As for Liu Wencai and Lu Xiaopang, Jiang Chen had no intention of bringing them along. Liu Wencai in particular — Jiang Chen felt he should stay behind in the mundane world and temper himself.
Given his martial talents, what Liu Wencai needed most right now was experience. Jiang Chen didn't require Liu Wencai to contribute anything at Taiyuan Pavilion.
The only task he'd set for Liu Wencai was to cultivate, uncover his martial potential, and achieve full martial mastery as soon as possible.
Jiang Chen firmly believed that Liu Wencai could accomplish this one day.
As for Lu Xiaopang, the fellow was average in both strength and talent, with martial potential far inferior to Liu Wencai's. Jiang Chen had arranged a relatively relaxed position for him at Taiyuan Pavilion — one with a small amount of authority — so he'd have something to anchor himself to, a place to belong.
Lu Xiaopang had never asked for much, and a life like this was more than enough to satisfy him.
After all, Taiyuan Pavilion was quietly on track to become the number one alchemy force in the Glazed Royal City. As its status continued to climb, his own position would naturally rise with it. This was far more exciting than the days he'd spent cooped up in the Myriad Spirit Sect.
Once the roster for the Glazed Royal City journey was settled, Jiang Chen called Shen Sanhuo aside for a private word of encouragement.
"Sanhuo, you bear a heavy responsibility. Some things can't be accomplished overnight, but the direction must always be clear, and you must keep pushing toward it. I hope you can stand on your own two feet soon."
Since arriving at Taiyuan Pavilion, Shen Sanhuo had always enjoyed Jiang Chen's confidence and been entrusted with important duties. He knew Jiang Chen was training him.
Naturally, Shen Sanhuo wasn't so obtuse as to fail to appreciate this. He nodded at once. "Senior Brother, rest easy. My life exists only because you gave it to me. Whatever you command, I'll do."
"I saved you because of the sect. If you wish to repay me, repay the sect. Rebuilding the sect, reviving it — even if that hope seems impossibly faint, I want you all striving toward it." Jiang Chen didn't want the Dan Qian Palace disciples to lose themselves among the luxuries of the Glazed Royal City.
After all, they were disciples of Dan Qian Palace. Dan Qian Palace was a sect built on faith, a sect with a living tradition of inheritance.
Unfortunately, beyond Shen Sanhuo, the others were still somewhat lacking in that sense of inherited duty.
If only someone like Shen Qinghong or Ling Bi'er were here — the hope of rebuilding the sect would be greatly increased. And then there was Mu Gaoqi.
The thought of Mu Gaoqi brought a pang of melancholy to Jiang Chen's heart. He decided that once he emerged from the Glazed Royal Tower, he would travel across the Upper Eight Domains no matter what.
Partly to rescue Mu Gaoqi, and partly to search for his father, Jiang Feng.
His father's whereabouts had been Jiang Chen's deepest worry for years. With his father's Spirit Realm cultivation, daring to venture into the Upper Eight Domains — sometimes Jiang Chen simply didn't dare think too deeply about it. The more he considered it, the more a chill crept through his bones.
But as a man, he could understand his father's decision.
A man with fire in his blood — when your wife is taken away by force, no one can stay calm.
If someone could watch their wife be stolen and remain indifferent, they wouldn't deserve to be called a man.
As for rebuilding Dan Qian Palace, Jiang Chen knew this was not something that could happen overnight. Only when his own strength had fully matured and he could reveal himself openly would the time be right.
Of course, what about the others from Dan Qian Palace — Palace Master Dan Chi, Elder Yun Nie, and the rest? Where were they now? Jiang Chen still harbored some concern.
After all, Palace Master Dan Chi had been more than generous to him and had placed great trust in him. Palace Master Dan Chi had even foreseen the fate of the Myriad Phenomena Region, once prophesying that the future fortune of Dan Qian Palace might rest on Jiang Chen himself.
Recalling these past events, Jiang Chen still felt a twinge of guilt toward Palace Master Dan Chi.
Though the invasion of the Invincible Sky Capital and the Red Cauldron Central Domain had absolutely nothing to do with him, he still felt as though he'd failed Palace Master Dan Chi's trust.
This wasn't moral self-reproach — it was emotional.
That was why he'd rescued every Dan Qian Palace disciple he encountered, no matter the cost. It was to ease, if only slightly, the guilt he carried in his heart.
After settling all matters at Taiyuan Pavilion, Jiang Chen set out with his personal guards and attendants for Peacock Sacred Mountain.
Peacock Sacred Mountain — this legendary place — was a holy land to countless people. Before this, they hadn't even dared to dream that one day they would take up permanent residence there.
Outside Peacock Sacred Mountain, Emperor Yunzhong had been waiting for some time. "Young Master Zhen, His Majesty is temporarily occupied and asked me to welcome you in his stead."
Jiang Chen had dealt with Emperor Yunzhong many times before and smiled. "His Majesty isn't at Peacock Sacred Mountain?"
Emperor Yunzhong sighed. "He is, but he's currently attending to certain matters."
As if afraid Jiang Chen might misunderstand, Emperor Yunzhong quickly added, "His Majesty is meeting with the patriarch of the Spirit Branch Great Clan. It seems the patriarch has come to propose a marriage alliance, but His Majesty doesn't appear to be pleased about it."
"A marriage alliance?" Jiang Chen was baffled. "With whom?"
Emperor Yunzhong smiled ruefully. "Young Master, you may not know this since you weren't here before. His Majesty has a goddaughter whom he cherishes as his own. Not many people are aware, but many within the Peacock Sacred Mountain lineage know about it."
"You mean Miss Dan'er?" Jiang Chen suddenly recalled that he and Third Young Master Ji had once paid a visit to this Miss Dan'er. And it seemed Third Young Master Ji had even gotten into a war of words with Miao Suo, the young master of the Spirit Branch Great Clan.