The Demon Race was one of the most aggressively invasive races across all the Myriad Heavens, and their bloodline assimilation ability was terrifyingly powerful.
For ordinary races, once their bloodline merged with that of the Demon Race, the majority would ultimately be doomed to become demons themselves.
In other words, the Demon Race was an inherently aggressive race—not merely in the sense of invading your territory and encroaching on your lands, but in invading your very bloodline, infiltrating your soul, and ultimately transforming you into one of their own.
This was the fundamental reason why the Demon Race had risen to become one of the most renowned and powerful races across all the Myriad Heavens.
Of course, if the Demon Race possessed all these traits without any corresponding weaknesses, they would be an unstoppable force destined to dominate all the worlds.
But Heaven was fair. It had granted the Demon Race their fearsome aggressiveness and their prowess in battle, but it had also bestowed upon them certain corresponding flaws.
For instance, the Demon Race's bloodline was unmistakably recognizable. Because of this flaw, the moment a demon appeared, it would easily draw attention, and people everywhere would unite to strike them down.
This, to a great extent, curbed the Demon Race's expansion and invasion.
Jiang Chen had heard of the Demon Race in his previous life but had never studied them in great depth.
When the Peacock Emperor raised the topic, he naturally attributed everything to his fictitious "teacher."
The Peacock Emperor had always been quite curious about this "teacher" of Jiang Chen's. Everything Jiang Chen demonstrated only proved how extraordinary this young man truly was.
So what kind of heaven-defying existence must the teacher be, to have produced such an outstanding disciple in a mere ten years?
Even the Peacock Emperor himself would have to bow his head in comparison.
Hearing Jiang Chen mention his teacher again, the Peacock Emperor couldn't help but ask, "Your teacher even told you about the Demon Race? I wonder—did he share any particular views on them?"
Jiang Chen shook his head. "He only gave me a general introduction to the Demon Race and told me to stay vigilant. He didn't express any particular opinions."
The Peacock Emperor was slightly disappointed. He had been hoping to hear the perspective of this reclusive expert.
He then asked about the recent Demon Race incident. Jiang Chen had nothing to hide from the Peacock Emperor, and told him everything in full detail.
The only thing he left out was the Soul-Anchor Wood. Other than that, he held nothing back.
The reason he didn't mention the Soul-Anchor Wood wasn't that he feared the Peacock Emperor would try to take it from him—he was worried the Peacock Emperor wouldn't allow him to go.
After all, venturing deep into the barbarian frontier was undoubtedly an extremely dangerous undertaking for a youth at the fifth stage of the Saint Realm.
If the Peacock Emperor, out of caution, forbade him from going, that would be entirely understandable.
Hearing that Jiang Chen actually had a way to deal with the Wood Demon Gu Worms, the Peacock Emperor was genuinely shocked. "This method—did your teacher teach you this as well?"
The Peacock Emperor was truly astonished. Jiang Chen's teacher seemed capable of everything. This only deepened his conviction that this mysterious mentor was no ordinary figure.
The appearance of any branch of the Demon Race would bring immeasurable impact upon the entire world. The Peacock Emperor had heard many tales of the Wood Demon clan.
He had read in ancient texts about how the Wood Demon clan could transform an entire region into a living ghost realm within mere months.
So to hear that Jiang Chen had actually managed to destroy the Wood Demon's parasitic worms—the Peacock Emperor could hardly contain his astonishment.
But the Peacock Emperor's vision ran far deeper than most. "Young friend," he asked, "do you realize that you've unwittingly performed an act of boundless merit?"
Jiang Chen didn't deny it. "It was no trouble at all. The formulas I gave Alchemy King Lu Feng—Your Majesty can obtain them from him. If they can bring peace to Glass Royal City, I'm willing to offer them freely. If Your Majesty feels it appropriate, you may simply reward Alchemy King Lu Feng. He is now my disciple."
"Your disciple?" The Peacock Emperor blinked, then broke into laughter. "That old man Lu Feng—I've heard of him. Proud and aloof, he looks down on practically everyone. That he would take you as his master—now that's quite the story."
Jiang Chen smiled. "I haven't decided whether to make this public yet. If Your Majesty wishes to act on this, you can collaborate with him directly. Simply credit him with the merit."
Jiang Chen had always viewed matters of credit and recognition with indifference.
After taking his leave of the Peacock Emperor, Jiang Chen returned to Taiyuan Pavilion, planning to depart the following day.
The Peacock Emperor let out a soft sigh as he watched Jiang Chen's retreating figure leave the Peacock Sacred Mountain, his heart filled with a multitude of emotions. "Heaven has brought forth Jiang Chen, bearing such extraordinary fortune—truly he must have been born for the fate of the Divine Abyss Continent. The secrets this young man carries… it can't simply be because of a mysterious teacher…"
The Peacock Emperor's mind churned with countless speculations, but at this moment, none of that mattered.
What mattered was that in Jiang Chen, he had glimpsed a spark of hope.
…
"Brother Chen, you've been preparing for so long—are you planning to leave on a long journey?" Huang'er asked softly as they walked along a garden path behind Taiyuan Pavilion.
Jiang Chen offered a gentle smile. "Huang'er, even if you hadn't asked, I was about to tell you."
The two of them shared an unspoken understanding—one had just been about to ask, the other just about to speak. They exchanged a glance and both smiled warmly, a picture of effortless harmony.
Huang'er smiled mischievously, striking a playful pose with her index finger tapping lightly against the corner of her lips. "Let Huang'er take a guess?"
"Go ahead and guess," Jiang Chen said with a laugh, amused by her high spirits.
"It must have something to do with your homeland? You want to return to Myriad Phenomena Territory?"