With Ji Mingxiu voicing his final decision, Jiang Chen understood that the meeting was coming to an end. He subtly signaled to Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing before standing up. Using the pretext of visiting Fang Yuan, he respectfully asked for permission to leave.
After offering a fist-and-palm salute to Ji Mingxiu and the others, he turned and began walking towards the exit of the Purple Heaven Grand Hall.
At the same moment, Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing also stood up. They gave the assembly a graceful bow before swiftly following Jiang Chen.
Seeing this, Ji Mingxiu and the rest responded with warm, approving smiles.
Just as Jiang Chen and his companions crossed the threshold of the hall’s entrance, a series of system prompts echoed in his mind.
[Ding! You have successfully altered the plot. The protagonist Fang Yuan’s Heavenly Fate Value has decreased by 200 points!]
[Ding! You have gained 400 points of Villain Value!]
Jiang Chen’s eyes briefly flickered with a hidden gleam. With the latest drop of 200 points, Fang Yuan’s Heavenly Fate Value had now fallen to just 1,386 points—below the critical threshold for a decisive kill.
In essence, Fang Yuan was like a fish on the chopping block, completely at the mercy of Jiang Chen’s blade. A single, decisive move could end it all.
However, Jiang Chen had already chosen to spare Fang Yuan, at least for now. Despite the temptation, caution was still necessary.
While Jiang Chen was lost in thought, Ji Ruxue’s sweet voice cut through the silence, her tone carrying a hint of confusion. "Jiang Chen, why do you care so much about Fang Yuan? He’s always bothering you and being rude."
Her question seemed to echo the curiosity that Xie Xiaojing had been holding back. She glanced at Jiang Chen with a thoughtful expression, clearly wondering the same thing.
To them, Jiang Chen was far superior to Fang Yuan in every possible way. His talent, intelligence, and presence placed him leagues ahead. In their eyes, Fang Yuan’s existence was almost irrelevant.
They were certain that Jiang Chen alone had the power to raise the Purple Heaven Holy Land to unmatched heights.
Compared to that, Fang Yuan’s contributions seemed unnecessary, even insignificant.
Upon hearing Ji Ruxue’s question, Jiang Chen stopped in his tracks and turned to face the two young women trailing slightly behind him.
His eyes flickered with amusement at their genuine confusion. He knew they admired him, but his reasons went much deeper than they could understand.
With a stern expression and a gaze full of unwavering resolve, he spoke, "Fang Yuan may be a bit unusual, but at the end of the day, he is still my junior brother from the same sect. As the Holy Son of the Purple Heaven Holy Land, and as a disciple of this land, I will not abandon any of them."
Although Jiang Chen’s words seemed directed at Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing, they were actually meant for the ’hidden’ divine senses that had been probing around them ever since Ji Ruxue had asked her question.
It was clear that the possessors of those divine senses—elders, perhaps even Supreme Elders—shared the same confusion over Jiang Chen’s unyielding patience toward Fang Yuan.
Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing were captivated by Jiang Chen’s firm declaration, their admiration shining in their eyes. Both couldn’t help but think, Jiang Chen looks so handsome when he’s this serious!
Maintaining his composed demeanor, Jiang Chen softened as he spoke to the two young women. "If you’d rather avoid Fang Yuan, you can wait for me outside," he said with a gentle smile.
"Mm-hmm!" Ji Ruxue nodded, her eyes sparkling with warmth, a bright smile lighting up her face.
"I wouldn’t want to see his unpleasant face anyway," Xie Xiaojing added playfully, sticking out her tongue to lighten the mood.
Jiang Chen chuckled softly, his gaze warm and relaxed.
The trio made their way toward the main healing hall, where Fang Yuan was being housed.
As they arrived, Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing noticed a group of junior sisters nearby. With soft smiles and a few words of farewell to Jiang Chen, they went off to mingle with them.
Jiang Chen, however, continued toward Fang Yuan’s chamber. When he reached the door, he repeated his earlier actions, raising his right hand to gently tap the protective formation around the room.
Moments later, the formation dissipated, and the door to the healing chamber slowly swung open, revealing the quiet, dimly lit room inside.
Inside the chamber sat two individuals—Fang Yuan, seated upright on his recovery bed, and Wenren Kang, sitting nearby.
Fang Yuan met Jiang Chen’s gaze with a stoic expression, his eyes revealing little emotion, though his guard was clearly raised.
Wenren Kang, however, hurriedly stood when he saw Jiang Chen enter, offering a respectful fist-and-palm salute. "Greetings, Holy Son!" he said, his tone filled with deference.
"Master Wenren," Jiang Chen acknowledged with a nod, returning the gesture. "I will now begin the task of repairing Junior Brother Fang Yuan’s spiritual root."
Wenren Kang immediately understood the subtle message in Jiang Chen’s words. Such a delicate procedure required privacy.
Without hesitation, he smiled warmly at Fang Yuan, offering a nod of encouragement, before once again saluting Jiang Chen.
"Then I’ll leave Junior Brother Fang Yuan in your capable hands, Holy Son," Wenren Kang said respectfully, as he took his leave.
As Wenren Kang stepped out, the door quietly closed behind him. Almost instantly, the formation barrier reactivated, once again surrounding the chamber in a protective veil.
