In the human domain, there were actually quite a few living Heavenly Realm powerhouses. But those who still maintained contact and communicated with one another numbered only about seven or eight.
Among them was Shu Wanqing, who had already been killed by Jiang Chen.
Shu Wanqing's death had, in truth, stirred up quite a heated discussion within the circle of Heavenly Realm powerhouses. These powerhouses had exchanged words about the matter among themselves.
Some were indifferent — it was none of their business, so they kept their hands clean. Others were outraged, declaring that Jiang Chen should be severely punished to teach him how to behave. The more radical among them even proclaimed that Glazed King City should be washed in blood to uphold the dignity of the Heavenly Realm powerhouses.
None of these words were ever put into practice.
In particular, those who had shouted loudest about teaching Jiang Chen a lesson gradually discovered that Jiang Chen was not someone to be trifled with, and their thoughts of finding fault quietly died down.
The same held true of that icy-tempered old man who had once descended upon Glazed King City.
After being rebuffed at Glazed King City, he had gone back and sought out several other Heavenly Realm powerhouses, hoping to bring them along to Glazed King City to cause trouble.
Unfortunately, of the many he approached, some declined on account of other matters, some expressed outright disinterest, and some couldn't even be bothered to respond to him.
He finally managed to find two like-minded individuals. The three of them deliberated and decided to find an opportune moment to go together and suppress Glazed King City.
But then word came that Glazed King City had subdued the Kuman Tribe and taken their Old Ancestor Kuzhu as a servant. This news left the three of them completely dumbstruck.
Their thoughts of causing trouble died on the vine immediately.
Going to provoke Jiang Chen at a time like this was no different from walking to one's death.
Now, Jiang Chen had once again sent out widespread invitations, calling upon all the Heavenly Realm powerhouses of the human domain to visit Glazed King City as guests — to hold a tea gathering and discuss the great affairs of the world.
If it were merely Jiang Chen's personal invitation, they might not have gone. Although they now acknowledged that Jiang Chen was a force to be reckoned with, as veteran Heavenly Realm powerhouses, they still wanted to maintain some airs. They couldn't just show up at his doorstep so casually.
However, it was said that the Heavenly Realm powerhouses who attended this tea gathering would all receive generous benefits.
Although they were skeptical about how many benefits Jiang Chen could actually offer Heavenly Realm powerhouses, the thought of all the miracles he had created along the way made their hearts stir with temptation.
After all, nothing was impossible when it came to Jiang Chen.
Back when Jiang Chen had still been merely a Saint Realm cultivator, he had produced the Myriad Longevity Pill, the Pine Crane Pill, and other astonishing creations.
Now, Jiang Chen was still young and had already advanced to the Emperor Realm. Who could guarantee that he didn't have new creations to unveil?
Crane Driving Mountain was not a particularly prominent peak in the human domain.
That was because ordinary martial artists didn't even know where the mountain was located, nor could they find the coordinates or the entrance to reach it.
For the circle of reclusive powerhouses, however, this mountain was a towering peak — a sacred summit they had to look up to in awe, a presence that left them gazing upward in reverence.
Hidden within this mountain dwelt one of the human race's truly supreme powerhouses — Old Man Heming.
No one knew how old Old Man Heming was, or how many years he had lived.
The reclusive powerhouses of the human domain had heard the legends of Old Man Heming since their youth. By the time they themselves had cultivated to the level of Heavenly Realm powerhouses, Old Man Heming was still alive and well.
And the place where Old Man Heming resided in seclusion was this very Crane Driving Mountain.
At this moment, at the foot of the mountain, a series of pathways — ones that only Heavenly Realm powerhouses could perceive — rippled with fluctuations, one after another.
One Heavenly Realm powerhouse after another emerged from these pathways and entered the heart of Crane Driving Mountain.
At the base of the mountain, before a stone stele, a man in green robes stood gazing around, as if searching for the path up the mountain.
Just then, another figure suddenly appeared nearby — a burly man in crimson robes. The man's lapels were thrown open, revealing half his chest. The chest hair bristled like wild boar bristles, giving him a thoroughly wild look. Coarse, stiff hairs like pig bristles also grew along both cheeks of his face, making him appear quite fierce.
"Old Zhu? You've come too?" The green-robed man called out upon seeing the crimson-robed brawny man.
The crimson-robed man chuckled. "Brother Liu, you got here even earlier."
The green-robed man said, "I wonder if Old Man Heming is in Crane Driving Mountain?"
"Old Man Heming never goes out — of course he's here. Brother Liu, what brings you to see Old Man Heming?" the crimson-robed man asked curiously.
"Sigh, I just want to hear Old Man Heming's thoughts. Glazed King City has sent out invitations for a tea gathering, and I want to see what Old Man Heming makes of it."
"Same as me." The crimson-robed man laughed. "Come on, let's head up the mountain first. I have a feeling quite a few people will show up this time. Until Old Man Heming speaks, no one dares to make a decision on their own."
"Exactly. Last time, Xi Yanbing went to the human domain and strutted around at Glazed King City, and he was apparently criticized by Old Man Heming."
"Hehe, it wasn't that severe. Just a word of caution, really. Surely Old Man Heming won't be too harsh about it."
As the two men chatted, they shot up the mountain.
On Crane Driving Mountain, beside a simple wooden pavilion, an old man sat upon a bare stone slab, strumming his qin for his own amusement.