After returning to their lodgings, the Yan clan held a brief family meeting and decided to depart the Blue Smoke Island Domain in five days' time, returning to the Eternal Divine Kingdom.
For the remaining five days, the younger members of the clan could spend more time exploring the City of Miracles. They could also work further on the desolate jade obtained from the Ancient Jade Assembly, gradually unlocking its hidden value.
Of course, aside from Yan Qingsang, the rest of the Yan clan's members had achieved only average results. The ancient jade they'd obtained couldn't be considered top-tier in quality.
As a result, for these five days, it made little difference to them whether they visited the ancient jade market or not. The Nongyu Tower, however—a place of pleasure and entertainment—was somewhere they never failed to visit.
Clearly, the exotic allure of foreign lands had given these young geniuses—who were usually quite restrained within the clan—an opportunity to let loose and indulge themselves.
Yan Qingsang, for his part, maintained a high level of self-discipline. Rather than visiting the Nongyu Tower, he dragged Jiang Chen to the ancient jade market every single day.
This earned Jiang Chen a measure of newfound respect for Yan Qingsang. The man could be a bit of a fool at times, but deep down he was someone of tremendous persistence, ambition, and principle.
"Brother, we'll be heading back to the Eternal Divine Kingdom in a couple of days. The two elders have already extended their invitation to you. Whether they can grant you the title of Guest Elder isn't within their current authority—but they asked me to tell you to return with us to the clan, and they'll fight with everything they have on your behalf at the Elder Council. Trust me, the Yan clan's sincerity is genuine." Yan Qingsang looked at Jiang Chen with a serious expression.
This was precisely what Jiang Chen had wanted to happen. For all this time, he had been exercising patience, refraining from making the first move, playing hard to get.
He had to admit, he'd gotten a pretty thorough read on the Yan clan. In the end, they had taken the bait, just as he'd expected.
Jiang Chen feigned deliberation, and after a long pause, he said slowly: "Since the Yan clan has shown such sincerity, I'll accompany Brother Yan to his clan. But let me say this upfront—if the Yan clan lacks sincerity, the moment I arrive will be the moment I take my leave."
Yan Qingsang lit up with joy. "Don't worry, don't worry! If the clan shows any lack of sincerity, I'd be too ashamed to ask you to stay. Brother, let me tell you—if you have ambitions in the martial path, the Ten Great Divine Kingdoms are where you need to be. Wasting your life in this Blue Smoke Island Domain would be a crime against your talent."
Ever since learning that Jiang Chen was the one who had eliminated Xiahou Xi, Yan Qingsang had come to value him even more highly.
Jiang Chen then told Yan Qingsang that he had a disciple who would be accompanying them as well. On this point, Yan Qingsang naturally had no objections.
Jiang Chen returned to the inn and relayed everything to Hua Ming. The young man was overjoyed—his anticipation for the Ten Great Divine Kingdoms far exceeded what Jiang Chen could have imagined.
Jiang Chen settled the bill, and before departing, he took out several Ling Shi to tip the inn's staff, issuing them specific instructions.
"Gentlemen, if a friend surnamed Long ever comes here asking about my disciple and me, please tell him I've gone to the Yan clan in the Eternal Divine Kingdom."
"Yes, certainly!" "We'd be happy to oblige, honored guest!"
Having received Jiang Chen's generous tips, the staff agreed readily enough. It was a small favor that cost them nothing—merely passing along a message was hardly any trouble at all.
After giving his instructions, Jiang Chen led Hua Ming back to the Yan clan's lodgings. The clan members showed mild curiosity upon seeing that Jiang Chen had brought along a disciple.
Still, such master-disciple arrangements were hardly uncommon. They didn't press the matter. The two Yan elders did note, however, that while this boy named Hua Ming had a shallow martial foundation, his talent and potential in the martial path were far from lacking.
Five days later, Huang'er officially received Ling Bi'er. Ling Bi'er traveled with twelve personal guards and four handmaids—a retinue of sixteen in total.
This was hardly an extravagant entourage. For a princess traveling far from home, sixteen attendants was actually quite modest. For those with a taste for grandeur, a hundred times that number wouldn't be considered excessive.
When Huang'er and Ling Bi'er came together, the two young women embraced as though they were long-lost sisters reunited after years of separation.
Huang'er invited Ling Bi'er to her private quarters on multiple occasions, and the two would spend time alone together, chatting away with unrestrained delight.
The Yan clan's return journey would likewise be made by flying ship.
The Yan clan's flying ship had a distinctive design. It wasn't one of the massive vessels, but it was exquisitely crafted—befitting the status of a first-tier clan among the Ten Great Divine Kingdoms.
As Jiang Chen sat aboard the flying ship, his mind wandered through countless thoughts. Looking back on the journey so far, it truly felt like a dream.
The trip to the Blue Smoke Island Domain in particular had unfolded as though guided by some divine hand. Everything had progressed remarkably smoothly. Though there had been a few bumps along the way, the outcome had consistently moved in the direction he'd envisioned.
It almost seemed as though some higher will had truly been at work—drawing him to this Blue Smoke Island Domain, and bringing Huang'er here to attend the Ancient Jade Assembly as well, so that the two could finally meet.
No matter how difficult the future might prove, having found Huang'er and knowing their hearts beat as one, no obstacle it held could frighten Jiang Chen.