153: We'll lure them into our trap and capture them all!

Chen Qiao smiled.

He looked at the Void Refining Deacon and gave an indifferent command.

"Relay my orders."

"First, draft a Bounty Order to be circulated throughout all the realms under the Holy Land. It's for Chen Xu, a Nascent Soul Stage Late Phase Cultivator. His crimes: killing a Holy Land Deacon and inciting a riot among the Mine Slaves."

"Anyone who provides effective information on his whereabouts will be rewarded with one million Top-Grade Spirit Stones and one Earth Rank High Grade Cultivation Technique."

"Anyone who can capture him alive or kill him will be rewarded with ten million Top-Grade Spirit Stones, one Heaven Rank Low Grade Divine Ability, and will be exceptionally admitted into my Spirit Mine Hall to serve as a Deacon."

The Void Refining Deacon's heart skipped a beat when he heard the contents of the bounty!

This scale... it's too grand!

Just for a Soul Transformation Stage fugitive?

Let alone Soul Transformation, even Void Refining Cultivators would go completely mad upon seeing this Bounty Order!

This was practically mobilizing all forces within the Tianyu Holy Land's control to hunt down one person!

However, Chen Qiao's next words sent a chill down his spine.

"Second."

Chen Qiao's voice paused, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

"Since this person values his Family so much, even going so far as to bring a hundred clansmen to ascend to their deaths, he must have many more clansmen left in the Lower Realm."

"Go to the Reception Hall again and have them open the Immortal Gate of Reception once more."

"Just say that Heaven's grace is vast, specially permitting their clansmen to ascend and reunite with their families."

"I want to see how many more fish we can reel in this time."

Upon hearing this, the Void Refining Deacon felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to his head.

He could almost foresee the ecstatic joy of the Chen Family clansmen still in the Lower Realm when they saw that shimmering golden "Immortal Gate of Reception."

How could they know that beyond that Immortal Gate, what awaited them would be imprisonment, a cage used to threaten their Family head.

Heart-piercing!

This was truly a vicious, heart-piercing scheme!

"Yes, your subordinate obeys!"

The Void Refining Deacon bowed his head deeply, not daring to let the Hall Master see the fear in his eyes. After receiving the order, his figure flickered and quickly disappeared.

Inside the Quiet Room, peace was restored.

Chen Qiao picked up the cup of clear tea again and took a light sip.

He shook his head slightly, letting out a soft chuckle.

"Truly ignorant of their own mortality."

"Mere ants from the Lower Realm, mayflies, yet they dream of shaking the towering tree that is my Tianyu Holy Land?"

"Ridiculous."

...Chen Qiao's orders were executed with extreme efficiency.

In just half a day.

Bounty Orders, made of special spirit wood and shimmering with a faint golden light, appeared like snowflakes.

They were posted in hundreds of large realms controlled by the Tianyu Holy Land.

And tens of thousands of Cultivation World mega-cities.

Beixuan City.

A bustling mega-Immortal city under the jurisdiction of the Tianyu Holy Land.

In the center of the city, in front of the most prominent notice board.

It was already packed with people, crowded to the point of being impenetrable.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on the golden Bounty Order that had just been posted by a team of Holy Land Guards.

They had personally put it up.

"My heavens! The Tianyu Holy Land has personally issued a Bounty Order!"

"Look! Who is pictured there? So young!"

On the Bounty Order, a lifelike portrait was imprinted with spiritual power.

The painting depicted a black-robed youth with a handsome face, like a banished Immortal!

Below the portrait were several lines of bold, sweeping characters, yet filled with murderous intent.

[Bounty Order]

[Fugitive: Chen Xu]

[Cultivation: Nascent Soul Stage Late Phase]

[Anyone who provides his whereabouts will be rewarded with one million Top-Grade Spirit Stones! One Earth Rank High Grade Cultivation Technique!]

[Anyone who captures him alive or kills him will be rewarded with ten million Top-Grade Spirit Stones! One Heaven Rank Low Grade Divine Ability! The position of Spirit Mine Hall Deacon!]

Boom!

When they clearly saw the contents of the Bounty Order, the entire crowd instantly erupted!

"Ten million Top-Grade Spirit Stones! Heaven Rank Divine Ability! Deacon position! Did I read that correctly?!"

