Seeing Jiang Chen remain silent in contemplation, Great Emperor Gao Cen spoke again: "Young Master Jiang Chen, in the past, we underestimated your strength and resolve. Now, our Pill Fire City has also realized that continuing to fight the Glazed Royal City like this may not necessarily be a good thing for the human territories. As the young master of the Glazed Royal City, you should understand that once these two great powers — the Glazed Royal City and Pill Fire City — come to blows, it will inevitably throw the entire human territories into complete chaos. When war erupts, the grand landscape of our human territories could very well be destroyed in one fell swoop. Back in the day, the Peacock Grand Monarch was a senior who pursued peace. Surely you wouldn't want to overturn his vision and ideals the very moment you take power?"
The mention of the Peacock Grand Monarch only fanned Jiang Chen's fury further.
"The Peacock Grand Monarch? Your Pill Fire City has the nerve to bring up the Peacock Grand Monarch? Danji, if you hadn't colluded with the Asura Great Emperor to orchestrate the Peacock Grand Monarch's downfall, would any of today's events have come to pass?" Jiang Chen rebuked sharply.
Great Emperor Danji's tone was indifferent: "The martial world is a place where the strong prey upon the weak. That sentimental drivel of the Peacock's was long outdated. Had I not eliminated the Peacock, how would you, Young Master Jiang Chen, ever have ascended to power? Jiang Chen, come to think of it, you should be thanking me. Someone with your ferocious temperament taking the helm is a good thing for the human territories. If the Peacock Grand Monarch had remained in charge, the Glazed Royal City would have stayed lukewarm forever, perpetually teetering on the edge of internal strife. Look — once the Peacock was removed, the Glazed Royal City's prospects instantly became clear. Isn't that far stronger than during the Peacock Grand Monarch's reign? Let us not dwell on the process for now — this outcome, isn't it beneficial to you, Young Master Jiang Chen?"
One had to admit, this twisted rhetoric of Great Emperor Danji actually carried a certain twisted logic.
Hearing this, Jiang Chen was so furious he laughed.
This Great Emperor Danji was truly shameless beyond measure. Perhaps he assumed that everyone in the world was like him — evaluating every action solely by the advantage or disadvantage of its outcome, without caring whether the process was righteous or wicked.
Such a person was, without question, exceedingly dangerous.
"Danji, by the sound of it, are you suggesting that I, the young master, and the entire Glazed Royal City should be grateful to you?" Jiang Chen shot back with a cold sneer.
"There is no need for gratitude. I merely saw that the rear of your Glazed Royal City was left vulnerable and seized the opportunity. But now that you, Young Master Jiang Chen, have risen to power and the Glazed Royal City is as solid as an iron plate, I no longer have any opening to exploit. A ceasefire is beneficial for both of us."
"Tsk, tsk, Danji — you certainly know how to make the best of a situation. You plotted to seize my Glazed Royal City's very foundation, you harmed our Peacock Great Emperor, and you think a glib 'let's cease fire and make peace' puts the matter to rest?"
"Jiang Chen, don't forget — you killed three Emperor-realm cultivators of my Dan Fire City as well. In the end, your Glazed Royal City hasn't suffered any loss!"
If not for his son being in Jiang Chen's hands, Emperor Danji would never have uttered these words even in ten lifetimes. But now he was simply a man standing under another's eaves — he had no choice but to bow his head.
"Haven't suffered any loss? Forget three Emperor-realm cultivators — even ten wouldn't amount to a fraction of the Peacock Great Emperor's worth! The Peacock Great Emperor was both mentor and friend to me, a bond that no amount of gold could ever buy. Danji, you had better pray that the Peacock Great Emperor is unharmed — otherwise, this matter will never be settled!"
Jiang Chen had no patience to spar with Emperor Danji in verbal jousting.
"Jiang Chen, are you truly determined to fight to the bitter end? You think that capturing one of my sons leaves me helpless?"
Jiang Chen replied indifferently: "Danji, do whatever you like. But I'll make this perfectly clear — for the time being, don't even think about getting Young Master Tianlin back. The day your Dan Fire City sends out troops is the day I'll behead him as a sacrifice at your war banner."
The fury in Emperor Danji's heart had absolutely nowhere to vent.
If not for the fear that the restrictions ahead were too formidable, Emperor Danji would have rushed forward without hesitation and torn Jiang Chen to shreds.
He had never lost face like this in his entire life.
Being suppressed like this by a young brat, utterly helpless, was absolutely an unprecedented humiliation for him.
Grand Emperor Gao Cen gently advised, "Your Majesty, please calm yourself. This brat is deliberately provoking you, undermining your dignity. Pay him no mind. Let me reason with him."
Grand Emperor Danji had been constantly admonishing himself to stay calm, to remain rational.
But how could he remain calm when his most beloved son was in the enemy's grasp?
Grand Emperor Gao Cen cupped his fists and said, "Young Master Jiang Chen, I believe you are also prepared to go to war with our Dan Fire City. Furthermore, the current balance of power in the human territories truly cannot withstand a conflict between our two sides. The past cannot be undone. We cannot simply hang ourselves over what's already happened. So tell me, what exactly would it take for you to set aside your prejudices and shake hands in peace?"
Jiang Chen actually had no intention of making peace, but now that relations with Dan Fire City were completely shattered, it clearly wasn't the opportune moment.
He smiled faintly and said, "I'm still angry and have no mood for peace talks. Wait until my anger subsides and I see some sincerity from your Dan Fire City. Only then will this young master consider the matter of shaking hands."
"Then can Young Master Tianlin be released?" Gao Cen couldn't help but ask.
"You're being too naive," Jiang Chen sneered. "The reason you're acting so humble right now is because I hold this card, isn't it? Return him to you? So you can turn around and bite me? Do you really think such a good thing is possible?"
Gao Cen was rendered speechless. This Jiang Chen truly wouldn't yield an inch, no matter what approach was tried.
"Jiang Chen, what exactly will it take for you to release Young Master Tianlin?" Gao Cen's temper was starting to slip.
"Even if I were to let him go, it would depend on my mood. Right now, if you want to fight, then come at me. If you don't want to fight, then get lost!"
Jiang Chen knew full well that these people were wary of the cave dwelling's restrictions, which was why none of them dared to step forward. This confrontation today was unlikely to escalate into an actual fight.