Chapter 407: Chapter 405: What the Hell Do You Know?
As soon as they entered Purple Wind City, the raging blizzard that had ravaged the world vanished, replaced by a warmth like that of spring.
This place was just as Zhao Hongluan had described—the temperature was constant year-round, making it very comfortable.
The Icefield Race lived in an extremely harsh environment, but through their interactions and trade with the Human Race, the entire Icefield Race had achieved significant development. The three major tribes had each built a massive main city to house their own people.
The cities were lined with shops, and all sorts of businesses thrived.
However...
Today in Purple Wind City, businesses seemed to be in a slump, and there were very few pedestrians on the streets.
The few members of the Icefield Race who did pass by were expressionless and hurried. Many of them shot glances filled with intense hostility toward Jiang Chen’s group.
Zhao Hongluan whispered, "The Icefield Race has always been very xenophobic. Back then, it took the ancestors of our Cloud Sea Business Alliance several hundred years of effort just to establish a relationship with them and open up trade routes. They only managed to build some friendship with the Purple Wind Clan’s Clan Leader. If we were in the territory of the other two tribes, we probably wouldn’t even be allowed into the city. We would have been killed on sight!"
Jiang Chen nodded.
The Cyan Ox Child had warned him that the Icefield Race was extremely xenophobic.
He felt a surge of relief. It was a good thing he had come with the Cloud Sea Business Alliance; otherwise, he probably wouldn’t have even made it through the gates of Purple Wind City.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A series of roaring sounds erupted, startling everyone.
On the city streets, squads of experts clad in battle armor and wielding Profound Weapons were moving back and forth, their expressions grave. This was the army of the Purple Wind Clan, and at this moment, the soldiers looked exceptionally tense.
"What’s going on?" Jiang Chen asked, puzzled.
Zhao Hongluan and Lei Tong shook their heads.
Lei Tong looked at the City Guard Soldier who was guiding them, walked over, and asked a few quiet questions.
The soldier spoke with Lei Tong for a moment. Lei Tong returned with a grave expression and said in a low voice, "News has leaked about a strange illness breaking out within the Purple Wind Clan. Many of their powerful experts have been afflicted by this vicious disease and have lost all their combat strength. Now, powerhouses from the Royal Family and the Ice King Race are gathering. It seems they’re preparing to make a move against the Purple Wind Clan!"
Zhao Hongluan’s expression shifted slightly. "It seems the Royal Family already knows that Bing Yu’ang is dead. We must complete this transaction as quickly as possible and then leave the Profound Celestial Ice Field. If we get caught in a war between the three major tribes, it will be very difficult for us to escape!"
"Right!"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
「Not long after...」
They arrived at the Purple Wind Clan’s Clan Leader’s Mansion.
The Clan Leader’s Mansion was located in the center of Purple Wind City. The architectural style of the Icefield Race differed somewhat from that of the Human Race. Humans paid attention to things like feng shui and the harmony of Yin and Yang, so their mansions would feature rockeries, artificial lakes, and back gardens.
The mansions of the Icefield Race, however, were just uniform buildings without any unnecessary decorations.
"The Clan Leader has been waiting in the mansion for some time. Please, come in!" said an old man whose hair and beard were both blue. He was slightly stooped as he spoke to Zhao Hongluan.
Zhao Hongluan offered a faint smile, a smile so captivating it could topple cities, which left the old man momentarily dazed. "Thank you, Steward!"
"You’re too kind, Miss Zhao."
The Steward chuckled and said, "Please, follow me!"
Led by the Steward, they soon arrived at the mansion’s meeting hall. The hall was vast, large enough to hold over a thousand people. The Purple Wind Clan Leader and numerous clan elders were already gathered there, numbering over three hundred in total.
Jiang Chen’s gaze swept across the room, and he couldn’t help but feel shocked. ’The Purple Wind Clan has so many experts! There are over three hundred clan elders at the Union Palace Realm or above. And that Purple Wind Clan Leader... even though he’s trying his best to suppress his aura, it’s still terrifying!’
Even when facing Human King Realm Powerhouses, Jiang Chen had never felt such apprehension.
This Purple Wind Clan Leader must be an existence that surpassed the Human King Realm!
"Little lass from the Zhao family, you’ve finally arrived!" The Purple Wind Clan Leader, seated on the highest throne, fixed his torch-like gaze on Zhao Hongluan, a smile appearing on his face.
"Hong Luan pays her respects to the Purple Wind Clan Leader!" Zhao Hongluan said quickly.
Her expression was filled with sincere reverence.
The man before her was an existence on the same level as the old ancestor of her Cloud Sea Business Alliance’s Zhao Family—supremely powerful and unmatched, a top-tier expert on the East Continent Celestial Venerable List.
The Purple Wind Clan Leader waved his hand. "I didn’t think that old codger Zhao Kuo would be willing to let you come."
"The old ancestor said that this matter is of utmost importance. If he weren’t worried about being watched by other powers, he would have come himself!" said Zhao Hongluan.
The Purple Wind Clan Leader nodded, then gave a bitter smile. "That old codger Zhao Kuo is indeed thorough. Unfortunately, word of this has already leaked. I’m afraid the armies of the Royal Family and the Ice King Race are about to enter my Purple Wind Clan’s territory."
The atmosphere in the entire meeting hall grew heavy.