"Crazy! Is the Holy Land crazy? To offer such a sky-high price for a mere Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator!"

"Who exactly is this Chen Xu? What heinous deed did he commit to provoke such wrath?"

Countless Cultivators gasped, their eyes filled with shock and greed.

That was ten million Top-Grade Spirit Stones!

A terrifying fortune that would make even a Void Refining Cultivator envious!

And a Heaven Rank Divine Ability!

That was an supreme secret technique rumored to be only accessible to Body Integration Stage grand powerful figures!

For a time, there was a flurry of discussion in front of the notice board.

Everyone was stunned by this Bounty Order.

How could a Soul Transformation Cultivator possibly be worthy of such a massive mobilization by the Holy Land?

This was like using an ox cleaver to kill a chicken!

"What do you know!"

Just as everyone was discussing, an old Daoist with shifty eyes and a goatee in the crowd lowered his voice and spoke mysteriously.

"I know a little inside information about this!"

His words immediately attracted the attention of everyone around him.

"Oh? Tell us quickly! What exactly happened?"

The old Daoist with the goatee cleared his throat, a hint of smugness on his face.

"I have a distant cousin who works in the Spirit Mine Hall of the Holy Land. Although he's just a handyman, he's very well-informed!"

"It's said that this Chen Xu is not a Cultivator from our Spirit Realm at all!"

"He's a newcomer who just 'ascended' from a lower plane!"

"What? Ascended from the Lower Realm?"

A gasp of surprise erupted from the crowd.

How could a newly ascended individual commit such a major crime?

The old Daoist with the goatee chuckled and continued: "That's precisely the problem! This Chen Xu isn't a legitimate ascender at all; he's a fugitive who escaped from a Prison called the Sin Blood Realm!"

"As soon as he arrived in the Spirit Realm, he was assigned to Mine Site No. 72. But this kid was a troublemaker; not only did he refuse to mine obediently, he also killed Deacon Lin Feng, who was guarding him, on the spot!"

"What! He killed Lin Feng? That Nascent Soul Stage Late Phase Lin Feng?"

Someone exclaimed, clearly recognizing the unlucky Deacon.

"Indeed!"

The old Daoist with the goatee slapped his thigh: "Not only did he kill Deacon Lin Feng, he also incited tens of thousands of Mine Slaves in the entire mine to rebel! They smashed Mine Site No. 72 to smithereens!"

"In the end, even the three Void Refining Elders stationed at the mine personally intervened, but they couldn't stop him; he still managed to escape!"

Hiss—!

At this moment, a collective gasp of cold air echoed in front of the notice board.

Everyone was completely stunned by the sheer amount of information in those words.

A newcomer who had just ascended.

Killed a Nascent Soul Stage Late Phase Deacon.

Incited tens of thousands of Mine Slaves to riot.

And finally, successfully escaped from under the hands of three Void Refining grand powerful figures!

This... is this even human?!

This was simply a fantasy!

After a brief silence, the crowd completely erupted!

"My heavens! Is this true or false? A Soul Transformation Cultivator escaped from three Void Refining Cultivators?"

"No wonder! No wonder the Holy Land offered such a sky-high bounty! This is no longer about money; this is about slapping the Holy Land's face!"

"This Chen Xu... he's a formidable individual! A role model for us Cultivators!"

"Role model my foot! I think he's just a madman! A complete and utter madman! Offending the Tianyu Holy Land, how many more days does he think he has to live?"

For a time, various voices intertwined.

Some admired Chen Xu's audaciousness, while others ridiculed his overestimation of his own abilities.

But regardless, from this moment on.

The name "Chen Xu," accompanied by his legendary deeds, quickly swept across the vast territory controlled by the Tianyu Holy Land, with Beixuan City as its center.

A Lower Realm Cultivator who had just arrived in the Spirit Realm less than a day ago, in this manner.

Became famous throughout the world!

Chapter 239

Lower Realm, Central Continent, Chen Family Holy Land.

Three full days had passed since Chen Xu led a hundred people in Ascension.

During these three days, the entire Cultivation World was immersed in an unprecedented carnival.

The Immortal Spiritual Qi pouring down from the Upper Realm had completely changed the Laws of this world.

The Dao Incarnation Tribulation, which had plagued countless Cultivators, vanished like a joke.

