Chapter 984: Tip of the Iceberg

Jian Chen’s gaze immediately froze when he heard that it would relate to his great grandfather Changyang Zu Yunkong’s future. He could disregard the protector clan, but in no way could he just ignore his great grandfather. Only Jian Chen understood just how much agony his great grandfather had suffered in the past years. He had essentially lived a life where he would much rather be dead back on Three Saint Island.

Jian Chen followed the couple into a room and Changyang Zu Yunxiao personally cast down a barrier.

Jian Chen’s heart immediately shivered when he saw how cautious Changyang Zu Yunxiao was acting. He now understood that what they were about to about was going to be quite significant.

With the barrier set down, Changyang Zu Yunxiao and Changyang Zu Yeyun crossed their legs and sat down before Jian Chen. The two of them looked at Jian Chen with extremely mixed gazes. This was the first time they had ever needed to treat a junior as an equal despite their statuses.

Jian Chen sat down on the cold floor as well and looked at the couple calmly. He did not try to initiate the conversation.

Changyang Zu Yunxiao could only break the silence himself given that Jian Chen was unwilling. He coughed twice and said, “Is your name Jian Chen, or is it Changyang Xiangtian?”

“Great grandfather, you should call me Jian Chen. I like that name very much, and I’ve used it for so long already. I don’t want to change it back,” Jian Chen said with no further consideration. Changyang Zu Yunxiao was Changyang Zu Yunkong’s father, so he was Jian Chen’s senior by countless generations. As they were all his senior, Jian Chen just referred to them as great grandfather or great grandmother.

Changyang Zu Yunxiao sucked in a deep breath and said helplessly, “Alright, then I’ll call you Jian Chen.” He paused slightly there, before continuing, “Jian Chen, the reason why I’ve asked to talk to you this time is actually in regards to your great grandfather Changyang Zu Yunkong. You should know about the seal in his head, right?”

Jian Chen nodded his head but said nothing. He waited for Changyang Zu Yunxiao to continue.

A sliver of pain appeared on Changyang Zu Yunxiao’s face as he said, “Back then, Yunkong was expelled from our clan as he had committed a grave mistake, and a seal was implanted into his head, preventing him from reaching Saint Ruler for the rest of his life as a punishment. Originally, it would have been impossible for Yunkong to return to our clan again, but this changed ten years ago. Due to some reasons, the great elders of our clan removed Yunkong’s punishment together and allowed him back into the clan. He has become a member of the protector clan again.”

Changyang Zu Yunxiao paused once again as he stared deeply into Jian Chen’s eyes. He said, “Jian Chen, do you know why the great elders were willing to remove Yunkong’s punishment and let him back into the clan?”

Jian Chen replied after coming to a realization, “If I’ve guessed correctly, it’s related to the fact that the Winged Tiger God was with me. If I became a member of the protector clan, the Winged Tiger God would also belong to the Changyang clan.”

“Correct, it was indeed because of you. Your existence brought hope to Yunkong’s situation,” said Changyang Zu Yunxiao. He purposefully avoided the matter of the Winged Tiger God.

“But the seal remains in Yunkong’s head even though clan the has reaccepted him. Yunkong may be a Saint Ruler now, but his strength can no longer increase due to the seal. Jian Chen, you’re still Yunkong’s descendent in the end. Do you really want to watch your great grandfather stagnate at the First Heavenly Layer for the rest of his life? I hope you can help your great grandfather and get the seal in his head removed.” Changyang Zu Yunxiao’s voice made it seem like he was pleading. Even though Jian Chen was a member of a younger generation, Yunxiao could not forcibly order him to do anything.

“What do you need me to do? What are the conditions the protector clans are asking for to remove great grandfather’s seal?” Jian Chen asked. Jian Chen already had some understanding toward the seal in Changyang Zu Yunkong’s head. It was cast down by several Saint Kings of the protector clan through a secret technique. Not only was it extremely powerful, it was extremely profound as well, such that even the artifact spirit could do nothing about it.

Saint Emperors could forcefully break through it, but that would definitely harm Changyang Zu Yunxiao. It would probably lead to his death if it was forcefully removed. The only way to undo it without injuring anyone was to use the matching secret technique.

Changyang Zu Yunxiao said, “The other great elders of the protector clan have spoken. They said that if you want the seal removed, Yunkong must do something great for the clan to make up for what he did all those years ago. And this thing would be having you return to the protector clan.”

Jian Chen’s face sank slightly and a cold smile formed on his lips. He said, “So that’s really the case. I thought that the protector clans would do something like this. Probably getting me to return is just a cover. Their true intentions should be taking the Winged Tiger God.”

“Jian Chen, I know you have a bad impression of the protector clans, but with your current strength, we no longer have the right to make you do anything you don’t want to do. The great elders have formed an agreement over this. We can give up on the Winged Tiger God, as well as assist you in holding off the other protector clans, but only given that you are a member of the protector clan,” said Changyang Zu Yunxiao.

