Crimsonwaters was highly pleased to see Jiang Chen. “Young Zhen, how do you feel about your visit to the Taiyuan Sky Palace so far?”
“It’s been very nice here. The food, the lodging, and the peacefulness.” The young man gave a standard reply.
Crimsonwaters chuckled. “Sit for a while. I have a few friends coming to visit soon. They’ve heard me talk about you and have taken an interest in you as well. It’s not the most convenient place to talk here, but there’s no problem with a simple meet-and-greet.”
Jiang Chen didn’t understand what exactly the godking had seen in him. Why was he so passionate and warm?
The young man usually wouldn’t have minded the positive attention, but any attention at all right now was unwanted. He made to say something when there was a clamor outside.
One especially bright laugh cut through the din. “Haha, Daoist Crimsonwaters commands as much respect as ever. This is a really nice place! Not like where I’m living. We’re both godkings, but my lodging is small and dingy. How depressing!”
The man who had said these words bounced in like a large rubber ball. His face and form were pudgy to the point of comicality, but he also seemed extremely approachable because of it.
His girth blocked the others behind him from sight. Jiang Chen noticed a trio of godkings behind him only after he had fully entered the room.
One of them had chiseled features and a righteous appearance. He commanded men and respect alike.
Another wore robes as cerulean as the sea. He exuded a crisp and clean feeling, as if his heart was as broad and accepting as the oceans themselves.
The last godking was somewhat thin and withered. His expression was graver and more aloof than all his peers.
Jiang Chen instantly perceived that all of these were titled godkings. Their auras were distinct from each other, but the forces of their cultivation were unmistakable.
“Heh, you’re the ones putting on airs here. I invited you a couple of times before you finally came, no?” Chuckling, Crimsonwaters rose to welcome them.
“We did want to come earlier, my friend,” the fat godking sighed. “Alas, busyness has gotten the best of us over the past few days – when it’s not me, it’s them, and so on. It’s been hard for us to find some free time to get together.”
This was absolutely true.
Every godking had his own social circles. He needed to meet the obligations therein, especially since it had been a long time since their last meeting.
Mutual free time was hard to come by.
The godking in blue smiled at Jiang Chen as he scrutinized the youth. “This young man is no doubt the Elder Zhen Junior you’ve mentioned so much, hmm?”
Jiang Chen hurriedly cupped a fist. “I am Zhen Shi, honored godkings. I greet you as someone many generations your junior.”
“So it is. Very good, very good.” The fat godking pinched at his chin, clucking. The rotund tended to be jovial, which meant that most things were good to them.
Keen rays flared from the thin godking’s eyes, sweeping over Jiang Chen’s body many times before coming to a stop. “His aura is full, his consciousness well-guarded.” He nodded faintly. “This young man is extraordinary.”
This comment was much more informative than the fat godking’s had been.
Though Jiang Chen attempted to conceal his strength before the godkings, it was difficult to hide his basic characteristics. Thankfully, he wasn’t yet a godking himself. It would have been impossible to hide his aura then.
The honorable godking examined Jiang Chen the longest out of his colleagues, and gave a rare positive appraisal.
“His consciousness and aura aside, I see an exceptional righteousness and promise in him. He is indeed superb, Daoist Crimsonwaters, which leads me to the next point: how could you have left him undiscovered for so long?”
“I suppose you can attribute that to blindness on my part,” Crimsonwaters coughed.
Godking Righteous perused Jiang Chen with unmasked admiration. “Young Zhen, I’ve always respected Daoist Crimsonwaters’ keen eye for talent. I hear that you refused his offer as his heir?”
“That’s not quite it, my lords. I have promised myself elsewhere. What right have I to refuse such a prominent position as the heir to a minor world?” Jiang Chen laughed helplessly.
“You’re not being entirely honest,” smiled Righteous. “Some of what you said was sincere, but the remainder was an excuse.”
“Please don’t make fun of me, senior.”
“Haha, we don’t mean to bully you. I have considerable confidence when it comes to discerning people. I see a glint in your eye that tells me ruling a minor world is below you,” Righteous chuckled.
Jiang Chen felt a bit powerless.
How was he supposed to fend off good-natured ribbing from several godkings at once? He could hardly admit to Righteous’ accusation.
If he did, their curiosity would only intensify as to why that was, further ensnaring him in the situation.
“We know what kind of man Daoist Crimsonwaters is, young Zhen,” the godking in blue cut in. “He values his words very much and never tosses them around recklessly. If you’re worried that he was speaking in jest, we can all bear witness to the contrary.”
It seemed now that Crimsonwaters had brought the four other godkings here to bolster his confidence and increase his prestige.
The godking’s actions very much elevated the young man. His goodwill was evidently genuine.
“Young man,” the fat godking chuckled, “you no doubt have considerable pride as a youthful genius. You might even be belittling the gifts that are presented to you. Only after you’ve experienced the toils of life will you understand that some things are not meant to be missed. Regret and remorse will be pale imitations of what you’ve lost.”
His words resonated with the others.
They were naturally thinking of the Taiyuan Celestial Emperor’s rule. They had been complacent during the reign of the rightful emperor, complaining from time to time as people were wont to do.
Only after he was gone did they fully realize how precious their missing emperor had been.
