To hold others hostage was a very tacky way of doing things and a very tasteless way at that. Jiang Yi might have done wrong, but the people around him should not be punished for it. If news of this were to spread, the Dao Clan's reputation would be dragged through the dirt. The Azure Supreme Thearch's reputation would suffer as well.
However, given the Dao Clan's power, they probably would have been able to destroy any evidence available. They would not leave a single clue that they had anything to do with it. Jiang Yi strongly believed this point.
He was also very clear that this method of doing things was extremely effective, especially if directed at people like him—who were especially sentimental and loyal. The Dao Clan had obviously done a thorough analysis of Jiang Yi's character. They knew his weakness well.
Jiang Yi had been in similar situations many times before. He always ended up going without holding back. He was not afraid of his bones being crushed; he would go this time, too. He was indebted to the Earth Emanations Sovereign alone, much less the Phantom King and Wintry Sovereign. The Phantom King was his grandfather. Even if he wanted to ignore that fact, he could not ignore Yi Piaopiao's interests.
Of course—
Today, Jiang Yi was no longer the same fool that he used to be. He would not rush there foolishly like he would before. That would not only lead to his own death, but he might even implicate the three old men. He gave himself five days to buy himself time.
The Dao Clan was after him. As long as he refused to go there, they would not do anything rash; the three men would be kept safe. Jiang Yi was quite sure of this. Five days aside—even if he asked for ten days, he was sure the Dao Clan would wait for him as well.
Five days was not difficult to wait, but it was enough for him to break through and become a King-Ranked martial artist.
Even if he became a King-Ranked martial artist, he would not be able to charge straight at the Dao Clan. However, at least he would be able to protect himself. He needed some time to strategize how to save the three of them and survive.
Once he was sure that he was the successor of the Heavenly Thearch, Jiang Yi strangely felt more responsible. He felt like he had a mission at hand. The Heavenly Thearch had chosen him and pinned his hopes on him. He had to fight hard to survive. He had to become stronger and stronger. In the end, he had to lead the human race in the fight against the Netherworld Race beings. He had to lead the human race to safety and prosperity, so that they could continue to survive and enjoy freedom.
He did not dare to allow himself to die so easily now. He was carrying the Heavenly Thearch's hopes on his shoulders, along with the lives of hundreds of billions of people in the human race. If the Heaven Primordial Domain went under, all seven Minor Chiliocosms would be finished as well. The billions of Pan Universe Small Realms would perish, too. Countless people would become Netherworld Race beings and slaves to the Netherworld Realm.
If that happened, the entire world would be devoid of humans. There would only be corpses walking around; akin to Netherworld Race beings. The entire world would no longer see clear skies again. Darkness would befall the world, and Netherworld Aura would fill the air. This world would never again hear the laughter of young girls or the shouts of little children. There would be no more… hope.
What kind of world would that be?
Jiang Yi could not imagine. He subtly clenched his fists. He had no more hatred towards the Dao Clan. The human race was just that selfish. Swords were being held to their necks; how could they still be thinking about scheming against one another?
This was human nature. Jiang Yi reflected on his own heart. If he had the chance to kill Dao Nu, Dao Leng, and Dao Nù; would he let them off for the sake of the human race?
The answer was clear!
Jiang Yi did not blame the Dao Clan. There were no saints in this world. He could not become a saint as well. He could only do his best to fight the Netherworld Race and keep his conscience clear while he was at it.
Once he was sure of the way to go, he cast all these thoughts aside and began to deduce the Quintessence. He took a shorter time than expected to cultivate his heavenly powers; they had already reached the King-Ranked Realm earlier. Now, he only had to completely realize the Quintessence.
…
The spy outside kept standing at the gate to the castle. From time to time, he would turn to look at the gate to Jiang Yi's side hall. He wanted to make sure that Jiang Yi did not contact anyone else. At the same time, he secretly sent a voice transmission to the rest of the spies in Flying Feather Command. Their plan was in action.
