublesome Lin Jianghuan was, he brought him here.

After taking a deep look at Jiang Chen, Jin Ang sighed helplessly, completely letting go of his preconceptions against Jiang Chen.

Not to mention anything else, just the aura from that Jade Pendant Jiang Chen activated was enough for him to forgo his anger, as the aura from that pendant even made him feel unnerved.