Just as Jiang Chen was immersing himself in the Scripture Pavilion, one day he received a summons from the City Lord. The City Lord had personally issued the summons, calling together all the selected talents.
This selection had produced over three hundred people from both the qualifying rounds and the elite competition. Over two hundred of them had remained in the City Lord's Manor.
Among them were elite talents like Jiang Chen and Su Hong.
The two-odd hundred people were gathered together, and City Lord Xie Wushang received them personally.
Xie Wushang's face was brimming with a smile: "Everyone, during these past days, I know you've all been getting familiar with the City Lord's Manor, acclimating to it — which is why I haven't called you together for a briefing. I've gathered you here today because there is an important piece of news to share!"
Hearing that it was important news, everyone pricked up their ears, curiosity evident on their faces.
Jiang Chen studied Xie Wushang's expression and figured it probably wasn't anything bad.
"I've just received wonderful news from the General. A certain dangerous area on Dongyan Island will be opened up for all of you to use as a trial ground. Remember — this is an opportunity. An opportunity to make a name for yourselves. If, during the trial, you are fortunate enough to catch the General's eye, then I must congratulate you. You will earn the General's favor and, from the status of convicts, be elevated in one stroke to become the General's death warriors. Perhaps you don't think that's much of a difference. But I can tell you — becoming one of the General's people means you are no longer convicts. You will have freedom. You will gain the right to leave Dongyan Island!"
For the cultivators of Dongyan Island, whether old or young talents, the greatest dream was freedom.
Freedom was the obsession buried in the heart of every cultivator on Dongyan Island.
Even giants like Xie Wushang harbored, deep in their hearts, a yearning for freedom, a yearning to leave Dongyan Island. Even their vast power on Dongyan Island paled in comparison to what freedom meant to them.
If anyone said they could trade their freedom for their power on Dongyan Island, they would hesitate not a single moment and agree on the spot.
Power might bring fleeting pleasure, but the moment they thought of their true status — that they would be confined to Dongyan Island forever, with no freedom, with the General looming over them for eternity — all that authority became utterly tasteless.
Even Jiang Chen felt a stirring upon hearing Xie Wushang's words.
The General places such importance on this? Could this selection be connected to the General himself? If so, was the Huichun Island Domain once again recruiting death warriors from Dongyan Island?
Jiang Chen's interest was piqued. If this selection could earn him the right to leave this place, he wouldn't hesitate to display his true strength.
After all, what mattered most to him right now was not concealing his power, but getting out.
Still, though his heart stirred, Jiang Chen betrayed nothing on the surface. He listened calmly to Xie Wushang's address, trying to glean every bit of information he could from the City Lord's words.
Unfortunately, Xie Wushang didn't reveal much more.
"During the last selection, some of you may have felt your potential wasn't fully showcased. Well, now's your chance. Remember — the General's standards are exceedingly high. You might impress me, but that doesn't mean you can win the General's approval. Whether you rise above the rest depends entirely on you. Before, you couldn't control your own fate. Now, the moment to seize control has arrived. Whether you seize it — that's up to you."
Xie Wushang wasn't overly sentimental, but his words sent a surge of adrenaline through every talent present.
"All right, everyone go back and prepare. Tomorrow at this same time, assemble here. I will personally lead you to the Black Nightmare Mountains."
Xie Wushang gave the order.
Black Nightmare Mountains? Jiang Chen's mind jolted. His studies of the past few days hadn't been wasted. He recalled clearly that the Black Nightmare Mountains were one of the five great danger zones on Dongyan Island.
Moreover, among the five, it was the region with the broadest expanse and the most mysterious character.
In truth, even the most powerful forces on Dongyan Island dared not lightly venture into the core area of the Black Nightmare Mountains.
Why was the trial being arranged there?
A flicker of surprise passed through Jiang Chen's mind. But since the General had made this arrangement, there had to be his reasons. It wasn't Jiang Chen's place to worry about such things.
"Dismissed for now. Remember — be here on time tomorrow. Any who fail to appear without authorization will be treated as traitors." Xie Wushang's tone turned abruptly severe.
Though Jiang Chen had no intention of being absent, this warning still caught him slightly off guard. Was it really necessary to be this grave and solemn over a mere trial?
Jiang Chen had no acquaintances on Dongyan Island and needed to make no special arrangements. He had joined the City Lord's Manor precisely to avoid entanglements with others.
Even with Commander Yong Peng, Jiang Chen had deliberately kept his distance, never having any excessive contact with the man.
It wasn't that Jiang Chen was fickle or forgetful. He simply didn't want to drag too many people into his affairs.
After all, if the day came when he needed to flee this place, anyone too closely tied to him might be implicated.
Jiang Chen didn't want to bring harm to the innocent.
Even the Xinghui father and daughter — he hadn't visited them at the inn.
They had been strangers passing in the night. What Jiang Chen had done was a small favor, nothing more. There was no need for deeper ties, which would only put innocents at risk.
That night, Jiang Chen went nowhere. He stayed in the City Lord's Manor, devoting himself to meditation and cultivation.
After breaking through to the Emperor Realm, Jiang Chen had opened yet another great door and stepped into an entirely new stage. His desire for further advancement burned ever brighter.