"Young Master Jiang Chen, our Moon Goddess Cult owes you yet another great debt of gratitude," the Grand Priestess sighed.
Jiang Chen descended from the clouds and clasped his fists. "Honored Priestesses, this is no time for pleasantries. The Boundary Stone Realm has been breached, and the Kuman Barbarian Tribe is invading. The northwestern lands will inevitably be engulfed in war sooner or later. The Moon Goddess Cult must decide its course of action now."
Though the immediate crisis had been averted, this did not mean the Moon Goddess Cult had overcome its true ordeal. In truth, the greatest danger had yet to arrive.
The Grand Priestess let out a soft sigh and glanced toward the northwestern wastelands, her eyes filled with deep apprehension. They all felt a profound sense of relief at having narrowly escaped with their lives. Before Jiang Chen's arrival, they had essentially been fighting with the resolve to die. To have survived at all was entirely thanks to his rescue.
In his presence, they truly had no grounds for posturing.
"Let us return to the Moon Goddess Cult first. Young Master Jiang Chen, would you honor us with a visit to our halls?"
Jiang Chen nodded. "I'd be glad to."
Throughout the Moon Goddess Cult, anxiety had been simmering. An inexplicable panic had taken root among the ranks. Only when the three great Priestesses returned did the tension begin to ease.
During their absence, the cult had been rife with rumors and speculation, its members wracked with fear.
The Grand Priestess and the others had seen all of this.
"Young Master Jiang Chen, I'm afraid you're witnessing us at our worst," the Grand Priestess said, somewhat embarrassed by the state of disarray.
Jiang Chen waved his hand dismissively. "There's no need for that, Grand Priestess. Across the entire Human Domain, most sects couldn't hope to match the Moon Goddess Cult's composure. How many sects could maintain their integrity not only against the Kuman Barbarian Tribe, but even against the Storm Cult?"
Indeed, for the Moon Goddess Cult to shoulder such responsibility in this critical moment was no small feat. Had it been another sect, they might well have fled at the first sign of trouble.
The Grand Priestess's expression was somber. Clearly, the expedition to the northwestern wastelands had dealt her a severe blow. The combat strength of the Kuman Barbarian Tribe had made her acutely aware of the gap between them.
Her Moon Goddess Cult was one of the eight great sects of the Upper Eight Domains, yet against the Kuman Barbarian Tribe, it had crumbled like paper. The psychological toll was immense.
"Young Master Jiang Chen, what has become of the Storm Cult's rebellion? Our Human Domain has enjoyed peace for so many years. Why have storms been rising everywhere in recent times? Has the age of turmoil truly begun?" the Grand Priestess asked, her voice hollow.
"Grand Priestess, a transformation in the Human Domain's power structure is inevitable. The Moon Goddess Cult would do well to plan ahead," Jiang Chen said. He knew she wasn't yet ready to accept this reality, but it needed to be said.
The Second Priestess frowned. "Young Master Jiang Chen, your Glazed Royal City is now the leading force of the Human Domain. With the Kuman Barbarian Tribe invading, you should be rallying the human cultivators to fight them to the death. What planning is there to discuss?"
The Second Priestess's words were blunt, but not without merit. Crude in delivery, yet direct in substance.
A glimmer of hope appeared in the Grand Priestess's eyes. "Indeed, Young Master Jiang Chen. With the strength of Glazed Royal City, rallying the heroes of the human race against the Kuman Barbarian Tribe—we may yet stand a fighting chance. The Moon Goddess Cult is willing to follow Glazed Royal City and fight to the bitter end."
Jiang Chen let out a bitter laugh. "Honored Priestesses, I would love nothing more than to station our forces in the northwest and settle this with the Kuman Barbarian Tribe once and for all. However, both of you, stationed in the northwest, may not have a full picture of the current state of the Human Domain. The Human Domain today is like a dilapidated cottage with holes in every wall—the northwest is only one of those breaches. If my assessment is correct, the Boundary Stone Realms across the Human Domain will likely fall one after another. Our Human Domain is already at the point where everyone kicks a broken drum. While my Glazed Royal City is locked in a death struggle with the Kuman Barbarian Tribe in the northwest, the Storm Cult may already be striking at our heartland from behind."
The Grand Priestess's face changed. "Other Boundary Stone Realms..."
Jiang Chen nodded. "The Boundary Stone Realm in Chenxiang Valley has already been breached. Had I not devoted all my efforts to repairing it, several Heavenly-level cultivators from the South Dipper Li Clan would have invaded the Human Domain long ago. The Boundary Stone Realm in the northwest appears beyond repair—the Kuman Barbarian invasion is merely a matter of time. As far as I know, the Human Domain has several Boundary Stone Realms. But the most terrifying threat isn't even that. Do you know where the master of the Storm Cult comes from?"
"Where?" The Grand Priestess's eyes were filled with confusion.
"Myriad Abyss Island." Jiang Chen didn't keep them in suspense.
Every senior member of the Moon Goddess Cult drew a sharp breath. Myriad Abyss Island? Even Myriad Abyss Island had thrown its weight into the affairs of the Human Domain?
If that was the case, then the Human Domain had truly entered a period of desperate vulnerability.
For a long moment, the Grand Priestess was struck speechless. At last, she let out a bitter sigh. "In that case, the Kuman Barbarian invasion truly cannot be stopped?"