A Dish Best Served Cold (The Man In Rage)

Chapter 2245 Battle At Mount Yan

"Everyone here should recognize who I am. I'm Ye Qingtian, War God, and the leader of the six pillars of China. Over the years, I've fought alongside you all, overcoming countless challenges and hardships together. I'm fortunate to have been born in this country and to have so many outstanding and respectable compatriots. It is my love for this nation that has always driven me to do everything in my power to protect it and its people. The long-lasting stability and prosperity of China is the dream I've dedicated my life to achieving. That is why my comrades and I established War God Castle and accepted Moryana's suggestion to initiate Dragon Gate Project, all in the hope of making our nation stronger.

"In pursuit of that goal, I even injured a friend and turned a blind eye when my friend needed help the most. I didn't regret it then, as I believed I was siding with the people and the country's greater good. Any sacrifice was worth it as long as my ideals were not compromised. However, I've gradually come to realize that I might've been wrong. Like many martial artists seeking power, I, Ye Qingtian, seemed to have been blinded by the sudden surge of strength.

"That's right. What I'm talking about is Dragon Gate Project. Like all of you, I once believed that the appearance of the Dragon Gate in China was a blessing, an opportunity for our people to get stronger. However, I gradually discovered that it had led us astray from the true path of martial arts. Acquiring power isn't an overnight feat. Relying on external forces to artificially accelerate growth will only lead to self-destruction!

"I will now share some alarming statistics with you. In Western Epea, of the last batch of fifty participants who trained in Dragon Gate, half perished within Dragon Gate. Of those who survived, another half died within three days because their meridians exploded. The situation in Smealand was even more tragic. Out of a hundred participants, only ten survived. Moreover, even those ten suffered varying degrees of damage to their meridians due to the forced infusion of power, rendering any further advancement in their cultivation in this lifetime hopeless."

Atop Mount Yan, Ye Qingtian revealed those shocking statistics to the crowd while wearing a grimace.

"T-That can't be true, right? Did you make a mistake, War God? Dragon Gate is strongly promoted by The Great Four on Empyrean Ranking. Are you saying Moryana and the others wish to harm us?"

"That's right. The first few batches of participants are doing fine, aren't they? Wangtou and Li managed to attain the Supreme realm!"

Everyone was astounded after hearing Ye Qingtian's words. Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.

His speech had undoubtedly caused an uproar among the crowd.

The throng was astonished and in disbelief.

Chen Jiuzhou had been listening to Ye Qingtian absentmindedly initially, not paying much attention.

However, he soon realized Ye Qingtian seemed to be criticizing Dragon Gate Project, which alarmed him greatly.

"Ye Qingtian, what nonsense are you spouting? Shut up!" Chen Jiuzhou bellowed.

Ye Qingtian ignored him and continued speaking. "I understand that what I've said may be difficult for you all to accept at once, but please believe me. I can guarantee with my integrity that every word I've mentioned is true. Dragon Gate is no longer a gateway to power or opportunity; it has become a gateway to hell and a doorway to death. I cannot stand idly by and watch my compatriots march to their doom. Therefore, I declare that the Dragon Gate training will be permanently suspended after today!"

"B*stard, you're courting death!" Ye Qingtian's final words thoroughly enraged Chen Jiuzhou.

Wasting no more breath, he stomped the ground and thrust a vicious palm strike at Ye Qingtian as he charged forward.

"Be careful, Ye! Retreat quickly!" Sword Saint yelled anxiously while King of Fighters stared worryingly at the scene before him.

Still, Ye Qingtian didn't dodge. He stood rooted to his spot like a pillar on the highest point of China, supporting the weight of the sky. Retreat? There's no way out left for me. If I fall back, who will defend China? I had Ye Fan to back me up in the past, but they had driven him to his death. Now, I'm the only one left to fight for our nation. Therefore, I must stop Dragon Gate Project from continuing no matter what.

Boom!

With a loud thud, Chen Jiuzhou's palm struck Ye Qingtian's back squarely.

Ye Qingtian remained unmoving, but he couldn't help but spew out a mouthful of blood.

Nevertheless, with blood trickling down the corner of his mouth and a sorrowful expression spread across his face, Ye Qingtian still stood atop Mount Yan and shouted, "China's martial artists, it's time to wake up! Power doesn't fall from the sky or come as a gift from others. Instead, we must earn it through diligent cultivation, taking one step at a time. Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. There are no shortcuts to success, and even less so to becoming an elite martial artist. It's time to wake up from this dream, everyone. Quit fantasizing about Dragon Gate being capable of enhancing your abilities in a short period. Dragon Gate Project must not be allowed to continue."

Boom!

Another palm strike came crashing down.

Chen Jiuzhou wore a frosty expression as he attacked Ye Qingtian again.

This time, Ye Qingtian could no longer withstand the blow.

His body shuddered, and he spat out another mouthful of blood.

Then, he was sent flying backward.

"How dare you interfere with my plans, you old fool! Since you're so against entering Dragon Gate, as the Hall Master, I will personally send you in today!"

Chen Jiuzhou was beside himself with rage, and his eyes glinted coldly and menacingly.

He moved forward, grabbed Ye Qingtian with one hand, and hurled the latter in the direction of Dragon Gate.

However, at that critical moment, Sword Saint and King of Fighters stepped up and positioned themselves before Dragon Gate, catching Ye Qingtian.

"What's the matter? Ye Qingtian is seeking death. Are you two tired of living too?" Chen Jiuzhou narrowed his eyes at Sword Saint and King of Fighters.

Malice filled his voice as he threatened them.

"King of Fighters, Sword Saint, set me down. What happens today has nothing to do with you."

Ye Qingtian steadied himself and stood up straight once again.

He pushed Sword Saint and King of Fighters away to face Chen Jiuzhou alone.

"Chen Jiuzhou, you are acting willfully and arrogantly, treating your compatriots' lives as if they are insignificant! As China's protector, how can I allow you to behave as you please?"

Ye Qingtian's furious roar reverberated as an overwhelming aura burst forth from within him.

Qi surged within his meridians, and blood boiled in his body.

An intense battle spirit shot toward the sky.

Seeing that, Chen Jiuzhou laughed. "Hahaha! Do you think you're capable of passing judgment on me? All of you can't even defeat Chu Tianfan, so what makes you think you're a match for me? If you all joined forces with Chu Tianfan to fight against me when he was alive, perhaps I would find this a little challenging. But now that Chu Tianfan is dead, no one in China is strong enough to oppose me! Even the combined force of you three pillars of China cannot endure a single strike from me!"

Chen Jiuzhou's eyes were filled with wantonness and haughtiness. That's right. I've been acting more domineeringly and unscrupulously since Ye Fan died. War God and even all of China's martial artists are no different from my plaything.

While Chen Jiuzhou was hooting with laughter, Ye Qingtian had already taken action, fiercely thrusting out a Heavenly Palm strike.

Chen Jiuzhou didn't even attempt to dodge and casually countered with a move of his own.

Boom!

With a burst of energy, Chen Jiuzhou was sent flying by Ye Qingtian's attack.

"Damn it! What kind of palm technique is that?" Chen Jiuzhou got to his feet, looking somewhat comical with dirt covering his face.

Nonetheless, the confusion reflected on his countenance was greater than the wrath churning within his chest.

Apparently, he hadn't expected the power Ye Qingtian unleashed with that palm strike earlier would far surpass his cultivation realm.