In a hidden corner not far from the Heavenly Spirit Region.
Elder Shun had his eyes on everything unfolding in the Heavenly Spirit Region. The moment Jiang Chen removed his mask, a look of expectation fulfilled flickered across the old man's face.
"Huang'er, I'm starting to think that old Qianji's divination is looking more and more accurate. This Jiang Chen could very well be the fated person from that prophecy. Just as I expected, he chose the Treasure Tree Sect. This young man's temperament is truly not simple."
Huang'er's clear, water-like eyes shifted gently. Her elegant figure, graceful as a green lotus, glided upward from below with light, delicate steps.
"Elder Shun, if you're so interested in this young man, why have you been watching him from the shadows instead of approaching him directly?" Huang'er couldn't help feeling a bit curious about Elder Shun's intentions.
"Ha ha, approaching him is certainly something we'll do — but the time isn't right yet. Huang'er, put yourself in his shoes for a moment. If you were a martial artist from a mundane kingdom, and suddenly a power far beyond anything you'd ever encountered showed up at your doorstep, claiming it wanted you to diagnose an illness — even if you were skilled in medicine, would you agree so readily?"
Elder Shun smiled calmly, his eyes brimming with wisdom.
Huang'er's long eyelashes fluttered lightly, and a look of understanding blossomed across her exquisitely beautiful face.
"Huang'er understands."
Elder Shun chuckled. "I've observed this young man, and he has a backbone. Brute force definitely won't work. That's why I saved him before the Erdu Pass — so he'd remember my kindness and gradually open his heart to us. This Jiang Chen is someone who knows gratitude. If we leave a good impression and forge a positive bond, he certainly won't sit idle when we need him. But if I used my status to pressure him or my power to suppress him, given his temperament, it could easily backfire. Even if he agreed verbally, he'd surely go through the motions without real effort."
It had to be said, Elder Shun's grasp of human nature was remarkably precise.
To put it in an apt analogy — if someone from a royal family suddenly burst into a commoner's home and demanded they provide medical treatment, the commoner would naturally grow suspicious, afraid of taking on the risk, and would surely look for ways to decline.
If status was used to pressure them and it triggered defiance, that would be the end of it entirely.
Though Elder Shun possessed absolute power, he had no absolute certainty that he could break Jiang Chen's will and force his submission. Moreover, as a person, Elder Shun would never stoop to bullying someone weaker.
Most importantly, he couldn't afford to gamble.
If Jiang Chen turned out to be the type who would rather snap than bend, someone who refused to yield to intimidation, then everything would be irreparable.
So Elder Shun had been playing the long game, quietly observing Jiang Chen. He wanted to verify further whether old Qianji's prophecy would truly come to pass through Jiang Chen.
Now, after seeing what had happened in the Heavenly Spirit Region, Elder Shun finally had over ninety percent confidence.
He was already considering how to approach Jiang Chen without causing resistance — or better yet, how to make Jiang Chen willing to give his full effort.
Elder Shun knew that whether a healer gave their all or not made a world of difference.
……
In the Heavenly Spirit Region, the sixteen qualifiers had been decided.
Next came the ranking battle among the top sixteen.
"Everyone, although you each already have your place, as the saying goes, 'There is no first in literature, but there is a clear winner in martial arts.' You prodigies of the martial path must settle who is strongest on the arena. So, the ranking battle ahead is just as important to you all. Who can climb to the peak of the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance? Who can stand above every other genius? Who will lead the future of the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance?"
"Now is your chance to prove yourselves on the arena! Show everything you have — all your talent, all your strength, all your passion and courage. Unleash yourselves upon that stage!"
Patriarch Zhuiyang's tone was majestic and imposing, carrying a fearsome killing intent.
Clearly, he intended to reclaim all the face that had been lost when his disciple had betrayed them. He hoped that through this ranking battle, the prestige of the Purple Sun Sect would be restored!
The Purple Sun Sect had the twin safeguards of Long Juxue and Lei Gangyang. They would surely suppress every other genius and sweep through all opposition.
Though Patriarch Zhuiyang's words were inspiring, each of the martial artists had their own plans. Clearly, they hadn't been so swept up by his passionate speech that they lost all sense of caution.
On the martial path, everyone played their own cards.
Still, nobody was opposed to the ranking battle.
If there was anyone besides the Purple Sun Sect who looked forward to it the most, it was Jiang Chen.
The rules for the ranking battle were the same as the previous elimination rounds.
First faced sixteenth, second faced fifteenth, and so on.
Of course, the rankings were based on the order of the previous selection.
So Liu Wencai was ranked sixteenth, and his opponent was none other than Long Juxue.
The second-ranked Lei Gangyang's opponent was his fellow disciple Luo Huang.
The third-ranked Luo Xi's opponent was Luo Shuihan from the Flowing Cloud Sect.
……
And Jiang Chen's opponent was a disciple from the Myriad Spirit Sect.
Although Liu Wencai's talent had been unlocked, his starting point was far below Long Juxue's. So in this fight, while he didn't make it easy for Long Juxue to win, neither did he pose much of a challenge.
The Nine Lion Old Monster had been watching this fight intently, clearly on guard against Long Juxue making a lethal move against Liu Wencai.