Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

Time flew by.

In the assembly hall of the Clan Leader’s Mansion.

Zifeng Tianhen occupied the head seat, with Yuan Zeng and Elder Yuan Jiu to his left and right. The other clan elders stood in the assembly hall.

Zifeng Tianhen looked toward Yuan Zeng. "How is the reconstruction of Purple Wind City coming along?"

"It’s basically complete!" Yuan Zeng said.

"Good."

Zifeng Tianhen nodded, his calm gaze falling upon Yuan Jiu. "Hasn’t Friend Jiang come out of seclusion yet?"

"He is still in seclusion. I have already posted guards outside his private chamber. The moment Young Master Jiang emerges, they will bring him to you at once!"

As Elder Yuan Jiu spoke, a hint of hesitation appeared on his face.

"Elder Yuan Jiu, if you have something to say, please speak freely," said Zifeng Tianhen.

Yuan Jiu gave a wry smile. "It’s about Young Master Jiang’s pet. It... it caused a bit of trouble and has been captured by Elder Zifeng Zhen. Elder Zifeng Zhen is furious and says he’s going to refine it into a pill. I’ve tried to reason with him several times, but he absolutely refuses to let it go."

"Uh..."

Zifeng Tianhen was taken aback and asked curiously, "What kind of trouble did that little fellow get into?"

He, of course, knew of the Black Emperor.

Back when Jiang Chen went into seclusion in the Forbidden Land, it was the Black Emperor who had led them to destroy the Thousand-Branch Hundred-Leaf Flower!

The Black Emperor’s cleverness and agility had left a profound impression on Zifeng Tianhen!

Yuan Jiu’s expression was awkward. "While we were fighting the Royal Family and the Ice King Race, that little fellow took Miss Zhao Hongluan’s Battle Pet, the Little Vermilion Bird, and snuck into Elder Zifeng Zhen’s estate. It devoured all of the elder’s collection of Spirit Medicines and drank every last drop of his Spirit Wine..."

Zifeng Tianhen: "..."

Everyone else: "..."

Zifeng Zhen was one of the senior elders of the Purple Wind Clan.

His strength was on par with that of Yuan Jiu and Yuan Zeng, having reached the Peak of the Eighth Stage of the Human King Realm.

He commanded considerable prestige within the Purple Wind Clan!

Everyone in the Purple Wind Clan knew that Elder Zifeng Zhen had only two passions in his life. One was cultivation, with the desire to break through to the Ninth Stage of the Human King Realm, or even the Human Emperor Realm.

As for the other...

He cherished wine as if it were his own life!

He was so protective of his treasured fine wines that even he himself was reluctant to take more than a single sip.

Even when Zifeng Tianhen wanted a taste, he could only beg for a single small cup at a time!

The Black Emperor had actually drunk dry the collection of fine wine he cherished more than life itself.

No wonder Zifeng Zhen was so furious.

Zifeng Tianhen gave a wry smile. "I never expected Friend Jiang’s Battle Pet to be such a character... Yuan Jiu, take my personal token to Elder Zifeng Zhen and have him release the little fellow. It is Friend Jiang’s Battle Pet, after all, and Friend Jiang is a great benefactor to our Purple Wind Clan. We cannot afford to offend him!"

"Clan Leader, Elder Zifeng Zhen has already made it clear. If we want him to release the little fellow, we have to replace his wine. Otherwise, he absolutely will not let it go..." Yuan Jiu said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Elder Yuan Zeng chuckled. "Clan Leader, there’s no need for us to worry about this. We can just wait for Young Master Jiang to emerge from seclusion and let him go ask Elder Zifeng Zhen for the little fellow back. Elder Zifeng Zhen is a man who understands priorities; he wouldn’t slight Young Master Jiang!"

"That works as well."

Zifeng Tianhen nodded, then looked to the assembly. "Now that the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm has reappeared in the world, the Eastern Continent is about to be thrown into chaos. Our Purple Wind Clan must also make full preparations. By the way, Elder Yuan Jiu, have the candidates for entering the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm been selected?"

"They’re mostly finalized. I’ve already notified Zifeng Jie; he should be back in two or three days," Yuan Jiu reported.

"Good."

Just as Zifeng Tianhen was about to speak, a respectful voice called from outside the door, "Clan Leader, Young Master Jiang is here to see you!"

"Oh? Friend Jiang has come out of seclusion? Let him in!" Zifeng Tianhen’s eyes lit up, and he spoke at once.

"Yes!"

The voice from outside said, "Young Master Jiang, please come in!"

"Thank you."

Jiang Chen stepped into the assembly hall.

"Young Master Jiang!"

"As expected of Young Master Jiang! To survive a sneak attack by a Human Emperor Powerhouse and come out unscathed is truly incredible!"

"Of course! Just look at who we’re talking about. This is Young Master Jiang we’re talking about!"