The Spiritual Qi density increased at an incredible rate, countless depleted Spiritual Veins revived, former deserts turned into oases, and various ancient Spirit Medicines that had gone extinct now grew everywhere.

This was a golden age!

Countless Cultivators who had been stuck at their Bottlenecks for many years broke through under this Spiritual Qi downpour.

The number of Nascent Soul Cultivators had increased tenfold or more in these short three days!

And as the creator of all this, the Chen Family was elevated to a divine status.

The Chen Family Holy Land was now the center of the entire world.

Every day, thousands of Cultivators flocked from all over the world, kneeling outside the Holy Mountain, just to bathe in the purest wisp of Immortal Spiritual Qi emanating from the Holy Land.

Countless Sects and Families, holding their most precious treasures, cried and begged to be merged into the Chen Family, even if it meant becoming an Outer Sect Disciple, they would be willing... Inside the Chen Family Holy Land, in the grand hall.

Chen Daochu, dressed in a black brocade robe, sat upright on the Family Head's Throne that once belonged to his father.

In the three days since becoming the acting Family head, he had not relaxed for a moment.

He handled a flood of various affairs, appeased the nearly frantic major Sects, screened Cultivators who genuinely pledged allegiance, and constantly monitored the operation of the entire Family.

He was almost sleepless.

But the physical exhaustion was far less than the worry in his heart.

Father, Elder Brother, and the Matriarchs... how are they doing now?

Since the magnificent Immortal Gate of Reception disappeared after his brother entered it three days ago, he had completely lost contact with his brother.

He didn't know what the Upper Realm was like, nor did he know what dangers lay behind that so-called Ascension.

His father's words before leaving still echoed in his ears.

"This journey is not an Ascension to enjoy blessings, but a fight to the death!"

Whenever he recalled this sentence, Chen Daochu's heart tightened.

But he couldn't show it.

He was the backbone of the Chen Family now, the stabilizing force his father left behind to guard this land.

If he faltered, the entire Chen Family, and even the whole world, would fall into chaos.

"Hoo..."

Chen Daochu slowly exhaled a turbid breath, rubbing his temples.

"Big Brother, you've been tired for three days. Go and rest for a bit."

A gentle voice sounded as Chen Daochu's younger brother, Chen Xuan, slowly walked in.

"I'm fine." Chen Daochu shook his head, forcing a smile: "Father entrusted the Family business to me, I dare not be negligent in the slightest."

"Alas, you and Elder Brother Dao Xuan share the same temperament."

Chen Xuan sighed, "However, Big Brother, you don't need to worry too much. Don't you trust Father's abilities? He even cut down the Heavenly Dao of this realm with a single sword. What can a mere Upper Realm do to him?"

That's right.

Thinking of Father's invincible presence in the world.

The worry in Chen Daochu's heart receded slightly.

Father is omnipotent.

He had believed this since he was a child.

Rising from obscurity, he led the Chen Family step by step to where it is today.

Creating countless seemingly impossible miracles.

What about the Upper Realm?

What about those so-called Immortals?

Dare to provoke my Father.

Their end will absolutely not be good!

Confidence reignited in Chen Daochu's eyes.

He believed that it wouldn't be long before Father would establish a firm foothold in the Upper Realm.

At that time, that would be the true beginning of the Chen Family's glory!

However, just as his heart was surging with emotion.

Boom!!!

A heaven-shattering roar came from above the Nine Heavens!

The entire Chen Family Holy Land, and even the entire world.

Trembled violently at this moment!

"What's going on?!"

Chen Daochu and Chen Xuan's expressions changed. Their figures flickered, instantly appearing on the plaza outside the main hall.

They abruptly looked up at the sky.

The next moment, both their pupils suddenly constricted!

Only to see above the firmament, within the thousands of miles longcrack that Chen Xu had cleaved open with a single sword.

Golden light once again shone brightly!

Endless Immortal light gathered, and sacred Immortal music played!

A magnificent golden portal, exactly like the one three days ago, ten thousand zhang tall, was slowly descending from the center of thatcrack!

—The Immortal Gate of Reception!

It... it actually appeared again!

"Heavens! It's the Immortal Gate of Reception! The Immortal Gate of Reception has opened again!"

"What's going on? Are the Upper Realm Immortals going to guide others to Ascension again?"

