The time agreed upon with Mang Qi had finally arrived.
Jiang Chen brought the four great divine beasts back to the Endless Abyss.
On Mang Qi's side, at least several thousand members of the alien races had already gathered here. Jiang Chen swept his gaze over them and couldn't help but marvel inwardly — the demon race truly operated on a grand scale. The cannon fodder they had enslaved alone numbered this many, and their cultivation levels were surprisingly high as well.
Just as Mang Qi had said years ago, there were no fewer than a hundred Heaven-Realm cultivators among them. In truth, upon a closer look, there were at least two hundred Heaven-Realm cultivators.
Most importantly, there were even Divine-Path cultivators among them!
That Divine-Path cultivators had also become puppets of the demon race — even Jiang Chen had to admire the audacity of the demon clan's machinations.
However, these people all had vacant, lifeless eyes. The endless years had worn away almost all of their edge and their spirit.
Now, only the promise of freedom could rouse any semblance of life in them.
"Has everyone arrived?" Jiang Chen asked calmly.
Mang Qi looked somewhat embarrassed. He stepped forward and said, "Not necessarily all of them. Some didn't believe it and refused to come out at all. Those who were willing have gathered here."
Jiang Chen's expression darkened. "Fine. Everyone is entitled to their own choices — I won't force anyone. However, I'm not playing savior either. All of you will need to register. I'll issue each of you an identity certificate. Anyone who tries to force their way through the survival passage without this certificate will be killed without mercy!"
His tone was cold and murderous, and it was clear he was not making empty threats.
A stir rippled through the crowd.
"Silence!" Long Xiaoxuan's dragon roar rang out, the overwhelming dragon might immediately pressing down on everyone until they could barely breathe. They had already been severely weakened by the grand formation — how could they possibly withstand the dragon cry of a Divine-Path true dragon?
Jiang Chen continued in an indifferent tone, "You invaded the human territories. Whether it was under the demon race's coercion or of your own volition, the fact remains that your invasion brought slaughter upon the human lands — that much is undeniable. Being sealed here rather than being wiped out completely already counts as your good fortune. Did you really expect that we humans would greet you with open smiles and welcome you out?"
That was the plain truth, no matter how you looked at it. They were all invaders.
There was certainly no reason for the humans to show them any courtesy.
"Mang Qi, it seems the work you've done over these past three months still wasn't enough," Jiang Chen said coldly. "Tell you what — everyone else can forget it. You and I have an agreement, and I can release you."
Mang Qi's expression changed. He hastily said, "No, Jiang Chen — everyone here is sincere in their willingness to submit and pledge allegiance to you."
Jiang Chen smiled faintly. "Is that so? From the looks on your faces, I can't see much of a will to survive."
Mang Qi turned back to the crowd, visibly anxious. "Everyone, Jiang Chen is one of the very few among the humans you can actually trust. If you can't even trust him, then we'll spend the rest of our lives rotting away in here. The homelands in your hearts — you'll never see them again."
When some in the crowd heard the word "homelands," a flicker of life finally appeared in those dry, hollow eyes.
An elder spoke up, his voice rough and hoarse. "Jiang Chen, in your humans' ancient era, there were men of great character. Are you like them?"
Jiang Chen's brow furrowed slightly. "I've already told Mang Qi everything there is to say. All I know is this — treat me with respect, and I'll return it tenfold. If you don't play any tricks, I won't betray you. But if you try anything, on human territory, even if I let you out, I'll find ways to destroy you."
Mang Qi raised his voice. "Everyone, stop being stubborn! This chance comes only once. If the formation resets and we can't use the survival passage, that's it — our lives end right here."
"Don't you want your freedom? Don't you want to go home and see it one more time?" For these people, freedom and homeland were the only beliefs they still held in their hearts.