Cloud Camel Mountain wasnât that far from the capital. With Starfateâs speed, Jiang Chen reached his destination in no time at all.
Things had changed greatly. Back then, the mountain had been House Yanâs, and many of its experts had been stationed here. Now, there was no one from House Yan at all.
House Feng, whoâd been fighting over the mountain with House Yan, had seized the opportunity to claim it.
Members of House Feng thronged in the area, obviously considering the place their territory.
Although they had been part of the rebellion organized by House Xiahou and the imperial family, they hadnât been that involved. They were thus able to cut their losses and save themselves.
Originally, it didnât make sense for House Feng to continue fighting over the mountain. Although House Yan had had a falling out with Jiang Chen, there remained a connection between them. Given those circumstances, House Feng didnât dare make House Yan their enemy.
However, things ended up taking an unexpected turn. House Yan was suddenly destroyed, throwing good fortune into House Fengâs lap. They claimed the mountain as their own before House Yanâs blood was even dry on the ground.
Jiang Chen frowned.
Long Xiaoxuan cackled. âWho are they? It seems the mountain has changed hands?â
Jiang Chen huffed. âChanged hands? No, theyâve looted a burning house and taken what isnât theirs. This is House Yan territory. Since when does House Feng have any right to it?â
âThatâs right,â volunteered the Vermilion Bird. âThis is House Yan territory and youâre part of the family as a son-in-law. That makes the mountain yours. Young master Chen, shall I help you destroy all of them?â
After the rebellion, Eternal Divine Nation couldnât afford to lose more people. If the bird took the matter into its own hands, there would be no survivors.
âNo, Iâll do it.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Jiang Chen leapt out of Starfate. In a flash, his tempered body shone brightly, golden light streaking through the sky. His Evil Golden Eye cast downwards, covering the entire mountain with his consciousness.
âWhoever the House Feng overseer is, show yourself!â Jiang Chenâs voice boomed at everyoneâs ear like cracks of thunder, all-powerful and intimidating.
Below, members of House Feng shuddered, their minds wobbling and blood boiling. The executives stationed at the mountain soared into the sky. Many with keener eyes spotted Jiang Chen and recognized him.
âItâs young lord Jiang Chen!â someone called out in surprise.
âItâs the young lord of the Eternal Sacred Land!â
The shrieks were fearful and timid. It was clear that they were scared of Jiang Chen.
One of them muttered, âWhat is he doing here?â
âIsnât it obvious? Heâs here to reclaim the mountain for House Yan. I hear that Yan Wanjun didnât die in the destruction of the house. Neither did his grandson Yan Qingsang and granddaughter Yan Qinghuang.â
âSo the young lord is going to take over the mountain?â
âBut it belongs to House Feng.â
âAi. Not necessarily. Ownership has always been disputed, and House Yan used to be in control of the area. We... weâd better be prepared.â
âThatâs right. If young lord Jiang Chen is here for the mountain, itâll be next to impossible for us to keep it.â
A sixth level empyrean elder from House Feng soared into the sky and cupped his hands at Jiang Chen from a distance. âAre you the young lord of the sacred land, Jiang Chen?â
Jiang Chen glanced at him. âYouâre one of House Fengâs elders. You should be able to make the decision here. Iâll give you fifteen minutes to leave this mountain. Those who donât leave by then wonât have to leave at all â
âYoung lord, you...â The elder trailed off. He hadnât expected the forceful attitude. Jiang Chen didnât even give him a chance to make his case!
The elder had prepared a lot of arguments, planning to debate ownership with Jiang Chen. Having the wind taken out of his sails like this threw him for a loop that was hard to recover from.
The elder only reacted after a while. âYoung lord Jiang Chen, the mountain has always been ours,â he muttered. âHouse Yan forcefully took it from us. Itâs only right for us to take it back.â
Jiang Chen scoffed. âItâs always been yours? Do you think you can trick me just because I havenât been part of Eternal Divine Nation for long? You and House Yan have been fighting over the territory for more than a thousand years. And you say itâs always been yours? Do you take me as a fool?â
His threatening tone sent a shudder down the elderâs spine. He heard the young manâs words loud and clear as the warning it was.
âEnough with the nonsense. I donât want to listen to any more hot air. What I know is this: the mountain used to be under House Yanâs control, and Iâm taking it back for House Yan. You have no claims over the mountain. If you donât take my offer and walk away, donât blame me for being merciless. The fifteen minute countdown starts now. If you want to waste your breath, go ahead and talk until your end arrives.â Jiang Chenâs tone was chilling.
The elder shuddered, his expression clouded. He carefully considered Jiang Chen and realized that the young lord was a hundred percent serious.
Itâd be humiliating for them to leave without resisting, but if they stayed and fought back, the young man seemed to possess the power to kill all of them on his own.
The elder was also very puzzled. During the sword competition, Jiang Chenâs cultivation on just been roughly on par with Xiahou Zong. How had he made such great progress in only a few years?
The circumstances forced them to capitulate. House Fengâs forces started scattering the moment Jiang Chen increased the pressure on them with his consciousness. Those with weaker will had long since fled.
In an hour, there wasnât a shadow of a House Feng members. The elder had also left obediently.
He had neither the power or courage to go against Jiang Chen, let alone the entire sacred land. Itâd be no different from suicide. He had no choice but to back down.
Jiang Chen expanded his consciousness further. He wasnât satisfied until he made sure that there was no one from House Feng within a hundred miles of the mountain.
âMembers of House Feng, heed my words,â he declared. âFrom now on, the mountain is a restricted area. No one, House Feng and other factions included, are allowed to enter under pain of death!â