Ancestor Zhuiyang laughed heartily: "Since you all know the inside story, why bother fighting so hard over it? This Jiang Chen has offended our sect's most promising young genius. In the Great Selection, his death is certain. What is there to make a fuss about? Is he worth chasing?"
"Tsk tsk, what grand words." Ancestor Nine Lions rolled his eyes. "I've heard that some so-called genius disciple, while still in the mundane Eastern Kingdom, was almost wiped out by Jiang Chen. They only survived thanks to a few senior brothers from the sects, bullying the young to save their own pathetic lives."
"Hmph, times change. Back then, Long Juxue had just shed the Azure Phoenix's malevolence, and the potential of her innate constitution hadn't begun to unfold. Now that she has entered my Purple Sun Sect, it's like a dragon returning to the sea—she is destined to churn rivers and seas, to overturn heaven and earth. A mere mundane youth? His fate is to be a stepping stone for Long Juxue's rise, and a utterly insignificant one at that."
Among the four great ancestors, Ancestor Zhuiyang had the most domineering personality.
Ancestor Qianye offered a faint smile: "It seems a bit pointless for us old fogies to be discussing this here, doesn't it? On the path of martial arts, how many brilliantly talented geniuses have eventually fallen to nameless nobodies? You and I may be of the Origin Realm, but in the end, we aren't gods. Who can say for certain what is destined?"
Though his words were indirect, they clearly showed his disapproval of Ancestor Zhuiyang's arrogant certainty.
The ancestors were indeed somewhat envious of the innate constitution. However, a good talent didn't mean everything.
At the very least, Long Juxue being driven to a dead end by Jiang Chen in the mundane world, nearly losing her life—that was a blemish, destined to become an inner demon in her heart.
If this inner demon couldn't be broken, she would have absolutely no hope of entering the Origin Realm in this lifetime.
Not entering the Origin Realm meant she was nothing more than a passing cloud in the eyes of the few ancestors.
In the eyes of Origin Realm powerhouses, only the Origin Realm itself, or those with clear potential to reach it, mattered.
Ancestor Binglan smiled gently: "Brother Zhuiyang, an innate constitution is indeed rare—a sight unseen in a century. That Purple Sun Sect was able to uncover one in the mundane kingdom is truly the sect's fortune. However, considering my Flowing Cloud Sect's ability to discover talent and uncover potential, this junior sister can see that the boy Jiang Chen also harbors great potential and immense energy. And this potential may not necessarily be inferior to that of the Innate Azure Phoenix Constitution."
The Flowing Cloud Sect specialized in discovering geniuses and uncovering the potential of their disciples.
Though Ancestor Binglan's words were as soft as a March spring breeze, they carried a weight that demanded attention.
"Sister Binglan, normally, I wouldn't doubt what you say. However, even if this boy Jiang Chen has some talent, compared to the Innate Azure Phoenix Constitution, it's just a passing cloud. On this point, I am extremely certain. You all know better than I do what an innate constitution signifies."
Ancestor Zhuiyang's tone was equally firm.
Ancestor Nine Lions burst into laughter: "So what if it's an innate constitution? If he can't get past Jiang Chen, then Jiang Chen will be her eternal inner demon. If this inner demon isn't eliminated, what chance do you think she has of entering the Origin Realm?"
When a Spirit King realm expert charged toward the Origin Realm, the power of the mind and spirit was of paramount importance.
Having an inner demon meant there was a major hidden danger within one's spirit. During the breakthrough, the backlash from the inner demon could easily cause its owner to be crippled at best, or drop dead at worst.
This was absolutely no exaggeration.
Ancestor Zhuiyang chuckled: "Precisely because of that, Jiang Chen is Long Juxue's fated enemy. Thus, it is destined that this boy, Jiang Chen, must die by Long Juxue's hand."
None of the ancestors would concede to the others.
It wasn't that they truly liked Jiang Chen or thought highly of him. It was simply that none of them wanted to see Ancestor Zhuiyang actually succeed in cultivating Long Juxue, this bearer of the innate constitution.
It was true that the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance needed geniuses.
However, everyone was selfish, hoping to recruit geniuses under their own banner rather than under a competitor's.
If the geniuses' talents were roughly equal, everyone could share.
But the advantage of an innate constitution was far too great, making the other three ancestors feel somewhat sour, tinged with a touch of jealousy.
Once an innate constitution broke through to the Origin Realm, the advantage of that talent would become even more pronounced. The pace of their strengthening would be unstoppable.
Once that situation materialized, it was very likely that the balance of power among the Four Great Sects of the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance, dividing the world equally, would be shattered.
While the ancestors engaged in their war of words, Xie Tianshu, Wang Tuo, and Wang Rou had all returned to their respective camps.
Judging by their looks, it seemed neither had gained the upper hand; neither had successfully recruited Jiang Chen.
Wang Tuo approached Ancestor Nine Lions and said dejectedly, "Ancestor, your subordinate is incompetent. I failed to recruit Jiang Chen. Please punish me."
"Haha, Wang Tuo, even the Treasure Tree Sect Master himself came out. This is not your fault."
Xie Tianshu smiled bitterly: "Ancestor Nine Lions, Xie is also incompetent. I also failed to recruit Jiang Chen."
"Oh?" All the ancestors turned their gazes toward Wang Rou, wondering if Jiang Chen had actually been persuaded by the Flowing Cloud Sect.
Wang Rou didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Please don't look at me like that, esteemed ancestors. That little fellow Jiang Chen is not as simple as everyone thinks."
"Oh? What exactly happened? Wang Tuo, tell us quickly." Ancestor Nine Lions became immediately interested. The sect masters of the three great sects had all gone, yet none had persuaded a single mundane youth?
Wang Tuo said dejectedly: "That Jiang Chen said that since he came here, he didn't want the forty thousand mundane martial artists present to think that the four great sects were places where you could pull strings to get in. His reasoning was very high-minded—he said for the sake of our four sects' reputation, and to make everyone feel the process was fair, he still believed it was better to participate in the Great Selection and enter the sect based on his own strength, to avoid giving others gossip to spread."
Jiang Chen had indeed said exactly that.
Because he couldn't find a more high-minded excuse.