Chapter 840 - 104: The Origins of the Grand Ancestor Emperor

"Junior Lin Chen greets Senior Jiang."

When Yin Yue questioned with a wary gaze, Lin Chen also spoke up to greet Jiang Taiyi.

"Young lady, there’s no need for such vigilance. I know these things because I interacted with a member of your Royal Family many years ago."

Jiang Taiyi smiled slightly, looking at Yin Yue: "What is your relationship with Yin Men?"

Yin Yue’s expression became solemn: "He was my grandfather. He passed away seventy years ago."

"Passed away?"

Jiang Taiyi was taken aback, a hint of nostalgia flickering in his eyes, but he soon regained clarity: "Given his age, his passing was natural. How is your father, Yin Hao?"

"My father was killed by a traitor within the clan."

Yin Yue had already realized that the mysterious Myriad Phenomena Realm powerhouse from Canglan Island before her had a great relationship with her grandfather. The matter of the Royal Family’s Moon Bone was likely told by her grandfather.

And to have the grandfather disclose the matter of the clan’s Moon Bone, their relationship was far from ordinary.

"Killed by a traitor?"

This time, Jiang Taiyi stayed silent for quite a moment: "I once saw your father; back then, he was about your age. Let’s leave these things in the past and not mention them."

Lin Chen, listening to the conversation between the two, was also swiftly pondering. It was obvious that Senior Jiang had an extraordinary relationship with Yin Yue’s grandfather. Ordinarily, upon hearing that the son of a friend was murdered, Senior Jiang should be furious, perhaps even help Yin Yue seek revenge. Yet, Senior Jiang abruptly stopped discussing this matter, leaving Lin Chen puzzled.

"Internal matters of the Remnant Race must not be interfered with by outsiders. This is a rule set by all ancient Remnant Races."

Jiang Taiyi turned his gaze to Lin Chen, seeming to have caught onto the source of Lin Chen’s confusion, and offered an explanation.

"Junior understands."

Lin Chen realized why Senior Jiang did not continue the conversation, and why Yin Yue did not request Senior Jiang’s help for revenge.

"I once told you to stay on Canglan Island for a few more days; an opportunity would come to you. Do you know what this opportunity is?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen did not hold back, speculating: "Is it related to the Western Border Abyss?"

"Indeed. The opportunity lies beneath the abyss." Jiang Taiyi nodded slightly: "Follow me then."

Under Jiang Taiyi’s guidance, the three reached the abyss in less than a two-hour period. As he stood before the abyss, even having entered the Innate Realm, Lin Chen felt a bit apprehensive.

To call it an abyss is actually inaccurate.

A hundred feet ahead, black mist billowed endlessly, level with the yellow sandy ground. But the eerie thing was that looking through this black mist forward, one couldn’t see the end. Perhaps more aptly, this is a sea of mist, and the yellow sandy area a hundred feet away is the boundary of this mist sea.

"Senior Jiang, is this a secret realm?"

Lin Chen frowned, as Canglan Island was discovered, the entire island was fully exposed, and the Western Border of Liang was already the westernmost part of Canglan Island. A boundless black mist, those Martial Artists who landed on the island couldn’t possibly miss it, as the west is precisely the direction they would pass through to land.

Moreover, when he returned on the Dragon King Ship, he had seen the western side of Canglan Island from the sea—the western side was just a normal coast, followed by mountains. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Yet, observing this sprawling expanse of black mist, it can’t go unnoticed by outsiders unless behind the boundless mist, mountains appear, obstructing this mist. But Canglan Island is only so large, and Lin Chen could confirm he had already reached the westernmost end of Canglan Island.

Thus, only one reason seemed plausible—this must be a secret realm.

In the Flame Dynasty, he had witnessed many secret realms, even on Canglan Island itself, including the Canglan Prefecture of that distant senior brother and the sect site of the last Sect Leader of the Heaven-Supporting Sect.

And these were merely the means of Innate Powerhouses. The abyss before him, catching the attention of Senior Jiang of the Myriad Phenomena Realm caliber, pointed to the high possibility of a secret realm, possibly even orchestrated by this very Lord Jiang.

"Your guess is correct. This indeed is a secret realm, arranged by myself, to dissuade those lacking vision from coming here to meet their doom."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen recalled Duke Dingxi’s mention of the disappearance of those two Innate Powerhouses. Martial Artists below the Innate cannot cross the line guarded by the Dingxi Army, and to warrant Senior Jiang calling one ’lacking vision,’ at least an Innate Martial Artist; Senior Jiang essentially wouldn’t bother with those below Innate.

"Even the secret realm set by a senior could not halt the appearance of this black mist."

Having been silent since learning about Jiang Taiyi’s past interactions with her grandfather, Yin Yue suddenly spoke. This remark caused Lin Chen to pause and glance at Yin Yue with a grateful expression; she was warning him.

This might not be a great opportunity; it could also be a significant danger.

Against Myriad Phenomena Realm masters, who are already top-tier within the Flame Dynasty, since Senior Jiang laid this secret realm here, and neither wishes it exposed nor wants this mist to converge and spread, prompting Liang to send troops to garrison.

Even if the Innate Powerhouses coming to the island can’t discern this place, a brief investigation would reveal the West Border Abyss as long as they stay on the island for some time and inquire about some of the island’s peculiar sites.

The secret of the Dingxi Army’s hundred thousand troops cannot be kept.

