Jiang Chen suddenly felt like he'd boarded a pirate ship, but faced with the Peacock Great Emperor's words, he found himself at a loss for a rebuttal.
Responsibility?
Duty?
Jiang Chen didn't know what to say either. He only knew that if his father, the Heavenly Emperor, knew of his current situation, he would never encourage him to be a coward and run away from all of this.
"Your Majesty, I don't know how well I'll do, but I will give it my very best effort." Jiang Chen met the Peacock Great Emperor's expectant gaze and made his promise as a man.
The Peacock Great Emperor was delighted and praised him: "Good! As expected of the genius this old man has placed his faith in. I don't know why I have this feeling, but ever since I divined your arrival, I have been firmly convinced that only you can break through the barriers of the Divine Abyss Continent and bring an end to its chaos."
The Peacock Great Emperor's words were not without basis.
He had activated his Myriad Heavens Wisdom Eye. Though it was only in its initial stage, it allowed him to see things that ordinary people could not—such as the fortune resting upon Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen had heard the Peacock Great Emperor say similar things before. This was not the first time.
However, he did not allow himself to become overly optimistic.
Although his cultivation had made considerable progress, the Divine Abyss Continent remained an enigma—there were far too many things he still did not understand.
The human domain, the territories of other races, the wilderness, and the even more mysterious Wanyen Island—Jiang Chen still could not piece them all together into a coherent whole.
But one thing was certain: the Divine Abyss Continent was far from an ordinary mortal plane. Countless mysteries awaited him here.
Of course, Jiang Chen wasn't dwelling on too much right now. There was no point in overthinking things. Until his strength reached that level, worrying about it all would be in vain.
Seeing Jiang Chen's calm and unflustered demeanor, the Peacock Great Emperor felt his confidence grow.
Any other young person, achieving success at such a tender age, might well have become smug and complacent. But in this young man, the Peacock Great Emperor saw a serenity that was incongruent with his years.
"Your Majesty, for the upcoming lecture, I plan to speak about the Demon race. Is there anything you'd like me to address?"
The Peacock Great Emperor was slightly taken aback: "The Demon race?"
"Yes. I plan to publicly share the formula for dealing with the Wood Demon tribe."
Seeing how earnest Jiang Chen looked, the Peacock Great Emperor praised him once more: "What a remarkable young man. That formula is worth a fortune—as was the Hundred-Cycle Marrow Refinement Pill before it. Yet you simply give them away. Such generosity, such breadth of vision—it shames countless powerful figures."
Jiang Chen didn't think it was all that extraordinary. He wasn't short on money and didn't need to earn it through these formulas. Besides, when the Demon Calamity erupted, he wouldn't be able to shield himself from it anyway. The idea of profiting from such a catastrophe was something Jiang Chen was simply too proud to do.
After taking his leave of the Peacock Great Emperor, Jiang Chen departed Peacock Sacred Mountain and headed for Taiyuan Pavilion to prepare for his ten-day lecture.
However, he had barely left Peacock Sacred Mountain when he spotted Third Young Master Ji waiting for him outside. Upon seeing Jiang Chen emerge, Third Young Master Ji's face lit up with joy, and he hurried over.
"Brother, I thought His Majesty the Great Emperor might keep you for a few more days."
Jiang Chen saw the anxiety and nervous anticipation in Third Young Master Ji's eyes and understood why he had been waiting.
He patted Third Young Master Ji on the shoulder: "Brother Ji, we're as close as kin—would I ever neglect the affairs of the Panlong Grand Clan? Besides, the Panlong Clan Lord has shown me no small amount of kindness. Let's go back and discuss everything at length."
Hearing this, Third Young Master Ji knew things were looking up. Overjoyed, he grabbed Jiang Chen's arm and said: "Come, come—let's go to the Clan Lord's manor to talk. The Clan Lord very much wants to see you as well. The old man has been quite anxious lately."
Jiang Chen nodded with a smile. He could understand the Panlong Clan Lord's anxiety. No one could remain calm and composed in the face of life and death.
When one's lifespan was drawing to a close and the final days crept closer with each passing one, anyone with a fragile composure would be frightened to death.
At the Panlong Clan Lord's manor, the Clan Lord greeted Jiang Chen with a broad smile: "Pill King Zhen, it's been the better part of a year since we last met. It seems your cultivation has advanced once more."
Jiang Chen did not neglect his manners and bowed to the Clan Lord: "The Clan Lord looks well yourself. There shouldn't be any imminent danger for the time being."
The Clan Lord sighed bitterly at these words: "Two or three years, I should be able to hold on. But given the current state of affairs, two or three years may not be enough to change anything. Moreover, His Majesty the Great Emperor's stance remains unclear. Everyone believes that Shura Great Emperor will take the throne, and that His Majesty the Peacock Great Emperor will go into seclusion... As the Peacock Great Emperor's foremost clan, the Panlong Grand Clan may well end up completely shattered."
Completely shattered?
Jiang Chen smiled: "The Clan Lord is wise to prepare for danger in times of peace, but aren't you perhaps being a bit too pessimistic?"
"Not too pessimistic at all." The Clan Lord's expression was deadly serious. "If Shura Great Emperor takes power, everyone currently at Peacock Sacred Mountain will likely be forced into retirement. But we secular clans and noble houses have nowhere to retreat to. We would absolutely become the target they make an example of—killing the chicken to frighten the monkey."
If Shura Great Emperor did indeed ascend to the throne, while such an outcome wasn't guaranteed, it was certainly within the realm of possibility. After all, as the foremost clan, the Panlong Grand Clan had far too many potential enemies lurking in the shadows.
A new emperor brings new ministers—no one could guarantee the Panlong Grand Clan would escape punishment.
"Brother, there are no outsiders here. Let me ask you straight—this news about obtaining the pine cone from the Thousand Illusion Hidden Cloud Pine, is it true?"