46: Chapter 46 Who the hell are you?
On a distant building, two Ninth Revolution powerhouses were currently observing the scene below.
The sudden appearance of the Zhou Family Patriarch caused a subtle change in the expressions on the two men's faces.
"This child is so young yet possesses such strength, and he's a Beast Tamer with the greatest growth potential. Truly, the younger generation is to be feared, but..." Chu Tianba looked at the several Monarch Grade beasts summoned by Chu Ran, his eyes revealing unconcealable admiration, yet mixed within that admiration was a trace of disappointment.
With Chu Ran's genius-level Beast Tamer strength, he could certainly shake Chu Tianxiong's position among the younger generation in the Central Region, perhaps even surpass him. This was undoubtedly a cause for celebration for the Dragon Nation, but for the Chu Clan alone, it wasn't necessarily good news...
"Haha, serves you right for always showing off your precious grandson. Now you've got something to worry about..." Xiao Yuhe teased.
The two white-haired old men now bickered like young children, creating a rather amusing scene.
"Alright, it's time for us to step in. If we let that old man Zhou injure the boy, the other old fogies would skin us alive." Chu Tianba was the first to drop the playful attitude, looking at the figures below as he spoke calmly.
"Hmm..." Xiao Yuhe was also about to descend but suddenly sensed something, frowned, halted his step, and then reached out to stop Chu Tianba, who was preparing to act beside him...
Although Chu Tianba looked puzzled, seeing the other remain silent, he didn't ask. The other was a Ninth Revolution Astrologer; with the power of laws, his perception of the surroundings was nearly double that of other Ninth Revolution Professionals...
He then turned his gaze, filled with doubt, to observe below...
...
"Using such cruel methods to kill three members of my Zhou Family, you should end yourself. A barbarian from the Northern Region like you isn't worthy of dirtying this old man's hands." Zhou Tianhun said with contempt.
"Are you so noble that you won't even deign to kill me personally?"
"Hmph, you're just a bit lucky. A lowly person like you should have died in the Northern Region's beast rampage a couple of days ago."
"I don't know how many of you self-proclaimed, lofty Central Region people have truly tried to understand what happened in the Northern Region, but I know you certainly haven't." Chu Ran's expression was indifferent.
"Why should I understand a barren wasteland? What happens there has nothing to do with me! They're nothing but a bunch of lowly rats! Could there really be some once-in-an-era, heaven-chosen prodigy there?"
Zhou Tianhun made no effort to conceal his contempt for the Northern Region in his words.
At this moment, Mu Zhiyu's live stream was still ongoing. Many in the barrage expressed dissatisfaction with Zhou Tianhun's words.
The Zhou Family was already widely disliked in the Imperial Capital. For its patriarch, Zhou Tianhun, to utter such words immediately prompted many to start condemning the Zhou Family...
The popularity of Mu Zhiyu's live stream skyrocketed like a rocket. Many cities in the Northern Region received a push notification for this stream.
"Damn it to hell! The Zhou Family is truly despicable!"
"I've already smashed Zhou Tianhun's ancestral tomb!"
"Damn, the great hero who saved the Northern Region is being treated like this in the Central Region? I'm filing a complaint!"
Qi Lin stood before a large screen in his room, fury burning in his eyes. He picked up the landline phone beside him:
"Connect me to the Dragon Nation Five-Region Alliance!"
...
Chu Ran smiled a somewhat relieved smile, then his expression turned serious.
"Hmph, now you understand what a pile of garbage your proud Northern Region is in my eyes!"
Zhou Tianhun said calmly, his eyes holding an aloof, condescending indifference: "If you sever one arm now, then kneel for three days and three nights at their three funerals before ending yourself, I might consider sparing your family in the Northern Region..."
In a place like the Northern Region, where even the Regional Lord only has Seventh Turn strength, the Zhou Family could do as they pleased with their power!
"I'll give you a chance." Chu Ran finally spoke again:
"If you kneel now, tell everyone you retract what you just said, and then end yourself, I might consider allowing the Zhou Family to still exist in the Imperial Capital tomorrow."
