The strongest one was already at the sixth level of the Sovereign realm — that was precisely the Elder Zhang everyone had been buzzing about.
There was also one at the fifth level of the Sovereign realm, a reclusive elder of extremely high standing within some third-tier sect in the Red Cauldron Central Domain. High status, formidable strength.
Aside from these, the majority of the Protector list consisted of fourth-level Sovereign realm cultivators.
Four of them, relatively weaker, had nonetheless reached the astonishing third level of the Sovereign realm.
This so-called "weaker" was only relative. In truth, a third-level Sovereign cultivator, even placed within a top-tier force like the Glass City, would still be considered a remarkably impressive existence.
Within a first-rate sect, one could absolutely serve as an ordinary elder. And if one's background were strong and one's family connections robust, one's standing would be even higher.
Back when the Impermanence Heavenly Capital had orchestrated the invasion of the Myriad Realms Region, Palace Master Wu Ji had been merely at the fourth level of the Sovereign realm.
And at the third level of the Sovereign realm, one absolutely had the strength to command a fourth-tier sect in the Red Cauldron Central Domain!
Most of the sect masters of those fourth-tier sects that had invaded the Myriad Realms Region had been only at the second level of the Sovereign realm. Sect masters at the third level of the Sovereign realm among fourth-tier sects had been pitifully few.
There had been one Qin Demon Sect Master at the third level of the Sovereign realm, and relying on his marginally superior strength, he had led his forces to invade the Myriad Realms Extreme Realm, even capturing Ling B'er to threaten Jiang Chen — only to be obliterated when Jiang Chen activated the palace restriction formations left behind by Guo Ran, a Mid-sky Position powerhouse.
With the third-level Sovereign realm strength of that Qin Demon Sect Master, one could already control a powerful fourth-tier sect. This went to show that a third-level Sovereign realm expert in the Red Cauldron Central Domain was of truly exalted standing.
Yet the Cuihua Pavilion Master had casually enlisted twelve Sovereign realm experts, and at the third level of the Sovereign realm, one could only rank at the very bottom of this Protector list.
Such an outrageous lineup left Jiang Chen silently clicking his tongue in astonishment.
After all, the Red Cauldron Central Domain was not exactly anything remarkable within the entirety of the human territories. It could only be considered mid-tier.
Never mind comparing it to the Upper Eight Regions — even compared to some powerful central domains, the gap was enormous.
With this contrast, one could see just how weak the Myriad Realms Region had once been. The Myriad Realms Region hadn't even possessed a single Sovereign realm expert!
Of course, that didn't mean the Myriad Realms Region had truly been that feeble. The reason it had declined to such a pathetic state was because of that invasion by the Red Cauldron Central Domain several hundred years ago.
Every expert at the Sovereign realm or above in the Myriad Realms Region had been slaughtered to the last. Heavenly Saint realm experts had been no exception — all annihilated.
That invasion by the Red Cauldron Central Domain several hundred years ago had sealed the Myriad Realms Region's eventual decline.
Otherwise, given the Myriad Realms Region's foundations, it should have had a chance to contend for central domain status. Though its soft and hard power had still been considerably behind the Red Cauldron Central Domain, that gap had actually been steadily narrowing back then.
This was precisely why the Red Cauldron Central Domain had been so eager to invade the Myriad Realms Region. On one hand, it had been secretly manipulated by the Impermanence Heavenly Capital. On the other, the Red Cauldron Central Domain simply didn't want another powerful force rising right at their doorstep to threaten their existence.
Jiang Chen looked at the bustling entrance of the Cuihua Pavilion, gazed at the list, and sank into deep thought.
The more he thought about it, the more something felt off. If the Cuihua Pavilion Master truly had so many enemies, and he was attempting to break through to the seventh level of the Sovereign realm to weather his tribulation, he should have been keeping a low profile.
Even if he wanted to hire a large number of Protectors, he should have done so in secret.
Being this flashy was practically announcing to all his mortal enemies: "I, the Cuihua Pavilion Master, am about to break through, and I've hired over a dozen Protectors. If you've got the guts, come and try something."
If he were some brash young man, such showboating might be understandable. But the Cuihua Pavilion Master had built his business to such staggering heights — he absolutely should not be the sort of reckless fool to do something like this.
Under these circumstances, the more Jiang Chen thought about it, the more suspicious it all seemed.
But as for where exactly the suspicion lay, Jiang Chen couldn't quite put his finger on it for the moment.
He silently committed the names on the list to memory. Just then, a surge rippled through the crowd as the onlookers along the outer edges began parting to either side.
The way they moved, it was as though some truly extraordinary figure was about to appear, and the crowd automatically cleared a path.
Jiang Chen, standing within the crowd, made no trouble and simply moved aside with the tide of people.
Along the path that had been cleared, four Sovereign realm cultivators, all dressed in the manner of rogue cultivators, were striding boldly toward the main gate of the Cuihua Pavilion headquarters.
Clearing the way for them were the Cuihua Pavilion's elite warriors.
"It's them!"
"I recognize that white-haired Sovereign elder — his name is Elder Kongyun, a very famous rogue cultivator from the surrounding domains!"
"Tsk, tsk, Elder Kongyun — who doesn't know him? Everyone knows him! His battle that first brought him fame, he single-handedly challenged a fourth-tier sect and nearly wiped them out. It happened right there in the Swordfield Central Domain. After that battle, countless sects across the Swordfield Central Domain extended invitations to Elder Kongyun, offering him the position of Supreme Elder, but every single one was turned down."
"Elder Kongyun is a free spirit — a wild crane among the clouds. He doesn't seem to much care for sect life. But he's an elder of that caliber all the same. Even striking out entirely on his own, he's carved out a formidable reputation!"
"Indeed, for top-tier rogue cultivators, life is doubly harder compared to those who belong to sects."
"That goes without saying! If rogue cultivator elders had all come from distinguished backgrounds, strong families, and enjoyed abundant resources, who knows — their achievements might be even greater today!"