"They're coming in!"
"The head of the Jiang family has entered Donglin Holy Land!"
"This direction is…?"
"Sutra Pavilion!"
Within Donglin Holy Land, many eyes were following Jiang Zhenshan's movements. When they saw him heading straight toward the Sutra Pavilion, shock and confusion appeared on their faces.
…
…
In front of the Sutra Pavilion.
Jiang Zhenshan stepped out of the void and stood quietly before the nine-story pavilion. His gaze lingered on it, filled with nostalgia and restrained emotion.
Back then, he had personally witnessed Elder Chu's peerless splendor—dressed in green robes, sword in hand, unrivaled beneath the heavens.
Compared to that time, Xiao Rongyu had still been a young girl.
Now, he himself was already somewhat renowned throughout the Eastern Region.
Yet even so—
He still dared not compare himself to this person.
As he drew closer, his heart beat faster.
It felt like meeting an idol.
There was emotion.
And joy.
"Xiaochen,"
"Come with me to meet your master."
Jiang Zhenshan spoke softly.
Inside the Sutra Pavilion.
Chu Xun sat cross-legged, holding a book in his hands. His heart stirred slightly. He glanced outward, sensing the commotion, and sighed inwardly.
"Why bother?"
"I only wanted to read quietly, study the scriptures, practice martial arts occasionally, and live a peaceful life."
"Yet Mr. Jiang has made such a grand display today."
At this moment, the entire Eastern Region had their eyes fixed on this place.
There was no way to hide anymore.
But it didn't matter.
If Donglin Holy Land truly had a Human Emperor, the various factions would investigate sooner or later. Even if they ignored him for now, they would eventually find out.
Jiang Zhenshan's arrival merely exposed him earlier.
Besides—
As long as he didn't leave the mountain, exposure meant little.
After thinking this through, Chu Xun placed the book aside and waited calmly.
The eighth floor of the Sutra Pavilion.
Jiang Zhenshan looked at the plain, unassuming old man sitting by the window. In an instant, countless emotions surged through his heart.
If not for that battle—
Elder Chu's Dao heart would not have collapsed.
He would not have fallen into obscurity, imprisoned within the Sutra Pavilion for sixty years.
"Senior."
Jiang Zhenshan bowed respectfully.
Strictly speaking, he didn't need to.
In terms of cultivation alone, as the head of the Jiang family, he was qualified to stand on equal footing with Chu Xun.
But—
This was respect.
Respect for an idol.
Respect for a peerless swordsman who had once shattered his Dao heart, only to sit quietly in the Sutra Pavilion for sixty years. Who could have imagined what heights he would reach after enlightenment?
Jiang Zhenshan released a strand of divine sense to probe Chu Xun's condition.
His pupils shrank slightly.
Outwardly calm, inwardly shocked.
"How is this possible…?"
"He's already at the Fourth Layer of the Human Emperor Realm?"
According to elders of the Jiang clan stationed in Donglin Holy Land, Chu Xun had broken through his inner demons in the Sutra Pavilion and stepped into the Human Emperor Realm—less than two months ago.
Yet now—
He had gone straight to the Fourth Realm.
Terrifying.
Jiang Zhenshan thought of himself.
He was considered a genius as well.
How long had it taken him to go from the First Heaven of the Human Emperor Realm to the Fourth?
Seven years.
For a moment—
His admiration for Chu Xun deepened even further.
Worthy of being the most brilliant Sword God of his era.
Worthy of becoming a Human Emperor the moment enlightenment struck.
"You and I are of the same generation," Chu Xun said calmly. "There's no need for such formalities."
With his eyesight, he could naturally tell that Jiang Zhenshan's cultivation was extremely high—even stronger than his own, not far from the peak of the Human Emperor Realm.
Jiang Zhenshan nodded gently, a mild smile on his face, without the slightest arrogance.
"I heard from Xiaochen that he has become Elder Chu's disciple. Both the Jiang family and I are very pleased for him. We value this opportunity greatly, so I came personally to visit Elder Chu."
