In the martial dao world, possessing talent does not guarantee that you can defy the heavens.
Across the myriad great worlds, geniuses with formidable bloodlines and overwhelming talent were as numerous as the fish in a river. Yet in the end, those who truly reached the pinnacle could be counted on one hand.
Why? Because the path of martial dao was an endless gauntlet. No one could guarantee they were the lucky one, destined to reach the end and savor the fruits of the summit.
The martial dao world was an exceptionally cruel place. The kingly road of a peak powerhouse was paved upon countless bones.
The Four Divine Beast true spirit bloodlines were indeed immensely powerful, but they knew full well that without Jiang Chen's support every step of the way, they could never have progressed so smoothly along the path to the peak.
Take the Vermilion Bird divine beast, for example. Without Jiang Chen, he could never have undergone that nirvanic rebirth, let alone broken through to the divine path. How could he even speak of treading the road to the pinnacle?
Then there was Long Xiaoxuan. When Jiang Chen had first encountered him, the young dragon had been locked in a stalemate against an elder of the Carefree Sect — a fifty-fifty coin flip in terms of who would prevail.
As for the Grand Sui White Tiger, without Jiang Chen, whether it could have even awakened its divine consciousness was questionable, to say nothing of reaching its current standing, transcending the myriad realms.
And the Black Tortoise divine beast — back on the island, he had practically been in a state of retirement, sitting idle and waiting for death. Without Jiang Chen, when the demon race invaded, the Black Tortoise would sooner or later have become their thrall, with no possibility of ever turning his fate around. As for setting foot on the path to the pinnacle — that would have been a joke.
It could be said that Jiang Chen had uncovered them, Jiang Chen had given them hope, and Jiang Chen had helped them reach this point.
Setting everything else aside, without the Great Luo Cloud Essence Fruit, their cultivation and their potential could never have been elevated so dramatically.
In the final analysis, they could offer Jiang Chen assistance — but the help Jiang Chen had given them was immeasurably greater.
When it came to having a noble benefactor, Jiang Chen was theirs. All they had done was repay him in kind.
They understood this clearly. Especially after arriving in the myriad great worlds and broadening their horizons, hearing more and more about the wider cosmos — they knew full well how many overwhelming geniuses in a great world ultimately faded into obscurity? Or had perished before they ever had the chance to rise?
For these reasons, the Four Divine Beast true spirits had always been deeply grateful to Jiang Chen, regarding him as their benefactor, as family.
Days passed in this fashion, filled with purpose.
Each day, the Four Symbols True Spirit Diagram was hung in the seclusion chamber, and Jiang Chen cultivated alongside the Four Divine Beast true spirits, fusing their bloodlines.
With the aid of the Four Divine Beast true spirits, Jiang Chen's comprehension and integration of the divine beast bloodlines naturally achieved twice the result with half the effort.
And the Four Divine Beast true spirits, through their blood resonance with Jiang Chen, likewise saw their own realms advancing.
"Gentlemen, since ancient times, the Four Divine Beast bloodlines have essentially been unable to accept one another. As a result, your four divine beast clans have practically never joined forces for anything of consequence. Across the myriad great worlds, the Four Divine Beast bloodlines have largely existed in a state of mutual rivalry. You four, however, can truly be considered trailblazers. You assist me in merging the bloodlines — but in truth, if the four of you were willing to work in concert, it would also be possible to jointly establish an entirely new great world." Jiang Chen chuckled.
The breathing of the Four Divine Beast true spirits grew somewhat ragged.
"Chen Shao, you mean — aside from you, the four of us joining forces could also open up a new great world?" The Grand Sui White Tiger, being the youngest, was the first to speak up in excitement.
"That's right." Jiang Chen nodded with firm conviction.