Great Solar Energy

Great Solar Energy...

As Qin Wentian's voice faded, a chilling gleam of anger flashed in Jing Yu's eyes.

"Trash...?" The word echoed in his mind. Recently, he had been plagued by a sense of despondency, wondering where his supposed talent had gone. His master doubted him, his fellow disciples scorned him. The label of 'trash' pierced through his heart like a needle.

"Hey, you! Get over here," Jing Yu's voice turned icy, without bothering to face Qin Wentian. His trembling form betrayed his internal struggle. Normally composed, Jing Yu found himself losing control, his frustration and darkness surging to the surface after this sharp provocation.

The inn's patrons froze, a mix of surprise and curiosity painting their faces. This man appeared so distinguished, yet his words were unexpectedly crude and demeaning.

Luo Huan's expression stiffened, a glint of coldness flickering in her charming eyes. For years, she had kept a modest profile, maintaining her humility while safeguarding her pride. But Jing Yu's crude words shattered her patience, pushing her past her limits.

"How would Luo He react if she knew the disciple she had?" Qin Wentian's voice dripped with a chilling frost. Jing Yu set down his wine cup and turned, his body freezing in shock as he saw Qin Wentian.

While their interactions had been limited, Jing Yu vividly remembered their first encounter outside Gongyang Hong's bamboo lodge. Alongside Yan Qi, he had belittled Qin Wentian, looking down on him, asserting that he was nothing more than a crow undeserving of a phoenix like Mo Qingcheng.

And during their second meeting, he had sneered inwardly at what a fool Qin Wentian was. The guy had chased after Mo Qingcheng right to the gates of the Pill Emperor Hall. Worse, he had confronted Zhan Chen, daring to challenge him.

Afterward, news had spread across the Moon Continent. The youngest fourth-ranked Grandmaster in history, driven by emotions over a woman, had slain Hua Xiaoyun. He had battled fiercely, sacrificing all his Puppets and escaping while holding Shu Ruanyu hostage, his body mangled. That conflict had left three assassins dead and tarnished Zhan Chen's reputation. People even speculated that Zhan Chen was the true murderer of his own fiancée due to Qin Wentian's words.

And now, for the third time, Qin Wentian stood before him. Jing Yu found himself the subject of that same contemptuous gaze he had once cast upon Qin Wentian. But the tables had turned, and this gaze bore into him like a needle, digging deeper into his wounded pride.

"It's you!" Jing Yu exclaimed, his shock evident in his eyes. Meeting Qin Wentian's gaze felt like a knife slicing through his consciousness. The pressure he sensed was overwhelming, as if a ferocious primal beast had emerged, ready to tear apart his very mind.

"BOOM!"

With each step forward that Qin Wentian took, Jing Yu's heart raced faster. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he involuntarily retreated, stumbling and crashing into a chair, nearly toppling the table.

Qin Wentian's voice cut through the air, icy and stern, "If you utter another obscene word, you won't leave this place on your feet." Jing Yu struggled to stand, his face drained of color as he glanced at the crowd's reactions. Whispers and smirks circulated around him. The embarrassment gnawed at him like a weight on his chest.

"Could this be a disciple of Luo He from the Pill Emperor Hall?"

"I heard Luo He's junior sister is not only stunningly beautiful but also possesses the legendary Seven Apertures Heart. To think her senior brother would be acting like this. It's quite unbelievable." Conversations buzzed around, accompanied by shaking heads and sighs.

Ignoring the surrounding chatter, Qin Wentian stepped forward to stand before Luo Huan. His gaze held a tenderness as he gently cupped her face.

"Senior Sis, you've lost weight."

"Brat, stop exploiting your beautiful senior sister," Luo Huan replied with a warm smile. This young man had truly grown, now strong enough to be her protector. Gone were the days when he had looked to her for safety.

