Jiang Huai's descent was like dropping a giant stone into a pool of still water.
The majestic pressure radiating from his entire being was vast as the sea, heavy as a mountain.
That law aura unique to a Saint Realm great power instantly seized the hearts and minds of everyone present.
Especially those high-level cultivators who had been watching with an entertained attitude.
The playfulness and ease on their faces were finally replaced by genuine astonishment.
"Saint Realm?! Such pure Saint Realm pressure... definitely not a false realm or borrowed power!"
An elder with white whiskers from an ancient sect had his pupils contract.
He whispered to his companion nearby:
"Such a young Saint Lord... this Upper Realm Jiang family is clearly not to be underestimated."
"Tsk, I thought this was just some silk-pants scion from the Upper Realm, putting on airs relying on his family background."
Another leader of a great sect also had his expression grow several degrees more grave.
"Didn't expect there to be some real teeth behind it. A Saint Lord personally descending—that weight is an entirely different matter."
Saint Realm cultivators were already legendary existences in the Xuanying Continent.
They were capable of looking down upon all living things.
With a single thought, they could determine the rise and fall of countless sects.
Jiang Huai's unreserved display of power was truly impactful.
It instantly overturned many people's initial impression that "the one from the Upper Realm is just a paper tiger."
However, this surprise and gravity lasted only a brief moment.
These knowledgeable, well-informed high-level cultivators quickly exchanged glances.
The curve of anticipation returned to their lips, even deeper than before.
"A Saint Realm may be powerful, capable of suppressing this age... but, as they say!"
Someone murmured in an almost inaudible voice, his tone carrying a hint of schadenfreude.
"This place is at the foot of the Immortal Spirit Holy Land."
"Indeed, the one in Immortal Spirit City is truly able to remain in the Lower Realm... an Immortal Lord!"
This thought was like an anchor, quickly settling the hearts of all who knew the truth.
No matter how powerful a Saint Realm was, it had not yet transcended the mortal realm.
But an Immortal Lord was an existence that had already touched the fundamental laws of heaven and earth.
There was an essential difference between the two.
Given that Upper Realm Immortal Lords could not truly descend into this realm in person, a Saint Realm could indeed run rampant.
But the place he had descended upon happened to be the domain of that Immortal Lord!
This made the situation before them extremely delicate and... something to look forward to.
In the arena, Jiang Huai fully enjoyed the shock, awe, and even fear within countless gazes.
The supreme sense of authority brought by this power made his heart swell with gratification and pride to the utmost.
As if all the foul air pent up for years had been expelled in one morning.
He had endured for years, schemed carefully, climbed to the Saint Realm at any cost.
For what?
Wasn't it to forever trample Jiang Che underfoot?
Wasn't it to stand in the clouds, looking down upon this "genius" who had once suppressed him at every turn?
Especially now, appearing before Jiang Che, whose cultivation was far inferior to his own.
With the posture of an absolute powerhouse!
This crushing, vengeful pleasure nearly made him want to look up to the sky and howl!
But he understood human nature deeply.
The perfect image of kindness, humility, and consideration for the greater good that he had meticulously cultivated over the years absolutely could not collapse at this moment.
He forcefully suppressed the ecstasy and triumph nearly spilling from his eyes.
A just-right expression of heartache and helplessness surfaced on his face.
His gaze fell upon Jiang Che.
His voice, gentle yet carrying a condescending tolerance and unquestionable authority, rang out.
Like an elder brother whose heart had been wounded by his younger brother yet still chose to forgive:
"Jiang Che."
He spoke, his voice steady, spreading in all directions.
"I know that you may harbor grudges against me, perhaps even resentment. As your elder brother, I can understand and accept all of this. After all, we are connected by blood—we are the closest of brothers."
His tone shifted, becoming heavy with reproach.
