Chapter 695: Chapter 694: Parting Ways
Inside the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle.
The Black Emperor stood on a high platform built of stone, his hands clasped behind his back and a long whip in his grip. His wide, golden eyes scanned the area before him.
Before him…
Gai Shi, Arhat, Jian Lingkong, and the others were sitting cross-legged on the ground.
Each of them maintained a meditative posture, cultivating diligently. These were once the top experts of the Eastern Continent’s younger generation—proud, untamable individuals.
Now, however, faced with the long whip in the Black Emperor’s hand, they all wore wary expressions, cultivating with meticulous focus.
The Black Emperor nodded, a satisfied expression on his face. “Not bad. The path of cultivation is like rowing a boat upstream; it requires immense effort. Just look at Jiang Chen! It’s only under my tutelage that he’s reached his current level of achievement. The Eastern Continent is but a single corner of the Qiankun Continent. There are far stronger experts out there. If you don’t want to keep getting pushed around, then you’ll put your all into your cultivation for me.”
Gai Shi forced a smile. “Little Black, I’ve been cultivating for over a month without a single break…”
CRACK!
A crisp sound rang out.
The Black Emperor’s whip had lashed out, striking Gai Shi hard and making him grimace in pain. “Look at the pathetic state you’re in!” the Black Emperor said sternly. “You reached the Human Emperor Realm before Jiang Chen, but how does your strength compare to his now?”
“I… I get it! I’ll get back to cultivating!”
Gai Shi forced another smile and resumed his cultivation.
The Black Emperor nodded in satisfaction.
Jiang Chen: “…”
‘He hadn’t expected the Black Emperor to tame this group of proud, unruly geniuses in just one short month.’
As he stepped into the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle.
The Black Emperor sensed his presence and flew over. Its speed had somehow increased again. It landed right on Jiang Chen’s shoulder, planted its hands on its hips, and said, fishing for praise, “Boss, you finally opened the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle! I was starting to think you’d kicked the bucket!”
“…”
Jiang Chen was speechless. He rubbed the Black Emperor’s head and asked, “Since when did you start calling me that?”
‘Before, the Black Emperor had always just called me by my name!’
Suddenly being called ‘Boss’ caught Jiang Chen off guard.
The Black Emperor grinned. “You truly earned my recognition when you fought that Demigod for the people of the Eastern Continent, not fearing death. So naturally, I call you Boss…” After a pause, it continued, “Boss, where are we? What’s the situation like outside?”
For the past month, the Black Emperor and the others had been sealed inside the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle, completely cut off from the outside world.
Every one of them had been extremely worried about Jiang Chen’s fate.
Jiang Chen shook his head with a wry smile. “The situation in the Eastern Continent is grim. When I left, both Asura and Elder Celestial Secret had been defeated by the Ice Emperor…” He went on to explain how he had escaped the Eastern Continent by using the Mystic Sect Leader’s Token, how he had ended up in the Azure Sky Sea, and everything concerning the Little Dragon Maiden.
The Black Emperor was silent for a moment. “It must have been the Ice Emperor’s attack,” it finally said. “When you activated the Mystic Sect Leader’s Token, her attack must have disrupted the spatial energy, throwing off the destination and landing you in the Azure Sky Sea. But maybe that’s for the best. After all, Boss, you made an enemy of Xiang Tianwen. With the Demon God Palace’s influence in Zhongzhou, he’d likely find us the moment we set foot there. This is a perfect opportunity for you to break through to the Emperor Realm here in the Azure Sky Sea before we head to Zhongzhou!”
Jiang Chen nodded.
‘The Black Emperor had voiced his exact concerns. Xiang Tianwen was incredibly strong, and the power of the Demon God Palace was even more terrifying!’
‘Only by reaching the Emperor Realm would he have the power to protect himself!’
“That’s my thinking as well,” Jiang Chen explained. “But to break through to the Emperor Realm, my Mystical Understanding needs to reach Tier Nine, and I’m not quite there yet. However, I’m confident I can break through to the Emperor Realm within half a year. That’s when we’ll head to Zhongzhou!”