As he spoke—
Jiang Zhenshan flicked his sleeve lightly.
Buzz—
Several orbs of light appeared once more.
Compared to what had been revealed at the mountain gate, these were even more precious.
The first orb of purple light—
Contained several large medicinal herbs.
Dense medicinal fragrance filled the air. While they might not revive the dead or regenerate bones outright, if refined into pills, they would undoubtedly become top-tier elixirs.
The second orb—
Held a sword grass suspended in midair.
Nine-leaf Sword Grass.
An entire tier higher than the one presented earlier.
As for the remaining items—
None were ordinary.
But the most precious of all—
Was the final item.
A cauldron.
It radiated holy aura, bathed in golden light. Wisps of sacred energy drifted outward.
Holy Artifact
Alchemy Furnace
Jiang Zhenshan chuckled.
"I heard from Xiaochen that Elder Chu occasionally refines pills in his spare time. I happened to find this cauldron in the Jiang family's treasure vault and brought it along. I also included some medicinal herbs for Elder Chu to experiment with when free."
Chu Xun's expression turned slightly strange.
When he had given Jiang Chen the Breaking Realm Pill, he had only mentioned alchemy casually. He hadn't expected the Jiang family to take it so seriously.
No wonder—
So many of the gifts were medicinal materials.
And that alchemy furnace—
A sacred vessel.
Extremely rare.
Jiang Chen's face glowed with pride, silently praising his father's decisiveness.
Within Donglin Holy Land, many were also paying attention to this scene. When their divine senses swept over the alchemy furnace, their eyes widened in disbelief.
"The ancient Jiang family is truly terrifying…"
A holy artifact.
An alchemy furnace.
Even a colossal power like Donglin Holy Land possessed only a few sacred weapons—and each was priceless.
As for sacred artifacts like an alchemy furnace?
They had none.
Who could have imagined that the Jiang family would give one away directly?
If auctioned outside, it could easily be exchanged for two or even three holy artifacts of the same level.
Generous.
Truly generous.
They sighed inwardly.
And realized—
The Jiang family had spent heavily this time.
Such an alchemy furnace might have been nothing at the Jiang family's peak, but now, even they must have only a few. Taking one out directly showed immense sincerity.
"Good."
Chu Xun nodded gently.
He didn't refuse.
This was the formal apprenticeship gift.
Something he deserved.
With a wave of his sleeve, everything disappeared into his spatial storage.
He sighed inwardly.
"No wonder, in my previous life, villains in novels always had countless followers."
"At this level—how could anyone not be willing to help?"
…
At the same time.
Immortal Sect.
Main Hall.
Four old men of differing appearances sat together.
The bearded elder spoke first.
"The Jiang family's closeness with Donglin Holy Land is not good news for us."
"When Jiang Chen joined Donglin Holy Land, I already sensed something. Now their relationship has only deepened. I want to know—who exactly did Jiang Chen take as his master to make the Jiang family create such a commotion?"
"If it were a saint of Donglin Holy Land, that would be one thing."
"But it's the Sutra Pavilion!"
"That means it can't be a saint."
After a brief pause, an old man said slowly,
"Perhaps… it's him."
The discussion halted instantly.
Their brows furrowed.
"If it really is him," someone murmured gravely, "this is troublesome."
"Troublesome?"
"What's troublesome about it?"
"Yes, back then he was unmatched, suppressing an entire era with one hand."
"But what time is it now?"
"An old man who bound himself to one place and imprisoned himself for sixty years—ruined."
"Even the younger generation has already reached the Human Emperor Realm."
"So what if he breaks his heart knot and steps into the Human Emperor Realm now?"
"His era is over."
"Sixty years wasted."
"He's already been eliminated."
A red-haired old man sneered, his face filled with contempt, ridicule, and deep malice.
The others frowned at first—
Then slowly nodded.
Indeed.
No matter whether it was the one who had suddenly awakened in the Sutra Pavilion—
If he dared step out of it—
He could be suppressed with a single hand.