A war is imminent

Hearing that voice, the entire scene immediately fell silent, and everyone slowly turned their heads to look in the direction of the voice.

A figure slowly walked toward the crowd; the rising sun shone on his back, casting a sky full of golden light.

A great sun hung directly behind that figure, and the sunlight reflecting off him made it impossible for people to see his face clearly.

A bone blade, much longer than his body, rested on his shoulder as he walked slowly toward the crowd.

When that person appeared, a strong scent of blood rushed toward them, making their hearts tremble and deep fear emerge from the depths of their Souls.

"Long… Long Chen."

As the person approached, everyone finally saw his face clearly. With sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, and a nose like a hanging gallbladder, the faint stubble on his face added a touch of fortitude. Who else could it be but Long Chen?

Long Chen had actually returned? Everyone could hardly believe their eyes. Long Chen had truly returned alive from that place known as the Graveyard of the Exiled.

At this moment, Long Chen was wearing golden leather armor that shimmered in the sunlight. However, as he walked closer, people discovered that the armor was very crudely made; it was actually just a python skin.

But when they saw the golden-like scales on the python skin, everyone's heart trembled—that was the skin of a Golden Horned Python.

The Golden Horned Python was an extremely powerful existence among third-order Demonic Beasts, and its python skin was notoriously tough in defense. Yet, Long Chen had actually used its skin to make clothes.

Looking again at the large blade on Long Chen's shoulder, it wasn't a real blade, but one polished from a tooth.

The tooth was a zhang long and looked like white jade throughout, and inside the bone blade, natural patterns appeared.

Among those present, not a single person could recognize the meaning of those patterns, but two people did.

Tu Fang watched the figure below from afar and sighed, "As expected of a legendary figure, to have returned just like that from a place of ten deaths and no life."

"And it only took a short two months. It's truly terrifying. What's most terrifying is that his body is filled with a bloody aura."

"That is formed from the resentment of powerful Demonic Beasts before they die when killed. I really don't know how many powerful Demonic Beasts he had to kill to condense such terrifying Killing Intent."

"Wearing Golden Horned Python skin is one thing, but he actually possesses the tooth of a fourth-order Demonic Beast, the Dragon Blood Saber-Toothed Tiger. It's truly baffling."

He had originally thought that even if Long Chen could return, it would take at least half a year, because there were countless third-order Demonic Beasts along the way, and even fourth-order Demonic Beasts appeared. One would have to carefully avoid them every day, making it impossible to travel quickly.

Ling Yunzi watched that figure filled with dominance and smiled, "This kid really has some skills, being able to kill a Golden Horned Python. However, it definitely wasn't through brute strength; it must have been through strategy."

"His bone blade isn't that strange; it's a tooth that fell out a long time ago. He probably picked it up."

"It has the aura of a fourth-order Demonic Beast attached to it. Although it's already very faint, Demonic Beasts are extremely sensitive to this kind of aura."

"Perhaps this is the reason why Long Chen was able to return to the branch academy so quickly."

Tu Fang suddenly realized; the bone blade carried the aura of a fourth-order Demonic Beast. Other Demonic Beasts sensing this aura would have long since hidden far away. No wonder Long Chen returned so quickly.

"The aura on Long Chen is very strange. It seems to be the Peak of the Blood Condensation Realm, but it doesn't seem like the Peak; his blood and Qi haven't reached full saturation." Only then did Tu Fang notice Long Chen's cultivation base and couldn't help but say in surprise.

"Mm, it is very strange. However, I believe there will be a good show to watch next. Come, sit down and drink some tea."

Ling Yunzi picked up a cup of fragrant tea, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. He increasingly felt that his life had become exciting because of Long Chen's appearance.

When Long Chen walked in front of the crowd, Tang Waner looked at that figure and could no longer hold back her tears, which fell in streams.

"Long Chen… wuwu."

No longer caring about the gazes of others, she hugged Long Chen tightly and cried loudly. She suddenly realized that at some unknown point, Long Chen had occupied an irreplaceable position in her heart.

"Hey, hey, so many people are watching, it's not a good influence," Long Chen said with a grin, while simultaneously feeling infinite emotion in his heart.

Although he usually bickered with this girl, perhaps during the days he was away, she was the one who cared about him the most.

"You bastard."

Tang Waner lightly hit Long Chen, wiped her tears somewhat embarrassedly, and her pretty face was already completely red.

At this moment, Ye Zhiqiu walked over. Although her face remained cold, her beautiful eyes were slightly red.

"How about we have a hug too? I can't favor one over the other," Long Chen laughed.

Ye Zhiqiu looked at Long Chen and said, "Congratulations on returning alive."

Alright, Ye Zhiqiu still hadn't learned humor, so Long Chen had to awkwardly put his arms down.

"Brother Long, well done. We knew you would definitely return alive."

At this time, Song Mingyuan, Li Qi, and Luo Cang also walked over. Seeing Long Chen return, the three of them couldn't help but be overjoyed.

"Hmph, so what if you returned alive? Isn't it just dumb luck? You're still a piece of trash in the Blood Condensation Realm. What use could you be?"

Qi Xin looked coldly in this direction, a sneer of disdain appearing on his lips as he couldn't help but mock him.

Song Mingyuan and the others were furious. Long Chen turned his head, looked at Qi Xin, and smiled slightly, "Your mouth really stinks. I've gained quite a lot from returning from the Land of Exile this time. I'll thank you properly in a while."

