Chapter 271: A Good Opportunity to Extort Someone
Jiang Chen completely ignored whatever deal Zhou Yi and Iron
Dazhi were striking beneath him. His only thought now was to send both of them
on their way.
His arrows were about to be loosed with that thought.
A soft call sounded in the air at this moment, “Jiang Chen,
hold!”
This voice rumbled and spread through the air like an
enormous drum or great bell.
Hmm?
Jiang Chen’s ears twitched as the G.o.d’s Eye looked into
the distance, he saw a green light shoot out of the empty air and the Lesser
Dragon appeared, carrying Ye Chonglou.
If it’d been anyone else, even the king of the Skylaurel
Kingdom, Jiang Chen wouldn’t have even creased his brow when landing a killing
blow.
Ye Chonglou was the only exception.
Jiang Chen could deny face to anyone within the kingdom, but
he had to show the old tutor some face.
He clasped his fingers on the bowstring and he didn’t fire
the arrows, but he didn’t put the arrows away either.
The Swordbird army beneath him also held their positions and
didn’t relax their guard.
“Lordmaster, what are you doing here?” Jiang Chen hadn’t
known that the old tutor had hurried from the sect. He thought that the old man
had come from his manor.
The old tutor smiled wryly, “I heard from sources within the
sect that the Iron family secretly sent people to the capital to cause some
trouble when I wasn’t here. I guessed that they might be coming for you and so
I hastened back. I hadn’t thought… ”
The old tutor was also greatly shocked. He’d hurried back
because he’d been afraid that something would happen to Jiang Chen.
What hadn’t occurred to him was that nothing would be wrong
with Jiang Chen, he wasn’t even in any danger.
The ones that were actually in danger was the so-called
genius of the sect, Iron Dazhi!
The old tutor almost didn’t believe his eyes when he saw the
scene playing out in front of him.
He knew that Jiang Chen was strong and possessed great
potential. But once he truly saw Jiang Chen’s methods, he realized that he’d
still underestimated this young man.
Even though he’d given this young man high praise before, it
was still an underestimation in the end.
An earth spirit realm genius at the fifth level, a fourth
level spirit realm, and a bunch of spirit realm disciples had been forced into
desperate circ.u.mstances in front of the Jiang manor doors and they could be
annihilated at any time!
If he hadn’t seen this with his own eyes, the old tutor
would’ve never believed it.
However, seeing was believing.
He suppressed the great waves of shock in his heart and he
arrived at the top of the formation. His gaze was remote as he looked at Iron
Dazhi and Zhou Yi, trapped like animals within the formation.
Zhou Yi’s face was bitter as he called out weakly,
“Lordmaster Ye… ”
“Tsk tsk. And here I thought you sect disciples all had your
eyes on the top of your heads and thought nothing of an old man like me. You
know of me?”
Zhou Yi knew that the old tutor was being contrary and he
said with an even uglier expression, “The honored tutor’s great reputation is
known within and outside the sect like thunder piercing our ears.”
“Is that so?” The old tutor snorted slightly. “Thunder
piercing your ears? I think not! This old man has once said that I view Jiang
Chen as a nephew. Whoever moves against him is acting against me. I’ll bet you
didn’t pay any heed to those words at all and treated them like breeze past
your ears?”
“We wouldn’t dare... wouldn’t dare at all!” Zhou Yi laughed
dryly. “We’ve come to investigate the death of the head of the Northern Palace.
We didn’t think that a conflict would arise to this point.”
“So that means I’m faulting you unnecessarily?” The old tutor’s
tone grew cold.
“No no, when it comes down to it, we were in the wrong as
well. We were too impulsive and we didn’t communicate properly with Jiang
Chen.” One had to lower their heads when they were beneath someone else’s roof.
“Coward!” Ye Chonglou’s eyes suddenly widened as he
hectored, “How could the vaunted Precious Tree Sect have produced such a coward
as you? Do you think I’m senile?! Speaking lies with your eyes wide open?
Investigating the death of the Northern Palace head? What a righteous excuse.
Don’t think that I don’t know that you made use of the gap in which I visited
the sect to come to the capital. You just hadn’t thought that your training was
inferior to Jiang Chen’s and you smashed your foot with your own rock.”
Zhou Yi was speechless.
He knew that if he argued any further now, he would only be
irritating Ye Chonglou.
He’d been afraid of Ye Chonglou’s appearing before, but now,
he faintly felt that perhaps the tutor’s appearance wasn’t a bad thing.
They’d been afraid before because they felt that they were
sure to win and so, they wanted to make it a quick battle, avoiding Ye
Chonglou’s attentions.
Now that Ye Chonglou had appeared, he felt that there may be
a trace of hope in an otherwise hopeless situation instead.
If Ye Chonglou hadn’t told Jiang Chen to stay his hand just
now, that arrow would’ve flown and then he and Iron Dazhi would already be dead
corpses at the scene.
“Lordmaster, these b.a.s.t.a.r.ds have no respect for
anyone! If we don’t take them down a notch, they’ll become even more arrogant!”
Jiang Chen’s body shot over, the killing intent on his face
was completely unabated.
Zhou Yi s.h.i.+vered. He truly was afraid of Jiang Chen at
this moment. He was even more afraid that the old tutor would wash his hands of
this matter and he would encourage Jiang Chen to destroy them.
“Jiang Chen, it’s easy enough to kill them, but there are
too many characters like them in the sects. You wouldn’t be able to kill all of
them.”
Ye Chonglou suddenly used his consciousness to carry his
words to Jiang Chen, “And now that the great selection is nigh, you’d make the
esteemed elder Iron Long of the Precious Tree Sect take action himself if you
killed them. I’m not afraid of him, but if you kill his grandson, he will
undoubtedly use all the power available to him to suppress you. He may even lay
various traps for you in the great selection, making it impossible for you to
guard against him!”
Jiang Chen’s brow arched as he responded in the same way,
“If I don’t kill Iron Dazhi, the Iron family will still not let me off the
hook. That Iron Dazhi possess a scorpion’s mindset. It would be letting the
tiger return to the mountain if I let him go.”
“Haha, Jiang Chen, Iron Dazhi and Iron Cai will certainly
make trouble for you if you let him go, but at least Iron Long won’t be
alarmed. Iron Can and Iron Dazhi have limited power, and they won’t have much
authority if they try to set traps for you in the great selection.”
The old tutor privately persuaded him, “Of course, the rise
of a genius shouldn’t be hampered by any sort of suppression. You should kill
when you should, this is the true meaning of martial dao. However, this old man
feels that it would be a prime opportunity if you didn’t kill them.”
“Opportunity?” Jiang Chen started.
“Yes, opportunity. The best opportunity to extort a good sum
from the Iron family!” The old tutor revealed a trace of a sly smile.
Extort?
Jiang Chen’s thoughts raced as he immediately understood the
old tutor’s meaning.
A trace of a smile also appeared at Jiang Chen’s lips at
that moment. Extorting them! That was a good suggestion.
He had been fretting over the sources of his spirit medicine
ingredients lately.
Although Iron Dazhi and Zhou Yi were earth spirit realm
pract.i.tioenrs, with Jiang Chen’s current level of training, he didn’t need to
fear their revenge at all in any situations.
He could kill them whenever he wanted to.
If they dared take revenge during the great selection, Jiang
Chen had a lot of methods a-plenty to destroy them.
If he killed them now, he’d be satisfied alright, but apart
from furiously obtaining revenge, there didn’t seem to be any other gains to
this.
Jiang Chen was a practical man. He was indeed tempted when
he heard the lordmaster’s suggestion.
That’s right, why not make use of this opportunity to
thoroughly extort the Iron family?
These guys were in his hands, he had more than enough
ability to barter with the Iron family with the old tutor at his back. Not to
mention, he had sixteen law enforcement disciples on the ground beneath him.
All of them had been injured, but they weren’t not dead.
Since they were still alive, he could ransom all of them.
“Jiang Chen, Iron Long is the first of the esteemed elders,
and the Iron family is one of the two largest families in the sect. Their
history is ill.u.s.trious and their foundations are rich, they’ll have a lot of
treasure. Don’t be too polite, ask for a king’s ransom. You hold their people
hostage and so it’s the Iron family who will be anxious. You’re also in the
right this time. Don’t let them go if the family doesn’t agree to your terms.
The sect head will also have an excuse to make trouble for the Iron family if
this travels up the chain to him.”
The old tutor detailed out the plan of attack in their
surrept.i.tious conversation.
Jiang Chen knew a little bit about the internal schemes of
the sect, and he knew that the inside of the sect wasn’t quite as unified as it
seemed. The two great families, the Xie and the Iron family, had always been
covertly and openly fighting each other, controlling almost all of the sect’s
resources.
As one of the two great families, the Iron family possessed
rich resources and he’d surely be able to extort a great deal out of them.
“Honored tutor, what place does this Iron Dazhi occupy in
Iron Long’s heart?” Jiang Chen asked.
“The direct grandson with extraordinary potential, what do
you think his place is? He’s being cultivated on the level of a Iron family’s
true disciple!”
A personal disciple was already quite something.
If one was a true disciple, then he would be raised as the
heir apparent. Even though there could be more than one, when one made it as a
true disciple, he would be one of the most valued p.a.w.ns.
Jiang Chen knew what to do when he heard these words.
“Alright.” Jiang Chen nodded and called out. “Iron Dazhi, if
it wasn’t for the lordmaster’s benevolent heart today, you’d be hard pressed to
escape certain death!”
Iron Dazhi’s face was ashen. He never thought that he’d
suffer such great humiliation today. He hadn’t died not because those from the
sect had come to rescue him, it was because Ye Chonglou had begged for mercy on
his behalf!
One had to know that Ye Chonglou was one of the Iron
family’s most hated characters!
Snorting, Iron Dazhi laughed coldly in his heart. Ye
Chonglou is still afraid of my grandfather, Iron Long. Otherwise, why would he
have begged for mercy on my behalf?
He’s afraid of getting caught and blamed for this!
Iron Dazhi smiled coldly when his thoughts travelled here,
“Jiang Chen, don’t you put on the ugly face of a victor. It’s not yet
determined who’s a victor!”
This fellow was absolutely a cooked duck, a sharp tongue was
the only thing tough about him now. He wanted to talk tough after seeing Jiang
Chen’s att.i.tude seeming to soften and regain his pride.
Zhou Yi’s face changed when he heard those words. Iron Dazhi
you dumb f*ck! Why are you trying to regain face at a time like this?
Indeed, Jiang Chen’s face grew cold and he started laughing
coldly. “Not yet determined? Since that is the case, let’s keep fighting until
one of us is the only one alive!”
Zhou Yi hastened to call out, “Jiang Chen, we’ve already
said that this is a misunderstanding. Let’s not continue fighting?”
Iron Dazhi may have a tough lip, but he wasn’t an idiot.
When he saw that Jiang Chen’s att.i.tude hadn’t actually seemed to soften, he
didn’t dare speak those useless tough words anymore.
“Misunderstanding?” Jiang Chen smiled faintly. “Zhou Yi, do
you think that you can happily gloss things over with just the use of
‘misunderstanding’?”
“Then, what do you want to do?” Zhou Yi’s heart sank. Did
Jiang Chen want to keep on fighting?
“You can evade death, but you’ll have to suffer in the
future! I’m not a merciless person, but to release you unscathed today, what of
my reputation then? You can leave, but you have to pay your ransom!”
“Ransom?” Zhou Yi started. “Jiang Chen, what do you mean by
that?”
“You don’t understand?” Jiang Chen’s face chilled. “I don’t
care if you really don’t understand or you’re pretending not to understand.
I’ll say it one more time. Cough up the ransom if you want to leave. If the
items aren’t here within 24 hours, I’ll start killing one person every fifteen
minutes until they’re all dead!”
To kill one person every fifteen minutes means that all 18
of them would be dead in four hours!
Zhou Yi panicked. Even the overweeningly arrogant Iron
Dazhi’s face darkened with horror.
Chapter 272: The Iron Family Panics
Deep within the Precious Tree Sect, Iron Can almost leapt up
in anger and fear when he learned that Iron Dazhi and Zhou Yi were being held
at the Jiang manor.
He’d been the one who’d learned that Ye Chonglou was coming
to the sect this time and had privately authorized Iron Dazhi and Zhou Yi to go
destroy Jiang Chen.
Who would’ve thought that they’d fail?!
And, the entire group of eighteen with two earth spirit
realm pract.i.tioners had all fallen, without even the help of Ye Chonglou!
This news petrified Iron Can. He was well aware of Iron
Dazhi’s strength.
His nephew’s potential on the world of martial dao was much,
much higher than his. To put it frankly, Iron Dazhi’s level of training would
surpa.s.s his in another three years.
Therefore, he’d been greatly confident when Iron Dazhi took
the field himself.
However, reality had once again slapped Iron Can in the
face. Iron Dazhi had been taken and was held by Jiang Chen!
He’d even sent messengers telling Iron Can to bring ransom,
or they’d be killed after 24 hours.
He’d start killing one every 15 minutes until none were
left.
Iron Can almost spat out a mouthful of blood when he heard
these words.
