If one could say that before Jiang Chen's trip to the Myriad Abyss Island, his relationship with the Heavenly realm experts of the human domain had been one of equals —
Then after his return from the Myriad Abyss Island, and especially after this meeting, the dynamic between them had shifted entirely, with Jiang Chen firmly in the driver's seat.
At this moment, not a single one of these Heavenly realm experts could fail to see that the Jiang Chen of today was no longer the Jiang Chen of old — he was no longer someone they so-called reclusive powerhouses could hope to keep in check.
To put it bluntly, even if all of them charged in together, pooling their combined strength, they probably still couldn't stand against Jiang Chen.
After all, they had heard the rumors. At Jiang Chen's side were two terrifyingly powerful Vermilion Birds and a True Dragon, as well as a White Tiger whose whereabouts remained unknown.
None of these were beings they could contend with.
What's more, they had already accepted Jiang Chen's favor — they had received his "Supreme Celestial Dao" technique, which had elevated their cultivation and helped them break through bottlenecks they had been stuck at for ages.
On the strength of this grace alone, if any of them dared to stand against Jiang Chen, that would be nothing short of betrayal and ingratitude.
In the martial world, not everyone necessarily upheld principles of honor, but for the most part, people would not go out of their way to trample on them.
After the Heavenly realm experts departed, Jiang Chen summoned Cloud Zhongming Huang, who had been stationed at Peacock Sacred Mountain all along.
Cloud Zhongming Huang had long since broken through to the Emperor realm.
Before Jiang Chen had departed for the Myriad Abyss Island, he had made numerous preparations — Emperor Ascension Pills, Imperial Soaring Pills, and similar medicines had been distributed in large quantities.
The martial world, when all was said and done, was a contest of resources. When your resources were superior, it was nearly impossible not to advance in cultivation.
As a result, the overall strength of the Glazed King City had now leapt forward by an entire tier, thoroughly surpassing the era when the Great Peacock Emperor had ruled.
Even with Jiang Chen absent for extended periods, everything in the Glazed King City ran in perfect order. Not a soul dared to stir up trouble.
The reason was simple: the goodwill and the overwhelming pressure Jiang Chen had left behind at Peacock Sacred Mountain were simply too great — so heavy that the people here neither had the heart nor the strength to cause any disturbances.
"Cloud Zhong, relay my order. Have every cultivator at the Emperor realm and above in the Glazed King City come to see me." Jiang Chen issued his command.
Within the Glazed King City's sphere of influence, Emperor realm cultivators were no longer a rarity — far from the days when a handful of Great Emperors had held dominion.
Even at Peacock Sacred Mountain, Heavenly realm cultivators were no longer an uncommon sight.
The former Emperor Mo Wushuang and Emperor Jing Zhonghui had already broken through to the Heavenly realm before Jiang Chen departed for the Myriad Abyss Island, and their cultivation had since advanced further — both were now at the second level of the Heavenly realm.
Of course, others had cultivated all the way to half-step Heavenly realm but remained stuck at that final threshold, unable to make the breakthrough. Emperor Mo Zhe was one such example.
Emperor Mo Zhe had once been ensnared by the Wind and Cloud Sect's machinations, but after the persuasion of Emperor Mo Wushuang and the others, he had pledged allegiance to Peacock Sacred Mountain and earned Jiang Chen's forgiveness.
However, in the human domain, cultivators who had not been blessed with Heavenly realm fortune found it virtually impossible to break through to the Heavenly realm through their own efforts alone.
And so Emperor Mo Zhe remained mired at half-step Heavenly realm, unable to cross that final divide.
There were many cultivators in this situation. Nearly all the sect leaders of the Upper Eight Regions were stuck at this same juncture, unable to break through no matter how long they waited.
Upon hearing Jiang Chen's summons, not a single one dared to dally. They arrived at Peacock Sacred Mountain at the fastest speed they could manage.
Among them was Ancestor Kuzhu of the Bitter Barbarian Tribe.