Ye Chonglou was at the peak of fifth level origin realm. Gouyu and Xue Tong were both at fourth level, and the rest were both at peak of second level origin realm. Tang Hong was now an earth origin realm genius of the Rosy Valley, also at peak fifth level origin realm and was one of the more preeminent geniuses in the valley. However, Tang Hong had his own residence, and so didnât live with Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen was quite satisfied with everyoneâs improvement. Itâd only been three years after all, so it was very difficult already to improve themselves to this degree.
âAh yes, Lordmaster, Iâd like to speak privately with you.â Jiang Chen said to Ye Chonglou after greeting everyone. Ye Chonglou knew that it wouldnât be a small matter if Jiang Chen was taking such precautions, so he quickly walked out with Jiang Chen.
âJiang Chen, is something important about to happen?â Although the lordmaster didnât normally set foot outside the residence, he was still very sensitive to the developments of the greater picture.
Jiang Chen nodded. âItâs very possible that some notable matters will happen. The Tristar Sect is colluding with the Ninesuns Sky Sect. I anticipate that disaster will soon descend upon the Myriad Domain. The scale and strength of this disaster may be large enough that a fourth rank sect such as the Regal Pill Palace may not be able to remain steadfast in its face. Therefore, for the sake of the future of the Precious Tree Sect, I have to recommend that the lordmaster take Tang Hong and the others back to the Precious Tree Sect right away.â
âRight now?â Ye Chonglou was a bit surprised. âAre we in that much of a hurry? Tang Hong would still like to participate in the Myriad Grand Ceremony and vie for a placement on the Myriad Hidden Dragon ranking!â
âThereâs no meaning in that anymore.â Jiang Chen waved his hands. âIn fact, itâs still up in the air whether or not the ceremony can be successfully held.â
âThings are that serious?â
âThey might be even more serious than Iâm describing. Palace Head Dan Chi is already prepared to dissolve the Regal Pill Palace at any time.â
Ye Chonglouâs expression instantly darkened as his tone turned grave, âThen it looks like the situation is at its worst.â He was an altogether decisive person. âAlright, then Iâll immediately go find Tang Hong and the others to take them back to the Precious Tree Sect. If the greater picture has reached this point, weâll temporarily disband the Precious Tree Sect as well.â
To a certain extent, the Precious Tree Sect was the same kind of sect as the Regal Pill Palace. It was the sort that held the mentality of passing down their legacy of spirit through the ages. They would never bend their knee to enemies and be enslaved by others.
Jiang Chen nodded. âItâd be best to dissolve the sect immediately if you hear of anything and leave the Myriad Domain. No matter how troubled the times ahead may be, we will still meet again as long as we are all alive.â
Ye Chonglou patted Jiang Chenâs shoulder. âJiang Chen, the luckiest thing Iâve ever encountered in my life, and my proudest, is getting to know you. Donât worry, although my strength is humble, Iâve long since anticipated that there would be great changes in the Myriad Domain. To that end, Iâve made many preparations beforehand. Although they wonât affect the Myriad Domain as a whole, Iâve been able to design a few escape routes.â
âAh. When does the lordmaster plan on departing?â
âTomorrow.â Ye Chonglou was very firm. âI will take my leave from Palace Head Dan Chi tomorrow.â
Jiang Chen gifted another batch of Origin Fostering Pills to the elder. âLordmaster, take these upper rank Origin Fostering Pills with you. You and Tang Hong will be able to use them for a long time.
âAlso, hereâs an Origin Doubling Pill for you. Youâll be able to rise a level without conditions after ascending to sixth level origin realm, and youâll be able to assail seventh level origin realm in a short amount of time.â Jiang Chen took out a million upper rank origin spirit stones as well. âHereâs also a million spirit stones that I gained in the Mt. Rippling Mirage Pill Battles. It should be enough for the next couple of decades of use.â
Ye Chonglou felt a bit abashed and he sighed, âJiang Chen, Iâve been benefiting from you all along. I am truly ashamed.â
âPlease donât speak this way, lordmaster. If it wasnât for you taking care of me in the Skylaurel Kingdom, there wouldnât be the Jiang Chen of today either.â
Ye Chonglou didnât stand on ceremony with Jiang Chen and accepted everything. âJiang Chen, as long as the Precious Tree Sect has you, the sect will undoubtedly one day be revived even if it is destroyed.â His voice thrummed with emotion.
âOh right, Lordmaster, how is your Five Winged Phoenix-Dragon after it assimilated the bloodline of a true dragon?â
Ye Chonglou responded joyfully, âThe Phoenix-Dragon is a descendent of the dragons alright! It absorbed the true dragon bloodline even better than I did. Its cultivation level has long since broken through the human sky origin realm. In my opinion, right now, it has more right than me to assail the sage realm.â
âThe sage realm wonât be a problem after the baptism in the wood spirit spring. The lordmaster has great hope of making it to the sage realm.â Jiang Chen continued, âOn another note, Tang Hongâs potential is excellent and I hope that the Precious Tree Sect will show him preferential treatment. If he can develop fully into his strength, his accomplishments in the future will be unfathomable.â
Even geniuses in small places have potential, but they simply lacked the resources to excavate it from youth. The differences between them and geniuses in large territories wasnât in innate potential, but the amount of support and resources received during their development. This point was particularly noticeable for Tang Hong. After receiving large amounts of resources from Jiang Chen upon joining the Regal Pill Palace, the rate of his cultivation had improved ferociously, even faster than some Regal Pill Palace geniuses. From Jiang Chenâs perspective, if Tang Hong had received Cao Jinâs level of treatment, then his current accomplishments might even be on par with Cao Jin.
