Chapter 413: Chapter 411: A City Emptied, All for One Man
Outside the Forbidden Land.
The Purple Wind Clan Leader stood at the forefront, with Elders Yuan Jiu, Yuan Zeng, and the others close behind him, all staring anxiously toward the Forbidden Land.
Zhao Hongluan and her companions were also in the crowd.
The Purple Wind Clan Leader glanced toward the Forbidden Land, then turned to Yuan Zeng beside him. "Elder Yuan Zeng, how are the poisoned clan members? Have they been gathered?"
"They have all been gathered at the training grounds!" Elder Yuan Zeng reported.
Elder Yuan Jiu hesitated before asking, "Clan Leader, do you think Friend Jiang is truly confident he can cure them all?"
The Purple Wind Clan Leader paused, then narrowed his eyes. "At this point, do we have any other choice but to trust Friend Jiang?"
Everyone fell silent.
After learning that their people were afflicted with the Soul-Loss Gu, they had tried to help remove it themselves.
But even when the Purple Wind Clan Leader had personally intervened, he was unable to extract the Soul-Loss Gu.
The Soul-Loss Gu had fused with the hearts of the Purple Wind Clan Members. Forcibly destroying it would also damage the heart, killing the host along with the Gu.
They were powerless and could only place their faith in Jiang Chen.
Within the crowd, a lively young girl stood beside Zhao Hongluan. She had delicate features, fair skin, and aqua-blue hair that cascaded down her back over a matching long dress. Her own blue eyes widened as she turned to Zhao Hongluan and asked in a bright, clear voice, "Sister Hong Luan, is that Jiang Chen fellow really that amazing? I heard he’s even younger than me. Is it true that he’s the one who cured my brother and me?"
This girl was none other than the Purple Wind Clan Leader’s youngest daughter, the princess of the Purple Wind Clan, Purple Wind Frost!
After three days of recuperation, she had made a full recovery.
Zhao Hongluan smiled. "Hanshuang, many elders of your Purple Wind Clan witnessed it with their own eyes. How could it be false?"
"But..."
Purple Wind Frost’s azure eyes widened, and she pouted. "But he’s younger than me! Father told me to call him ’Big Brother’ when I see him. I mean, what is that all about!"
The dignified Zifeng Jun at her side tapped her lightly on the head and said with a note of exasperation, "Hanshuang, Jiang Chen is our savior, after all. Besides, for Martial Artists like us who can live for hundreds of years, age doesn’t make that much of a difference. Father asks you to call him ’Big Brother’ and you’re feeling wronged?"
"Brother, how can you side with him? That guy is so young, he’s probably not even as strong as me! How can I call him ’Big Brother’? The most I’ll do... the most I’ll do is call him ’little brother’!" Purple Wind Frost huffed.
Zifeng Jun was speechless. "You... honestly..."
Zhao Hongluan covered her mouth, trying to hide a smile.
Just as she was about to speak, a sudden jolt went through the crowd, and everyone turned in unison to look toward the Forbidden Land...
The light at the entrance to the Forbidden Land subsided.
A figure emerged. He froze for a moment upon seeing the large crowd that had been waiting for him, but then he broke into a brilliant smile. "Purple Wind Clan Leader, esteemed elders, my apologies for keeping you waiting!"
"Hahaha, Friend Jiang, you are a benefactor of our Purple Wind Clan! A short wait is nothing," the Purple Wind Clan Leader laughed. His gaze locked onto Jiang Chen, a flicker of shock and disbelief in his eyes. "Friend Jiang, your... your cultivation..."
"Thankfully, I have not disappointed you. The Forbidden Land is truly a Cultivation Treasure Land, and Jiang Chen’s cultivation has seen some improvement!" Jiang Chen said with a satisfied smile.
He was being far too modest.
During his three days of cultivation in the Forbidden Land, the Profound Yellow Melting Furnace had devoured an immense amount of Mystical Power, allowing his cultivation to leap forward by two entire stages.
He had reached the Fifth Stage of the Union Palace Realm.
More importantly, he had completely fused the Four Great Secrets of Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind. His Dark Sword Intent had also advanced to become a Tier Four Secret. Including the Secrets of Light, he now commanded a total of six great Secrets!
His combat prowess had increased countless-fold!
The Purple Wind Clan Leader laughed heartily. "Friend Jiang, you are far too modest. In my view, this is much more than just ’some improvement’!"
Jiang Chen simply smiled, not wishing to elaborate. He said directly, "Senior, please take me to the poisoned clan members now."
