âSenior Vermillion, your keen eyes must have witnessed which fellows surrendered to the demon lord in the secret realm. Any familiar face you see today is an imposter. Please use your powers and expose their true nature!â Jiang Chen called out, still using the human language.
The Vermillion Bird glided in the sky, leaving a fiery trail in its wake. It was a celestial furnace that could rain down fire and scorch the entire world if it ever so fancied.
At least, such was the primal fear the ancient creature struck into the heart of the crowd. They could only look up to its unattainable level. Under this kind of fundamental oppression, even Pillzenith succumbed to a sliver of imperceptible panic.
A Vermillion Bird!
An ancient Vermillion Bird!
His mind went blank. Fear and anger assailed his heart. How could the scion of a mundane noble of the trivial sixteen kingdoms alliance be this lucky? Did every good thing in the world have his name written on it? Did he have to hoard all advantages beneath heaven?
Dragons and Vermillion Birds were divine beasts from the ancient era. These divine creatures were thought to be extinct, yet Jiang Chen had both of them at his side.
Pillzenith seethed with envy.
As for the other powerhouses, the birdâs formidable presence filled them with fear and regret. Enlightenment beat them over the head. They finally understood why the young lord had seemed so unafraid.
The terrifying tide of rats was one thing, but an ancient Vermillion Bird was simply an existence beyond their comprehension!
Judging by its aura, it was at least empyrean realm, an existence far beyond great emperors. Without a doubt, it could easily kill great swathes of them in the blink of an eye if it cared to. In fact, perhaps none of them could make it out alive.
With such a hidden card, what was there for Jiang Chen to worry about?
Alas!
Even the factions most loyal to Pillfire were full of remorse.
âTo think that a single bad decision would cause our downfall! We shouldnât have opposed Veluriyam. We shouldnât have listened to Pillzenith!â
âWhy did we have to stick our noses in a power struggle way beyond us? Isnât that pure suicide? Sigh, I just hope the situation can still be salvaged.â
âDamn Pillzenith, damn Pillfire, everythingâs their fault!â
âJiang Chen is truly a tiger grown with wings. Heâs too strong now to be stopped. By opposing him, weâll become his stepping stones. How foolish this was!â
The same heartfelt regrets resonated deeply in all of the powerhouses. How they wished they hadnât succumbed to Pillfireâs carrot and stick! They shouldâve kept to their own business.
Now, their very lives were in jeopardy because of Pillzenithâs ambitions. Had everything been worth it? Even a child could answer that. The more they thought about it, the more resentful they became.
Combining the Godâs Eye with the Evil Golden Eye, Jiang Chen could read their inner thoughts like an open book. He smiled expressionlessly.
âI ought to kill you ten times over for your conduct and misdeeds. I wouldnât feel the slightest bit of guilt if I did so. However, the heavens treasure life and humanity canât afford never-ending infighting. So, after some contemplation, Iâve decided to give you a chance. I repeat, this is your last chance!â he warned sternly.
âAnother chance?â The crowd perked up.
âWonderful! Young lord Jiang Chen is truly not the heinous villain that Emperor Pillzenithâs depicted!â
âBut will he really give us one last chance?â Some found it hard to believe.
Pillzenith shouted, âDonât fall for his lies! The brat wants to drive a wedge between us so he can destroy us one by one! Trusting him will only bring ruin!â
The anxious lord of Pillfire had to stop his rival from inciting the people to desert him. The alliance already rested on flimsy foundations. If they were swayed by Jiang Chen, they would lose their last bit of fighting spirit.
Pillfire would become isolated on all sides. How could he afford that in the current circumstances?
He wouldnât have been afraid if not for the Vermillion Bird. Even if he couldnât reverse the situation, he was confident that he and his elites were powerful enough to escape.
But everything had flown out of the window the moment the ancient bird had appeared.
