Chapter 409: Chapter 409

Jias had not lost, but neither had he won. Relying on the immortality of a Daluo Golden Immortal, Roy’s attacks only managed to embarrass him somewhat but did not cause substantial damage.

As his Mana was depleted, Roy’s Shura Dharma Form began to fade into translucence.

Upon colliding again, the two were evenly matched. Roy shook the long knife in his hand and squinted, seemingly contemplating.

Just as Jias thought he could let off some steam, a sudden bad premonition arose in his heart. Fortunately, Luo Wencheng appeared in time.

Placing his hand on Roy’s shoulder, Immortal Divine Power suppressed the restless power inside him. Luo Wencheng shook his head slightly and said, "Do not overdo it."

"Fellow Daoist, how about we stop here?"

Jias sighed in relief internally but showed an indignant expression and left with a sweep of his sleeves.

Roy was unmoved. "Although I can’t kill him, suppressing him is not a problem."

"The Great Leader did not send you here to do this. Intimidating other Immortals is our task."

Afterward, on Li Qiuwen’s notification, Roy and Luo Yue secretly met with Chen Jiuge. The three talked for a long time, and the outcome remained unknown to everyone.

The only certainty was that both Roy and Luo Yue had smiles on their faces when they left, indicating that it had probably been a pleasant conversation.

Jias had been very troubled recently. Since being publicly beaten by Roy in Shadow City, even though the fight ended in a draw, he was, after all, an Immortal.

Now, a preposterous rumor had spread throughout Shadow City: the Dawn Clan’s Immortal could not defeat a Golden Immortal of the Asura.

A valuable vase shattered on the floor as Jias, his face unsightly, angrily exclaimed, "What Golden Immortal? That’s an Extreme Path Golden Immortal! Can that even count as a Golden Immortal?"

The Dawn Clan’s Golden Immortal reporting to him, Jiao Ao, twitched uncomfortably. Shadow City is a place of free speech. I can hardly ask others to stop talking, especially since many Golden Immortals are also saying they couldn’t beat them either.

Taking several deep breaths, Jias made a decision. "We’re leaving Shadow City."

"What!" Jiao Ao, his subordinate, looked at Jias incredulously.

"What are you looking at? Notify the clan to pack up."

With many thoughts burdening his mind, Jiao Ao did not immediately inform the other clan members but quickly went to a snack shop—precisely the Qilin Snack Shop.

On the second floor of the snack shop, in a private room, Jia Wu raised his wine glass. "Jiao Ao, it has been a long time since we last met."

Grabbing the wine glass from the table and clinking it slightly, Jiao Ao drank it all in one go, his expression troubled. "Brother Jia Wu, Jias, that old codger, wants us to migrate."

Jia Wu frowned. "Migration? Why? As far as I know, our clan has designated Fire Seed locations that can’t be changed on a whim."

"It’s all because of the rumors," Jiao Ao said, his expression extremely grim.

Everyone knew what had happened to Gavin’s and Jia Wu’s families. Although most clan members didn’t really believe it, some were bound to investigate the truth, and Jiao Ao was one of them.

Jias knew about these people, but he couldn’t possibly kill all of them. If he really did that, he would lose the people’s support entirely. It was better to use these rumors as a pretext to leave this godforsaken Shadow City.

"What are you planning to do? Are you going to leave with him?"

"How could I?" Jiao Ao shook his head repeatedly. I’m a Golden Immortal, and one with healing abilities at that. I can live comfortably anywhere. Why would I follow Jias and live in constant fear? I’d have to be mad!

"I do have a plan..."

After a long time, Jia Wu, somewhat reluctant to stop, closed his mouth. "What do you think?"

Jiao Ao’s face showed hesitation. Jia Wu’s method was indeed good, but if I really go through with it, the Dawn Clan might not accept me anymore.

"Take your time to think about it, and send me a message when you’ve decided."

Rubbing the disposable Communication Stone in his hand, the struggle on Jiao Ao’s face deepened. His eyes gradually reddened, and he growled, "Jias, you forced this! ’People strive for higher places’—those were your own words!"

