"Jiang Family?" Tu Tian raised a brow. "This isn't the place to talk. Let's head to Juyi Hall first!"
Though it sounded like an outrageously bandit-like place, it was actually a magnificent heavenly palace, shrouded in clouds and rosy mist, gleaming with flowing gold and radiant color, carrying an air of sacred majesty.
After entering the hall, everyone took their seats.
Tu Tian looked at the Dog-headed Strategist and asked, "Speak. What exactly happened?"
The Dog-headed Strategist said, "It's Jiang Rui, the Jiang Family mighty figure who contacted you last time. He said he wanted to meet you in private!"
"A private meeting?" Tu Tian's eyes widened. He muttered to himself, "Could it be that I really am a man favored by destiny? I was just wondering how to lure him out, and he came right to my door!"
However, the Azure Flood Dragon King cautiously reminded him, "While men plot against tigers, tigers plot against men as well. Be careful. This may be a trap set by the Ancient Desolate Families."
Tu Tian calmed down and nodded solemnly. "That's right. Those aristocratic families and sacred lands have coveted my demonic jar for more than a day or two!"
The Dog-headed Strategist asked, "Should I go refuse him, then?"
"Wait!" Tu Tian stopped him. After hesitating for a moment, he looked toward the Crow King. "Old Brother Crow, what do you think?"
The Crow King froze. How would I know?
But he quickly recalled his lord's divination of heavenly secrets at the North Pole and instinctively looked toward Shen Ye.
Noticing his movement, Tu Tian remembered that he seemed to have neglected the two young talents and hurriedly made up for it. "Haha, this must be little brother Shen Ye, who shone so brilliantly at the Green Emperor's Tomb? Truly, heroes emerge in their youth!"
He was not merely being polite. This was his genuine reaction after learning about what had happened in the Jiang Family some time ago.
Daring to raise a blade against an aristocratic family was already greatly to his liking. As for displaying the combat power of Six Prohibitions, or even Seven Prohibitions, across an entire Major Realm, that made him endlessly envious!
His own grandson was already considered fairly decent, but goods had to be compared before they could be discarded, and people had to be compared before they could be driven to death!
Not only was there an enormous gap in strength and temperament, but even in looks and bearing, Tu Fei was far inferior to him!
If Tu Fei had Shen Ye's qualities, would he need to resort to trickery and deception to marry a Saintess? It would be as easy as reaching into his hand and taking it!
The more Tu Tian thought about it, the worse he felt. He secretly made up his mind that once Tu Fei returned, he would lock him up and make him cultivate!
"You flatter me, Senior." Shen Ye smiled faintly and turned to the Crow King. "We can go."
Since it did not involve beings of a higher order and he was not calculating the exact course of events, merely assessing fortune and misfortune did not even require him to use the Destiny Orb.
The Crow King nodded repeatedly and echoed to Tu Tian, "We can go!"
Tu Tian did not know whether to laugh or cry. Was he playing parrot? Had his true body mutated or something?
"Old Brother Crow, what is this?"
The Crow King laughed heartily. "His Highness's will is my will. Trust me—if His Highness says we can go, then we certainly can!"
A strange look flashed through Tu Tian's and the Azure Flood Dragon King's eyes. The Crow King's trust was absurdly excessive. It was hard to believe such words had come from an old monster who had lived for countless years.
But they were both seasoned old hands, so naturally they would not say anything to spoil the mood.
Tu Tian laughed as well. "Then we'll go. With half an Extreme Dao Emperor Armament in hand, and a king like Old Brother Crow holding the line, why should we fear some damned... ahem, why fear the Jiang Family at all?"
Although it would take quite some time for news from the Northern Plains to reach the Eastern Wasteland, and the mighty figures of those Golden Families might not spread something so embarrassing, Tu Tian still contacted Jiang Rui quickly to avoid complications.
Two days later, within Illusionary Food Manor in the Northern Region Holy City.
Jiang Rui's gaze was gloomy, and his entire body radiated an aura that kept strangers away. "Those damned bastards dared treat me like this. Sooner or later, I'll settle accounts with them!"
