Mo Wushuang laughed. "For example, the Danqian Palace. Palace Master Danchi ordered his subordinates not to participate in any of the internal strife and bloodshed. He said that the Danqian Palace shared deep ties with the Glazed Palace and couldn't bring shame upon the Glazed Palace's reputation."
Hearing this, Jiang Chen let out a leisurely chuckle. That was indeed Palace Master Danchi's style. The man had principles, carrying a certain scholarly pride about him.
Deep in his heart, there lay a kind of arrogance that ordinary people could never comprehend.
"So does that mean the Danqian Palace is in a pretty sorry state right now?" Jiang Chen asked. He had always given the Danqian Palace considerable support.
The Danqian Palace enjoyed treatment on par with branch forces like Peacock Sacred Mountain.
"Not exactly," Mo Wushuang replied. "Our Glazed Palace didn't intervene, and under Fellow Peacock's restraint, the branch forces under the Glized Palace didn't act either. That made the Danqian Palace the only hope for many secular powers in the surrounding area. Numerous factions near the Danqian Palace, rather than being swallowed up, proactively submitted to the Danqian Palace and sought its protection. So in reality, the Danqian Palace's gains haven't been small at all."
Jiang Chen smiled at this. "By refusing to contend, no one can contend against them. Palace Master Danchi truly understands this principle."
Mo Wushuang nodded with a smile. "Perhaps this is what you call bearing — and confidence. Palace Master Danchi came from a lower domain, yet he's achieved what he has today. Aside from your patronage, Young Master, his own insight and character have been absolutely critical."
"Exactly. Palace Master Danchi and the Peacock Emperor — those two are sect leaders I, Jiang Chen, hold in the highest regard." Jiang Chen nodded. "So what about the other powers? What movements have there been? Tell me everything."
"At the current stage, the Moon God Sect and the Nine Yang Heavenly Sect have been expanding like mad. The Nine Yang Heavenly Sect in particular has already clashed with the Heavenly Sword Sect several times."
"The Moon God Sect has practically devoured a vast stretch of the northern territories. Much of what used to belong to the Dan Fire City and the Heavenly Sound Temple has been swallowed up by the Moon God Sect. Forces like the Heavenly River Palace can only hole up in the northeastern corner. Their losses in this round of competition have been devastating."
"What about the Celestial Cicada Ancient Academy?"
"The Celestial Cicada Ancient Academy has been rather calm about the whole affair. They're not particularly keen on expansion. Their territory hasn't grown much, but no one has encroached on them either. The Academy has become absolutely obsessed with formation arts — their entire domain is covered in protective formations. Ordinary powers don't dare provoke them."
Jiang Chen chuckled softly. The Celestial Cicada Ancient Academy — he naturally knew of them. He'd had no small amount of dealings with them. If he wasn't mistaken, a portion of the Academy's heritage should have originated from the Danxiao Ancient Sect.
They simply hadn't obtained the full legacy of the Danxiao Ancient Sect, but certain techniques and formation heritage from the sect had been subtly preserved within the Celestial Cicada Ancient Academy.
At the same time, a surge of goodwill toward the Academy arose in his heart. In the current state of affairs, managing to avoid grabbing and fighting while faithfully guarding one's own patch of ground was no easy feat.
At this moment, a thought took shape in Jiang Chen's mind.
"Brother Wushuang, please invite Venerable Chongxiao to come see me," Jiang Chen instructed.
Before long, Venerable Chongxiao arrived. Upon seeing Jiang Chen, his expression became quite animated. "Sect Master, you really know how to enjoy the quiet life — vanishing for a full ten years. And you haven't even bothered to look at what a mess the human territories have become."
Jiang Chen let out a chuckle and replied in a leisurely tone, "If I didn't let them make a mess for a while, how would anyone be able to see each other's true hearts? And how would we see the true nature of these human territories?"
Venerable Chongxiao was stunned. After a moment's reflection, he realized that Jiang Chen's words carried remarkable depth.
"Alright, let's set the human territories aside. The reason I asked you here is to discuss the matter of the Danxiao Ancient Sect's legacy," Jiang Chen said with a smile.