Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique

Mu Chen took a deep breath and stepped back to a safe distance. With an incredibly serious expression, he asked, "If I told you I was your son-in-law, what would you do?"

The moment he spoke, not only was Wan Xianzhong stunned, but every Elder present also froze on the spot. This included the Grand Elder of the Ding Palace, who had been silent and expressionless from the start, and even Wan Xianlin, who had just come from seeing Wan Xian’er.

"Oh?" Wan Xianzhong wasn’t as angry as expected. On the contrary, he chuckled. "That’s not a funny joke, kid."

Mu Chen smiled as well. "I’m not joking. My name is Mu Chen. I’m your son-in-law, and I’m also Ying’Er’s father."

The fiery-tempered Third Elder shot to his feet, bellowing, "How dare you! Where did a brat like you come from? You dare cause trouble in the Ding Palace! Do you have any idea who you’re standing before?!"

Mu Chen replied coldly, "Of course I do! The head of the Peak Nine Great Families, Ding Palace Master Wan Xianzhong!"

The Third Elder was about to say more, but Wan Xianzhong suddenly burst out laughing. His icy gaze locked onto Mu Chen as he said in a playful tone, "Interesting. You said your name is Mu Chen, correct? I’ve heard that name before. It’s true that a man named Mu Chen is very likely Ying’Er’s father. But how can you prove you’re *the* Mu Chen? With your blue hair? Because I can do that too."

As he spoke, Wan Xianzhong’s long, jet-black hair instantly transformed, turning a translucent, crystalline ice-blue.

Mu Chen shrugged and shook his head. "Deep down, you already believe me, don’t you?"

At these words, Wan Xianzhong’s expression grew cold, killing intent gathering in his eyes. It wasn’t just him. With the exception of the white-haired old man sitting silently at the far end of the table with his eyes closed, every Elder present slowly rose to their feet. An invisible, overwhelming pressure instantly crashed down on Mu Chen!

The chilling pressure was like a summons from hell. In an instant, Mu Chen felt as if a mountain range was crushing him. The floorboards beneath his feet spiderwebbed with cracks, and his knees began to buckle. He was a hair’s breadth from being forced to his knees. But at that very moment, his will solidified. His Ice Extreme Demon Pupils activated on their own, erupting in a brilliant blue light. An unprecedented conviction surged through him, allowing him to slowly straighten his back until he stood ramrod straight!

His violet-blue eyes met Wan Xianzhong’s without flinching. "I, Mu Chen, kneel to neither the heavens above nor the earth below!" he declared indifferently. "Even if you are the exalted Ding Palace Master, you cannot break my will!"

Wan Xianzhong was suddenly taken aback at his words, a strange gleam appearing in his eyes. A sharp light flashed in the other Elders’ eyes as well. Even the old man sitting at the far end, who hadn’t opened his eyes or spoken, couldn’t help but crack his eyes open a sliver.

Sneering, Wan Xianzhong said, "Oh? You’ve got some backbone. But do you have any idea what price you’ll have to pay for admitting who you are?!"

Mu Chen managed a faint smile. "Admitting who I am might cost me my life. But if I don’t, my conscience will torment me for the rest of my days. Because I’m not just a father—I’m a husband!"

"Such shameless boasting!!" Wan Xianzhong finally exploded with rage. "Do you have any idea what Xian’Er has been through these past three years?! Do you know the unbearable pain Ying’Er endures every single night?! You know nothing!! All you can do is spout empty words!!" For three years, not for a moment could he forget the growing exhaustion in Xian’Er’s gaze, nor the sound of Ying’Er’s moans when her affliction flared up. Her sorrowful eyes and pale face were etched deeply into his mind—the mind of a father and a grandfather!

"’A father?’ ’A husband?!’ I will never acknowledge you as Ying’Er’s father! And I will certainly never acknowledge you as Xian’Er’s husband! You are not worthy!! Since you’re so prepared to die, then DIE!!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Wan Xianzhong struck out with his palm. His Holy Realm Elemental Power erupted at full strength, and the very space within the Council Pavilion collapsed. The surroundings were plunged into a void. An aura of imminent death instantly enveloped Mu Chen, yet not a trace of fear showed in his eyes. They remained as clear and resolute as ever!!

"Have you caused enough of a scene?"

Just then, an aged voice rang out of thin air. The voice wasn’t loud, but it carried boundless majesty! The entire void was rapidly filled in, the shattered tables and chairs were suddenly restored, and even Wan Xianzhong’s descending palm froze in place. His Holy Realm Elemental Power completely dissipated!

Mu Chen looked toward the source of the voice and discovered that the speaker was none other than the white-haired old man who had been sitting at the end of the long table, his eyes closed and silent the whole time.

Wan Xianzhong froze, looking at the old man in bewilderment. "Father!"

That’s right. This old man was precisely the Grand Elder of the Ding Palace, Wan Xianzhong’s father, Wan Xianlin. He finally rose to his feet. With his hands behind his back, a sharp light flashed in his phoenix eyes. He snorted coldly, "Have you forgotten everything I’ve taught you? As the master of the Ding Palace, you must remain calm and composed no matter what happens! Have you done so?"

"But... him!" Wan Xianzhong protested, his eyes red as he pointed at Mu Chen.

"Him? Hmph. In my eyes, his performance has been far more outstanding than yours! At least he’s calmer than you! More composed! Let me ask you, if you were in his shoes, knowing full well that you were walking into certain death, would you still stand so fearlessly before all of us and admit who you are?"

"I..."

Wan Xianzhong froze, about to answer. But Wan Xianlin cut him off before he could speak. "You wouldn’t. Any sane person wouldn’t. And yet, he did. So tell me, why?"

Wan Xianlin’s words made Wan Xianzhong feel deeply ashamed. Especially when he heard Wan Xianlin’s question, he knew the answer but couldn’t bring himself to say it.

"So then, kid, you tell me. What gives you the confidence to be so fearless?"

Mu Chen took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Wan Xianlin. He did this out of respect for an elder, and for a Saint. Furthermore, after hearing Wan Xianzhong call him "Father," Mu Chen felt this reasonable and composed old man was more than deserving of such a gesture.

After completing the gesture, Mu Chen slowly said, "It’s not that I’m fearless because I have some secret backing. It’s that I felt I had to acknowledge this, no matter the consequences. What happened back then... it was all so sudden. When Xian’Er left, she didn’t give me any way to contact her or reveal anything about her background. All I knew was that her name was Wan Xian’Er. It wasn’t until yesterday that I found out she was the daughter of the Ding Palace Master. Otherwise, I would have come much sooner."

"That’s reasonable, but it’s not the answer I’m looking for," Wan Xianlin said. "You know that if I hadn’t stopped him, you wouldn’t have had the chance to even say all that. Therefore, you must have something to fall back on. What I want to know now is what that is!"

Wan Xianlin’s tone held an undeniable authority that shattered Mu Chen’s intention to use this sudden turn of events to keep the White Dragon Cauldron and the Golden Dragon Scripture a secret. With a soft sigh, Mu Chen slowly raised his head and gave a wry smile. "I suppose nothing escapes your eyes."

As he spoke, Mu Chen’s expression hardened once more. He nodded. "That’s right. I do have a trump card. A reason why you absolutely cannot kill me!!"