And
Ziche Min's words had only made this subtext more obvious.
Jiang Chen was a sharp man; it took no more than a hint for him to grasp the full picture.
"Senior Ziche, Xiahou Zong may indeed be formidable, but in this junior's eyes, he is not necessarily beyond surpassing. Even without having broken through to the Heavenly Seat, I have the confidence to say as much. And the day I do break through to that realm, I'll have even more grounds to say it with conviction."
These were not empty boasts from Jiang Chen—they were his honest, innermost thoughts.
Since Ziche Min had raised the topic, he saw no reason for false modesty. Especially when it came to measuring himself against Xiahou Zong, Jiang Chen refused to sell himself short.
Ziche Min, for his part, felt a flicker of surprise. Had they been discussing talent in the Dao of Alchemy, he might not have found Jiang Chen's words out of place.
But what they were clearly discussing now was martial talent. The reason Xiahou Zong's name thundered across the entire Eternal Divine Kingdom was precisely because of his extraordinary martial gifts.
For a moment, Ziche Min was taken aback. He gazed at Jiang Chen with appraising eyes and said nothing, simply studying the young man's expression.
Jiang Chen remained calm and composed. He did not feel the least bit guilty about what he had said, and he knew full well that Ziche Min was weighing him up.
After a long silence, Ziche Min let out a soft sigh. "Shao Yuan, Shao Yuan—do you know that the Eternal Divine Kingdom has not seen a young man like you in a very, very long time?"
"Oh?" Jiang Chen smiled. "Could it be that Xiahou Zong's brilliance is so blinding that no other genius dares even lift their head? That they lack the nerve to speak boldly?"
He was genuinely starting to get curious now. Was Xiahou Zong really that impressive—that every young cultivator in the realm didn't even dare harbor such ambitions?
That seemed a bit too extreme.
"It's not so much that they lack the nerve," Ziche Min replied. "It's simply that everyone regards Xiahou Zong as a monument that this generation cannot hope to surpass. In truth, over the years many young geniuses have challenged him—including the young talents of the Eternal Sacred Land itself. They've repeatedly issued challenges to Xiahou Zong. But without exception, not one of them succeeded."
There was a note of melancholy in his tone, but he smiled shortly afterward. "Enough of this—let's not go too far afield. Young friend Shao Yuan, consider my proposal. I won't assess your bold words for now, but I wholeheartedly welcome you to the Eternal Sacred Land, where you can prove yourself through action. Prove that you are right. Prove that someone in the Eternal Divine Kingdom can challenge Xiahou Zong."
Jiang Chen's heart stirred at Ziche Min's invitation.
However, one lingering concern remained—Huang'er. If he went to the Eternal Sacred Land, he would no longer be able to watch over her day and night. If something unexpected happened…
"Young friend, there are certain things I cannot promise. The grudge between the Xiahou family and the Yan family spans generations—the Eternal Sacred Land would not lightly intervene. Unless one day you demonstrate enough potential to genuinely astonish the Sacred Land, making them feel that intervention is warranted. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Lord Ziche, I understand the logic. My only concern is not about my own potential, but rather—if Xiahou Zong were to emerge from seclusion suddenly, and I were stationed at the Sacred Land, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to reach her in time."
"Heh heh, rest easy on that score. If he comes out of seclusion, the Sacred Land will hear about it. Besides, even when he does emerge, he won't be able to come demanding anyone immediately. Preparing a cultivation furnace requires preparation, numerous steps—it can't possibly happen that quickly."
Jiang Chen considered this carefully and had to admit the reasoning was sound.
Moreover, they were all still in the Divine Capital—not far apart at all. Should something truly unexpected arise, as long as he was informed immediately, he could still make it back in time.
But at this stage, the most important thing was to increase his strength.
In terms of martial cultivation, Xiahou Zong truly held a commanding lead.
Jiang Chen could not yet claim with confidence that he could handle Xiahou Zong.
After all, Xiahou Zong had held the title of the foremost young cultivator for years. There was undoubtedly something extraordinary about him. While Jiang Chen did not fear him, building up his own strength would only give him greater certainty.
With this thought, Jiang Chen finally made his decision.
"Lord Ziche, you have offered me opportunity after opportunity. If I still refuse, it would be rather ungrateful. The Eternal Sacred Land is the foremost power of the Eternal Divine Kingdom—it may truly be a more suitable stage for me. I will go with you, Lord Ziche. As for the Yan family, I believe I have done all I can by them. The only regret is letting down those within the Yan family who supported me. And so, in repayment to the Yan family, I would like to make one small request."
"Whatever the request, feel free to speak." Ziche Min smiled.
"Yan Qingsang of the Yan family is my brother. Might he also be allowed to cultivate within the Eternal Sacred Land? Even just giving him a chance—that would be enough."
"Heh heh, that's no problem. But if Yan Qingsang proves unworthy of the Sacred Land, he will ultimately be cast out. You should be prepared for that possibility."
"If he proves unworthy, I will have nothing to say. This favor would serve as my account to the Yan family, and my repayment to Grand Elder