Back at the Evil Star Sect, Han Shuang sought out Jiang Chen the moment she returned and asked him what had happened at the Divine King Manor.
Jiang Chen told her everything openly, hiding nothing.
After hearing the full account, Han Shuang's expression turned complicated, and her tone was even more so: "Junior Elder Zhen, you turned down the position of successor to the Divine King Manor — our sect must truly be honored."
Jiang Chen smiled faintly. "Who asked Sect Master Han to be so charming?"
"Save it. Don't think I don't know — what you're after and what I'm plotting must be one and the same thing. You didn't so much as glance at the position of Divine King vassal lord, so whatever you're looking at must be something even higher than that. Am I right?"
Jiang Chen laughed. "I told you long ago — we're traveling different paths to reach the same destination. Sooner or later, our roads will converge."
"I'm looking forward to that day!" Han Shuang said with a delighted smile.
The two chatted and laughed together. At that moment, from outside Jiang Chen's cave dwelling, came Jiang Huan's hearty laughter.
"Wouldn't have guessed that while I was away, Little Stone, you'd managed to get together with the Sect Master. Seems like I came back at a bad time."
Han Shuang's cheeks flushed for once, and she scolded sweetly: "Senior Elder Zhen, you certainly know how to enjoy yourself. Since joining our Evil Star Sect, aside from the arena battle, you've practically never set foot in the place. Don't you think you've been shirking your duties a bit too much?"
"Hahaha, Sect Master — when we're not around, that's one fewer mouth to feed, isn't it? Think of it as contributing to the sect, saving resources. Besides, if I were home every day, when would you ever get the chance to hook up with our Little Stone here?"
Jiang Huan sauntered in, looking around with exaggerated amazement.
"You work fast! All dressed up so neatly in no time. Must be well-practiced — clearly not your first time."
"Hook up with your big head," Han Shuang pouted, then swept out in a gust of fragrant wind.
"Don't go, don't go — Sect Master, please stay. I'll just make myself scarce."
Though Han Shuang knew perfectly well she had nothing to feel guilty about, she still slipped away at lightning speed, as though Senior Elder Zhen might actually drag her back.
Once Han Shuang had gone, Jiang Huan wore a slightly suggestive smile as he looked Jiang Chen over. "Young Master… you two didn't really get together, did you?"
Jiang Chen replied without much patience: "What do you think?"
"Hard to say. Your taste is impeccable, Young Master, but I can see that Sect Master Han is still a maiden."
"Enough. Cut the nonsense. Where have you been fooling around all this time?" Jiang Chen asked, somewhat irked.
"Fooling around?" Jiang Huan looked affronted. "All the groundwork I've been laying out there was for that one great endeavor. You have no idea — the Taiyuan Grand World is in complete chaos right now. A lot of Divine King cultivators are lying low, refusing to show their faces before the Vassal Lords' Divine King Assembly. The whole Taiyuan Grand World has fallen into white terror. Everyone's walking on eggshells, terrified someone will take them out."
"It's gotten that bad?" Jiang Chen was genuinely shocked.
"I'm not exaggerating one bit. By the way, Young Master — how far along is your bloodline fusion?"
"Past eighty percent already. Completing full fusion before the Vassal Lords' Assembly should be no problem." Jiang Chen spoke with confidence.
"Good — good!" Jiang Huan's eyes shone. "Once you break through to the Divine King realm, fuse your bloodline, and hold the Creation Token in your hands, it will surely acknowledge you as its master. When that day comes, the Taiyuan Grand World will definitely return to you and your father."
As the Taiyuan Heavenly Emperor's most trusted confidant, Jiang Huan had been waiting for this day for a very long time.