The certainty in his tone made it sound as if he could actually do it...
Mu Zhiyu, standing to the side, felt as if the Chu Ran before her had become a different person.
Making a prominent family disappear from the Imperial Capital? That sounded utterly insane...
"Outrageous!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Tianhun immediately roared. Spiritual energy rapidly coalesced around him, soon forming a massive energy vortex.
A mere youngster not even twenty years old—who gave him the courage! What right did he have to speak so insolently to a Peak Eighth-Rotation Professional!
The instant Zhou Tianhun's energy vortex formed, the frenzied bombardment from Longque and Lei Jiao also shot towards the airborne Zhou Tianhun without warning, but was completely swallowed by the energy vortex, which simultaneously grew even larger...
"Stop!"
Mu Zhiyu wanted to intervene. This energy vortex could be converted by Zhou Tianhun and ultimately used as a means to attack Chu Ran!
Every attack Chu Ran released now was stacking damage for Zhou Tianhun's final assault against him!
Mu Zhiyu still wanted to rush in front of Chu Ran to block it, but she hesitated for a moment. She wasn't sure her Lifebound Treasure could withstand this terrifying storm of thunder and fire, empowered by the energy vortex...
When she finally mustered her courage, she found her movement restricted.
Behind her, Mu Ziyan tightly grasped her hand and shook her head helplessly.
Can't block it!
The terrifying elemental storm radiated power even greater than an ordinary Saint-level beast's attack. It was simply impossible to block!
"You have no chance left!"
Zhou Tianhun let out a furious shout. The energy vortex, expanded to its limit, instantly opened. The endlessly stacked thunder and fire elemental spells inside shot downwards!
After the spells were unleashed, a smile gradually spread across Zhou Tianhun's lips.
Even a top-tier Monarch Grade Blessing Set couldn't withstand a blow comparable to a mid-level Saint-level beast!
Zhou Tianhun's eyes were fixed on the figure below. He couldn't wait to see the other reduced to ashes, but then he noticed the previously motionless body suddenly move!
Chu Ran made an inexplicable move!
A serene expression appeared on his face. Then he spread his arms wide, as if to embrace the thunderfire storm with power akin to a nuclear bomb...
"Chu Ran! What are you doing?!" Mu Zhiyu was nearly frantic with anxiety on the side, practically shouting.
Zhou Tianhun's original smile froze on his face.
Had this kid... lost his mind?
But the instant Chu Ran was about to make contact with the thunderfire elemental spheres, an ancient, esoteric summoning array diagram suddenly appeared before him!
Abruptly, a terrifying, sinisterly cold aura swept across the sky. The clouds seemed crushed by an invisible giant hand. The air pressure plummeted, making chests feel tight and eardrums buzz.
A gale suddenly exploded, twisting the dark clouds into a massive vortex that instantly blotted out the entire sky...
All the water elements in the air instantly grew restless, as if paying homage to the terrifying creature within the array diagram below...
And the spheres carrying terrifying power did not explode as expected. Instead, they were completely devoured and absorbed by that spirit diagram...
Almost the instant the spheres were devoured, Zhou Tianhun's pupils constricted violently. A short, stifled grunt forced its way from his throat as earth-shattering roars instantly exploded within his body!
Purple lightning crazily coursed along the patterns of his blood vessels. Surging waves of fire erupted between his organs. Scalding heat made his chest swell high, and his bones creaked under unbearable stress.
His body swelled like an inflated leather bag. Under the dual assault of thunder and fire, his skin cracked inch by inch. Blood that seeped out, just as it reached the surface, was vaporized by the high temperature into a bloody mist carrying a charred odor...
Fortunately, a wisp of Chaos Power of Laws prevented his body from completely disintegrating under this blow. Zhou Tianhun barely stabilized his form...
Amidst his pained expression was a trace of confusion. He didn't understand why the attack had suddenly appeared within his body, while the other seemed completely unharmed...
Resentment, fury, and confusion twisted his already aged face into a grotesque mask. He nearly roared:
"Just who the hell are you?"
...