The outer perimeter was completely sealed off. Nearly all the loose cultivators had gathered in the eastern part of the city, within a radius of several dozen li. Under the Indestructible Heavenly Capital's blockade, there was absolutely no chance of escape.
Amid a chorus of complaints, every loose cultivator—willing or not—was herded back into Tai'a City.
But the pair had an easy out: the father's age didn't match the profile, and the daughter was a woman. Either reason alone would clear them of suspicion.
Once back inside Tai'a City, the security checkpoints had tightened noticeably. Getting in from the outside was easy enough, but getting back out required passing through layer upon layer of inspection.
The Indestructible Heavenly Capital clearly hadn't given up their search for Jiang Chen.
After the little farce that had just unfolded,
And there was a very good chance he'd been among those thousand-plus loose cultivators.
Otherwise, how could that false tip have appeared?
The fake report was obviously meant as cover for Jiang Chen—an attempt to sneak him out in the chaos.
So after that incident, the inspections had only grown more stringent.
They were in the middle of screening people when another commotion erupted up ahead, followed by an angry shout: "Indestructible Heavenly Capital business! All bystanders, get out of the way!"
Then a drawling, neither-here-nor-there voice piped up: "Tsk, tsk. If I'm not mistaken, this isn't Indestructible Heavenly Capital territory, is it? What—we of the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect need your permission to be here?"
Nine Sun Heavenly Sect?
The crowd stirred. The sudden confrontation had caught everyone off guard.
A single first-rate sect was already formidable enough in the Sword Field Central Domain. Having two appear at once was something else entirely.
Jiang Chen, standing amid the crowd, felt a jolt of surprise. He slowly edged his way toward the front, quietly observing.
Both sides had brought serious numbers.
A full several hundred Nine Sun Heavenly Sect disciples faced off against several hundred Indestructible Heavenly Capital disciples, each group planted on its own side like two bulls squaring off in a standoff.
"The Nine Sun Heavenly Sect is here too?" Jiang Chen was startled but also pleased. He knew they'd probably come here partly because of him.
But at this point, he'd racked up so many enemies that one more made no difference. He'd already offended the Indestructible Heavenly Capital—adding the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect to the list changed nothing.
His enmity with the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect had been set in stone long ago.
Still, seeing the two first-rate sects staring each other down like mortal enemies, an idea stirred in Jiang Chen. They clearly weren't on good terms. If anything, their hatred ran deep.
A moment's reflection, and he understood.
Both sects had once hunted the Great Emperor Feathered together. While they'd cooperated to some extent, the relationship had been far more competitive than cooperative.
When ancient Heavenly-stage powerhouses' inheritances were at stake, it was hardly surprising that two first-rate sects would turn on each other.
Judging by the standoff, the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect had come specifically to undermine the Indestructible Heavenly Capital. Jiang Chen silently rooted for them.
Dogs biting dogs. The harder they go at each other, the better.
He held no goodwill toward either sect—only endless disgust and towering hatred.
The Indestructible Heavenly Capital was certainly sinister, but the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect was no better. That whole business with the Imperial Seal and the Dragon Seal of State—that had been their doing, a fabricated rumor designed to lure the Scarlet Cauldron Central Domain into attacking the Myriad Phenomena Domain. In plain terms, borrowing a knife to kill.
But the Indestructible Heavenly Capital had been one step slicker, turning the plot to their advantage by secretly manipulating the Scarlet Cauldron Central Domain. With that gambit, they'd seized control of the situation.
As for the Myriad Phenomena Domain, the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect had been shut out entirely.
Gong Wuji, hearing the disturbance, strode forward and fixed the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect with a frigid stare. "What's this? You Nine Sun Heavenly Sect think you can throw your weight around on someone else's turf?"
A mid-stage Imperial Realm powerhouse from the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect stepped forward, letting out a hearty laugh. "Dharma King Gong, I'm afraid I don't follow. Since when does the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect throw its weight around? As if your Indestructible Heavenly Capital are saints! If I recall, it was you lot who went rampaging through the Myriad Phenomena Domain. Besides, this is the Sword Field Central Domain—not your Indestructible Heavenly Capital's territory either. What makes you think we can't come here?"
The words were barbed, leaving not an ounce of face for Gong Wuji. The jab about rampaging through the Myriad Phenomena Domain—and losing his beloved grandson's life—was clearly deliberate.
Gong Wuji's face darkened to a deep purple. He glared at the elder. "Elder Hao—so you've decided to play antagonist?"
Elder Hao smiled. "Dharma King Gong, you're reading too much into this. Your Indestructible Heavenly Capital tracked your enemy here. We tracked ours. How is that playing antagonist?"
"What enemy is the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect tracking?" Gong Wuji demanded furiously.
"Several of our disciples have gone missing, and every lead points to the Myriad Phenomena Domain. Now you've wiped the place clean—not a ghost to be found. I hear you've captured the palace master of Dan Qian Palace. She might draw out a few of our Nine Sun Heavenly Sect remnants. Be convenient to grab a few for questioning." Elder Hao's tone was indifferent. "There—that's everything. Dharma King Gong—what the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect does is none of the Indestructible Heavenly Capital's business."