Just how strong was it? That was difficult to gauge, even for him. The beast didnât look in its best condition, but even so, it wasnât something that Pillzenith could take on!
Heâd been reluctant to retreat, wondering if he should continue fighting. But now, he only had one thing on his mind: flee!
Jiang Chen looked at him with a supercilious smile. âPillzenith, even at deathâs door, it seems you still want to drag everyone down with you.â
His eyes landed on the various factionsâ leaders. âYou can help him, or you can mend your ways. It doesnât matter to me, but youâll have to bear the consequences of your decision. Youâve been warned.
âNow, those faithful to Pillzenith to the bitter end, stand to the right. Those with a change of heart, move to the left! Remember, thereâs no middle ground. If you donât move, youâll be considered Pillfireâs staunch follower!
âYou have ten breaths to decide starting from now!â
The crowd stared, dumbstruck, especially those who still hoping for a miracle. Some weak-willed fellows immediately ran to the left, clearly fed up with Pillfire. Why should we pay for Pillzenithâs ambitions with our deaths?
Things would be different if the man had some mettle. Everyone could have shared some profits together and gone home happy. However, the great emperor only had ambition going for him. Time and again, heâd come off the worse for wear against young lord Zhen, retreating with his tail between his legs.
It seemed heâd enraged the young lord enough this time that Veluriyam was determined to settle things once and for all.
As to who was stronger and who was weaker, didnât the results speak for themselves? These cultivators had little love for Pillfire to begin with. Now they only wished to draw a clear line between the city and themselves as swiftly as possible!
The first one led to the second, then a third...
Pillzenith watched as familiar faces normally filled with deference and flattery leave his side without any hesitation.
In less than ten breaths, three-quarters of the crowd stood to the left, with quite a few Empyrean River and Sublime Chord cultivators among them.
The Empyrean River Palaceâs master still stood in front of Pillzenith, but his inner struggle was plain on his face for all to see. Despite his vast experience, he couldnât help but be cowed by the Vermillion Birdâs overpowering aura. Heâd finally started having second thoughts. What had he gained with following Pillfire so staunchly all these years?
He looked at the opposite side. The Great Yu Skysword Sect and Celestial Cicada Court stood by relaxed and carefree, idly watching them.
These first rank sects were just like his own faction, so why were they on such a vastly different trajectory?
âDaoist Pillzenith...â he finally spoke, his tone pained.
âWhat? Are you planning to betray me as well?â Pillzenith asked indifferently.
âN-no. But where thereâs life, thereâs hope. With these circumstances, why donât you...â
âEnough!â Pillzenith interrupted furiously with displeasure. âThat brat mustâve given you something good for you to waggle your tongue like this to try to persuade me!â
That stopped the palace master in his tracks. He was Pillzenithâs confidant. How could Jiang Chen possibly give him anything? Heâs simply taking out his helplessness and frustration on his own people.
The palace master smiled ruefully. Without a word, he raised a cupped fist salute. Then, despite his shame, he walked to the left without a backwards glance. He could see as clearly as anyone how utterly routed they had been, so he had to make a choice.
For Pillfire, Empyrean River Palaceâs abandonment was the last nail in the coffin.
Pillzenith laughed arrogantly despite his anger. âWhat a bunch of cowards! Buck up, all of you! Even if the entire world abandons us, what does this great emperor have to fear?â
With a grab of the hand, a purple talisman suddenly appeared in front of him.
âThis is bad, he wants to get away!â Skysword Sectâs Han Qianzhan immediately saw through Pillzenithâs intentions.
Sure enough, the talisman immediately glowed with a divine purple light that enveloped all of Pillfireâs powerhouses. With an incantation, the radius covered by the purple light steadily increased.
âBe careful, Jiang Chen. This is an ancient talisman. The old man is trying to slip away,â the Vermillion Bird warned.
Given the divine creatureâs condition, the young lord hadnât planned on making it fight. He merely needed its deterrence effect.