Great Villain: Starting by Humiliating the Son of the Heavenly Fate

Chapter 204: Unveiling the Nether Demon Clan's Involvement

"Look, there!" An astute cultivator suddenly whispered, "That's Fang Yuan's body. He's gone. Such a pitiful and tragic end."

"Pitiful? Not in the least!" A cultivator at the Late-stage Inquiring Journey realm stepped forth, his voice carrying a hint of rebuke. "During our rushed escape, I saw the Honorable Holy Son urging Fang Yuan to flee. Yet Fang Yuan refused, insisting he was on the cusp of comprehending the Great Dao. He believed he was about to achieve unmatched power, and thus, he would stand his ground."

"My view of what followed is fragmented due to my distant retreat, but even then, I could sense this would be Fang Yuan's inevitable end."

"The one truly deserving our sympathy is the Honorable Holy Son. If not for Fang Yuan's stubbornness, his injuries might not be this severe." The cultivator's voice was thick with frustration.

A voice from the crowd piped up, "Exactly!"

"I too heard Fang Yuan's defiant roar!"

"Fang Yuan truly acted as if he were possessed!" Several other cultivators at the Inquiring Journey realm joined in, their voices resonating with shared sentiment.

"So that's the tale," Ji Mingxiu mused, a cold light flashing in his eyes. "Reflecting on it, it's evident that Fang Yuan's Dao Heart had been compromised long ago, and a Qi Deviation was just around the corner. We should consider ourselves lucky that Jiang Chen didn't fall prey to his recklessness. If he had, it wouldn't just be his end the entire Fang Clan would have been in jeopardy as well!"

"Cursed be Fang Yuan!" Ji Ruxue's voice trembled with rage as she stared disdainfully at Fang Yuan's fallen body. Clinging tightly to Jiang Chen's arm, her eyes overflowed with sorrow.

Jiang Chen, however, showed no sign of surprise at the unfolding scene.

His decision to stop and confront the Dao Comprehension realm demonic python wasn't made on a whim.

The battleground he chose was purposefully within the divine sense detection range of the Inquiring Journey realm cultivators from the Holy Land.

If he wanted these Inquiring Journey realm cultivators to bear witness to an event, he made sure it happened within their scope of awareness.

Conversely, if he wished to keep certain matters private, Jiang Chen would deftly position himself just out of their reach, ensuring he remained unseen and unheard.

The battle's intensity increased, pushing its borders ever outward and forcing the Holy Land cultivators to retreat even further.

Because of this, they were only privy to Jiang Chen urging Fang Yuan to flee and Fang Yuan's staunch refusal. The events that transpired afterward remained a mystery to them.

By orchestrating things this way, Jiang Chen cleverly shielded himself from any blame regarding Fang Yuan's downfall.

At this point, the accounts from those who witnessed events firsthand were plentiful, painting a clear picture of Fang Yuan's character.

The consensus was unanimous: Fang Yuan met his end due to his own choices. Some even voiced their scorn, blaming him for nearly bringing about Jiang Chen's downfall.

"Truly, when someone dies, it's as if a lamp goes out. Everything about them fades, like smoke carried away by the wind," Jiang Chen remarked with a heavy sigh. His face quickly turned grave. "Our primary focus now should be on ridding the Holy Land of the lingering demonic beasts."

"You're right, Jiang Chen," Ji Mingxiu affirmed with a nod. He then ordered decisively, "Everyone, clean up this battleground and move quickly to support the battles in other sectors!"

"Understood!" The Holy Land cultivators sprang into action, swiftly clearing the battleground.

Their main task was to collect the defeated demonic beasts, designated for Jiang Chen's future endeavors.

Ji Mingxiu took it upon himself to deal with the remains of the Dao Comprehension realm demonic python.

Swiftly, the battlefield was immaculate once more. The gargantuan corpse of the Dao Comprehension realm demonic python, now contained within several artifact storages, was presented to Jiang Chen.

Subsequently, the Holy Land cultivators scattered, each dashing to support the ongoing battles in other regions.

On the other hand, Ji Ruxue and Ji Mingxiu fervently implored Jiang Chen to return to the safety of the Holy Land, advising him against risking his life any further.

Feeling compelled, Jiang Chen reluctantly agreed.

Besides, even without his direct intervention, the warriors of the Purple Heaven Holy Land were more than capable of defeating the demonic beasts, ensuring their remains would be delivered to him.

And with Fang Yuan, the central figure, now gone, the urgency for Jiang Chen to monitor individuals and oversee every event had diminished.

For now, at least, he could afford a moment's respite.

In a short span, with Ji Ruxue by his side and Ji Mingxiu leading the way, Jiang Chen returned to the Holy Land.

