56: Chapter 56: Dead Silence: Is this a loser? This is a prodigy!

The air on the Star Observation Platform seemed to have been sucked dry, leaving behind only a suffocating pressure.

The few Ancient Imperial Clan prodigies locked in by Xu Chen's gaze now had all the scales on their bodies standing on end.

They were the outstanding young talents of the 'Golden Horn Imperial Clan'. Usually rampant across the Central Plains, they viewed human cultivators as mere blood sustenance, daring to clash head-on even with disciples from sacred lands.

But now, facing the man on the stage who was holding a child and looking at them with a smile, they felt only a chill originating from the depths of their souls.

It wasn't reverence towards a powerful being, but an instinctual fear towards a natural predator.

"What? Can't understand human speech?"

Seeing them unmoved, Xu Chen raised an eyebrow slightly. That 'devilish hand' (Great Treasure's little hand) that had just slapped Wang Teng away was waved through the air again.

"Do I need to personally come down and invite you?"

"N-no! There's no need!"

The leading Golden Horn Clan prince shuddered violently, his voice changing pitch.

He glanced at Wang Teng, still embedded in the stone wall in the distance, condition unknown. That was a madman who had sacrificed his life essence to briefly possess the combat power of a Sage! And the result? He couldn't even withstand a single slap from the other's son.

Himself going up?

That wouldn't be going to compete; that would be delivering himself as a dish!

"Y-Young Master Xu!"

The Golden Horn prince swallowed hard. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he performed an action no one expected.

He took a sudden step back, clasped his fists, bent his waist to a ninety-degree angle, and forced a smile uglier than crying onto his face:

"A misunderstanding! It was all a misunderstanding!"

"We were just passing by... yes, passing by!"

"We were just discussing Young Master Xu's awe-inspiring might, and how your son is a heaven-sent prodigy. We... we'll scram right now! We won't be an eyesore to Young Master Xu!"

After saying this, this usually arrogant prince actually directly burned his vital essence, transforming into a streak of golden light that fled towards the horizon without looking back.

His speed was so fast it even created a sonic boom cloud in the air.

Seeing this, the other clansmen hurriedly followed suit, scattering and fleeing like homeless dogs, terrified that running a step slower would get them 'slapped' to death by that seemingly harmless infant.

They... ran away?

The prestigious Ancient Imperial Clan, not even daring to lift a hand, scared off by a single sentence?

This scene became the final straw that broke the psychological defenses of everyone present.

"Hiss—"

A uniform sound of sucking in cold air arose on the Star Observation Platform.

Those prodigies who originally still harbored a sliver of hope, thinking they could wear Xu Chen down through attrition, now completely gave up.

Looking at the snow-white robed figure on the stage, the jealousy and disdain in their eyes were completely gone, replaced by a kind of horror as if looking at a monster.

"Is... is this a trash?"

In the crowd, a Divine Son from a Central Plains aristocratic family, his face deathly pale, muttered with trembling lips.

"Who spread that rumor? Saying he only relies on his background and women?"

"This is clearly an ancient vicious beast wearing sheep's clothing!"

A Sacred Maiden next to him clutched her chest, feeling her Dao Heart cracking at this moment.

"Even a son just one month old can instantly kill a Dao Severing King... how strong must he himself be?"

"Our hundreds of years of bitter cultivation are simply a joke before him."

Despair.

A deep sense of powerlessness enveloped everyone's hearts.

Is this the Young Master of the Imperial Clan?

Is this the father of the Chaos Body?

Originally, they thought Xu Chen had achieved his current status by relying on those peerless Dao companions. Now it seemed it was completely the opposite! It was precisely because he was absurdly strong that he was worthy of those four peerlessly beautiful and extraordinary women!

"This... is boring."

Xu Chen looked at the few black dots that had instantly vanished at the horizon and shook his head somewhat listlessly.

He had originally wanted to take the opportunity to further establish his authority, maybe collect a few mounts or something.

