The Rejuvenation Isles was clearly at its wit’s end. Normally, fifty percent of anything was a shamefully unacceptable term.
Even for an heir of the sacred land, thirty percent was more than sufficient.
Rejuvenation had been backed into a corner and was looking for any solution it could.
If it didn’t, it could only wait for Tritalent to gather its forces and rob them of the islands in dispute. It was even possible that Rejuvenation’s fortunes would decline irreparably as a result.
Blood in the water tended to attract sharks.
Though Rejuvenation was reasonably wealthy now, it wouldn’t take long for it to be torn apart by rabid predators looking for a piece of the pie.
Jiang Chen was a principled individual. Fifty percent was extremely generous terms, and he saw no reason to take further advantage of the troubled duo in front of him.
He gave them a rea.s.suring glance. “I won’t stay for much longer on Winterdraw, so let’s make this quick. Shall we embark now?”
Imperial Prince Huo was elated. He hadn’t expected Jiang Chen to be so swift and decisive.
“If we get out of this safely, Rejuvenation will never forget your aid, young lord Jiang Chen. If you need anything from us in the future, may your word be our command.”
“Let’s go.”
Jiang Chen didn’t have any time to listen to flattery. He was more interested in the spirit stone veins on those islands. If the veins were especially rich, that would sate a burning need.
He had only a tenth of what the Great Formation needed right now. Perhaps this opportunity would make up another thirty or forty percent of the total.
If this paid off, gathering the rest would be a lot easier.
Lu Che and the other cultivators were a little disappointed after hearing Jiang Chen was leaving very soon.
“Winterdraw is my stronghold, is it not?” the young man consoled. “I will visit frequently in the future. In fact, its importance will rise a great deal soon enough. Don’t slack off. Take good care of the island, alright?”
“As you wish, young lord.” Lu Che was very accommodating. His life was in Jiang Chen’s hands, and the future leader of the Eternal Sacred Land would provide them with incredible prospects in any case.
They were having a hard time now, but they needed to endure.
Jiang Chen left Winterdraw on Rejuvenation’s airboat, which sailed through the sky back to its home. Winterdraw wasn’t far from Rejuvenation. After all, the former had belonged to the latter in the past.
All throughout the trip, Imperial Prince Huo was the image of humility and servility.
The young man knew that the prince behaved this way only out of necessity, but saw no reason to make this plain.
At one point on the flight, Chief Warden Ding suddenly came to the s.h.i.+p’s front. “Your Royal Highness,” he declared seriously, “there seems to be an ambush up ahead.”
“An ambush?” Imperial Prince Huo’s expression darkened. “Have you investigated fully?”
“Not yet. Our scouts can’t get too close for fear of unduly disturbing them. However, I suspect that the ambush is from Tritalent. Perhaps they know about your departure from Rejuvenation and plan to attack Your Royal Highness on the way back.”
Imperial Prince Huo was one of the most important members of royalty in Rejuvenation, a man second only to the emperor himself. Furthermore, he was trusted and respected within the chain of authority there.
His death would strike a serious blow against his faction.
“How many enemies are there?” the imperial prince inquired in a low voice.
“No concrete news yet. If it is Tritalent, though, they’re sure to be here in droves. I think we should be careful.”
Imperial Prince Huo smashed a fist against the table. “Will these b.a.s.t.a.r.ds’ ruthlessness never end? Hmph, they took advantage of us when we were down before, but with the young lord on our side, any further aggression will be suicide!”
The young man could hear the imperial prince’s desire for him to step up.
Jiang Chen smiled a little. “We’ll deal with them as they come. I’m sure Rejuvenation has suffered at the hands of Tritalent several times already. Shall we dish out some retribution?”
“How? This humble prince defers to your judgment.” The imperial prince bowed.
“Easy. We just crush them.” Jiang Chen’s tone was cool.
Crush them?
Imperial Prince Huo exchanged an eager glance with Chief Warden Ding. If young lord Jiang Chen was going to take to the field himself, what would Tritalent amount to?
The rebels of both Eternal and Martial Divine Nations had been composed of first rate factions, and yet they’d suffered grievous losses at the young man’s hand.
Tritalent had been inferior to Rejuvenation until very recently. The former had merely taken advantage of the latter’s weakness in light of misfortunate events to stir up a storm.
Moreover, Tritalent only amounted to anything because of its alliances with its even weaker neighbors. A solid blow would absolutely devastate this unstable coalition’s morale.
“Open up the airboat. I’m going outside to take a look.” Jiang Chen waved.
He led the charge out of the vessel, then leapt onto its roof. The Vermilion Bird and Long Xiaoxuan flanked him.
The sacred fowl and dragon by the youth’s side exuded a stunning aura that dazzled their spectators. The imperial prince and the warden found the incredible sight rather unrealistic.
Jiang Chen used his G.o.d’s Eye to cover the entire expanse before him. His gaze pierced through the mists into the valley ahead. Lush forestation covered both sides of this valley, radiating an air of antiquity.
Suddenly, his consciousness detected something around the valley itself. A faint smile curled at his lips. There was something odd in the airs.p.a.ce just above it. The air currents flowed with an obvious sliver of killing intent.
It was a trap! A dimensional formation that would trigger as soon as the airboat entered.
“Stop.” Jiang Chen waved once more.
At the speed they were going, they were on course to stumble in very shortly.
The airboat decelerated as soon as the order was given. It halted right before the suspicious patch of s.p.a.ce. Imperial Prince Huo and Chief Warden Ding weren’t about to let Jiang Chen be the only man in the vanguard. They charged ahead with their own forces, making a big show of their stalwartness and loyalty.