Three days after receiving Jiang Chen's orders, Lin Yanyu quietly departed Glazed King City and set off on the road back to Pill Fire City.
Jiang Chen, however, was in no rush to leave. As the Young Master of Peacock Sacred Mountain, his status was unique—one move could set everything in motion. Even if he wanted to venture out, he first needed to sort out his relationships within Glazed King City.
The current situation in Glazed King City appeared stable on the surface, but undercurrents churned beneath. At the very least, the ambitions of Shura Great Emperor's faction had not waned in the slightest.
Jiang Chen had just returned from Ta Yuan Pavilion to the Young Master's Manor when he received a summons from the Peacock Great Emperor.
"Jiang Chen, I plan to set off for the Barrens tomorrow. From now on, the burden on your shoulders will grow much heavier. You need to prepare yourself mentally."
"Your Majesty, so soon?"
The Peacock Great Emperor sighed softly. "If not for waiting for news about you in the Glazed King Pagoda's main tower, I should have departed several years ago."
Jiang Chen fell silent. He knew that the matter of the ancient demon race had become a thorn in the Peacock Great Emperor's heart.
"Your Majesty, please be careful in all things." Jiang Chen knew the Peacock Great Emperor was not someone who easily changed his mind, and he also knew the Peacock Great Emperor was a person with an immense sense of responsibility.
"Man proposes, fate disposes. I'm only doing what little I can. Some things simply need someone to take them on." There was no small measure of sorrow and worry in the Peacock Great Emperor's tone.
"The human race has managed to survive stubbornly from the ancient era until now—there must be a reason for this race's continued existence. Your Majesty possesses a body of great value. No matter what, you must ensure your own safety first." It was all Jiang Chen could say to persuade him.
"Hmm, I have my own considerations. I'm going to investigate the demon race's movements. I'm certainly not so foolish as to throw myself into the flames like a moth."
The Peacock Great Emperor understood very well that he was indeed a body of great value—being alive was absolutely more worthwhile than dying a heroic death.
Only in life was there hope of standing against the demon race.
Death, no matter how glorious, would accomplish nothing.
And so, the Peacock Great Emperor had no desire to put on a show of facing death with equanimity. He knew full well that if the demon calamity erupted, the battle against the demon race would inevitably be a long and protracted war—not something that could be resolved in a day or two. Nor could it be decided in a single stroke.
Jiang Chen also smiled. "As long as the green mountains remain, there's no fear of lacking firewood."
The Peacock Great Emperor burst into hearty laughter. "Don't worry, brat! I may have lived for several thousand years, but I haven't had enough of living yet. It's you who needs to keep a close eye on the situation in Glazed King City. This pool of water is nowhere near as calm as it appears on the surface. Dark waves are surging beneath—be careful."
Jiang Chen thought for a moment, then said honestly, "Your Majesty, I'm also planning to leave in the near future."
"Oh?" Jiang Chen had mentioned this to him before, but the Peacock Great Emperor hadn't expected him to be in such a hurry to depart.
"My birth father, after parting ways with me at the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance, said he was heading to the Upper Eight Domains, and I've heard nothing from him since. I need to search for him thoroughly. And my birth mother—they say she comes from the Upper Eight Domains. When I was still an infant, she was forcibly taken away by her family. My father came to these Upper Eight Domains to find my mother, and there's been no news of him either. As a son, with each passing day, my anxiety only grows worse."
The Peacock Great Emperor nodded. "The matter of one's parents cannot wait. If you need to draw upon Peacock Sacred Mountain's resources, don't hesitate. Don't forget—you are now the Young Master of Peacock Sacred Mountain, the successor who holds the Young Feather Token. Whether it's the Peacock Guard or the Four Great Sovereigns, so long as you produce the Young Feather Token, they must obey your commands."
"Mm, if I need to, I won't hold back. But given the current situation, it wouldn't be wise to make a big show of things. I'm worried that if I openly mobilize resources to search for my parents, it might draw the attention of forces like the Immortal Heaven Capital to my father—and that would actually work against him."
This was the honest truth from Jiang Chen.
"That makes sense. This matter should indeed be pursued quietly." The Peacock Great Emperor considered for a moment, then flicked his finger. A Storage Ring landed before Jiang Chen. "Since you're heading out, consider these a small gift from me."
One Emperor's Guardian Armor Talisman, two Void Escape Talismans, and one Emperor's True Force Talisman.
The Emperor's Guardian Armor Talisman was a defensive talisman. Jiang Chen had previously received one from Third Young Master Ji, which could be used twice.
The Void Escape Talismans needed no explanation—they were talismans used for fleeing, capable of breaking through the laws of the void to escape at any time.
The Emperor's True Force Talisman corresponded to the Emperor's Guardian Armor Talisman. It was equivalent to a single attack from a Sovereign-level powerhouse.
Both the Emperor's Guardian Armor Talisman and the Emperor's True Force Talisman could be used three times.
These talismans were obviously of tremendous weight. Gratitude shone in Jiang Chen's eyes. "Your Majesty, these talismans are truly priceless."
The Peacock Great Emperor smiled faintly. "Their value is indeed considerable, but compared to your Kunpeng bloodline, they still fall far short. Still, with these talismans on you as you travel far and wide, at critical moments, they may prove useful."
It wasn't a matter of "may"—they would absolutely prove useful.
The Kunpeng bloodline had never been Jiang Chen's to begin with. He had merely used it to do a favor that cost him nothing.