"Attack the imperial palace?" The three elders were stunned.
They had never expected that Young Master
That way, even if the Red Cauldron Imperial Family was overthrown and someone else took control of the Red Cauldron Central Domain, they would still remain the region's top sects.
And if the Imperial Family was *not* overthrown, then given the strength of their three great sects, the Imperial Family certainly wouldn't turn on them either.
It had to be said — it was an excellent scheme.
However, Jiang Chen's words shattered their fence-sitting scheme in an instant.
Want to play both sides? Not a chance!
"What, do you have a problem?" Jiang Chen's tone turned cold, a faint, indifferent smile playing at the corner of his lips.
"No, no, no, it's just that..."
"There's no need for so many words. Don't think this is some negotiation. This Young Master gives you an opportunity — that is mercy. I've come to the Red Cauldron Central Domain for one purpose: to kill and avenge. Did you really think your little trick of sealing your sects would let you stay out of it?"
Jiang Chen's tone grew frigid.
Feeling the bone-chilling menace in his voice, the three elders couldn't help but shudder. A young master, reportedly not even thirty years old, yet capable of radiating such terrifying pressure!
"Young Master Jiang Chen... we... we've been wronged! Our three sects had nothing to do with the invasion of the Myriad Domains. We didn't blindly follow the Imperial Family into that mess. The grudge between you two has nothing to do with us!"
"That's right, Young Master Jiang Chen — just ask anyone you like. When all that happened, our three sects absolutely did not send a single soldier."
Jiang Chen suddenly laughed, but his expression darkened. "You didn't participate? Are you not forces of the Red Cauldron Central Domain? Even if you didn't participate directly, did you not benefit — directly or indirectly — from the invasion of the Myriad Domains? Did you not draw resources from the Red Cauldron Central Domain? Don't think that avoiding direct involvement lets you wash your hands of it. If you *had* participated directly, you wouldn't even have the right to stand before this Young Master today."
When the Jiao Brothers of Huai Shan saw their young master grow furious, they also barked: "You three are truly clueless. Our young master has shown extraordinary mercy and given you a way out. And yet it seems you don't want to cherish it? You're still harboring illusions about the Red Cauldron Imperial Family? Want to offend neither side and play the fence-sitter?"
"Young Master, there's no need to waste words on them. Didn't you order Great Emperor Canghai to suppress these three sects? We might as well wipe them all out in one go."
"Exactly. Back when the Red Cauldron Central Domain invaded the Myriad Domains, they destroyed every sect they found without bothering to ask questions. Young Master, in my opinion, we should do the same. Why waste breath on them?"
The Jiao Brothers played off each other in perfect tandem, scaring the three elders pale. They didn't dare utter a single word of defiance, their faces ashen, silently cursing their miserable luck.
Jiang Chen waved his hand. "This Young Master gives you half a day. Half a day — and if I still haven't felt your sincerity, you will be treated as accomplices of the Red Cauldron Imperial Family!"
At those words, the three men's souls nearly left their bodies.
They could tell that Young Master Jiang Chen was dead serious. This was no empty threat.
"Young Master Jiang, please wait while we go back and consult our Sect Master."
"Young Master Jiang, please have mercy — we will certainly convince our Sect Master to send troops to besiege the Imperial Family!"
"That's right — the Yan imperial family has ruled the Red Cauldron Central Domain with a tyrannical hand for so many years. Their sins are beyond counting. It's time they stepped down!"
These three elders feared that Jiang Chen, in his youthful vigor, would fly into a rage and order the suppression of their three sects on the spot.
The three great sects were indeed pillar-level forces within the Red Cauldron Central Domain, but before the Glass Royal City, they were like toddlers who had just learned to walk — utterly incapable of withstanding the Royal City's thunderous wrath.
The three slunk away in humiliation, carrying Jiang Chen's message back to their sects as fast as they could.
Meanwhile, Great Emperor Canghai had led his grand army, splitting into three routes, to surround the exits of all three sects. Entry was permitted — exit was not.
"What? They want us to send troops to attack the Imperial Family?" The Sect Master of the Heavenly Eagle Sect was shocked upon receiving the news. His sect already being surrounded was distressing enough — now hearing this made it all the worse.
"Yes, Sect Master. Young Master Jiang Chen has made his demand: either we send troops to attack the Imperial Family to prove our sincerity, or they will crush all three of our sects."
"Young Master Jiang Chen — is he always so tyrannical?" The Sect Master of the Heavenly Eagle Sect bristled with indignation. "My Heavenly Eagle Sect never participated in the invasion of the Myriad Domains. Why is he pushing us so hard?"
"Sect Master, now is not the time for that. We are one of the three great sects of the Red Cauldron Central Domain — that, in itself, is our original sin. Young Master Jiang Chen has only given us half a day. If there's no action within that time, he will order the attack on all three sects."
The Sect Master of the Heavenly Eagle Sect gritted his teeth. Their previous approach to the Red Cauldron Emperor, requesting to seal their sect, had been nothing more than a self-preservation tactic.
They wanted to stay out of it entirely — no matter how chaotic the Red Cauldron Central Domain became, they would ignore it all and peacefully play the role of the turtle pulling its head into its shell.
But now it was clear — Young Master Jiang Chen had no intention of giving them that chance.
Meanwhile, the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect and the Chili Sect had received the same message. Their respective envoys had already delivered the news to their sects.