HE WHO CONQUERS ALL

Panic

"I am a disciple of the Qinglian Sect. My master, Xuan Zhen Daoist, instructed me before his passing to descend the mountain and seek a man named Su Mingshuo—"

Chu Qingyang waved his sleeve dramatically, speaking with an air of importance.

"What the hell is a Xuan Zhen Daoist?"

Su Xiao laughed mockingly, his voice edged with disdain and irritation.

"I’ve never heard of him, and where the hell did you crawl out from? Some muddy corner of the Empire?!"

"You think you can just demand to see my uncle?!"

The sheer audacity of this shabby-robed Daoist—Su Xiao found it beyond ridiculous.

"Ignorant fool."

Chu Qingyang snorted loudly, his voice booming with arrogance.

"I won’t bother lowering myself to argue with you."

Then—

He reached into his robes and pulled out a jade pendant, holding it high for all to see.

"Look closely—what do you make of this?"

The jade pendant was intricately carved with dragons and phoenixes, its mystical patterns swirling with ancient engravings—a true artifact of heritage.

Chu Qingyang had expected silence—maybe even shock—

But instead—

Laughter erupted.

"Pffft—"

"What the hell? He really thought a jade pendant would impress us?"

"This is so embarrassing. My family’s housekeeper has better jade pieces!"

"Is he from some backwater mountain village? I can’t believe this clown!"

Mockery filled the air.

Even the elite heirs—Su Xiao’s entourage—shook their heads in derisive amusement.

The prideful Chu Qingyang froze, his face turning beet red.

"T-This… This is the Qinglian Sect’s—"

He stammered, his breathing uneven—as if he was deeply offended.

How could they insult the sacred symbol of his sect?!

Su Xiao, already irritated, merely chuckled darkly and raised his hand—about to have the Daoist thrown out.

But—

Before he could gesture—

Shen Chen lifted a hand, stopping him.

"Since this little Daoist is so insistent—"

Shen Chen’s smile was faint—but his eyes glinted with intrigue.

"Why not let him meet Uncle Su?"

Everyone paused.

Then—

Someone snorted disdainfully—

"Hmph. This lunatic got lucky today."

Another quickly flattered Shen Chen—

"Ah, Young Master Shen is truly kindhearted. If it were up to us, we’d have just handed him over to the security forces."

Shen Chen watched Chu Qingyang intently—

It wasn’t kindness.

Nor was it boredom.

It was because—

He recognized that pendant.

Qinglian Sect…

A name both unfamiliar and yet deeply familiar.

The very sect that had been wiped out by the Shen family and the Imperial Court…

And now… it resurfaces here?

Had it only been that, Shen Chen wouldn’t care much.

But—

The Qinglian Sect had been closely allied with the old Imperial Family, sharing their secrets and knowledge.

And if there were still Imperial remnants hidden somewhere—

Shen Chen was extremely interested.

Even more so—

In his past life, many of the ancient, dying sects—suppressed by the noble houses—

Later rose to power during the apocalypse.

Some had produced top-tier Awakened warriors—even among humanity’s strongest ten fighters.

One such legendary figure had even stood alongside Shen Chen on the battlefield—

A warrior who single-handedly annihilated three Corpse Kings and held off an entire super-zombie horde.

Yet—

That person had never sworn loyalty to any faction, making them an untamed force.

"Interesting…"

Shen Chen’s lips curled slightly.

But it doesn’t matter.

This life—

He wouldn’t just prepare for the apocalypse.

He would find out exactly who was behind it. The true mastermind of this ‘game’.

"Heh… You arrogant fool—"

Su Xiao laughed coldly.

"Since Young Master Shen has spoken—"

"Letting you meet my uncle won’t hurt."

Though he found this Daoist annoying, Su Xiao didn’t actually believe he was entirely lying.

Maybe this ‘Xuan Zhen Daoist’ really did know his uncle.

Still—

That didn’t mean Su Xiao wasn’t going to make his life difficult first.

At that moment—

Chu Qingyang slyly took a step left—

Positioning himself so that Su Mengning came into his view once again.

"Ah…"

His eyes softened, his voice gentled—

"This beautiful fairy-like sister—could I have the honor of knowing your name?"

Instantly—

Rage flickered across everyone’s faces.

Su Mengning was their goddess—the unattainable dream of Jiangcheng’s noble youths.

They had reluctantly accepted Shen Chen’s closeness to her because he was on an entirely different level.

But this—

This shabby mountain hermit?!

The mere audacity made them want to skin him alive.

Even Su Xiao frowned, his annoyance increasing.

Does Young Master Shen not even care about this?

But—

To his disappointment—

Shen Chen still looked calm.

If anything, he seemed mildly entertained.

Before anyone else could rebuke the Daoist—

Su Mengning turned her head slightly—

"I don’t want to know you."

The entire crowd froze.

They had expected Su Xiao to lash out.

Or perhaps for Mengning’s admirers to curse the Daoist.

But they hadn’t expected—

For Su Mengning herself to personally reject him—

In such a cold, unmistakable tone.

For years, no matter how many men approached her, Su Mengning always remained distant and indifferent.

Never engaging, never rude, never harsh.

Yet today—

She had openly expressed dislike.

And just like that—

Mockery exploded—

"Where did this toad come from?"

"Absolutely disgusting—thinking he could approach Miss Mengning?"

"Know your place and go back to your mountain, you peasant!"

Chu Qingyang trembled with anger—but also…

A hint of determination.

"Why?!"

He shouted abruptly.

"Why don’t you want to know me?!"

"You’re being ridiculous!"

"Did you not hear her? She doesn’t want to know you!"

"Get lost already, you mountain bumpkin!"

Yet—

As the insults rained down, Chu Qingyang merely clenched his fists.

"Mengning… Su Mengning…"

He repeated the name in his mind, his eyes burning with obsession.

"No matter.

"You just haven’t seen what I’m capable of yet.

"Soon—

"You will be in awe of me."

"You will regret looking down on me."

"Mengning doesn’t wish to entertain you any further."

Shen Chen stepped forward, his smile unchanging.

"The Su family estate is to the east—please, proceed."

Chu Qingyang scoffed but turned away—his footsteps deliberate.

As he passed Su Mengning, he slowed slightly, his gaze lingering just a few seconds too long.

The crowd’s disgust was palpable.

Yet—

No one noticed.

That beside Shen Chen—

Su Mengning’s pupils quivered.

Unconsciously—

She shifted closer to Shen Chen.

"Chu Qingyang…"

"So he’s finally here."

A deep-seated fear clenched her heart.

Because—

He still had that thing.

And she knew—

No matter what life this was—

That thing could destroy everything.