Chapter 499: Everyone, Stop Arguing and Hear Me Out!
Kaboom!
The sound of crashing waves could vaguely be heard from the skies.
It was caused by the fury of the Nether River Patriarch.
One would find skies of Swift Star dyed blood-red when one looked up at it, and a sea of blood if they were looking from outer space.
Its torrents stretched across billions of miles.
Over the Blood Sea, the Nether River Patriarch were standing with his hands clasped behind his back as he stared coldly down at Swift Star, coldly asking, “Who is the ruler of Swift Star?”
Beside Jiang He, Yu Quan Zi promptly said, “My lord, I am Yu Quan Zi, and am entrusted by my own master to guard Swift Star.”
“Oh? You’re a disciple of one of the Twelve Hollow Jade Temple Immortals?”
Up in the skies, the blood-hued eyes turned toward Yu Quanzi, but he spoke with disdain as if he thought nothing of the galactically renowned Twelve Hollow Jade Temple Immortals… and the Nether River Patriarch himself did have that level of confidence.
Despite how grand the Chan Sect was, he only thought of the real senior disciple as an equal barring the Primeval Lord of Heaven, who was a Saint.
“My master is the True Habitant of Yu Ding.”
Yu Quanzi looked at Jiang He and took a step forward, speaking with neither humility nor hubris, “My lord, Brother Jiang He here is an important guest of the Hollow Jade Palace. I may not know your ties to him, but if you are willing, we, the Hollow Jade Palace are willing to mediate…”
“Absolutely not!”
Even before Yu Quan Zi could finish, the Nether River Patriarch roared in rage, “A brat like you daring to step out of line?!”
Kaboom!
The blood sea crashed down.
Waves of dull echoes resounded as the arrays beyond Swift Star were pressured. At the same time, all of Swift Star quaked, with various calamities occurring across the world such as the ground cracking, mountains collapsing, the seas rising, and volcanos erupting.
“Nether River Patriarch!”
Not even Yu Quan Zi could hold back from an angry bellow despite his usual mild temper. Charging his Immortal Yuan Strength, he linked up to the drawing scroll up in the skies and it promptly erupted in dazzling radiances. Streaks of immortal light descended, stabilizing the tremors over Swift Star and promptly calming the calamities over Swift Star…
Even so, there was no telling how many innocent lives had perished in that last instant.
His white hair dancing, Yu Quan Zi roared furiously, “Is this a challenge to the Hollow Jade Palace, Nether River Patriarch?”
The blood-colored face in the skies laughed coldly and retorted in disdain, “What, am I supposed to be afraid of you?”
Despite those words, the Nether River Patriarch withdrew much of his aura—he was clearly wary of the Hollow Jade Palace even if he was an elite who dominated worlds.
“I respect you as my senior, Nether River Patriarch, and the Hollow Jade Temple would not force you to take responsibility!”
“You have guts, kid!”
Angered, the Nether River Patriarch spoke coolly, “I was born in ancient times and I am not that much younger than your ancestral master. A kid like you speaking to me like that?!”
Kaboom!
The borderless Blood Sea churned up in the skies.
“Calm down!”
Jiang He stood up then, his expression neutral as he said indifferently, “This is between you and me. Why drag in bystanders?”
That instant of fury that the Nether River Patriarch had unleashed just now caused tremors upon Swift Star, with untold number of beings perishing in the blink of an eye… and since the Nether River Patriarch had come for him, in other words, those beings died because of him!
“Since you’ve had a hard time cultivating, return the Yuan Killer Sword and I’ll spare your life!”
Up in the skies, the massive blood-colored face glared tightly at Jiang He. It was a godly technique from the Nether River Patriarch, and the entire face as well as the eyes were almost solid that left Jiang He feeling some extent of pressure.
Knocking it away with his own aura, Jiang He looked directly back at the blood-colored eyes and laughed. “I agree with what Brother Yu Quan Zi said just now… We may respect you as a senior, but don’t ask for a mile after giving you an inch—I picked up the Yuan Killer Sword by chance, so why should I return it to you?”
“Huh?!”
The Nether River Patriarch was taken aback.
He did not seem to have expected this outcome.
His killing intent erupted and Jiang He actually felt jarred even though the man was in outer space and laughing fiercely. “It seems that the world has forgotten my terror after I’ve been away for a few thousand years!”
“Runt!”
His tone changing, he growled, “You really have a death wish!”
Kaboom!
He nonchalantly attacked with his palm, though the array outside Swift Star nullified it directly.
The borderless blood sea and the gigantic blood-hued face promptly faded, turning into a middle-aged man wearing blood-colored robes in outer space. He did not appear strong, but his presence was profound as if he stood at a billion meters tall!
