"Danji, you can't bear to touch the Indestructible Tiandu, you don't dare touch the Heavenly Dragon Sect — just pick either the Tianhe Palace or the Tianyin Temple. Any one will do." Jiang Chen could tell Emperor Danji was wavering, so he deliberately toy with him, needles him further.
The sum total of every humiliation Emperor Danji had suffered in his entire life did not rival what he had endured today.
More than once, he nearly exploded with rage and lunged to kill Jiang Chen.
But every time, the thought of his son in the other man's hands — and that terrifying Destruction Restriction — forced him to swallow the impulse.
If the Indestructible Tiandu and the Heavenly Dragon Sect had not been named publicly but offered up in a secret deal, Emperor Danji would not have refused.
He would gladly trade the destruction of either sect to get his son back.
Every time Jiang Chen named a sect, that sect's Emperor-realm powerhouse felt the muscles on his face twitch and his heart clench.
Though they all knew Emperor Danji could never agree openly, everyone also knew he doted on his youngest son.
What if Jiang Chen struck a private deal with him behind their backs?
Emperor Danji took a deep breath and fixed Jiang Chen with a hard stare. "Jiang Chen, enough with your sowing discord. This Emperor has many sons — even if he sacrificed this one, he would never do something that violates the code of the martial world. I cannot agree to your demands, and I will not even consider them."
Jiang Chen clapped his hands and burst out laughing. "How magnificently you say 'will not even consider.' People who don't know you might actually believe you, Danji, are a man of integrity."
"Fine. Since we can't come to an agreement, I, the Young Master, will look after Young Master Tianlin for a while. You say you have many sons? Consider this one as if he were never born."
Jiang Chen's breezy tone nearly made Emperor Danji cough up blood.
But aside from glaring, there was nothing he could do.
"Your Majesty, it is clear this brat Jiang Chen does not dare to completely break with our Pill Fire City. He certainly wouldn't kill Young Master Tianlin. Since things have reached this point, we should retreat for now. Later, when the opportunity arises, we can capture someone close to him and exchange."
Great Emperor Gaocen offered.
At this point, Emperor Danji had no choice but to think the same way. Rescuing his son today was nearly impossible. He would have to bide his time and capture someone close to Jiang Chen for an exchange.
At this thought, his mood improved slightly. Still, he did not dare hurl any more threats.
He cupped his fists. "Jiang Chen, this Emperor has lived for several thousand years. Even the great Peacock Emperor never made this Emperor suffer such a loss. Truly, the student surpasses the master. I accept my defeat today. You've seized my son and refuse to release him — very well. But if you truly harm a hair on his head, I swear I will slaughter a million souls in your Glazed Royal City. If you take his life, I will leave every last man, woman, child, and beast in your Glazed Royal City dead!"
"Let's go!"
Emperor Danji swept his sleeve and strode out. The Emperor-realm powerhouses of Pill Fire City filed out behind him.
Long Baxiang of the Heavenly Dragon Sect cast a cold, complicated glance at Jiang Chen. "Jiang Chen, you've played a fine hand today. I hope you can hold on to it for the rest of your life."
Jiang Chen regarded him with an indifferent look. "Long Baxiang, remember this — the Young Master holds grudges."
Long Baxiang snorted and left without lingering.
The Lord of Tiandu, already shaken, did not even have the courage to meet Jiang Chen's eyes. Without a word, he turned and headed for the exit.
Jiang Chen merely watched coldly, making no move to stop him.
He was alone now, of course — he could not possibly take on the Indestructible Tiandu by himself.
Every Emperor-realm powerhouse had departed. Yet Jiang Chen did not rush to leave the cave dwelling. Instead, he sat cross-legged in meditation, sorting through his thoughts before finally looking outward.
He had no intention of leaving carelessly. He feared Emperor Danji and the others might not have given up and could set another ambush. However, it was clear that Emperor Danji and his party had already left the valley area.
After observing for a long while and confirming Emperor Danji's departure, Jiang Chen finally put away the cave dwelling.
Still, he found it somewhat puzzling. Emperor Danji's restraint he could understand — the man feared for his son's life. But the Indestructible Tiandu had a blood feud with him. Why hadn't they attempted another ambush? Why hadn't they struck first?
Jiang Chen quickly figured it out.
It must have been Emperor Danji's stern warning. Otherwise, the Lord of Tiandu would never have let him leave so easily.
Letting the tiger back to the mountain today meant that next time might well be the Indestructible Tiandu's doom.
Indeed, the Lord of Tiandu was seething with frustration at that very moment. He had fully intended to mobilize every last powerhouse in the Indestructible Tiandu, at any cost, to hunt Jiang Chen down within their own territory — even if it meant expending half the sect's strength.
But that plan had been completely shut down.
Emperor Danji had delivered a harsh warning: he was not to lay a hand on Jiang Chen this time.
Emperor Danji's reasoning was straightforward. He could stay out of the feud between the Indestructible Tiandu and Jiang Chen. But with his son in Jiang Chen's custody, he absolutely could not allow the Indestructible Tiandu to act recklessly.
If a conflict erupted and Jiang Chen used Young Master Tianlin as a shield, Emperor Danji would have no way to undo the damage. That was why he had put his foot down with the Lord of Tiandu.