「Seven days later, in the territory of the Dawn Clan.」

Jias asked lightly, "Jiao Ao, how is the clan gathering coming along?" Finally, I’m leaving this place that is constantly against me.

"Elder, I have already informed the clan members," Jiao Ao replied respectfully.

On the massive training field, nearly one thousand members of the Dawn Clan stood. Jias showed a hint of satisfaction. "Good. Since everyone is ready, let’s go."

After taking a few steps forward, Jias turned back, puzzled, seeing most of the clan members standing still. He asked, dissatisfied, "What is the meaning of this?"

HAHAHA! "What does it mean? Of course, it means they don’t dare to follow you, you black-hearted Elder!" Roy’s audacious voice resonated from outside.

Stepping forward with a faint smile, Luo Yue introduced himself, "Let me introduce myself. I am Luo Yue."

"Next to me is Roy. Elder Jias, you should be familiar with him."

Jiao Ao quickly approached the two, taking out a recording crystal. It slowly played a recording of Jias killing Gavin’s and Jia Wu’s families.

However, the Dawn Clan members present didn’t react much; they had already seen it many times before and had become numb to it.

"Jiao Ao, you betray me?" Jias exclaimed incredulously.

"Elder, you forced me into this! I don’t want to die for no reason!" Jiao Ao replied fiercely, his face contorted.

Seeing only one-tenth of the clan members willing to follow him, Jias said darkly, "This is betrayal of the clan! You know the consequences!"

"Stop, stop, stop! What betrayal? They are abandoning the darkness to join the embrace of my Asura!" Roy drew his long knife, the Shura Dharma Form shimmering behind him. "Get lost, old codger! If you don’t leave now, you won’t be able to!"

"You really think I’m afraid of you just because you’re an Extreme Path Golden Immortal? I am an Immortal!" Jias roared, the Angel Dharma Form rising behind him.

The moment the Angel Dharma Form rose, four Shura Dharma Forms appeared in the sky above Shadow City, surrounding it. Luo Wencheng, slightly better-tempered, said indifferently, "Don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."

"Stop talking nonsense! Just kill him," Luo Bing said eagerly, itching for action.

"This time, I think Luo Bing is right," Luo Kuisan agreed.

"Where is the Divine Son? Wasn’t this his plan? Why doesn’t he come out and make a decision?" Xiu Wenfei complained.

Chen Jiuge, who had been hidden behind the scenes, reluctantly showed himself and said, "Just kill him." Although killing Jias would upset the Dawn Clan, it’s still better than leaving a hidden danger that could cost me my life.

Jias couldn’t even defeat a single Asura, let alone four. Under the joint attack of the four, Jias was finished. Along with him, the Dawn Clan’s encampment was turned into ruins.

Roy spat out the dust in his mouth, dissatisfied. "Can’t these guys be a bit more careful?"

"It might be because we’re here," Luo Yue said, flicking the dust off his clothes.

"Luo Yue, what do we do with these remaining hundred or so people?"

"Of course, kill them. What else would we do with them?" Luo Yue said, surprised.

Half a day later, the remaining members of the Dawn Clan, under Jiao Ao’s leadership, rebuilt their encampment, which had been turned into ruins. However, this Dawn Clan now belonged to Shadow City.

The issue with the Dawn Clan was finally resolved. Now it was time to formally reorganize Shadow City.

Chen Jiuge gathered all his Golden Immortals, with Su Mei and Li Qiuwen standing on either side of him.

After distributing the Jade Scrolls, Chen Jiuge spoke again, "These are the tasks I’ve arranged for you. Look them over and see if there are any issues."

Though Chen Jiuge’s words were polite, those who had achieved Golden Immortal status were not fools; they understood basic human affairs and all shook their heads to indicate no objections.

Satisfied, Chen Jiuge nodded and continued, "Governor Li and Steward Su will discuss the details with you. I only want to see results."

