Chapter 266 - 265: Jiang Qiu’s Restraint on [Chen]

"If you’re not the reason, Grand General, then what else could have made the Demon Race temporarily retreat?"

The white-haired old man wearing reading glasses spoke again, and the meeting fell into silence.

He was Lin Yu, a Great Grandmaster specializing in Secret Realm research. He was the director of the Gao Yuan City Central Secret Realm Research Institute and the deputy head of the Northwest Secret Realm Research Department, making him one of the four highest-ranking individuals present.

Even for someone as knowledgeable and influential as him, he was currently unsure what the Kunlun Demon Clan was plotting, or rather, what [Chen] was plotting.

After [Chen]’s emergence, he had started organizing Great Grandmasters and experts from the major Secret Realm research institutions to study [Chen]’s background and abilities. They were also analyzing how beings in ancient times could break through from the Dao Entry Realm to the Fusion Realm.

Over a year had passed, and they had achieved some minor results, but those results seemed to have no connection to the Kunlun Demon Clan’s temporary retreat, nor did they have any direct link to the enemy’s city-annihilation plan.

’In other words, the problem isn’t with [Chen] himself. Has some unexpected situation arisen?’

’So what in the world has been happening lately...?’

After a moment of contemplation, a voice filled with authority suddenly came from Luo Beixing: "Perhaps it has something to do with Jiang Qiu."

"Jiang Qiu?"

Lin Yu was stunned for a moment, and the others in the room exchanged glances. Most of them had, of course, heard the name Jiang Qiu—Dean Wu Hong’s sixth direct disciple.

Even the few who didn’t pay much attention to the news vaguely recalled the name sounding familiar, as if they’d heard a friend at Northwest Martial University mention a genius who had broken through to Ninth Rank Jade Sinews.

’But what does that have to do with the Kunlun Demon Clan’s temporary retreat?’

’If I remember correctly, isn’t Jiang Qiu still in the Northern Wilderness Great Secret Realm?’

Because Gao Yuan City was under a sudden attack from the Kunlun Demon Clan, much of their intelligence was outdated. The Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters present had all been preoccupied with the battle, completely unaware of the situation in the Outer Realm.

From their perspective, even if they had heard Jiang Qiu’s name, it was several months ago. It was impossible to imagine a connection between him and the Kunlun Demon Clan’s current retreat.

"Zhu Weiyi and Wu Hong have sent me messages. The Northern Wilderness Great Secret Realm has opened. Jiang Qiu ultimately obtained the Enlightenment Fruit, used the skeleton of a True Dragon for Dragon Body Casting, and successfully stepped into the Peeping Dao Realm. After returning to Northwest Martial University, he joined their reinforcement team heading for Gao Yuan City."

Luo Beixing spoke calmly, his voice full of vigor, inspiring a strong sense of conviction.

His friendship with Zhu Weiyi ran deep. After all, there were only a few Great Grandmasters who had survived from their era, and even fewer were from the Northwest.

Furthermore, because of his status, the news of Jiang Qiu reaching the Peeping Dao Realm was sent to him and Wu Hong first, before being transmitted to Northwest Martial University and the Capital City.

Later, Wu Hong had passed on the information that he had approved Jiang Qiu to join the Hundred Machines Giant Kite reinforcement team. Judging by the timeline, he should have already arrived in Gao Yuan City.

The dozens of Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters present all took out their phones, using their own channels to confirm the information source. They were immediately dumbfounded. "The Northern Wilderness Great Secret Realm actually opened this morning? That’s around the same time the Kunlun Demon Clan launched their attack!"

"Jiang Qiu actually got the Enlightenment Fruit and broke through to the Peeping Dao Realm? Excellent! This is truly a glory for Great Xia!"

A few excited cries erupted from the elders, the weariness from battle on their faces swept away, as if they were generals who had suddenly heard the long roll of war drums.

The Northern Wilderness Great Secret Realm was no small place; it garnered a great deal of attention. Or rather, the emergence of any Great Secret Realm would draw countless eyes.

Especially when the world’s top prodigies had all gathered in the Northern Wilderness Great Secret Realm.