"Could it be... could it be that Alliance Leader Chen has achieved great merit in the Upper Realm, and the High Immortals have once again bestowed a favor?"

At this moment, the entire Cultivation World, all the Cultivators who witnessed this scene, went mad!

Three days ago, the spectacular sight of a hundred people ascending was still vivid in their minds.

Countless Cultivators who missed the Opportunity beat their chests and stomped their feet, filled with regret.

They thought that such an Opportunity was rare in ten thousand ages, and missing it meant missing it for a lifetime.

Who would have thought!

Only three days!

This Immortal Gate, representing longevity and supreme glory.

Actually opened again!

After a brief silence, there was a wave even crazier than three days ago!

"A second chance! This is a second chance!"

"Does this mean we also have a chance to Ascend?"

Outside the Holy Mountain, the millions of Cultivators who were kneeling and worshiping now had red eyes, rushing madly towards the Holy Land, but were firmly blocked by the mountain-protecting formation.

"Head of the Chen Family! Head of the Chen Family Chen Daochu! Please be merciful!"

"Let us in! We are willing to offer everything to the Chen Family!"

Cries and pleas converged into a monstrous wave, almost submerging the entire Holy Mountain.

However, just as everyone was in a frenzy.

On the plaza, Chen Daochu's expression, after a brief shock, instantly turned cold!

He stared blankly at the golden portal radiating infinite temptation.

His mind was completely blank.

It opened again?

Why?

Joy? Excitement?

No!

A chill, from the soles of his feet, rushed straight to the crown of his head!

Something's not right!

This is definitely not right!

In his mind, his father's extremely solemn gaze before he left flashed instantly.

And that cold, resolute phrase, "fight to the death"!

Father said that the guardians outside the cage were definitely not benevolent!

They regard the living beings of this realm as ants!

Since they are enemies, how could they be so kind as to bestow "favors" again and again?

The first time they guided Father and the others, their words were full of judgment and condescension, as if Father breaking open the cage was an unforgivable crime, and allowing Ascension was a great favor.

What about the second time?

Chen Daochu stared intently at the Immortal Gate.

His brain was working furiously at this moment.

A thought, like a flash of lightning, streaked across his mind.

Making his whole body stiffen.

Unless... unless the first "favor" failed!

Those so-called Immortals high above.

Failed to do anything to Father!

Not only did they fail to "crush" Father, but they were beaten by Father instead!

Or even... successfully escaped!

Therefore, they became enraged and reopened the Immortal Gate, putting on this second act!

Having figured this out, Chen Daochu's hanging heart, instead of settling down.

Was instantly filled with monstrous rage and killing intent!

A trap!

This is a complete and utter trap!

They couldn't deal with Father, so they want to target us who remained in the Lower Realm!

They want to trick us up there, to use us as hostages, as leverage to threaten Father!

Good! What a fine Upper Realm Immortal!

Chen Daochu felt his blood burning. In his heart, there was no longer any reverence or yearning for the Upper Realm, only endless coldness and hatred!

"Hahahaha! Father! I knew it! I knew you could do it!"

Chen Daochu roared in his heart.

He felt unparalleled pride for his father!

With his own strength, leading a hundred-person suicide squad, he carved out a bloody path in that Upper Realm, which was like a dragon's pond and a tiger's den!

Beating those high and mighty Immortals so badly that they could only resort to such despicable methods!

What kind of peerless Divine Might is this!

Just then, the huge Immortal Gate of Reception slowly opened a crack.

A voice, even more majestic and filled with "benevolence" and "grandeur" than three days ago, emanated from it, resounding throughout the entire world.

"Listen closely, beings of the Lower Realm!"

"Cultivator Chen Xu has already been conferred an Immortal Official title in the Tianyu Holy Land of the Upper Realm, enjoying supreme glory!"

"The Holy Land, in appreciation of his merits, specially opens the Immortal Gate and bestows upon you another chance for Ascension. Three hundred core members of the Chen Family are permitted to once again ascend the Immortal Gate, Ascend to the Upper Realm, reunite with their families, and share in the Immortal blessings!"

"The time limit is one day, no waiting after expiration!"

Boom!

These words exploded throughout the entire Cultivation World!

Chen Xu... was conferred an Immortal Official title?!

And could bring another three hundred people to Ascend?!