How long had it been since he’d last been threatened? When
had anyone dared use such an att.i.tude to talk to him, Iron Can?! Who had
dared openly declare themselves enemies of the Iron family?
There were none within the sect, never mind a mere mundane
kingdom.
But today, he’d just so run into one!
“Jiang Chen!!” A violent light shone in Iron Can’s eyes as
teeth cracked in his clenched jaw. He wanted to lead a thousand strong army
right now to charge into the capital, raze the Jiang manor to the ground and
slaughter anything that moved within.
However, reason told him that although this kind of thinking
was pleasing, it was impossible to execute.
The head of the Precious Tree Sect, Xie Tianshu, would’ve
surely received word of this, not to mention Ye Chonglou backing up Jiang Chen.
There was no reason for sect disciples to travel to an
ordinary kingdom and hara.s.s its n.o.bles, or surround their manor.
This was forbidden even for sect disciples.
Sect disciples could bluff and bl.u.s.ter or throw their
weight around, but they had to observe the basic rules of conduct.
Of course, there were many instances in which they ignored
the rules.
But that was under circ.u.mstances that no one would take
them to task for.
Now, the sect head could bring trouble down on his head at
any moment. Iron Can wouldn’t be able to fabricate an excuse in their defense
even if that old man Ye Chonglou came around asking questions.
Ye Chonglou was in the right with this matter. If it blew up
in their faces, it was enough to make the Iron family limp away with a severe
lack of face.
If the lawsuit was taken up with the sect head, Xie Tianshu
would be sure to add fuel to the flames and pin the Iron family with a severe
crime.
The worst thing was, he had authorized Iron Dazhi to head
towards the capital and had privately deployed 16 law enforcement disciples!
This had originally been a private operation, and wouldn’t
have been a big deal had no one pursued it.
But once it blew up, this transformed into a th.o.r.n.y
problem.
Putting aside the fact that he, Iron Can, had no right to
deploy the law enforcement disciples, even if he did, he couldn’t make them
take action without a warrant.
Not only had he done the forbidden, but he’d lost them
within the Jiang manor.
If he didn’t save them all, the hall of law enforcement
elder absolutely wouldn’t let him have an easy time. He’d probably thoroughly
offend this elder to the death.
The hall of law enforcement represented the laws of a sect,
the discipline and its order.
Breaking the hall’s laws was to disrupt the sect’s order.
It was enough to completely tank his prospects if this
matter grew any bigger.
Iron Can’s mind was in a wild disarray, as chaotic as a
slurry of porridge.
He had never thought that Iron Dazhi and Zhou Yi would be
captured in the Jiang manor, and had thought even less that Jiang Chen would
try to openly extort him.
The prisoners would die if he didn’t bring the ransom.
This was Jiang Chen’s final message to him.
Iron Can had no doubt that Jiang Chen would actually do so.
The latter hadn’t even creased his brow when killing someone.
Regarding the deaths of Lu Wuji and Yang Zhao, even Liu
Chengfeng of the Northern Palace -- Iron Can firmly believed even now that it
was all at Jiang Chen’s hands.
He was deeply conflicted as he knew that 24 hours wasn’t a
lot of time. He could no longer hesitate.
He grit his teeth; at this point, he could only call upon
his thick face to find his esteemed elder father, Iron Long.
Iron Long had obviously just come back from a senior
executive meeting as his face bore traces of weariness. When he saw his son’s
dispirited and distracted expression, he knew that his dear old son had caused
trouble again.
Iron Long had already been a bit irritated on account of the
meeting, and his exasperation only grew when he saw his son, “Speak, what is it
this time?”
Iron Can wasn’t afraid of anything in the heavens or earth,
but he feared his old man.
“Father… I’m sorry, I didn’t take good care of the kid
Dazhi.” Iron Can had obviously gotten a good handle on his father’s character.
He knew the more pitifully he portrayed himself, the more his father’s heart
would soften.
“Dazhi? What happened to him?” Iron Long’s face changed when
he heard these words.
“Father, Dazhi grew enraged when he returned from training
in the outside world and heard that our family had lost face thanks to Jiang
Chen. He took Zhou Yi with him to create some trouble for Jiang Chen. I don’t
know what the Jiang brat did to capture Dazhi and Zhou Yi. The brat’s arrogance
knows no bounds; he’s trying to extort money out of me. He says that if I don’t
submit the ransom, he’ll start killing people one every 15 minutes after 24
hours. There were 18 in total during this trip, and he’ll start killing them
until they’re all dead.”
“What?” A stern light shot out of Iron Long’s eyes. “He
really said that?”
“Without a doubt.” Iron Can’s heart leapt with joy. He
wanted to arouse his father’s emotions and also make his father hate Jiang
Chen. If his father personally put in an appearance to take down Jiang Chen,
then their success was guaranteed!
“Humph.” Iron Long thought of something and leveled an icy
look at Iron Can. His voice also became frosty, “Why did Dazhi suddenly go to a
mundane kingdom? Given that Ye Chonglou has already spoken, Dazhi’s arrogance
might know no bounds in the folly of youth, but are you equally as brainless?”
“Iron Can, don’t try to play smart with your old man. Speak
truthfully. Was it that you saw Ye Chonglou make a trip to the sect and wanted
to take advantage of his absence?”
Iron Long’s gaze was harsh as he stared at Iron Can.
“I…” Iron Can quivered. He wanted to lie and get himself out
of this, but his little tricks were completely useless beneath Iron Long’s
sharp eyes.
“Sigh.” Iron Long let out a long sigh. “Iron Can, you truly
disappoint your father. Are you really that flighty? Do you want so badly for
your father to erupt in open hostilities with Ye Chonglou? Do you really want
to push Ye Chonglou to the Xie family that badly? Jiang Chen, a mere ordinary
genius like him, there are plenty of opportunities to take care of him in the
future. Has his existence made you so crazed that you’re unable to sleep? With
your little bit of shrewdness and your nonexistent patience, how will you
inherit my legacy in the future? How will you continue to lead our Iron family
in the future?”
Iron Long originally had two sons.
Iron Can was the younger one. He had an elder brother who
was Iron Dazhi’s father.
However, Iron Long’s eldest son had died in an accident not
too long after Iron Dazhi had been born.
Therefore, the Iron family only had Iron Can in this
generation to take on the family mantle.
As for other branches of the family, although there were
many others, how would Iron Long possible give his legacy onto another
relative?
Iron Can was his only choice.
But, his performance had always been one of hopeless
mediocrity, and he’d disappointed Iron Long time and time again.
It was because that he was so disappointed that Iron Long
had secretly started training Iron Dazhi some more. He hoped that Iron Dazhi
would grow up quickly and aid Iron Can, perhaps even directly hand over the
reigns to Iron Dazhi in the future and have Iron Can act as the a.s.sistant.
But suddenly, Iron Can had run over to tell him that Iron
Dazhi had been taken by others!
How would such news not make Iron Long fly into a rage?
If Iron Can hadn’t been his own son, Iron Long probably
would’ve slapped him to death at this point.
Iron Can also knew that he had thoroughly infuriated his
father this time. His eyes darted to and fro, too scared to meet his father’s
eyes.
“So tell me, what do you intend to do?” Iron Long restrained
the fury in his heart with effort.
Iron Can’s tone was vicious and ruthless, a violent light
s.h.i.+ning bright out of his eyes. “I would like father to lend me some of
your personal guards so I can carve my way into the Jiang manor and save
everyone.”
“Preposterous!” Iron Long slammed his hand on the table, so
angry that his moustache flared towards the skies. “Do you think the situation
isn’t chaotic enough, you fool?”
“Do you think Ye Chonglou is a piece of decoration?”
“Do you think Xie Tianshu would allow you to act how you
would?”
Regret, sheer regret that his offspring didn’t measure up to
his hopes! This Iron Can was far inferior to his fallen son.
To put things bluntly, if it wasn’t for Iron Long propping
everything up, Iron Can would be a complete and utter buffoon.
He still wanted to use force at a time like this?!
“Then… do we really let that dumb animal Jiang Chen extort
us? Father, since when did our Iron family fall to the depths in which an
ordinary disciple can bully us?” Iron Can was unwilling to accept this. He truly
couldn’t accept bowing his head to Jiang Chen and paying ransom.
Iron Long burst out in loud curses, “Idiot fool! Do you
still think our family is fighting with Jiang Chen now?”
If it wasn’t for Ye Chonglou supporting Jiang Chen, and the
fact that Xie Tianshu was their opponent within the sect, Iron Long wouldn’t
hesitate at all right now.
Whoever dared keep one of his descendents would be directly
trampled.
But the current situation didn’t tolerate him taking the
slightest bit of force.
To still use force now meant that they were fully erupting
in hostilities with Ye Chonglou and pus.h.i.+ng the latter towards Xie
Tianshu’s camp.
He kept telling himself that he had to calm down. This
wasn’t the time to rage.
He controlled the fires of fury within his heart and sighed
with dejection. “Go, see what Jiang Chen wants and give it to him!”
“Give it to him?!” Iron Can leapt up.
“Give it to him!!” Iron Long brought his hand cras.h.i.+ng
down on the table. “Iron Can, I’ll warn you one last time. If you don’t handle
this matter well and make even more of a mess, then I will punish my blood
relations even if you are my son! It will be like I had never sired an idiot
like you!”
A fury that burned to the skies came cras.h.i.+ng onto Iron
Can, making him almost fall to the ground. He’d finally realized that he’d
completely and thoroughly enraged his father this time!
Chapter 273: A Great Extortion, Making Out Like a Bandit
Leaving in a bedraggled and dispirited state, Iron Can’s
mouth was full of bitterness. He finally understood that his father had always
been rather dissatisfied with his performance.
It’d even reached the point where he wouldn’t hesitate to
take action against his own flesh and blood!
Iron Can’s entire back was soaked through with sweat, and
his head had beads of cold perspiration.
He’d always felt that as his father’s only surviving son, he
was the beloved son of the heavens and it was natural that he could do what he
wanted within and outside of the sect.
And he’s always done so as well.
Iron Long usually kept one eye shut with regards to all the
random c.r.a.p he committed and endured them usually.
But this time, he’d created one heck of a mess.
Particularly in involving Iron Dazhi as well, no wonder Iron
Long had been enraged.
It was a good thing that Iron Dazhi hadn’t died. If he had,
Iron Can had no idea what his father would do to him.
Iron Can finally understood at this point that the place of
a direct son like himself in his father’s heart was less than that of a
grandson, Iron Dazhi.
“Jiang Chen! It’s all because of that filthy animal Jiang
Chen!” Iron Can thought carefully and felt that Jiang Chen was the source of
all of his troubles. If it hadn’t been for Jiang Chen, why would so much
annoying nonsense have occurred?
Iron Can’s very gums itched with hate as his eyes spat fire.
He wanted to tear Jiang Chen to pieces!
But, he also knew that no matter how much he hated Jiang
Chen, he could only hold his nose this time and endure. Getting his revenge
would have to wait until next time.
“It’s all due to that old fart Ye Chonglou. If it wasn’t for
him supporting Jiang Chen, what ability would that brat have to swagger around
with?” Iron Can was equally unfavorably disposed towards Ye Chonglou.
He hated them from the depths of his heart, but the
circ.u.mstances were greater than the person. He had to make haste and travel
to the capital for negotiations.
He knew that if he didn’t take care of things as soon as
possible and save the disciples, once the hall of law enforcement discovered
that their disciples had gone missing, then another bit of trouble would appear
out of nowhere as well.
…...
Jiang Chen was leisurely sitting in his garden within the
Jiang manor at this time.
Iron Can was sitting across from him with a few of his
confidantes.
These two groups would like nothing more than to kill each
other, but they had to sit across from each other at this time.
Iron Can was naturally doing so out of resignation.
As for Jiang Chen, he was already thinking of what he would
extort out of the Iron family.
“Jiang Chen, I admit that I underestimated you before. I’ve
come on behalf of my father, Iron Long, to speak with you. If you take one step
back on this matter, my father will absolutely remember your favor. If you wish
to enter the sect in the future, my father can help you and even mentor you!”
“Your father’s favor? Help me?” Jiang Chen smiled faintly.
Iron Can wasn’t that stupid after all, he knew that using force wouldn’t work,
so was he trying persuasion instead? Except, these acting skills that wouldn’t
fool even a three year old were simply too clumsy.
If it’d been someone else here, Jiang Chen might’ve actually
listened to him. But Iron Can possessed a narrow heart and was sure to take
revenge for this slight in the future.
How could he possibly come to a compromise with such a
character? How was it possible that they would forget past wrongs with a smile?
This wasn’t Iron Can’s style at all.
He was just being forced by the circ.u.mstances and trying
to use some small tricks.
If he handed the people over, Jiang Chen could promise that
Iron Can would immediately turn viciously hostile.
Iron Can squeezed out a bit of a smile on his face with
effort and tried his hardest to appear quite gentle.
“Yes, my father has always treasured talent, and there
aren’t many who are worthy of his aid. Jiang Chen, this is a chance for you to
redeem yourself and an opportunity for you to rise above the ma.s.ses. Do you
know how many in the sixteen kingdoms fight for a chance to prove themselves in
front of my father and seek to win his favor?”