Xue Tong walked in after Ye Chonglou had finished speaking. âYoung master, Miss Biâer has sent over cultivation resources again.â
âWhat do you mean?â Jiang Chen started. Did Ling Biâer know he was back? That was impossible.
âEver since she returned from Mt. Rippling Mirage, Miss Biâer has sent over cultivation resources every month and has taken great care of us. Some fellows came by a few times to start trouble in front of the residence, but Miss Biâer soon taught them a lesson.â
Jiang Chen smiled and felt a certain empathy with Ling Biâerâs desire to save her father. Heâd owed the other a promise for three years now. It was high time to make good on it. He waved his hand, âIâm going out.â
Ling Biâer was standing outside the residence, her frozen bearing at great odds with the rest of the surroundings. Even after three years, the ruthless blade of time had left no discernable marks on her. She was still as pure as water and detached as frost. However, her figure seemed to be a bit thinner and her charming face a tad skinnier.
It was usually Gouyu greeting Ling Biâer, but this time the former hadnât, instead sending Xue Tong notify Jiang Chen. After all, sheâd come on time every month for the past three years, regardless of rain or shine to deliver cultivation materials. Gouyu had wanted to rebuff her in the beginning, but Ling Biâer didnât pester them or make any explanations. She merely put the items down and turned to leave.
Gouyuâs heart wasnât made of rock or iron. She was slowly touched over the years by Ling Biâerâs quiet, caring ways. Although they hadnât exchanged many words over the past three years, only a look or a small gesture was needed to communicate between women, just as the fall of one leaf is enough to indicate autumnâs arrival. Gouyu was certain that one like an icy mountain such as Ling Biâer was only extending her affections to them because of someone else.
Gouyuâs reaction to this had slowly melted from her initial rejection to hesitant acceptance. She now both admired and respected Ling Biâer. To be able to continue steadfastly in this fashion for three years, no matter what her motives were, it was worthy of Gouyuâs respect.
When Ling Biâer heard the footsteps, she was about to put her items down and leave, when she suddenly wavered. A look of disbelief shot out of those clear eyes.
Jiang Chen?
Indeed, the one who entered her sight this time was the familiar face that had always marked her dreams, and the one sheâd thought about for a thousand days and nights.
Their eyes unexpectedly met. It was as if the last thousand days and nights hadnât happened at all, as if time itself had been rewritten. Seemingly, she had only just left his residence yesterday, and had merely come again today.
âHave you been well, senior sister Biâer?â Jiang Chen smiled leisurely.
Ling Biâer suddenly whirled around and strode quickly in the other direction. After putting some distance between them, she couldnât hold it in anymore, leaning on a nearby tree to quietly sob. She was a strong girl and naturally didnât want Jiang Chen to see her crying.
After a while, she heard Jiang Chenâs footsteps coming from the distance and hurriedly composed herself, wiping her face clear of tears and adjusting her emotions. She knew that Jiang Chen had purposefully made his footsteps sound loudly from far away, likely to remind her that he was coming. When she thought about how a man with such a heroic air as him was so conscientious as well, Ling Biâer couldnât feel help but feel a surge of sweetness in her heart.
âSenior sister Biâer, my promise to you is late by three years. How is your father? Letâs go take a look.â
Ling Biâer knew that Jiang Chen was afraid sheâd feel awkward and was proactively mentioning her father to distract her. The two walked side by side and soon arrived at Ling Biâerâs residence. It was a good thing that Ling Huiâer was absent, so they were fortunately spared her antics. Jiang Chen walked up to Ling Suâs bed to see that his eyes were greatly sunken in. At first glance, he was all skin and bones.
âThankfully Iâm not too late. Senior sister, where are the spirit herbs?â
Ling Biâer took out the four spirit herbs they had prepared in advance. Now that Jiang Chen had entered the sage realm, the strength of his consciousness had greatly improved. He was much more confident in curing this Miasma when compared to three years ago. It could even be said that he was now absolutely assured of success.
Yet even so, it took him seven days and seven nights before he finished thoroughly cleansing the Miasma from Ling Suâs mind. When he dragged himself out of the room with footsteps that spoke of exhaustion, he was greeted with the sight of an anxious Ling Biâer.
âSenior sister, your fatherâs Miasma has dragged on for too long. It wouldnât have been so complex to cure if itâd been just when heâd been poisoned.â
âJunior brother, then...â
âHeâs completely fine. Heâll return to his usual self after a few days of rest and recovery.â Jiang Chen smiled easily.
Ling Biâer swayed where she stood, and hastily reached out a hand to support herself, barely managing to keep her composure. Her lips vibrated slightly, tears welling up in her beautiful eyes. âJunior brother, thank you, thank you! I once swore an oath that I would serve whoever cured my father. In the future...â She bit her lip lightly and gathered up her courage to say, âI... I wonât refuse anything that junior brother wants me to do in the future.â
With Ling Biâerâs personality, it was already an enormous act of courage that she could voice such words.