It wasn't just the young geniuses — even those Wanxiang Domain heavyweights who stood on equal footing with Dan Chi couldn't help showing a flicker of surprise at the sudden surge of pressure radiating from Jiang Chen.
"So this is Jiang Chen? The Sixteen Kingdom Alliance's younger generation actually has a talent like this?"
"My word, unbelievable! The kid can't be more than twenty, yet not only has he broken through to the Origin Realm, his pressure is astonishingly powerful. It seems the Sixteen Kingdom Alliance has been severely underestimated."
"Could the rumors really be true — that this boy slaughtered an Innate Body and crushed the Nine Yang Celestial Sect's Patrol Envoy?"
"Dan Chi has always marched to the beat of his own drum. Looks like this time, the real target of his big wager really might be this Jiang Chen."
The Wanxiang Domain heavyweights were all stunned beyond words. They had previously found Dan Chi's decision baffling, thinking he was playing with fire.
As for the outside rumors that Dan Chi had done all this for Jiang Chen — everyone had dismissed that notion, believing Dan Chi was merely making excuses.
However —
The moment Jiang Chen stepped forward, he completely changed everyone's thinking.
The Wanxiang Domain heavyweights now understood with crystal clarity — the biggest reason Dan Chi had done this was, most likely, Jiang Chen.
"Jiang Chen… you!" Old Freak Zhuiyang stood there gaping, his mouth hanging open, unable to utter a single word.
In that instant, he almost thought he was hallucinating.
The incomparably arrogant Old Freak Zhuiyang had, in the blink of an eye, been crushed pale as earth by Jiang Chen's aura, rendered speechless.
He had only demanded a fight because he was certain of his dominance over the Treasure Tree Sect. For years, Zhuiyang had held an absolute psychological advantage over them.
No matter who stepped up, Old Freak Zhuiyang was confident he could steamroll them.
He hadn't even considered that Jiang Chen might enter the fray. No matter how strong Jiang Chen was, he was still only at the Spirit Realm.
It had been less than a year since the trial at the Undying Spirit Mountain. Back then, Jiang Chen had only just entered the Heavenly Spirit Realm.
In less than a year, no matter how talented Jiang Chen was, breaking through to the Origin Realm was impossible.
So Zhuiyang had never placed Jiang Chen on the list of potential opponents.
But Jiang Chen's sudden appearance and overwhelming entrance had completely shattered his plans, demolishing his beautiful dream into dust.
Jiang Chen had not only stepped up to fight — he had broken through to the Origin Realm.
That alone would have been enough, but the pressure emanating from a mere first-level Origin Realm cultivator had somehow suppressed his own peak third-level Origin Realm cultivation!
Old Freak Zhuiyang's mind simply couldn't process it.
Seeing how things had turned out, Zuo Lan's face turned ashen. His previously smug mood had plunged straight to rock bottom.
It had been his suggestion to send Zhuiyang into battle. What should have been a guaranteed victory had once again been thrown into total disarray by Jiang Chen's appearance.
Feng Beidou barked at Zhuiyang's flustered state: "Zhuiyang, has a single young man who just entered the Origin Realm frightened you out of your wits?"
Hearing this, Zhuiyang's spirit jolted. He quickly collected himself, a chill running through his heart.
After all, he was a monster who had been famous for over a century. Startled back to his senses by Feng Beidou's words, he realized there was no retreat from this battle.
This fight was no longer just about him versus Jiang Chen.
It concerned the victory or defeat of the Nine Yang Celestial Sect against the Danqian Palace.
The outcome would directly determine his own life and the fate of the entire Purple Sun Sect.
If he lost, not only would Old Freak Zhuiyang be finished, the entire Purple Sun Sect would be utterly destroyed.
The Nine Yang Celestial Sect would never permit a defeated general to continue overseeing the Purple Radiance Branch.
A torrent of thoughts spun through his mind, and Zhuiyang gradually calmed down. He was, after all, an old monster on the verge of stepping into the Earth Origin Realm. No matter how monstrous Jiang Chen was, he had only just broken through to the Origin Realm — how much real power could he possibly wield?
That burst of pressure a moment ago had been formidable, but it was very likely just a bluff. With Jiang Chen's twenty years of cultivation, however strong he might be, he couldn't compare to a veteran like Zhuiyang who had been famous for over a century.
In terms of foundation, real combat experience, and trump cards for desperate situations, Old Freak Zhuiyang refused to believe he would lose to Jiang Chen.
Feng Beidou suddenly raised his hand and flung an object toward Zhuiyang, transmitting his voice: "Zhuiyang — you may win, but you must not lose. Take this Ice Fire Spirit Pearl to protect yourself. Any ice or fire attack within the Origin Realm will be rendered ineffective against you."
Old Freak Zhuiyang was overjoyed and hurriedly caught the item.
He bore a deep grudge against Jiang Chen and had studied him thoroughly. He knew Jiang Chen's greatest weapon was the Ice Fire Demon Lotus, which was exceedingly difficult to counter.
If the Ice Fire Spirit Pearl could neutralize all ice and fire attacks, didn't that mean Jiang Chen's unpredictable lotus attacks would be completely useless against him?
Zhuiyang's fighting spirit surged. If that bizarre lotus was ineffective, then dealing with a mere Jiang Chen would be child's play.
Dan Chi watched Feng Beidou hand over the treasure and let out a cold laugh: "Envoy Feng, cheating like this hardly seems above board, does it?"
Feng Beidou replied indifferently: "I haven't sent anyone to help, nor have I broken any rules. What cheating? If your Danqian Palace has anything good to offer, feel free to give it to Jiang Chen — I'll sit right here and watch with great interest."
In terms of resources and treasures, while the Danqian Palace had its share, it obviously couldn't compare to a first-rank sect like the Nine Yang Celestial Sect.