The battle between Glazed King City and the Wind Cloud Sect had once again elevated Glazed King City's prestige to new heights.
On top of that, with the release of the antidote for the Wind Cloud Laughing Pill, many cultivators who had previously been coerced under its threat began leaving the Wind Cloud Sect in droves, flooding into Glazed King City.
As for these cultivators, Jiang Chen had no intention of absorbing them into Glazed King City's ranks.
However, anyone who wanted the antidote was required to swear a binding oath: for the rest of their lives, they were never again to serve the Wind Cloud Sect.
These people had never felt any loyalty to the Wind Cloud Sect in the first place. The last time around, they had been captured and forced into its service with no other choice. Naturally, none of them objected to swearing such an oath. Receiving the antidote was a win-win for everyone.
"Young Master, these cultivators are the remaining elite of our human race. Why not absorb them into Glazed King City and put them to use?"
Emperor Panlong was somewhat puzzled. He felt that now, when Glazed King City's prestige was at its peak, was the perfect opportunity to recruit talent and expand their strength.
Jiang Chen smiled. "When we fought Emperor Danji, how many troops did we mobilize? And when we fought the Wind Cloud Sect? How many did we use then?"
Emperor Panlong thought for a moment and smiled ruefully. "That's fair. With the Gold-Munching Mouse clan at our side, Glazed King City is never short of combat power."
"It's not that we're short on combat power — it's that Glazed King City has no need for fair-weather followers. In the world of martial cultivation, many cultivators endure dire circumstances, and it's understandable that some of them become fence-sitters. That can't be helped, and you can't hold it against them too harshly. As long as their bottom line is still intact, they're not irredeemably wicked. That's exactly why I gave them the antidote. People like Emperor Danji and the Asura Emperor — stubborn, unprincipled, with no moral baseline — those are the ones who are truly beyond redemption."
"Of course, I can forgive the fair-weather followers, but I can't see eye to eye with them, let alone entrust them with anything important."
This was Jiang Chen's principle.
He would never slaughter the innocent, and he could understand the hardships others faced. But understanding didn't mean he could be friends with everyone.
Even those who had defected to the Wind Cloud Sect — even if some of them had been forced into it — not everyone among them was suited to join Glazed King City.
Glazed King City's strength had never come from sheer numbers.
In the past, when Glazed King City was compared to Danfire City, it had been at an absolute disadvantage in both heritage and the number of great emperors.
Yet in the end, Glazed King City had easily destroyed Danfire City and crushed the Northern Alliance's schemes.
What they relied on was definitely not overwhelming numbers.
Since ancient times, quality of troops had always mattered more than quantity.
Every single person admitted into Glazed King City had to pass Jiang Chen's personal scrutiny and meet his standards before earning a place among his inner circle.
In the current Glazed King City, even someone like Emperor Niandi had gradually been relegated to the fringes. In fact, Emperor Niandi's influence in the city had long since fallen far behind that of newly elevated emperors like Emperor Panlong.
The reason was simple: one incident after another had made it abundantly clear that while Emperor Niandi might never betray Glazed King City, he was also absolutely not the kind of person to stand firm when it mattered most.
In the end, it came down to a difference in values.
So even though Emperor Niandi was technically the foremost great emperor in Glazed King City after the Peacock Emperor, his standing in Jiang Chen's eyes had been steadily declining.
During the last conflict with the Northern Alliance organized by Danfire City, he had spread pessimistic rhetoric, belittling their own chances.
This time against the Wind Cloud Sect, Emperor Niandi had likewise failed to shoulder his fair share of responsibility. His contributions paled in comparison to those of Emperor Peerless and Emperor Zhongjing.
Emperor Peerless, working as an undercover agent, had willingly disfigured himself without hesitation, and at the critical moment had sent back vital intelligence that proved instrumental in turning the tide against the Wind Cloud Sect.
Emperor Zhongjing, meanwhile, had pinned down the Wind Cloud Sect's other forces.
This was Jiang Chen's approach to choosing his people.
To become a core figure of Peacock Sacred Mountain, one had to be of one mind with Jiang Chen. Emperor Peerless, Emperor Zhongjing, Emperor Panlong, Emperor Jiemies — these were the people who qualified.
The Huai Mountain Twins, of course, as well.
Although Peacock Sacred Mountain was still short on talent, Jiang Chen would never lower his standards for that reason alone. His principle was that it was far better to go without than to settle for less.
"Young Master, Miss Qingxuan is here." Xue Tong stepped through the door and announced.
Upon hearing that Xu Qingxuan had arrived, Jiang Chen immediately understood what it was about. In truth, he had been making arrangements for this matter these past few days as well.
Sure enough, the moment Xu Qingxuan entered, her face was etched with worry, her expression heavy with anxiety. "Brother, so many days have passed, and there's still no news from the Northwestern Wastelands. I'm so worried about Master and the others…"
Jiang Chen was torn inside as well.
Whether or not to go to the Northwestern Wastelands — that was the question.
If they had managed to eliminate the Wind Cloud Sect's Xiahou Jing without a hitch, and if that mysterious hidden human powerhouse hadn't intervened, Jiang Chen would never have hesitated. He would have rushed to the Northwestern Wastelands long ago.