This chapter is updated by freēwēbnovel.com.
Now alone with Fang Yuan, Jiang Chen offered a warm, friendly smile and extended his hands in a traditional salute. However, his gesture wasn’t solely directed at Fang Yuan—it was aimed more precisely at the Soul Embodying Ring in Fang Yuan’s possession.
"Junior Brother Fang Yuan, Senior Nangong Wan, Senior Shangguan Ning," he greeted, acknowledging the lingering souls sealed within the ring.
Fang Yuan returned the gesture with little enthusiasm, his expression indifferent as he lowered his hand.
Jiang Chen, already used to Fang Yuan’s aloof nature, wasn’t fazed. Calm and composed, he took the seat beside the bed, occupying the spot where Wenren Kang had been moments before.
As Jiang Chen settled in, a soft voice echoed from the Soul Embodying Ring. It was Nangong Wan. "What is the status of the demonic beast tide outside?"
Jiang Chen’s expression grew solemn as he responded, "It has been quelled." His voice remained calm, but there was a heavy undertone. "However, this demonic beast tide is unusual."
He paused briefly, choosing his words carefully. "Not only has our Purple Heaven Holy Land been affected, but both the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace and the Jade Lake Heavenly Temple have also faced attacks of similar scale. Demonic beasts at the Dao Comprehension realm have appeared. There’s a real possibility that even more powerful beasts—those at the Dao Palace realm—are lurking underground."
This time, it was Shangguan Ning’s voice that echoed from the Soul Embodying Ring, carrying a grim undertone. "Given these circumstances, it seems almost certain that the Demon Race has been orchestrating these events in secret."
She didn’t pause, continuing her somber explanation. "It appears they’ve covertly crossed the Bottomless Abyss and are preparing to strike against the Immortal Martial Continent. However, which specific branch of the Demon Race is involved remains unclear."
The weight of her words hung heavily in the chamber!
Fang Yuan inhaled sharply, his usually stoic demeanor breaking as he muttered, almost to himself, "The Demon Race... The Demon Race, which has been absent for who knows how many years, intends to invade the Immortal Martial Continent!"
Jiang Chen’s eyes narrowed at the revelation. He had suspected something larger was at play, but confirmation of the Demon Race’s involvement sharpened his calculations.
"So these demonic beasts... they are merely the advance party of the Demon Race?" he asked, his voice low but filled with a chilling certainty.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the healing chamber grew thick with tension.
The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on both Fang Yuan and Jiang Chen as they contemplated the threat posed by the Demon Race.
Then, breaking the silence, Nangong Wan’s calm voice offered a sense of reassurance. "You two, there’s no need for excessive worry. Crossing such a distant spatial channel is no easy feat," she said gently. "The spatial channel left by the demons within the Immortal Martial Continent has been abandoned for countless years.
Anyone who manages to teleport here will likely find their strength restricted."
She continued, her words aimed at easing the concerns of both Fang Yuan and Jiang Chen. "Given the current limits of the Immortal Martial Continent, the strongest members of the Demon Race won’t be able to surpass the Dao Palace realm."
Jiang Chen absorbed her explanation, his stern expression softening slightly as he processed her reasoning. Fang Yuan, too, seemed a little less tense, though his gaze remained thoughtful.
Nangong Wan’s reassurance made sense—spatial channels left dormant for so long wouldn’t allow the unrestricted passage of powerhouses from beyond the void.
The laws of the Immortal Martial Continent would cap their potential strength, at least for now.
But just as her words were beginning to ease the tension, Shangguan Ning’s blunt voice cut through. "Of course, exceptions exist," she interjected. "It all depends on the fortune of the Immortal Martial Continent."
Shangguan Ning’s candid remark immediately made Nangong Wan’s efforts to calm them seem almost futile.
Jiang Chen’s gaze flickered involuntarily toward Fang Yuan as he considered Shangguan Ning’s words.
With Fang Yuan’s presence, it seemed almost certain that a demon from the Third Step of the Cultivation Path wouldn’t appear—such an enemy would be far too overwhelming for the current powers of the continent.
Heavenly Fate often ensured that the balance wouldn’t tip too heavily, especially with someone like Fang Yuan, its favored one, standing in the midst of it all.
However, dwelling on speculation would be a waste of time.
Jiang Chen set those thoughts aside and smoothly transitioned to a different topic, his voice tinged with a hint of guilt. "During the demonic beast tide, I feared many might fall victim to the corruption of the Demonic Spiritual Qi. So, I took it upon myself to distribute the Demonic Qi Extraction Art to help defend against it..."
Before he could finish, Nangong Wan’s calm yet approving voice interrupted, cutting his words short.
"No harm done," she reassured him. "The Demonic Qi Extraction Art isn’t some secret or exclusive knowledge. Given the Demon Race’s apparent invasion plans, your decision was wise. It’s only right to spread it and strengthen the continent’s defenses."
Without hesitation, Jiang Chen stood up, clasping his hands in front of his chest and offering a slight bow toward the Soul Embodying Ring, where the residual souls of Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning resided.
His expression was filled with sincere gratitude as he spoke, "I thank the two seniors on behalf of the inhabitants of the Immortal Martial Continent for your generosity!"