Jiang Chen laughed leisurely. “So it sounds like I should be
shocked and flattered by this honor, agree with grat.i.tude, and then pretend
to change from being your enemy to becoming your friend with enthusiasm just
like that?”
Iron Can saw that there was no sincerity in Jiang Chen’s
supercilious smile at all, and knew that his words were being wasted.
“Jiang Chen!” Iron Can’s face darkened. “Are you an
obstinate mule who’s hardened his heart to go against my Iron family? Have you
thought about what you can gain in doing so? How much future will you have in
the sect in the future after offending my family?”
Although these words sounded like threats, they did make a
bit of sense.
If it was any other ordinary genius, they would’ve paused
for consideration after hearing these words.
However, Jiang Chen was Jiang Chen. He had heard these kinds
of words so often that calluses were beginning to form on his ears.
“Iron Can, I understand your sense of superiority. However,
save your spit if you want to use the Iron family to threaten me.”
Jiang Chen’s tone was mocking as his expression suddenly
chilled, his tone also dropping as well. “If the next words out of your mouth
have nothing to do with the topic of ransom, then get the h.e.l.l out!
Negotiations are over and you can go back to prepare their funeral!”
“You…”
Iron Can had thought of many strategies on the way here and
had finally decided upon this pretense of reconciliation to pull the wool over
Jiang Chen’s eyes and make him submit.
He’d discovered once again that he was too naive.
This Jiang Chen wasn’t having anything he was saying and
didn’t have the slightest bit of reservations towards his Iron family!
He used all his strength to restrain his urge to explode.
Iron Can knew that he had no right to erupt in anger now. If he gave up the
negotiations now, Jiang Chen would likely kill the others immediately!
His face beet red with restraint, Iron Can held his breath for
a long time before finally saying, “Name your price!”
Jiang Chen beamed, “This sounds more like it.”
He then took out a scroll from his sleeve and placed it on
the table, lightly pus.h.i.+ng it over.
“This is my price. Remember, no bartering allowed. I will
kill someone if you attempt to bargain with me once, and I’ll kill two if you
talk back twice.”
Jiang Chen leaned back comfortably after speaking and
drummed his fingertips on the table.
This was completely the tempo of swindling him out of an
enormous sum!
Iron Can picked up the list knowing full well that an
astronomical sum would be on it, but blurted out, “You’re… this is daylight
robbery!”
“You’re right.” Jiang Chen wore a harmless smile on his
face. “Isn’t robbery better than killing someone, hmm? Iron Can, stop dithering
around. I’m saving you some face. If I was the one who’d failed this time, I’m
sure I wouldn’t even have a full corpse by now. Therefore, my robbery is fully
justified and a given.”
Jiang Chen’s tone was unhurried. Even during negotiations,
he didn’t want to say any unnecessary words.
Iron Can’s hands gripped the list tightly, starting to
tremble.
It wasn’t that the Iron family wasn’t able to afford such a
list, but that this was asking for a lot, an absolutely enormous amount!
This ransom would severely dent the Iron family’s
foundations!
Saint rank medicine ingredients were worth entire cities and
treasures that were hard to come by in a hundred years.
One had to know that only original realm pract.i.tioners had
the need to use saint rank medicines.
Although a spirit king would occasionally use saint rank
medicines, but those opportunities were few and far in between.
Even a spirit king wouldn’t have that many stores of spirit
medicines.
Even though the Iron family had an ill.u.s.trious history
and a rich foundation, they didn’t have that many saint rank medicines either.
Jiang Chen had asked for four times that amount in one go,
and even specified the ones with attributes of fire and ice. This kind of
request was particularly difficult.
The number of spirit rank medicines listed behind it from
low to high ranks was an eye popping one.
It wasn’t that the Iron family didn’t possess this amount,
but that this amount was truly frightening!
Even his personal property as a sect elder was far less than
this , unless he dipped into the family clan vaults.
The value of these items were more than enough to trade for
a sky spirit realm pract.i.tioner, not to mention these people!
The more he read, the more Iron Can trembled and panicked.
Jiang Chen was absolutely making out like a bandit.
Would an ordinary brat like him be able to digest these
items?
Iron Can was infuriated, “It must be that old fart Ye
Chonglou! Will that brat be able to use saint rank medicines, to say nothing of
anything else? Is a small spirit realm pract.i.tioner worthy of possessing
these medicines? This is definitely something that the shameless old fart Ye
Chonglou had cooked up!”
Iron Can trembled in his rage, the muscles in his face
twitching uncontrollably. That experience was like someone was trying to dig
out his heart, liver, and kidneys.
He had had multiple urges to flip the table and leave, but
reason won out in the end.
He knew that if he left, Iron Dazhi and the others would die
as well.
Once Iron Dazhi was lost, then his end was at hand too.
“How about it Elder Iron? I’m a pretty virtuous guy huh? A
thousand gold would be hard pressed to buy a life. I’m giving you a fair price
now, I’m sure you can understand my friendly selflessness, hmm?”
Jiang Chen chuckled merrily.
Iron Can almost spewed out blood when he heard this.
“Jiang Chen, aren’t you afraid of dying from indigestion
with this ridiculous price?” Iron Can said bitingly.
“Dying from indigestion? Wouldn’t that go along with your
fondest desires? Elder Iron, you must hate me to death right now. Me dying
would just so resolve one of your wishes. How about this, why don’t you double
the price and try to stuff me to death, so that I would be deader than a
doornail.”
“Shameless!” Iron Can had a belly full of rage and nowhere
to vent it. He knew that the other was swindling him, but he was unable to
negotiate.
Bartering once would result in one death!
Although Iron Can suspected that Jiang Chen was just
threatening him, he didn’t have the courage to try.
He couldn’t afford to gamble.
Whether it was Iron Dazhi or Zhou Yi, or any of the 16 law
enforcement disciples, he’d be unable to explain himself when he returned.
Jiang Chen smiled easily and stood up from the seat. He
murmured as if to himself, “Time flies. It seems that 12 hours has already gone
by. Do I really need to make preparations and go sharpen my knife?”
Iron Can finally couldn’t hold back any longer and spat out
a mouthful of blood.
Chapter 274: Startling News About the Great Selection
A matter such as spewing blood was a great tragedy, but Iron
Can spewing blood was actually quite comedic in Jiang Chen’s eyes.
Of course, spitting blood was one thing, but Iron Can didn’t
dare tarry. Time waited for no one.
If he missed the remaining six hours, Jiang Chen would absolutely
raise his blade and start killing.
One had to say, the Iron family fortunes were quite
astonis.h.i.+ng. Although Jiang Chen was demanding a flabbergasting sum, he
still obtained all of them in six hours.
These items filled three secret rooms.
Jiang Chen was wreathed in smiles after he took an
inventory. “Elder Iron is a forthright person alright. I hope there are more
chances for friendly transactions like these in the future.”
In the future?
Killing intent overwhelmed everything else in Iron Can’s
eyes, next time? He wanted a next time?
“You’ve gotten what you wanted, why aren’t you letting them
go yet?” Iron Can asked in full rage.
Jiang Chen laughed heartily, “Let them go!”
Those in the back only let Iron Dazhi and Zhou Yi go when
they received Jiang Chen’s instructions.
Iron Dazhia and Zhou Yi both had exhausted expression on
their faceless and they were even more shamefaced when they saw Iron Can. Iron
Dazhi in particular was covered with injuries and in quite a ghastly state with
an ashen colored face.
Jiang Chen stood at the door and still wore that unhurried
smile on his face, waving at Iron Dazhi, “Sir Iron Dazhi, come often in the
future if you have nothing else to do.”
Iron Dazhi almost spat blood in anger as well.
It was obvious that Jiang Chen wanted to wrangle some more
items from them again.
Iron Can decided to tear off the mask of politeness now that
his people were freed. He grimaced, “Jiang Chen, don’t think that this is the
end of the matter. You’ll need to be able to digest all of it from my Iron
family well!”
Although Iron Can had taken his father’s admonishment to
heart and he was holding up beneath the humiliation, he’d already started
drafting in his heart how to take revenge on Jiang Chen!
“Jiang Chen, if you dare partic.i.p.ate in the great
selection, my Iron family will ensure that you die an awful, horrifying death!”
Killing intent surged to the skies within Iron Can’s heart.
…...
The three generations of the Iron family were gathered in
the internals of the Iron family.
There were only four people in the secret chamber.
Iron Long, Iron Can, and Iron Dazhi were present, with Zhou
Yi serving them on the side.
Iron Long’s expression froze after listening to Iron Dazhi
and Zhou Yi’s descriptions, seeming to be considering something. He sighed after
quite a while.
“Spirit rank creatures are something that’s difficult for
even the sect master tamers to train. Not only can Jiang Chen compel them to
fight, but he can train them to set up formations! To think that such a
perverse person comes from a mundane kingdom? This is unbelievable!” Iron
Long’s tone was full of emotion.
“Father, hasn’t that d.a.m.ned old fart Ye Chonglou always
been vested in raising and training spirit creatures? He probably taught all of
it to Jiang Chen? That brat is most likely just one of the old fart’s secret
p.a.w.ns, what do you think?” Iron Can fancied himself clever and started his
a.n.a.lysis.
“Impossible!” Iron Long shook his head decisively. “I’m more
than familiar with Ye Chonglou’s abilities. Although he is quite gifted in
raising spirit creatures, he doesn’t have the skills to compel spirit creatures
to set up formations. Jiang Chen most likely has had other fortuitous
encounters!”
“Fortuitous encounters?” Iron Can didn’t quite believe it.
“He’s just a minor character from the Eastern Kingdom, what kind of fortuitous
encounters would he possibly have in a barbaric backwater like the Eastern
Kingdom?”
Iron Dazhi also nodded, “The Eastern Kingdom is a mere third
rate kingdom and it practically useless in the sixteen kingdom alliance. What
kind change in fortunes could Jiang Chen possibly have had there? Grandpa, in
my view, Jiang Chen could very well be a p.a.w.n that Ye Chonglou has cultivated
in secret.”
“But, however… ” Iron Long sighed lightly. “Dazhi, your
potential is wonderful, but your mentality can be improved upon. The great
selection is a chance for you. As for how the final results are, that depends
on your making.”
“Opportunity?” Iron Can seized upon the word. “Father, is
there something behind this time’s great selection?”
Iron Dazhi also looked at Iron Long with an earnest and
fervent gaze.
“Humph. When you were off creating a mess in the Skylaurel
Kingdom, I, Xie Tianshu, and Ye Chonglou were summoned by sect forefather
Thousandleaf for a discussion. The four sects are hosting the great selection
together this time. The scale of this time’s selection is much higher than any
in history. Each of the sects will choose their four elite disciples this time
to form the strongest 16 of the four sects.”
“Strongest 16?” Iron Can blinked. “What special treatment
will they have after being selected?”
“These 16 people will receive the forefathers’ special
training! They will receive the core resources and most valuable knowledge of
the sects.”
“What?” Iron Dazhi was greatly astonished. “Receive the
forefathers’ special training!?”
“That’s correct. That special training isn’t theoretical, it
was true, hands on training! It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that they
would become the forefathers’ true disciples. The goal is to expedite their
ascension into an origin realm pract.i.tioner!”
Iron Long’s tone was also full of admiration and yearning
when his words stopped at this point.
The origin realm! He had lived so many years, but he was
still a step outside the door to the origin realm. He had no hope of setting
foot inside it in this lifetime.
To Iron Long, the origin realm was practically the greatest
regret of his life.
Therefore, he wanted to place this hope on his grandson.
“Dazhi, you may be able to make it into the top ten of the
Precious Tree Sect genius disciples, but it would be quite difficult for you to
vault into the top 4. Therefore, I’m going to give you special training over
the next couple of days! I will strive my hardest for you to be ranked amongst
the top 4 in the final compet.i.tion.”
“Grandpa, although the sect has many geniuses, I’m confident
that I will be a.s.sured of making it as one of the top 4 if I can enter the
peak of the earth spirit realm at the sixth level.” Iron Dazhi was greatly self
a.s.sured.
“Right, there are only three at the sixth level spirit realm
in the young geniuses of the sect. If you can break through to the sixth level
spirit realm, and go armed with some of the Iron family’s trump cards, there
will be no problem for you to make it into the top four.”
Iron Long had obviously come to this meeting with a plan.
“The special training I’m giving you this time is also focusing on breaking
through to the sixth level spirit realm. Add to that some family clan secret
arts and some heirloom treasures, I would be truly disappointed if you don’t
rank within the top 4 with these resources, Dazhi.”
The secret arts of the family and heirloom treasures. That
kind of treatment made even Iron Can a bit jealousy and a hint of envy rose in
his heart.
He had so wanted these things when he was young, but his
father Iron Long had placed the bulk of his attentions on raising his eldest
son. As the younger son, Iron Can’s potential and mentality were all much less
than his big brother’s.
When his big brother, Iron Yong, had accidentally pa.s.sed
away in an accident, Iron Can was also slightly happy apart from being a bit
sad. He felt that with the absence of his brother, the heritage of the family
would finally land on him.
However, he’d discovered today that he’d once again been too
naive.
His father had bypa.s.sed him to cultivate the next
generation, his dead brother Iron Yong’s son!
