Chapter 145: Passing the Test and Being Recognized as a Grandson-in-Law

Instantly, Chu Tian’s brows furrowed deeply.

He immediately raised his arms to shield his upper body.

Bang!

Long Sihai’s strike carried immense, overwhelming momentum, instantly slamming into Chu Tian’s arms and triggering a violent surge of True Qi aftershocks.

Unable to withstand the terrifying pressure of the blow, Chu Tian’s posture instantly sank.

His legs shattered the stone beneath him, plunging deep into the earth.

Yet Long Sihai’s force continued to press down relentlessly, as if he intended to crush Chu Tian into dust entirely.

Clearly, both of their cultivation realms were maintained at the peak of the Martial Venerable stage, yet the strength displayed by each was as vastly different as heaven and earth.

For the very first time, Chu Tian felt a sense of utter helplessness—a suffocating despair of facing an invincible enemy!

When confronting Situ Wudi earlier, it was only natural, as Situ Wudi was a Martial Saint whose power far surpassed Chu Tian’s current level.

But now, even though Long Sihai had suppressed his realm, Chu Tian still found himself completely unable to defeat him, dealing a massive psychological blow to Chu Tian.

Despite both being at the peak of the Martial Venerable realm, Chu Tian’s Devouring Demonic Art proved utterly useless, leaving him trapped in a passive defensive state where he was beaten down continuously.

Worse still, Chu Tian could clearly sense that Long Sihai was holding back.

If Long Sihai had exerted just a fraction more force with his foot, it would have been enough to shatter Chu Tian’s arms in an instant, stripping him of any ability to resist.

In other words, even when restricted to the peak Martial Venerable realm, killing Chu Tian would be an effortless task for Long Sihai.

More and more, Chu Tian felt that his cultivation speed after his rebirth was simply far too slow.

In truth, it wasn't that his strength was lacking; at merely eighteen years of age, he was already invincible among his peers—a truly heaven-defying feat.

It was just that attempting to surpass the absolute powerhouses of the older generation was something other peerless geniuses wouldn't even dare to imagine.

"Chu Tian, considering that you once saved my granddaughter, I will give you one more chance!"

"As long as you are willing to stay away from Tianjiao and never see her again, this old man can spare your life!"

Pressing his foot down on Chu Tian’s arms, Long Sihai spoke in a voice devoid of any emotion.

It seemed that if Chu Tian refused his terms, he would truly crush Chu Tian’s arms the very next moment and end his life.

Yet Chu Tian gritted his teeth, his gaze resolute and unyielding.

"In your dreams!"

Veins bulged on Chu Tian’s forehead as he struggled bitterly to hold his ground.

Even driven to such a desperate corner by Long Sihai, he would never utter words about staying away from his Fifth Senior Sister.

"Courting death!"

Long Sihai’s voice deepened, and the pressure from his foot increased once more.

Boom!

In an instant, Chu Tian felt as though he were bearing the weight of ten thousand junks, and his arms could no longer sustain Long Sihai’s overwhelming suppression.

His body buckled further, and he was forced down onto one knee against the ground.

Had Long Sihai applied just a bit more strength, Chu Tian wouldn't merely be kneeling on one knee; he would have been slammed flat onto the earth.

The disparity in their strength was insurmountable, a gulf that even Chu Tian could not bridge!

"Chu Tian, are you truly not afraid of death?"

Suddenly, Long Sihai softened his tone, his voice hiding any hint of anger or pleasure.

"Of course I'm afraid of death, but even if I die, I will never abandon my Fifth Senior Sister!"

Gritting his teeth, Chu Tian replied with unyielding resolve.

Suddenly, Chu Tian let out a roar, unleashing an unprecedented surge of potential from deep within his body that actually blasted Long Sihai backward through the air.

Landing on the ground, Long Sihai stared at Chu Tian in absolute shock, never imagining that this young man possessed such terrifying, latent potential.

At that moment, Chu Tian remained half-kneeling, gasping heavily for breath.

He had already steeled himself for death, even envisioning what miserable fate awaited him should Long Sihai strike again.

Yet, why had Long Sihai pulled back his attack at the crucial moment?

Puzzled, Chu Tian pushed himself up from the ground with both hands and leaped to his feet.

"Chu Tian, there is no need to look so bewildered!"

"This old man was merely testing you. Now that you have passed the test, naturally I will no longer make things difficult for you!"

Long Sihai threw his head back and laughed heartily, withdrawing his aura entirely so that not a shred of murderous intent remained.

"Testing me?"

Chu Tian froze, momentarily failing to process the statement.

Considering the terrifying, murderous aura the old man had exuded just moments ago, was it really nothing more than a simple test?

Chu Tian remained deeply skeptical!

"Since Tianjiao fancies you, this old man won't stand in your way. But I had to verify whether you possessed a twisted character, or if you were merely a good-for-nothing without potential."

Long Sihai sighed in a tone of realization, appearing truly relieved and glad that Long Tianjiao had not misjudged her choice.

Had Chu Tian shown cowardice and abandoned Long Tianjiao to save his own skin, Long Sihai likely would have executed him on the spot.

"Senior Long, you no longer oppose me being with my Fifth Senior Sister?"

Chu Tian asked in return.

"Matters concerning the youth should be resolved by yourselves."

"Since you’ve passed the test, this old man naturally won't interfere in your affairs anymore."

Long Sihai waved his hand dismissively.

Hearing this, Chu Tian smiled knowingly.

After all, Long Sihai was the grandfather of his Fifth Senior Sister. If he truly opposed their relationship, she would be caught miserably in the middle.

Now that Long Sihai was being so reasonable, a heavy burden was lifted from Chu Tian’s heart.

At that moment, a figure flashed swiftly through the distance.

Both Chu Tian and Long Sihai turned their heads simultaneously, locking their gazes on the approaching graceful silhouette—it was none other than the belatedly arriving Long Tianjiao.

"Grandfather, did you want to kill Xiaotian?"

Surveying the chaotic scene, Long Tianjiao instantly deduced that a fierce battle had just taken place between Chu Tian and her grandfather.

Especially given Chu Tian’s disheveled state and the various scrapes marking his body!

"Tianjiao, grandfather was merely sparring with Chu Tian. How could it be as serious as you make it sound?"

Long Sihai chuckled, omitting the dangerous details of their confrontation and simply framing it as a friendly exchange between martial artists.

"Really?"

Long Tianjiao looked skeptical. Well aware of her grandfather’s prejudices against Chu Tian, coupled with past misunderstandings, a brutal clash was entirely plausible to her.

"Of course it's true. If you don't believe me, just ask this brat."

Realizing his explanation wasn't getting through, Long Sihai shifted the burden onto Chu Tian.

"Xiaotian, tell me!"

Long Tianjiao fixed her gaze intently on Chu Tian.

"Fifth Sister, your grandfather is a Martial Saint, whose strength vastly surpasses mine."

"If he genuinely wanted me dead, would I still be alive?"

Chu Tian laughed.

Had Long Sihai truly intended to kill him, Chu Tian doubted he would have lasted three rounds, let alone dragged the fight out this long.

After some further explanation, Long Tianjiao finally accepted their story and remembered the pressing matter at hand.

"Then let's hurry back to the arena. Everyone is worried about you two, and there are plenty of people harboring hidden agendas and plotting malicious schemes."

Glancing at Chu Tian and then at Long Sihai, Long Tianjiao ultimately linked her arm through Chu Tian's and pulled him back toward the arena.