The Bitter Barbarian Clan was merely one of the many races inhabiting the Boundary Monument territories in the northwest of the Human Domain. The Human Domain's Boundary Monument territories were numerous.
If every Boundary Monument territory fell one after another and the surrounding races all poured into the Human Domain, treating it as a juicy piece of meat, then wouldn't the Human Domain become nothing more than fish on a chopping block, carved up at will by anyone?
The atmosphere at the gathering grew heavier by the moment.
Yet Han Qianzhan suddenly burst into hearty laughter: "Why is everyone hanging their heads in despair? So what if the Bitter Barbarian Clan is fierce? Were they not driven back by Young Master Jiang Chen? So what if the Nandou Li Clan is fierce? Did their three Heaven-rank experts not obediently slink back to their own territory? So what if the Wind and Cloud Sect was arrogant beyond measure? Were they not taught a thorough lesson by Young Master Jiang Chen? Troubled times give rise to heroes. In our Human Domain, at every critical juncture of survival, hero after hero, leader after leader, continuously rise to prominence and guide our race out of peril. During the ancient Demon Sealing War, the enemies our race faced and the predicaments we endured were far more complex than what we see today. And what was the result? Our race still stands tall and unshaken!"
Grand Emperor Haotian nodded as well: "Since Young Master Jiang Chen first appeared, he has possessed extraordinary fortune. To speak candidly, my Nine Sun Heavenly Sect once had quite a history of conflict with Young Master Jiang Chen. But in time, I divined the grand trend and realized that Young Master Jiang Chen's rise was unstoppable, so I followed the current and turned hostility into friendship. Now, the achievements Young Master Jiang Chen has attained speak for themselves. I, Haotian, can declare with certainty that Young Master Jiang Chen will most assuredly become the leader of the Human Domain and will lead our race out of its current crisis!"
The sect masters of the two most powerful sects had spoken in succession.
The atmosphere at the gathering softened somewhat.
Grand Emperor Jingzhong chuckled: "This old man is an independent cultivator, and it isn't quite my place to say much in a gathering like this. However, I do have my own art of reading people. Young Master Jiang Chen is destined for immense fortune. Whether it's the Bitter Barbarian Clan, the Nandou Li Clan, or even the Demon Clan — if there is one person among our race who can defeat them all, it will undoubtedly be Young Master Jiang Chen, and no one else."
Grand Emperor Jingzhong, one of the six great independent cultivators, held a status in the martial world that was no less than that of many first-rank sect masters.
His words carried considerable weight.
Grand Emperor Wushuang smiled leisurely: "I, Mo, won't say too much. That I'm still alive is thanks to Young Master Jiang Chen saving my life at least three times over. To repay his great kindness, I spent three or four years undercover within the Wind and Cloud Sect. All I'll say is, that Sect Master of theirs puts on quite a show playing the mystic, but when it comes to actually leading a faction, he's far from adequate. Compared to My Radiant Celestial City, the Wind and Cloud Sect is nothing but a jumping clown."
The words of these two great independent cultivators carried no less authority.
Jiang Chen waved his hand and smiled: "You all think so highly of me, Jiang Chen, that I'm rather humbled. There's no need for pleasantries, and this certainly isn't the time for them. Everyone here today — those who are willing to live and die with me, Jiang Chen, and stand against the foreign races, are my kindred in purpose. Those whose resolve is shaky and wavers, please feel free to leave. I give you my word: I will not obstruct you, nor will I make things difficult for you!"
"We are willing to live and die with Young Master Jiang Chen!"
"Yes! We ask Young Master Jiang Chen to take charge, and we will follow him to the death!"
"We'd rather die fighting than become slaves to the foreign races!"
"How can we, cultivators of the human race, act as dogs for the foreign races? How can we let them trample over us?"
The blood of the crowd was stirred, and they roared their voices one after another.
"Words are empty. My Nine Sun Heavenly Sect is willing to swear a blood oath."
"Right, words mean nothing — let it be bound in blood. Should anyone say one thing in public and another in private, harboring divided loyalties, may heaven and earth destroy them!"
"To stand against the foreign races and then harbor treachery would make one worse than a beast, unworthy of being human!"
"Exactly! Young Master Jiang Chen has done so much for our race. If we can't even hold firm on this, are we even human?"
"Now, aside from Young Master Jiang Chen and My Radiant Celestial City, who else can lead our race against the foreign clans?"
Without delay, faction after faction stepped forward to demand the swearing of blood oaths.
This was like a demon-revealing mirror, exposing the many whose wills were uncertain, laying their true natures bare for all to see.
Of course, those who hesitated were ultimately few in number. Apart from a small number of sects who dithered and couldn't commit cleanly, the vast majority swore their oaths with firm resolve.
Jiang Chen did not press those sects with wavering convictions. He simply saw them off with courtesy, escorting them out of My Radiant Celestial City.
What remained were those with unwavering resolve who had chosen to stay.
"Ladies and gentlemen, since you have all decided to remain in My Radiant Celestial City,趁 the situation has not yet descended into full chaos, go back and organize the evacuation of whatever legacies and disciples your sects have yet to withdraw. Use this time to get them to safety. By my estimation, it will not be long before the Human Domain is engulfed in turmoil!"
……
News of what had transpired in My Radiant Celestial City soon reached the Wind and Cloud Sect.
Sect Master Xiahou Jing of the Wind and Cloud Sect was deeply frustrated. He sighed: "Friend Shu, it seems we overestimated this Jiang Chen's integrity."
Shu Wanqing said coldly: "That boy is indeed cunning. But Sect Master Xiahou needn't be so anxious. Even if this kid doesn't mass his forces in the northwest and fight the Bitter Barbarian Clan to the death, will the Bitter Barbarian Clan simply let him be? Right now, virtually all the major powers of the Human Domain have withdrawn to defend My Radiant Celestial City. The Bitter Barbarian Clan's advance southward is unimpeded — sooner or later, they will inevitably arrive at the gates of My Radiant Celestial City."
Xiahou Jing was nonetheless agitated: "If that's the case, who knows how long we'll have to wait."
Shu Wanqing replied mildly: "Do you have a better plan?"
Xiahou Jing sighed: "We must find a way to make the Bitter Barbarian Clan push forward faster."
Shu Wanqing pondered for a moment, then smiled in an eerie fashion: "Making the Bitter Barbarian Clan move faster is not without its means. If the Bitter Barbarian Clan were to suffer a sneak attack — if some important figure were to meet with a mishap — the Bitter Barbarian Clan would descend into a frenzy. Given their temperament, once enraged, they would abandon all restraint and attack with wild abandon. At that point, the Bitter Barbarian Clan would stop at nothing to wage war against My Radiant Celestial City…"
Xiahou Jing's eyes lit up: "Friend Shu truly has the answer! Would you be willing to perform this great service for our sect?"