Chapter 986: Chapter 986: Ji Yao’s Choice
Upon learning that almost everyone sent out was completely annihilated, the entire Chi Yin Palace was furious.
The death of Dark Phecda last time actually didn’t cause much uproar.
This time, the death of someone at the Emperor Realm Seventh Layer carries an entirely different significance.
"Jiang Cheng?"
"An Immortal Realm native?"
"Is this person colluding with the Ice Realm?"
"Truly audacious, deserving of ten thousand deaths!"
"A mere native of the Immortal Realm daring to be so rampant; we must completely obliterate them!"
Before their intense war preparations, they even sent condemnations and inquiries to the Ice Realm.
On the other side, the Ice Palace was also in chaos.
"How did Jiang Cheng end up opposing the Realm of Yin?"
"This is going to be troublesome!"
On this side, there is only one Ice Extreme Saint Venerable severely injured, while the Realm of Yin has two Celestial Venerables; though the other does not belong to the Chi Yin Palace.
If the opposition is truly enraged, leading to a large-scale war, the Ice Realm cannot withstand it!
"What should we do now?"
"They demand a reasonable explanation; how can we explain this?"
Deep inside, the upper echelons of the Ice Palace felt some resentment towards Brother Cheng.
Not long ago, we established a strategy of developing quietly, offending no realm; it’s not like you’re unaware.
This mess, how should we handle it?
Even with Gong Qing’s intelligence and wit, she was overwhelmed this time.
After much pondering, she finally gave the ’solution’.
"For now, we can only choose to delay."
"Delay?"
Venerable Yun Suo, Yin Cong, Ji Cang and others were skeptical.
"What good is delaying?"
"The opposition definitely won’t relent."
"No matter how much we delay, we can’t hold out; if we don’t express our stance, the Realm of Yin will eventually attack us."
Gong Qing shook her head.
"Not necessarily."
"There may be a turning point in this matter."
"A turning point?"
Everyone was confused, unable to understand where the so-called turning point would come from.
In fact, the turning point Gong Qing mentioned was Sect Leader Jiang himself.
Having followed Brother Cheng for so long, Advisor Gong had witnessed numerous times how impulsively Lord Jiang acted.
Yet every time, he could miraculously defeat the opposition.
Even the most rational and pragmatic Gong Qing, after being repeatedly shown contrary to common sense, had to start believing in miracles.
Perhaps, this time he could win again?
If he indeed wins...
Then the Realm of Yin’s inquiries and so-called threats would be nothing but a joke!
Before the battle started, it didn’t stir much momentum.
The upper echelons of the Chi Yin Palace did well to keep it a secret, most people didn’t even know about the impending war.
The only ones closely observing were the top tiers of the Ice Palace.
The high ranks of the Realm of Yang and Realm of Fire also learned about Chi Yin Palace’s actions through special channels.
For a moment, they were all extremely shocked.
"Venerable Qi Yan leading twelve at Emperor Realm Eighth Layer, attacking Immortal Realm natives?"
"Isn’t there a mistake here?"
"The two aren’t even in the same league."
They even suspected for a time that this was fake news.
"Could Chi Yin Palace have deliberately leaked a smokescreen to confuse us, aiming to gain an upper hand in the struggle for the Heavenly Dao?"
"Whoever believes Chi Yin Palace would grandiosely attack the Immortal Realm natives is an absolute fool!"
"This definitely harbors a monumental conspiracy, Chi Yin Palace must have deep intentions."
"Is there something worth coveting in the Immortal Realm?"
"Even if there is, it doesn’t require Venerable Qi Yan to act personally; sending an Emperor Realm Sixth Layer would suffice to sweep the Immortal Realm."
"Exactly, what waves can those ants make?"
These big figures who got the news didn’t regard the Immortal Realm seriously, not even acknowledging it.
Their focus was entirely on the Chi Yin Palace.
They didn’t believe there was any comparison between the two.
Over at the Barbaric Realm, Brother Cheng spent a few days consuming pills to ’cultivate’, barely reaching the mid-stage of Emperor Realm Sixth Layer.
Immortal Power Cultivation was currently his biggest shortcoming.
Brother Cheng felt rather helpless about it.
However, there was another problem before him now.
Which is—to whom to bind the Ice’s Profound Pattern?
Currently, he had two choices: one was Ice Phoenix Emperor Ji Yao, the other was Ji Linghan.
The former was an ancient creature, and to this day, he hadn’t figured out the origins of these few ancient creatures.
While the latter was Brother Cheng’s cherished one.
Choosing between them was quite the dilemma.
He finally decided to ask Ji Yao for her opinion.
"To bind your Ice’s Profound Pattern?"
Ji Yao had actually been pretty busy recently.
During this period, cultivating Ice Rule, she sensed the Ice Origin, and the cap was thus broken.
After the True Ice Realm came over, she was the biggest beneficiary.
In just a few days, she showed signs of breaking through Emperor Realm Third Layer.
"Yes, then in battle you can use my Profound Pattern, getting some rule support."
Facing Ice Phoenix Ji Yao, Jiang Cheng was openly honest; not like when facing Mang Ye, deceiving the straightforward individual.
And Ji Yao reacted immediately.
"Wouldn’t that make me an Immortal Emperor under your banner?"
Brother Cheng nodded: "Theoretically, yes."
"I get it, Cang Ling and Xuanming both have your Profound Pattern bound, right?"
"Yes."
Ji Yao suddenly understood: "No wonder their power suddenly surged stronger than ours back then, turns out it was because of this."
"So what is your decision?"
Ji Yao sank into deep thought.
If the Ice Origin hadn’t arrived, she would certainly have bound without hesitation.
Her power was capped by the plane’s limit, without any space for improvement; the Profound Pattern could help break through even a little.
But now with the Ice Origin available, she was already advancing rapidly.
Before her lay a brilliantly radiant path.
She thought for a long time.
She felt there was no need to condescend to be just an Immortal Emperor under someone’s command, with the foundation of an ancient creature, Emperor Realm Ninth Layer in the future is just the beginning.
Perhaps she might even be stronger than Jiang Cheng then!
Why condescend under him?
So in the end, she shook her head.
"I think I’ll decline, I plan to cultivate on my own."
"Really decided?"
"Yes!"
"Alright then."
If there were no choice like Sister Han, Brother Cheng would definitely continue to persuade.
Now, however, he felt an inexplicable relief.
Perhaps, his Ice’s Profound Pattern was bound to belong to Ji Linghan from the start; Ji Yao’s refusal was just fate.
"Would you like to go to the Ice Realm to cultivate?"
As Demon Lord, he still planned to mentor the Ice Phoenix a bit.
"True Ice Realm?"
Ji Yao’s eyes sparkled with an unmistakable longing.
"Of course, I want to."
Despite being able to communicate with the Ice Origin in the Immortal Realm now, the Ice Realm was considered the Sacred Land for all Ice Element cultivators.
There, many high-tier cultivators had deeper Ice Rule Enlightenment than her.
There were the Silver Moon Ice Essence and a series of Ice Treasures.
If she could gain insights there, she could progress faster.
"It’s just that I have no understanding of the True Ice Realm, and I can’t ignore the Phoenix Race..."
