Chapter 288
“This is insane! Each faction seems to be hiding stronger trump cards than the last!” The Holy Master of the Pure Yang Holy Land couldn’t help but grumble while glancing around warily.
The Ye Clan had an ancient emperor. The Primordial Holy Land boasted a Great Accomplishment Primordial Dao Body, and yet that wasn’t all they had.
From his knowledge, the Primordial Holy Land also had a former God King in its ranks—a prodigious figure with the bearing of a Great Emperor.
However, that God King had been born in the wrong era, overshadowed by the Heavenly Fox Empress who already dominated the Nine Heavens Realm. Despite reaching the ninth level of the quasi-emperor realm, the God King couldn’t advance further.
Even though he couldn’t ascend as an emperor, his strength was no weaker than that of a Great Accomplishment physique, especially with the Primordial Holy Land’s Emperor Sword enhancing his power.
Now, the Ancient Buddha Sect unveiled a combatant comparable to a Great Completion physique, one who could destroy the Ye Clan’s Great Emperor’s offensive in a single move. Few could achieve such a feat.
The Sect Master of the Supreme Dao Sect sighed helplessly. “Those bald monks from the Ancient Buddha Sect may look harmless, but they are formidable indeed! No wonder they rule the Western Desert.”
“And aside from these powers, what other trump cards do the remaining immortal factions hold?”
“Especially the ancient imperial clans—if you have any hidden cards, reveal them now! I suspect the Golden-Winged Roc Clan has something in reserve. Otherwise, they wouldn’t act so fearlessly and recklessly, as if unafraid of anything.”
Today, the unveiling of trump cards from various forces brought one powerhouse after another into the fray, leaving the lesser immortal factions feeling utterly drained.
“Are we not all immortal forces? Weren’t quasi-emperors and emperor weapons supposed to be the foundation? How did we end up facing Great Accomplishment physiques and ancient emperor’s?”
All eyes eventually turned to Jin Yuan. Without question, Jin Yuan was the most arrogant among them, showing utter disregard for everyone, much like the ancient Azure Dragon Clan of yore.
Even the other ancient imperial clans harbored doubts, wondering if Jin Yuan was hiding some terrifying trump card—perhaps even an ancient sovereign.
“Brother Jin Dao, if you have a trump card, why not reveal it now? It would allow us to deter the humans together.” Huang Tian pondered for a moment before speaking calmly.
Bai Ye chimed in, “Jin Yuan—ah, no, Brother Jin Dao—your clan acts so boldly. There must be an ancient sovereign hidden within.”
“Rumor has it that your clan’s Great Emperor vanished mysteriously in the past. Perhaps, like the Ye Clan’s Great Emperor, he merely severed himself and went into hiding? If so, it’s time for him to emerge!”
As the humans unveiled their trump cards and brought forth one powerful combatant after another, the ancient imperial clans felt increasingly pressured.
Emperor weapons were no longer sufficient to command the field. They desperately needed either an ancient sovereign or a Great Completion physique to hold the line.
Sensing the expectant gazes, Jin Yuan sighed internally before a sudden flash of inspiration struck him. Maintaining a cold demeanor, he spoke nonchalantly, “Our ancestor is currently in deep slumber and cannot be disturbed easily.”
“With the immortal road about to begin, our ancestor is focused on his plans for it. It is his lifelong aspiration, and as juniors, we dare not disrupt it.”
“Unlike the Ye Clan, which prioritizes selfish gain over their ancestor’s wishes, our clan respects our forebears’ pursuits.”
“Of course, should the Golden-Winged Roc Clan face a crisis, our ancestor would naturally awaken!”
Upon hearing this, the crowd remained skeptical. Jin Yuan’s words seemed somewhat dubious, but the consistent emergence of high-level combatants left them hesitant.
Could it be that this old fellow’s ancestor truly still lived? Was the fabled Golden Roc Emperor merely in hiding, just like the Ye Clan’s Great Emperor?
If this were true, then indeed, he warranted fear and caution.
“Feathered mongrel, does your clan’s ancient ancestor truly still exist?” The Holy Master of Pure Yang gazed at Jin Yuan with a hint of skepticism.