The three major tribes of the Icefield Race were locked in endless open and secret struggles. None of them would ever pass up an opportunity to annex another.
Now that the Purple Wind Clan was in crisis, how could the Royal Family and the Ice King Race let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip by?
Zhao Hongluan, Jiang Chen, and the others exchanged glances, also sensing the gravity of the situation.
Just then, a Heavenly Destiny Realm expert rushed in from outside, his face frantic. "Clan Leader! Clan Leader... this is terrible!"
"What is it?"
"What’s with all the panic? Show some decorum!"
A few elders rebuked angrily.
The expert’s expression faltered, and his legs went weak under the pressure of the elders’ powerful auras. He only regained his composure when the Purple Wind Clan Leader spoke up. "What exactly happened? Speak slowly!"
"Yes, Clan Leader!"
The expert said hurriedly, "It’s the Young Master and the Young Miss! Their illness has acted up again..."
"What?"
The Purple Wind Clan Leader, who had been calm and composed, suddenly changed his expression and shot upright in his seat. An incomparably terrifying and tyrannical aura burst from his body. Waves of immense energy rolled off him, flooding the entire meeting hall.
Everyone’s expression changed drastically.
The experts with weaker cultivation, in particular, trembled under the Clan Leader’s terrifying pressure, nearly forced to their knees.
"Clan Leader!"
The two Human King Realm powerhouses standing at the very front paled and cried out in unison.
The Purple Wind Clan Leader’s fury subsided slightly. The bloody glint that had flashed in his eyes vanished as he forcibly suppressed it. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Little lass, where is the Alchemy Master you brought?"
"Right here!"
Zhao Hongluan quickly replied, "This is Master Bian Hongxuan, a Fourth-Grade Middle Level Alchemist!"
"Bian Hongxuan greets the Purple Wind Clan Leader!" The Fourth-Grade Alchemist had an arrogant look on his face. He merely clasped his hands in a simple salute toward the Clan Leader, showing no sign of reverence.
Even though his cultivation was only at the Peak of Union Palace Realm, he was a distinguished Fourth-Grade Alchemist and possessed the pride that came with it.
Although the Purple Wind Clan Leader and the clan elders were displeased, they couldn’t show it. The Clan Leader said, "Then we will have to trouble Master Bian!"
"You are too polite, Purple Wind Clan Leader!"
Bian Hongxuan said coolly, "Take me to see the patients."
"Alright!"
The Purple Wind Clan Leader nodded and personally led Bian Hongxuan and the others toward the deepest part of the Clan Leader’s Mansion.
It was a cage-like structure!
Surrounding it were forty-nine Union Palace Realm clan elders, led by one at the Human King Realm, all of them controlling an Array. Streams of ice-blue True Essence enveloped the cage, and every person’s face was etched with gravity.
From within the cage, a continuous series of deafening booms could be heard.
It seemed as if an incomparably tyrannical Fierce Beast was sealed inside.
"Clan Leader!"
Upon seeing the Purple Wind Clan Leader arrive, the powerful experts greeted him respectfully.
The Purple Wind Clan Leader nodded, a hint of sorrow in his expression as he looked toward the cage. "How are Little Jun and Hanshuang?"
"The Young Master and the Young Miss had another episode. We just used the Array to suppress them!" the Human King Realm elder replied. His face was grim as he added in a low voice, "Clan Leader, their illness is getting worse. If we don’t find a way to cure them soon, I’m afraid..."
The people around them fell silent.
The Purple Wind Clan Leader said, "Don’t worry. This is Master Bian Hongxuan, a Fourth-grade Alchemist. With his help, Little Jun and Hanshuang’s illness should be curable!"
"A Fourth-grade Alchemist?"
The elder’s expression changed. He looked at Bian Hongxuan with a newfound glimmer of hope. "Then we’ll be counting on you, Master Bian!"
"Mm."
Bian Hongxuan gave a cool nod, then walked toward the cage. Standing at the entrance, he tilted his chin up slightly, glanced at Jiang Chen and the others, and said indifferently, "I am about to begin their treatment. The rest of you will stay here!"
Everyone nodded.
Only Jiang Chen frowned. A flash of azure-gold light flitted through his Eyes of the Heavens as he spoke up, "Master Bian, I’d advise you to take a few people inside for protection!"
"Hm?"
Bian Hongxuan was taken aback, and displeasure flooded his face. He snorted coldly and said, "Protect me? I am a distinguished cultivator at the Peak of Union Palace Realm, and a Fourth-Grade Alchemist besides. Why would I need protection? Junior, I admit your talent is decent and your martial prowess is exceptional, but when it comes to alchemy and healing, what the hell do you know? From my observation, they are merely poisoned. For me to handle this will be effortless. Why would I need protection from others?"
Lei Tong also chimed in, "Brother Jiang, if Master Bian says it’s fine, then it’s definitely fine!"
"That’s right. Master Bian is an incredible figure. How could he be wrong?"
Wuu Rui tugged on Jiang Chen’s sleeve and shook his head slightly.
Jiang Chen gave a resigned shrug. "Alright, it was just a well-intentioned reminder. If you think it’s not a problem, then just pretend I never said anything..."
"Hmph. Ignorant child."
Bian Hongxuan snorted again, his face full of disdain, and walked into the cage...
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