Chapter 340: The Academy’s Stance, Intercepting the xuanyuan ferry

Zhou Chen smiled and nodded to everyone before entering the brand-new main hall of the Taichu Holy Land.

Holy Lord Dao Xuan and several Elders were already waiting in the main hall.

"Zhou Chen, you did very well this time."

The Taichu Old Ancestor said with a smile.

"Not only did you avenge the Holy Land, but you also let the entire Tianxuan Continent know the prestige of our Taichu Holy Land."

"From now on, no one will dare to provoke us again."

Zhou Chen shook his head.

"Grandmaster, you overstate it; this is only what a Disciple should do."

"By the way, I have something I would like to discuss with Grandmaster."

The Taichu Old Ancestor nodded.

"Speak."

Zhou Chen pondered for a moment and said, "I need to leave for a while to travel and gain experience."

"This battle with Jiang Beichen made me realize that my strength is still not enough."

"If it weren't for the Immortal Bone protecting me, I might already be dead."

"Therefore, I want to travel abroad, search for some Opportunities, and increase my strength."

The Taichu Old Ancestor was silent for a moment before finally nodding.

"Very well. The path of Cultivation does indeed require travel and experience."

"However, you must remember that the outside world is very dangerous; you must be careful."

"If you encounter danger, preserving your life is the most important thing. Everything else is secondary."

Zhou Chen nodded.

"I understand."

In truth, Zhou Chen had seen an Opportunity on Jiang Beichen's opportunity panel.

[Recent Opportunity: One month from now, in the ancient ruins thirty thousand miles northwest of the Western Border, obtain the Emperor Rank Top-Grade flying boat—xuanyuan ferry.]

This was originally Jiang Beichen's Opportunity, but unfortunately, he would have to wait until his next life to find it.

"Good. Go then. I will have several Elders protect you in secret."

Zhou Chen shook his head.

"There is no need, Grandmaster."

"My current strength is already no weaker than an established Fourth Layer of the Emperor Realm expert."

"Furthermore, I have the haotian mirror, an emperor weapon, in my hands."

"Even if I encounter a Venerable Realm Expert, I am confident in my ability to escape."

The Taichu Old Ancestor pondered for a moment and finally nodded.

"Very well, then you must be careful yourself."

After bowing, Zhou Chen turned and left the main hall.

Returning to his Immortal Cave, Zhou Chen began to organize his gains from this trip.

First was the haotian mirror.

This High Grade emperor weapon possessed staggering power; it integrated offense and defense and could even restrain enemies.

With it, Zhou Chen's combat power had increased by at least twenty to thirty percent.

Although Zhou Chen had the chaos bell, using it in front of many people would be a death sentence if he encountered a powerful expert who recognized its value.

Second was the Five-Colored Luck fate.

This fate not only increased his Cultivation speed but also made his connection with Heaven and Earth even closer.

In the future, whether it was comprehending Laws or achieving a Breakthrough in his Realm, it would become much easier.

Finally, there were some treasures left behind by Jiang Beichen.

From Jiang Beichen's storage ring, Zhou Chen found a large quantity of Spirit Stones and Medicinal Pills.

There was also an Emperor Rank Top-Grade Cultivation Technique—the "Flame Emperor Wind-Governing Manual."

This was one of the Jiang Family's clan-protecting techniques, a decent movement technique.

Although Zhou Chen would not Cultivate it, he could use it as a reference; perhaps he could comprehend something from it.

These could all be sent to his cheap Family, though the eligibility to Cultivate them would be limited to direct relatives who had made significant contributions.

After all, before the Jiang Family was destroyed, it would not be good to be too ostentatious.

After finishing the inventory, Zhou Chen sat cross-legged and began to consolidate his Realm.

Although he had just reached a Breakthrough to the Fourth Layer of the Emperor Realm, his Foundation was not yet stable enough and required further tempering.

Time passed minute by minute.

Three days later, Zhou Chen opened his eyes.

His Realm had completely stabilized.

Furthermore, he vaguely felt that he was one step closer to the Fifth Layer of the Emperor Realm.

"It's about time; I should set out."

Zhou Chen stood up and walked out of the Immortal Cave.

Without alerting anyone, he quietly left the Taichu Holy Land.

—

Three days after the battle at the Ascending Immortal Platform ended, the entire Tianxuan Continent was still immersed in shock.

In the Central Continent, within the council halls of various major powers, almost everyone was discussing the same topic—Zhou Chen.

"At the Fourth Layer of the Emperor Realm, he killed an Ancient Prodigy of the Fifth Layer of the Emperor Realm. This level of combat power can no longer be described as just a Prodigy."

"The key is, how old is he? In his early twenties? This kind of Cultivation speed is simply unheard of."

"I heard that Jixia Academy has already publicly stated that they will protect Zhou Chen. The Jiang Family is truly finished this time."

Similar conversations echoed in every corner of the Tianxuan Continent.

The name Zhou Chen had completely become the focus of the entire continent.

In the Eastern Wasteland, at the Jiang Family ancestral grounds.

Within the magnificent council hall, the atmosphere was suppressed to the extreme.

Dozens of Jiang Family Elders were gathered together, every face written with despair.

Sitting in the main seat, Jiang Tianyan's expression was as dark as water; he had not spoken a word for three days.

"Patriarch, news has come from the Flame Clan; they have torn up their alliance with us," an Elder spoke with a trembling voice.

"Several Holy Lands of the Demonic Path have also sent people, saying that previous cooperation is now canceled."

"And… and those small forces that were dependent on us, more than half have already left in these past few days."

Every sentence was like a knife, stabbing ruthlessly into Jiang Tianyan's heart.

He knew the Jiang Family was finished.

It wasn't a lack of strength or Foundation, but rather that the people's hearts had scattered.

When Jixia Academy publicly stated they would protect Zhou Chen, and when Zhou Chen declared he would destroy the Jiang Family in three years, all the powers on the continent understood one thing—the Jiang Family no longer had a chance to turn the tables.

Standing by the Jiang Family at this time was to make an enemy of Jixia Academy and an enemy of Zhou Chen, this future titan.

No one was willing to do such a stupid thing.

"Patriarch, do we… do we still have a chance?" an Elder asked cautiously.

Jiang Tianyan was silent for a moment before slowly shaking his head.

"No more."

His voice was very soft, but every word carried a deep despair.

"From the moment Zhou Chen killed Jiang Beichen on the Ascending Immortal Platform, we had no more chances."

"The only thing we can do now is retract all our forces, activate the clan-protecting array, and go into hiding as a whole clan."

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

—

Jixia Academy, Core Area.

Inside a simple and ancient pavilion, several high-ranking members of the Academy were deliberating.

At the head was a white-haired old man; he was one of the Vice Palace Masters of Jixia Academy, a Sixth Layer of the Venerable Realm expert, Bai Chongming.

"That kid Zhou Chen has certainly given us a difficult problem."

Bai Chongming shook his head with a smile.

"Although it is a private grudge, the outside world is watching our Academy's stance."

The several Elders sitting below nodded one after another.

"The Vice Palace Master is right. Zhou Chen is now our Academy's Chief Elite Disciple; his every move represents the Academy's reputation."

"If we do not state our stance, the outside world will think our Academy is afraid of the Jiang Family."

"But if we express support, it is equivalent to publicly making an enemy of the Jiang Family, which does not align with our Academy's usual style."

Bai Chongming pondered for a moment and said slowly, "Actually, it is very simple."