Jiang Chen murmured to himself for a moment, looking into Huang'er's bright, clear eyes. Something in his heart was touched by her confident gaze.
He gave a slight nod and turned to Lin Yanyu and Mu Gaoqi. "This battle, we'll let Huang'er compete. Don't be discouraged—your time to shine will come."
If this had been before, Jiang Chen would never have allowed Huang'er to fight. The Hundred Lives Heartbond Curse was far too terrifying; the moment Huang'er used her divine sense or exerted martial force, it would trigger the curse, potentially leading to an irreversible tragedy.
Now, however, the Hundred Lives Heartbond Curse had been lifted. There was no longer any need to worry about backlash.
And did anyone truly need to doubt Huang'er's strength?
Back in Danqian Palace, the arrogant Cao Jin—a core disciple of the Nine Yang Heavenly Sect—had come to cause a ruckus, only to be utterly defeated within three moves by Huang'er, fleeing in wretched disarray.
After all, Huang'er had come from the Abyss. Though she was a year or two younger than Jiang Chen, her cultivation had long since reached the Emperor Realm.
As for alchemy, while Huang'er couldn't quite match Jiang Chen's knowledge that spanned the myriad heavens, the Abyss's foundations in alchemy were undoubtedly deeper than those of the Human Domain.
Moreover, Huang'er had been afflicted by illness for years. Long suffering had made her something of a doctor, which meant her attainments in alchemy had always been remarkably high.
It was just that, throughout her years with Jiang Chen, Huang'er had always kept a low profile, never seeking the spotlight. In these matters, she had always seemed to lack presence.
During the years when Jiang Chen was away, Huang'er had managed his household affairs, giving people the impression of being a capable administrator. Over time, no one paid much attention to her talents in martial arts and alchemy.
In truth, Huang'er's talent surpassed Jiang Chen's in certain respects. If not for Jiang Chen's extraordinary fortunes and countless opportunities, when it came to raw martial prowess, he would have fallen short of Huang'er before breaking through to the Emperor Realm.
Huang'er had always been modest, unwilling to display these abilities or steal Jiang Chen's thunder.
Of course, her advantage in martial arts stemmed from her superior starting point. Deep down, Huang'er believed that Jiang Chen's potential far exceeded her own.
And in domains like alchemy and formations, the strength Jiang Chen displayed left her in complete awe.
Huang'er had been born in the Abyss, with the loftiest of perspectives. Ordinary men could never have caught her eye.
It was Jiang Chen who, through his own charm, had conquered her heart step by step.
Lin Yanyu and Mu Gaoqi held Huang'er in the highest regard. Having interacted with her at the Young Master's estate, they knew—unlike those on the outside—that the seemingly gentle and refined Miss Huang'er was in fact a truly remarkable person.
Naturally, they had no objections to Jiang Chen's arrangement.
The others, however, were somewhat taken aback.
Even the four great emperors felt a hint of surprise. Sending a woman to compete? Granted, she was Young Master Zhen's companion, but no one knew much about Huang'er.
Beyond the fact that she managed the Young Master's estate, they had never heard of her excelling in any other area.
Was it really appropriate to send her?
Jiang Chen understood their doubts and smiled. "Huang'er is usually low-key, but I can guarantee that sending her is the best choice."
Since Jiang Chen had said as much, the four great emperors naturally wouldn't dampen the mood by raising objections.
After all, with the Peacock Emperor absent, decisions should fall to Young Master Zhen.
The Peerless Emperor let out a hearty laugh. "Young Master Zhen, having Miss Huang'er compete is sure to become a fine tale!"
Everyone laughed.
Hearing the laughter from Sacred Peacock Mountain's side, the Asura Emperor's camp grew somewhat surprised, and they all turned to look over.
Clearly, they couldn't understand how the people of Sacred Peacock Mountain could still be laughing at a time like this.
Jiang Chen ignored the Asura Emperor's reaction entirely. "Those who have been selected, follow me to compete. Everyone else, hold the line here."
Just as Jiang Chen was about to report his chosen candidates, the Asura Dojo had nearly finalized their own.
When both sides revealed their picks, the surroundings fell into stunned silence.
Whether it was Sacred Peacock Mountain or the Asura Dojo, unfamiliar faces had appeared on both sides—and more than one.
From Sacred Peacock Mountain's side, the only one people recognized was Emperor Ming of the Clouds. The other two were entirely unknown: one carried himself with striking bearing, his gaze commanding; the other was spotless and pure, with an exceptional presence.
Both were clearly no ordinary individuals, and one could tell at a glance that these were formidable selections.
As for the Asura Dojo, besides the Asura Emperor and Li Jiancheng, the other two attendants had not been chosen from among the three emperors—Sun, Star, and Moon—as everyone had expected.
It was well known that the Asura Emperor's strongest followers should have been the three emperors.
Yet the two people he sent out were completely unrecognized.
For a moment, Jiang Chen and the Asura Emperor locked eyes, and each saw a sharp, probing look in the other's gaze.