Jiang Chen was, after all, not a native of the Divine Abyss Continent, nor had he experienced the great chaotic wars between the ancient races. His understanding of the Boundary Stele Realm was quite limited.
However, he had heard others discuss the Boundary Stele Realm more than once — Mo Wushuang, for instance, or the great emperors of the Glazed Glass Royal City.
He knew that the Boundary Stele Realm served to forcibly separate the various races of the Divine Abyss Continent from one another. During the ancient Demon Sealing War, the Boundary Stele Realm had actually been created to prevent the demon tribes from one territory from invading another's lands.
But Jiang Chen suspected that the Boundary Stele Realm wasn't solely about keeping demons out — there were surely elements of mutual suspicion and wariness between the races as well.
In the human territories, even the mightiest forces of the Upper Eight Domains and their supreme martial artists adhered to one iron rule: never trespass into the Boundary Stele Realm.
And certainly never attempt to destroy it.
Because since ancient times, a prevailing belief had circulated throughout the human territories that the Boundary Stele Realm was what safeguarded the peace of a region.
If anyone were to destroy it, they might shatter that peace and bring enormous, unpredictable dangers upon the human territories.
So when he heard the Boundary Stele Realm had been breached, Jiang Chen was utterly shocked.
"I'm going to take a look."
Jiang Chen rose to his feet, ready to go investigate.
The Vermilion Bird Divine Beast blocked him with one sweep of its wing. "You can't go."
Jiang Chen grew anxious. "Why can't I?"
The Vermilion Bird Divine Beast spoke in a complicated tone. "The Boundary Stele Realm was created by countless powerful beings in the ancient era. Ordinary martial artists cannot even pass through it, let alone shatter it. Whoever broke through the Boundary Stele Realm — they come bearing no goodwill, that much is certain!"
Although the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast held Jiang Chen in high regard, it knew that his cultivation was merely at the Imperial Realm. If some other race's forces had truly destroyed the Boundary Stele Realm and invaded human territory, those forces would absolutely not be ordinary — their strength would far surpass the Imperial Realm.
Jiang Chen understood that the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast was stopping him out of good intentions. But how could he sit still at a time like this? If the Boundary Stele Realm was breached, humanity would inevitably face new troubles.
The problem of the Heavenly Demon Lord was already giving Jiang Chen a splitting headache. If, beyond the Boundary Stele Realm, other races had broken through the barrier and were attempting to enter human territory, his head would only grow bigger.
It never rains but it pours — that was exactly the situation he was in.
"You stay here. I'll go take a look." The Vermilion Bird Divine Beast still had the bearing of a senior. Though it was already running on fumes, it was an ancient divine beast after all.
It could not allow a human junior to go risk his life while it sat idle.
After all, guarding this place was the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast's own duty. It felt this was something it was obliged to do.
But Jiang Chen said, "We go together."
The Vermilion Bird Divine Beast was speechless, but it could see that Jiang Chen's attitude was completely serious — no false politeness whatsoever.
With a nod, the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast instructed, "Fine, I'll take you. But you must remember — do not act rashly. Under no circumstances, act rashly!"
Jiang Chen nodded, understanding the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast's meaning. Just as he was about to speak, a piercing, manic laugh suddenly echoed from outside.
"Ha ha ha! I'm the first! I've finally broken through this damned seal! Is this the legendary territory of the humans?"
A rough, booming voice, like rolling thunder, pierced through every spatial barrier and reached Jiang Chen's ears.
"My, my — the humans' territory really is picturesque. Oh? There seems to be a palace here?"
"This place feels a bit strange. Looks like some kind of sect?"
Several more voices followed in succession.
The Vermilion Bird Divine Beast's expression grew solemn, and it said with a bitter smile, "It seems there's no need to investigate. The Boundary Stele Realm has been destroyed. Alien races have entered!"
Jiang Chen's brow arched. "Is it the demon race?"
The Vermilion Bird Divine Beast shook its head, equally uncertain. "Not yet confirmed. The Divine Abyss Continent is home to countless races, and the great races war with and invade each other constantly."
As it spoke, three vortexes suddenly appeared in the high sky above. These vortexes churned with spatial currents, and the thick cloud layers rolled and surged like enormous waves across the heavens.
The three vortexes were purple, azure, and crimson.
From each vortex, a divine figure emerged. From the purple vortex stepped a young man clad in purple robes who appeared extraordinarily noble. His features were strikingly youthful, and judging by his face alone, one could find absolutely nothing to fault — he was more beautiful and refined than most women.
Yet this beautiful face bore a pair of frigid eyes. Those cold eyes seemed to regard the entire world with disdain, surveying this unfamiliar territory with an air of supreme arrogance.
"Heavenly Position powerhouses!"
Jiang Chen stared from afar, feeling the terrifying force of heaven and earth swirling within those vortexes — the speed and magnitude of that circulation were things he could only look up to at his current level.
He could tell from their extravagant entrance and overwhelming aura that these three were absolutely Heavenly Position powerhouses.
The second figure was a bald, brawny man in azure robes. At the back of his bald head hung a thin little braid resembling a mouse's tail, which looked quite comical. But this bald giant was immensely built.
Though his frame couldn't compare to the giants of the Giant Stone race, among ordinary humans, the only person Jiang Chen had seen who rivaled him in size was Tang Hong of the Treasure Tree Sect back in the day.
This man had a tiger's back and a bear's waist, no shorter than Tang Hong.