Chapter 264

Chapter 264

Moments later, the void rippled, and Du Guxiong stepped through.

His figure was tall and elegant, exuding an air of refined grace akin to a learned scholar.

“It’s you!” Du Guyun’s vacant eyes remained dull, showing no glimmer of hope.

“Who did this to you?” Du Guxiong’s brows furrowed.

He had merely passed through this place by chance, but the faint traces of Du Guyun’s aura had drawn his attention. What baffled him further was sensing that Du Guyun’s cultivation had plummeted to the Soul Sea Realm.

“Yan Ruyu,” Du Guyun replied weakly. “Will you avenge me?”

A faint light of hope flickered in his eyes, like a drowning man grasping at the thinnest thread of salvation.

“I can help you recover your cultivation and restore your body,” Du Guxiong said after a moment’s pause. “But your enemy… that’s for you to handle.”

Hearing the name “Yan Ruyu,” Du Guxiong abandoned any thought of taking revenge. He had no intention of getting entangled with the Primordial Holy Land. Too much was at stake in their future plans, and any disruption could spell disaster.

Should their plans fail, he would bear the consequences, possibly facing the wrath of the Demon Emperor himself.

“So, you’re afraid too,” Du Guyun said with a bitter smile, his voice tinged with sarcasm.

“You don’t need to provoke me,” Du Guxiong replied calmly. “Such childish tricks won’t work on me. If you wish to become truly strong, you must overcome your inner demons. No matter the setbacks, you cannot yield. Only with an unyielding heart can you reach the summit.”

“Of course, I could exact revenge for you. But what would be the point? You’d never overcome your demons, remaining forever trapped by them. You’d never become a true powerhouse.”

“A weakling like you would be of no use to me. Worse yet, meddling with the Primordial Holy Land would only bring unnecessary trouble, a risk not worth taking.”

Were it not for Du Guyun’s role in their future plans, Du Guxiong wouldn’t have even bothered to intervene.

To possess the Immortal Devouring Technique yet fall to such a state was utterly laughable. Moreover, Du Guyun’s lack of awareness was staggering—how dare he provoke someone from the Taichu Holy Land? It was nothing short of foolish.

“Help me restore my body,” Du Guyun finally said after a long silence.

As a so-called “Child of Destiny,” Du Guyun was not without redeeming qualities. His heart was as resilient as ever, like an unkillable cockroach. Though despair, powerlessness, and even a shattered Dao Heart had plagued him, he recovered quickly.

Despite his arrogance and self-importance, his tenacity alone promised a long journey ahead.

—

Ten days later, the secret realm’s events drew to a close.

As the realm was thoroughly explored, the cultivators gradually began to leave. Some had perished within, while others left with great fortune, their lives forever changed as they soared to new heights.

Some left the secret realm empty-handed. While they didn’t lose their lives, they suffered the humiliation of failure.

In this expedition, Yan Ruyu was undoubtedly the most dazzling presence. Nearly unstoppable, she drew the apprehension of countless cultivators.

Rising as a radiant star in the Nine Heavens Realm, she stood above the younger generation, hailed as a new peerless sovereign, now standing shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Huang Qingtian.

Though Jing Muyu lacked Yan Ruyu’s overwhelming brilliance, she too was rapidly ascending. Her unmatched sword aura dominated her peers, leaving her without rivals.

Jing Muyu’s rise also caused concern among many factions, for they saw in her the shadow of Mu Jianxue from years past. She was yet another supreme prodigy destined for greatness.

“The Primordial Holy Land is truly extraordinary in this generation—geniuses sprouting like bamboo shoots after rain!”

“First, there’s the Primordial Holy Son, and then Yan Ruyu. And now, a peerless sword immortal like Jing Muyu has emerged?”

“It’s truly envy-inducing. If Jing Muyu were part of any other immortal sect, she’d undoubtedly be cultivated as the next heir!”

“Three peerless prodigies in one generation—isn’t this too monstrous for the Primordial Holy Land?”

“Their fortune pierces the heavens. Nothing can stop the rise of the Primordial Holy Land now!”

These murmurs of disbelief echoed across the factions. The sudden appearance of prodigies left everyone speechless.

One such talent was extraordinary enough to be the pride of an entire generation. Yet the Primordial Holy Land produced Yan Ruyu, and then Jing Muyu, each a supreme genius in their own right.

Most begrudgingly accepted that Yan Ruyu’s previous obscurity was likely due to her untapped potential while in the All Pleasure Sect. But Jing Muyu? Her innate talent rivaled Yan Ruyu’s, and she too was now a young sovereign.

Even the ancient imperial clans were rendered speechless. The combined strength of their prodigies couldn’t compare to the Primordial Holy Land—or even the followers of Jiang Chen.

Especially knowing that Ziqing Yan, another of Jiang Chen’s followers, was an even more terrifying presence than Yan Ruyu.

The overwhelming dominance of the Taichu Holy Land crushed the morale of their rivals. Many young geniuses, despairing at their chances, chose to seal themselves within divine sources, hoping to emerge in a less competitive era.

Even if their chances were slim, at least they wouldn’t feel this level of helplessness.

—

A chime sounded in Jiang Chen’s mind: “Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully lying low and obtaining the Supreme Soul Jade!”

Jiang Chen’s heart stirred with delight. “The Supreme Soul Jade! If I recall, this heavenly treasure enhances one’s soul! It seems perfect for the Heavenly Fox Empress.” He pondered deeply.

The Heavenly Fox Empress had already reached the threshold of the Immortal Ascendant realm. However, her state of mind was still lacking.

She needed to temper herself by experiencing the vicissitudes of mortal life across a hundred lifetimes. Only then could she achieve a full transformation and ascend.

“If I were to gift the Supreme Soul Jade to her, it might allow her to complete her metamorphosis in a short time. Her cultivation would stabilize, and she’d fully step into the Immortal Ascendant realm.”

The thought tempted him, but Jiang Chen quickly dismissed it.

“It’s not the right time!” he reasoned. “My relationship with the Heavenly Fox Empress isn’t close enough yet. If she ascends to the Immortal Ascendant realm, at best, she’ll owe me a debt of gratitude. After that, there’ll be nothing tying us together.”

Currently, their bond was no more than that of a savior and the saved. Once she fused completely with her previous body and ascended, all that would remain would be a fleeting sense of indebtedness.

Moreover, given her prideful nature, she would undoubtedly leave far behind once freed from her current weakness. Any chance of maintaining a relationship would become impossibly remote.

“Especially considering her hardened mindset. Breaking through her defenses would be almost impossible. It’s easier to make an iron tree bloom than to win over her heart after she becomes the Heavenly Fox Empress again.”

For now, the Empress was vulnerable, her mind unguarded and innocent. This was the ideal time to cultivate a deeper relationship with her. Once their bond solidified, even if she regained her full power, their connection would remain unchanged.

In the original timeline, Du Guyun had managed to win the Heavenly Fox Empress’s favor by nurturing a profound bond during her period of training. Even after she ascended to the Immortal Ascendant realm, she remained deeply attached to him, their relationship unshaken.

Now, Jiang Chen had the same opportunity. By retracing Du Guyun’s path, he could eliminate the rival’s influence entirely.

Thus, Jiang Chen decided to hold off on using the Supreme Soul Jade. “Using it now would be too wasteful. I’ll wait until our bond is strong enough and then let her ascend!”

With this plan in mind, Jiang Chen looked toward the Heavenly Fox Empress beside him, his thoughts focused on the future.

If he played his cards right, she could become his most formidable ally in the Nine Heavens Realm. The so-called Demon Emperor or the supreme ancient clans would pale in comparison.