Many cloud pillars lifted it up from the ground. There were elites of different sects on the stage, sitting and drinking together.
But everyone was embarrassed.
Many cultivators drank wine and glanced at the young man in the middle of the stage at the same time. They had never thought the one who sat there would be someone they were expecting to kill easily. This young man became superior in a blink, just like a myth.
“The Elixir Monarch… Chen Beixuan,” Wu Shan said.
He had never thought that Chen Fan was actually Chen Beixuan.
Moments before, Chen Fan was still a Connate Cultivator he could do anything to, and right then, he was sitting at the top and Wu Shan could only look at him from afar. Chen Fan could make him yield with just a word and was even as superior as his Senior.
“Damn it. Why does Xiao Mang have such a brother?”
Wu Shan was furious.
He felt that it was impossible for him to get revenge.
He looked at Xiao Hong and saw Xiao Hong shaking his head, which made him angrier.
As for the Ghost Underworld Sect, they had completely lost their face. Gui Mingzi, an elite of the Longevity Roll, bowed and apologized to Chen Fan. The Sect Master even greeted Chen Fan at the stairs. A Heavenly Sect was being stepped on by an Alchemist.
Some disciples of the Ghost Underworld Sect yelled, “Master, so we’re just going to give up?”
“Calm down. We may still have a chance,” the Sect Master of the Ghost Underworld Sect said as he narrowed his eyes. Sect Master Fu was completely enraged.
“An Elixir Monarch may be comparable to a Heavenly Lord, but he’s not a real one after all. If Chen Beixuan doesn’t become a Heavenly Alchemist, we’ll have nothing to worry about.
“Besides, we’re not the only ones who hold grudges against him. The higher he stands, the harder he falls.”
“What if… he becomes a Heavenly Alchemist?” a disciple asked.
“Bulls**t! If he really becomes a Heavenly Alchemist, we’ll just run as far as we can and stay away from him. The Ghost Underworld Sect will avoid and respect him!” Sect Master Fu struck his disciple, sending him off the stage.
Everyone remained silent.
Not only the Ghost Underworld Sect.
The Demon-suppressing Heavenly Sect, the Heavenly Jade Institute, the Liyang Heavenly Region, the Red Fire Heavenly Region… Many Sect Masters and elders sat there and stared at Chen Fan.
Chen Fan was powerful and the Elixir Monarch was famous.
But this wasn’t enough to frighten the Heavenly Sects. After all, they all had a real Nascent Soul Cultivator behind them.
“An Elixir Monarch isn’t enough to beat us all…” the elder of Heavenly Jade Institute grunted.
At the same time.
On the stage.
Jun Aochen was sitting by Chen Fan’s left, while the Grand Elder was on the right. These two people didn’t seem to know Chen Fan and they basically remained silent, only nodding at each other.
Many people felt something was wrong there.
“You must ask your brother to be careful.”
Hua Nonyin reminded Xiao Mang.
In fact, as the banquet approached the end, the atmosphere got weider. The air became heavier and people’s voices got softer. Everyone seemed like they cared the most about Shenxi, but they were actually focusing their attention on the stage.
“Elixir Monarch Chen and the elites don’t seem to have a good relationship. They’re not talking to one another at all,” everyone commented.
“That’s right. Even the Grand Elder is ignoring him.”
“Elixir Monarch is just a title. Does he really think he’s a Heavenly Lord who can make a Heavenly Sect yield? The Ghost Underworld Sect and the Reincarnation Sect aren’t like the Feng family.”
Someone sneered.
Clever people could see.
Chen Fan was like a Buddha being worshiped right then. Even so, nobody respected him in reality. They would definitely fall out with him if necessary.
After three rounds of wine.
The Grand Elder put down the glass.
“Cling!”
This was like a signal. Everyone went silent and looked at this superior figure of the Reincarnation Sect.
Lin Shan got up and said slowly, “Thank you all for coming to support our Goddess Shenxi and to witness the formation of a divine grade Golden Core. At such a grand event, we certainly need to have some battles to see who’s the most powerful cultivator. We’ve prepared a prize for you. It may not be as precious as Elixir Monarch Chen’s superior-grade Heavenly Pills, but it’s in fact a Quasi-Heavenly Treasure.”
Everyone knew the highlight of the banquet was coming.
In the Realm of Cultivation, the most powerful Overlords stood at the top. At such a banquet, elites from all over the planet had gathered. They all disliked one another, so they were always ready to fight. The organizer would also prepare some Dharma Treasures or Spirit Medicines as prizes.
Although the Elixir Monarch was superior, a leader like Lin Shan was more trusted.
But nobody had thought the Reincarnation Sect would give away a Quasi-Heavenly Treasure this time.
“That’s a Quasi-Heavenly Treasure! Even a Heavenly Lord Family would only have a couple of them. This is indeed the Reincarnation Sect,” the cultivators exclaimed.
“Ah, this Quasi-Heavenly Treasure must be Jun Aochen’s. If Li Huaixian doesn’t show up, nobody can be more powerful than Jun Aochen,” someone said.
