Chapter 1096: Chapter 1096

Chen Qingtai's voice was like the booming sound of a great bell. Not only did it echo through the hall, but it also reverberated for miles around.

Chen Qianlong's juniors shot to their feet and immediately positioned themselves behind Chen Qianlong. Their eyes were suffused with anger as they stared at Chen Qingtai.

Chen Qianlong's expression was grim.

The four Loose Immortals exchanged glances.

One of them spoke in a low, serious tone. "Brother Qianlong, is it still possible to change our stance now?"

Chen Qianlong shot him a cold glance and responded, "Have you no shame at all?"

The Loose Immortal's brows knitted. He sneered and said, "Chen Qianlong, you look down on us just because you come from a distinguished background. But have you never considered that nothing in this world is ever perpetual?"

"That's right! With prosperity comes decay. The old dragon hasn't shown his face for years. What do you think that means? Don't we all know?" added another.

"Two thousand years ago, no matter what benefits they offered us, we would have refused. But times have changed. Two thousand years is enough to change everything."

"The Long and Sun Families are both prominent factions in Prison Wind Lands. When it comes to heritage, they might not be inferior to the Flood Dragon Family. But what has become of them? In a short time, they've been beaten down, almost wiped out! People should look forward, not cling to past glory."

The Loose Immortals mocked them relentlessly, and the expressions of the Flood Dragon disciples grew darker and darker.

After a few moments, everyone suddenly became aware of the unusual silence outside. They looked at each other, puzzled.

Why is it so quiet? Didn't Chen Qingtai just call for a Daoist Xu?

"Chen Qingtai, what exactly are you up to?" asked Chen Qianlong, his eyes narrowing.

Chen Qingtai's expression changed. Once more, he cupped his hands and called out, "Please, Daoist Xu!"

Several breaths passed, yet still, nothing happened.

His face shifted again, both embarrassed and confused.

Why hadn't that person shown up yet?

Just then, a terrifying roar rang out from outside, followed by a surge of immense spiritual pressure.

"Someone's fighting!"

The crowd immediately hurried out of the hall.

In the distant sky, they could see seven or eight figures engaged in battle. However, this wasn't a fair fight; it was seven attackers surrounding one person!

Chen Qingtai fixed his gaze on the scene, and his face turned pale. The person being surrounded and attacked was none other than the first-transformation sword cultivator, Daoist Xu!

No matter how strong a first-transformation sword cultivator was, they had no chance of resisting against seven Loose Immortals of the same rank. Within a few breaths, everyone saw the first-transformation sword cultivator completely obliterated and reduced to dust.

Then, as quickly as they had appeared, the seven immortals disappeared without a trace, as if they had never existed at all.

Thousands of sword cultivators stood in the distance, looking confused.

Chen Qianlong pondered aloud, "Hmm... that dead Loose Immortal seemed to follow the sword cultivation path. Could that be the Daoist Xu you were planning to invite?"

The crowd's expressions shifted in surprise, thinking that it must have been Chen Qianlong's doing.

Chen Qingtai forced a smile, cupping his hands. "It's all a misunderstanding. I'll take my leave for now."

The four Loose immortals exchanged looks, then decisively chose to leave as well.

"Then we'll leave too."

Everyone thought the matter was over.

Chen Qianlong didn't know the origin of the seven Loose Immortals, but he could tell that Chen Qingtai was clearly suspicious of him. He feigned indifference and said, "Senior Chen, have your son go back and send a message. You elders can stay behind and not leave."

The crowd was shocked, and they all turned toward the back, their gazes falling on Fang Chen with some uncertainty.

Before they could think more, figures began to appear on either side of Fang Chen: Stone Dragon, Tai Yin Dragon King, Pan Shan Monarch, Empress Ci, Jingxue, Youfang, Shentou Cang, Qiu Jing, Qi Tianran, Kong Jin. Each one of them exuded the aura of a Loose Immortal.

That was a total of ten Loose Immortals! Even a large and powerful family would find it difficult to summon so many Loose Immortals at once.

What creeped out the crowd even more was how silently these ten Loose Immortals had appeared. Not even Chen Qianlong and the others had noticed their presence!

The ten of them were facing off against the five Loose Immortals.... There was no need for a battle. It was already clear who would win.

Dongfang Haojie repeatedly gasped, then looked at Fang Chen with inexplicable joy. This person always brought him surprises, but this time, the surprise was unprecedentedly huge!

Chen Qianlong, Chen Qingtai, and the four Loose Immortals who had allied with the Spirit God Sect all exchanged a look, their eyes filled with astonishment.

On the vast chaotic star, even if the Loose Immortals from the four lands were gathered together, there were only a few thousand in total. Occasionally, when a grand dao gathering was held, half of them would show up, and most of them had at least met once before.

Yet, Chen Qianlong, who had lived for six thousand years, had never seen them before, let alone Chen Qingtai. The ten Loose Immortals were all unfamiliar faces.

What came as an even greater surprise was how subservient these ten Loose Immortals were to this young man!

Everyone suddenly understood, their expressions growing stranger.

"Daoist Xu... was killed by them...."

The situation had become painfully clear at this point. Since these ten Loose Immortals had dared to attack and slay Daoist Xu, a first-transformation sword cultivator, they certainly would not be afraid of the two third-transformation sword cultivators.

"This is impossible..." Chen Zuozu muttered to himself.

Chen Qingtai forced a smile and said, "Who are you all? Why are you willing to take orders from a junior? What has he given you that I can't satisfy here?"

"You'd better mind your tone when you speak of the lord, lest I tear your mouth off before you even realize it," replied Youfang coldly.

Chen Qingtai's expression fluctuated between gloom and rage. He suppressed his anger, but from Youfang's way of addressing Fang Chen, he noticed something peculiar.

The crowd exchanged astonished looks. Which family's young master was so important that his family sent out ten Loose Immortals to accompany him? Even a first-transformation Loose Immortal wasn't someone a junior could command, no matter which family he hailed from.

Chen Qianlong thought back to his younger years when his father was already the peak powerhouse of Longyuan. Even so, when he went out, he was usually only accompanied by one or two Ascension Realm protectors and never Loose Immortals. Yet, the young man before him had ten Loose Immortals. From the way these immortals looked at Fang Chen, they deeply respected him.

These Loose Immortals were likely... family retainers!

Realizing that, Chen Qianlong couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine. What kind of force could command such a display?

Chen Qingtai didn't hesitate in the slightest. He didn't even care about Chen Zuozu and the others and immediately tore through the air to flee.

The other four Loose Immortals seized this opportunity and scattered, fleeing in different directions.

"Leave one alive," Stone Dragon snorted coldly and immediately pursued Chen Qingtai.

Empress Ci and the others formed pairs and chased after the other four Loose Immortals.

Shentou Cang did not move, remaining quietly behind Fang Chen.

Chen Zuozu stood there dumbfounded, a sense of despair flooding his heart. He couldn't believe that his father, the one who had always cherished him the most, would abandon him and flee on his own today!

Fang Chen said with a smile to Chen Zuozu, "I won't kill you."

Chen Zuozu froze for a moment before stammering, "Why?"

"Help me send a message to Li Changsheng. This is just the beginning," replied Fang Chen with a smile.

Chen Zuozu didn't hesitate at all. He immediately nodded and quickly led the Chen family's cultivators to escape from the scene.