The Black Emperor looked up, its eyes wide. It licked its lips and chuckled slyly. “Boss, didn’t you say you found a young dragon with a Divine-level Bloodline? How about you let me… take care of her? Hehe, it’s been a long time since I’ve had dragon meat…”
BONK!
Jiang Chen smacked it hard on the head. “She’s my sister now,” he said irritably. “Don’t you dare get any ideas. Now go wake up Gai Shi and the others. I have something to discuss with them.”
“Fine!”
The Black Emperor pouted and departed reluctantly, then went to wake up Gai Shi and the others.
When they heard that the Eastern Continent had fallen, that they were now in the Azure Sky Sea, and about Jiang Chen’s current predicament, they all fell silent.
Jiang Chen said, “So, that’s our situation. The Eastern Continent has fallen into the Ice Emperor’s hands, so we won’t be able to go back anytime soon. And as for me… you know the position I’m in here in the Azure Sky Sea. What you do next is your own choice.”
Gai Shi smiled, walked over to Jiang Chen’s side, and grinned. “You saved my life anyway. I’m sticking with you!”
Arhat, Jian Lingkong, and Tuoba Yan hesitated for a moment.
They exchanged a glance and all made their decisions.
Arhat spoke in a low voice, “I’ve decided to head to Zhongzhou on my own and find a Major Sect to take me as a disciple. Once I reach the Demigod Realm, I’ll return to the Eastern Continent and avenge my master!”
“As will I!”
Jian Lingkong’s eyes were resolute, his entire presence as sharp as a sword. “With my talent for the Sword Dao, I’m sure I can carve out a place for myself, even in Zhongzhou.”
“My ancestors once told me that the Witch Race exists in Zhongzhou,” Tuoba Yan said. “I’m going to find them!”
‘Jiang Chen sighed internally.’
He knew that everyone had their own path to walk. They were all peerless geniuses; it was unlikely they would be content to simply follow him. He nodded. “I respect your decisions. But before you leave the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle, I want you to swear an oath on your Heart Demon that you will not reveal my whereabouts.”
“No problem…”
The men immediately swore the oath, promising not to reveal Jiang Chen’s location.
Jiang Chen then led them all out of the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle.
Arhat stared at Jiang Chen and said in a deep voice, “The next time we meet, I will definitely surpass you!”
“Let’s see who reaches the Demigod Realm first!” Jian Lingkong declared, his voice low and his bearing like that of a Sword Dao king.
Tuoba Yan said nothing and turned to leave.
Jiang Chen took a deep breath, a competitive fire igniting in his eyes. “With their talent, I’m sure it won’t be long before they make a name for themselves in the Azure Sky Sea, and even in Zhongzhou. This is a blessing for our Eastern Continent!”
Gai Shi clapped him on the shoulder. “Boss, what’s our plan now? Are we heading to Zhongzhou? Or should we build our own power base here in the Azure Sky Sea? With our strength, we should be able to establish a pretty formidable faction, don’t you think?”
“I’ll aim to break through to the Emperor Realm within half a year. Then, we’ll go to Zhongzhou. I have a promise I need to keep there.” A determined look filled Jiang Chen’s eyes. ‘Xiang Tianwen, the time for our battle draws ever closer!’
Gai Shi grinned. “Sounds good. Wherever you go, I’ll go!”
Even though he now had an Emperor Realm Cultivation, Gai Shi understood clearly that if they were to truly fight, Jiang Chen would absolutely crush him.
The two men conferred with the Black Emperor for a while.
Jiang Chen decided to make a trip to Heaven’s Edge Sea Pavilion to find treasures that could enhance his Mystical Understanding, hoping to reach the Emperor Realm as quickly as possible.
The two men, along with the Black Emperor and the Little Dragon Maiden, set off toward Heaven’s Edge Sea Pavilion.
But what they didn’t notice was…
In an inconspicuous corner of the inn, a pair of eyes had been watching their every move. As they set off for Heaven’s Edge Sea Pavilion, the eyes in the shadows glinted coldly. ‘Finally decided to come out, have you? The Young Master has been waiting a long, long time…’