Over the past two months,
the Eastern Region had been relatively peaceful.
The Immortal Dao Sect had accepted a gifted disciple—one who was personally taken in by Senior Taixuan, who was soon to ascend the throne. This caused quite a stir within the Immortal Dao Sect.
On the day the disciple was accepted, many forces across the Eastern Region were shaken.
They had only heard one thing—
That disciple had once come from Donglin Holy Land.
This immediately caused strange reactions among the various powers.
Confusion.
Unease.
They tried to investigate the reason.
But no one could give a clear answer.
One person said one thing.
Another said something else.
Nothing conclusive.
In the end, they didn't dwell on it.
At most, he was just a rising star.
No matter how talented he was, this generation of cultivators had already produced its leaders—Jiang Chen of Donglin Holy Land, and Wang Fan of the Immortal Dao Sect. Surpassing them was no simple task.
…
Meanwhile, the various forces of the Eastern Region were also paying close attention to the Sword River near Donglin Holy Land.
Everyone knew—
The Eastern Region was home to countless Human Emperor–level powerhouses.
Every time one appeared, it attracted attention from all sides—especially from the six Holy Lands. They were always watching closely to see which faction had gained another Human Emperor.
But this time—
A Human Emperor had appeared in Donglin Holy Land without warning.
And with him—
A river of sword intent.
Something like that could not appear out of thin air.
Yet no matter how they searched, the person involved seemed to vanish from the world.
Just like the Fat and Thin Venerables who had secretly entered the Sutra Pavilion—both had disappeared without a trace.
According to intelligence, all five Human Emperors of Donglin Holy Land had been within their own territories that night.
So who killed the Fat and Thin Venerables?
Another unsolved mystery.
Only a few elderly figures—
Those who had lived through the past—
Thought of someone.
A man in green robes.
A sword in hand.
Once walking proudly across the world.
Brilliant.
Dazzling.
Dominating an entire era.
But the thought was quickly dismissed.
That man had been silent for sixty years, confined to the Sutra Pavilion of Donglin Holy Land. If his heart knot had truly been undone, there would have been signs.
…
In this seemingly calm yet undercurrent-filled Eastern Region—
The ancient Jiang family suddenly made a move.
That day—
The long streets trembled.
Hooves thundered like rolling lightning.
Strong figures of the Jiang family emerged one after another, awakening from slumber and alarming the entire Eastern Region.
Although the Jiang family did not belong to the six Holy Lands, no one dared underestimate them.
Among Human Emperor–level forces, the Jiang family was in no way inferior to the Holy Lands.
They were simply—
More low-key.
Fewer in number.
They cultivated only blood relatives, never outsiders.
But low-key did not mean weak.
If the Jiang family were enraged, even a Holy Land would tremble.
As for ordinary top-tier forces—
They could be erased in a single day.
That alone was enough to reveal their terrifying foundation.
And today—
They were acting as if they had gone mad.
One powerhouse after another awakened.
The six Holy Lands were shaken.
Top forces panicked.
Some even immediately questioned their descendants, fearing they might have offended a Jiang family member recently.
The Eastern Region, already treacherous beneath its calm, rippled with waves.
That same day—
News spread everywhere.
And yet—
The more they heard, the stranger it felt.
Some even muttered bitterly:
"It's just acknowledging a master—was there really a need for such a spectacle? Everyone already knows about it!"
…
At the forefront—
More than a dozen riders cleared the path.
These were no ordinary horses.
They were terrifying exotic beasts—majestic horns, shimmering scales, ferocious auras. Each one possessed King Realm strength.
Only an ancient family like the Jiang family could command so many to submit.
The riders wore armor, eyes cold, murderous intent radiating from their bodies. Their presence alone made onlookers shudder.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
Hooves thundered.
Trampling through the air.
Cultivators with weaker foundations felt their blood churn violently, the taste of blood rising in their throats.
"Hiss—!"
"So this is the Jiang family…"
"Terrifying!"
They watched from afar, shaken to the core.
Behind the vanguard—
Five golden horses, glowing with divine radiance, pulled a black jade chariot that exuded nobility and mystery.
Above it fluttered a simple banner.
The single character "Jiang" shimmered with Dao rhythms, carrying an ancient, timeworn aura.
They passed through city after city.
Cultivators paused whatever they were doing, staring in shock at the five golden horses.
"That aura…"
"Venerable Realm?!"
A Venerable-level beast pulling a chariot.
Only the Jiang family could be so extravagant.
Envy filled their voices.
Many even wished they could serve the Jiang family.
But that was impossible.
The Jiang family's rules were strict—outsiders were not easily accepted, and disciples of different surnames were forbidden. It was said this rule came from a Quasi-Emperor ancestor of the Jiang family.
Back then, the Jiang family stood at the pinnacle of the world.
Only a few could rival them.
But time passed.
The Quasi-Emperor fell.
Then the Great Sage perished.
The family gradually declined—until now, ruling only the Eastern Region.
Even so—
They remained an unattainable existence.
To older cultivators, the ancient Jiang family was even more terrifying.
No one knew how much heritage they still possessed.
They would rather offend a Holy Land than provoke the Jiang family.
…
Inside the chariot.
Jiang Chen was speechless.
And a little dazed.
He had merely informed his father of the situation in the sect—yet his father had created such a grand display.
Let alone mobilizing the entire clan—
This scale alone was enough to shake the Eastern Region.
"What do you know?"
Jiang Chen's father, Jiang Zhenshan, snorted.
"You are my son, Jiang Zhenshan's son. You deserve this level of ceremony. Do you really think I'm doing this for show?"
Jiang Zhenshan curled his lips in disdain.
This expression—
Only appeared when father and son were together.
To outsiders, Jiang Zhenshan was stern, dignified, and unapproachable.
"When I was young, Elder Chu was a legendary figure," Jiang Zhenshan continued. "He charmed countless men and women—even I admired him."
"But then came Great Sage Zhenwu—praised as someone with Great Emperor potential. Elder Chu was defeated in a single battle. His Dao heart shattered, and he confined himself to the Sutra Pavilion for sixty years."
"But now—"
"He has seen through his heart."
"He has taken another step forward."
"I must congratulate him with a heavy gift."
"And more importantly—"
"My son becoming his disciple is no small matter. The gift cannot be lacking."
"I want Elder Chu to know that accepting you is no loss."
"In the future, if Elder Chu needs cultivation resources—"
"He can ask freely."
"I will mobilize the entire Jiang clan to support him!"
Jiang Zhenshan snorted coldly.
Dominance overflowing.