The Vermilion Bird was still in secluded cultivation.
This time, it was dead set on breaking through to the Divine Dao.
However, things did not go as Jiang Chen expected. The day after his own breakthrough, the Vermilion Bird emerged.
It had not broken through to the Divine Dao.
"Chen Shao, I gave it my best shot. I've pushed every foundational skill to its limit. Everything is ready — all I need now is the right catalyst. This Eternal Sacred Ground is excellent, and the spiritual energy here is superb, but it's simply not the most suitable place for my breakthrough. I need to return to that Shibi Hell Island. That place… is where I have the best chance."
Jiang Chen naturally had no objections. "Breaking through to the Divine Dao is a matter of the highest priority. Wherever you need to go, you have my full support."
The stronger the Vermilion Bird became, the happier Jiang Chen was. After all, it was his most trusted companion — the one with the greatest combat power. The stronger it was, the better.
"The situation at the Eternal Sacred Ground has mostly been wrapped up, hasn't it?"
"Mm. These days, they've been working hard to restore the vitality of the Eternal Divine Kingdom. The situation within the kingdom has now settled. However, the other great divine kingdoms across Myriad Abyss Island are still in a very delicate state. This rebellion was a premeditated conspiracy — the ten great divine kingdoms had secretly coordinated across the board and launched their mutiny simultaneously. But due to issues with manpower and deployment, some kingdoms' rebellions were suppressed before they even had a chance to erupt. Other kingdoms are still in the midst of putting down the unrest. It has to be said — this time, the ten great divine kingdoms of Myriad Abyss Island have absolutely taken a devastating blow to their vitality."
The Vermilion Bird listened and was not particularly surprised. It gave a faint smile. "If your human race could stop fighting among yourselves, you would absolutely secure a place among the heavens. The pity is, internal strife seems to be humanity's greatest trait. At any time, under any circumstances, you never forget to turn on each other. As if those petty interests right in front of your eyes are always more important than the bigger picture."
Jiang Chen had no comeback to the Vermilion Bird's words. Indeed, this was the human race's greatest weakness.
"Young Master Jiang Chen, the Sacred Ancestor has ordered you to come see him at once."
The Sacred Ancestor?
Jiang Chen hadn't expected the Sacred Ancestor to summon him at this time. During this period, the Sacred Ancestor had also been recuperating — resting and recovering his strength.
Ambushed by that Xiahou ancestor and his conspirators, the Sacred Ancestor had expended tremendous energy inside the sealing formation. His power had been considerably weakened. That was why he needed a period of secluded cultivation. Jiang Chen hadn't anticipated that the Sacred Ancestor would emerge from seclusion so quickly.
Jiang Chen did not delay. He held the Sacred Ancestor in genuine respect. At the very least, this old man had been entirely selfless toward Myriad Abyss Island and the Eternal Divine Kingdom, maintaining the front lines at the borderland battlefield all this time, quietly bearing the burden without complaint. That kind of devotion — honestly, Jiang Chen believed he could do it too, but whether he could keep doing it indefinitely was another matter entirely.
When he met the Sacred Ancestor, the old man's complexion appeared to have recovered almost completely.
"Jiang Chen, I hear you've broken through another level in your cultivation recently? Your cultivation speed is really going to shatter the Eternal Sacred Ground's records. To think that our Eternal Sacred Ground would welcome a supreme genius like you — what an unexpected blessing. The Sacred Ground deliberately refrained from bestowing any special rewards this time. You don't have any hard feelings about that, do you?"
Jiang Chen laughed despite himself. "What hard feelings could I possibly have?"
"Haha, I was just worried you might overthink it. Young people — sometimes they get a bit headstrong. But honestly, I don't seem to see any of that in you."
"Heh, if the Sacred Ground really wants to reward me, more resources would be the best reward of all. As for titles and honors, I truly don't mind. Whatever titles — they're not important. Tangible resources are what I need most." Having met the Sacred Ancestor before, Jiang Chen no longer felt the need to be overly formal.
"You brat, when it comes to resources, go talk to the Great Sovereign. He won't refuse you. With your current standing, you're practically half the master of the Eternal Sacred Ground. Whatever you want, are they really going to deny you? Do you even need me to issue a special decree?" The Sacred Ancestor chuckled.
Jiang Chen shrugged and said nothing more.
"Sacred Ancestor, how is the situation across Myriad Abyss Island right now?" Jiang Chen changed the subject.
"Difficult — extremely difficult. Of the ten great divine kingdoms, seven experienced rebellions. The remaining three detected the plots early and suppressed them before they could erupt. Of the seven kingdoms where rebellions broke out, our Eternal Divine Kingdom is the one that quelled the unrest the fastest, with the relatively lowest losses. Besides the Eternal Divine Kingdom, three other kingdoms are also nearing the end of their restoration. The other three kingdoms caught up in rebellion are still engulfed in war, with no end in sight. Whether their Sacred Grounds can ultimately prevail remains uncertain. Right now, three kingdoms have already issued calls for aid to the other divine kingdoms. Our Eternal Divine Kingdom has received one as well."
At this point, the Sacred Ancestor fixed Jiang Chen with a meaningful gaze, his expression laden with implication.
Jiang Chen smiled wryly and rubbed his nose. "Sacred Ancestor, why are you looking at me like that?"
"What do you think?" The Sacred Ancestor's lips curved into a half-smile. "Taking you to the borderland battlefield right now would be too harsh for you. But a call for aid — I think that's more your speed."
"Where to?" Jiang Chen couldn't help asking.