The Vermilion Bird Divine Creature was an ancient being. It naturally knew there were other places on the Divine Abyss Continent as well.
"Young man, I am an ancient being. My understanding of the Divine Abyss Continent is at least equal to yours, if not greater. In the ancient era, I once owed your human race a favor. Guarding this place is my duty. I may fail, but I will absolutely not leave. Do you understand?"
The loneliness endured from ancient times to the present had made the Vermilion Bird Divine Creature remarkably patient with Jiang Chen, this young human who understood the ancient beast language.
Even the Vermilion Bird Divine Creature found it strange that it was explaining so much to a human youth.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen felt a deep sense of respect.
The Vermilion Bird Divine Creature truly deserved its reputation as one of the Four Great Divine Creatures. Its nature was noble, and a single promise from it was worth a thousand pieces of gold. This kind of unshakeable integrity—a promise kept for a hundred thousand years without regret—was worthy of Jiang Chen's utmost reverence.
"If that's the case, then this Heavenly Demon Lord breaking free from the seal is actually a form of liberation for you, Senior," Jiang Chen remarked with a sigh.
The Vermilion Bird Divine Creature replied coolly, "That is simply how you humans think. Once I made my commitment, my foremost priority is to prevent this Heavenly Demon Lord from leaving. How could I neglect my duty—or worse, allow the Heavenly Demon Lord to escape—simply for my own gain or loss? Young man, though you are extraordinary, you are still nothing more than a mediocre mind, far removed from the ancient sages of your human race."
The Vermilion Bird Divine Creature's tone suddenly turned frigid.
Clearly, it felt that Jiang Chen's words were an insult.
Realizing his remark had been out of line, Jiang Chen smiled apologetically. "Senior, I truly spoke out of turn just now. I apologize. However, I still can't give up—I wish to ask Senior for another solution."
"What?"
"Is there any way now to make those people leave that area of their own accord?"
"Almost no chance. Do you really think the Heavenly Demon Lord would let them leave so easily?" The Vermilion Bird Divine Creature shook its head. "Once you enter the tiger's den, there is no hope of escape."
"If that's how it is, then isn't the Heavenly Demon Lord breaking free from the seal an unstoppable trend?" Jiang Chen grew somewhat agitated.
"That is precisely why I told you earlier—it would be best for you to hope that after devouring those flesh and blood offerings, the Heavenly Demon Lord still cannot break free from the seal. Otherwise, your human race is doomed."
The Vermilion Bird Divine Creature was not merely being alarmist.
Jiang Chen felt helpless upon hearing this. Could he simply leave right now? For him personally, that wouldn't be difficult. But where could he go?
Return to the Glazed Royal City?
In the time it took to eat a single meal, the Heavenly Demon Lord could break free from the seal. The human territories were vast, but what place could truly be safe? He, Jiang Chen, could perhaps turtle himself inside the Glazed Glass Tower and never come out.
But what about everyone else?
He was no longer a solitary individual, nor could he simply look out for himself alone. Could he just stand by and watch the loved ones and comrades in the Young Lord's Manor be slaughtered by the demon race? Could he watch them die one by one at the hands of the demons?
Jiang Chen had no doubt that if the demon race made a comeback, their first targets would be top-tier powers like the Glazed Royal City and the first-rank sects. These were the only forces in the human territories currently capable of mounting resistance against the demons.
Killing the chicken to scare the monkey. Once the Glazed Royal City fell, the southern region of the human territories would be lost without question. The demon race would be able to sweep through unopposed.
Leaving now would be no different from burying one's head in the sand.
Jiang Chen also knew that if the Heavenly Demon Lord broke free from the seal very soon, he wouldn't have enough time to make preparations even if he left right away.
The Nine Micro Flying Formation at the Young Lord's Manor was formidable, but it was only effective against Emperor-level powerhouses. A few Emperor-level cultivators couldn't break through the Nine Micro Flying Formation. But that didn't mean a Heavenly Rank cultivator couldn't break through it either.
This Heavenly Demon Lord, as the lord of the Heavenly Demon race and an ancient demon of immense power, would absolutely possess Heavenly Rank cultivation—and not merely that of an ordinary minor Heavenly Rank expert.
For such a demon, the defenses of the Nine Micro Flying Formation would be utterly inadequate.
"Young man, I find you to be a decent sort. If you don't want to die along with the rest, leave now. I have made a commitment to your human race, and even if this Heavenly Demon Lord breaks free from the seal, I will do everything in my power to stop him. If he wants to leave this place, he will have to step over my corpse."
Jiang Chen looked at the serious expression on the Vermilion Bird Divine Creature and knew the other party was not speaking lightly.
"Senior, there must be other ways. The ancient Sacred One Sect was able to set up a formation here and seal this Heavenly Demon Lord, so they must have left behind contingencies. Senior, please think more carefully—perhaps there truly is another way."
Heaven never seals off all paths.
Asking Jiang Chen to simply leave now was something he could not do.
The Vermilion Bird Divine Creature shook its head but said nothing more.
At that moment, a cold, indifferent laugh suddenly drifted from within the sealing formation: "Feathered beast—after all these years, you're just as stubborn as ever!"