Seeing Han Shuang soften, Jiang Chen didn't press any further.
"Sect Master, the same question still stands—when you went to explore the forbidden grounds of the Crimson Water Heavenly Pool, what exactly were you after?" Jiang Chen circled back to the very first question he had asked.
Han Shuang's gaze was calm as she fixed it on Jiang Chen. "Elder Zhen, we both swore oaths, didn't we? Whatever we said or intended to do, the other party had the right to keep it secret—and neither side could sabotage or obstruct the other in any form. Correct?"
"That's right." Jiang Chen nodded solemnly. "Rest assured. Since I gave my word, I'll certainly abide by it."
"Elder Zhen, how much do you actually know about the Crimson Water Heavenly Pool?" Han Shuang asked lightly.
"As far as I'm aware, the Crimson Water Heavenly Pool is simply a volcanic lake—just one with an exceptionally dense fire attribute. That's what makes cultivation in the surrounding area particularly advantageous. Beyond that, I genuinely don't know of anything else worth noting." That was indeed the full extent of Jiang Chen's knowledge regarding the Crimson Water Heavenly Pool.
"Heh, so you really don't know the full picture," Han Shuang said with a faint smile.
"Is there some secret about the Crimson Water Heavenly Pool that I'm unaware of?" Jiang Chen considered this and found it rather hard to believe.
His understanding of the Crimson Water Heavenly Pool should have been fairly thorough. There was no reason for the pool to hold secrets he didn't know about. And if such secrets existed, wouldn't his father, the former Celestial Emperor, have known about them back in the day?
Han Shuang nodded slightly, a flicker of hesitation crossing her eyes, but she pressed on. "Elder Zhen, do you remember the time we discussed the matter of the Celestial Emperor's succession? Do you recall?"
That conversation had taken place before the competition for the Crimson Water Heavenly Pool's seat. Of course Jiang Chen remembered.
"I recall that conversation, Sect Master. As I remember, you said you wished for the Profound Origin Grand World to have a powerful Celestial Emperor. Was that the occasion?"
"Yes, that was the one." Han Shuang nodded firmly, emphasizing the point.
"Elder Zhen, how long have you actually lived in the Profound Origin Grand World?" Han Shuang suddenly asked again.
Though her questions seemed to have little to do with the topic at hand, Jiang Chen surprisingly didn't rush her. Instead, he answered earnestly, "I've spent most of my life wandering outside. I haven't stayed in the Profound Origin Grand World for all that long."
"Why haven't you stayed? Is it because the Profound Origin Grand World is too chaotic?" Han Shuang pressed.
Jiang Chen smiled. "You could say that. With the Celestial Emperor changing so frequently in the Profound Origin Grand World, who knows what tomorrow will bring?"
Upon hearing this, the solemn expression on Han Shuang's face eased slightly. She studied Jiang Chen carefully and said slowly, "It's clear that Elder Zhen's views on this matter are very much in line with my own. I believe the majority of cultivators in the Profound Origin Grand World feel the same way."
"Oh?"