Jiang Chen snorted and rolled his eyes. “Why bother asking if you know my plan already?”
Xia Tianze pursed his lips. “You may not be impatient, but I am. I knew Forefather Evilshadow back in the ancient times. He isn’t a top level demon forefather, but he’s a second-tier one. If we don’t kill him while he’s still sealed, it’ll be much more challenging to take him down after he’s broken free. Moreover, if he stays hidden, it’ll be extremely difficult to go after him.”
Shadow demons weren’t the best fighters, but their masterful stealth and assassination skills had stumped many of an ancient cultivator. They rarely won open battles, but their contribution to the ancient war was undeniable.
They’d helped the demonic army by completing missions that necessitated stealth, such as assassinations and ambushes that were no less impactful than open assaults.
Countless human cultivators had fallen victim to shadow demons in the ancient war. Some had even been killed with none the wiser.
“Forefather Evilshadow killed at least six or seven of our gods in the ancient times. He didn’t often get his hands dirty, but when he did, someone would be in for it. One of Veluriyam Capital’s senior executives was targeted and ambushed by Evilshadow when he left for an outside, and he died at the demon’s hands. That was when the major factions organized a joint attack and finally sealed the demonic forefather.”
“Where was he sealed?” asked Jiang Chen.
Xia Tianze spread his palms out and admitted, “I don’t know.”
“Then why are you wasting time bringing that up?” grumbled Jiang Chen.
“Don’t you plan to locate Forefather Evilshadow through Jadeface?”
“If you know my plan already, why are you in such a hurry?” Jiang Chen chuckled. “You’re several hundred thousand years old. Don’t be impatient!”
Xia Tianze raised his hands in resignation. “Alright, I can’t win this argument. However, you have to hurry up. Once Evilshadow breaks free, he’ll be a great threat. The Great Veluriyam Torch is powerful, but you’ve yet to refine it completely, which prevents you from tapping into its full power.”
Jiang Chen didn’t argue this time. He nodded. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. I can guarantee you that Jadeface won’t dare return to his forefather just yet. He’d be worried about doing more harm than good.”
“When do you plan on making a move?” asked Xia Tianze.
“If possible, after the formation is reactivated,” responded Jiang Chen.
Xia Tianze grew agitated. “Can we wait for so long? Do you really think demons will let you just reactivate the formation?”
“They don’t want me to reactivate the formation at all, which was why Serratewind and his friends came on a suicide mission.” Jiang Chen smiled. “Nonetheless, the formation can be reactivated in three months. Do you think they’ll be able to break out of their seals by then?”
“That’s a gamble,” Xia Tianze said unhappily. “What if they do?”
“Don’t fret. I know what I’m doing. As soon as I sense where Forefather Evilshadow is, I’ll deliver a most wonderful surprise. We don’t have any manpower to spare at the moment, though. The three formation nodes mustn’t be damaged.”
Xia Tianze thumped his chest. “Worry not, I’ll take care of Evilshadow. I can take down an old demon weakened by his seal.”
He wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to kick their enemy in the face when they were down.
“It’s nice of you to offer, Old Brother Xia. Just you wait. Your chance will come. We don’t want your power to go to waste, do we?”
Xia Tianze was rather pleased by the compliment.
The restoration of the formation node in the Myriad Domain wasn’t a tough task to Jiang Chen. Venerated Skysoarer had completed many of the steps for him. The young lord was only hands on with some of the more complicated details.
During the downtime, he’d visited the Regal Pill Palace a few times. After rebuilding, the sect had soared to new heights. Many new faces could be seen among the familiar ones.
They were the Regal Pill Palace’s future.
Those who’d survived the disaster that befell the palace new occupied positions of great status.
Mu Gaoqi, especially, was now the totemic figure of the palace. His natural talent rivaled that of Ji San’s. His progress had been the fastest over the years, and his innate wood constitution began to reach its potential.
It was surreal to see the palace prosper when it’d once been lay in ruins after the invasion.
The Ling sisters were delighted by Jiang Chen’s arrival and welcomed him in person.
Ling Hui’er was as friendly as ever. She hooked her arm around Jiang Chen’s and chattered ceaselessly. She’d never been one for the boundaries between men and women. She’d never understood the need to keep her distance from men.
Ling Bi’er had gotten slimmer since her return, but also become much more elegant. She was now the only one who could rival Mu Gaoqi in the Regal Pill Palace.
Jiang Chen told Ling Bi’er about the Bluesmoke Isles. She sighed.
“Bluesmoke’s imperial family was too shortsighted and greedy, which ended up being their downfall. They have no one to blame but themselves. Nevertheless, they treated me decently when I was there.”
“You’re right. From now on, the imperial family will cease to exist in Myriad Abyss, and even the Bluesmoke Isles is likely to be carved up by the ten sacred lands.”
Ling Bi’er nodded. That had been a lifetime ago. She didn’t want to look back into the past. She’d gained momentary respite after returning to the Regal Pill Palace.
“How is Huang’er, Jiang Chen?” Ling Bi’er asked faintly.
“She’s well,” Jiang Chen said with a smile. “She asks about you from time to time. You’re like a sister to her, senior sister Bi’er. You should visit her sometimes.”
Ling Bi’er nodded. “I will visit Sacred Peafowl Mountain when I’m free.”
Noting her depressed tone and lack of enthusiasm, Jiang Chen smiled and said a few words to her before leaving to seek out Mu Gaoqi.
Ling Hui’er watched Jiang Chen go and pouted when she saw how upset her sister seemed. “That was a great opportunity for you to confess to him, sister. Why didn’t you? You like him so much, but you never say anything. I don’t get you people.”
Ling Bi’er managed a smile. “Stop the nonsense, Hui’er. I…”
“Yeah yeah, there’s nothing between the two of you. If I had a stone for every time you said that, I’d be rich. You always seem so lost when you see him. This isn’t how you are usually.”
Ling Hui’er puffed out her ample chest while she scolded her sister.
