Shu Wanqing had lived to such an age that he had clearly long since cast aside all worldly notions of propriety, honor, and shame. A person of his level of existence, once they abandoned worldly prejudices and threw off the trappings of morality — that would be a terrifying thing.
Without question, Shu Wanqing was precisely this kind of person.
In order to preserve his lifespan and conserve his true essence, he could turn a blind eye to everything happening in the human domain. Even if the human domain were engulfed by catastrophic floods, he could maintain a heart as still as calm water, without so much as a single ripple.
Xiahou Jing wore a faint smile on his face, his gaze brazenly scrutinizing Shu Wanqing's expression. As their eyes met, both parties were ceaselessly probing each other.
Shu Wanqing's gaze remained utterly composed, showing virtually no reaction to whatever emotions regarding the Glazed King City flickered in Xiahou Jing's eyes.
"Daoist Shu's resolve of the Dao is truly unwavering. Pursuing the Great Dao with such dedication — how could one possibly fail?" Xiahou Jing's words were impossible to read — whether they were ironic or merely polite.
But Shu Wanqing simply smiled and said, "I thank the Sect Master for his kind words."
"Daoist Shu is a straightforward man. If I were to beat around the bush any further, that would be unseemly. With your cultivation and Divine Abilities, staying in the human domain is truly a waste of your talents. Myriad Abyss Island — that is where you truly belong. I'm not boasting when I say that if you wish to go to Myriad Abyss Island, you can leave that matter to me. Of course, with your Divine Abilities, you might well be able to get there on your own. However, Myriad Abyss Island is simply too mysterious a place for the human domain. Generally speaking, only those from Myriad Abyss Island ever descend upon the human domain. Cultivators from the human domain virtually never make it to Myriad Abyss Island. You simply don't have the coordinates, and without them, you cannot find the way in."
Shu Wanqing nodded in deep agreement and sighed. "It's not that I haven't tried. Unfortunately, every attempt ended in failure. On several occasions, I nearly perished — body and Dao both destroyed. Over time, that desire gradually faded. If the Sect Master hadn't appeared so suddenly, this old man likely would never have set foot in the mortal world again."
For a Heavenly-tier powerhouse, even taking a single step into the mundane affairs of the human domain represented an enormous expenditure.
To preserve their lifespan, they had to live like turtles, avoiding any expenditure whatsoever.
Xiahou Jing murmured thoughtfully, "How many hidden powerhouses of your caliber are there in the human domain?"
Xiahou Jing had long known that the human domain certainly harbored hidden powerhouses. The question was just how many such individuals existed — he had no real estimate.
Shu Wanqing sighed. "How many are there? That's a question even I can hardly answer. The number changes every year. Thousands of years ago, I knew of six. As for how many are still alive now — who can say?"
In the human domain, even after breaking through to the Heavenly tier, without the corresponding resources and spiritual energy environment, a Heavenly-tier powerhouse's lifespan would be severely constrained. Compared to Heavenly-tier cultivators in places abundant with spiritual energy, their longevity would be far, far shorter. In fact, their lifespan was barely double that of an Emperor-tier powerhouse.
This was precisely why no Heavenly-tier powerhouses had emerged in the human domain for so many years.
Xiahou Jing pressed his advantage and asked with a smile, "Does Daoist Shu have any way to contact them?"
Shu Wanqing's tone was indifferent. "Could it be that the Sect Master wishes to recruit them?"
Xiahou Jing didn't deny it. He laughed and said, "I simply hate to see Heavenly-tier powerhouses living so miserably."
"Don't trouble yourself. The fact that this old man is willing to cooperate with the Sect Master doesn't mean every one of them would be. Perhaps some of those old codders with foul tempers, upon learning that the Sect Master intends to stir up trouble in the human domain, would be provoked and do their utmost to obstruct you and ruin your grand plans. If the Sect Master isn't afraid, you're welcome to try contacting them directly."
Not every Heavenly-tier powerhouse shared the same temperament.
"Ha ha ha! Daoist Shu truly is a man who speaks his mind freely!" Xiahou Jing laughed heartily, then dropped the subject of the other Heavenly-tier powerhouses.
Instead he asked, "You mentioned cooperation earlier, Daoist Shu. I wonder what ideas you might have?"
"This old man can only contribute brute force. As for strategy and planning, that's something the Sect Master will have to handle himself." Shu Wanqing was equally direct.
Xiahou Jing's direct subordinates, Elder Peng and Elder Mo, had both fallen, leaving his forces critically weakened. Shu Wanqing's arrival had undoubtedly filled that void.
He would have been a fool not to seize this opportunity with both hands. After all, he no longer had the face to return to Myriad Abyss Island and beg for reinforcements.
If the Xiahou Clan learned of how pathetic he had been in the human domain, his standing within the clan would plummet overnight.
So at this juncture, with a Heavenly-tier powerhouse like Shu Wanqing appearing before him, how could Xiahou Jing possibly let the opportunity slip?
Moreover, Shu Wanqing had single-handedly shattered the Giant Stone Clan's aura field, which spoke volumes about the terrifying extent of his power. He was likely even superior to Elder Peng and Elder Mo.
Xiahou Jing pondered for a moment, then arrived at a plan.
"Daoist Shu, since you are a Heavenly-tier powerhouse of the human domain, if you were to raise your voice and call out, martial artists across the realm would surely rally to your banner. Even if they don't immediately pledge allegiance, they would at least not side with the Glazed King City. With a few iron-fisted measures thrown in for good measure, there's no worry about those factions not falling in line. If we can cut away the Glazed King City's arms and legs, leaving them an isolated force, then dealing with Jiang Chen will be far easier."
Shu Wanqing frowned. "Why make it so complicated? On the surface, this grand struggle appears to be between the Wind Cloud Sect and the Glazed King City. In truth, it's nothing more than a contest between you and Jiang Chen. As long as we find a way to deal with Jiang Chen, every other problem will cease to be a problem."