"Good!"
With a wave of his hand, the Purple Wind Clan Leader led everyone toward the training grounds.
Along the way, Purple Wind Frost pulled Zhao Hongluan over to Jiang Chen’s side and began chattering incessantly. "Little brother, was it really you who cured me?"
"Little brother, why aren’t you talking to me?"
"Little brother..."
Staring at the girl before him—who was as restless as a pixie, darting about and peppering him with questions like a curious child—Jiang Chen felt his face darken with annoyance.
Dammit!
’You’re the little brother! Your whole family is full of little brothers!’
"Little brother, why are you ignoring me..." Purple Wind Frost looked aggrieved as tears began to well up in her big, watery eyes.
Jiang Chen was speechless. ’Lady, what are you crying for?’
Zifeng Jun, standing nearby, couldn’t bear to watch any longer.
He rapped Purple Wind Frost on the forehead, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Hanshuang, stop causing trouble."
"Waaah, you’re all bullying me!" Purple Wind Frost whined, looking utterly wronged.
Zifeng Jun shook his head helplessly and turned to Jiang Chen. "Brother Jiang, my name is Zifeng Jun. Thank you for saving my life and curing my poison. From this day forward, you are my sworn brother. If you ever need anything, just say the word. I, Zifeng Jun, would walk through a mountain of swords or a sea of fire for you without a second thought!"
Jiang Chen was taken aback but found himself warming up to Zifeng Jun. "Brother Zifeng, perhaps after all this is settled, I might just have a favor to ask of you."
"Uh..."
Zifeng Jun froze for a second, then puffed out his chest. "No problem! Just say the word, and I, Zifeng Jun, will go through hell or high water for you!"
"Mm."
The two hit it off immediately.
Before long... they arrived at the training grounds.
The people of the Icefield Race live in the harsh environment of the Profound Celestial Ice Field, so a strong martial tradition prevails. Even those who have not awakened a Martial Soul never give up on training their bodies and cultivating the Martial Dao.
The training grounds were built on a magnificent scale!
At this very moment... countless experts of the Purple Wind Clan were gathered around the massive training grounds.
Along a street stretching for a full one hundred kilometers, Purple Wind Clan experts were packed shoulder to shoulder—a black sea of people, too numerous to count.
The one thing they all had in common was that their gazes were fixed firmly on Jiang Chen.
As Jiang Chen walked by, he could feel the gazes of gratitude and awe from the surrounding crowd, as if they were looking upon a deity or a savior.
"What’s going on?" Jiang Chen asked, glancing at Wuu Rui.
Wuu Rui explained, "It seems the Purple Wind Clan Leader spread the news that you were going to treat the poisoned members of the clan. Right now, your prestige within the Purple Wind Clan is nearly as high as the Clan Leader’s own!"
"He’s right," Lei Tong added with a sigh of emotion. "Before, when we came to the Purple Wind Clan, no one would deal with us except for a few people in charge of trade. Everyone else shunned us. But for the past few days, ever since they found out we’re your friends, we’ve received the highest honors wherever we go!"
Zhao Hongluan and the others nodded in agreement.
Jiang Chen was momentarily stunned, sighing inwardly. ’The people of the Purple Wind Clan are truly sincere!’
As the Purple Wind Clan Leader led Jiang Chen to a high tower overlooking the training grounds, they looked down to see that Purple Wind City was practically a ghost town. Tens of millions of clan members had all gathered around the grounds.
Every single person’s gaze was fixed on Jiang Chen.
The Purple Wind Clan Leader smiled. "Friend Jiang, aside from the army guarding the city, every member of my Purple Wind Clan is here. Many of the poisoned people in the training grounds are their relatives, friends, and comrades-in-arms. They have placed all their hopes on you!"
"I will do my absolute best!"
Jiang Chen took a deep breath and said in a solemn voice.
"Mm."
The Purple Wind Clan Leader nodded, then turned to the sea of people below. His voice boomed, echoing across the Celestial Vault. "My people, let us show our gratitude to Jiang Chen for his righteous aid to our Purple Wind Clan!"
"Our thanks to Lord Jiang Chen!"
"Long live Lord Jiang Chen! Long may he live!"
Shout after shout, straight from the heart, converged into a tidal wave of sound that rushed toward the heavens, powerful enough to seemingly shatter the very clouds in the sky.
All eyes were fixed upon Jiang Chen...
An entire city, empty for the sake of one man!
Every expert who witnessed this scene felt their blood surge, their hearts shaken to the core...
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