His father had even announced to his face that he was
pa.s.sing down the family treasures and secret arts to Iron Dazhi!
Iron Can’s heart felt as agonized as if it’d been bitten by
a poisonous snake, it was impossible to say that he didn’t feel the slightest
bit of envy!
However, he also knew that he had no right to be jealous. He
had fallen short of his father’s expectations in too many areas.
If he still didn’t recognize the circ.u.mstances he was in
now, then he may even be stripped of his right to be Iron Dazhi’s a.s.sistant
and he would have all his power removed, becoming a figurehead elder.
Iron Long’s gaze slanted to the side a bit as he locked a
stern gaze onto Iron Can’s face.
Iron Can couldn’t resist a frantic leap of his heart when
his father pressured him with this look.
“Iron Can, what thoughts do you have regarding your father’s
arrangements?” Iron Long’s tone was remote.
Iron Can took a deep breath in and answered honestly,
“Father, I support your decision. It was all because your son was sub par when
young and I missed the prime opportunity. Dazhi is a young genius and so we
should naturally spend all our strength in raising him. I may be silly, but I
still understand this logic.”
“Mm. It’s good that you understand. You have precious few
advantages with your age. You’ll likely halt at the sky spirit realm in this
life, with almost no chance of making it as a spirit king. Dazhi is different.
He’s less than 30 years old and he already possesses such achievements. This
bears witness to the strength of his potential. If he can break through the sky
spirit realm this time, he will have great potential to unearth in the future.
Dazhi is the most immediate heir to my Iron family!”
The blood in Iron Dazhi’s body started boiling when he heart
these words. This was the first time that he’d received direct verbal
acceptance from his grandfather!
This meant that his role as the next head of the Iron family
was officially confirmed!
Although Iron Can was jealous, he could only accept his lot
in life now. He knew that he no longer had any advantages compared to Iron
Dazhi.
Age in particular, was his fatal disadvantage.
“Dazhi, don’t be prideful either. Don’t ever forget that as
a sect genius, you actually lost in a mundane kingdom. This is a blot on your
life and it is inevitable that it will become an internal demon. I hope you can
trans.m.u.te humiliation into action and truly steady yourself, cutting off all
that flighty nonsense and truly set foot onto the path of the genius. Although
an ordinary kid like Jiang Chen may have had some lucky encounters, his
foundation and potential are nowhere near yours. He has no advantages compared
to you. You absolutely cannot let him become an obstacle on your path as a
genius, do you understand?”
A shrewd light shot out of Iron Dazhi’s eyes as he seemed to
contemplate something and understand something as well.
“I understand grandpa. Jiang Chen did humiliate me, but it
was also due to a lack of finesse in my abilities and lack of a clear head. If
I’d been slightly more clear headed and hadn’t been ensnared by his trap, I
wouldn’t have turned out like this. I will absolutely use this as a warning to
myself and remind myself constantly. I will personally kill Jiang Chen during
the great selection and sweep away this internal demon!”
“Good, this is also my expectation for you.” Iron Long
smiled faintly. He was still quite satisfied with Iron Dazhi’s abilities of
comprehension.
“Alright, Dazhi, you’re a sect genius and thus, you don’t
have to partic.i.p.ate in the first round. I can make use of this time to
thoroughly reforge you so that you can emerge from the ma.s.ses with an
absolutely stunning demeanor in the second round!”
Iron Long’s tone was filled with confidence and hope.
He didn’t mention the losses that the family had suffered in
paying the ransom this time. Iron Long was well aware that the less he mentioned
it, the more this would become Iron Dazhi’s motivation!
Striving forward bravely after experiencing humiliation was
a mandatory experience that geniuses had to weather.
Chapter 275: Giving Pointers to Lordmaster Ye Chonglou
Jiang Chen admired the mountains of spirit medicine in his
manor and tsked in amazement. “It’s said that the sects are so rich that they
have wealth flowing out of their ears, and it looks like those rumors weren’t
unfounded. As one of the two great families of the Precious Tree Sect, the Iron
family boasts of astonis.h.i.+ng wealth. Most likely, these items are just a
hair off their legs? It looks like I was still too kind and my price was too
low.”
Jiang Chen finally understood now why Ye Chonglou had told
him not to kill Iron Dazhi.
A defeated opponent like Iron Dazhi could be killed at
anytime.
But even Ye Chonglou would find it hard to rapidly collect
so many spirit medicines!
“It’s always been said that the Myriad Treasures Palace is
rich and possesses extreme wealth, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the sect. In
the end, the Palace is just an outer site. As bountiful as their treasures
appear to be, it’s still nothing compared to that of a heavyweight within the
sect.”
Jiang Chen knew that he had struck gold this time.
He couldn’t even store all these items in his storage ring.
Of course, Jiang Chen wouldn’t possibly swallow it all
himself. Even if it were empty pleasantries, he still had to make a gesture or
two. He selected two saint rank medicines and delivered it to the old tutor.
Jiang Chen knew that although the old tutor hadn’t gone to
any effort in taking down Iron Dazhi and Zhou Yi, the Iron family wouldn’t have
negotiated with him at all even if hadn’t been for the old tutor, not to
mention docilely giving him the ransom.
Therefore, Jiang Chen’s extortion had still made use of the
old tutor’s influence.
Thus, it was a natural course of action to share his gains
with the old tutor.
However, when Jiang Chen delivered these items to the old
tutor, the old tutor smiled and waved him off. “Jiang Chen, this old man won’t
take these medicines from you. You caught them, I only gave you a suggestion
and can’t share in the glory.”
“Lordmaster, this is a token of my appreciation, I won’t
feel right if you don’t accept it.”
Ye Chonglou smiled, “Put it this way. These spirit medicines
are indeed nice, but they will have much more use with you than with me.
Besides, I have some saint rank medicines. Save them for yourself.”
The old tutor was resolute in not accepting. Jiang Chen
didn’t continue to insist and put them away.
“Jiang Chen, even this old man hadn’t thought that the Iron
family would be as mad as a march hare to make use of the time in which I
traveled to the sect to attack the Jiang manor. It was a good thing that your
methods were sophisticated, making my worries on the way back completely
superfluous.”
“This kid is truly shamefaced to have caused the old tutor
worry.”
“Alright kiddo, I don’t see the slightest expression of self
reflection on your face.” Ye Chonglou smiled and suddenly became serious.
“Jiang Chen, I was invited by forefather Thousandleaf to the sect this time to
discuss matters regarding the great selection.”
“Oh?”
“The scale of this year’s great selection is unprecedented.
I already mentioned the reason why last time. The selection is divided into two
parts this time. The first part is to make a selection from the ordinary
geniuses. Those selected will partic.i.p.ate in a second part with the sect
disciples. The second selection is the key. When the 16 strongest are
determined, each of the four sects will receive four disciples for personal
tutelage by each sect’s forefathers as their true disciples. They will also
receive the sect’s most core and finest resources.”
“Core, finest resources?” Jiang Chen blinked. This happened
to be precisely what he needed at the moment.
In the world of martial dao, the richest, core resources
were controlled by the sects. Only a small portion was left to the mundane
kingdoms and fought over by countless pract.i.tioners. It was a case of too
many monks and not enough gruel to go around.
Within the sects, those who truly benefited from the
resources were the geniuses at the top of the pyramid, those standing at the
very peak!
Ye Chonglou nodded, “To put it simply, you’ll have whatever
you want as long as the sect possesses it!”
This was undoubtedly the most exclusive treatment.
One had to know, the ones with the true power were the
origin realm forefathers.
Even the sect head and the first of the esteemed elders
didn’t have the right to touch the most exquisite items unless the origin realm
forefathers nodded in a.s.sent.
The fact that the geniuses selected by this time’s great
selection would enjoy whatever they wished for signified that they would enjoy
treatement that even the sect head and esteemed elders couldn’t boast of.
“Lordmaster, it looks like that the sixteen kingdom alliance
is indeed in a precarious situation. Otherwise, how could they have possibly
put down their proud stances and offer such sweet rewards?”
Ye Chonglou gave a long sigh, “It’s actually bit late to
only feel a sense of danger now. When I returned from my worldly travels, I had
given the sects some hints not to remain static in their footsteps. It was a
pity that no one listened to me then. They hadn’t realized at all how subpar
the alliance was in the greater picture of the Myriad Domain. I hope there’s
still a chance to salvage the situation now that they’ve realized where things
stand.”
The lordmaster’s tone suddenly became a bit bleak as he
looked at Jiang Chen, a flicker of light suddenly appearing in his eyes as a
trace of hope shot out from them.
“Jiang Chen, I’ve heard that heroes emerge in troubled
times. Perhaps, the chaos of the sixteen kingdom alliance is an opportunity for
a genius of humble origins like you.”
To be born of humble origins was to be restricted by one’s
circ.u.mstances. Many geniuses was resigned to an eventual fate of mediocrity
due to a lack of sufficient cultivation.
This time’s great selection was undoubtedly a chance for
those of the ma.s.ses.
Jiang Chen smiled slightly and didn’t refute the old tutor’s
words.
One had to say, the old tutor was an honest and sincere
elder. Jiang Chen could feel genuine care from him.
His every word and advice had been approaching things from
Jiang Chen’s perspective and been in consideration of his future.
This kind of elder was quite worthy of Jiang Chen’s respect.
He suddenly had the desire to help this old man.
“Old tutor, why is it that there are such low numbers of
origin realm pract.i.tioners within the sixteen kingdoms? Is it that the
sixteen kingdoms don’t possess enough resources, or insufficient martial dao
legacy? Or is there another reason?”
Ye Chonglou sighed softly when he heard this, a trace of
sorrow appearing on his face.
“Jiang Chen, to be frank, I’ve often contemplated the reason
for this, but have never been able to come to a decent conclusion. Not enough
resources is surely a reason, but although the neighboring great powers,
empires, and dynasties possess more resources than us, it’s not to the point of
an overwhelming amount. However, they have much greater numbers of origin realm
pract.i.tioners. I guess it comes down to weak and insufficient martial dao
legacies.”
The old tutor had indeed considered this reason before, but
he’d felt that it was a matter with their martial dao foundations.
Each sect had only origin realm pract.i.tioner supporting
them.
It was said that one tree did not a forest make, nor that
only a single star of the show be a good thing.
Only one origin realm pract.i.tioner naturally couldn’t give
rise to a system, and being unable to form a system meant that no cycle of
being able to pa.s.s on one’s legacy could form.
There were too few origin realm pract.i.tioners, and thus
they couldn’t corroborate their knowledge with each other nor practice their
techniques.
That meant that within the origin realm, they were going at
it solo. The possibility of improvement naturally decreased when a lack of
interaction and sparring between peers existed.
When they reached the the origin realm, they couldn’t bear
wasting time to teach disciples.
After all, having reached the origin realm, they wanted to
make the best use of every moment to train.
The more they felt that, the more detached from the rest of
society they become as they progressed through the origin realm and the less
likely they had successors waiting in the wings.
Thus, the current situation was formed after a long period
of time.
“I see that the lordmaster is well set in the spirit king
realm, and not too far from the origin realm?” Jiang Chen started teasing out
the topic at hand.
“It looks not too far away with just a half step, but it’s
possible that I will never close this distance in my entire life. Jiang Chen,
your natural abilities of comprehension are much greater than mine. I hope that
you’ll have the right to a.s.sail the origin realm one day, or even higher!”
The old tutor had great expectations for Jiang Chen, and he’d
never have thought that Jiang Chen was actually trying to give him some
pointers.
Of course, as learned as the old tutor was, he would have
never postulated that the young man sitting in front of him was the
reincarnated son of the Celestial Emperor with a belly full of theories and
knowledge of the heavens.
Jiang Chen smiled faintly and seemed to remember something,
remarking, “Old tutor, I actually heard the elder mention something about the
origin realm.”
“What?” The old tutor’s face, originally wearing a careless
expression, suddenly flushed red as it was suffused with surprise and
agitation.
“Jiang Chen, what did that elder say?”
His voice actually trembled slightly when he spoke. Jiang
Chen had told him before that he had met an otherworldly elder when young and
had spent several years with him.
Therefore, the old tutor had never felt Jiang Chen’s
astonis.h.i.+ng performance was odd.
However, when it came to a.s.sailing the origin realm, the
old tutor couldn’t remain calm.
The origin realm!
That was something he’d striven to break through for sixty
years and never set foot into.
It was very possibly a realm he’d never be able to set foot
into his entire life!
It would most likely become the thing that he regretted the
most in his life!
His eyes stared fixedly at Jiang Chen, his face full of
expectations. Since that elder had mentioned the origin realm, it was surely
something from his own experiences!
Ye Chonglou suddenly seemed to see a ray of hope.
It was like someone walking the dark for decades suddenly
discerning a ray of light.
How would this not make him agitated?
Jiang Chen pretended to be quite natural as he thought for a
bit, “The elder once said, to progress from the spirit realm to the origin
realm, one has to siphon the essence from their spirit ocean to form an origin
infant. What is meant by an origin infant is the concentration of spirit
essence and its rise to a higher level. The formation of the spirit infant
gives rise to countless arts and techniques that are enough to overturn the
rivers and oceans.”
