Jiang Chen. It was Jiang Chen again.
The cultivators of the Eternal Sacred Land had long since lost count of how many times they had experienced this. Every time the Sacred Land found itself in crisis — even on the brink of utter ruin — it was Jiang Chen who descended like a godsend warrior, turning the tide and saving them from the jaws of disaster.
The cultivators of the Eternal Sacred Land were all beaming with joy as they came out to greet him. Even the two Sacred Lords who had remained behind were exceedingly warm and courteous toward Jiang Chen.
The Second Sacred Lord, who had once harbored certain prejudices against Jiang Chen, no longer dared to bring up any old grievances. In truth, he was now the one at a disadvantage when facing Jiang Chen.
Given Jiang Chen's current status, strength, and influence, let alone someone of the Second Sacred Lord's standing — even the First Sacred Lord would likely have to yield a measure of respect to Jiang Chen.
And if one went a step further, the Sacred Ancestor himself might well need to handle Jiang Chen with some degree of indulgence.
After all, the combat power Jiang Chen had just demonstrated had exceeded anything they could have conceived. Even a Divine Ancestor ancestor would likely have been unable to turn the tide in that desperate situation.
Yet Jiang Chen had done it.
Watching Huang'er emerge from the Sacred Land with a gentle smile on her face, the stone that had been weighing on Jiang Chen's heart finally dropped away. He had rushed back in such a frantic haste precisely because she was the one he worried about most.
Everyone else was quite perceptive and took the initiative to give the couple some space.
Even God Sovereign An Jia Ye was perfectly cooperative at this moment, withdrawing with a smile to give his granddaughter and Jiang Chen room to reunite.
Jiang Chen did not lose himself in sentimental emotions. After sharing a few tender moments with Huang'er, he took the initiative to seek out God Sovereign An Jia Ye.
"My, my — so you're saying their escape from Pingsha Island was entirely your doing?" God Sovereign An Jia Ye clicked his tongue in admiration.
"I only did what needed to be done. By the time we reached the exit of Pingsha Island, it was the ancestors of the Ten Great Sacred Lands who were doing the actual fighting," Jiang Chen said modestly.
"Hmph. After reaping such enormous benefits, the least they could do was fight. Besides, they weren't protecting you for your sake alone — they were fighting for their own survival too. Jiang Chen, the old man appreciates you, I'll grant that. But if you weren't the one my granddaughter has set her heart on, I wouldn't bother being so candid. Since Huang'er is absolutely devoted to you, however, we're family now, and there's no need for us to beat around the bush."
"Please, Senior, speak freely." Jiang Chen might not have been willing to call himself a junior in front of just anyone, but before God Sovereign An Jia Ye, he was unquestionably a junior — and not merely by one generation.
"You captured the two great guardians, Gold and Silver. That old wretch Guangdu will undoubtedly learn of it immediately. Right now, that's a good thing — but if things go wrong, it could become a very bad thing. What if Guangdu flies into a rage and comes personally? Do you have any confidence in handling that?"
In truth, God Sovereign An Jia Ye harbored an intense hatred for Old Man Guangdu. Their animosity in the Infinite Prison had not been a matter of days or even months.
After Guangdu had left the Infinite Prison and arrived at Myriad Abyss Island, he had sought to build his own legacy — to rally a force under his own banner.
God Sovereign An Jia Ye had never thought well of Old Man Guangdu's character, and he held the man in particular contempt for stirring up internal strife at such a critical juncture.
An Jia Ye might not have had deep emotional ties to Myriad Abyss Island, but standing from the broader perspective of the human race, he firmly believed that the greater good should come first.
Yet everything Guangdu had set in motion made one thing unmistakably clear: he was not a man who cared about the bigger picture.
He was nothing more than a opportunist looking to profit from chaos.
Jiang Chen knew that when God Sovereign An Jia Ye raised such a question, there had to be good reason behind it. Those two great guardians had been Guangdu's most trusted confidants — and with his confidants captured, he would naturally find out at the earliest possible moment.