The fact that Jiang Qiu was able to obtain the Enlightenment Fruit meant that he, by his own power, had surpassed the strongest Dharma Realm geniuses from all other factions. His personal potential was naturally very high, and more importantly, this meant that a world-shocking leading figure had once again appeared in Xia Country’s current generation.

How could everyone not be happy?

However, most of the Grandmasters still didn’t understand the connection between the two. "Grand General Luo, why do you say the Kunlun Demon Clan’s retreat is related to Jiang Qiu? According to the news I’m seeing, he only just stepped into the Peeping Dao Realm, which means he just became a Grandmaster. He probably hasn’t even familiarized himself with combat at the Grandmaster level. That couldn’t possibly be enough to intimidate the Kunlun Demon Clan, could it?"

As soon as this was said, the gazes of many Grandmasters once again focused on Luo Beixing’s face.

Of course, Jiang Qiu’s ability to suppress all the other prodigies and ultimately obtain the Enlightenment Fruit was undoubtedly a sign of astonishing potential. But that was precisely the key to the problem: he had only just entered the Peeping Dao Realm. How could he possibly have the power to intervene in a city-annihilation war?

A Grandmaster was certainly powerful, but in the last wave of defense alone, a double-digit number of Grandmasters had already died!

Among them were many experts who were close to the level of a Dao Entry Grandmaster!

In the face of such a catastrophe, Jiang Qiu’s Peeping Dao Realm strength was not enough to make a difference. He still needed a certain amount of time to grow.

"I have no proof that the Kunlun Demon Clan’s retreat is strongly connected to Jiang Qiu," Luo Beixing said unhurriedly. "However, there is a special connection between Jiang Qiu and [Chen], one sufficient to influence the latter’s decisions. You can think of it as a life-or-death relationship between the two."

They had heard whispers of this news, but the deeper details were classified. They didn’t actually understand what kind of connection existed between the two.

’To be able to influence [Chen]’s decisions?!’

"So what you mean is, Jiang Qiu possesses such extremely astonishing potential that even [Chen], the reincarnation of an Ancient Demon Emperor, covets him? We need to ensure his safety, prevent him from being overwhelmed by the Kunlun Demon Clan’s army, and ultimately being devoured by [Chen]?"

A Grandmaster spoke up, raising an eyebrow, his expression rather subtle.

At such a critical moment, during a meeting of Gao Yuan City’s top stationed experts, for a kid under twenty to be suddenly brought up—they certainly weren’t just making small talk.

Moreover, judging by Grand General Luo’s attitude, it was clear he was very biased towards Jiang Qiu. After the college entrance exams, he had even deigned to personally visit Jiang Qiu in the Shantytown.

Later, when Jiang Qiu arrived at Northwest Martial University, he was immediately taken in as a direct disciple by Dean Wu Hong. It was said that this was due to Grand General Luo’s letter of recommendation, a point the Grand General had never denied.

’Just what level of genius was worthy of that kind of attitude from Grand General Luo? He himself was a once-in-a-century genius!’

"..."

The hall suddenly fell silent. Luo Beixing remained quiet, but it was Lin Yu who spoke up coldly. "Protecting Jiang Qiu’s safety will, at the very least, ensure our country’s destruction is delayed. If we don’t protect Jiang Qiu, in less than three months, every Demon Race clan in the world might be answering to Kunlun.

"Demon King [Chen] used the Blood Sacrifice Rebirth Technique. On top of that, he possesses a unique Body Casting Secret Technique. His potential far exceeds our imagination.

"According to my research, if not for some kind of restrictive bond with Jiang Qiu limiting him, when [Chen] first emerged, he would have been at least at the Peeping Dao Realm, and possibly could have stepped directly into the Dao Entry Realm.

"You haven’t forgotten how [Chen], who was only at the level of an Ancestral Great Demon at the time, single-handedly fought Gao Yang and several other Grandmasters from the college entrance exam group, as well as dozens of experts in the Dharma Realm, without taking a single injury.

"If [Chen] had no restrictions, you and I would already be buried underground!"