His gaze swept across the ashen-faced Jiang Rushan and the sobbing Li Mengdie nearby:
"But! Look at what you've driven your father and mother to! Your father is furious to this extent, your mother is heartbroken! As a son, causing your parents such worry and pain—this is unfilial! This is a grave transgression!"
He took a slight step forward.
His posture set low, yet his words were like a final ultimatum.
Carrying a bestowing sort of "mercy":
"Take my advice—let bygones be bygones, and nothing more needs to be pursued. As long as you kneel right now and kowtow to our parents to acknowledge your mistakes, swearing to henceforth fulfill your filial duties and behave yourself."
"I guarantee in the name of the Jiang family head that all past offenses will be forgiven. The doors of the Jiang family will remain open to you, and we will still be brothers."
These words, grand and righteous, brimming with deep affection and righteousness.
Instantly cast him as the perfect image of one who had endured humiliation, considered the greater good of the family, and done everything humanly possible.
Meanwhile, all the fault and pressure had been skillfully shifted onto Jiang Che.
Nailing him to the pillar of shame for unfilial conduct and defiance, in need of forgiveness.
To the side, Ji Yunshu's face was pale as paper.
Her fingernails dug deep into her palms.
She wanted to step forward, to loudly tell everyone the truth, to expose Jiang Huai's hypocritical mask.
But that Saint Realm pressure, vast as the sea, was like an invisible shackle.
It choked her throat.
It made her whole body turn cold.
She was unable to produce even a single sound.
The glances Jiang Huai occasionally cast her way—cold as a venomous snake's.
They made her feel as if she'd fallen into an ice cave.
Fear penetrated to her very marrow.
In this suffocating silence, shrouded by the majesty of the Saint Realm—
"You people, why is it that every time you meet someone, you either demand they kneel and apologize, or you rush up to slap them?!"
A clear, melodious female voice, carrying obvious indignation.
Suddenly rang out like lightning piercing through thick, dark clouds.
Breaking this oppressive silence!
Everyone froze.
Almost unable to believe their ears.
They looked in the direction of the sound with utmost astonishment.
At the front of the crowd, a young girl in a pale pink dress with stunning features had somehow stepped forward.
It was Xi Yan.
At this moment, her lovely face was flushed red from excitement and anger.
Her pair of clear, beautiful eyes were wide.
She fearlessly pointed at Jiang Huai, Jiang Rushan, and the others.
Her voice, though trembling slightly with nervousness, was remarkably clear:
"You keep going on about filial piety, brotherhood, being one family—it sounds so reasonable, like you're so aggrieved! But clearly you're the ones who were biased first! You didn't reason fairly first! You bullied people first!"
"And now you put on this victim act, joining forces to force someone to admit their mistakes? Where in the world is there such logic?! You're the ones who are being unreasonable!"
Her words were positively earth-shattering!
At a time when Saint Realm pressure shrouded the entire venue.
When even many Long Life Realm big shots were secretly trembling, not daring to easily speak out.
She, a young girl who appeared to have modest cultivation, delicate and soft.
Had the audacity to speak so directly, hitting the nail on the head.
Criticizing a Saint Lord and his family?!
This courage!
This recklessness!
This... inappropriately naive innocence!
Even Chen Xingcai beside her first blinked her lively large eyes in surprise.
Then the corner of her lips curled up into an extremely amused and appreciative smile.
She watched her with a grin.
However, the moment the words left her mouth, Xi Yan herself was dumbfounded.
Intense regret, like a tidal wave, instantly drowned all her courage.
'I'm done for, done for, done for!'
She screamed in her heart.
Her small face instantly went from flushed red to deathly pale.
'Did my brain get squeezed by a door?! How could I step forward and speak?! The one across is a Saint Realm cultivator! A true Saint Lord! One finger could grind me to powder! What kind of justice warrior am I pretending to be?! Master save me! This time I'm really dead!'
She subconsciously tried to shrink back behind Chen Xingcai.
Wishing she could dig a hole in the ground right there and crawl in.
Or that time could reverse back to a few seconds ago.
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