Ye Chonglou nodded. He knew of this.
“The elder also told me then that when forming the origin
infant, it would be a difficult process if only relying on refining the spirit
essence within yourself. Nine out of ten attempts would be unsuccessful. To
truly form a origin infant, not only does one have to raise its spirit ocean,
but one also has to practice the arts of the heart. The origin infant needs
both consciousness and form. Without consciousness, it’s just a false infant.
Only through daily meditation and continual training can one truly form a real
origin infant within their bodies. The infant will naturally form in the
marvelous instant that consciousness and form unite.”
This was the true heart of the matter, and Jiang Chen strove
hard to speak of it like he was remembering something.
However, as calm as Jiang Chen’s tone was, it was like the
evening drum and morning bell in a monastery, making one think deeply and
petrifying Ye Chonglou instantly.
Chapter 276: Final Preparations Before the Great Selection
Like Buddhist chants or ringing sounds coming from the ninth
heaven breaking through the shackles inside his heart, Jiang Chen’s words
shattered the bindings on his martial dao and sent a beam of enlightenment into
his mind.
“Raising the spirit ocean, training the arts of the heart.
Only when an origin infant has a consciousness can it be called an origin
infant. Without consciousness, the infant can only be called a false infant…
arts of the heart, arts of the heart… consciousness combining with form,
forming the origin infant…”
These expressions were like marvelous symbols continuously
cras.h.i.+ng around inside his mind, chipping away at the barrier to his
understanding, shedding incessant light in his mind.
“Dan Fei, see little friend Jiang Chen out for me, I’m going
into closed door cultivation.”
Shrewdness gleamed out of Ye Chonglou’s eyes as he gave
those instructions to Dan Fei before he turned to Jiang Chen, “Little friend
Jiang Chen, if I can successfully a.s.sail the origin realm this time, it will
be all because of you.”
Jiang Chen chuckled. With his discerning eye, he too could
see that the lordmaster’s level of training had long since reached the level
where he could break through to the origin realm.
He’d been unable to not because he hadn’t comprehended the
essence of the origin realm, but because he hadn’t grown conscious of the need
to train in the mental arts but had placed his focus on elevating his spirit
essence alone.
Before the power of the heart met the requisite conditions,
any origin infant formed at that time would still be a false infant and one
wouldn’t count as having fully set foot into the origin realm.
An origin infant would only be formed when the consciousness
was combined with form!
Jiang Chen had mused upon each of these words in his heart. All
of them cut straight to the point. To the old tutor, they were precious
teachings struck his mind.
“This junior will be leaving now, I hope the lordmaster
breaks through and ascends to new heights sooner rather than later, haha.”
Jiang Chen laughed heartily and walked outside.
Dan Fei had been waiting on the side all this time without
interjecting any comments.
That evening, beneath the moonlit night, after Dan Fei had
spoken those words to Jiang Chen she had remained beneath the laurel tree for half
a night. However, not only had she not straightened out her mental affairs, but
she seemed to have sunk even further, finding it even more difficult to extract
herself.
She’d even sulked a bit today and hadn’t said a word on
purpose, nor had she even chatted with Jiang Chen. She’d even purposefully
avoided his gaze.
However, she hadn’t thought that the devious brat would
cause the old tutor to completely lose his composure and call him “little
friend Jiang Chen”, displaying faint undertones that Jiang Chen was the old
tutor’s peer.
This made her emotions even more complicated.
She’d wanted to one-up Jiang Chen and ignore him, but when
she saw his light footsteps almost at the door, her steps still anxiously moved
forward as she ran up to him.
“Sister Dan Fei, the honored tutor is about to go into
closed door cultivation. Please stay your footsteps and take good care of him.”
Dan Fei bit her lips lightly as her charming eyes focused on
Jiang Chen. A glimmer flashed through them as she looked somewhat lost while
she looked at Jiang Chen.
“Jiang Chen you little devil, how many secrets do you have?”
She seemed to murmuring, as if in her sleep.
Jiang Chen smiled wryly, “Sister Dan Fei, I…”
Dan Fei suddenly spread out her hands, sighing, “Don’t
bother explaining. Any of your explanations are surely just empty air. Jiang
Chen, I’d rather you not tell me then always treat me as an outsider and use
some casual words to stopper me with.”
“Eh… so I have this kind of image in sister Dan Fei’s
heart?” Jiang Chen self-deprecated. “Alright, the honored tutor’s closed door
cultivation cannot be delayed for a single second. Here is good, sister Dan
Fei.”
Jiang Chen waved his hands as he spoke and pushed off his
feet to land atop a Goldwing Swordbird, turning into a golden blur and
disappearing from the front of the tutor’s manor.
Dan Fei fell into a deep reverie as she stared in the
direction Jiang Chen had disappeared in, remaining silent for a long time.
…...
When he returned to the Jiang manor, Jiang Chen swept away
all the random thoughts from his mind. The day of the great selection wasn’t
that far off.
He decided to use some of the spirit medicines he’d just
obtained.
The task at hand was to raise the quality of his Swordbird
army and have them all advance into the spirit rank.
If the Swordbirds all entered the spirit rank, then the
inside of the Jiang manor would be an impregnable fortress. Even when enemies
came knocking, the Jiang manor would be able to hold them off for a bit.
Once a thousand spirit rank Swordbirds formed the Eight
Trigrams a.s.similation Formation, even a spirit king protector wouldn’t be
able to break through, and might even find themselves in danger.
However, it wasn’t a small scale project to have thousands
of Swordbirds break through.
It was fortunate that he’d gotten quite a haul this time,
he’d done so precisely for this purpose.
The spirit medicines that he’d gotten from the Iron family
would fill this need, and even have some left over.
As for the four saint rank medicines, Jiang Chen had wanted
them to be of the ice and fire attributes precisely for the Bewitching Lotus of
Ice and Fire.
Of course, he didn’t plan on using those just yet.
He was only in the small spirit realm at the moment, using a
spirit rank medicine would be quite a waste. It wouldn’t be too late to use
them after he’d entered the earth spirit realm.
Usually only spirit king level pract.i.tioners had the right
to use saint rank medicines.
However, Jiang Chen was different from others in that his
spirit ocean had been refined hundreds and thousands of times. His small spirit
realm was the equivalent of other’s earth spirit realm, so he’d be able to just
barely use the saint rank medicines.
It was something he’d taken from others anyways. It’d be a
waste to not use ill gotten gains.
In the next couple days, Jiang Chen spent most of his time
on the Swordbirds.
He also wanted to refine another batch of the Five Dragons
Opening Heavens Pill.
This was because of his eight personal guards, apart from
Xue Tong, the Qiao brothers, Guo Jin, and Wen Ziqi had all made it into the
true qi master realm.
They would be sure to a.s.sail the spirit realm when the
time came.
Of these eight personal guards, Jiang Chen had been raising
them from the Eastern Kingdom and so he had to make some preparations for their
future.
The two Silvermoon Monsterapes were also in the focus of
Jiang Chen’s attention.
Rather, it was the Goldbiter Rats that Jiang Chen had yet to
locate the right way for them to proceed with their bloodline evolution.
After all, evolving bloodlines and raising strength were
different. The process of evolving the Goldbiter Rat bloodlines was destined to
be a long and arduous one.
This needed fortune’s hand.
It was a good thing that the Rat King had devoured many
experts lately and was satisfied with its current life. He knew just as well
that evolving bloodlines was up a bit to destiny, and so he didn’t pressure
Jiang Chen too much.
Half a month pa.s.sed as Jiang Chen’s plan neared
completion.
The day of the great selection was also drawing closer.
On this day, Jiang Chen summoned his guards, planning a
candid conversation.
“The eight of you have been with me for around two years
now. You’ve been by my side from the Eastern Kingdom to the Skylaurel Kingdom.
I’ve seen your loyalty. This time, the sixteen kingdom alliance is about to
undergo a tremendous change. A chance lies in front of me, and so it also lies
in front of you.”
Jiang Chen smiled. “I’m not a selfish person and will
naturally not strip this chance from you. I just ask, who amongst you will be
partic.i.p.ating in the selection this time? Tell me if you want to partic.i.p.ate.
I’ll give leave to any who wish. If you emerge from the ma.s.ses from the great
selection, I will absolutely give you my best of wishes and won’t hinder your
future.”
“Don’t be in a hurry to make your decisions, carefully think
about it first. After all, this is a chance. A sect is an unattainable
existence for an ordinary pract.i.tioner. This time’s great selection is a
chance for the ordinary to become sect disciples. This can change not only your
destiny, but that of your clan, your descendents, and everyone a.s.sociated
with you. Therefore, you must choose wisely.”
The temptation of a sect was boundless.
Particularly for ordinary disciples, it was impossible for
youths to be completely unaffected by the attraction of the lofty sects opening
their doors to mundane pract.i.tioners.
A sect! That was the sacred place for every young
pract.i.tioner.
Xue Tong however, didn’t hesitate in the slightest. His
brief pause was actually out of consideration for his peers’ face. After a
short silence, he took the lead, “Young master, I won’t consider it. I wouldn’t
be where I was without the young master. Unless the young master orders me out
one day, I’ll die as a Jiang family ghost!”
Guo Jin hesitated a moment and said, “Ah forget it. I’m the
only one left of my Guo family. I have no worries and will still follow the
young master. With my personality, I’d likely be repressed after I enter the
sect anyway.”
The Qiao brothers chuckled in a silly manner. They were
martial dao fiends and were still full of yearning towards a sect.
“Qian Shan and Qiao Chuan, what are your thoughts?” Jiang
Chen’s tone was calm.
“I… I’m still going to follow the young master.” Qiao Shan
finally said.
“Us brothers have one heart. Mine brother’s decision is mine
decision.” Qiao Chuan added.
Wen Ziqi’s voice was like a mosquito’s as she said lowly. “I
just want to feed the Silvermoon Monsterapes. Those sects… I don’t like them
and wouldn’t be used to them.”
Wen Ziqi had been a sect disciple to begin with, but she’d
been part of those small sects in the Eastern Kingdom counties.
However, she patently didn’t have much of an infatuation for
the sect life. Otherwise, she wouldn’t make the trek to answer Jiang Chen’s
call for personal guard recruitment.
The last three were obviously the most tempted.
Jiang Chen smiled when he saw that they seemed to want to
say something. “Don’t be so indecisive, you three. Go if you want to
partic.i.p.ate. With your training, it won’t be hard for you to achieve glory
and honor should you fail and return to the Eastern Kingdom or remain within
the Skylaurel Kingdom.”
It wasn’t that they were unloyal, but that their training
had slightly fallen behind Xue Tong and the others these past few years. The
deficiencies in potential were beginning to grow apparent.
This made them feel self-conscious. It was normal that they
sought some change.
“Young master, we... “ Shen Yifan opened his mouth and tried
to explain.
“Speak no further, you know what kind of person I am as
well. Although our relations.h.i.+p of master and follower no longer exists,
our friends.h.i.+p does. If you fail in the selection and run into some
difficulties, come find me. I’ll help you in whatever way I can.”
Jiang Chen had wanted to give them each a Five Dragons
Opening Heavens Pill before they left, but when he thought of the fact that
they weren’t even true qi masters yet, it would be d.a.m.ning them to disaster
if he gave them such a gift. Trouble may even come looking for him.
Jiang Chen decided to gift it to them later.
An innocent man getting into trouble because of his wealth
was all too often seen in the world of martial dao.
Chapter 277: Curtains Open on the Great Selection
After continual rumors of the great selection, the
atmosphere around this event finally reached its peak within the sixteen
kingdoms.
Almost all pract.i.tioners who fulfilled the requirements
were each fighting for a piece of cake just for their chance to try.
On this day, Jiang Chen brought his personal guards to
register within the capital.
The registration period would last for half a month.
There were hundreds of registration sites.
Particularly for the Skylaurel Kingdom, as it was one of the
four great kingdoms, there were many who’d reached the basic requirement of the
advanced true qi realm.
In the entire Jiang manor, apart from Jiang Chen, Ke Mu,
Shen Yifan, and Bi Yun were also partic.i.p.ating in the great selection.
Jiang Chen had once spoken to Gouyu privately, but her
att.i.tude had been resolute and she’d had no interested in the great
selection. She’d emphasized that her intuition told her that following Jiang
Chen was far greater than joining any sect.
Although she didn’t publicly criticize Ke Mu, Shen Yifan,
and Bi Yun’s decision, she privately thought very little of them. She felt that
they’d thrown away the watermelon in order to pick up a sesame.
Setting aside the question of whether or not they’d be able
to make it through the great selection, even if they could, they wouldn’t
receive too many resources from the sect with their potential. It was better to
remain by Jiang Chen’s side.
When had Jiang Chen not done right by his people?
Of course, Gouyu could only keep these thoughts to herself.
Everyone had their own ambitions, and she was just his follower and naturally
wouldn’t say much else.
The registration procedure for the great selection wasn’t
complex. One had to supply proof of ident.i.ty, test their strength, and verify
their age.
They would receive the partic.i.p.ation medallion after
pa.s.sing these three parts.
