Zuo Lan's sudden recruitment, though somewhat unexpected, was remarkably cunning. It left everyone from the four major sects in a state of inner turmoil.
The three great sects were plainly worried that Jiang Chen might change his mind and be drawn in by Zuo Lan's offer. Although Zuo Lan hadn't made any concrete promises, he was an Earth Yuan Realm powerhouse after all, and his background was far more imposing than the Treasure Tree Sect's.
Moreover, Jiang Chen's affiliation with the Treasure Tree Sect was purely verbal. To date, not even an initiation ceremony had been completed. What sort of attachment could such a Jiang Chen possibly have to the Treasure Tree Sect?
Given such a stark disparity in strength, would he choose to remain with the Treasure Tree Sect rather than throw in his lot with Zuo Lan?
No wonder they were anxious. In a situation like this, most people would choose to pledge themselves to the more powerful Heavenly Sect and serve Zuo Lan, rather than side with the weaker Treasure Tree Sect.
If Jiang Chen defected to Zuo Lan, they would have no trump card left. They'd have no choice but to fight Zuo Lan to the death.
And if they didn't fight, they could only accept the cruel fate of becoming his vassals.
The three great sects were worried, but the Purple Sun Sect was consumed with jealousy and hatred.
Jiang Chen and the Purple Sun Sect had a blood-deep enmity. If Jiang Chen pledged himself to Zuo Lan, his status would rise dramatically—perhaps even eclipsing the Purple Sun Sect entirely.
If that happened, they would never be able to seek revenge against Jiang Chen again, let alone deal with him.
Old Freak Zhuiyang felt as though a venomous snake were gnawing at his heart, but with Zuo Lan speaking, even he didn't dare utter a word of protest.
For a moment, the atmosphere on the scene grew exceedingly strange.
Pairs of eyes were all fixed on Jiang Chen's face. Everyone wanted to see what choice he would make.
Jiang Chen wore a calm, easy smile, clearly disdainful of giving any answer.
From that smile, Zuo Lan seemed to read something, and his voice turned hard: "Jiang Chen, this is your final chance. You come from a lowly, wretched background. If you don't seize this opportunity to change your destiny, then even with whatever petty talent you possess, you'll amount to nothing more than a stray dog roaming the countryside. And you should know—defying an envoy of the Heavenly Sect means only one thing: death."
"Heavenly Sect?"
In this life, the word "Heaven" made Jiang Chen especially sensitive. He had always been thoroughly annoyed by those so-called "geniuses."
And this Zuo Lan, who claimed to come from the Heavenly Sect, made Jiang Chen even more irritated.
"Heaven"—that was the origin of Jiang Chen's previous life, the pinnacle of supreme nobility. Yet here was Zuo Lan, putting on such an arrogant airs. His sect couldn't be any better if it harbored people like him, and they dared call themselves the Heavenly Sect?
Calling themselves the Heavenly Sect was one thing. To stand before him, the son of the Heavenly Emperor, and spout nonsense about destiny and lowly birth—that was something else entirely.
Zuo Lan had no idea that his self-righteous words had completely triggered Jiang Chen's bottom line, stirring up a deep and profound dissatisfaction.
"Zuo Lan, if you want to talk about stray dogs, you really ought to take a look in the mirror. This is Treasure Tree Sect territory, yet here you are, barking endlessly. What else would you call that if not the behavior of stray dogs?"
Jiang Chen smiled coolly. "Remember—my destiny is mine alone to command. I have no need to change anything, and I certainly have no need to defect to your Heavenly Sect to alter my fate. Whether it's the Heavenly Sect or the Underworld, with people like you in it, I'd be ashamed to be associated with you!"
The moment these words left his mouth, the people on the three great sects' side erupted in cheers, applauding one after another. The sound of applause surged like a tide.
Clearly, Jiang Chen's words had drawn a firm line. He had outright rejected Zuo Lan's recruitment and unequivocally sided with the Treasure Tree Sect.
