Once the Grand Sect Master of the Moon God Sect set the tone, even the stubborn Second Sect Master didn't dare to talk back.
"Grand Sect Master, this matter requires careful consideration," the Second Sect Master could only advise.
The Grand Sect Master waved his hand. "The matter is decided. However, everything will be discussed after this Rogue Cultivator Assembly."
Hearing the Grand Sect Master say this, no one naturally dared to voice any further opposition.
Maiden Qingxuan was secretly delighted. The Grand Sect Master's attitude had given her a glimmer of hope.
……
Within Pill Fire City, news of the Rogue Cultivator Assembly had also arrived.
Emperor Danji, who had just returned to Pill Fire City from Glazed King City, was utterly shaken. He had gone to Glazed King City harboring great ambitions, but never expected to leave in utter disgrace. Before departing, he had even been played by that Young Master Zhen and frightened away by a formation that didn't even exist.
For Emperor Danji, this was an absolute stain on his life. The more he thought about it afterward, the more aggrieved he felt. Why hadn't he thought more carefully at the time? A Heaven-grade formation? How could that kid possibly have set up a Heaven-grade formation there waiting for him? Could he foresee the future?
What irritated him even more was that his love rival and enemy Mo Wushuang had actually defected to Peacock Sacred Mountain, which depressed him even further.
"Shura, this is all trouble you caused. Deal with it yourself." Emperor Danji looked down at Shura Emperor below, furious.
After Shura Emperor's failed coup, he had left Glazed King City and naturally defected to Emperor Danji. For Emperor Danji, although he had recruited a capable vassal, Pill Fire City already had no shortage of powerhouses at this level.
What he valued about Shura Emperor was his strategic significance in Glazed King City. Without Glazed King City, Shura Emperor's value was greatly diminished.
His goal had been to indirectly control Glazed King City through Shura Emperor.
But at the final moment, it had all fallen through, which infuriated Emperor Danji.
Shura Emperor was also frustrated. Through gritted teeth, he said, "Your Majesty Danji, in my humble opinion, the situation in Glazed King City has not yet fully stabilized. We should go all out and strike first with a show of force. With Your Majesty's prestige, a single call from the heights will surely rally a large contingent of heroes from the Upper Eight Regions to march on Glazed King City and take control."
Emperor Danji snorted coldly. "Easy for you to say. On what grounds would I act?"
If Emperor Danji rallied a group of people and forcibly interfered in Glazed King City's internal affairs, ignoring the vast spatial distance between north and south, it would inevitably cause panic across the entire human domain.
No matter how concerned you were about Glazed King City's internal affairs, you couldn't openly intervene, could you?
Today you could intervene in Glazed King City—who was to say tomorrow you wouldn't intervene in other forces?
So Shura Emperor's proposal looked attractive on the surface, but was actually completely impractical.
"Jilang, that Young Master Zhen is your lifelong enemy. Now at such a young age, he already has such momentum—what do you think?" Emperor Danji suddenly asked, looking at Alchemist Jilang beside him.
If you were talking about who hated Jiang Chen the most, it might not necessarily be Shura Emperor. Alchemist Jilang's hatred for Jiang Chen was completely on par with his.
"Master, this boy is truly an anomaly. Even someone of Shura Emperor's caliber was left disgraced and wretched by him. We absolutely cannot measure this boy by the standards of a young master. Instead, we should place him at the level of an Emperor—even at the same level as the Peacock Emperor."
Alchemist Jilang was quite skilled at saving face for himself. He had lost to Jiang Chen twice before. So although he hated him to the bone, his words still had to give Jiang Chen credit—that way, his losses to Jiang Chen wouldn't seem quite so embarrassing.
"Alchemist Jilang is right. This boy is truly a monster. Your Majesty Danji, while he hasn't fully grown yet, we must strangle him in the cradle. Otherwise, one day he will threaten your position—and even threaten Pill Fire City's standing."
The one who spoke was Emperor Danji's most trusted confidant, comparable in position to Cloud Emperor of Peacock Sacred Mountain.
This person was also at the peak of the Emperor realm in martial cultivation, a strategist whom Emperor Danji trusted deeply. His name was Baili Shengzhi, and he was held in the highest regard under Emperor Danji's command.
"Baili, given this—how do you think I should respond?" Emperor Danji valued Baili Shengzhi's words greatly.
Baili Shengzhi pondered for a moment, then said, "Our Pill Fire City certainly cannot openly attack Glazed King City. Unless we can sway public opinion and deploy troops with legitimate justification to suppress them. As things stand, Glazed King City has a solid reputation, and Young Master Zhen is highly renowned. Deploying troops against them, even with justification, would inevitably be seen as invasion by the outside world. It's absolutely not feasible."
Emperor Danji nodded. Baili Shengzhi's words had struck the mark—this was exactly what he was worried about.
The Upper Eight Regions had many powerful forces after all; it wasn't Pill Fire City's word alone that mattered. If they aroused public outrage and the realm united against them, no matter how strong Pill Fire City was, it could never stand against the entire Upper Eight Regions.