Jiang Chenâs confidence calmed the panicking crowd. The horrified fear permeating the air gradually faded.
They implicitly trusted everything that the young lord said. They looked at the young man curiously, only realizing belatedly how wide the cultivation gap was, despite everyone occupying the same space.
Jiang Chen was bound for greatness. The human domain wasnât big enough to accommodate him, and heâd travel further and further away from the cultivators here.
âYoung lord Jiang Chen, are the phenomena brought about by Senior Vermilionâs breakthrough?â someone mustered the courage to ask.
All eyes focused on Jiang Chen, waiting for a definitive answer.
Jiang Chen nodded with a smile. âI can guarantee that it was the Vermilion Bird, and Iâm ninety percent sure it has ascended to divinity. Thatâs the only explanation for the scale of the strange phenomena.â
âDivinity? Young lord, does that mean the human domain has our own divine protector now?â
âHow thrilling that is! If we have a divine protector, what can the demons do to us?â
âThereâs hope yet for our race! The heavens donât wish for us to be wiped out!â
âDonât get excited just yet. The Vermilion Bird is no human. Only one of our kind can be truly loyal to us.â
âBullshit, youâre just trying to stir things up. Everyone knows that the Vermilion Bird is young lord Jiang Chenâs closest companion.â
âRight. Your ignorance isnât funny. The Vermilion Bird is a kind and devoted ancient divine beast. In the ancient times, it made an oath to the Primosanct Sect and it guarded the sectâs ruins with admirable persistence. The human race is fortunate to have a moral and loyal being like it on our side.â
Over the years, news that young lord Jiang Chen had a powerful Vermilion Bird companion had spread through the human domain. The birdâs ascension was absolutely worth celebrating. Humanity possessing a divine protector meant that the demons would be less of a threat.
Jiang Chen sighed. âThis is no game. No god can single-handedly save a race or even a plane from danger. Itâs a good thing the Vermilion Bird has ascended, but donât expect it to fight off the entire demonic army on its own.â
His tone grew harsher as he added, âDonât think for one second that the Vermilion Birdâs protection is enough to eliminate the threat. Donât ever assume we can relax our guard! Youâre deluding yourself if you think so. Those from the ancient times knew how powerful demons are and how catastrophic their invasion would be. If you get careless, youâll see for yourself how much damage they can do to our world when they invade!
âEarlier, when you didnât know what was causing the strange phenomena, just the fear of demons was enough to render all of you helpless. Given your physical and mental fortitude, do you think youâll be able to resist the demons? And an attack is a very real possibility!â
No one dared to look up when Jiang Chenâs piercing gaze swept through the crowd. They didnât want to be subject to his scrutiny.
Old Crane nodded and added seriously, âYoung lord Jiang Chen has spoken my mind. The current human domain isnât prepared for a demonic invasion at all. Our future will be in jeopardy if we keep proceeding like this.â
In the distance, the boundless crimson clouds above high expanded and inched closer to the Veluriyam Capital.
Jiang Chen laughed. âSenior Vermilion is returning.â
He soared to the sky and and zipped towards the tinted clouds.
Excited shrieks pierced through the air. The Vermilion Bird couldnât stop its joyous exclamations. Jiang Chen moved to meet the bird and responded with dragon roars.
Another being took to the sky. It was Long Xiaoxuan, resting in the capital. His cultivation still exceeded Jiang Chenâs at staggering seventh level empyrean, an important milestone for one of a true dragon bloodline.
The strength from his bloodline had grown powerful enough for him to recover his heritage memories, which enabled the dragon to continually stay one step ahead of Jiang Chen in cultivation.
However, Jiang Chen was confident that the odds of him defeating the dragon in a duel was over ninety percent.
Man, dragon, and the Vermilion Bird came together in the vast sky.
Jiang Chen laughed heartily. âCongratulations on ascending to divinity, Brother Vermilion. Itâs good news for both the Veluriyam Capital and the human domain.â
The bird chortled happily. âIt is indeed cause for celebration to ascend to divinity, but I owe a great part of my success to you!â
The bird spoke only the truth. Jiang Chen had helped it in many ways. Without him, it would never have gotten to where it was now. It mightâve faded out of existence back when it reached the end of its last life cycle.
Thus, there was no artifice in the birdâs expression of gratitude to Jiang Chen.
The crowd of cultivators below could hear their conversation, but since man and beasts had been talking in the language of ancient beasts, they understood nothing and exchanged confused looks.
Jiang Chen led the Vermilion Bird to where the auction was being held in the Veluriyam Capital.
The bird morphed into a man and was welcomed by thunderous applause. It wasnât an attempt to flatter or curry favor, but a genuine expression of respect.
âYour hospitality is appreciated. For that alone, this spirit will do what I can for the human domain, if nothing else.â
The bird had always been on friendly terms with the human race, and it owed its ascension to them. Therefore, its promise was genuine and heartfelt.
The crowd erupted in cheers, motivated by the birdâs promise. The thought of being helpless before the demonic invasion had been a despairing one, but now they saw a ray of hope!