"Hehehe."
The hunched man grinned, "Kid, you're quite sharp to sense my presence."
"Who are you?" Chu Chen asked.
"You don't need to know," the hunched man sneered.
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly attacked. His withered right claw shot out, piercing fiercely towards Chu Chen's chest!
The claw moved with extreme speed.
Chu Chen didn't even have time to dodge.
Bang!
With a muffled thud, the hunched man's palm slammed heavily onto Chu Chen's chest.
Instantly, a powerful force erupted, crushing everything in its path.
It shattered Chu Chen's protective qi and sent him flying back several meters.
Chu Chen spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Huh?"
The hunched man's pupils contracted in surprise, then he let out a cold laugh and pursued.
Each of his steps covered a hundred feet, and in the blink of an eye, he was before Chu Chen!
"Little bastard, show me what else you've got."
The hunched man chuckled mockingly, "I'll show you what true pain is!"
Chu Chen's face was as pale as paper. He clutched his chest and staggered back.
"Damn it," he cursed inwardly.
"No need to struggle."
The hunched man grinned and lunged again.
"Your cultivation is two levels higher than mine, there's no way you can defeat me. I advise you to surrender obediently, and perhaps I'll consider sparing your life!"
"Trash is trash, no matter how hard you try, you'll never amount to anything."
As he spoke, his attack suddenly accelerated!
Chu Chen was shaken, coughing up blood and crashing through a wall as he was sent flying.
He gritted his teeth, enduring the tearing pain in his chest, and scrambled to his feet, fleeing rapidly!
He didn't know how he had survived.
In that instant, he had felt the aura of imminent death!
If he hadn't fled desperately, he would surely have perished.
Although he knew he would eventually be worn down like this, he had no other choice!
After all, he had too many people to care about.
He had parents, a sister, a wife, and children!
They were his only support, and he absolutely could not abandon them!
The Chu family clansmen surrounded him, their faces wearing schadenfreude smiles as they watched Chu Chen flee in disarray.
"Do you all wish to die?" Chu Chen stopped.
Chu He's gaze swept over everyone with cold indifference.
"If anyone dares to leak a single word of this, I swear your families will be damned for eternity!"
"Chu He!"
"You have such a big mouth!"
"Do you really think you're still the Chu family patriarch you once were? Have you forgotten the Chu family's ancestral teachings?"
"In the Chu family, might makes right!"
"Today, if you hand over that broken sword, we might, considering your youth and ignorance, let you go."
A middle-aged man snorted.
"That's right!"
"Hand it over! Otherwise, don't blame us for turning ruthless!"
Chu Chen's parents also chimed in, their eyes filled with fierce killing intent.
Listening to the clamoring voices around him, Chu Chen slowly closed his eyes.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the surging blood and hatred.
"I can show you the broken sword, but you have to promise me one condition."
"What condition?" everyone was stunned.
"Take good care of them!"
Chu Chen pointed to the unconscious girl on the bed, his voice resolute.
"This..." Chu He hesitated.
Chu Chen said, "This broken sword is my grandfather's personal weapon. I ask for nothing else, only that you protect them well until I return to find you."
"Your grandfather?"
The Chu family members were all startled.
Almost everyone in the Chu clan knew the story of the Chu family's ancestor, Chu Kuangsheng.
Chu He exchanged a look with his parents, then nodded.
"Agreed, but I must warn you, you'd better break free from your confinement and recover your cultivation as soon as possible! I worry that if you stay out here, something unfortunate might happen to you!"
Chu Chen said nothing. The image of the old man appeared in his mind. He believed that old man was no ordinary person!
Chu Chen secretly felt fortunate to have the memories of the Nine Nether Emperor, which had given him a slim chance of survival.
"Buzz!"
Chu Chen flicked his finger, sending the broken sword flying. It shot towards Chu He like a streak of light.
Chu He quickly reached out to catch it.
Crack.
Chu He crushed the tip of the broken sword, and at the same time, his body flashed, rushing to Chu Chen's side.
He grabbed Chu Chen's shoulder with his other hand.
"Let's go," he said in a low voice.
"Are you crazy? We'll be harming Chu Chen by doing this!" Chu Chen's mother shrieked.
"Be quiet. No matter what, Chu Chen is my grandson, and I must save him! Besides, don't you forget, back then Chu He could crush Chu Chen in martial talent. I don't think he'll lose now!" Chu He retorted.
With that, he grabbed Chu Chen's arm and leaped into the night.
"Father, Mother..."
The girl lying on the bed murmured, seemingly having heard the conversation.
"Don't worry, they will all return safely." Chu Chen sighed softly. He knew Chu Chen's parents wouldn't give up easily.
However, he hadn't told Chu Chen the specific plan. After all, the Chu family was a martial cultivation family, full of hidden talents, and if Chu He discovered it, Chu Chen would surely die!
"I have taken over a new body. This time, you will never escape me!"
"Just you wait. I will soon step into the Innate realm, and then I will refine you into a puppet to do my bidding!"
A sinister and evil voice echoed in the empty, dark courtyard, filled with malice.
Chu Chen's eyes turned cold, "Since you refuse to explain the reason, I'm not interested in knowing! Do you think I don't know? Your soul is possessed by a demon king! If I completely destroy you, even with your heaven-defying abilities, it will be useless!"
A fierce killing intent flashed in Chu Chen's eyes!
"Hahaha, I am a direct descendant of the Chu family! How can you, a mere bastard, harm me?!"
As the words fell, runes were etched onto Chu Chen's body, pinning him firmly to the ground, unable to move!
Chu Chen's face contorted in rage, roaring, but it was futile.
Moments later, Chu Chen's body was engulfed in flames, as if ignited. His flesh was scorched, and bright red blood flowed profusely.
"Ah—!"
Chu Chen roared to the sky, in excruciating pain, his eyes bloodshot.
"Kid, I must admit, you are resilient. But do you think you can do anything to my soul imprint with your current strength?"
"I advise you, before the soul imprint dissipates, to immediately kneel and beg me. Perhaps if I'm in a good mood, I might spare your miserable life!"
"You beast, you despicable and shameless wretch!"
"I curse you to never break through to the Innate realm! You will suffer the torment of ten thousand ghosts devouring your heart, unable to live, unable to die!"
Chu Chen shrieked madly.
He was indeed in immense pain. His soul was suppressed, making even breathing difficult, as if he were in purgatory. He felt his vitality draining away. These soul imprints were extremely bizarre, not only sealing his cultivation but also consuming his vital essence.