Chapter 1543: Chapter 1538: The Battle Begins_1 Chapter 1543: Chapter 1538: The Battle Begins_1 He and Yang Chen shared a close friendship that transcended age differences. Yang Chen saving his daughter played a major part in this, along with Yang Chen’s courage.

During the battle with the Demon Race back then, everyone knew of Yang Chen’s achievements, including him.

Now, seeing Yang Chen, he smiled amiably and said, “Little friend Yang Chen, I never thought I’d find you here!”

“Junior came here specifically to meet senior.” Yang Chen replied.

“Haha, if I knew you were coming to welcome me, I would have brought Li Xuetong with me. That little girl always thinks and talks about you.” Li Lianfeng laughed heartily, clearly willing to marry his daughter to Yang Chen.

He had already discussed this matter with his daughter, and Li Ruoxiang had tacitly agreed. Unfortunately, Yang Chen’s attitude clearly went against their hopes.

Taking Li Lianfeng’s words as mere pleasantries, Yang Chen smoothly changed the topic: “Senior is joking. By the way, how much does senior know about the current situation in the Central Region?”

“Well, I know quite a bit. Most of my information comes from the communication array between Elder Xie Yun and Changsheng Emperor. Apparently, a foreign power called the Fierce Ghost Sect has emerged in the Central Region. I don’t know where they came from, but they’re really powerful, even taking over the Northern Territory Sect.” Li Lianfeng said.

“Yes, that’s true. They’re quite formidable.” Yang Chen sighed, “I hope Senior Li can help juniors and the Central Region. In return, the Royal Family is willing to offer more favorable conditions.”

“Yang Chen, you don’t have to tell me all this. The Royal Family brought you forward just to ask for a favor. Haha, in fact, even if you didn’t step forward, I would still help the Royal Family. I, Li Lianfeng, have lived this long. Besides my own daughter’s affairs, where I might resort to any means, I can clearly judge the rights and wrongs, as well as the shades of gray. If the Fierce Ghost Sect causes trouble in the Central Region and it collapses, where can I, Li Lianfeng, live comfortably? I understand the saying ‘when the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold.’ Moreover, even without the Royal Family’s relationship, how can I, Li Lianfeng, ignore the troubles of the Northern Territory Sect?” Li Lianfeng waved his hand, “As for the other conditions, there’s no need to bring them up. Just take me with you.”

Upon hearing this, Yang Chen couldn’t help but laugh. The Royal Family had made so many preparations and was willing to offer conditions to win over Li Lianfeng, but who knew that Li Lianfeng didn’t even care and didn’t plan to make any big demands, simply agreeing to help.

This magnanimity made him and the Royal Family look petty in comparison.

“Alright, Senior is right. Let’s set off now.” Yang Chen said politely.

Just as Li Lianfeng was about to leave, he suddenly frowned in confusion, “When I came here earlier, I remember that there were several mountain ranges connected. How come there’s nothing left when I come here again?”

Yang Chen had already prepared an explanation and wouldn’t expose the fact that it was the work of a foreign race. He laughed and said, “It was caused by my cultivation while Senior didn’t come. I waited here for several days and got bored.”

“Oh? I don’t know what kind of cultivation method you’ve practiced again. Alright, let’s go.” Li Lianfeng didn’t have any suspicions and left the place with Yang Chen.

About two days later, when they reappeared, Yang Chen and Li Lianfeng were already close to the Northern Territory Sect.

As they approached the Northern Territory Sect, several members of the Royal Family appeared, all of whom had reached the Spirit Plate Stage. Seeing that it was Li Lianfeng and Yang Chen coming, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

“So it’s Yang Chen and Emperor Lian Feng.” The Royal Family members at the Spirit Plate Stage said.

Li Lianfeng asked with his hands behind his back, “What’s going on? What’s the current situation?”

“The fight has already started. We were afraid that the Fierce Ghost Sect might resort to tricks, so we sent people to guard all around. Seeing the two of you arrive, we came to investigate. However, since it’s the two of you, we’ll just take you inside.” The Spirit Plate Stage emperors explained.

Yang Chen nodded upon hearing this.

Meanwhile, Li Lianfeng curiously inquired about the battle situation. The Spirit Plate Stage martial artist responded by giving a detailed account of the situation.

As Yang Chen listened carefully, just as he’d initially thought, the Fierce Ghost Sect valued this decisive battle tremendously. If they won, the Fierce Ghost Sect would gain the upper hand, and the people of the world would think that the Royal Family was on the verge of collapse, and it was time for a change of dynasties.

That’s why the Fierce Ghost Sect, under the banner of the Northern Territory Sect, widely recruited people from all walks of life. Almost half of the various sects and forces, big and small, in the entire Central Region gathered together to watch the competition.

However, the outcome of this competition was quite unfavorable for the Royal Family.

Although they had anticipated this outcome, the thing the Royal Family hadn’t expected was the unexpectedly powerful propaganda force the Fierce Ghost Sect managed to harness through the Northern Territory Sect, attracting so many people to come.

If all these people turned to support the Fierce Ghost Sect after their victory, it would be a huge problem.

As the saying goes, what you fear will come true. At present, the entire Royal Family had already lost four consecutive battles. When Yang Chen arrived, they were in the fifth battle.

“Elder Yun! Changsheng, you’re here just in time!” Elder Xie Yun and Changsheng Emperor laughed heartily when they saw Yang Chen and Li Lianfeng arrive.

Li Lianfeng said amiably, “When the Royal Family is in trouble, I am willing to contribute.”

“Oh? Thank you so much.” Elder Xie Yun and Changsheng Emperor expressed their gratitude after a pause when they heard Li Lianfeng’s straightforward words.

With Li Lianfeng saying this, it meant he was willing to help them.

As a result, Elder Xie Yun and Changsheng Emperor were very grateful towards Yang Chen, assuming he had persuaded Li Lianfeng to help them.

Yang Chen, however, was not paying attention to this. Instead, his gaze was fixed on the woman beside Elder Xie Yun and Changsheng Emperor.

That woman was none other than Hua Wanru.

Hua Wanru was wearing white clothes, still as cold and silent as ever.

When Yang Chen looked at her, she also looked at him, perhaps sensing the change in Yang Chen’s aura. Hua Wanru’s pupils shrank, and her face showed a hint of astonishment.

Soon, her calm, red lips parted slightly, and she said, “Congratulations on reaching the Spirit Plate Stage.”

“Sect Leader Hua is too kind. How can I, Yang Chen, be worthy of your congratulations?” Yang Chen didn’t spare Hua Wanru another glance, just turned his face away and focused on the battle between the Royal Family and the Fierce Ghost Sect.

Upon hearing this, Hua Wanru narrowed her eyes. Her beautiful face showed a hint of complex emotions and expressions that others couldn’t guess.

Seeing how Yang Chen and Hua Wanru obviously harbored mutual animosity, even a fool could tell that something must have happened between them.

However, since both sides were not easy to provoke, these emperors pretended not to know anything.

Elder Xie Yun and Changsheng Emperor quickly changed the subject, laughing and saying, “Right now, in this battle, it’s our Royal Family’s Zhang Jiefeng against the Fierce Ghost Sect’s Hedu–a match-up between two Golden Venerables.”