Chapter 389: Chapter 387: Nine Swords Valley
The smile on Jiang Chen’s face gradually faded.
It was replaced by a solemn expression. His gaze, neither servile nor overbearing, fixed on Pei Yuan as he said coolly, "Elder Pei, as far as I know, the first rule of your Jiuhua Celestial Sect is that disciples are forbidden from using their position to bully others. The reason I clashed with your esteemed disciple is that he was doing just that—bullying others with his power. He acted arrogantly, leveraging his status as a disciple of the Jiuhua Celestial Sect to treat an innocent father and son like fish on a chopping block, tormenting them at will and holding their lives in his hands."
"Though I am not a disciple of the Jiuhua Celestial Sect, I am aware that their actions have already violated the Sect’s rules."
Jiang Chen spoke each word deliberately, and with every sentence, the expressions of Jian Yulou and Pei Yuan darkened. "I have always held the Jiuhua Celestial Sect in the highest esteem. How could I stand by and watch something that would tarnish its reputation? I was forced to intervene to stop your disciple and restore the honor of the Jiuhua Celestial Sect. May I ask, Elder Pei Yuan, where was I wrong?"
Where was I wrong!
These last four words rang from Jiang Chen’s lips, as firm as hammered nails, as solid as iron.
Jian Yulou broke out in a cold sweat.
Pei Yuan’s brow twitched, and a hint of Evil Qi began to coalesce around him.
Although Jiang Chen’s words were clearly meant to exonerate himself, Pei Yuan had to admit that Jian Yulou was indeed at fault.
The Jiuhua Celestial Sect did, in fact, have such a rule!
It was just that...
Over the years, this rule had been gradually overlooked. Even the masters of the Law Enforcement Hall would turn a blind eye when they saw disciples bullying commoners.
However...
That didn’t mean disciples of the Jiuhua Celestial Sect could completely ignore it!
After all, this rule had been established by the Sect’s founding ancestor. If someone were to make an issue of it, even Jian Yulou would face dire consequences.
Sweat beaded on Jian Yulou’s brow, and his face turned pale as he looked toward Pei Yuan.
Pei Yuan shook his head slightly. His icy gaze fell upon Jiang Chen as he snarled, "Even if Yulou was in the wrong, it should be handled by our Jiuhua Celestial Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall. Who the hell do you think you are, meddling in the affairs of my Sect’s disciples?"
As the Fourth Elder of the Jiuhua Celestial Sect, Pei Yuan wielded significant power. He was also keenly aware that if word of this got out and was seized upon by masters from the Sect Master’s faction, even he could be implicated.
To protect Jian Yulou, and also to protect his own interests.
Surging True Essence began to roil in Pei Yuan’s palm. He was already preparing to strike!
Jiang Chen’s own True Essence flared as he went on high alert.
Just as the tension between the two reached a breaking point, a sound of tearing air came from outside the hall, and a figure appeared in their midst in the next instant.
The newcomer materialized between Jiang Chen and Pei Yuan.
The hostile pressure building between them instantly disintegrated.
"Beis Ming?"
Pei Yuan’s expression shifted slightly. He narrowed his eyes and identified the newcomer.
Beis Ming shot Pei Yuan a cold glance without replying, then turned to Jiang Chen with a faint smile. "Young man, I sense the token I left with Younger Brother Lui all those years ago. Have you come to the Jiuhua Celestial Sect to find me?"
"You are Elder Beis Ming?" Jiang Chen asked, stunned.
Beis Ming nodded and chuckled. "I’m the only Beis Ming in the entire Jiuhua Celestial Sect!"
A look of joy crossed Jiang Chen’s face. He took out the recommendation letter and the token. "Elder, this is the token Elder Lui asked me to bring, along with a letter he wrote himself!"
"Oh?"
Beis Ming was surprised. He took the envelope, opened it, and glanced at the contents before nodding. "It’s Younger Brother Lui’s handwriting, all right. Since he asked me to help you, I’ll naturally do everything I can. He wasn’t specific in the letter, though. What is it you need my help with?"
Jiang Chen replied, "I wish to use the Space Transmission Array to travel to the Profound Celestial Ice Field!"
"To the Profound Celestial Ice Field? No problem!" Beis Ming said, surprised for a moment before nodding.
Although activating the Space Transmission Array required a considerable amount of Spirit Crystals, for an expert like Beis Ming, who had reached the Human King Realm, it was a trivial matter.
However...
Just as he was about to lead Jiang Chen from the hall, Pei Yuan spoke up. "Beis Ming, you’re getting ahead of yourself, aren’t you? This brat dared to talk back to me. I was going to take his life, and now you want to take him away?"