"Who asked my senior sister to be so beautiful? Might as well enjoy acting cool while I can," Qin Wentian chuckled, wrapping his arms around Luo Huan in a gentle hug. It wasn't a hug fueled by lust or romance; it was a pure display of friendship and familial love. In Qin Wentian's heart, Luo Huan was akin to Qin Yao—his elder sister.

"Hey, your beautiful sister can't breathe," Luo Huan joked as they separated. Just then, Fatty Fan Le waddled over, his arms outstretched in a comical greeting.

"Senior Sister!"

"Hey, what happened to your diet plan, fatty?" Luo Huan teased with a chuckle. Fatty playfully shrugged and replied, "Senior Sister, you're being unfair."

"You can talk to me about it once you get a figure like Wentian's," Luo Huan laughed, poking fun at Fatty's weight loss aspirations, which earned her an exaggeratedly dejected expression from him.

"Come join us over here," Qin Wentian suggested, pulling Luo Huan along. However, just as they were about to sit down, Chen Ran, who had remained silent, interrupted, "Hold on."

Chen Ran's gaze shifted between Qin Wentian and his companions. Everyone at the table, especially Ouyang Kuangsheng and Jiang Ting, exuded an extraordinary aura, indicating their affiliation with a transcendent power. As for Qin Wentian, while he might not possess an innate aura of superiority, his strength was likely commendable.

But regardless of anyone's background, when facing someone from the Chen Clan on the Ginkou Continent, they would be expected to bow down—even an almighty true dragon would be expected to crawl.

In this moment, Chen Ran saw an opportunity to gain Jing Yu's gratitude.

"Whoever you are, you'd better apologize to my brother Jing Yu," Chen Ran's voice remained composed as he rapped his finger on the table, issuing his demand.

Watching from the sidelines, Yang Xia and the rest had assumed that being a disciple of the Pill Emperor Hall elevated Jing Yu's status above the others. However, with Chen Ran's background now revealed, it was clear that his status surpassed even Jing Yu's. He wouldn't have dared to speak up after Jing Yu's humiliation if he weren't in a strong position himself.

Qin Wentian cast a sidelong glance at Chen Ran, his ears ringing with the blatant disrespect in Chen Ran's words. He was restraining himself due to the circumstances of the Ginkou Continent, but Chen Ran was showing no such restraint.

"Senior Sis, let's continue," Qin Wentian calmly said, leading Luo Huan to their intended seats, wholly disregarding Chen Ran's words.

Chen Ran's finger continued tapping the table, his face turning an incensed red, causing the temperature in the surroundings to rise significantly.

Only core members of the Chen Clan could practice the Great Solar Universe Art. Clearly, Chen Ran was one such member.

His pursuit of Mo Qingcheng wouldn't have been without reason. If he wasn't of significant value, he wouldn't have dared to court her.

Ouyang Kuangsheng had noticed Chen Ran when he spoke earlier, observing the intense gleam in his eyes. Once Qin Wentian returned to the table, Ouyang Kuangsheng leaned in and informed him, "He appears to be a core member of the powerful Great Solar Chen Clan in Ginkou."

"Chen Clan?" Qin Wentian mused. He was already familiar with many of the transcendent powers throughout Grand Xia, as Ouyang Kuangsheng had introduced him to some on their journey to Ginkou.

The Great Solar Chen Clan was an ancient aristocratic lineage that dated back to the era of Ancient Grand Xia. It was one of the nine main grand bloodlines and one of the nine strongest factions under the Ancient Emperor back then. Their cultivation art was the formidable and domineering Great Solar Universe Art.

Upon learning about the Great Solar Chen Clan, Qin Wentian's mind was drawn to the cataclysmic event that marked the end of Grand Xia. He envisioned the rebellion of the Ancient Emperor's nine subjects, each taking possession of one of the Divine Stele's nine fragments, which granted them the Nine Ultimate Arts of Grand Xia.

In the case of the Chen Clan, they were undoubtedly descended from one of those treacherous subjects who had participated in that grim division.