Leaving the time and space to the people in the courtyard, Chen Jiuge clapped his hands and left.

Not far from the courtyard, Chen Jiuge saw Chen Ziteng and Sorrowful Girl, each holding an ice cream and happily licking it.

"Sorrowful Girl? Where’s Da Bai?" Chen Jiuge frowned.

Although Sorrowful Girl no longer cried for no reason, letting her wander alone was still somewhat risky.

Chen Ziteng, with a trace of cream on her face, said childishly, "Brother Dabai is at the Moat. Sorrowful Girl found it too boring and came back on her own."

"The Moat... Jiao Yue... How could I have forgotten about her?" Chen Jiuge slapped his forehead. Check latest chapters at novel(ꜰ)ire.net

"Alright then, Ziteng, please take good care of Sorrowful Girl."

"Okay, I guarantee I’ll complete the mission!"

「Crystal Palace in the Moat.」

Jiao Yue, somewhat bored, was filing her nails. "Da Bai, you’ve been here so long. Aren’t you going back?"

Da Bai, busily digging seeds from the head of the Lotus Ancestor, shook his head. "Go back for what?"

"Recently, War Song and the others broke through to Heavenly Immortal. The rest are either cultivating or... cultivating. It’s so boring! I’m not going back."

Jiao Yue, having awakened the Sea God Bloodline, had her memories fragmented, but her cultivation had recovered to its previous state; she was now also a Golden Immortal.

She smiled. "Aren’t you afraid Brother Chen will come looking for you?"

"How could he? You were at Spirit Lake for so many years, and Boss never looked for you. It hasn’t even been that long now!"

Jiao Yue’s face darkened. Is he indirectly saying I have no presence?

Chen Jiuge, who had just arrived at the entrance of the Crystal Palace, happened to hear Da Bai’s statement. He said, somewhat speechlessly, "He really is full of these little tricks."

Sometimes surprises come unexpectedly. Of course, for certain Spiritual Beasts, it was more of a shock.

Da Bai sulkily took the two foodies back. This time, Chen Jiuge specifically notified Yue Meng to supervise their cultivation; True Immortal Cultivation was not enough anymore.

After driving away the idlers, Chen Jiuge looked at the exceptionally beautiful Jiao Yue, a hint of reminiscence on his face. "It seems like a long time since I last saw you. I wonder how Nian Yu and Xiao Qi are doing?"

A trace of resentment appeared on Jiao Yue’s face. "You still remember? I thought you had forgotten."

"Of course, I remember. But it seems I haven’t seen Qimi and Zi Jing for a long time. Where are they?"

"They passed away," Jiao Yue said, her face etched with sorrow.

Elves naturally had short life spans. Initially, they could extend their life span with the Origin of Life, but they quickly reached their limit. Chen Jiuge happened to be in the Star Sea Realm at that time, so he was unaware of this event.

It was after this event that Jiao Yue realized they were just passersby in Chen Jiuge’s heart, which left her somewhat disheartened and led her to hide in Spirit Lake.

Chen Jiuge, feeling a wave of sadness, picked up his wine glass and downed several cups. "When did this happen?"

"Eighteen years after you went to the Star Sea Realm, Zi Jing’s life span ended. Qimi passed away in the three hundredth year."

"It’s my fault. I should have taken them with me."

"What good would it have done if you had?" Jiao Yue shook her head.

Chen Jiuge fell silent. Yes, what good would it have done? Back then, I was merely a True Immortal. If I had broken through to Heavenly Immortal sooner, relying on my current Golden Finger, I might have been able to forcefully elevate the two little Elves to True Immortal.

After three rounds of drinks, Chen Jiuge, still in low spirits, left an appointment letter and departed somewhat desolately.

「Eden Garden, Cultivation Room.」

Chen Jiuge stood nearby, silently observing. Inside, Wen Ruo was in secluded cultivation. Shortly after Chen Jiuge’s breakthrough to Heavenly Immortal, Wen Ruo had begun his retreat.

That day, Chen Jiuge watched for a long time and thought deeply.