These guards were obviously not high-level, otherwise they wouldn't have been posted here as gatekeepers for the core disciples. Most of them were at the Heavenly Spirit Realm, or at the Spirit King level.
That was roughly the caliber of personal attendants to the core disciples.
Anyone who had broken through to the Yuan Realm would be qualified to claim a place in Danxia Valley within the Dan Qian Palace.
Before that, all one could do was serve bitterly as someone's attendant, or take on various missions to earn resources.
Thus, within the top sects of the Wanxiang Domain, the Yuan Realm was a critical dividing line.
Breaking through to the Yuan Realm meant stepping onto a broad, bright road.
Before the Yuan Realm, one was destined for mediocrity.
For any martial artist, breaking through the Yuan Realm was like a carp leaping over the dragon gate.
Of course, there were well over a hundred thousand disciples below the Yuan Realm, and only a precious few would actually manage the breakthrough.
One need only look at Danxia Valley to see that even in a fourth-tier sect like Dan Qian Palace, those among the younger generation who could break through to the Yuan Realm were truly one in a thousand.
As a core disciple, no matter how junior his tenure, Jiang Chen was still a core disciple — his status spoke for itself.
If he truly wanted to go on a killing spree and found some pretext to cut down a few guards, no one could argue against it. The slain disciples would have nothing to do but accept their bad luck.
Jiang Chen had risen through a path of constant slaughter, and his killing intent surfaced naturally even in casual speech.
The guards trembled like cicadas in winter, not daring to make a sound.
They had been quietly instructed by someone to find an opportunity to make things difficult for Jiang Chen, to make him miserable.
All they could do was give trouble to Jiang Chen's subordinates and attendants.
As for Jiang Chen himself, he was simply not someone they could afford to provoke.
Jiang Chen's actions filled his attendants with gratitude. They knew that his fury was meant to bolster their standing, to have their backs.
Ever since arriving in Danxia Valley, they had been met with nothing but ridicule and scorn, and their confidence had taken a beating.
Jiang Chen's gesture was precisely what they needed to mend the crack in their Dao hearts.
"Tsk tsk, you just arrived in Danxia Valley, and already your temper's a bit much, isn't it? Throwing your weight around against a few gatekeepers? Feeling good about yourself?"
Suddenly, a sinister voice drifted over from nearby.
Then several more voices, dripping with sarcasm, followed.
"Heh heh, maybe he got used to playing king in some backwater. Now that he's at Dan Qian Palace, he just can't shake the habit."
"This is Dan Qian Palace. That kind of hick temper from a nowhere place like the Sixteen Kingdoms needs to be kept in check. Otherwise, sooner or later, he'll pay the price."
As they spoke, several figures emerged simultaneously from various directions.
Three individuals dressed as core disciples, each trailing several attendants, casually blocked the path — conveniently cutting off Jiang Chen's route back to his dwelling.
Jiang Chen smiled faintly, his Heavenly Eye Divine Pupil having already swept over these characters.
They were roughly at the second or third level of the Yuan Realm — the kind of cannon fodder in the Lingyun area who served as pawns for others.
A playful smile crossed his face as Jiang Chen furrowed his brow slightly. "Good dogs don't block the road. What exactly do you think you're doing?"
"As expected of a country bumpkin — no manners at all."
"Someone who'd dare to offend Senior Brother Yan Hongtu — truly an idiot."
The three of them unleashed their rebukes in succession, completely forgetting that they had been the ones to mock Jiang Chen first, then blocked his path.
Jiang Chen's expression darkened, and he couldn't be bothered with words. "Three words: get lost!"
These small-time players were obviously sent by Yan Hongtu to test him, and Jiang Chen had zero interest in wasting breath on such trash.
But Jiang Chen's attitude only inflamed the three men's fury further.
Though their standing in Danxia Valley was modest, they were still core disciples. And core disciples had their pride.
Especially before Jiang Chen — in terms of seniority and cultivation, they each believed they far surpassed him. Humiliating him, crushing him — in their eyes, it was only natural.
Yet this Jiang Chen actually had the audacity to talk back? To be this arrogant? In their eyes, it was nothing short of an unforgivable offense.
A country bumpkin, standing before three core disciples, daring to retort?
"Jiang Chen, it seems we really need to teach you what the rules of Danxia Valley are!"
The three core disciples exchanged glances and, as one, formed a triangular formation, completely sealing off Jiang Chen's path.
The Dan Qian Palace did not prohibit sparring between disciples — only life-and-death duels required approval from the sect.
Minor scuffles could be settled between disciples on their own.
And so, private brawls in Danxia Valley were as common as could be.
"People like you are going to lecture me on the rules? One question: are you going to get lost or not?" Jiang Chen's brow arched as he barked.
"Jiang Chen, you have two choices: kneel and beg for mercy now, or I'll beat you until you kneel and beg for mercy."
Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed to slits.
In an instant, his expression turned cold. His right hand rose, index finger pointing into the void.
"Scram!"
A piercing shout erupted from Jiang Chen's mouth like a clap of spring thunder. His Evil Golden Eye shot out a fierce gleam, slashing through the void like lightning.
At the same time, his finger pointed, and like a star blazing to life, an endless surge of frost exploded outward, sweeping across the void.
In that instant, the temperature of the void plummeted, as though the very fabric of space had been flash-frozen.
Terrifying cold radiated outward through the void, spreading in the span of a single breath to the feet of the three core disciples. The overwhelming force of the ice bore down on them like an iceberg hurtling straight for their faces.