CHAPTER 427: CHAPTER 373: RESOLUTION

Outside the Secret Realm, the high-ranking members of Golden Radiance City were mostly gathered at the exit.

Zhang Tianming looked at the restless Su Jingsong and said with a smile: "Old Su, I think you shouldn’t persist anymore. Your headquarters treats you like this, so why bother? Do you really think that just five people can seize the Key? Besides, you’re bringing along a dead weight at the mid-Monarch level."

Su Jingsong’s face turned a few shades darker upon hearing this. He coldly glanced at Zhang Tianming and said in a deep voice, "Whether we can get the Key doesn’t depend on numbers. I don’t need to tell you how dangerous a Fifth-Level Secret Realm is. The more people, the more casualties."

"What do you mean by that, are you cursing us?"

"Humph, drop the small-minded tricks. None of us are fools; we won’t be easily swayed by you."

At this moment, the exit of the Secret Realm suddenly flickered with starry light. Seeing this, the two of them lost the intention to continue arguing and focused their attention on the exit.

Amidst the flickering starlight, a somewhat juvenile-looking young man was the first to step out of the exit.

Seeing this, Su Jingsong immediately showed a look of joy. Chu Chen was brought by Ying Wenjie. If something happened to him, it wouldn’t be easy to explain to the other party.

Behind Chu Chen were Su Lingyun and Xiang Junyou.

Seeing them, Su Jingsong’s smile grew wider. He was immensely pleased to see his daughter safe.

At this point, Zhang Tianming sneered, "Your Cyan Dragon Daoist School probably escaped ahead of time."

The crowd turned their gaze to Chu Chen and his companions.

The exit of the Secret Realm can only be opened in two ways. The first is to use the Key to open it.

The second is for it to open automatically when the time is up.

Chu Chen and the others returned just as the Secret Realm was ending, which led to speculation among everyone.

Chu Chen glanced at Zhang Tianming with indifference, then raised the Key in his hand and said, "This may disappoint Director Zhang." After saying this, he ignored Zhang Tianming and walked toward Su Jingsong.

Zhang Tianming was left speechless, his face flushed, fists clenched, with a cold killing intent in his eyes.

However, with so many people around, he had to suppress his anger.

At this point, Chu Tianyu and others also started emerging from the Secret Realm’s exit.

Only then did the high-ranking members of Golden Radiance City realize something was amiss.

A hundred people entered, yet only twenty came back.

The crowd urgently questioned the survivors about what had happened inside the Secret Realm.

After learning the truth, the high-ranking members of Golden Radiance City cast grateful glances at Chu Chen.

The killing intent in Zhang Tianming’s heart had already vanished completely. How could a genius like Chu Chen come for training alone? He must have strong protectors with him.

Since he couldn’t eliminate him, he had to make sure Chu Chen wouldn’t hold a grudge against him.

Thinking of this, Zhang Tianming quickly approached Chu Chen, took a wooden box out of his Spatial Ring, and said, "So, you must be young friend Chu Chen. Thank you for helping us this time. There were some misunderstandings earlier; I hope you won’t mind. This item I happened upon by chance and today I present it to you."

Looking at Zhang Tianming’s somewhat stiff face, Chu Chen had no intention of making things difficult for him.

After taking the wooden box, Chu Chen said in a serious tone, "Regarding the branch school, Director Zhang need not trouble about it in the future. I’ll gladly accept this item."

Hearing this, Zhang Tianming breathed a sigh of relief and quickly waved his hand, "Rest assured, young friend."

After a few perfunctory exchanges, Zhang Tianming hastily left with the talents nurtured by the Daoist School.

Watching them leave, Su Jingsong coldly remarked, "That old fox really got off easy."

Chu Chen opened the wooden box and found inside an upper-grade gold attribute Heavenly and Earthly Treasure.

The other party had indeed made some effort, so he didn’t lose out.

"Director Su, we should head back as well. The Star Beast side was wiped out this time; won’t they become desperate?"

Su Jingsong waved his hand, "They won’t. This matter has been agreed upon by both parties’ higher-ups, so they won’t dare to break the rules."

Upon hearing this, Chu Chen felt assured.

On the way back to the city, Chu Chen handed the Key to Su Jingsong and mentioned his intention to allocate part of his share to Su Lingyun.

After everyone returned to the Cyan Dragon Daoist School, Chu Chen received a message from Ying Wenjie on his Communication Bracelet.

"Come see me, the branch school issue has been clarified."

Learning that there was progress, Chu Chen promptly headed to Ying Wenjie’s room.

"Come in."

Chu Chen pushed the door open and found that the other seemed to have just finished cultivating.

"How was the trip to the Secret Realm?" Ying Wenjie asked.

"It went smoothly, just that the Secret Realm was too difficult..."

Through Chu Chen’s account, Ying Wenjie’s expression gradually turned gloomy.

The ones who died in the Secret Realm were talents nurtured by the Alliance, all of whom had reached the Monarch-level peak and were seeds for King level.

The fall of each one was a significant loss for the Alliance.

"I didn’t expect this trip to the Secret Realm to be so perilous. If it weren’t for your strength, the entire Golden Radiance City might have been wiped out," Ying Wenjie said gravely.

After understanding what happened in the Secret Realm, Ying Wenjie then brought up the Golden Radiance branch issue.

Through discussions with Ying Wenjie, Chu Chen finally learned the entire story.

Su Jingsong’s father, named Su Ruxuan, was an elder of the Cyan Dragon Daoist School but had perished exploring a Secret Realm twenty years ago.

Su Ruxuan had an adversary within the Alliance named Liang Wentao, who was also an elder of the Cyan Dragon Daoist School.

After Su Ruxuan’s death, Su Family naturally suffered suppression from Liang Wentao.

With no choice, the then-young Su Jingsong had to take his family to a remote town to make a living.

Though Liang Wentao and Su Ruxuan were adversaries, it didn’t reach the point of total eradication. After forcing Su Jingsong to leave, he didn’t continue targeting them.

However, Su Jingsong had shown good talent and, after awakening his Soul Power, received careful nurturing from his father.

Even in a small remote city, he quickly achieved success, and his strength progressed rapidly.

It took only a few years for him to be noticed by the headquarters and eventually transferred to Golden Radiance City as the head of the branch.

Unfortunately, his good fortune didn’t last long, as Liang Wentao soon noticed him. He didn’t want Su Jingsong to become another Su Ruxuan.

Hence, he began to suppress him.

"What’s your take on this matter?" Ying Wenjie asked suddenly.

Hearing this, Chu Chen shook his head and replied, "I don’t quite understand, but it seems to be a personal feud that shouldn’t lead to major consequences. What’s your view, Teacher?"

"The Director doesn’t want to punish him severely, but he has been warned, and he promised to return all withheld resources and stop suppressing the Su Family," Ying Wenjie said with a serious tone.

Chu Chen nodded, "Elder Liang is an Emperor-level expert, a pillar of our Daoist School. I can understand why Teacher acted as you did."

Ying Wenjie patted Chu Chen’s shoulder and said, "Things aren’t as simple as you think. Liang Wentao’s actions harm the interests of our Cyan Dragon Daoist School. If word spreads, it will have a very negative effect on the Daoist School and lead to the loss of many talents, and the Golden Radiance branch is a prime example."

"Then why wasn’t he severely punished?"

"He has been an elder for decades and has extensive connections. Even the Director can’t easily move against him."

"I understand. As long as he stops suppressing Su Jingsong, that’s enough. I believe with his abilities; the Golden Radiance branch will soon return to its former glory."