His tone suddenly turned frigid, and
Clearly, Wang Han hadn't recognized that the
Jiang Chen gave an unhurried smile. "Wang Han, anyone can boast. I suppose you've forgotten the time you were forced to slap yourself in front of everyone?"
Never shame a man for his shortcomings, never strike a man in the face.
And though Jiang Chen's words held no profanity, they cut deeper than any insult.
Back when Wang Han had targeted Jiang Chen, he'd ended up cornered instead, forced to slap his own face before the eyes of the crowd.
This incident had been Wang Han's deepest shame for years. That unbearable humiliation was his forbidden territory, his most painful scar.
Jiang Chen dragging up the old wound — those who had been there couldn't help but let hints of amusement creep onto their faces.
Though they tried to mask it well, the ever-perceptive Wang Han still felt that searing humiliation, every pore on his body bristling with rage.
"Boy, you... your name is Mu Gaoqi, isn't it? Innate Wood Spirit Body, right?" Wang Han's tone turned sinister, his gaze locking onto Jiang Chen like a venomous serpent.
Jiang Chen felt a twinge of guilt, thinking to himself: Gaoqi, oh Gaoqi, don't blame your brother for painting a target on your back.
Expression blank, he replied flatly, "And what if I am?"
"And what if you are?" Wang Han said through clenched teeth. "I've told you before — in the martial world, alchemy is nothing but decoration. At Illusory Wave Mountain, you had your moment of glory. But at the Grand Ceremony of Myriad Phenomena, martial prowess is king in the end. Boy, I hope you can still be this stubborn when you meet me on the Myriad Phenomena Arena!"
By now, with all pretense shattered, Wang Han made no effort to hide his killing intent whatsoever.
"What a wonderful statement — 'martial prowess is king.' Those who know better see you as a nobody from
Jiang Chen naturally had nothing but contempt for Wang Han's threats.
Since their first encounter at Illusory Wave Mountain, he'd heard similar threats countless times. Wang Han alone must have made them four or five times.
But with his current cultivation, forget Wang Han — even facing
You're strong? You're arrogant?
Could you match
Wang Han's arrogance was nothing new. But Mu Gaoqi of Dan Qian Palace — anyone who remembered him knew the boy had been famously as meek as a lamb. How had he suddenly developed such backbone?
Was assertiveness contagious?
Back at Illusory Wave Mountain, Jiang Chen's audacity and schemes had left a deep impression on all six great sects.
Now, seeing Mu Gaoqi act this way, everyone couldn't help but think of Jiang Chen.
Mu Gaoqi had once been nothing more than Jiang Chen's lackey. Now that Jiang Chen hadn't returned from Illusory Wave Mountain, had Mu Gaoqi somehow inherited his style?
Wang Han, renowned for his razor-sharp tongue — the same man who had moments ago reduced all of Dan Qian Palace's geniuses to speechless silence — now found himself completely shut down by the unknown Mu Gaoqi, his face purple with rage, unable to utter half a word.
Wang Jianyu watched this with a contemptuous sneer. "
Dan Chi replied serenely, "It sounds as though Sacred Sword Palace intends to dominate this Grand Ceremony of Myriad Phenomena? I'll be looking forward to that."
With that, he turned to restrain his followers. "Enough. This is the Imperial Ancestral Temple — there's no need for a battle of wits."
Then, smiling, he approached Heavenly Dark One. "Brother Tianming, regarding our agreement from the Illusory Wave Mountain expedition — the Myriad Longevity Pill I promised you has finally been refined. Sorry to have kept you waiting."
Heavenly Dark One was stunned, then his face broke into a look of wild joy. "What? It's been refined?"
Over the past few years, Dan Qian Palace had never produced the Myriad Longevity Pill, leading the entire Myriad Phenomena Region to assume that only Jiang Chen had known the recipe. Without Jiang Chen, no one could refine the Myriad Longevity Pill.
Hearing Dan Chi's words, everyone's hearts clenched, their eyes flickering with complicated emotions.
Heavenly Dark One had kept his trade materials on his person all these years, waiting only for the Myriad Longevity Pill to emerge.
Every eye greedily followed as Heavenly Dark One and Dan Chi completed their transaction, hearts filled with a tangled stew of feelings.
And at this moment, the second- and third-rate sects of the Myriad Phenomena Region had also begun arriving one after another.
"All right, the time for the ceremony is almost upon us. Every sect, please make your preparations."
Nominally, the Great Sacred Hall was the foremost sect of the Myriad Phenomena Region, the strongest in power. With Xiang Wentian making this announcement, no other sect could raise an objection.
Of course, everyone knew the ceremony was merely a formality.
After several hundred years, it would be unrealistic to expect anyone to feel genuine sentiment toward the imperial family of the Myriad Phenomena Empire.
Rather than a tribute to the Myriad Phenomena imperial house, it was more a tribute to the glorious era of the Myriad Phenomena Empire.
The ceremonial procedures were extremely elaborate, and the proceedings were conducted with great solemnity. Across the Myriad Phenomena Region, there were sects of every size, and at least a hundred had the qualification to attend.
Several thousand people gathered together, and the ceremony was conducted with impressive gravity.