"Young Lord, are you truly certain about this?" Emperor Wushuang asked, a trace of unease in his voice.
Just moments ago,
Jiang Chen's tone was grave: "Right now, every major sect has its eyes on the Sunken Fragrance Valley. We brought you here with the original intention of seizing the initiative through sheer force. But given the current situation, any attempt by a single faction to dominate and seize that initiative is completely out of the question. So we must find another way."
Emperor Wushuang still harbored reservations: "If that's the case, the three of us won't be able to look after you, Young Lord."
"No matter. Last time, Emperor Danjia brought a whole host of emperors to intercept me along the road — and what did it avail him? This time, I'll disguise myself as a disciple of the Purple Smoke Sect. There's no need to worry about becoming a focal point. Setting aside the fact that Emperor Danjia may not even come, even if he shows up in person, what of it?"
Having fought Emperor Danjia once already, Jiang Chen no longer held him in the same degree of wariness. In the past, he had always felt at least some apprehension toward a figure of Emperor Danjia's caliber — an extraordinary rogue who had clawed his way to the pinnacle.
But as their clashes accumulated, Emperor Danjia's trump cards and true capabilities had been gradually probed and laid bare.
Under these circumstances, while Jiang Chen had no intention of growing arrogant or underestimating his foe, neither did he need to be particularly afraid.
Seeing that Emperor Wushuang still wished to say something, Jiang Chen smiled: "Rest easy. Even in a crisis, I have my ways of keeping myself safe."
Emperor Wushuang considered this for a moment and had to admit it made sense.
In all the years he had known Jiang Chen, the young lord had faced one battle after another — big and small, dire and otherwise. How many ferocious enemies had he encountered, and how many times had he emerged unscathed?
Now, while the three of them were undeniably powerful, if this matter truly involved so many first-rate sects — and Pill Fire City was likely to be dragged in as well — then their presence or absence would make precious little difference.
In fact, making a public appearance could well do more harm than good.
After all, three emperor-realm cultivators appearing together — even if they disguised themselves, even if they altered their faces — their martial paths were not as varied as Jiang Chen's. They would be far harder to conceal.
The Huai Mountain Double Burn, in particular: two brothers, both emperors. How many such pairs existed among the emperor-realm powerhouses of the entire human domain?
And their fighting style was rather one-dimensional. In the heat of battle, anyone with a keen eye would recognize them at a glance.
In that case, staying hidden would genuinely serve them better than showing themselves.
An appearance would only draw attention, spook the enemy, and potentially bring enormous trouble down on Jiang Chen's head.
For Emperor Danjia, if the chance arose to deal with Young Lord Jiang Chen, he might very well abandon the opportunity to explore the Sunken Fragrance Valley's secret realm altogether.
For Pill Fire City, the headache Jiang Chen had caused them now outweighed any temptation the valley could offer.
"
Emperor Wushuang seldom resorted to threats, but this time he had to put the Purple Smoke Sect's grand elder on notice.
Jiang Chen's identity, as it stood, was extraordinarily sensitive across the entire human domain.
If the Purple Smoke Sect grand elder harbored ill intent and secretly leaked Jiang Chen's whereabouts to Pill Fire City, the consequences for Jiang Chen would be catastrophic.
Emperor Wushuang had no choice but to apply pressure.
The Purple Smoke Sect grand elder hastened to reply: "Senior Wushuang, please rest assured. If I were to betray Young Lord Jiang Chen, may Heaven and Earth strike me down and may I suffer eternal damnation."
Emperor Wushuang gave a faint nod: "See that you remember that."
Jiang Chen smiled: "Brother Mo, there's no need to worry. I've weathered storms far worse than anything this Phoenix Cry Lower Domain can conjure. Nothing here frightens me."
This was no idle boast. Jiang Chen possessed genuine confidence.
That confidence rested not only on his own strength, but on the experience of a previous life to boot.
He was thoroughly intrigued by the Sunken Fragrance Valley. He wanted to know just what extraordinary secrets lay hidden within, secrets great enough to draw so many first-rate sects into the fray.
Clad in the garb of a Purple Smoke Sect disciple, Jiang Chen departed the sect alongside the grand elder, heading straight for the Sunken Fragrance Valley.
The valley lay in the far west of the Phoenix Cry Lower Domain.
And the Phoenix Cry Lower Domain itself sat in the far west of the human domain — even farther west than the
The region where the Phoenix Cry Lower Domain was situated was essentially the western frontier of the human domain. Beyond it lay the Boundary Stelae — the demarcation line between humanity and the other races.
The Boundary Stelae were a legacy of the ancient wars. They served as the border between the great races, a line that must never be crossed.
Once the seal was broken, it would mean the peace between the races had been shattered. The moment the Boundary Stelae fell, the sole barrier separating the races would crumble.
The other races would be free to enter human territory, and humans could venture into the lands of other species.
In the ancient era, the
Before the demonic invasion, the various races of the Divine Abyss Continently had fought one another ceaselessly — clashing, scheming, and warring over territory and resources.
It was only when the demon race invaded that the Divine Abyss Continent finally awakened from its slumber. The great races halted their wars among themselves and turned their blades against the demons.