“Our clan’s ancestor lives eternally!” Jin Yuan snapped coldly, his voice laced with threat. “If you, Holy Master of Pure Yang, dare to behave as you did in the past, I will summon the ancestor, even at the cost of my life, to destroy your Pure Yang Holy Land!”
However, the Pure Yang Holy Master remained unfazed. “With the Primordial Holy Land supporting me, I fear no so-called ancient sovereign of your clan!” he replied indifferently.
“If your ancient sovereign is anything like the Ye Clan’s Great Emperor, feel free to let him act!”
With the Primordial Holy Land as his backing, the Pure Yang Holy Master had nothing to fear. Even if his own strength wasn’t at its peak, the Primordial Holy Land boasted unparalleled might.
Moreover, the Primordial Holy Land had yet to reveal its hidden ace: a God King. If the Holy Master knew about the existence of the Heavenly Fox Empress and the Devouring Beast, he would undoubtedly be even more emboldened.
To him, even an ancient emperor was hardly worth mentioning.
“You think we’re like the Ye Clan, with no allies?” Jin Yuan’s voice turned icy. “We are backed by the ancient imperial clans. Even if the Primordial Holy Land possesses a Great Completion physique, so what?”
There was some truth to his words. Unlike the Ye Clan, whose allies had been notably absent during their struggle, the ancient imperial clans operated differently. Should an ancient sovereign emerge, the other imperial clans would likely intervene.
“If the Primordial Holy Land dares to act, we won’t stand idle!” Bai Ye chimed in, his voice firm. Regardless of Jin Yuan’s bluff or truth, the current situation demanded unity within the alliance.
Other ancient imperial clans quickly voiced their support.
“Pure Yang Holy Master, don’t think that leaning on the Primordial Holy Land allows you to strut around arrogantly!” one declared. “We ancient imperial clans are not afraid of you!”
Buoyed by the support, Jin Yuan grew bolder, exuding a confidence that suggested the presence of an ancient sovereign within his clan. Even the Pure Yang Holy Master hesitated momentarily.
At that moment, Jiang Chen’s voice rang out, calm but piercing. “Empty threats, Jin Yuan. Among the ancient imperial clans, the Golden-Winged Roc Clan is the most pathetic.”
“Your strongest is a mere seventh-stage quasi-emperor, barely on par with the Heavenly Fox Clan. Pure Yang Holy Master, they don’t even compare to you!”
The surrounding atmosphere turned deathly silent. An oppressive stillness descended, broken only by the shifting gazes. The humans bore peculiar expressions, while the imperial clans stared coldly at Jin Yuan.
“Our clan’s secrets are beyond Jiang Chen’s knowledge!” Jin Yuan retorted, his face flushed with anger but his tone steady. He showed no signs of guilt, exuding an air of confidence that left onlookers puzzled.
His composure and unchanging tone gave the impression of hidden depths, leaving the powerful figures present uncertain about whom to believe.
“You’re sure you want to bluff?” Jiang Chen asked, his tone casual but laced with menace. “Think carefully—bluffing comes at a cost.”
“If you insist on bluffing, I’ll have no choice but to target the Golden-Winged Roc Clan. Don’t think you can use the ancient imperial clans to suppress me!”
“Supreme emperor weapons? The Primordial Holy Land lacks nothing in that regard. Your imperial weapons can’t suppress me. If needed, I can annihilate the Golden-Winged Roc Clan in no time.”
“Don’t expect help from the Ye Clan’s Great Emperor. That guy can barely protect himself now!”
Jiang Chen added, casting a glance at the Ye Clan’s Great Emperor. His voice carried a mocking edge as he continued, “You alone are unworthy of unleashing the Dark Chaos!”
“The lives of the Nine Heavens Realm’s beings are beyond your grasp. If you’re desperate, you might consider your own clansmen. Sharing the same origins, perhaps you can drain them to regain a bit of energy.”
As his words fell, the faces of both Jin Yuan and Ye Changhe darkened.
Jin Yuan was gripped by fear—if Jiang Chen truly acted, the ancient imperial clans might not withstand the onslaught.
Meanwhile, Ye Changhe feared that the Ye Clan’s Great Emperor might act on Jiang Chen’s provocation. If that happened, the Ye Clan would face complete ruin, perhaps even extinction.