The old patriarchs exchanged glances with one another, all profoundly relieved. Only Ye Chonglou gave a slight nod, as though he had foreseen this very outcome all along. For Jiang Chen's choice, his feeling was nothing but admiration upon admiration.
On the Purple Sun Sect's side, there was no cheering, but every heart secretly loosened.
Old Freak Zhuiyang was particularly delighted, laughing inwardly: "That beast Jiang Chen is young after all—he doesn't know how high the heavens are or how deep the earth goes. His one chance to change his fate, squandered just like that. Good. That way, when I kill him later, I won't have to worry about the Heavenly Sect's envoy disapproving. He's offended Zuo Lan—this brat is as good as dead."
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Zuo Lan's expression darkened abruptly.
He had never imagined that his proposal—even his threats and intimidation—wouldn't produce so much as a flicker of hesitation from the other side.
This Jiang Chen had not only refused him, but had even called them stray dogs in return, and said he would be ashamed to be in the same company as Zuo Lan!
That remark—"whether it's the Heavenly Sect or the Underworld"—was nothing short of naked blasphemy against the Heavenly Sect. Zuo Lan hailed from the Heavenly Sect and took immense pride in it. He would never tolerate even the slightest disrespect toward it!
A layer of frost instantly descended over his face: "Boy, you're refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit. Blaspheming the Heavenly Sect is a crime punishable by the execution of nine generations. Jiang Chen—accept your fate!"
With that, Zuo Lan began gathering his momentum, preparing to strike personally.
"Hold on!" Old Ancestor Qianye could no longer sit still. Jiang Chen had already made his stance clear—if the patriarchs didn't step forward to protect him now, it would be unconscionable.
"Envoy Zuo Lan, in the earlier nine-battle agreement, Jiang Chen has already won two consecutive rounds. You yourself said that as long as we could win one—"
Zuo Lan let out a hearty laugh. "I only said that if you won one round, you'd be qualified to haggle with this envoy. Just now, I already made my offer to Jiang Chen, and he refused. Since he refused, he has no standing to negotiate further."
Old Ancestor Qianye was rendered speechless. The other party had indeed said that winning one round would earn them the right to negotiate.
Zuo Lan's expression turned cold, his tone abruptly frigid as he declared in a loud voice: "From this moment forward, anyone among the Treasure Tree Sect, the Myriad Spirit Sect, and the Floating Cloud Sect who wishes to defect—step over here. Those who refuse to defect will be killed!"
"This opportunity comes but once. Those who do not step over within ten breaths will be deemed to be defying the Heavenly Sect and will all be executed without mercy!" Zuo Lan's gaze swept over everyone in the three great sects with domineering intensity.
Old Freak Jiu Shi flew into a rage: "Zuo Lan, the cream of our three sects' elite are all present here. Are you certain you want to fight us to the death?"
Zuo Lan smiled coldly. "Fight us to the death? You think too highly of yourselves. Killing you hardly requires any great effort. What right do you have to fight an Earth Yuan Realm powerhouse to the death?"
With that, Zuo Lan's body flickered, and like a ghost, he shot toward Old Freak Jiu Shi.
Seeing the ferocity of his approach, Old Freak Jiu Shi didn't dare be careless. He raised both hands to protect his vitals, retreating in rapid steps. The prayer beads of beast bone inheritance around his neck suddenly blazed with streaks of purple light, forming a powerful protective ward. At the same time, Old Freak Jiu Shi thrust both palms forward, and a formidable Yuan Realm wall of energy surged outward.
Clearly, he did not dare underestimate Zuo Lan's aggressive assault.
However, though Old Freak Jiu Shi's defenses were formidable, Zuo Lan's attack was even more so.
In the blink of an eye, Zuo Lan had already arrived at Old Freak Jiu Shi's flank.
Boom!