The spies sent this piece of news to the Dao Clan, who then began their preparations. The spies felt like they were alive again. They kept a close eye on the situation in the Flying Feather Command and Nine Yang City. If Jiang Yi notified Heavenly King Wei, the Dao Clan would immediately destroy all evidence of their actions. Wei Pingping would not be able to pin this on them; neither would he be able to create a commotion out of this.
Time ticked by slowly. On the fourth day, the Dao Clan made a big move that attracted the attention of various powers. Dao Nu personally led a group of formidable martial artists from his own family clan to an ancient site. Rumors began to fly in all directions once again. People were saying that the Heavenly Thearch's inheritance was found on that ancient site and that all the lessons the Heavenly Thearch learned in his life were located in that castle.
When this news spread, the Yan Supreme Thearch, the Qilin Empress, and the Crazed Supreme Thearch were alerted. However, since the Azure Supreme Thearch did not make any moves, none of them did as well. The great family clans under their charge all went to the ancient site. The Heaven Domain's remaining prestigious clans—including the Gongyang Clan, the Liang Clan, and the Han Clan—slowly followed suit.
These family clans knew that there was nothing at the ancient site. However, they had to cooperate with the Dao Clan and put on a good show. The real show, however, was taking place at the Longtan Mystic Realm.
Dao Nù and Dao Leng personally went to hide in the Longtan Mystic Realm. They were only waiting for Jiang Yi to step in. They had planned this for such a long time and paid such a huge cost to succeed in this mission. If they failed to kill Jiang Yi, the Dao Clan would become the biggest joke in the Heaven Domain; the Azure Supreme Thearch would be greatly angered!
The commotion at the ancient site alerted the Nine Yang Army. However, Heavenly King Wei and Heavenly King Yun both did not make any moves. Instead, they scoffed at this news. Even Jiang Yi had seen the remnant soul of the Heavenly Thearch before. How could the Heavenly Thearch's treasures be hidden there? Jiang Yi did not come to the Heaven Domain before this; neither did he go to any ancient site. That was why they were sure that none of the Heavenly Thearch's treasures lay in the ancient site.
On the fifth day, Jiang Yi finally emerged from seclusion. Once he did, he did not make any moves. Instead, he turned to the spy and said, "You, come here."
The spy's heart nearly jumped out of his c.h.e.s.t. Fearfully, he walked to Jiang Yi and cupped his hands. "Staff Captain Jiang, what instructions do you have for me?"
"Bring me somewhere."
Jiang Yi waved his hand, and the spy immediately felt relieved. It looked like Jiang Yi really was not going to do anything rash.
He led Jiang Yi out of the castle. The entire journey, Jiang Yi said nothing. He knew full well that at least tens of divine senses were locked in on him. Any move he made would attract the attention of everyone else. The spy was leading him quickly towards the Teleportation Formation, which they flew straight into when they arrived. The guards nearby did not ask any questions before they activated it.
"En?"
Jiang Yi and the spy were moving too quickly. They moved so fast that before anyone could react, they had teleported away. The moment Jiang Yi teleported away, the people guarding the Teleportation Formation and the tens of soldiers around hit their own heads, crushing their skulls.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
All of their heads exploded at once, causing fresh blood and brain juice to be scattered around the ground. The tens of people guarding all the Teleportation Formations died. None of them survived.
Even fools could tell that something huge had just happened. Countless people burst into action, roaring different instructions. The entire Flying Feather Mystic Realm was shaken, and the Flying Feather Command descended into chaos.
"What happened?"
Yun Bing had not gone out on a mission. She was cultivating in the castle but shot out from the castle the moment she heard the commotion. Commander Liang quickly reported, "General, Jiang Yi teleported away with someone all of a sudden. The guards in charge of the Teleportation Formations have all committed suicide!"
"Sh*t, we're in big trouble!"
Yun Bing's expression changed at once. She retrieved a command token and crushed it, immediately notifying Heavenly King Yun.
