As time passed, the Heaven-Mending Grand Assembly drew ever closer, and alchemy titans from the Ten Great Divine Kingdoms, each bringing their entourages, began to stream into the territory of the Eternal Divine Kingdom.
Though the Eternal Divine Kingdom was comparatively weaker in the field of alchemy among the Ten Great Divine Kingdoms, that did not mean the kingdom itself was weak.
In truth, the Eternal Divine Kingdom was still considered quite powerful among the Ten Great Divine Kingdoms.
As such, when the alchemy titans of the Ten Great Divine Kingdoms entered the territory of the Eternal Divine Kingdom, they did not dare act too presumptuously. Toward the Eternal Divine Kingdom, they had to maintain a necessary degree of respect.
The Eternal Sacred Land, as a sacred land of its own, held a status that none dared slight.
In Jiang Chen's cave abode, Ziche Min had been visiting him at every opportunity over the past few days. With the grand assembly's arrival and the influx of guests from every quarter, Ziche Min's mood had been wildly unsettled. One moment he was agonizing over gains and losses, the next he was giddy with excitement, and then a trace of quiet worry would creep in.
Jiang Chen, on the other hand, was calm and composed as always. On his face, Ziche Min could not see the slightest fluctuation of emotion.
"Elder Ziche, why do you look even more nervous than I am?" Jiang Chen asked with a chuckle.
Ziche Min flushed with embarrassment. "Shao Yuan, you didn't go through what happened with Elder Zi Mu back then—you probably can't understand how we feel. I dare say that even the three Holy Lords must have equally complicated feelings right now."
"There's no need to worry," Jiang Chen said mildly.
Seeing Jiang Chen so confident, Ziche Min's emotions settled slightly, though it was clearly unrealistic to expect him to achieve the same carefree composure.
"Has Shi Xuan arrived?" Jiang Chen suddenly asked.
"He should be arriving soon. He'll definitely be coming regardless," Ziche Min said with certainty. "If not tomorrow, then the day after at the latest."
"Mm. Shao Yuan, have you figured out how to challenge him?"
"Relax, leave that to me. Since the Eternal Sacred Land has given me its full support, I'll make sure to give you all a surprise."
Jiang Chen spoke with absolute composure.
At Ziche Min's age, one might expect him to be beyond getting swept up in enthusiasm, but hearing Jiang Chen's words, he still felt a surge of warmth rush through his chest.
"By the way, Shao Yuan—for this grand assembly, we've invited people from the Yan family. Miss Yan Qinghuang is among those invited." Ziche Min was clearly looking for a topic to motivate Jiang Chen.
"That's good. Was Xiahou Zong invited?" Jiang Chen asked.
"Mm, the Xiahou family was invited, though not any specific individual by name. But given Xiahou Zong's standing, he'll certainly attend," Ziche Min said.
Jiang Chen nodded faintly, and at last, a hint of anticipation flickered in his eyes.
This fated rival—was he finally going to meet him?
The foremost genius of the entire Eternal Divine Kingdom, lauded by everyone—what exactly made him so outstanding? Jiang Chen was genuinely curious.
"All right, Shao Yuan. You have the last three days to prepare, so I won't disturb you any further." Ziche Min rose to take his leave.
Jiang Chen smiled. "Elder Ziche, if you ever feel uneasy, you're always welcome to come chat with me."
Jiang Chen knew, in truth, that Ziche Min came to him not for any particular matter—it was simply that he lacked confidence, which drove him to seek Jiang Chen out at every opportunity.
Jiang Chen was genuinely grateful to Ziche Min. After entering the Eternal Sacred Land and receiving its support, Ziche Min had worked tirelessly on his behalf from beginning to end.
Not long after Ziche Min left, the long-unseen Yan Qingsang slipped over.
Yan Qingsang had been sequestered in closed-door cultivation for some time. Upon seeing Jiang Chen, his eyes lit up and his expression became vivid with excitement. He didn't stand on ceremony with Jiang Chen at all, dropping into a seat before him with a bold, easy air.
"Brother, while I was in seclusion, you've been making quite a name for yourself! I've barely stepped out and the whole sacred land is buzzing about you. Even the people from the Yan family keep sending letters asking about your situation."
Yan Qingsang's tone was brimming with excitement.
Jiang Chen watched Yan Qingsang's animated, spittle-flying enthusiasm for a moment, then suddenly asked: "Do you want to break through to the Heavenly Position?"
Yan Qingsang's eyes went bright. "What do you mean?"
"The Taiyi Heaven-Mending Pill may be useless for ordinary, mediocre Emperor Realm cultivators, but for someone like you who is only a hair's breadth away from breaking through to the Heavenly Position, taking the Taiyi Heaven-Mending Pill would greatly increase your chances of success. It can help you punch through that thin layer of window paper, letting you push open the window and gaze upon the moon—entering an entirely new realm."
After emerging from seclusion, Yan Qingsang had already heard the news about the Taiyi Heaven-Mending Pill. That was precisely why he had come to find Jiang Chen in such high spirits.
He knew that Jiang Chen had recently refined a batch of Taiyi Heaven-Mending Pills, but they had all been handed over to the sacred land. With his status as a newly admitted disciple, there was no way he'd be allocated even a single Taiyi Heaven-Mending Pill. That was why he had rushed over to Jiang Chen in such a hurry.
Perhaps this future brother-in-law could offer a pleasant surprise?
To his astonishment, Jiang Chen didn't beat around the bush at all—he simply produced a Taiyi Heaven-Mending Pill on the spot.
This truly left Yan Qingsang overjoyed beyond his wildest expectations.