The Secret Realm was created to prevent discovery, yet a hundred thousand troops are stationed here, a contradiction in itself. It can’t be that Senior Jiang has such a morbid curiosity. After eliminating these possibilities, there remains only one explanation, something that even Senior Jiang can only achieve.

"Girl, there’s no need to be so euphemistic. Reasonably speaking, since I know your grandfather, you should be on my side, yet you purposely hint at Lin Chen... I understand."

Jiang Taiyi was not angered by Yin Yue’s implicit reminder about Lin Chen and suspicion of him, but instead thought of something, showing a rather intrigued expression as he looked at Lin Chen.

What are you looking at?

Feeling that Senior Jiang’s gaze at him was filled with a certain kind of amusement, this expression was like a spectator anticipating a great show.

"Lin Chen, over the years, the Martial Arts Garden has always been helping young talents from the Nine Kingdoms in their training. Do you know the reason for this?"

"Elder Zhao once told me, it was because of the Flame Dynasty’s evaluation of desolate islands. If the Martial Path couldn’t be developed, all Martial Artists on the island would be taken away. The Martial Arts Garden did it to protect the Martial Artists of the Nine Kingdoms."

Thinking of what Elder Zhao had said to him back then, now knowing that Senior Jiang is a Myriad Phenomena Realm powerhouse, he realized that this reason was false.

The Ten Great Dynasties within the Canglan Domain, in terms of territorial size, are several times or even dozens of times that of Canglan Island. Even so, there isn’t a single Myriad Phenomena Realm powerhouse, yet they haven’t been affected by the Flame Dynasty, while Canglan Island has Senior Jiang, so even if other Martial Artists are not at the Entering the Grade level, they couldn’t be taken away.

However, Lin Chen did not doubt Elder Zhao deceiving him. Senior Jiang is a Myriad Phenomena Realm powerhouse; even Elder Zhao likely didn’t know. The reason Elder Zhao told him must have been informed by Senior Jiang to these Elders.

Since it’s not to fear the Flame Dynasty, then this assistance from Senior Jiang to the talents of the Nine Kingdoms...

"Have you guessed it?"

Jiang Taiyi noticed a slight change in Lin Chen’s expression and continued without waiting for Lin Chen’s response, "I established the Martial Arts Garden and let Martial Arts Gardens in various places help gifted youths because of here. I need someone to go to the Abyss."

"Senior, what is the origin of this Abyss?"

Lin Chen’s expression was very calm, as he had also guessed. Now his only curiosity was, what exactly is in this Abyss, and what are the so-called demons?

The origin must be extraordinary if it couldn’t be completely sealed by a Myriad Phenomena Realm powerhouse.

"Demon!"

"Demon? What is a demon?"

"I don’t know either."

Jiang Taiyi shook his head, his gaze turned towards the Abyss, and a trace of confusion was revealed in his deep eyes.

"Lin Chen, you should know that I and the Grand Ancestor Emperor of Liang are fellow apprentices."

"Mm, Elder Zhao told me back then."

Jiang Taiyi continued without turning back, "The Grand Ancestor Emperor of Liang is my senior brother, but the difference is that my senior brother originally came from the Flame Dynasty."

"Impossible!"

Yin Yue couldn’t hold back again: "It’s not that I doubt you, Senior, but Liang was established for over three hundred years. At that time, Canglan Island was still surrounded by the Annihilation Storm, which even a Myriad Phenomena Realm powerhouse wouldn’t dare to cross."

As a Princess of the Moon Soul Race, Yin Yue’s understanding of the Annihilation Storm far exceeded that of others, as the power of the Annihilation Storm was clearly recorded in the clan’s Jade Scroll, posing a significant risk to Myriad Phenomena Realm powerhouses entering it.

Earlier, this Senior Jiang claimed to know her grandfather, relying on the power of a Myriad Phenomena Realm, and the manifestation of Canglan Island could only be considered the periphery of the Annihilation Storm, still giving a Myriad Phenomena Realm powerhouse a chance to traverse it.

But the Grand Ancestor Emperor of the Flame Dynasty could never have done it. During her time on Canglan Island, she specifically gathered information that the Grand Ancestor Emperor of the Flame Dynasty wasn’t even considered an Innate Martial Artist, so how could he have entered Canglan Island within the Annihilation Storm from outside?

"Nothing is impossible."

Jiang Taiyi was not angered by Yin Yue’s doubt, instead he smiled: "Girl, the Remnant Race indeed knows more secrets than ordinary Martial Artists, or even some Super Sects, but it doesn’t mean they know everything, just like this demon which you do not know."

"The Flame Dynasty is so vast, and the East Sea has the Annihilation Storm, it’s normal that we do not know. Among the thousands of islands revealed by the Annihilation Storm, many existences not found in the Flame Dynasty, including spirit medicines and demon beasts, are often discovered... now, one more unknown special existence is normal, but the power of the Annihilation Storm does not change."

Yin Yue did not back down from Jiang Taiyi’s words, believing the records of her clan to be accurate. The Annihilation Storm presents enormous risks even to Myriad Phenomena Realm powerhouses, so crossing it below the Myriad Phenomena Realm is impossible; touching it would mean death.

"Normally, it can’t be entered. But don’t forget the Ghost Ship."

As Jiang Taiyi said this, both Lin Chen and Yin Yue’s pupils shrank abruptly, and at this moment, they both stared intently at Jiang Taiyi.

Glaring at a Myriad Phenomena Realm powerhouse in such a manner is offensive and disrespectful, but at this moment, the two were too shocked to care.

"My senior brother sneaked in using the Ghost Ship."