Meeting the gaze of everyone present, Jiang Chen smiled calmly. "Friends, this old demon's intentions are clear to all of you. And your intentions are equally clear to me. If anyone still harbors doubts, I will test my own bloodline to prove my innocence once this demon is destroyed. For now, we must keep our minds clear and focused. We cannot give this demon any opening to exploit. If we do, we will regret it bitterly in the future!"
Jiang Chen would naturally not allow Old Man Guangdu to succeed with his scheme. He knew full well that this gambit was crude. But the timing could not have been worse.
The Ten Great Sacred Lands were never a monolithic alliance to begin with, and although everyone understood that Old Man Guangdu's words were likely untrue, some lingering suspicion was inevitable.
The Eternal Sacred Ancestor spoke up with a laugh as well. "If Jiang Chen carried demon bloodline, our Eternal Sacred Land would have detected it during his initial entry examination long ago. Friends, at a critical juncture like this, we absolutely must not fall for this old demon's scheme to sow discord among us."
"Exactly — we cannot be fooled!" the Radiance Ancestor cried out as well.
Several Sacred Land Ancestors immediately stepped forward to voice their support for Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen let out a long, piercing cry. "Old Guangdu, no matter how many cunning schemes you cook up today, you will not escape death!"
"Everyone, attack together — take him down!"
The Vermilion Bird Divine Spirit's eyes blazed crimson, twin infernos raging within them like two volcanoes on the verge of eruption.
The Black Tortoise Divine Beast had likewise fully entered its combat state, sending wave after wave of terrifying gravitational vortexes crashing toward Old Man Guangdu.
The Black Tortoise Divine Beast was not afraid of Old Man Guangdu. Its defensive power was nothing short of astonishing — even Old Man Guangdu would struggle to inflict serious harm upon it.
In this regard, the combination of it and the Vermilion Bird Divine Spirit was uniquely advantageous, their coordination near-perfect.
Just then, from behind the Nirvana Sacred Land, a blinding radiance suddenly erupted. In its wake, the entire expanse of the void seemed to shudder violently.
Countless layers of clouds appeared to receive some secret command, converging frantically toward a single point. The clouds churned and roiled like a furious sea of mist, surging in wild tumult.
From within that sea of clouds, a resonant roar rolled forth — unmistakably another dragon's cry. And this dragon's cry was clearer, more majestic, and more commanding than even Jiang Chen's own.
Between flashes of lightning and peals of thunder, a True Dragon dharma body materialized amidst the flickering radiance of the clouds, appearing and vanishing in quick succession.
Long Xiaoxuan!
Jiang Chen was overjoyed. He responded with a dragon's cry of his own, then exclaimed in delight: "Brother Long, you've broken through!"
At this most critical of moments, Long Xiaoxuan had finally shattered the shackles of the Divine Path, breaking through in a single stride to become yet another Divine Path True Spirit!
Both the Vermilion Bird Divine Spirit and the Black Tortoise Divine Beast were equally thrilled. Seeing Long Xiaoxuan wreathed in clouds and mist, its aura magnificent beyond measure, they were momentarily struck with awe.
The True Dragon clan was, after all, the most noble bloodline among all True Spirits. Even though all four of them shared the lineage of the Four Divine Beast bloodlines, they had to admit that the True Dragon clan's bloodline still held a slight edge over their own.
Now, witnessing the breakthrough aura of a True Dragon — the tremendous heavenly and earthly forces it unleashed — it was as if the entire void were being blanketed by its power. The ground shook, the mountains trembled, and heaven and earth changed color.
After his breakthrough, Long Xiaoxuan's dharma body was visibly different from before. The luster of its scales had become richer and more refined. Those dragon scales emanated a perfect radiance, offering a visual spectacle of exquisite, flowing lines.
Most importantly, that majestic and overwhelming dragon's might left countless cultivators feeling their mouths go dry with awe.
"A True Dragon… a True Dragon! Is this a Divine Path True Spirit?" the Radiance Ancestor murmured under his breath.
Long Xiaoxuan flickered through the void, and its dharma body appeared before Jiang Chen in an instant.
"Brother Long, congratulations. Today, we fight side by side and destroy this old demon!" Jiang Chen called out.
Long Xiaoxuan's gaze was deep and unfathomable. He nodded. "Agreed — let us fight together!"