Those who knew of the Bitter Barbarian Tribe turned pale at the mention of those three words.
The Northwestern Wasteland, the Boundary Monument Realm on the verge of collapse, and the Bitter Barbarian Tribe watching like tigers ready to pounce!
This news was far too shocking.
If the Bitter Barbarian Tribe truly invaded the human race, it could very well spell annihilation for all of humanity. This was no exaggeration.
The Bitter Barbarian Tribe was an extraordinarily cruel race—like a plague, they destroyed everything wherever they went. Wherever they passed, not a chicken or dog was left alive, and not a blade of grass survived.
A slight stir rippled through the crowd. Cultivators who had never heard of the Bitter Barbarian Tribe whispered among themselves, asking those nearby for details.
Those cultivators who knew of the Bitter Barbarian Tribe wore grave expressions as they quietly explained what they knew.
"Before the Windcloud Cult appeared, I too believed that the Boundary Monument Realm in Chenxiang Valley had simply loosened on its own over the ages. Now it seems I may have misjudged the situation."
Su Huanzhen furrowed her delicate brows. "Young Master Jiang Chen, are you suggesting the Windcloud Cult had a hand in this?"
Jiang Chen neither confirmed nor denied. "Everyone, a few years ago, the Northern Alliance attacked our Glazed Jade City. Do you all remember?"
That had been three or four years ago now. But many of the sects present had participated, and they were naturally familiar with the circumstances at the time.
"Back then, Emperor Danji spewed baseless lies, accusing me of destroying the Boundary Monument Realm. At the time, I didn't bother to refute such nonsense. Today, however, I will give everyone an explanation. That Boundary Monument Realm was destroyed by three Heavenly Position powerhouses from the Nandou Li Tribe—not by me. However, after those three Nandou Li powerhouses departed, I did everything in my power to repair the Boundary Monument Realm. But the extent of the repairs, compared to the ancient standard, was clearly insufficient. I cannot guarantee that the Nandou Li powerhouses won't break it open again. Nor can I guarantee that, once the Heavenly Demon Lord regains his peak strength, he won't shatter it!"
Jiang Chen's tone was candid, his gaze clear as he looked at everyone.
"When the Northern Alliance attacked our Glazed Jade City, you all surely remember the imposters who posed as Emperor Yunlan and others."
"Where did those people come from? Do you have your answer now?"
The cultivators in attendance all fell into contemplation.
Su Huanzhen spoke thoughtfully. "If that's the case, then the Windcloud Cult's rise may have appeared to be a matter of the last few years, but it was actually orchestrated long in advance? All of these events had the Windcloud Cult's hand behind them?"
"Indeed. At the time, everyone was puzzled by the origin of those imposters. But looking back now, it must have been the work of the Windcloud Cult," Han Tianzhan nodded in agreement.
"I must admit, I underestimated the Windcloud Cult. Back in Chenxiang Valley, I believed that aside from the human cultivators who entered, no one else was there. Now it seems I greatly underestimated the Windcloud Cult. Everything that happened in Chenxiang Valley—they knew every detail! Precisely because they knew every detail, they were able to create those imposters and exploit the specifics of what had occurred in Chenxiang Valley, making the fakes indistinguishable from the real thing, all to sow discord between our Glazed Jade City and the major forces of the human race!"
Many questions that had puzzled him before now became crystal clear to Jiang Chen.
He was now entirely certain that everything behind the scenes was the work of the Windcloud Cult. The people who had gone missing at the entrance to Chenxiang Valley had likely all been captured by the Windcloud Cult.
Su Huanzhen's tone was grave. "The Windcloud Cult truly stops at nothing. The existence of such a force is no good thing for our human race."
"Indeed. Who knows what disaster they'll bring to the human race next?"
"Those bastards—aren't they human cultivators themselves? What do they gain by destroying the Boundary Monument Realms? Would a foreign invasion not affect them as well?"
The cultivators present were all seething with righteous indignation. Clearly, their dissatisfaction with the Windcloud Cult had reached a boiling point.
This was a matter of fundamental principle—it concerned the survival of the entire human race.
"Young Master Jiang Chen, the Windcloud Cult stops at nothing—we cannot let them run wild!"
"That's right, we must unite!"
"Now the Glazed Jade City is the leader of the human race, and we are all willing to follow Young Master Jiang Chen. Let's take the fight to the Windcloud Cult!"
"Exactly. Even if not for ourselves, we must think of our children and grandchildren. The Windcloud Cult acts against all reason—they're trying to drag the entire human domain into the abyss!"
"We ask Young Master Jiang Chen to give the command!"
Representatives from the various sects, having fully grasped the cause-and-effect at play, voiced their support one after another.
Han Tianzhan spoke in a ringing voice. "Young Master Jiang Chen, in the entirety of the human domain, the only one worthy of rallying everyone's support is the Glazed Jade City. There is no other. At a time like this, I beg you not to hold back."
Su Huanzhen also nodded. "If the Peacock Emperor were here, he would surely shoulder this burden with iron resolve, taking this responsibility upon himself."
"The Moon God Cult is willing to follow Young Master Jiang Chen's lead." Although the Moon God Cult had only sent representatives this time, their stance was firmly resolute.