Although Long Chen had a smile on his face, his eyes were completely cold. Combined with the sky-piercing bloody aura on his body, he was like a god of death, chilling people to the bone.

"Hmph, you're just at the Peak of the Blood Condensation Realm. Don't think too highly of yourself. I've said it before: if you dare to stand in front of me, I will unceremoniously smash you flat with one punch."

Gu Yang let out a cold snort, clenched his fist with one hand, gestured toward Long Chen, and his disdain was evident.

Long Chen lazily looked at Elder Sun above and said meaningfully, "Elder Sun, you seem very shocked to see me return alive. Why has your face turned green?"

Elder Sun was indeed shocked. When he saw Long Chen appear, he simply couldn't believe his eyes.

"Feng Hai failed? Impossible, absolutely impossible. Feng Hai's cultivation has reached the Middle Stage of the Tendon Transformation Realm; it's absolutely impossible that he couldn't kill Long Chen."

"But now Long Chen has returned, yet he hasn't. There's an eighty or ninety percent chance that an accident occurred, perhaps he encountered a powerful fourth-order Demonic Beast and was killed."

Elder Sun's expression was filled with suspicion and uncertainty, but he immediately calmed down. If Feng Hai had met Long Chen, Long Chen would definitely not be alive.

If Feng Hai hadn't met Long Chen, then the matter of him sending someone to assassinate Long Chen wouldn't be exposed.

At this moment, seeing Long Chen's mocking remark, for some reason, his heart skipped a beat, and he became suspicious and uncertain again.

Because in Long Chen's eyes, there was endless mockery and contempt, making him unsure whether Long Chen had seen Feng Hai or not.

If the branch academy found out that he had sent someone to kill Long Chen, given the strict rules of the branch academy, he would die without a burial place.

"What? Elder Sun, why has your face turned blue again? Are you showing us your face-changing magic?" How could Long Chen not know what Elder Sun was thinking?

However, now was not the time to expose it, because he had no evidence to prove that Feng Hai was sent by Elder Sun to kill him.

This wouldn't take down Elder Sun at all; instead, it would alert the enemy. Long Chen was a person who held grudges; he couldn't forgive someone who had gone to such lengths to try and kill him.

"Presumptuous! You have no respect for your Elders and deserve the punishment of being slapped in the face!" Elder Sun roared angrily. Regardless of anything, he was a very prestigious presence among the branch academy Elders. Now, being mocked like this by a Disciple, he couldn't help but be furious.

"How have I been disrespectful to my Elders? I only said your face changes color, Elder; that doesn't count as disrespect, right?" A faint smile appeared on Long Chen's face.

He knew that Elder Sun was trying to cover up his inner shock. Keep acting, you old fellow; when you can't act anymore, we'll settle the score.

Seeing Elder Sun's face dark and his anger uncontrollable, Senior Brother Wan hurriedly spoke up, "Long Chen, since you have returned, hurry and rejoin your team. The Great Competition is about to begin."

Long Chen nodded at Senior Brother Wan. He still respected this steady Senior Brother.

He whispered to Tang Waner, "What is the situation now?"

Tang Waner had already recovered from the previous surprise, and a trace of worry appeared on her pretty face.

She quickly explained the current situation to Long Chen, emphasizing Gu Yang's strength.

"Hehe, Boss, now that you're back, you should be able to take me to show off and take me to fly, right?" Only at this moment did Guo Ran have the opportunity to say a word to Long Chen.

Long Chen laughed and patted Guo Ran on the shoulder, "Don't worry. The humiliation we suffered last time will be repaid with interest. In a while, you will still be carrying the flag tube."

"Boss, you can't be serious, right?" Guo Ran was shocked. His combat power wasn't good; if he carried the flag tube, he wasn't afraid of getting beaten up, but it would be easier to get robbed.

"Don't worry. This time is different from before. You don't need to run away; you just need to sit there, and they will kneel and offer the flags to you," Long Chen said with a smile.

Just as Guo Ran was about to speak, Senior Brother Wan's side had already started lighting the incense. Long Chen gave Tang Waner a reminder to still seize the flags in the same way as before.

"Clang."

The bell rang, and all the Core Disciples rushed forward with full force, starting to fight for the small flags. However, Long Chen discovered that everyone's movements were very fast this time; in just a few breaths, all the small flags had been collected.

It seems work experience is very important; these people had already developed a rhythm for snatching. Long Chen only managed to snatch five flags before he discovered there wasn't a single one left on the ground.

As the flags disappeared, the entire scene immediately surged like a tide, and a group of people ran directly to the edge of the arena.

That was the neutral faction led by Guan Wennan, with an attitude of "I'm just watching, I won't say anything." However, they were hiding quite far away this time, probably afraid of getting blood splattered on them.

Ye Zhiqiu, Song Mingyuan, Li Qi, and Luo Cang all moved closer to Tang Waner's side, coordinating very well and setting up their formation at the fastest speed.

And just as they had finished setting up their formation, Gu Yang had already brought everyone, charging toward them with a sky-shaking roar.

"Guo Ran!" Long Chen called out.

"Boss, I'm here."

"Remember, if they give you the flags later, if they aren't kneeling on the ground and handing them over with both hands, we won't accept them. Do you understand?"

After Long Chen finished speaking, he carried the huge bone blade and had already rushed out. Following Long Chen's actions, Tang Waner, Ye Zhiqiu, and the others also rushed out.

The great battle was imminent!