Jiang Chen could tell that this Vermilion Bird divine creature was currently in a weakened state — it appeared to be nearing the apex of its life cycle.
That was probably the reason this Vermilion Bird had been so violent all along.
In ancient times, many powerful beings, when their life cycles approached their end, would often resort to extreme measures — slaughtering other creatures, unleashing beast tides to attack human worlds, and other acts of madness.
However, this was merely a guess, and Jiang Chen couldn't be entirely certain.
Because he had always felt that this Vermilion Bird, at the very beginning, hadn't actually wanted human cultivators to intrude upon this secret realm.
The Vermilion Bird divine creature was in a berserk state when it suddenly heard Jiang Chen's Ancient Beast Language and was momentarily stunned.
Evidently, it hadn't expected that this human could understand Ancient Beast Language. Ancient Beast Language was exceedingly profound — even among the human cultivators of the Divine Abyss Continent in ancient times, very few had been able to master it.
"Human…" The divine sense of the Vermilion Bird radiated imposing majesty. "Which sect's lineage do you belong to, that you know Ancient Beast Language?"
The Vermilion Bird's curiosity had clearly been piqued by Jiang Chen.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen knew there was hope, and his heart lightened with joy. At this moment, he already had a space-time talisman seal gripped in his hand. If this Vermilion Bird proved completely impossible to communicate with, he would simply vanish on the spot.
Seeing the Vermilion Bird's current demeanor, he understood that communication was possible.
"Senior, which sect I belong to is not important. What matters is that I know you are in the final stage of your life cycle, and the situation is extremely dire."
"Hmph! Human, don't try your little tricks before me. Your human pettiness is utterly useless against my eyes."
The Vermilion Bird's tone carried a note of disdain.
"With your Divine Ability, Senior, it would be easy enough to exterminate those common folk, but killing me — that may not be so simple. The only reason I stayed behind is that there are a few things I wish to ask you about."
"Ask?" The Vermilion Bird cast a contemptuous glance toward the formation and sneered. "Humans are always the most fond of playing clever. Speaking of which, why didn't you go take shelter inside that formation?"
Jiang Chen shook his head. "First, that formation is bizarre — whether stepping inside means shelter or death remains to be seen. Second, while you are powerful, Senior, I have my own means of self-preservation. Third, I still have some doubts about this entire affair that I haven't been able to clear up. Based on my reasoning, Senior, you should have been trying to prevent human cultivators from entering this secret realm. And the killing at the end should also have had its reasons…"
These words genuinely stunned the Vermilion Bird. Its raised head tilted slightly to one side, its entire plumage blazing like a sacred fire.
Evidently, the Vermilion Bird was sizing up Jiang Chen.
"You human brat, you're at least somewhat different from those fools." The Vermilion Bird carried itself with an air of arrogance, apparently unwilling to explain much further.
Seeing this, Jiang Chen's doubts only deepened.
"Senior, is there perhaps some hidden story behind all of this?" Jiang Chen asked, his expression growing serious.
The Vermilion Bird's attitude remained cold and haughty. "Hmph, I have already done everything I can. Since you human cultivators insist on seeking your own deaths, I won't stand in your way. A pack of fools — such an obvious trap, yet every last one of you is scrambling to throw yourselves in. After all these years, you humans really are just as stupid as ever!"
Trap?
Jiang Chen was quietly alarmed. Truth be told, he had always felt that entering the Sacred One Sect had been far too easy.
Along the way, they had seemingly passed through some trials, but in truth, everything had been dangerous in name only.
Aside from that initial restriction over the rolling magma, there had hardly been any real crisis. Even that restriction appeared to have been set by the Vermilion Bird, and it had suffered interference and disruption along the way, causing it to malfunction briefly.
If not for the Vermilion Bird's final attack at the end, the human cultivators who made it inside would have suffered virtually no casualties.
This was precisely why Jiang Chen had harbored so many suspicions throughout the journey.
"Senior, could you elaborate?" Jiang Chen took a deep breath and asked once more.
"There's nothing more to say. I once owed your human race a debt and took it upon myself to guard this gateway on behalf of the human world, suppressing the Celestial Demon Lord. Over all these years, I've believed I've more than fulfilled my obligations to you humans. And yet, now your human cultivators, blind to their own mortality, insist on delivering yourselves here — giving the Celestial Demon Lord his chance to break free. Your human race is likely on the brink of catastrophe."
What?
Upon hearing these words, Jiang Chen's heartbeat accelerated violently.
Earlier, when the Vermilion Bird had spoken of human cultivators seeking their own deaths, he had assumed it was only referring to that particular group. But from the Vermilion Bird's tone now, it was clear it was talking about the entire human race.
The Celestial Demon Lord?
Though Jiang Chen had never experienced the ancient Demon War on the Divine Abyss Continent, just hearing those four words — combined with the gravity in the Vermilion Bird's tone — was enough for him to understand that the Celestial Demon Lord must be an existence of truly terrifying power.
Could everything that had been happening here be the work of the Celestial Demon Lord?