On the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect's side, Elder Hao had also led a large group of elites back to the inn where they were staying.
"Elder Hao, are we just going to let this go? Cao Jin's death — Supreme Elder Chen Lei has already spoken about it…"
Elder Hao's face darkened. He sneered, "Just let it go? How could we possibly do that? However, Cao Jin's death is most likely unrelated to the Indestructible Heavenly Capital."
"Truly unrelated?" Everyone from the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect was surprised.
Elder Hao frowned. "What's the current situation with the Indestructible Heavenly Capital people?"
"They've been acting all mysterious and secretive, as if they've got some sort of lead. Every one of them looks supremely confident. Could it be they have news of Jiang Chen?"
Elder Hao nodded. "No matter what, keep watching them. I suspect that Cao Jin's death may also have something to do with that Jiang Chen."
"What?" Everyone was shocked upon hearing this. Clearly, this news was something they needed time to digest.
They had heard quite a bit about Jiang Chen's reputation in recent days.
Jiang Chen had fallen into Illusory Wave Mountain, yet mysteriously appeared at the Myriad Manifestations Grand Assembly. The Grand Assembly venue had been sealed off by the Chi Ding Central Domain, yet Jiang Chen departed calmly, returned to Illusory Wave Mountain, and even turned the tables on Gong Wuji, killing Gong Wuji's most beloved grandson.
It had to be said that Jiang Chen's repeatedly legendary exploits had deeply shocked even these first-rate sect disciples, leaving them incredulous.
After all, during all this time, Jiang Chen had been nothing more than a small figure struggling among the Sixteen Kingdoms. If not for the fact that everyone knew Jiang Chen had killed Long Juxue, no one would have even known this fellow existed.
It was precisely because Jiang Chen had killed Long Juxue in the Sixteen Kingdoms, disrupting the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect's first layout in the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance, that people had vaguely come to know of him.
Of course, the more important reason wasn't that Jiang Chen had disrupted the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance layout, but rather that Long Juxue, whom Jiang Chen had killed, was the cultivation furnace designated by Senior Brother Yong Xingyun, ranked third among the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect's Ten Great Direct Disciples.
Daring to disrupt even Senior Brother Yong Xingyun's plans — that was the biggest reason people remembered Jiang Chen.
Who would have thought that, after just a few years, Jiang Chen's growth would have been so rapid that even Cao Jin, one of the Ten Great Direct Disciples, might have died at his hands?
How absurd did that sound?
But after such a massive battle, Elder Hao surely wouldn't fabricate a phantom enemy out of thin air. Given Elder Hao's temperament, he would never stoop to such things.
For a moment, everyone exchanged uneasy glances.
"Elder Hao, from what I've heard, Jiang Chen is said to be only at the early Saint Realm at most. Even if he's had some extraordinary encounters, he shouldn't be remotely a match for Cao Jin."
"Indeed. Cao Jin was a half-step Emperor Realm cultivator. Though he ranked only ninth among the Ten Great Direct Disciples, with his level of cultivation, even an early Emperor Realm expert might not dare claim they could reliably defeat him."
Everyone chimed in, one after another.
The implication was obvious: although Jiang Chen was monstrous, he shouldn't pose a threat to Cao Jin. Even in the entirety of the Myriad Manifestations Domain, they didn't believe anyone existed who could kill Cao Jin.
Elder Hao sighed. "Under normal circumstances, I too believe Jiang Chen is far from being Cao Jin's match. However, according to the sect's latest investigation, Cao Jin once visited Dan Qian Palace and suffered a setback there. Later, he found Second-Rank Pill King Shi Zhen, as well as formation genius Wu Heng. Piecing together all the clues, they went to Illusory Wave Mountain. And at that time, Jiang Chen was the only living person in Illusory Wave Mountain. Even if Jiang Chen didn't kill Cao Jin directly, he must have used some kind of forbidden trap or killing technique within Illusory Wave Mountain. Combined with today's events — the Indestructible Heavenly Capital was hunting Jiang Chen, yet someone just happened to deliver Cao Jin's Sea-Overturning Sword to Gong Wuji's doorstep, clearly to provoke a clash between the two sects. The person behind this is already exceedingly obvious — at least ninety-nine percent certain it's Jiang Chen!"
Although Elder Hao hadn't witnessed the sequence of events firsthand, so many clues all pointed toward Jiang Chen. Moreover, not a single lead contained any glaring inconsistencies.
By this reckoning, Jiang Chen's name was practically shouting itself aloud.
When everyone heard Elder Hao's analysis, their faces darkened, and they were left speechless.
"Who would have thought that animal Jiang Chen would be so cunning!"
"What a pity. Cao Jin was such a genius, yet he was ultimately too reckless. What a waste."
"This scoundrel Jiang Chen is truly despicable! Elder Hao, we absolutely cannot let him off easy!"
Elder Hao sneered, "Let him off easy? How could we possibly do that? What was our objective in coming here?"
Everyone suddenly realized — yes, what was their objective?
Wasn't it to fish in troubled waters? To capture those Myriad Manifestations Domain genius disciples who had entered the Myriad Manifestations Extreme Realm?
And Jiang Chen had undoubtedly risen to become their number-one target.
Originally, they had many targets — for example, Xiang Qin and Yue Baize of the Grand Sacred Hall.
But now, Elder Hao had discovered that Jiang Chen should be their primary target instead.
Because their mole planted in Dan Qian Palace, Jun Mobai, had entered the Myriad Manifestations Extreme Realm and had since gone completely silent.
According to their intelligence gathering, their operative Jun Mobai had never emerged from the Myriad Manifestations Extreme Realm. When the Chi Ding Central Domain sects attacked the Myriad Manifestations Grand Assembly and sealed the exit of the Extreme Realm, they had indeed captured a batch of geniuses who tried to leave.
However, Jun Mobai was not among those captives. As the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect's chess piece, Jun Mobai had many trump cards at his disposal and should have been able to escape.
Furthermore, those captured geniuses had later been rescued. Based on speculation, the person who had rescued them was also Jiang Chen.
If Jun Mobai had been among those captives, he would surely have found a way to contact the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect.
But there had been no news from Jun Mobai whatsoever.
Clearly, Jun Mobai had perished within the Myriad Manifestations Extreme Realm.