The Windcloud Cult Master's words truly overturned everyone's understanding.
In their knowledge, the strongest powerhouses in the human domain should have been Emperor-realm cultivators — beings of the caliber of Emperor Danji and the Peacock Emperor.
Anything higher? They had genuinely never heard of it before.
It wasn't until this Windcloud Cult Master appeared, and until Jiang Chen summoned a being from the Giant Stone Clan to suppress Emperor Danji, that the entire human domain gradually came to accept the concept of Heavenly Position powerhouses.
And even that being from the Giant Stone Clan was far from having recovered to its strength from the Primordial Era — at most, it ranked somewhere between half-step Heavenly Position and minor Heavenly Position.
It hadn't even recovered one-fifth of its peak strength.
Moreover, with the current spiritual energy levels and resource levels of the human domain, recovering to peak state was practically impossible.
Because the expenditure required was simply something the human domain could not bear.
The Windcloud Cult Master spoke in a detached tone: "Heavenly Position powerhouses definitely exist. It's just that the war of antiquity inflicted such devastating wounds on the human domain that everyone came to believe humanity had seen the last of the Heavenly Position era. In truth, this was a misconception…"
"A misconception?" Emperor Mo Zhe exclaimed. "Back then, I heard a rumor. They said the Peacock Emperor had touched upon the Heavenly Dao on several occasions but chose not to attempt a breakthrough to the Heavenly Position realm. Some said he feared the human domain's conditions were insufficient and that he would fail the breakthrough. Others said he worried that after breaking through to the Heavenly Position, he would be forced to leave the human domain, and would never be able to fulfill many of his unfinished ambitions…"
The Windcloud Cult Master had not heard this before. He furrowed his brow: "Was something wrong with his head? He touched the Heavenly Dao and didn't seize the opportunity? To be given heaven's gift and refuse it is to invite disaster."
"The Cult Master speaks truly. That Peacock Emperor was a textbook case of refusing heaven's gift and bringing disaster upon himself. Otherwise, how did he end up being killed by the Asura Emperor — a subordinate of the Glazed Jade City — in collusion with Emperor Danji? Perhaps that was heaven's punishment upon him?" An Emperor-realm cultivator well-versed in these old stories spoke up.
Heaven gives you a chance, and you refuse to seize it — naturally heaven grows angry, and naturally it sends calamity upon you.
The Windcloud Cult Master waved his hand dismissively: "Enough. These are all digressions. I, the Cult Master, am telling you — you may look down on the people of the Glazed Jade City, but you absolutely must not look down on the Glazed Jade City itself. The Glazed Jade City is a site of ancient inheritance; even Pill Fire City cannot compare to it. And the three Glazed Jade Towers of the Glazed Jade City are ancient mysteries in their own right."
The Glazed Jade Towers?
Everyone looked at the Windcloud Cult Master in puzzlement.
The Windcloud Cult Master said: "Don't look at me. As for the Glazed Jade City, I don't know much more than you do. However, based on my research into the ancient era, the Glazed Jade Towers undoubtedly hold many primordial secrets. This is also what makes that boy Jiang Chen most dangerous. If he inherits the legacy of the Glazed Jade Towers, even I, the Cult Master, will have to show him a measure of respect!"
The Windcloud Cult Master's origins were unknown, but his knowledge clearly far surpassed that of the cultivators in the human domain. He seemed thoroughly acquainted with many legends and historical events of the human domain, particularly those of the ancient era. Much of what he said was tantamount to sensational secrets for these cultivators.
"Cult Master, what should our next course of action be?"
Now, having received the Windcloud Cult Master's warning, everyone had calmed down from their fervor.
They finally understood why the Cult Master had been dismissive of so many sects in the human domain, yet treated the Glazed Jade City — controlled by a young man — with such gravity.
The reason was clear.
"Indeed, Cult Master, the Glazed Jade City is formidable. But that Jiang Chen is ultimately just a young man. Perhaps we should make good use of the fact that he is young."
"Right. Youth means he lacks sufficient authority. Youth means that to earn everyone's recognition, he needs to accomplish at least double, even five or ten times what others achieve."
"Enough arguing. Listen to the Cult Master."
"Yes, listen to the Cult Master. The Glazed Jade City may be impressive, but it's no match for the Cult Master."
The Windcloud Cult Master smiled faintly: "If the Glazed Jade City is allowed to successfully convene its alliance, it will be nothing short of a blow to our Windcloud Cult's prestige."
"At present, our Windcloud Cult is on the rise, its momentum fierce. If we allow the Glazed Jade City to suppress us, it will be extremely detrimental to our future expansion."
His tone was grave.
"Many factions refuse to acknowledge us simply because they doubt whether our Windcloud Cult can stand against the Glazed Jade City."
"Or perhaps they simply don't believe in our Windcloud Cult."
"Of course, they may also believe the Glazed Jade City and Jiang Chen are unconquerable."
"Unconquerable?" The Windcloud Cult Master smiled leisurely, his tone eerie. "Relay my order — issue an ultimatum to the Heavenly Dragon Sect immediately. If they do not surrender to our Windcloud Cult within one day, the Heavenly Dragon Sect will be struck from the records of the Divine Abyss Continent forever. Not a chicken or a dog will be left alive!"
An order brimming with dominance.
If it were any ordinary faction, they would have no right to say such a thing to a colossus like the Heavenly Dragon Sect.
But the Windcloud Cult had every right.
In the current human domain, perhaps only the Windcloud Cult had the confidence to make such a declaration.
…
Within the Heavenly Dragon Sect's mountain gates, the atmosphere was likewise ominous and oppressive — a feeling of the end of days closing in.
Clearly, the series of devastating blows dealt recently had thrown the entire Heavenly Dragon Sect into a state of panic. If the Heavenly Dragon Sect were not a sect with faith and a legacy, its members would have scattered long ago — who would have remained?
Only a sect like the Heavenly Dragon Sect, which was not merely an organization but bound together by blood ties, could maintain such unity in the face of crisis. This was what held the entire Heavenly Dragon Sect together.