At that moment, a ripple of Divine Sense came from outside the palace.
Jiang Rui concealed the gloom in his eyes, put on a smile, opened the palace gates, and went out to greet them.
Tu Tian strode in. After looking around briefly, he clicked his tongue in wonder. "Tsk, tsk. It's actually the highest-grade Immortal Banquet. This single feast must cost at least tens of thousands of jin of source!"
"Haha! Since I'm asking Brother Tu to handle something for me, naturally I can't be stingy!" Jiang Rui said generously.
Although he had taken the initiative to arrange this meeting with Tu Tian, he had not come without safeguards.
If Tu Tian had a screw loose and truly intended to harm him, then unless he killed him in a single strike, someone would soon come to stop it in this Sacred City filled with mighty figures!
As a fellow mighty figure, he did not believe he was much weaker than Tu Tian. Even if Tu Tian had three or five mighty figures hidden around him, there was no way they could kill him in a single strike!
What he truly feared was Tu Tian's Extreme Dao Emperor Armament, which was why he had chosen such a meeting place.
If Tu Tian dared use an Emperor Armament to forcibly keep him here, the entire Sacred City would be reduced to ashes. Such consequences were not something a mighty figure could bear!
Tu Tian understood this as well. He was in no hurry to make a move and instead played along with him. "Though you're being so courteous, I still have to say this: demon race mighty figures aren't so easy to kill. Don't get impatient!"
Jiang Rui shook his head slightly. "Let's put killing aside for now. The reason I invited Brother Tu out today is actually to discuss another important matter!"
Tu Tian immediately became alert. "I'm telling you now, I won't return the money!"
A dignified mighty figure, and this is the extent of his vision! Jiang Rui sneered inwardly, but he also relaxed considerably. Smiling, he said, "I am not a stingy man. Whether this succeeds or not, that source belongs to Brother Tu!"
Tu Tian grinned and grabbed the "Immortal Wine" from the table, pouring it into his mouth. "Now that's what I like to hear!"
Crude! Barbaric! Jiang Rui silently criticized Tu Tian's behavior, but his face remained solemn. "I want to join you."
Tu Tian, who was using the "Immortal Wine" to rinse his mouth, suddenly sprayed out a stream of liquid. He coughed repeatedly and asked in disbelief, "Did I hear that wrong? You said you want to join us?"
Jiang Rui forced a smile. "You heard correctly. What I said was that I want to join you."
"Is something wrong with your head? You'd give up being a mighty figure of an aristocratic family to become a bandit?" Tu Tian's expression turned strange before becoming wary. "Could it be that you want to infiltrate our Thirteen Great Bandits and wipe us all out?"
Jiang Rui continued to force a smile. "Isn't my clan cousin one of you?"
"Different, completely different!" Tu Tian shook his head repeatedly. "Brother Jiang Yi may have been born into an aristocratic family, but he wasn't tainted by your family's bad habits. Instead, he is loyal and righteous, bold and heroic. He's one of our kind!"
Jiang Rui's mouth twitched. These bandits were actually looking down on the Ancient Desolate Families?
Jiang Rui took a deep breath. "To tell you the truth, the Jiang Family Holy Lord's branch discovered our transaction. Using that as an excuse, they stripped me of all my authority within the clan. If I don't take revenge, my heart will never be at peace!"
It was rather ridiculous. His collusion with the Thirteen Great Bandits could be treated as a crime, yet the real great bandit, Jiang Yi, had many people within the Jiang Family hoping he would return. Even if he did not return, they still wanted to remain on good terms with him!
Why was that?
It was nothing more than because the Thirteen Great Bandits were united as one and possessed astonishing strength. Setting aside their foundations, if the Thirteen Great Bandits joined forces, they were even stronger than an ordinary sacred land!
He had now seen through the ways of this world. Villains always lived more freely than "good people."
Therefore, he intended to take a step back in order to advance, planning to earn himself the title of one of the Fourteen Great Bandits!
Thanks to reader Long, who runs ridiculously fast, for the 100 reward.
The power had been out since four yesterday afternoon until now. Even the power bank was nearly dead, and the heat was killing me.
Before you continue