Of course, the medallion was tied to each person’s
ident.i.ty and could not be transferred. Once lost, the pract.i.tioner would
lose their right to partic.i.p.ate.
Jiang Chen was quite renowned in the kingdom by now, and his
appearance immediately caused a furor at the registration station. Many young
pract.i.tioners even cleared a path for him, wanting to let Jiang Chen register
first.
Ordinarily speaking, no one should be offered the right of
way in the world of martial dao, particularly in the matters of registration.
No one could even think about cutting in line then.
The fact that he could inspire pract.i.tioners to
voluntarily give up their place in line showed that Jiang Chen had a place in
their hearts.
However, he waved his hands and turned down everyone’s good
intentions with a smile. He was signing up with three personal guards and
didn’t want special treatment.
When they saw that Jiang Chen wasn’t about to cut in line
and was standing there with everyone, these ordinary disciples felt even more
kindly disposed towards Jiang Chen.
They’d almost forgotten that they were here to sign up as
they made their greetings to Jiang Chen and started chatting.
Jiang Chen was also quite easy going. Even when some of them
asked him for pointers, he didn’t hesitate to converse with them.
In this regard, his popularity grew even higher.
Those who’d received his pointers were overjoyed and their
eyes sparkling with excitement.
People with higher abilities of comprehension restrained the
delight in their eyes, meditating where they stood in order to digest the
pointers Jiang Chen had given them.
With this, the registration site that Jiang Chen had
selected became extraordinarily crowded.
In the end, even the person in charge of registering
everyone wanted to abandon his station and listen to Jiang Chen’s lecture.
After all, Jiang Chen’s reputation lately had simply been
too great.
Thanks to the processing of the gossip mill, everything he’d
done had become synonymous with legends.
That a pract.i.tioner from a foreign land had gone up
against stronger powers time after time, but had always won!
Everyone had thought at first that he was relying on Ye
Chonglou’s support.
But this time, when the honored tutor had gone to the
Precious Tree Sect, Jiang Chen had used his own power to capture sect geniuses
Iron Dazhi and Zhou Yi!
When this news spread through various channels and had been
embellished through the grapevine, Jiang Chen had become the youngest legend
within the capital without a doubt.
Without Ye Chonglou’s help, Jiang Chen had taken down two
earth spirit realm geniuses and had even captured a group of law enforcement
disciples by himself!
When this news traveled, Jiang Chen’s fame shot upward,
unstoppable in its momentum.
In actuality, the hearts of the ordinary pract.i.tioners
held a particular longing for the sects. This feeling, apart from yearning, was
also mixed with a bit of distaste and even envy for the sect disciples.
On what basis that they were out there in the ordinary
world, fighting tooth and nail for a bit of resources and yet these sect
disciples could sit within their homes, enjoying vast amounts of resources,
becoming the proud sons of the heavens? Why could these sect disciples throw
their weight around in the mundane world and have no one within their sights,
stepping on faces as they would?
While ordinary pract.i.tioners envied the sect disciples,
they were also quite ticked off about their demeanors.
And Jiang Chen happened to fulfill their various negative
feelings. He’d beat them into a pulp, stepped on them and pulled them down from
their thrones, thereby ripping through the facade of their geniuses and thoroughly
made them lose face!
One had to say, they’d found a psychological comfort with
Jiang Chen and a place to vent their emotions.
In this regard, it wasn’t too hard to understand why the
mundane pract.i.tioners viewed Jiang Chen as a hero.
At first, they hadn’t accepted Jiang Chen as they felt that
he was just someone who depended on the great tree which was Ye Chonglou. But
now, Jiang Chen could still stomp on the sect disciples without the honored
tutor!
What did that mean?
It meant that Jiang Chen was an ordinary genius, making him
the hope of ordinary pract.i.tioners, and the role model that they should
strive to emulate.
Jiang Chen hadn’t thought either that his surprise
appearance would cause such an uproar.
Normally, registration should have taken only an hour, but
it took ten to twelve hours for him before he was allowed to leave.
This scene also made the three followers who were also
registering pause and think for a moment. They couldn’t help but doubt
themselves, was it a wise move that the three of them were joining in the great
selection?
However, they knew that since they’d made their choice,
there was no way to turn back now.
Fifteen days registration period actually wasn’t a generous
amount of time. It was a good thing that those who reached the minimum
requirements didn’t want to miss out and made haste, making it so that there
weren’t very many left who needed to sign up in the last two days.
Three days of preparation followed the end of registration.
Jiang Chen made use of this time to make some basic
preparations.
This initial selection was of no difficulty towards Jiang
Chen. He knew that his goal was the ultimate selection in the second round.
He wasn’t that interested in becoming the true disciple of
an origin realm pract.i.tioner.
However, he truly needed that kind of core resources. In his
current stage, only the sects controlled the core resources of the sixteen
kingdoms.
Jiang Chen was well aware that with the rise of his martial
dao, he could not possibly avoid the sects.
Since he couldn’t avoid them, then he would face them with
aplomb. The demeanor of his past life allowed him to be able to put anything
down in front of him.
“Although I, Jiang Chen, possess the memories of my past
life and thus hold an unparalleled advantage, this body is only of average
quality in this world. If I can’t put my pride down and join the sects, then I
will only meet stronger and stronger young geniuses in the future. In this vast
world, not all of them are as childish as Iron Dazhi…”
Jiang Chen thought through things after he’d made up his
mind.
He must try his hardest in this great selection!
There were around fifty thousand who’d reached the advanced
true qi realm below the age of 40 in the Skylaurel Realm.
All of the four great kingdoms could field this number.
The second rate kingdoms were around ten thousand.
The third rate kingdoms, such as Eastern Kingdom, could send
around two to three thousand.
After the disaster of the Soaring Dragon rebellion, it was
in last place without a doubt, along with the Darkmoon Kingdom.
After the Darkmoon Kingdom’s failure to invade the Eastern
Kingdom and the thorough defeat by Jiang Chen, they’d suffered great losses and
their number of elites diminished.
The number of people from the two kingdoms were less than a
thousand. It was a true tragedy.
Within the sixteen kingdom alliance, all of their numbers
added together were almost four hundred thousand!
Although this number was enormous, it still fell far short
of the four great sects’ expectations.
They’d thought that the total would exceed five hundred
thousand at the very least, or perhaps even reach a million. They hadn’t
thought that there’d be less than four hundred thousand suitable candidates.
The smaller the denominator was, the less choice they had in
selection.
…...
The legacy territory of ancient times sat in the center of
the sixteen kingdoms, within the third rate Redflame Kingdom.
With the legacy territory within its boundaries, that
should’ve been a boon to the Redflame Kingdom. However, it was an absolute
nightmare instead.
With the legacy realm here, the four great sects naturally
wouldn’t let any strong kingdoms appear around it.
Why was that?
It was naturally because they were worried that the Redflame
Kingdom would grow too strong and thus control the realm, threatening the four
sect’s positions of power within the sixteen kingdoms.
The four great sects could not afford to let this situation
happen at all.
Therefore, the strongest kingdoms and four great sects of
the alliance had all formed an accord that limited the development of the
Redflame Kingdom, continuously halting it at the stage of a third rate kingdom
and never allowing it to have any hopes of growing strong.
Whenever a genius appeared within its borders, they would
immediately be taken out of the Redflame Kingdom, absorbed into the sects and
brainwashed into becoming loyal to the sects unto death.
In this regard, it was impossible for the Redflame Kingdom
to grow strong.
The royal family of this kingdom were also puppets and had
seemed to accept their fate, never rebelling even once.
However, the number of partic.i.p.ants from this kingdom was
slightly better than the Eastern and Darkmoon kingdoms. It was third from last.
It was actually rather surprising that the shame of being
last hadn’t landed on its head.
Three to four days were needed to travel from the Skylaurel
Kingdom to the Redflame Kingdom. Jiang Chen had made sure everyone was settled
at home before leaving.
He obviously couldn’t take the Swordbird Army with him, so
he left them to Gouyu and directed them to protect home.
Jiang Chen brought the Goldbiter Rats with him, however.
The key thing was that the Millionditch Stone Nest could be
placed into a s.p.a.ce ring and thus made it easier to carry around.
The most defining factor was that no one knew anything of
the legacy realm. So one additional bit of preparation was one more bit of
insurance.
The partic.i.p.ants from the Skylaurel Kingdom reached the
Redflame Kingdom in less than a day.
As for the Redflame Kingdom, it was a bustling spot of
activity as many partic.i.p.ants had already arrived.
Chapter 278: The Four Great Forefathers
On the outskirts of the Redflame Kingdom was an enormous
plain. All the nearly four hundred thousand partic.i.p.ants were gathered here.
The partic.i.p.ants’ faces held barely contained excitement,
they’d just been notified that the highest levels of the four great sects were
about to arrive and announce the selection rules for them.
They’d heard that not only would the executives of the four
great sects arrive, but even the four great forefathers!
The four great forefathers had always been a legendary
existence within the sixteen kingdoms.
Even many sect disciples had never caught a glance of them,
never mind these ordinary pract.i.tioners.
Even the senior echelon of the sects couldn’t see the
forefathers just because they wanted to.
The forefathers represented the highest levels of power
within the alliance. Invincible, they held life and death in the palm of their
hands.
When they heard that the forefathers would appear to talk to
them, how could this not cause the young pract.i.tioners to jump for joy?
Some youngsters with particularly vivid imaginations even
dreamed of having some special potential that catches the eye of the
forefathers, then they would’ve really made it and would walk amongst the
clouds.
There were quite a few with such wild fantasies.
Particularly when it came to youngsters, who didn’t harbor a
few daydreams? The age of teenagers and twenty somethings was precisely the age
filled with imaginings.
Many of them had never seen the highest levels of the four
great sects, not to mention the forefathers.
However, Jiang Chen’s expression was as calm as his heart.
He hadn’t come here to sightsee and gawk at some senior
executives. He had come for the final battle.
Even though it was just a group selection of ordinary
pract.i.tioners right now, Jiang Chen didn’t allow a single ripple to appear in
his heart.
With his knowledge, it was impossible for him to grow
excited about an origin realm pract.i.tioner even after he’d reincarnated. It
was even less likely for him to be full of idol wors.h.i.+p like the others.
In his past life,, even experts that were hundreds of
thousands of times stronger than these venerated origin realm pract.i.tioners
were extremely polite in front of Jiang Chen.
He completely ignored the fervent atmosphere around him as
he activated the Boulder’s Heart, temporarily entering a state of meditation.
When four hundred thousand people gathered, even if everyone
only whispered, the scene was like a great boiling pot, continuously bubbling
over with a hubbub of voices.
“Ho!”
A roar suddenly sounded in the air like a crack of thunder.
It dispersed into countless rumbles of thunder and seemed to
cover the sky in an instant, making everyone’s blood boil and silencing the
plains immediately.
Four hundred thousand pract.i.tioners abruptly fell silent.
“Haha, Sunchaser you old monster, are you trying to put on
airs from the beginning?” Another wild and unbridled roar traveled through the
air.
Four beams of light tore through the clouds. Filled with a
stern divine aura, they were as if celestial beings descending upon the earth.
All sorts of light and splendor resounded through the sky.
A strong presence immediately enclosed an area of a thousand
li.
In his meditation, Jiang Chen’s blood slightly sped up,
causing him to open his eyes and use G.o.d’s Eye to look upwards.
Four beams of light hovered in the air in four different
areas.
Three men, one woman, four venerated origin realm
pract.i.tioners!
“The four great forefathers of the great sects!” Jiang
Chen’s heart raced as he narrowed his eyes to look at the four figures,
standing there as if they were G.o.ds descending upon the earth.
Such strong auras were indeed something he’d never
experienced before from Ye Chonglou. Jiang Chen had no doubt that these were
the four people who controlled the core power and resources within the sixteen
kingdoms, standing as representatives of the four great sects.
The Purple Sun Sect, the Precious Tree Sect, the Flowing
Wind Sect, and the Myriad Spirit Sect.
Jiang Chen’s gaze first stopped on the elder who was second
from the left. Dressed in a green robe, and with a hat like a crown on his
head, an unearthly feeling exuded from his body as his long mustache trailed to
his chest. A sense of tranquility spread out from between his brows, as if he
was completely set apart from the struggles of the world.
“This must be venerated elder Thousandleaf of the Precious
Tree Sect?” Jiang Chen decided.
The first elder on the left was tall and stocky, his eyes
like lightning as a stern awe suffused them. Fiery red robes offset his entire
being like a fireball as he flared and blazed, giving others a feeling as
though he could send the world up in flames.
Jiang Chen could almost be certain that this person was the
venerated elder Sunchaser of the Purple Sun Sect.
The third from the left was a lady, as clean as ice and as
pure as jade. Wearing white clothing, she looked like a fairy amongst the
clouds. She was middle aged, yet appeared exceedingly beautiful.
This was naturally venerated elder Icemist of the Flowing
Wind Sect.
The one on the right was a brawny man. His outfit was the
wildest amongst the four, as his clothes were as ragged as a quail’s tail,
appearing quite disheveled. He had a head full of hair like an untamed lion’s
mane, thrown haphazardly over his shoulders. The spirit creature beneath him
was even odder as it had nine heads, a perfect combination with this wild,
stocky person. The two of them together appeared even more ferocious and made
others naturally respectful and fearful.