Chen Ran's gaze sharpened as it locked onto Ouyang Kuangsheng. He marveled at Ouyang's keen intuition—how swiftly he had deduced the origins of the Great Solar Chen Clan.

"Who are you?" Chen Ran inquired with a cool demeanor.

"I am Ouyang Kuangsheng of the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan."

Ouyang Kuangsheng didn't shy away from revealing his identity, causing the inn's patrons to erupt in surprise. The Drunken Immortal Residence was brimming with excitement on this day, as the Great Solar Chen Clan, Ouyang Aristocrat Clan, and Pill Emperor Hall converged. The brewing conflict between them seemed destined to escalate.

For the onlookers, this unfolding drama was the spectacle they had hoped for. A clash between these two forces would provide them with an enthralling show.

"Ouyang Kuangsheng." Chen Ran's eyes gleamed. The name was certainly not unfamiliar to him. Among the younger generation of transcendent power members, Ouyang Kuangsheng of the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan was a figure that the Chen Clan had to pay attention to—a rising star in his own right.

"And who is he?" Chen Ran redirected his gaze toward Qin Wentian.

"He's my brother, Qin Wentian. Today, we are here with my fiancée, Jiang Ting, and our companions to enjoy some wine. We hope you won't sour the atmosphere," Ouyang Kuangsheng calmly responded.

Chen Ran's lips curved into a chilly smile. "Unfortunately, my mood has already been soured. Not only that, he launched a surprise attack on my friend. Demanding an apology isn't unreasonable, is it?"

Ouyang Kuangsheng realized that there was no room for diplomacy. If they were unwilling to show respect, there was no point in engaging in a verbal standoff. He averted his gaze, intentionally ignoring Chen Ran.

With a gentle placement of his palm upon the table, Chen Ran conjured a blistering heat that reduced the table to ashes in an instant. Even the metal cups on the table were liquefied by the overwhelming heat. Spectators quickly retreated, mindful of the blazing intensity in Chen Ran's eyes, which now radiated with an even brighter brilliance than before, accompanied by an aura of crushing determination.

"If resolving this matter requires my personal involvement, a mere apology won't suffice. The woman you're accompanying shall become mine as well," Chen Ran's tone grew frosty. Hailing from the Chen Clan, he saw no reason to show deference to Ouyang Kuangsheng. Besides, he hadn't been the one to initiate the offense against the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan. Furthermore, Qin Wentian and Luo Huan weren't affiliated with any transcendent powers. Why should he not exert his will upon them?

"Senior Sis, give me a moment," Qin Wentian said, his gaze unwavering despite the tension etched on Luo Huan's face. Setting his wine cup aside, he rose to his feet and strode toward Chen Ran.

Moments later, an unsettling aura erupted from Qin Wentian. His features morphed into an almost demonic visage, his narrowed eyes exuding an unsettling energy that sent shivers down the spines of those who beheld it.

"Not bad, you possess some strength. But alas, at the seventh level of Yuanfu, you lack the qualification to carry yourself this way in my presence," Chen Ran also stood, prompting the onlookers to scatter in haste. Everything around him—the table, the chair—had been reduced to ashes.

The Great Solar Universe Cultivation Art granted its practitioners the ability to generate Great Solar energy within their bodies, granting them the power to incinerate even the Heavens and boil the Oceans. Although Chen Ran hadn't mastered the art to that extent, the bystanders couldn't help but feel trepidation in his presence.

His aura resonated at the eighth level of Yuanfu.

A deafening roar erupted as Chen Ran advanced, leaving behind a visible footprint upon impact. His palms radiated a scorching crimson hue, enveloped by a searing heat that crackled menacingly. With a swift lunge, he bore down on Qin Wentian.

"In consideration of the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan's prestige, I'll grant you one final opportunity." An ominous glint sparkled in his eyes, mirroring the intensity of the energy summoned by the Great Solar Universe Art he had mastered—an energy akin to the blazing radiance of the sun itself!