There was no denying it — Young Master Ji the Third's words hit hard.
Jiang Chen might not have been particularly interested in becoming someone's true disciple, but forging a connection with the Peacock Great Emperor would undoubtedly prove extremely advantageous for his future endeavors.
"Brother, look at it this way. Right now the Undying Heavenly Capital is hunting you across the world. But if one day you became the Peacock Great Emperor's true disciple, you could stand right at their gates and they wouldn't dare lay a finger on you. That's the difference."
Harsh as Young Master Ji the Third's words were, they were the plain truth.
The Peacock Great Emperor had been famous throughout the Upper Eight Domains for three thousand years, and his reputation had long since spread across the entire region. Even the Great Emperors of those First-Rank Sects had no desire to cross swords with him.
Seeing how animated Ji San had become, Jiang Chen chuckled. "Brother Ji, everything in this world comes down to fate and fortune. That you and I became brothers — that was one thread of fate. That Wei Jie and I met by chance in Wanyi City — that was another. Meeting His Majesty the Peacock — yet another. And whether I can study under His Majesty's tutelage... that too depends on whether such fate exists."
Ji San blinked. "Brother, do you truly believe in fate and destiny like that?"
Jiang Chen offered a faint smile, though inwardly he sighed. How could he not believe? In his previous life, journeying through the Myriad Heavens world, he had observed all the Myriad Heavens — seen the fates of countless people — and when all was said and done, most people and events were nothing more than an interweaving of myriad threads of fortune.
Even two brothers who grew up in the same household, with nearly identical backgrounds — because their individual threads of fate differed, they would ultimately walk entirely different paths.
Jiang Chen even suspected that his own reincarnation into this world was, in some vague way, bound by a thread of fate as well.
This was something he didn't dare think about too deeply. Each time he tried, it gave him a headache. That seal within his Sea of Consciousness — in its state of primordial chaos — forced him to suspect that he must have carried some thread of fate from his previous life when he reincarnated into this world.
Otherwise, how else could one explain that chain-like seal within his Sea of Consciousness?
Back then, when Jiang Chen had achieved enlightenment beneath the Canxia Treasure Tree in the Treasure Tree Sect, breaking through to the Yuan Realm and triggering a heavenly anomaly, he had also discovered that seal within his Sea of Consciousness.
Surrounding the seal were nine droplets, forming a ring.
It remained an unsolved mystery.
When he had first entered the Yuan Realm, Jiang Chen had been unable to probe that seal. Now, having broken through to the fifth stage of the Saint Realm, he still could not penetrate it.
Yet every time he meditated and brushed against that seal, his mind would inexplicably shudder with waves of trembling, and visions of ancient phenomena from across the Myriad Heavens would surge and swirl through his consciousness.
This sensation left Jiang Chen both puzzled and filled with curiosity.
Still, curiosity was one thing, but he didn't dare probe it by force. One misstep could shatter his divine consciousness and annihilate his soul entirely.
"Brother, what are you thinking about?" Ji San asked curiously, noticing the smile on Jiang Chen's face.
Jiang Chen chuckled. "Nothing much. Just thinking about some old memories. Lost myself for a moment."
"Fine, but remember — this is an opportunity. And this opportunity involves many more opportunities down the road. You know, the Upper Eight Domains are the heart of the human territories. The major powers there interact with each other all the time. The higher your status, the more chances you'll have to meet and exchange ideas with people across the domains — and the more geniuses from other regions you'll encounter. That would help in your search for news of your parents, too. There are things you could spend ten or twenty years trying to handle on your own without finding a single lead. But find the right person, and you might uncover a trail in just eight or ten days."
One could tell that Ji San had Jiang Chen's best interests at heart.
Jiang Chen nodded earnestly. "Brother Ji, I will take this matter seriously."
Only then did Ji San nod with satisfaction. "Now that's more like it!"
The two brothers chatted for a while, and Ji San was clearly in high spirits. With the father and son of the Royal Court Clan out of the way, the Panlong Clan had been enjoying smooth sailing lately.
On top of that, the Panlong Clan Lord's condition had visibly improved — even if he only had three or five years left, his vitality and spirit had clearly gotten much better. This development had also caught the attention of the other great clan powers.
It made the other great clans realize that distancing themselves from the Panlong Clan had perhaps not been a wise move. Looking at the Panlong Clan Lord's current state, it seemed he had already regained his strength.
This renewed respect had further cemented the Panlong Clan's position as the foremost among the great clans.
And for this, the Panlong Clan Lord knew full well — Ji San deserved the lion's share of the credit.
And so, among the several heirs of the Panlong Clan, Ji San had gradually risen to a position of dominance, becoming the foremost candidate for succession.
These gains, at their root, had all been brought about by Jiang Chen.
And so Ji San's concern for his brother came from a place of genuine gratitude — he was truly thinking of what was best for Jiang Chen.
After a long round of socializing, Jiang Chen returned to the rear courtyard.
Catching a glimpse of the area near the pavilion, he thought he saw a figure — like a transparent shadow, seeming to be someone there, and yet seeming not to be.
The indistinct, flickering shape almost made Jiang Chen think his eyes were playing tricks on him.
Looking more closely, he realized that there really was someone in the pavilion. It was just that the person seemed to have merged seamlessly into the scenery of the courtyard, the rockery, and the pavilion itself.
"Who's there?" Jiang Chen called out in a low voice.
Whoever could slip into the rear courtyard so undetected was no ordinary person.
Moreover, Taiyuan Pavilion had strict rules — no one but family members was permitted in the rear courtyard. Even the ten Saint Realm powerhouses Jiang Chen had personally selected were not granted entry.
Only a scant few were allowed inside the rear courtyard.