After hearing the words of the Purple Smoke Sect's ancestor, Jiang Chen's brows furrowed slightly as he sank into deep thought.
The Purple Smoke Sect ancestor didn't dare interrupt, standing meekly to the side without disturbing Jiang Chen's train of thought.
"You're saying that inside Chenxiang Valley, there's clearly a secret realm, but every time you send people in to explore it, none of them ever return?"
The Purple Smoke Sect ancestor hurriedly replied, "Yes. This secret realm was discovered many years ago by the various sects of our Phoenix Cry Lower Domain. Back then, all the sects in our Phoenix Cry Lower Domain had a tacit agreement not to spread the word. Over the years, we've sent many expeditions to explore it, but the end result was always the same—they vanished like stones dropped into the ocean, with not a single shred of news sent back."
Jiang Chen nodded slightly. His understanding of secret realms far surpassed that of the Purple Smoke Sect ancestor. By their very nature, secret realms were always extremely concealed and filled with mystery.
Whether entering or exiting, if one hadn't mastered the key mechanisms, it was very easy to suffer tremendous losses—or even lose one's life entirely.
However, based on the Purple Smoke Sect ancestor's description, this particular secret realm was likely far more mysterious and complex than an ordinary one.
Otherwise, how could so many people have entered without a single one ever coming out?
"Zitan, did you come to my Glazed Royal City to tell me about this secret realm?"
The Purple Smoke Sect ancestor didn't deny it. "That secret realm has become a thorn in the side of every sect in our Phoenix Cry Lower Domain. I suspect that besides my Purple Smoke Sect, the other sects are probably also scrambling to seek outside help."
"So you came to beg help from my Glazed Royal City? What reason do I have to agree?" Jiang Chen asked with a faint smile.
"I do!"
The Purple Smoke Sect ancestor nodded with absolute conviction. "The most important reason is this: regarding the matter of Jiang Yu, Young Master Jiang Chen did not unleash a terrifying rage and slaughter my Purple Smoke Sect. This detail alone shows that the Glazed Royal City is indeed a righteous and upright power, and that Young Master Jiang Chen is truly a person of integrity. Such a person is worthy of the respect of us lower-domain cultivators!"
Though these words reeked of flattery, they were at least spoken from the heart—not mere empty words spewed carelessly.
"When will the secret realm open next?" After thinking for a moment, Jiang Chen spoke again.
"In approximately six months, or perhaps as soon as five months if things move quickly," the Purple Smoke Sect ancestor answered honestly.
Jiang Chen nodded. "Very well. In five months, this Young Lord will consider traveling to your Purple Smoke Sect."
The Purple Smoke Sect ancestor was overjoyed upon hearing this. Though the young man before him was, in terms of absolute cultivation, not even as strong as himself—the Purple Smoke Sect ancestor—he had completely placed himself in the position of a junior, treating Jiang Chen with the utmost respect.
"Thank you, Young Master Jiang Chen. I will most certainly await your honored arrival at the Purple Smoke Sect."
Having obtained Jiang Chen's promise, the Purple Smoke Sect ancestor knew that his connection to the Glazed Royal City was now secured. Moreover, it seemed that regarding the matter of Jiang Yu, Young Master Jiang Chen truly showed no signs of pursuing it further—which meant the sword hanging over their Purple Smoke Sect's head had finally been sheathed.
After the Purple Smoke Sect ancestor departed, Jiang Chen sank into deep contemplation. Knowledge regarding secret realms constantly surfaced in his mind.
"There are still five or six months—that should be enough time. I need to use this period to push for a breakthrough into the mid-stage of the Imperial Realm and charge through in one concerted effort!"
Jiang Chen's cultivation speed was already remarkably fast, yet he was still not entirely satisfied with himself.
Just as he was pondering this, a piercing howl suddenly echoed through the void of the entire Young Lord's estate. This resounding cry was so powerful it seemed to alter the very color of the sky and earth, and the entire estate trembled ever so slightly.
The howl had not come from outside—it originated from within, from the rear mountain area of the Young Lord's estate.
Jiang Chen's mind stirred. Recognizing the sound, he shot toward the rear mountain at incredible speed.
A thought suddenly struck him.
Atop the tallest peak of the rear mountain stood a massive creature of imposing and majestic bearing. The swirling rings of pattern adorning its body lent it an air of wildness and dominance.
When Jiang Chen laid eyes upon this creature, his heart surged with joy.
"So you've awakened once more? You've grown?" Jiang Chen was delighted beyond measure. Compared to what this beast had looked like when he first acquired it, it was practically unrecognizable.
The Taisui White Tiger!
Yes—it was the very Taisui White Tiger that Jiang Chen had extorted from a young master of the Southern Palace clan in Danfire City. One could only imagine how that young master of the Southern Palace family had been foolish enough to mistake the Taisui White Tiger for an ordinary Cloud-Gorging Tiger!
The Taisui White Tiger was an ancient divine beast. Its bloodline was sacred beyond compare, and across the entire Spirit Beast world of the Myriad Heavens, the Taisui White Tiger's bloodline could absolutely rank among the top five.
When Jiang Chen had first laid eyes on the Taisui White Tiger, he had immediately recognized that this Spirit Beast was something extraordinary, which was why he had paid any price necessary to seize it from that young master of the Southern Palace family.
Of course, that young master of the Southern Palace family probably still had no idea to this day just what kind of tremendous fortune he had lost.