Before Jiang Chen had gone to Myriad Abyss, heâd been on equal footing with the empyrean experts in the human domain. Now, especially after this meeting, heâd assumed the leading role.
The hermit experts could all tell that Jiang Chen was no longer the young genius they could dominate. To put it bluntly, all of them combined wouldnât rival the young man.
Theyâd also heard about the formidable vermilion bird and true dragon accompanying Jiang Chen. There was also a white tiger whose whereabouts was unknown.
None of them were entities the recluse experts could challenge.
Moreover, they owed Jiang Chen a debt for gifting them The Way to Grand Ascension. Itâd boosted their cultivation and helped them overcome long-suffering bottlenecks.
That alone was enough to stop them from turning on him, or theyâd be repaying kindness with malice. Not everyone in the martial dao world walked the righteous path, but most of the time people didnât actively stray from it.
Once the empyrean experts had left, Jiang Chen sent for Cloudsoar Monarch, whoâd been defending Sacred Peafowl Mountain.
Cloudsoar Monarch had ascended to great emperor.
Before Jiang Chen left Myriad Abyss, heâd made the necessary arrangements, including leaving behind many Emperor Ascension and Emperor Supremacy Pills.
In the martial dao world, resources were the key to success. With enough resources, making progress was a guarantee.
As a result, Veluriyam Capital had remained orderly and even grown significantly stronger after Jiang Chenâs long absence, surpassing its past self during Emperor Peafowlâs rule. No one dared stir up any trouble.
The reason was simple. Jiang Chen had ruled with both kindness and an iron grip from Sacred Peafowl Mountain. No one was capable of or willing to start anything.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âPass down my summons, Cloudsoar,â Jiang Chen commanded. âSummon every cultivator above great emperor in the capital.â
There were now a good number of great emperors in Veluriyamâs territory, unlike its previous past of being ruled by just a few. In fact, there were even more than a scattering of empyrean cultivators in Sacred Peafowl Mountain now.
Emperors Peerless and Wellspring had both reached to empyrean realm before Jiang Chen departed for Myriad Abyss. Theyâd made good progress since then and ascended to second level empyrean.
The others were at half-step empyrean and needed a push to ascend, Emperor Sabledeep being an example.
Heâd once been turned to the dark side by the Order of Wind and Cloud. Then Emperor Peerless and the others had persuaded him to join Sacred Peafowl Mountain, earning Jiang Chenâs forgiveness.
However, there wasnât any cultivators blessed by the heaven in the human domain. It was next to impossible for them to ascend to empyrean on their own, which was why Emperor Sabledeep was stuck at half-step empyrean.
There were many others stuck at the same stage as him, including the sect heads of the Eight Upper Regions.
Upon receiving Jiang Chenâs order, they made their way to Scared Peafowl Mountain as quickly as they could. Forefather Embittered Bamboo of the Embittered Savage Tribe came as well.
After surrendering to Jiang Chen, heâd been wallowing in a life of despair in Veluriyam Capital. Only after Jiang Chen gave him the first half ofGrand Ascension did he recover his spirits.
Heâd been keeping a very low profile over the years. Although losing to the human still left a bitter taste in his mouth, the feeling slowly faded as he cultivated with the Grand Ascension.
He was surprised when he heard about Jiang Chenâs return to the human domain, even more so by the fact that the young lord had sent for him. He was rather conflicted.
Heâd been brought to Veluriyam Capital as a captive and had never entered the core region of Sacred Peafowl Mountain due to Jiang Chenâs lingering distrust. But now, there was a direct summons for him!
What did that mean? Had Jiang Chenâs test for him come to an end? Had he earned the young manâs trust? Or had the young lord grown to the point that he didnât need to be wary of the forefather? Had Jiang Chen reached such heights that he could overlook the forefather as a threat?
No matter what the truth was, it made Forefather Embittered Bamboo nervous and conflicted. Would the young lord be willing to give him the other half of the Grand Ascension?
Jiang Chen had sent for Forefather Embittered Bamboo on purpose. Heâd decided to talk to the forefather before everyone else.
As the head of the Embittered Savage Tribe, the forefather possessed a strength and qualities that were rare to the human domain.
Previously, Old Crane had been the strongest in the domain, but heâd led a nomad life and didnât care much about the happenings in the world.
On the contrary, Forefather Embittered Bamboo cared greatly about the fate of his tribe.
Jiang Chen appreciated characters like the forefather more. The latter was competent and willing to toil for his people.
The alien forefather entered the secret realm of the mountain with his heart pounding.
âThere you are, Embittered Bamboo.â Jiang Chen walked out from the woods with a faint and quiet smile. There was an inherent grace and presence of superiority about him. Even the forefather was transfixed for a brief moment.
âThree days can change a scholar. During the years of your absence, youâve become a different person, young master Jiang Chen. Youâve evolved and are destined for greatness!â The forefatherâs tone was conflicted. He was both resigned to his own fate and shocked by Jiang Chenâs transformation.
He was a hair more observant and powerful than Elder He, so he could tell the changes in Jiang Chen with his first glance. The young lord could now defeat him head-on.
Forefather Embittered Bamboo was at the peak of sixth level empyrean. Heâd been continuously trying and failing to push through to advanced empyrean realm.
Jiang Chen had reached fifth level, and wouldnât stop there. He also possessed qualities the forefather didnât. Given his ability and presence, he could absolutely beat the forefather in a duel. After all, heâd fought even gods before.