Most people nodded.
But someone refuted, “Not necessarily. Xiao Hong and Gu Xiaoyi haven’t joined any battle in the last decades. Who knows how powerful they’ve become after all these years? On the other hand, Chen Beixuan once exterminated a family by himself. He might be as strong as Jun Aochen.”
Some knew the reason behind it and they shook their heads.
“Chen Beixuan is in trouble.”
Right after that.
Someone flew to the sky with a sword and yelled, “Lichen, the Tianxuan Sword Prince, is challenging Elixir Monarch Chen Beixuan. Please enlighten me.”
Everyone was confused.
Lichen had lost to Chen Fan once. He couldn’t even beat Chen Fan with three other cultivators back then. Why would he challenge Chen Fan again?
But then, the second, third, forth cultivator shot to the sky one after another and shouted.
“Gongsun Kui from the Gongsun family is challenging Elixir Monarch Chen.”
“Gui Mingzi from the Ghost Underworld Sect is challenging Elixir Monarch Chen.”
“Liyang Sword Lord is challenging Elixir Monarch Chen.”
“Red Fire Heavenly Region…”
Eight cultivators flew into the sky and stood in the air, forming a semi-circle. Every one of them was an elite of a Heavenly Region with a position in the Longevity Roll. They were all challenging Chen Fan at the same time.
While people were in shock—
Xiao Hong got up and yelled, “Xiao Hong from the Demon-suppressing Heavenly Sect is challenging Elixir Monarch Chen.”
Then, Xiao Hong turned into a beam of light and shot to the middle of the eight cultivators. The nine of them surrounded the Divine Stage, looking cold and fierce.
“What… What does that mean?”
Countless people were dumbfounded.
The elites of the Longevity Roll were superior. There hadn’t been nine elites challenging one at the same time. Did this even comply with the rules?
“Not just one elite, but nine. The person they’re challenging isn’t Jun Aochen as well, but the famous Elixir Monarch Chen Beixuan.”
An old cultivator shook his head and sighed. “The title of Elixir Monarch might sound good, but the consequences are here.”
Many people still didn’t understand.
But the clever ones had already realized it and they looked at Chen Fan with eyes filled with pity.
“What’s going on?”
Xiao Mang was startled.
Elder Yuelon heaved a sigh and said, “This is something he must endure. The more famous you are, the more responsibilities you have. You can’t get away from it.”
Xiao Mang and the others didn’t understand.
But someone explained to them.
Nine cultivators challenging one certainly didn’t comply with the rules, but what about when juniors challenged a senior or when Golden Core Cultivators challenged a Nascent Soul Cultivator? They could work together for sure, or they would never be able to fight back.
“Even though Elixir Monarch Chen isn’t a Nascent Soul Cultivator, he’s being treated like one.”
Zhang Dongshan jeered at Chen Fan with a smile.
People around, including Lin Xiao, finally realized why the Grand Elder treated Chen Fan like a Heavenly Lord and allowed him to sit at the top. He had a plan.
“Their real intention is finally revealed.”
Since Chen Fan was welcomed as a Heavenly Lord, they would certainly treat him like one.
The nine elites of the Longevity Roll seemed unbeatable, but they were weak in front of a Heavenly Lord… However, Chen Fan wasn’t a Heavenly Lord. He only got the title of Elixir Monarch with his Alchemy Arts.
“Looks like Chen Beixuan is going to suffer.”
Many people lowered their heads and sighed.
Hua Nonyin and Xiao Mang looked at Chen Fan with a worried face.
On the stage.
Chen Fan was still sitting expressionlessly.
The Deputy Sect Master of Heavenly Jade Institute said, “You’re an Elixir Monarch who can compare to a Heavenly Lord. Now that these juniors are challenging you, you should show them what you’ve got. Teach them something and let people know the power of an Elixir Monarch.”
“Right, you should be able to deal with those cultivators easily,” said the elder of the Red Flame Heavenly Region.
The elders of the Demon-suppressing Heavenly Sect and the Ethereal Heavenly Sect also spoke.
In the end, the Sect Master of the Ghost Underworld Sect snickered.
“Elixir Monarch Chen, are you scared? If you are, just give us the gifts and apologize to us. We might spare your life.”
Even the Grand Elder, Lin Shan, said, “Elixir Monarch Chen, you can’t reject our juniors. Otherwise, your reputation will be damaged. It’ll be difficult to deal with.”
Then, the entire Divine Stage went in silence.
Everyone looked at Chen Fan and waited for his decision.
Attack.
Facing nine elites and one of the top ten cultivators of the Longevity Roll, even Jun Aochen were no match for them.
Fall back.
Chen Fan would lose his reputation. No matter how strong he was, he wouldn’t be able to resist the elders of the Heavenly Sects.
None of those choices looked good for him.
Chen Fan had been backed into a corner.
Under everyone’s attention—
Chen Fan put down the glass and said calmly, “Nine? That’s too few. All of you should step in together. I’m in a hurry.”
Those who heard him were completely stunned.