Seeing Elder Liang's head separated from his body in an instant, Meng Tianxing's body couldn't help but tremble. When he saw the spray of blood, he truly realized that the enemy before him wasn't toying with him—this was someone who could genuinely threaten his life.
In that moment, Meng Tianxing completely lost all his earlier bravado. His face turned ashen, his body shook uncontrollably, and he no longer dared to act tough.
Jiang Chen flashed a strange smile and said to Meng Tianxing, "You should consider yourself lucky. It's not your head that hit the ground."
Meng Tianxing stammered, "Y-yes... brother, so what exactly do you plan to do with me? Are you going to use my identity to threaten my grandfather?"
"You're not as stupid as you look?"
Meng Tianxing immediately said, "No need for threats. Just tell my grandfather that you've captured me and demand he withdraw his troops. He'll definitely pull out of the alliance."
"Really? Are you certain you hold such importance in Meng Qianqiu's heart?"
"Of course! My grandfather already named me as his successor. I am his only hope and the culmination of all his efforts. He would never risk my life."
This Meng Tianxing certainly understood Meng Qianqiu well. However, looking at his wretched demeanor, Jiang Chen felt thoroughly disgusted.
For all his status as a genius of a first-rate power, his performance when things got serious was utterly pathetic—truly disappointing.
It seemed Meng Qianqiu's caliber wasn't much to speak of, either.
But Holy Sovereign Ningyan cautioned, "Don't be deceived by this boy's appearance. Sometimes, people like him are even more dangerous. They can bend and stretch as needed, and when the moment is right, they'll bite you without hesitation. The Meng Qianqiu of old, when he was young, was supposedly just such an oddity. When facing overwhelming power, he might seem completely spineless, but once he finds a chance to turn things around, he'll stop at nothing to strike back."
Jiang Chen's mind sharpened. He cast a meaningful glance at Meng Tianxing. Sure enough, deep within those terrified eyes, there lurked a hint of cunning.
Jiang Chen chuckled. "Meng Tianxing, you may still have a few tricks up your sleeve, but you'd better behave yourself. My mood tends to shift. Right now, I'm planning to use you as a bargaining chip, but if I happen to be in a bad mood, one swing of my blade could end you—it's not out of the question. Don't test my patience with your little schemes. Understood?"
As he spoke, Jiang Chen deliberately slapped Meng Tianxing's face hard.
Meng Tianxing's earlier show of caring more about his face than anything else had clearly been an act to deceive Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen had originally thought this guy was nothing more than a pretty-faced fool. Only after Holy Sovereign Ningyan's warning did he realize it had all been an illusion.
"Young Master Jiang, we have Meng Tianxing in hand. Shall we leave now?" Holy Sovereign Ningyan asked.
"Mm, follow the plan." Jiang Chen nodded.
However, just as he was about to set off, Jiang Chen suddenly grinned. "No rush, no rush. We've come all this way to Meng Lan Sect—we might as well make a profit. If we don't clean the place out, how would we do justice to our little brother Meng Tianxing here?"
Jiang Chen chuckled. "Meng Tianxing, I'll need you to lead the way. Take us to Meng Lan Sect's treasury. You know what I mean."
Meng Tianxing secretly despaired. He was just about to devise a plan when Jiang Chen's voice came again. "Oh, I know you're probably scheming to take us to some insignificant storage room. I'd advise against that. My patience is limited, and my temper is fickle. Don't give me a reason to kill you. You've managed to survive this long—it would be a terrible waste to lose your life before you even see your grandfather, wouldn't it? Meng Lan Sect's treasures can be earned back once they're gone, but your life? Nobody can help you grow a new one."
Holy Sovereign Ningyan watched Jiang Chen handle Meng Tianxing with perfect control and couldn't help but admire him silently.
No matter how unwilling Meng Tianxing was, his life came first. He led Jiang Chen to Meng Lan Sect's most important treasury, satisfying Jiang Chen's desire to loot the place.
Watching Jiang Chen gleefully ransack everything, Meng Tianxing wished he could just die.
But when he saw that Jiang Chen could actually summon the Vermilion Bird and a True Dragon, Meng Tianxing was stunned. Beyond his fear of Jiang Chen, a new sense of curiosity arose.
What manner of being was this? How could he summon the Vermilion Bird and a True Dragon?
"Brother Dragon, this isn't the Eternal Holy Land's treasury, so don't be polite. Take whatever you want—until you can't carry any more. Old Brother Vermilion Bird, don't hold back either."
The Vermilion Bird was quite picky—there were many things it simply didn't care for.
Long Xiaoxuan, however, had no such qualms. After all, he was still at the Heavenly Position realm, and there was plenty here that would be useful to him.
"Holy Sovereign Ningyan, what's seen is shared. Don't be so reserved. If you see something you like, take it. Once we leave, there won't be another chance."
Holy Sovereign Ningyan smiled politely, finding this young man truly amusing.
She had always conducted herself with propriety, doing everything by the book, never having had any wild experiences. Following Jiang Chen on this journey had been truly entertaining.
This unconventional way of handling things was quite novel and thrilling for Holy Sovereign Ningyan—it completely overturned her previous worldview.
"Holy Sovereign Ningyan, don't treat yourself like an outsider. These two are ruthless looters—if you're too slow, there won't be anything left for you!" Jiang Chen urged again.
"Just pretend you're not some great Holy Sovereign right now. Think of it like snatching snacks with your friends when you were a child."
Holy Sovereign Ningyan's heart stirred. Since becoming a Holy Sovereign, she had always done everything properly, never once stepping out of line.
Hearing Jiang Chen's words now, she felt the last embers of her youthful wildness rekindled.