Jiang Chen was somewhat surprised. He never expected that the Purple Smoke Sect ancestor could remain so composed at such a critical moment, refusing to flee into the formation vortex.
"Zitan, why didn't you go take shelter?" Jiang Chen asked through spiritual transmission.
The Purple Smoke Sect ancestor smiled bitterly. "I chose to take my chances."
He was indeed gambling.
Sensing the scorching waves from the Vermilion Bird divine beast pushing forward relentlessly, the fear within his heart was no lighter than anyone else's. He too was terrified, and feared death.
He could even feel those waves of heat continuously devouring his life force.
Jiang Chen cast a complex glance toward the formation vortex, seeing that all the cultivators within had already been enveloped by seven beams of divine light, their figures blurred and indistinct.
He himself didn't know why he wasn't going in.
But deep within his heart, there was indeed a firm voice telling him that he must not go in — absolutely must not!
Cry!
That soul-shaking cry once again rang out clearly.
The Vermilion Bird divine beast blazed like a crimson sun, its waves of heat surging forth like a tidal bore, instantly flooding the entire third-level space.
That burst of scorching crimson light nearly suffocated the Purple Smoke Sect ancestor on the spot. Even a powerhouse of his caliber, at this very moment, felt as though every drop of blood in his body was about to boil over.
The sensation was simply worse than death.
"Daoist Zi, hurry inside!" Some cultivators from the Phoenix Cry Lower Domain shouted loudly.
The Purple Smoke Sect ancestor looked at Jiang Chen, hesitation flickering in his eyes. Jiang Chen, at that moment, stood utterly still like a statue, unmoved.
Suddenly, Jiang Chen raised both hands, and one by one, blue lotuses bizarrely sprang up from every direction, forming concentric rings of protection around him and the Purple Smoke Sect ancestor.
These blue lotuses were none other than Jiang Chen's Ice Fire Demon Lotus.
However, at this moment, he had only activated the ice lotuses. The moment they appeared, the surrounding temperature plummeted, and the Purple Smoke Sect ancestor — who had been on the verge of collapse — suddenly felt immense relief wash through his entire body.
The crowd inside the formation erupted in cries of astonishment.
"What's going on? That… who exactly is that kid?"
"How does the Purple Smoke Sect have such a bizarre character?"
"It looks like… the Purple Smoke Sect ancestor actually needs a young kid to protect him? How bizarre!"
Even Great Emperor Yun Lan furrowed his brow slightly, watching the events unfolding outside with some bewilderment.
The Undying Heavenly Capital powerhouse beside him suddenly blurted out in shock, "These blue lotuses… he… he might be…"
"What?" Great Emperor Yun Lan asked in a deep voice.
"Jiang Chen… that kid might be Jiang Chen!" The Undying Heavenly Capital had always been at odds with Jiang Chen and had studied him more deeply than anyone. Thus, this Undying Heavenly Capital powerhouse was the first to cry out.
Jiang Chen?
Great Emperor Yun Lan was stunned, a murderous light surging in his eyes. "You're saying that kid is Jiang Chen?"
Pill Fire City had sent more than just Great Emperor Yun Lan this time — several Emperor-realm powerhouses had come along. Every last one of them ground their teeth with hatred toward Jiang Chen. After all, Young Master Tian Lin, the son of Great Emperor Pill Extreme of their Pill Fire City, was still in the hands of that kid Jiang Chen!
"Brother Yun Lan, it's entirely possible!" a powerhouse from the Heavenly River Palace reminded him. "The Phoenix Cry Lower Domain isn't far from Glass King City. Compared to that, our Pill Fire City is even farther away. If we came, what reason would Glass King City have not to?"
"True, but did any of you see anyone from Glass King City?"
"That kid is really cunning — hiding his identity every time, playing the pig to eat the tiger!" The more these people thought about it, the more convinced they became that the mysterious kid outside might really be Jiang Chen.
Great Emperor Yun Lan stared fixedly outward, muttering under his breath, "Jiang Chen, Jiang Chen! That kid is our mortal enemy. Who among you is willing to go out and kill him?"
"I'll go!" The Undying Heavenly Capital Emperor-realm powerhouse was the first to volunteer. This time, the Lord of the Heavenly Capital, Luo Jue, had not come in person, but had dispatched another Emperor-realm powerhouse from the Undying Heavenly Capital instead.
It was clear that the Undying Heavenly Capital intended to align itself with Pill Fire City. In the past, the Undying Heavenly Capital had always been an independent sect, unwilling to attach itself to any other power. After all, they were a first-rate sect in their own right, holding lofty status and great authority.
But now, having offended Glass King City and become a thorn in Jiang Chen's side, the Undying Heavenly Capital knew all too well the direness of their position. With no other option, they had no choice but to seek refuge with Pill Fire City and share a common enemy.
"I'll go as well." This was another early-stage Great Emperor from Pill Fire City.
These two volunteers greatly satisfied Great Emperor Yun Lan. He nodded. "Good. Be careful out there. If you succeed, I will personally report to Great Emperor Pill Extreme, and he will surely reward you according to your merits!"
Finally, Great Emperor Yun Lan added one more instruction: "If you can capture him alive, that would be best."
With Young Master Tian Lin currently in Glass King City's hands, if they killed Jiang Chen now, it might provoke Glass King City into completely dropping all pretense.
But capturing Jiang Chen alive would make everything much easier to handle.
The two nodded and stepped toward the edge of the formation.
But the moment they took a step forward, they slammed straight into a barrier of light. The barrier was transparent and invisible, yet upon impact, it rippled with concentric waves that refused to subside.
Hm?
Everyone froze, thinking their eyes were playing tricks on them at the bizarre sight.