Of those rogue emperors, more than half decided to remain in the Profound Jade City for the time being.
Some stayed because they had been moved by Emperor Abyssal's words. Others were concerned about the uncertain state of affairs beyond the city walls. And a few simply had grown tired of wandering from place to place under such circumstances.
Three emperors, however, expressed their apologies to Jiang Chen and did not stay. Still, they each gave him their explicit word: should the Profound Jade City and Pill Fire City ever come to an all-out war, they would come to lend their aid without hesitation and would absolutely stand on the Profound Jade City's side.
Jiang Chen hadn't expected that the Pine Crane Pill would bring him so many pieces of good news. Emperor Abyssal's wholehearted assistance, in particular, raised the man several notches in Jiang Chen's estimation.
This Emperor Abyssal was every bit the equal of the Peerless Emperor — and where the Peerless Emperor was generous and forthright, the Abyssal Emperor possessed an added air of wisdom and insight.
After settling these emperors in, Jiang Chen returned to the Young Lord's Manor.
That same day, the people he had dispatched to the Fengming Lower Domain happened to return.
"Young Lord, we've confirmed everything. That emblem belongs to a third-rank sect in the Fengming Lower Domain called the Purple Mist Sect."
"Purple Mist Sect of the Fengming Lower Domain?" Jiang Chen frowned. "Do we have more detailed information?"
"Young Lord, this is everything we've gathered — information on the Fengming Lower Domain and on the Purple Mist Sect. It's quite thorough. Please review it."
Jiang Chen took the documents and read through them for a moment, then nodded. "The Fengming Lower Domain is considerably stronger than the Myriad Manifestation Region, it seems. This Purple Mist Sect alone surpasses any of the six great sects that once existed in the Myriad Manifestation Region."
According to the intelligence, the Purple Mist Sect held an extremely elevated status among the third-rank sects of the Fengming Lower Domain — it was one of the three most powerful sects in the entire domain.
The report also noted that the Purple Mist Sect's strongest cultivator was most likely a reclusive old ancestor whose cultivation had possibly reached the high-tier Imperial Realm.
For a third-rank sect in a lower domain, high-tier Imperial Realm was an absolutely formidable level of power.
Jiang Chen set the documents aside and issued his orders. "Jiao Yun, Jiao Feng — which of you will go to the Fengming Lower Domain on my behalf?"
"I'll go," Jiao Yun volunteered.
"Very well. Go to the Fengming Lower Domain and find the Purple Mist Sect. There's no need for a massacre — just bring my uncle and cousin back. If anything has happened to either of them… deal with the sect as you see fit."
Jiang Chen had no desire to kill indiscriminately, but anyone who threatened his family was treading on his most sacred nerve — and in such cases, Jiang Chen would show no mercy.
Jiao Yun received Jiang Chen's secret orders and departed without delay, making straight for the Fengming Lower Domain.
…
The Purple Mist Sect, in this remote corner of the Fengming Lower Domain, was indeed a heavyweight. Even the imperial family of the Fengming Empire treated the sect with considerable deference.
Somewhere in the mountain ranges belonging to the Purple Mist Sect, Jiang Yu sat on the edge of a sheer cliff, gazing out over the endless succession of mountains and valleys. His heart felt heavy and oppressive.
He had been forcibly brought to the Purple Mist Sect many years ago, and life since then had been nothing short of agonizing.
The girl who had first taken an interest in him — the one who had pestered and pursued him — was the granddaughter of the sect's Supreme Elder, a spoiled young miss with a thoroughly arrogant temper.
As the years had passed, that young miss's fascination with Jiang Yu had long since faded past its initial spark.
When he had first arrived at the Purple Mist Sect, things hadn't been entirely unbearable, because the young miss had still found him intriguing. But as her interest waned further and further, his days in the sect had grown worse and worse.
"Yu'er, why are you sitting here dazing off again?" Jiang Tong's voice came from behind the ridge.
Many years had passed, and silver-white streaks now dotted Jiang Tong's temples. He, too, clearly hadn't been living an easy life.
"Father, what are you doing here?"
"Yu'er, these past years, whenever you're free you come out here to sit in solitude. Of course I know where you are." Jiang Tong sighed.
Jiang Yu saw the concern filling his father's eyes. Though his mood was poor, he forced a thin smile. "Father, I just needed a moment of quiet. There's no need to worry."
"Yu'er, I've heard that the roster for the next expedition to the Sunken Fragrance Valley will be announced tomorrow." Jiang Tong's voice was heavy with worry. "From what I've been picking up from various sources, it seems very likely that the two of us will be sent there."
Jiang Yu smiled bitterly. "Father, I've long since grown sick of this Purple Mist Sect. Leaving here wouldn't be such a terrible thing."
"Think nothing of the sort!" Jiang Tong suddenly erupted in anger. "Yu'er, do you have any idea what being sent to the Sunken Fragrance Valley means? In recent years, the sect has sent two expeditions there, and not a single person has returned. If they send a third group, chances are no one will come back from that either!"
"So what?" Jiang Yu shook his head, dejected. "Wasting away here day after day, enduring scorn and contempt — at least in the Sunken Fragrance Valley we'd have a chance to fight for something. Maybe we could even use the opportunity to escape and return to the Myriad Manifestation Region."
Jiang Tong was silent for a long time. After a while, he let out a quiet sigh. "The Myriad Manifestation Region… I wonder how it is now?"
Father and son had been thoroughly marginalized within the Purple Mist Sect. It had all started when the young miss, intrigued by Jiang Yu, had brought him here. Once her novelty wore off, they had been left entirely to their own devices.