"Pei Yuan, shut your mouth!"
Beis Ming snorted, a deeply sarcastic smile playing on his lips. "I heard everything Jiang Chen said. For your precious disciple to do something that damages the reputation of our Jiuhua Celestial Sect... The fact that I haven’t reported this to the Law Enforcement Hall is already giving you a great deal of face."
The two of them belonged to different factions and had been engaged in open and secret struggles for years.
Beis Ming knew that if he pressed the issue against Jian Yulou, Pei Yuan would do everything in his power to stop Jiang Chen from using the Teleportation Array.
He was a man who valued loyalty and honor.
Since he had made a promise to Jiang Chen, he would not go back on his word.
This was, in a way, a transaction: Pei Yuan would let Jiang Chen leave, and Beis Ming would not make things difficult for Jian Yulou.
As expected...
After hearing him out, Pei Yuan’s grim expression flickered. A cold light glinted in his eyes, but he did not try to stop Beis Ming from leaving with Jiang Chen.
Pei Yuan also didn’t want to blow the matter up, lest he be dragged down by Jian Yulou’s actions.
Watching the two depart, Jian Yulou asked indignantly, "Master, are we just going to let him go like that?"
"Let him go? How could that be possible?"
A venomous smile spread across Pei Yuan’s face. "He wants to use the Space Transmission Array, doesn’t he? Well, the one in charge of it now is my older brother, Pei Shenghai. Come with me to Nine Swords Valley!"
"Yes, Master!"
A look of vengeful delight appeared on Jian Yulou’s face, his eyes filled with anticipation and excitement. ’Jiang Chen, oh, Jiang Chen,’ he thought, ’you messed with me, and now you’re going to pay the price!’
...
Nine Swords Valley.
Within the Jiuhua Celestial Sect, this was where the Space Transmission Array was located.
Establishing each Space Transmission Array was an incredibly difficult task. It required not only numerous rare materials and a Fifth-grade Refining Master, but more importantly, it necessitated an expert at the Human Emperor Realm to open a spatial passage.
The Human Emperor Realm!
Such an existence was invincible throughout the entire Eastern Continent. Even in the Jiuhua Celestial Sect, only the founding ancestor had ever reached the Human Emperor Realm.
"Jiang Chen, this Nine Swords Valley was created when the founding ancestor opened the spatial passage all those years ago," Beis Ming explained. "Within the valley, remnants of that event persist, forming chaotic spatial storms. Even an expert at the Peak of Union Palace Realm would have almost no chance of survival if they entered. Stick close to me in a moment, or you risk being swept into a storm by the turbulent space."
Jiang Chen nodded.
His eyes swept over the massive valley before him. Raging spatial storms were everywhere, and he could occasionally see space itself being violently torn apart.
It was an utterly shocking sight!
The Human Emperor Realm!
It was said that a Human Emperor could command Space Power, leaping tens of thousands of miles in a single bound.
Led by Beis Ming, Jiang Chen soon arrived at the Teleportation Hall in the center of Nine Swords Valley. The hall was bustling with people. When they saw Beis Ming, they all bowed respectfully, their curious gazes turning to Jiang Chen.
"Who’s that? To have Elder Beis Ming personally bring him to the Teleportation Hall?"
"Maybe he’s the successor of some great power..."
Amidst the crowd’s whispers, Jiang Chen and Beis Ming reached the center of the Teleportation Hall. A slightly plump, middle-aged man with a thin mustache hurried over to greet them, a fawning smile on his face. "Elder Bei, what an honor! Why didn’t you give us a heads-up that you were coming?"
"Steward Sun, you’re too kind!"
Beis Ming smiled. "This young man with me needs to use the Teleportation Array, so I brought him here. Could I trouble you to make the arrangements, Steward Sun?"
A Sect Elder bringing someone to use the Teleportation Array was a trivial matter.
Normally, Steward Sun would have agreed without hesitation.
But today...
He shook his head and said, "I’m sorry, Elder Bei, but I’m afraid this young man of yours won’t be able to use the Teleportation Array."
"Hmm?"
Beis Ming’s expression darkened, his anger barely concealed. "He won’t? Steward Sun, who said so? I personally brought him here, and you’re telling me he can’t use the Teleportation Array?"
Steward Sun looked troubled.
From behind the Teleportation Hall, three figures suddenly emerged, and a calm, triumphant voice followed: "I said it. What are you going to do about it?"
[Second Chapter of the day, one more to come!]