Prominent figures like Supreme Elder Mo Yu had been eagerly awaiting their return.

As Jiang Chen entered, they quickly closed in to check on him. Realizing his cultivation foundation was undamaged, a wave of relief washed over them.

After the initial exchanges of concern, Jiang Chen stepped forward to address the gathered. "Master, Supreme Elders!"

His demeanor was serious as he continued, "From those two Void Tribulation realm powerhouses, I've unearthed crucial information!"

"What vital information?" The faces of Ji Mingxiu and the other Supreme Elders changed in an instant, their voices tinged with apprehension as they posed their questions.

"The two Void Tribulation realm powerhouses confessed that the real orchestrators behind this surge of demonic beasts are none other than the Nether Demon Clan, operating from the shadows!" Jiang Chen's voice was laden with gravity as he spoke, "The Bottomless Abyss acts as a gateway between the Nether Demon Clan's domain and our Immortal Martial Continent. They are scheming to invade our lands!"

"What?! The Nether Demon Clan?!" exclaimed a shocked Elder from the crowd.

"Do the Nether Demons actually exist?"

"So, it's the Nether Demon Clan behind this surge of demonic beasts, intending to overtake our Immortal Martial Continent?" Ji Mingxiu and the rest of the assembly displayed expressions of alarm and disbelief.

Jiang Chen explained calmly, "Indeed, these waves of demonic beasts are essentially the vanguard for the Nether Demon Clan."

"They fulfill two main objectives: firstly, to erode the defenses of our three primary forces, and secondly, to infuse our realm with the Nether Demon Spiritual Qi."

"For us human cultivators, adapting to this Nether Demon Spiritual Qi is challenging, as it can erode our mental faculties."

"Conversely, the Nether Demon Clan finds it difficult to acclimate to the Spiritual Qi of our Immortal Martial Continent. To thrive, they need an environment tailored to their unique cultivation needs."

"Without the right Spiritual Qi environment, while the Nether Demon Clan might stave off erosion, their battle capabilities would be drastically diminished," Jiang Chen concluded, driving home the significance of his revelation.

"That being the case, our primary focus should be on eradicating these waves of demonic beasts at the earliest," Ji Mingxiu remarked with a thoughtful nod. "Jiang Chen, did those powerhouses provide any further warnings or insights?"

Jiang Chen nodded in response, "Yes, from what the two esteemed seniors conveyed, the Bottomless Abyss, having been abandoned for countless eons, is probably challenging to navigate. The mightier the Nether Demon Clan member's cultivation base, the tougher it will be for them to cross the Bottomless Abyss and arrive at the Immortal Martial Continent."

He then summed up, "Hence, in the near future, the Nether Demon invaders' strength should not surpass the Dao Palace realm."

"They won't exceed the Dao Palace realm? That's indeed a silver lining!" Sha An exclaimed with visible relief. "Yet, even if members of the Nether Demon Clan from the Transcendence realm were to invade, with our two Void Tribulation realm powerhouses recognized by the Holy Son to protect the Immortal Martial Continent, we should be well fortified."

Yao Zong nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Those two are the very pillars of our human race here on the Immortal Martial Continent. They wouldn't idly stand by as our world plunges into chaos."

Ji Mingxiu, Si Zhangjian, and several others let out audible sighs of relief at this discussion.

Yet, Jiang Chen's subsequent sigh shifted the hall's energy. "We should be cautious about placing undue dependence on those two Void Tribulation realm powerhouses," he warned.

Ji Mingxiu, taken aback, asked, "What do you mean? Are you suggesting that these two esteemed powerhouses might just stand idly by? That's hard to fathom!"

The revelation left the rest of the group with raised eyebrows and evident surprise on their faces.

Jiang Chen paused before speaking, "It's high time that I share some deeper truths with Master and all the esteemed elders." He took a deep breath and continued, "The two Void Tribulation realm powerhouses are entangled in a peculiar situation. They can't offer us direct support. At best, they can only impart critical knowledge to help us navigate these challenges."

Sha An's eyes widened. "That's impossible!" He struggled to find the right words, his disbelief palpable. "They're Void Tribulation realm powerhouses! How could anything stop them from intervening?"

Si Zhangjian, deep in thought, offered a theory. "The Void Tribulation realm is elusive, its depths far beyond our understanding. From its very name, we can guess it involves confronting a severe tribulation. Perhaps it's this very tribulation that binds their hands."

Ji Mingxiu and the other elders exchanged glances, a silent consensus forming. Each nodded slowly, lending weight to Si Zhangjian's theory.

All were left wondering if these two behemoths of the Void Tribulation realm were somehow incapacitated. But out of respect, none dared voice this concern aloud.

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