“I can already hold off the other protector clans by myself. I don’t need the protector clan’s help,” said Jian Chen.

“Sigh, Jian Chen, you think of the protector clans too simply. I know you have a divine hall protecting you, and that anything below a Saint Emperor can’t injure you. However, your divine hall is not impossible to crush before the protector clans. If it weren’t for the obstruction of the grand elder of Mercenary City in the battle today, your divine hall probably would’ve been smashed to pieces by the Yiyuan sect already,” said Changyang Zu Yunxiao.

Jian Chen began to recollect as he heard that. He could not help but think back to when the great elders of the Yiyuan sect mentioned the Emperor Armament. However, before he could ask about it, Changyang Zu Yunxiao had already begun to explain.

“Every clan of the ten protector clans has a single Emperor Armament. These Emperor Armaments have an extremely lengthy history. They have existed since the ten clans were established, all the way until now.”

“These Emperor Armaments exceed anything that you can imagine in strength, because they were forged together by several dozen or even over a hundred Saint Emperors. It is one of the two supreme treasures of every protector clan.”

“We, the protector clans, have an extremely lengthy history on the Tian Yuan Continent. There always used to be a Saint Emperor appearing in virtually every generation. In our most glorious times, the Changyang clan had a total of eight Saint Emperors at the same time. We possessed supreme power. However, after some changes to the world due to some unknown reasons, it became harder and harder to break through for everyone. Not only was the Tian Yuan Continent affected, even the Beast God Continent and the Wasteland Continent inhabited by the Hundred Races were affected. In the end, Saint Emperors finally stopped appearing in the ten protector clans.

“In the past, we once had most of our Saint Emperors pour all their strength, as well as their vital essences, into the Emperor Armament when they reached the end of their life. This allowed the Emperor Armament to constantly power up. Our Emperor Armaments are only able to be so unbelievably powerful today due to all those Saint Emperors. They’re far greater than the Emperor Armament you currently possess, so your divine hall can’t resist any one of the Emperor Armaments from the protector clans.

Jian Chen became slightly grim and said, “Looks like the Yiyuan sect wanted to use their Emperor Armament to deal with me.”

“Correct. The Yiyuan sect indeed wanted to use their Emperor Armament, but the grand elder of Mercenary City stopped them. If it weren’t for that, your divine hall would be in pieces by now,” said Changyang Zu Yunxiao. “However, the Emperor Armaments are just too powerful. Even Saint Kings at Great Perfection will struggle to control it, so it can only be used when several Saint Kings work together, and they will all suffer a backlash. Even Saint Kings at Great Perfection will be injured from the backlash after using it, so the Emperor Armament has already become a forbidden weapon of our protector clans. It can only be used to repel foreign invasions or when the protector clans face life-threatening dangers. It’s their last line of defense.”

Jian Chen immediately fell silent after hearing that. Only now did he learn that the protector clans were not as simple as he had imagined. They actually possessed such terrifying weapons. If it were not for Tian Jian earlier today, his Octoterra Divine Hall would have definitely been crushed even though he might not die.

Changyang Zu Yunxiao continued as he looked at the silent Jian Chen, “Jian Chen, you should return to the Changyang clan. Once you embrace your ancestry, you will be a part of the protector clan. The Changyang clan will definitely help out if the people of the Yiyuan sect still want to use the Emperor Armament against you. We can find ways to persuade the other protector clans in regards to the Flame Mercenaries.” Changyang Zu Yunxiao’s voice was hopeful.

Changyang Zu Yeyun also began to speak, “Jian Chen, great grandmother knows that you dislike our Changyang clan, but we hope you can consider things for Kong’er. It’ll all be depending on you if Kong’er’s seal can be removed and if he can climb to higher levels of cultivation in the future,” Changyang Zu Yeyun spoke with a pleading tone.

Jian Chen could not help but hesitate. This matter directly affected his great grandfather Changyang Zu Yunkong, so he needed to think over it seriously. No other person could remove Changyang Zu Yunkong’s seal other than the protector Changyang clan after all. This included Saint Emperors.

Jian Chen nodded in agreement in the end after much hesitation. He said, “Alright, I’ll return to the protector clan with you so that my great grandfather can cultivate again. However, now’s not the time. Let me deal with my matters first.”

Changyang Zu Yunxiao and Changyang Zu Yeyun immediately became delighted when they heard that. They became emotional.

Jian Chen and the couple left the room after the discussion. They saw Rui Jin and Hei Yu waiting outside as soon as they exited.

Changyang Zu Yunxiao’s gaze underwent some changes as soon as he saw the two of them. It was replaced by some respect—respect toward the powerful. The two people before him were so powerful that even the path lord of carnal desires and the tiger emperor Lankyros could not defeat them. Even the protector clans could not afford to offend them.

“Senior Rui Jin and Hei Yu, is there something you need?” Jian Chen asked.

“Nah, it’s nothing. We’re just standing around so that the people from the protector clans can’t oppress you,” smiled Hei Yu. He was extremely friendly toward Jian Chen.