161: Chapter 158 Chen Zhiwen's Overt Scheme!

However, Chen Zhiwen remained seated there. Beneath his black robes, his posture was as straight as a pine, his expression calm and unruffled. He even picked up the teacup beside him and took a gentle sip, as if everything in the outside world had nothing to do with him.

This composure, this calmness, only made the apprehension in the hearts of Fang Tao and the others grow even stronger.

"Hmph!"

A cold snort, like an icy wind in the depths of winter, instantly dispersed the scorching heat and chill within the hall.

Chen Heng slowly stood up. His aged body, at this moment, erupted with a terrifying aura that made everyone's heart tremble.

His eyes were no longer cloudy, but had become as sharp as an eagle's, coldly sweeping over Fang Tao and the Ancestor of the Tianluo Sect.

"Unfair?"

The corners of Chen Heng's mouth curled into a sneer of utter mockery.

"Our Human Race produces generation after generation of Prodigies, deterring the Yao Race and making them dare not act rashly. Is this not a blessing for our Human Race?"

"How has it become a crime in your mouths?"

He took a step forward, and the massive Soul Power belonging to a Late-stage Grandmaster swept out like a tsunami, causing the expressions of Fang Tao and the others to shift slightly.

"When all is said and done, it is nothing more than the word 'fear'!"

"You fear Zhiwen's talent, you fear his future achievements, and you even fear that he will break this so-called 'balance' and shake the status of your Imperial Dynasties and Sects!"

Chen Heng's voice exploded within the hall like a thunderclap.

"Put away those petty thoughts of yours that cannot be brought to light!"

"I, this old man, will state this here today: as long as I, Chen Heng, have a single breath left, no one shall touch a single hair on Zhiwen's head!"

"You want him to die, to be buried with your so-called 'big picture'?"

Killing intent was fully revealed in Chen Heng's eyes as he spoke, enunciating every word.

"Im·pos·si·ble!"

As his voice fell, the entire Zetian Hall hummed, ripples appeared in the Void Realm, and a will named "protection," resolute and tragic, filled every corner.

Everyone could feel the determination of this old man, whose Lifespan was nearing its end, to burn everything and perish together with his enemies!

"Well said, Brother Chen!"

A hearty voice rang out. The Old Ancestor of the Great Yu Dynasty, Zheng Ming, also stood up. His figure was tall, and his aura was as steady as a mountain.

"Our Human Race never relies on sacrificing our own Prodigies to exchange for peace!"

"If we can sacrifice the Martial God today, can we sacrifice us old fellows tomorrow? This precedent must absolutely not be set!"

Zheng Ming's stance was clear, and he firmly stood on Chen Heng's side.

Following that, several other neutral Great Grandmasters, after a brief hesitation, also slowly nodded, expressing their support for Chen Heng.

They understood that this was not just about Chen Zhiwen alone; it concerned the future and morality of the Human Race.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the Zetian Hall was tense, with swords drawn and bows bent.

The side led by Great Chu, Great Yan Dynasty, and the Tianluo Sect formed a clear, distinct confrontation with the side led by Great Xuan and Great Yu Dynasty.

Two terrifying auras collided in the Void Realm, stirring up ripples, as if an earth-shattering battle could erupt at any moment.

Just at the moment when the situation was about to spiral out of control.

"Hehe..."

A light chuckle rang out abruptly, clearly reaching everyone's ears.

This laughter was faint, yet it seemed to carry a strange magic, instantly smoothing out the violent, clashing auras in the hall, causing everyone's minds to involuntarily quiet down.

Everyone looked toward the source of the sound and saw that the one who had laughed was none other than the center of this storm—Chen Zhiwen.

He slowly set down the teacup in his hand; the crisp clinking sound seemed exceptionally clear in the deathly silent hall at this moment.

He stood up. His gaze did not look at Fang Tao, nor did it look at Chen Heng, but instead passed over everyone and landed on Wang Ming, who sat high above, remaining silent throughout.

"Sect Master Wang."

Chen Zhiwen's voice was calm, with no joy or anger detectable.

"The various North Sea Demon Clan, in making such a massive mobilization and leading their armies south this time, are they truly coming for me, Chen Zhiwen, alone?"

Wang Ming looked at him, and finally, a ripple appeared in his calm, unruffled eyes. He was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"That is correct."

"Although there are other reasons mixed in, you are the biggest catalyst, and also the… 'name' around which they have gathered all their Battle Intent."

Having received a confirmed answer, the smile on Chen Zhiwen's face only grew wider.

"Since that is the case..."

He looked around, his gaze sweeping over the faces of Fang Tao, Chu Chaosheng, and the others, which were either suspicious or wary, and finally, he said calmly.

"Then it is easy to handle."

Easy to handle?

Once these words were spoken, everyone was stunned.

At such a critical juncture where the Human Race was in peril and on the verge of internal division, he actually said... it was easy to handle?

What did he want to do?

Even Chen Heng and Zheng Ming revealed a hint of confusion.

Chen Zhiwen looked at Wang Ming again, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, curling into an arc of looking down upon the world.

That was a confidence rooted in his very bones, an absolute domineering attitude that transcended all schemes and plots!

"I must trouble Sect Master Wang to pass a message to those Old Ancestors of the North Sea Demon Clan on my behalf."

His voice was not loud, yet it was incomparably clear, carrying an unquestionable decisiveness.

"Tell them, there is no need to continue driving those minor demons to their deaths, nor is there any need to pointlessly attack our Human Race cities and commit unnecessary slaughter."

"Their target is me, Chen Zhiwen."

"Then..."

Chen Zhiwen paused, a brilliant light like a galaxy flashing in his eyes. An invisible, sharp aura rose into the sky, as if it were about to pierce through the dome of this Zetian Hall!

"I, Chen Zhiwen, from this day forth, will remain here at the Zetian Sect."

"I have no interest in taking their lives."

"My life is placed right here."

"If they truly have the courage and the ability, they are welcome to come!"

"I am here... waiting!"

"Boom!"

As the last three words fell, they sounded like a divine thunderclap from the Nine Heavens, exploding in everyone's minds!

The entire Zetian Hall instantly fell into a deathly silence!

You could hear a pin drop!

All the Great Grandmasters, whether it was Fang Tao, Zheng Ming, or the Ancestor of the Tianluo Sect, all had their eyes widened at this moment, their faces filled with incredulous shock, staring fixedly at that young man in black robes standing proudly.

Arrogant!

Too arrogant!

This could no longer be described as arrogance; this was simply madness!

With the strength of one person, openly challenging the entire top combat power of the North Sea Demon Clan!

What kind of courage was this? What kind of domineering spirit?

Did he not know that among the North Sea Demon Clan, there were more than a dozen powerhouses at the Grandmaster Realm?

Among them, there was no lack of old monsters who had lived for thousands of years and possessed unfathomable strength!

He was courting death!

"Zhiwen! You cannot!"

The first to react was Chen Heng.

His face turned deathly pale in an instant, drained of all color. Without a second thought, he prepared to speak to dissuade him.

This was too risky! This was simply placing himself in a desperate situation with no chance of survival!

However, just as he opened his mouth, Chen Zhiwen's gaze looked over.

That gaze was calm, deep, yet carried an unquestionable will.

With just a single look, all the words on the tip of Chen Heng's tongue were forced back down.

He looked at Chen Zhiwen's firm gaze, his heart trembled violently, and he suddenly understood something.