But these guys ran faster than rabbits.

"Husband, it seems your fearsome reputation will henceforth be enough to stop children's nighttime crying."

Su Qingge, holding the still excitedly waving Great Treasure, walked to Xu Chen's side with a gentle smile. Looking at the cowering prodigies below the stage, a flash of pride appeared in her eyes.

This was her man.

Inactive, he remains still; once active, he shakes the heavens.

"Hmph, they were just sensible."

Luo Hongyi flicked the long whip in her hand, a slight hook at the corner of her red lips, her peach blossom eyes full of adoration. "If they had left a moment later, this princess's whip has no eyes."

Although Bai Ningbing and Jiang Liuli didn't speak, standing to Xu Chen's left and right, their undisguised protective intent was more intimidating than a thousand words.

A family of five stood at the highest point of the Star Observation Platform.

And beneath their feet were over a thousand Central Plains prodigies with lowered heads, not even daring to breathe loudly.

This scene was immensely impactful.

Xu Chen withdrew his gaze, becoming lazy once more. With one hand behind his back, the innate composure emanating from his bones now appeared as an insurmountable majesty in everyone's eyes.

"Who else?"

Xu Chen spoke lightly.

His voice wasn't loud, not amplified by any spiritual energy, but in the deathly silent Star Observation Platform, it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Weren't you just talking about forming an 'Anti-Xu Alliance'?"

"Weren't you saying you'd make me lose all face?"

"I'm standing right here now, not even holding a magic treasure."

Xu Chen spread his hands, his gaze sweeping across the entire venue.

Wherever his gaze swept, the crowd retreated like a tide, forcibly clearing out a large empty area.

No one dared to speak.

Even the few senior experts responsible for presiding over the grand gathering were now staring at their noses, noses at their hearts, pretending to admire the ants on the ground.

What a joke.

Wang Teng was still stuck in the wall, unable to be pried out. Who would dare touch this bad luck?

What kind of prodigy debate was this? This was clearly Xu Chen's personal coronation ceremony!

A long time passed.

Still, no one responded.

That oppressive silence made time seem to stretch on endlessly.

"Sigh."

Xu Chen sighed. This sigh was filled with the loneliness of the invincible.

"It seems this generation of the cultivation world is still too disappointing."

"Not even one person dares to draw their sword."

He shook his head. That 'frustrated at their failure to meet expectations' expression made the faces of the crowd below burn with shame.

But even humiliated to this extent, still no one dared to refute a single word.

Because strength was the greatest truth.

"Y-Young Master Xu."

Finally, a trembling voice rose from the crowd.

It was a young cultivator who looked only fifteen or sixteen, wearing ordinary sect robes, clearly a marginal figure who had come to join the excitement.

Summoning his courage, he stammered and asked:

"Y-you... are you really... just a gigolo?"

As soon as this question came out, the people around him almost died of fright, wishing they could cover his mouth.

Children say the darndest things! If you want to die, don't drag us down!

However, Xu Chen wasn't angry.

Instead, he looked at the youth, a spring-like smile appearing on his face.

"Good question."

Xu Chen nodded, then turned again to look at the four beautiful wives behind him, and the Chaos Body son in his arms who was yawning.

"Being a gigolo is a field of study."

"You need the charm to make a female emperor fall for you, the strength to make a goddess submit, and also..."

Xu Chen pointed at Wang Teng on the ground, then at those scared-off imperial clansmen.

"...the fist that can pound all those who oppose this gigolo life into meat paste."

"If you can achieve all that."

Xu Chen looked at the youth, his gaze profound.

"Then you too can proudly tell the whole world, just like me."

"This gigolo life tastes really good."

The youth nodded, seeming to understand yet not quite, a flicker of admiration actually shining in his eyes.

And the others were completely convinced.

To describe 'being a gigolo' so elegantly, so domineeringly, throughout history, there was probably only Xu Chen's family capable of it.