This person must be venerated elder Ninelion of the Myriad
Spirit Sect.
Jiang Chen had heard of the four great forefathers from Ye
Chonglou, and although he lacked exact knowledge of them, he could still
discern who was who now that he had seen them in person.
They were origin realm pract.i.tioners alright, a single
careless syllable from them was enough to make the entire place quiet down.
Even a spirit king rank pract.i.tioner would be unable to produce this aura.
Jiang Chen lauded them in his heart.
“It’s… it’s the four great forefathers!”
“Venerated origin realm pract.i.tioners? My G.o.d, am I
dreaming?”
“Hahaha, it really is them! Grandpa, da, your child has
finally seen the four great forefathers! Be well in the underworld, and protect
your child so as to emerge from the ma.s.ses in the great selection and become
their personal disciple! Your child will make use of the opportunity to bring
honor and glory to the ancestors so that I may strut with pride!”
After a moment’s petrification, the ones with higher levels
of training out of the four hundred thousand recovered their wits first, full
of agitation as their lips trembled and tears gathered in the corners of their
eyes.
The four great forefathers were the totems of the sixteen
kingdoms, their absolute idols!
How would they not be greatly moved and have a face full of
tears now that they saw that the forefathers had come themselves?
Figures continued to shoot out from the air. However, these
ones knew their places, and found their positions behind the forefathers.
These people were obviously the senior executives of the
four great sects, the judges of the initial selection.
“Sunchaser, since you like to make a scene, why don’t you go
ahead?” The wild and stocky Ninelion elder spoke with a smile and a shake of
his unbound hair.
Sunchaser of the Purple Sun Sect smiled faintly and didn’t
refuse. He spurred the steed beneath him and cantered a few steps forward.
“A vibrant atmosphere of martial dao has always flowed
within the sixteen kingdoms. With the four great sects as the banners, this
atmosphere has only grown richer, spreading to the neighboring sixteen
kingdoms. Today, we are gathered here, because the moment to select the
geniuses for the sects has arrived. After consultation between my fellow
daoists and I, today, we give you ordinary pract.i.tioners a chance to rise
head and shoulders above your peers, an opportunity to carve out a noteworthy
figure. Thus, this old man hopes that you will make use of this opportunity to
enter our sights and thoroughly unearth your potential.”
Venerated pract.i.tioner Sunchaser was known for his stern
personality, always emanating a feeling of oppression.
“Perhaps you might think it unfair that you have to go
through an initial selection before obtaining the right to compete with sect
disciples.”
“I can tell you now that there is nothing unfair in this.
Fairness has never existed in the world of martial dao. You were born in the
mundane dust and they were born into the sects. Your starting line was
different. Although this may be cruel, in the world of martial dao, a birth of
low circ.u.mstances is often an original sin.”
“Now, the four great sects are giving you a chance to shake
off your destiny of low birth, and giving you a chance akin to that of a carp
transforming itself into a dragon. If you can make use of this chance, I
promise you that you will receive the same opportunities as the sect disciples.
In the second round of selection, the sect disciples won’t receive special
treatment, and the rules will not favor them. You will see fair compet.i.tion
when it reaches the second selection!”
The crowd grew agitated, fair compet.i.tion!
At least ninety percent of the four hundred thousand had
been worried about this.
They’d been worried that having ordinary pract.i.tioners
partic.i.p.ate was just a formality, that the final battle would be conducted
between the sect disciples.
They feared that they, being ordinary pract.i.tioners, would
just be supporting characters.
But elder Sunchaser’s words had thoroughly dispelled their
hesitations and filled their hearts with emotion.
If there was no bias towards the sect disciples within the
second selection, then they might have a chance!
Even if they couldn’t reach the final sixteen, they still
had a chance to enter the sect if they displayed their entire potential, right?
As long as one made it into the sect, it would indeed be
like a carp transforming to a dragon with a great bound upstream, leaving the
mundane world behind!
“Of course, don’t be too optimistic either. Since it’s a
selection, it will naturally be harsh. Compet.i.tion will be fierce. You must
be mentally prepared for the despair on the level of a thousand calvary trying
to squeeze onto a wooden bridge.”
Venerated elder Sunchaser’s voice was like a ringing bell,
reminding all pract.i.tioners not to be happy that early.
“There are around four hundred thousand of you, but less
than ten thousand will make it into the second round. After that, no more than
thirty percent will be chosen by the sects. That is to say that out of four
hundred thousand of you, only three thousand will be able to make it into the
sect at the end.”
The ratio of three thousand to four hundred thousand was the
equivalent of choosing one out of every hundred.
This ratio was indeed cruel, but to those listening below,
they became extraordinarily excited.
As high as three thousand?
This number had exceeded their expectations.
After all, ordinary pract.i.tioners still had a bit of self
consciousness when facing the sects. They both yearned to enter and knew just
how difficult it would be to set foot in one.
In their eyes, it would be a lot if one thousand made it in.
To think that there would be three thousand!
Jiang Chen also sighed slightly when he heard this number,
“It looks like the four great sects are feeling no small sense of urgency. To
take in three thousand all at once means that each sect will receive almost a
thousand people.”
This truly hit home just how alarmed the sects were.
Chapter 279: The Five Trials of the First Selection
Indeed, it was as Jiang Chen had thought, the four great
sects felt a great sense of urgency these days.
If it wasn’t for this sense of crisis, with the level of
status the four great forefathers had, they would never appear in front of
ordinary pract.i.tioners, much less speak to them.
Forefather Sunchaser continued, announcing the rules.
“I trust that everyone’s received a small bit of
intelligence with regards to this time’s great selection. I am here to
emphasize the rules. The great selection is divided into three stages. The
first stage is the initial selection. Once you pa.s.s, you’ll enter a second
round that will last three years with the disciples of the four great sects.
The strongest 64 will be chosen from this group and they will enter the final
round. From there, the strongest sixteen will be selected and divided
accordingly amongst the four sects, receiving personal guidance from the
forefathers. To speak candidly, they will become our personal disciples, even
true disciples!”
Personal disciples personally receive guidance from the
forefathers.
But, true disciples were disciples that could inherit the
forefather’s legacy, an even more advanced level than personal disciples.
The three stages of the great selection were clearly delineated.
The first stage was to pick out the cream of the crop, about
ten thousand from four hundred thousand people.
They would then join the sect disciples in entering the
second round of the great selection.
This stage would be the longest, running for three years
straight.
These three years would not only be the second round, but
also a cultivation process. Hidden potential and strength would come to light
in this stage, and compet.i.tion would be fierce.
This round would rank the top 64 candidates.
These 64 would then enter the third stage, where the final
16 would finally emerge.
These 16 partic.i.p.ants were destined to be the final
winner.
Of course, many of those present lacked the ambition to mount
a challenge to reach the list of the final 16.
They didn’t feel that their strength gave them the right to
contend with those preeminent sect disciples.
However, they could make a play for one of the three
thousand slots to enter the sects.
That was a more reasonable goal.
“Remember, we are taking a holistic approach in this time’s
selection. You may not have the best potential, but if you display other unique
talents in other areas, you may still have the chance to enter the sects. If
these talents are particularly extraordinary, then you may receive added
attention. The quota for us four old folks are four personal disciples, but if
you have particular skills in other areas, we will open a backdoor for you. Of
course, the caveat is that your potential must be great enough to draw our
attentions.”
“For instance, if you have incredible skill in the dao of
pills, or you possess a remarkable affinity in the area of taming spirit
creatures. Or if you have a masterful grasp of ancient glyphs, constructing
mechanisms, comprehension of formations, or others, then hope exists yet to
enter the sects.”
Forefather Sunchaser expounded in as much detail as he
could, and paused after these words. He wanted to give the audience some time
to digest these messages, and give everyone sufficient time to a.n.a.lyze their
own potential.
“This means that even if I lose on the basis of martial dao
potential, I still have a chance if my potential in other areas is equally as
stunning?”
“Tsk tsk, my teacher said that I have an innate sensitivity
for formations, perhaps I’m a formation genius?”
“Pfft, keep dreaming. Formations aren’t that easy. But me
however, I’ve had an ability to communicate with spirit creatures since my
youth. Perhaps I’ll become a disciple of the Myriad Spirit Sect!”
The Myriad Spirit Sect was the sect most adept at training
and raising spirit creatures. Almost all its disciples had talents in this
area.
Therefore, when one fought against a Myriad Spirit Sect
disciple, not only would one fight against the pract.i.tioner, but one would
also have to contend with their opponent’s contracted spirit creature.
It was possible that the contracted spirit creatures of some
of the more unbelievable disciples would be stronger than the master!
“Heh heh, good, this is fantastic. My potential for the dao
of pills has never been able to find an avenue to showcase itself. This is my
chance, my goal is the Precious Tree Sect!”
The Precious Tree Sect was the undisputed king of pills
within the four great sects. Any youths with potential in the area of pills
would be setting their sights on the Precious Tree sect.
“Humph. These daydreaming idiots. In the world of martial
dao, it’s naturally martial dao that is king. So what if you use unconventional
methods to advance into the sect when your martial dao is lacking? You’ll just
be a servant for others. Only martial dao is the undying legend and the king of
all! In this life, my focus is only on martial dao. I will use the sword in my
hand to enter the Purple Sun Sect!”
These were naturally the words of a young man focused on
martial dao.
When it came to the atmosphere of martial dao and its
foundations, the Purple Sun Sect was undoubtedly the strongest.
As for the remaining Flowing Wind Sect, it didn’t measure up
to the Precious Tree Sect in terms of the dao of pills, nor was it the Purple
Sun Sect’s equivalent for martial dao legacy, and it was naturally below the
Myriad Treasures Sect in terms of taming spirit creatures.
However, the Flowing Wind Sect had a skill that no other
sect could best, and that was the ability in unearthing geniuses.
The Flowing Wind Sect had a set of methods that was
particularly adept at unearthing geniuses with undiscovered potential and
digging out gold from the sands.
It was this skill that had enabled the Flowing Wind Sect to
discover many geniuses. These special methods and its uncommon foundations put
it completely on par with the others in the four great sects.
Every pract.i.tioner had a sect that they were particularly
disposed towards.
Some liked the Purple Sun Sect’s emphasis on martial dao,
others liked the Precious Tree Sect’s focus on pills, yet others leaned towards
the Myriad Spirit Sect’s invincibility in taming spirit creatures, and of
course there were those who wished that they had special talents that would be
identified by the Flowing Wind Sect.
However, they were still a bit worried.
“So how is this first stage going to be conducted? How will
they discover if we have uncommon potential?”
“Yeah, and with so many of us, what if they miss one?”
“Don’t you worry, I don’t believe that they wouldn’t have
considered these problems since they’re conducting this selection!”
“The four great sects possess great arts, they naturally
have their ways. Stop fussing.”
With the four forefathers’ hearing, they heard s.n.a.t.c.hes
of all of the various conversations taking place beneath the stage.
Forefather Sunchaser laughed heartily, “There must be those
amongst you that worry how we will discover your potential amongst the hundreds
of thousands of partic.i.p.ants?”
“I can tell you, it’s not difficult!”
Sunchaser’s tone was confident. “Unless you purposefully
hide your potential and don’t wish to be discovered, the tests will be enough
to fully display your talents!”
“And now, I will explain the rules of the first stage.”
“There are five trials in the first stage. We’ve combined
particular characteristics of the terrain of the legacy territory to build the
tests.”
“The first trial is one of the heart. In the world of
martial dao, regardless of what your potential is, you must pa.s.s the trial of
the heart. If you fail to pa.s.s even that, then you are destined for
mediocrity in this world. Without a strong heart on the path of dao, you will
amount to nothing in the end!”
The trial of the heart was the first one!
Jiang Chen privately applauded Sunchaser in his heart. These
were rules set personally by the forefathers alright! To put a trial of the
heart as the first one, this proved their status as origin realm
pract.i.tioners.
Those who had entered the origin realm all knew how
difficult it was to form a spirit infant.
Ye Chonglou had continuously failed to advance because he
hadn’t placed enough emphasis on the strength of the heart.
The forefathers had no relations.h.i.+p with Ye Chonglou and
naturally wouldn’t give him any pointers.
Seeing the forefathers set a trial of the heart as the first
test indicated that they knew that strength of the heart was a vital
prerequisite to a.s.sailing the origin realm.
“The second trial is one of innate talents. You will face
many decisions in this trial. You can choose a test of martial dao, a test of
pills, or a test of formations. Of course, the best thing to do is to run
through all of them once. You will have more opportunities to excavate your own
potential this way!”
To put a trial of talent as the second test, that made sense
as well.
It wasn’t that those with ordinary talent couldn’t raise
their level of training to perfection in the world of martial dao, but that
they were as rare as the scales on a dragon compared to geniuses.
Jiang Chen had once heard of such an example in his past
life. The person in question had been called Han Li and was born quite ordinary
with no spirit base in his body, but had become the strongest in his world and
ascended to the world of immortals in the end.
However, examples of pract.i.tioner with mediocre talent
training to the level of perfection were pitifully few and far in between.