Jiang Chen’s prestige within the Purple Wind Clan was considerable. As he made his way through, the venerable elders all greeted him with enthusiasm.

Jiang Chen smiled and nodded to the crowd before walking up to Zifeng Tianhen. He bowed and said, "Jiang Chen greets you, Senior!"

"There’s no need for such formalities, Friend Jiang."

Zifeng Tianhen chuckled. His sharp eyes sized Jiang Chen up, a trace of astonishment in them. "Friend Jiang, your cultivation..."

"I had a small breakthrough," Jiang Chen said with a slight smile, not elaborating.

’A small breakthrough? Hardly!’

’It was a massive leap forward!’

After devouring the Essence Blood of Wang Xiao and Fu Hai, his cultivation had soared to the Peak of the Seventh Stage of the Union Palace Realm. Furthermore, he had refined their Mystical Essence, raising both his Secrets of Wind and Secrets of Water to Tier Five.

This raised Jiang Chen’s current combat prowess to a whole new level.

In his current state, if he were to face powerhouses like Fu Hai and Wang Xiao again, Jiang Chen could slay them without even needing to use the God Slaying Sword!

Zifeng Tianhen nodded, but didn’t press the matter.

He smiled and said, "Friend Jiang, you are a great benefactor of our Purple Wind Clan. While you were in seclusion, I and the elders discussed the matter and decided to invite you to become an Honorary Elder of our clan. Would you be willing to accept?"

Honorary Elder!

In terms of status, the position was comparable to that of top-tier elders like Yuan Zeng and Yuan Jiu.

Jiang Chen was secretly grateful, knowing that Zifeng Tianhen and the others were, in reality, offering him protection. As an Honorary Elder of the Purple Wind Clan, if the Royal Family dared to make a move on him again, the Purple Wind Clan would have a legitimate reason to step in and protect him.

With this in mind, he smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Senior. I am willing to accept the position of Honorary Elder!"

"Excellent! Excellent!"

Zifeng Tianhen laughed happily, then added, "However, with the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm about to open, we won’t be able to hold a ceremony for you, Jiang Clan Elder. We’ll have to wait until after that event has passed to hold a proper one for you!"

"There’s no rush for that..." Jiang Chen hesitated for a moment. "Senior, I have a favor to ask."

"You’re an Honorary Elder of our Purple Wind Clan now. We’re family. Just say whatever it is you need," Zifeng Tianhen said with a dismissive wave.

Jiang Chen said, "I need a large amount of Profound Celestial Ice Marrow..."

"Profound Celestial Ice Marrow? That’s easy. Our clan’s Treasure Vault has some in stock. How much do you need?"

Jiang Chen thought for a moment. "I need to forge a Profound Celestial Ice Coffin. I’ll probably need about a hundred pounds of Profound Celestial Ice Marrow."

"What? One hundred pounds?"

"Holy crap, is he kidding?"

"Young Master Jiang must not realize how rare Profound Celestial Ice Marrow is to say something like that!"

The elders all gasped, their sharp intakes of breath echoing in the hall.

Jiang Chen froze, looking at Zifeng Tianhen in confusion.

Zifeng Tianhen gave a wry smile. "Jiang Clan Elder, Profound Celestial Ice Marrow can only be found within the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm. The marrow we have in our Treasure Vault was brought back by our clan’s experts the last time the realm opened. Forget our Purple Wind Clan; I’m afraid that even if you combined the entire stockpiles of the three great tribes of the Icefield Race, you wouldn’t have even one pound!"

"..."

Jiang Chen’s face fell.

He knew the Profound Celestial Ice Marrow was precious, but he never imagined it would be this rare.

Yuan Jiu spoke up from the side. "Young Master Jiang, there’s no need to worry. The Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm is about to open. When it does, you can enter it and search for the Profound Celestial Ice Marrow yourself!"

"That’s right!"

Jiang Chen’s eyes lit up. "Thank you, Elder Yuan Jiu. But... I’m a member of the Human Race. Can I also enter the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm?"

"Of course!"

"Anyone under a hundred years old and with a cultivation below the Human Emperor Realm can enter!"

The elders chimed in.

Jiang Chen nodded. "Very well. When the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm opens, I’ll have to trouble you to grant me a spot, Clan Leader."

"No problem!"

Zifeng Tianhen said with a nod.

Jiang Chen nodded, then suddenly slapped his forehead and looked at Elder Yuan Jiu. "I almost forgot... Elder Yuan Jiu, do you know where Little Black has gone? I haven’t seen it in ages!"

"Uh..."

Elder Yuan Jiu froze, an odd expression on his face. "I was just about to tell you about that. Your Battle Pet has run into a bit of trouble, something that will require Young Master Jiang’s personal attention to resolve!"

Jiang Chen rubbed his forehead, utterly speechless...

’That Little Black,’ he thought. ’It seems to cause trouble no matter where it goes!’