This news completely incinerated the rationality of countless Cultivators outside the Holy Mountain!

"Head of the Chen Family! Head of the Chen Family Chen Daochu! Please! Take me with you!"

"I am willing to be a slave and servant! I only ask for one spot!"

However, facing the madness outside, Chen Daochu's face held only a cold sneer.

Acting?

They're really making it look convincing.

He slowly walked forward, standing at the very front of the plaza.

Facing that sacred and magnificent golden Immortal Gate.

Facing the millions of fervent, expectant eyes outside the mountain.

He took a deep breath, channeled his magic power, and his voice clearly spread to every corner of the Holy Land, and also reached the ears of everyone outside the mountain.

"I, Chen Daochu, acting Head of the Chen Family, hereby thank the High Immortals for their great kindness."

His voice was calm and powerful.

"However, although my father Chen Xu has already Ascended, the Foundation of my Chen Family still lies in this realm."

"We, as members of the Chen Family, should guard our Family's legacy for Father and expand our territory. It will not be too late to Ascend the entire realm after it has completely transformed into our Chen Family's Immortal Garden."

"Therefore, for this favor, my Chen Family..."

Chen Daochu paused, then looked up, his gaze seemingly penetrating the Immortal Gate.

Seeing the true faces hidden behind the scenes.

He uttered each word, his voice not loud, but firm as iron, resounding through the clouds.

"We appreciate the thought!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire world instantly fell silent.

Everyone was stunned.

Rejected it?

The Chen Family... actually rejected this great favor?!

These three words exploded in everyone's minds!

Outside the Holy Mountain, the millions of nearly mad Cultivators.

The fervor on their faces instantly froze.

They all gaped, their eyes wide, as if they had heard the most incredible thing in the world.

Rejected it?

The Chen Family actually rejected this great favor?!

After a brief silence, the crowd completely erupted!

"Did I hear that right? Head of the Chen Family Chen Daochu... he said he appreciated the thought?"

"He's crazy! He must be crazy! That's Ascension! That's three hundred spots! How dare he refuse!"

"Why? Why on earth?! If the Chen Family doesn't want it, then give the spots to us!"

Countless people beat their chests and stomped their feet, unable to understand.

In their eyes, this was no different from a beggar.

Spitting out a piece of gold that had been brought to his mouth.

This was simply the height of foolishness!

On the plaza.

Chen Xuan behind Chen Daochu, and all the Chen Family Elders, were also dumbfounded.

Although they also felt that the opening of the Immortal Gate was suspicious, none of them expected that Chen Daochu would refuse so decisively and mercilessly in front of the entire world!

These were Upper Realm Cultivators! Big Brother he... And at this moment, the magnificent golden Immortal Gate above the Nine Heavens also fell into an eerie silence.

And at this moment, the magnificent golden Immortal Gate above the Nine Heavens also fell into an eerie silence.

Behind the Immortal Gate, several Reception Hall Disciples responsible for "guidance".

Looked at each other, their faces full of astonishment.

"He... he refused?"

"A Lower Realm ant actually dares to refuse the Holy Land's favor?"

"What do we do? This isn't according to the Hall Master's script!"

They had received orders from Hall Master Chen Qiao to put on a grand show of "Heaven's boundless grace", aiming to trick Chen Xu's Family members from the Lower Realm up to use them as pawns to restrain Chen Xu.

In their opinion, these Lower Realm ants, trapped in the cage for countless years, upon seeing the hope of Ascension, wouldn't they pounce like mad dogs seeing a bone?

Refuse?

They had never even considered this option!

After a brief moment of astonishment, an even more majestic voice once again emanated from the Immortal Gate.

"Have you thought this through clearly?!"

"This is an edict personally bestowed by the Holy Land, a supreme grace! Allowing you to come and reunite with your Family, and you dare to defy it?"

"Could it be that you want your father, Chen Xu, to end up friendless and lonely in the Upper Realm?!"

These words already carried naked threats.

However, facing these words, the cold sneer on Chen Daochu's face grew even deeper.

Reunion?

More like inviting them into a trap, to catch them all in one net!

He didn't even bother to raise his head, and disdained to say another word.

He merely slowly turned around, his back to the dazzling golden Immortal Gate, as if it were something filthy and disgusting, too dirty to even glance at.

Disregard!