Chapter 449 - 236: The Dust Settles: Choosing a Sect, a Crossroads in Life

The Asura Illusion Realm, deep within the mist.

"Huuuu..."

Jiang Che slowly exhaled a breath of foul air, his breathing slightly heavy.

At his feet, the last enormous Illusion Beast, its aura at the Mid-stage Sixth Layer of True Master Realm, let out an unwilling wail before completely disintegrating into a cloud of black smoke.

That was the fiftieth one!

Fifty terrifying monsters, all at the Mid-stage Sixth Layer of True Master Realm!

Even with his massive reserves of True Qi and the endurance granted by the Yin Yang Transformation Force, Jiang Che was starting to feel the strain.

’Without using my Black Armor Form, or those Spirit and Profound Grade Divine Weapons...’

’This is more or less my limit.’

Jiang Che assessed inwardly.

He could probably kill a few more if he went all out, but that would inevitably force him to reveal more of his hidden trump cards, which wasn’t worth it.

Just then,

ROAR!!!

The mist ahead began to churn violently. An even more terrifying and suffocating pressure than before swept over him like a tsunami!

The mist parted, revealing a new tide of beasts.

There were even more of them!

And the aura of every single one had reached the terrifying Late-stage Sixth Layer of True Master Realm!

Facing the terrifying horde of beasts that blotted out the sky, Jiang Che’s expression remained perfectly calm.

’This should be enough.’

’If I keep fighting, I’ll really have to show my hand.’

Jiang Che stopped resisting. He slowly lowered his hands and dispersed the Protective True Qi around his body.

"Come on then."

BOOM!!!

The endless tide of beasts instantly submerged his figure completely!

...

「Xuanwu Plaza.」

"VMMM—"

The light of the Teleportation Array flared up once more!

The plaza fell silent in an instant as tens of thousands of gazes simultaneously focused on the newly appeared figure.

After steadying himself, Jiang Che looked up and froze.

It was too quiet.

And he noticed that the way everyone was looking at him... was strange.

It wasn’t a look of scrutiny, nor of curiosity.

It was one of...

Fervor!

A fervor bordering on worship!

’This...’

A sense of dread suddenly bloomed in Jiang Che’s heart.

Before he could react,

"WHOOSH—"

the crowd erupted into a thunderous roar of cheers and applause!

"Jiang Che! Jiang Che!!"

"Cangyun Sect! Jiang Che!!"

The wave of sound was like thunder, deafening!

Although it was mainly the waiting area for Cangzhou Prefecture that was frantically starting the chants,

the surrounding Martial Artists from the small and medium-sized State Mansions, who had long since been eliminated, were swept up by the emotion and began to shout at the top of their lungs as well.

Having been suppressed by the prodigies from the Great States, they desperately needed a hero like Jiang Che—someone from a humble background who could rise up and defy the odds!

Watching this scene of mass adoration, the corner of Jiang Che’s mouth twitched slightly.

’Oh no...’

’Did I... overdo it?’

He snapped his head around to look at the ranking Jade Disc on the other side of the plaza.

[Jiang Che]

[Rank: Three]

"Third???"

Jiang Che’s heart sank.

’It seems I overestimated everyone else...’

’Sigh... Now it’s impossible to keep a low profile!’

He hadn’t expected that, aside from those two freaks, everyone else would be so weak!

But what was done was done; it was too late for regrets.

Jiang Che could only brace himself, endure the countless burning gazes, and try his best to maintain a calm and composed expression as he returned to the Cangzhou Prefecture waiting area amidst the cheers.

The moment he stepped into the area,

"SWOOSH!"

Everyone swarmed him! Disciples from his own Cangyun Sect, those from the Taiyuan Sect and Profound Sound Sect, and even disciples from Sects he barely had a relationship with all rushed forward!

"Chief Jiang! You’re a god! Simply divine!"

"Third place overall! My god, you’re the savior of our Cangzhou Prefecture!"

"That was so satisfying! Let’s see who dares say Cangzhou has no talent now!"

Everyone chattered excitedly, their faces flushed with emotion.

Looking at all these sincere faces, Jiang Che couldn’t help but feel a little emotional.

Even those who usually saw him as a rival, who might have even wished for his humiliation, had now all let go of their grudges and were congratulating him with genuine sincerity.

’It seems... these people aren’t so bad after all.’

Jiang Che thought to himself.

In truth, he could understand.

Ever since arriving in the Capital City, the people from Cangzhou Prefecture had hit walls at every turn, mocked for being from the "countryside." The resulting frustration and humiliation had long been bottled up inside every one of them.

But today, Jiang Che had used his absolute strength to thoroughly slap the faces of those prodigies from the Great States, restoring dignity to all of Cangzhou Prefecture!

This honor belonged to Jiang Che, and it also belonged to every person from Cangzhou!

How could they not be thrilled? How could they not share in the glory?

This was human nature.

Moreover,

when you are only a little stronger than others, they will be jealous, they will be resentful, and they will try to pull you down.

But when you are so much stronger that they can only stare at your back in the dust, reaching a height they can only look up to...

jealousy turns into awe and admiration!

It’s like how people might get jealous of a neighbor who suddenly strikes it rich.

But they would never get jealous of the richest man in the world, who is far above them.

Because the gap is so vast that it doesn’t even allow the heart to feel jealousy!

In their eyes, Jiang Che was now that "richest man"!

He finally managed to deal with his enthusiastic compatriots from Cangzhou.

But before Jiang Che could even sit down to catch his breath,

WHOOSH—

another large crowd gathered outside the waiting area.

This time, they were Martial Artists from other State Mansions!

Among them were even chief disciples and Elders from several famous major Sects!

"I am the head disciple of Qingzhou’s Iron Sword Sect, here to congratulate Brother Jiang!"

"I am the Young Manor Master of Lingzhou’s Feihua Manor, and I wish to make Brother Jiang’s acquaintance!"

These people had sharp eyes; they could all see Jiang Che’s terrifying potential.

The current Jiang Che was a latent dragon yet to fully mature. If they didn’t befriend him now, when would they?