After three rounds of wine,
the food was still fragrant, and the atmosphere had grown warm.
Only then did everyone gradually return to the main topic.
"Since everyone is here," Jiang Zhenshan said calmly, "I have a proposal. I intend to establish Jiang Chen as the Jiang family's eldest son and young clan leader. In the future, he will inherit the Jiang family. Does anyone have objections?"
"Of course not!"
"Jiang Chen has been exceptionally talented since childhood. If not him, then who?"
"Agreed!"
"Approved!"
"No objections!"
One elder after another spoke up in support. Even those who had previously remained neutral chose to side with Jiang Chen. Nearly half of the neutral faction switched positions on the spot—once they moved, the outcome was no longer in doubt.
At the banquet, Jiang Chen was the only junior qualified to sit at the table, and no one raised any objections. After all, Chu Xun himself had been invited by Jiang Chen. More importantly, everyone present already tacitly understood what this banquet truly signified.
Jiang Chen wore a bright smile.
If becoming the Jiang family's eldest son had been placed before him in the past, he would have been ecstatic. After all, inheriting the Jiang family meant standing at the peak of the Eastern Region.
But now, his desires were far simpler.
He only wanted to stay by his master's side.
After the banquet, the guests gradually dispersed, all thoroughly satisfied.
Chu Xun was invited by Jiang Zhenshan to another place.
It was a lush bamboo forest, with green grass spreading ahead, open and level terrain, and a small, clear lake reflecting the sky. The surroundings were quiet and clean—a rare place of peace.
Reading scriptures here would surely lift one's spirit.
"What a fine place," Chu Xun praised sincerely.
"If Elder Chu likes it, I'll give this place to you," Jiang Zhenshan said with a smile. "You can come here anytime to read or study."
In the pavilion were plates of spiritual fruits. Purple qi lingered around clusters of small grapes, each fruit plump and full—rare treasures harvested from spirit vines that bore fruit only once every few hundred years. There were also radiant red fruits glowing like clouds at dusk, their fragrance reaching the nose before one even approached.
Any one of these fruits would be considered precious to juniors, yet here several plates of different varieties were casually placed—all of the highest quality.
"Please."
After taking their seats, the two chatted casually.
They first spoke briefly about Jiang Chen, then naturally shifted to the current situation of the Eastern Region.
"The Eastern Region is in complete chaos now," Jiang Zhenshan said with a complicated expression. "Although the Jiang family was facing its own crisis, I've still been paying attention to the outside world."
"The Green Bull Demon Lord has summoned his old subordinates and begun blood sacrifices throughout the Eastern Region. The top forces may still be able to coordinate, but those secular dynasties…"
His voice grew heavy.
"It's too tragic. They're too far away. Even if a distress message is sent, it's already too late by the time help arrives."
"Many small countries have already been wiped out."
"Billions of living beings…"
"All life reduced to ruin."
A trace of sorrow and sympathy appeared in Chu Xun's eyes. He still remembered vividly the scene when the Tianyun Kingdom had nearly been sacrificed—the imperial capital frozen in despair, countless lives unable to move, watching their own vitality swallowed by that small red cauldron.
It was a kind of cruelty that cut straight to the soul.
"The Six Holy Lands have dispatched Human Emperor experts of the Ninth Realm to various corners of the Eastern Region," Jiang Zhenshan sighed. "If another blood sacrifice occurs, they can arrive as quickly as possible."
"That's a good thing," Chu Xun nodded lightly.
Yet he knew clearly that this was only treating the symptoms, not the root cause. As long as the Green Bull Demon Lord remained alive, the chaos in the Eastern Region would never truly end.
Moreover, the recent events surrounding the Jiang family were likely inseparable from that demon lord.
Recalling what he had discovered while repairing the formation, Chu Xun spoke again.
"Clan Head Jiang, I noticed something unusual while repairing the formation."
As he spoke, a faint wisp of residual demonic qi surged from his palm.
Jiang Zhenshan was momentarily stunned.
Then confused.
"This demonic qi does not belong to the demon suppressed in the forbidden area," Chu Xun said calmly. "It comes from the outside world. The loosening of the Jiang family's seal is connected to this trace of demonic energy."
"Impossible!" Jiang Zhenshan reacted emotionally. "Although our Jiang family has no Saints, not just anyone can sneak in. The Green Bull Demon Lord cultivates demonic arts—if he entered, we would sense it immediately!"
"Not to mention that the forbidden area in our back mountain is heavily guarded. How could someone so easily reach it?"
"I don't know," Chu Xun shrugged, not arguing further.
He casually picked up a spirit fruit and ate it. It melted in his mouth, sweet and rich, leaving behind a lingering fragrance.
After a moment of agitation, Jiang Zhenshan slowly regained his composure. His pupils grew colder, sharper.
In truth, he had already found the resurrection in the forbidden area suspicious—it was far too coincidental. Only now did a vague suspect begin to take shape in his mind.
What followed was no longer something Chu Xun needed to involve himself in.
After all, this was an internal matter of the Jiang family.
Soon after, Chu Xun set off leisurely—
Back toward Donglin Sect.
The Immortal Dao Sect had recently become the focus of widespread attention.
Ever since Zhao Huangchao's incident, many Saints had fallen. Even the events surrounding Snow Mountain Palace some time ago had spread throughout the land, becoming the subject of mockery. Naturally, people were curious about what moves the Immortal Dao Sect would make next.
Unfortunately, it had remained silent for over a month.
Until now.
At last, there was movement.
A Human Emperor appeared.
A Dharma image manifested behind him.
After hovering outside the sect for a few breaths, he transformed into a streak of light and shot straight toward Donglin Sect. The moment he moved, it was like a stone thrown into a calm lake—ripples spreading wildly in all directions.
Donglin Sect.
Before the Human Emperor even approached, several people sensed his presence.
Wang He, who was sitting cross-legged among the clouds playing chess with Elder Jiang, sneered.
"Any random cat or dog dares to come and act arrogantly now? Do they really think Donglin Sect is still the same as before?"
Now they had Elder Chu.
Now the sect master Xiao had awakened the Phoenix Body, his cultivation steadily rising.
An ordinary Ninth Realm Human Emperor was no longer a threat. Coming here was no different from courting death.
However—
This Human Emperor carried himself with imposing momentum.
As he neared Donglin Sect, he calmly took out a magic paper and said coldly,
"Where is the head of Donglin Sect? Hurry and come receive the Saint's decree!"
"Hmph!"
Elder Wang He and Elder Jiang had originally intended to drive him away. But the instant the magic paper bloomed, a blinding radiance erupted—brighter than the sun itself.
The sun in the sky dimmed in comparison.
Whether it was the disciples of Donglin Sect or nearby cultivators, all looked up in horror, shock filling their eyes.
The magic paper hung steadily in midair, wrapped in blazing light. In truth, it was that very light which formed a sun-like brilliance. From it radiated unmistakable Saintly fluctuations.
The pressure alone made people tremble instinctively.
Awe surged in their hearts—
And an irresistible urge to kneel spread through the air.