The air behind him trembled with every step he took, as if space itself was crashing down upon you.
Even Jiang He had to direct all his Immortal Yuan Strength to stop the enormous pressure.
His veins bulging, he glared viciously at the Nether River Patriarch as he nonchalantly entered the planet as if having a stroll.
An immortal light streaked toward them then—Tu Xing Sun had arrived, and being full-fledged Golden Immortal, he was slammed to the ground by the pressure extending from the Nether River Patriarch just as he stepped out of Sky City’s portal. Even so, he roared in rage, “How dare you, Nether River Patriarch?! Mister Jiang is an important guest of the Hollow Jade Temple, and we will not let this rest if you touch a strand of hair on his head!”
Whoosh!
The Nether River Patriarch did not even look at Tu Xing Sun and fired a blood light with a flick of his fingers at him.
Even if he had just recovered seventy percent of his cultivation, an offhanded strike that was capable of killing a full-fledged Golden Immortal like Tu Xing Sun… but that was when another immortal light shot out of thin air, shattering the blood light with a swish.
It was a rope released from outer space.
In front of Tu Xing Sun, there was a flash of earthen-yellow halation before Ju Liu Sun’s figure appeared.
Extending his hand and beckoning to retrieve the rope, he looked up coldly at the Nether River Patriarch and said somberly, “Nether River, how could a senior like you attack my disiciple?”
“Ju Liu Sun?”
The Nether River Patriarch frowned, his inward rage stoked by Jiang He fading considerably then.
While the Nether River Patriarch was prided as peerless barring Saints, that was in one-on-one situations. The Twelve Hollow Jade Temple Immortals were deserving of their reputation, and he would not win if all twelve fought against him.
And aside from those twelve, there was also the Primeval Lord of Heaven.
Be that as it may, saving face was vital for someone of the Nether River Patriarch’s level.
How could he strut around if Ju Liu Xun alone was enough to deter him?
However, just as he was about to speak, his expression changed as he turned toward the distant space. Space was rippling as several figures warped toward them, and the one in the lead was holding an immortal sword called the Immortal Cutter glinting with dazzling sword light.
Then, a red-nosed man with the Nine Dragon God Fire Shroud floating over his head could be heard cursing as he approached, even though he was still far away.
Then, another true habitant came, sword in hand as he rode an immortal crane.
The last person appeared rather young.
He was holding the Fan of Five Fires and Seven Fowls with his right hand and the Bottle Gourd of Divine Sand with his left, and riding a spirited qilin to the scene.
“You’re safe now, Brother Jiang He!”
Yu Quan Zi exclaimed in delight beside Jiang He. “My master and martial uncles have all arrived!”
Wang Hou stared at the many elites whose mere auras shook the heavens, and then at Jiang He in shock… five out of the twelve Hollow Jade Temple Immortals were actually mobilized because of him!
Jiang He was gaping as well and soon felt moved too.
Staring at Yu Quan Zi, he smiled, “The Chan Sect has such unity that I’m tearing up…”
What?
Yu Quan Zi appeared utterly confused.
The Chan Sect… unity?
Could you be thinking that my masters and the others came to defend Swift Star?
On the other hand, the Nether River Patriarch’s expression changed when the True Habitant of Yu Ding, Ju Liu Sun, and the other elites arrived.
He had just revived and had yet to recover the peak of his cultivation. Even if he did not fear the five people before him now, the other elites of the Hollow Jade Temple would soon rush to the scene if they really fought!
At the same time, the True Habitant of Yu Ding arrived beside Yu Quan Zi. Staring at the Nether River Patriarch, he said seriously, “Brother, Jiang He is a valued guest of the Chan Sect. Did you really think that the Hollow Jade Temple is to be provoked lightly, attacking him on Swift Star?”
The True Habitant of Yu Ding appeared discreet and down-to-earth, but his threats certainly showed standard.
The Nether River Patriarch naturally had to respond in kind to save face as well.
Either way, both sides were not backing down, engaging in a standoff and appearing ready to come to blows in an instant…
Meanwhile, Jiang He appeared taken aback then.
Still, he soon come to a realization.
These elites from the Hollow Jade Palace actually came for him?
This was the first time someone had his back.
To tell the truth, this felt…
It actually felt quite good.
And yet…
The scale of this battle would vaporize all of Swift Star once it kicked off. There was no telling how many nearby planets would be caught as well, and there would be infinite innocent beings that would die because of him.
Hence…
Jiang He flew toward them, landing between the Nether River Patriarch and the many elites of the Hollow Jade Temple, shouting, “Everyone, stop arguing and hear me out…”