Chapter 2172: Third Meeting with Mang Qi

At the formation core of the Myriad Domain.

Jiang Chen and Chongxiao Venerable had already arrived at this location several days ago. The formation core at the Nine Suns Heavenly Sect had been fully repaired and confirmed to be free of any issues.

After several days of rotation, the original garrison—Lan Tianhao and Yu Gong's respective teams—had been dispatched to guard the formation core at the Nine Suns Heavenly Sect.

This formation core in the Myriad Domain was no stranger to Jiang Chen. In truth, when he had still been in the Eastern Kingdom, within the Infinite Caverns, he had already discovered the Myriad Spirits Soul-Locking Grand Formation. The difference was that back then, Jiang Chen had no understanding of the formation whatsoever.

This formation ran through the entirety of the Myriad Domain, forming a fan-shaped barrier that forcibly separated the Myriad Domain from the barbaric wilderness beyond.

Upon arriving at this formation core, the first thing Jiang Chen did was make a trip back to the Eastern Kingdom.

The current Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance was entirely different from the one of old. The Treasure Tree Sect had unified the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance, and there was no longer a so-called Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance—only a unified Treasure Tree Alliance.

The current ruler of the Treasure Tree Sect was none other than Elder Ye Chonglou, along with the Treasure Tree Sect disciples who had once been on good terms with Jiang Chen. In particular, the giant Tang Hong had received special care from Jiang Chen, and his strength had become the foremost within the Treasure Tree Sect. Even Elder Ye Chonglou fell short of him by a considerable margin.

Of course, within the Myriad Domain, the Treasure Tree Sect still took orders from the Dan Qian Palace.

But regardless of ties or distance, the current state of the Myriad Domain had changed entirely because of Jiang Chen. After the Scarlet Cauldron Central Domain's invasion, the Myriad Domain had been all but reduced to ruins.

Yet the reconstruction efforts over the years had given the Myriad Domain a completely new face.

The Myriad Domain of today was in no way inferior to the Upper Eight Domains.

Deep within the Infinite Caverns, when Jiang Chen appeared once more, Mang Qi was utterly stunned.

"Mang Qi, we meet again." Jiang Chen's smile was full of quiet wisdom.

If Mang Qi had been able to sense Jiang Chen's arrival the first two times, then this time Jiang Chen's appearance was utterly silent—completely without detection.

Mang Qi had sensed nothing at all.

"Jiang Chen, you've come." Mang Qi's tone was thick with emotion. His gaze lingered on Jiang Chen for a long while, his eyes shifting constantly with a mixture of wonder and disbelief.

"The first time you came, your cultivation was still in the True Qi Realm—pitifully weak. The second time, you had ascended to the Sacred Realm in just a few years. I thought that was a miracle in itself. I never imagined that after so many more years, you would have become… an existence that even I, Mang Qi, cannot see through."

Mang Qi's voice was complex, but then he brightened. "Things never come in threes beyond the third—so this third visit must mean you've brought good news, yes?"

Jiang Chen smiled faintly. "The Myriad Spirits Soul-Locking Grand Formation is now fully under my control. I have also gathered all the resources needed to reactivate it."

"Truly?" Mang Qi's eyes lit up. "If that's the case, then—"

Jiang Chen raised a hand to cut him off. "Wait. Let me ask you something. If you were to leave this formation…"

Mang Qi replied, "I told you last time—I am willing to swear a Heaven and Earth oath that I will never again bring harm to the human territories. Besides, we were merely puppets coerced by the demon race. The demons are our true common enemy."

"You may think that way," Jiang Chen said with a cold laugh, "but how can you be certain that every soul sealed within this formation shares that sentiment?"