This was also to say that talent was still quite important
on the path of training.
The potential of Jiang Chen’s body could only be
characterized as ordinary, but he could raise that through the various methods
he’d gleaned from his past life.
“The third trial is one of endurance and potential. In this
trial, you will face the Endless Mountain. There are ten thousand steps in the
mountain, divided into ten floors. The level of floors and steps you can take
will part.i.tion your endurance and potential. Someone else will explain the
exact rules to you in detail before you enter.”
“The fourth trial is one of practical combat. Combat cannot
be avoided on the path of martial dao. This will test your skills in actual
fighting and your comprehension of martial arts techniques. If the trial of
talent was to test your innate skills, then this one is to test your
understanding and skill in actual combat.”
Talents and comprehension were similar, but still different.
Innate talents were the potential that one was born with,
such as Long Juxue’s azure phoenix const.i.tution. That was an innate talent,
and a premier one at that.
Comprehension was one’s powers of understanding.
It was difficult to say whether talent or understanding was
more important in the world of martial dao. But if one possessed both, then
they would be the ‘genius’ that people often spoke of.
To test endurance and potential first, and then skill in
practical combat, this was to avoid the injuries of the combat trial affecting
the previous trials. This arrangement was reasonable as well.
Jiang Chen also inwardly approved of this. They were origin
realm old monsters alright. They had fully considered details from all aspects
and weren’t haphazardly designing the first selection.
“The fifth trial may sound a bit silly, but it’s something
that no one can overlook. We will be testing fortune in this trial. Fortune
appears as something abstract and intangible, but it’s something that cannot be
ignored in the world of martial dao. Some have extraordinary potential, others
have superb powers of comprehension, but why can they not make it to the peak
of martial dao? What are they lacking? That would be fortune. There was once a
great pract.i.tioner who was suddenly struck to death by lightning during a
journey. This is a cla.s.sic example of lacking good fortune. So do not treat
this trial lightly.”
Jiang Chen had to be impressed by the four forefathers when
he heard about this last trial.
From the looks of things, these four forefathers were indeed
at the level of a preeminent existence of the sixteen kingdom alliance!
Chapter 280: Three Sects Fight Over Jiang Chen
The five trials of the first selection were: first - trial
of the heart, second - trial of talent, third - trial of potential, fourth -
trial of combat and fifth - trial of fortune.
Jiang Chen was hard pressed to find flaws in the design of
these trials, even with his past experiences.
Just as Jiang Chen was thoroughly turning the meaning behind
these five trials over in his mind, Sunchaser’s voice sounded once again.
“Through these five trials, what potential you possess, what abilities you
have, and how far you can walk in the future, will be divided out.”
The first selection would choose ten thousand from four
hundred thousand partic.i.p.ants to advance onwards.
The ten thousand would then partic.i.p.ate in a second
selection with the disciples of similar ages from the four sects.
Three thousand lucky partic.i.p.ants would then receive the
right to enter the sects.
But of this three thousand, it was uncertain how many of
them would make it into the final sixty four.
After all, the opponents that these three thousand would
face were the sect geniuses.
It was a pessimistic outlook on how many slots for the final
sixty four would be taken by ordinary geniuses.
“Alright, this is all I will say with regards to the
selections for now. There will be people specifically in charge of each trial
and they will explain the rules in detail for you. Remember, before you enter,
you must surrender your registration token for a partic.i.p.ant token, a
uniform, and a mask. Let me remind you that partic.i.p.ation in the selection
is anonymous. You are not allowed to reveal your real ident.i.ty. Why is this,
some ask? The answer is simple, this is to prevent cheating and ensure that the
four great sects make their selections fairly.”
“It will be the same case in the second selection. You might
ask if the sect disciples will be anonymous as well? Of course not. They are
already part of a sect and they are only partic.i.p.ating in the selection to
compete for a slot in the final sixty four. They do not need to be anonymous.”
It wasn’t difficult to understand this rule either.
The mundane pract.i.tioners all had different backgrounds,
nationalities, and naturally, they had certain relations.h.i.+ps with the four
great sects.
In this way, unhealthy compet.i.tion could form as
relations.h.i.+ps prevail over rules.
If they conducted the selection anonymously and make it so
that the four great sects were unable to recruit on basis of relations.h.i.+ps,
then recruitment would be able to be conducted through fair compet.i.tion.
Of course, the rules were thus, but there were still room
for cheating.
Nothing could be perfect, and the rules could only minimize
the possibility of cheating as much as they could.
Some particular situations were unavoidable, and there was
nothing for that either.
Take Jiang Chen for example, his trademark style would be
recognized sooner or later in the second selection.
His light was too bright to be hidden, not to mention that
there was no need for him to conceal anything in a selection like this. He
would face the preeminent geniuses of the sixteen kingdoms in the final
compet.i.tion. If he hid too much of his strength, it would be a lack of
responsibility towards himself.
“Alright then, come and collect your partic.i.p.ant tokens,
uniforms, and masks according to your nationality.”
Forefather Sunchaser left the stage after announcing the
rules and he left it for those in charge of the details.
The four sects had sent thousands of their middle and upper
management to the great selection, demonstrating how highly they viewed this
year’s event.
Jiang Chen stood in line, neither impatient or restless.
Suddenly, white light flashed in front of his eyes as a
figure landed in front of him.
It was a senior executive riding a spirit creature. His
style of dress was quite similar to forefather Ninelion of the Myriad Spirit
Sect, and his steed bore the unique mark of the Myriad Spirit Sect.
This person was most likely upper management in the Myriad
Spirit Sect.
“Heh heh, young friend, I recognized you with a glance from
the crowd of four hundred thousands. You’re Jiang Chen right?” The person wore
a smile on his face as he appeared quite benevolent and kindly.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am w.a.n.g Tuo, the vice
head of the Myriad Spirit Sect. I’ve heard that young friend Jiang Chen
orchestrated a thousand spirit birds to set up a formation and captured two
earth spirit realm disciples of the Precious Stree Sect in the Skylaurel
Kingdom?”
“Vice head w.a.n.g has a wondrous intelligence network.”
Jiang Chen smiled faintly.
“Haha, it’s most likely that everyone knows about it. Young
friend Jiang Chen, I don’t like to waste time with blather. I’m here to invite
you to join my Myriad Spirit Sect. I wonder if the young friend would be
interested?”
“Oh? Isn’t vice head w.a.n.g’s recruitment like this against
the rules?” chuckled Jiang Chen.
“The selection hasn’t started now, has it? It’s not a
violation as long as the selection hasn’t started. As long as young friend
Jiang Chen nods, I will immediately take you and make you my personal disciple.
You won’t need to partic.i.p.ate in the first selection at all, and you can go
directly to the second selection.”
w.a.n.g Tuo, the vice head of the Myriad Spirit Sect, was
personally asking Jiang Chen to be his personal disciple! The partic.i.p.ants
in area around Jiang Chen immediately erupted into a furor when they heard
this.
Everyone immediately looked at Jiang Chen with admiration.
This kind of treatment had fallen into his lap from the sky!
He could bypa.s.s the first selection and enter the second selection, and he
wouldn’t have to worry about fighting for a place in a sect. He could directly
jump ahead to fighting for a place in the final sixty four!
Sounds of astonishment sounded from all around.
There was admiration and envy.
All eyes were on Jiang Chen. They all thought that he was
going to soar into the skies with one step.
There was a faint smile on Jiang Chen’s face.
Although the Myriad Spirit Sect was one of the four great
sects, it wasn’t Jiang Chen’s first choice. His first choice, and only choice,
was the Precious Tree Sect.
He had his sights set on the Precious Tree Sect precisely
for their reputation as being the leader for spirit medicines.
What he needed most right now was spirit medicines and the
best spirit medicine resources.
Although the Myriad Spirit Sect was good in the area of
taming and raising spirit creatures, it wasn’t Jiang Chen’s first choice.
Besides, there was really nothing the sect could teach Jiang Chen with regards
to spirit creatures.
In the same regard, they may not even have the right for
Jiang Chen to teach them anything.
He was hesitating over how to politely turn them down when
another pulse of spirit power flashed right next to him as a woman touched
down.
“Vice head w.a.n.g, recruiting before the selection begins
is not the thing to do.” A smile played about her lips as hints of temptation
and promise were held within. Her every move and sway were quite alluring.
“Young friend Jiang Chen, I am vice head Jiang Rou of the Flowing Wind Sect.
You and I have the same surname, maybe we were even part of the same clan five
hundred years ago. I am here with orders from the Flowing Wind forefather to
recruit you. As long as you… ”
“Daoist Jiang, what do you mean by this? The order of
arrival has to be respected in all things, no?” w.a.n.g Tuo felt a bit alarmed
when he saw Jiang Ruo’s sudden interruption and her tug on the heartstrings
with her mention of their shared surname.
“Heh heh heh heh… ” Jiang Ruo t.i.ttered delightfully. “Vice
head w.a.n.g, what are you worried about? The choice lies with young friend
Jiang Chen. If he’s already predisposed towards a certain sect, then he has his
choice already. What use is there in the two of us yelling at each other?”
w.a.n.g Tuo gave a soft snort. “Daoist Jiang, you’ve even
employed your unique seduction art. This is a vicious compet.i.tion already.
Who amongst young men can resist your art?”
Jiang Ruo’s eyes shone as she laughed, “If you have any
tricks up your sleeve, vice head w.a.n.g, bring them out as well!”
w.a.n.g Tuo called out, “Young friend Jiang Chen, if you’re
not satisfied with a position as my personal disciple, even the forefather of
my sect would be willing to take you as a disciple. It’s not impossible for him
to take you as a personal disciple if your talents in training spirit creatures
are extraordinary!”
He had upped the ante.
Jiang Ruo was about to add to her terms as well when a soft
voice called from above, “Friends, this isn’t quite the thing to do, hmm?
You’re attempting to steal one of my kingdom’s talents from right in front of
me?”
“Eh?”
Jiang Ruo and w.a.n.g Tuo’s expression changed when they saw
who had arrived. A hint of wariness could be seen and they smiled with some
difficulty.
The person who had arrived possessed an uncommon air and he
was as if a graceful willow tree welcoming the breeze. He was the head of the
Precious Tree Sect, Xie Tianshu.
Xie Tianshu was the current sect head and his position was
second only to forefather Thousandleaf. He even ranked ahead of esteemed elder
Iron Long.
In his capacity as the sect head, he had naturally heard of
Jiang Chen’s reputation in the past couple of days.
He’d actually been keeping an eye on Jiang Chen in private,
but he hadn’t been able to make an appearance to recruit Jiang Chen because of
the circ.u.mstances. He was the head of a sect after all.
Jiang Chen and esteemed elder Iron Long’s clan was in the
midst of furious unpleasantries. He’d have to wait for this wave to die down
even if he wanted to recruit Jiang Chen.
Otherwise, his performance as a sect head would come off as
too hasty, lacking of good bearing and a complete loss of understanding the
greater picture.
However, now that his compet.i.tion, w.a.n.g Tuo and Jiang
Ruo, were openly stealing his target, Xie Tianshu found it hard to sit still!
Setting aside the matter of Jiang Chen’s potential, just his
ruthlessness in handling the Iron family made Jiang Chen worth recruiting.
After all, the veiled struggles and open confrontation
between the Xie and Iron family in the Precious Tree Sect was an eternal theme.
If Jiang Chen could become a thorn in the Iron family’s side, then there was no
reason not to recruit him.
“Heh heh, sect head Xie, Jiang Chen was in the Skylaurel
Kingdom for two years and the Precious Tree Sect didn’t make a move. You can’t
dictate what we want to do with who you didn’t want, can you? Not to mention,
what’s the purpose of the great selection this time? It’s to unearth talents!
You try to disallow us from recruiting someone you don’t want. Now, this is a
public oppression of the genius Jiang Chen and to make it so that he never can
make a name for himself?” w.a.n.g Tuo chuckled oddly.
“Indeed, indeed. You speak like your Precious Tree Sect
values talent, but I’ve heard that some within your sect have been suppressing
Jiang Chen regardless of the cost. You don’t want a genius such as him, but you
dare say that we can’t have him either? What kind of logic is this?” Jiang Ruo
wasn’t about to take this lying down either.
Xie Tianshu’s face lost all color thanks to their words, and
he was in quite an awkward situation.
He’d lost quite a bit of face in the span of a moment.
That’s true, Jiang Chen was in the Skylaurel Kingdom for so long, yet the
Precious Tree Sect had failed to recruit him and they had allowed a bright
pearl to be covered in dust. This was indeed the sect’s negligence.
However, Jiang Chen had only recently started displaying
such potential, and he himself had only started noticing Jiang Chen in the last
couple of days.
Thanks to Jiang Ruo and w.a.n.g Tuo’s words, it appeared
that the Precious Tree Sect had been purposefully neglecting Jiang Chen.
Xie Tianshu was worried that Jiang Chen would be unhappy and
he would have thoughts of which of the other two sects to join.
However, everyone around Jiang Chen was flabbergasted by
this turn of events.
The first selection hadn’t even begun! Jiang Chen was
already being fought over by the senior executives of three of the sects, with
the sect head of the Precious Tree Sect showing up in person!
