Jiang Chen's question hit Shen Xin like a sudden clap of thunder.

Yes.

The thought rose clearly in his mind.

Of course I want to see Master.

Then another question followed right behind it.

So why have I been so stubborn? Why did I keep refusing? Have I really been ignoring everything he taught me?

The anger that had been burning inside him slowly cooled. The tightness in his chest eased. His grip on the broken saber loosened without him noticing.

Jiang Chen watched the change in his eyes.

"Looks like you've figured it out."

A faint smile touched his lips. He felt a bit relieved.

He had aimed straight at Shen Xin's weak spot—and it worked. Even with Heavenly Fate stirring things in the dark, Shen Xin's emotions had finally settled.

At the same time, Jiang Chen understood something clearly.

That mysterious protagonist held an extremely important place in Shen Xin's heart—far deeper than he had first expected.

"Hmph." Shen Xin let out a cold snort. "My master is already dead. How can you say he'll come back just because you say so?"

Jiang Chen shook his head. "I have my own ways of judging these things. You're still too inexperienced. You can't see the bigger picture yet."

Shen Xin's expression shifted.

He didn't know how old Jiang Chen really was, but deep down, he felt it—this man had walked a much longer road than he had.

"Lead the way." Jiang Chen flicked his sleeve.

Shen Xin didn't move.

Jiang Chen looked at him. "What now? I'm not giving you another chance."

Shen Xin's jaw tightened. "Can we wait a little longer?"

He drew a slow breath. "I need to report everything to the Profound Jade Immortal Alliance first. I'll wait for their decision about you… and about my mission."

He hesitated for a moment.

"My senior brother, Zhu Zhongming, is still locked in the Heavenly Purgatory Prison…"

The rest of the words stuck in his throat.

Zhu Zhongming was still locked inside the Heavenly Purgatory Prison.

If Shen Xin took Jiang Chen off Prosperous Stone Immortal Star without permission and traveled to another life-bearing planet in the Profound Jade Immortal Domain, the Alliance might not only refuse to release Zhu Zhongming—they could execute him on the spot.

"Oh?" Jiang Chen looked at him. "Your senior brother Zhu Zhongming is in the Heavenly Purgatory Prison?"

So that's how it is.

"The Profound Jade Immortal Alliance is using his life to keep you in line," he said calmly. "Making you work for them without giving you anything in return."

A faint, knowing smile appeared on his face.

Shen Xin gave a helpless nod. "That's the situation."

"The Heavenly Purgatory Prison is the most dangerous prison in the entire Profound Jade Immortal Domain. A few ordinary Nirvana Cleansing realm cultivators are enough to activate the purgatory formation inside and kill him."

He lowered his eyes for a moment.

"So I can't let you leave Prosperous Stone Immortal Star. If I do, my senior brother will die."

Jiang Chen frowned and fell silent for a moment.

"In that case," he said at last, "I can't just ignore your senior brother's life and force my way into the interstellar teleportation array."

Shen Xin felt some of the tension leave his chest. The way he looked at Jiang Chen softened a little.

Jiang Chen rubbed his chin, thinking.

"How about this. We put on a show. You pretend to defeat me and escort me to the Heavenly Purgatory Prison. Use me as leverage to exchange for your senior brother."

He paused briefly.

"Once your brother is safe, you can handle the rest yourself. There shouldn't be many people in the Profound Jade Immortal Domain who can threaten the two of you together."

Shen Xin's eyes lit up. "You're serious?"

Jiang Chen nodded. "I am. After you trade me for your senior brother, I'll escape on my own."

He looked straight at Shen Xin.

"In return, you tell me where your master fell. I want to go there and find him."

Shen Xin considered it, then gave a small nod.

"But why are you so determined to meet my master?"

Because I want to kill him.

Of course, Jiang Chen didn't say that out loud.

Instead, a trace of helplessness crossed his face.

"Because he's special," he said. "I want to learn something from him—something that can help me step into the Void Tribulation realm. Cultivation isn't easy. If I don't break through soon, I'll grow old and die."

Shen Xin paused.

So that's it.

In his eyes, Jiang Chen was already nearing the end of his lifespan and needed his master's guidance to break through.

Jiang Chen gave a faint, bitter smile. "Enough talking. Let's begin the show."

"Alright." Shen Xin tightened his grip on his weapon and moved without hesitation.

Boom!

A violent explosion shook the Dao Cage.

The forty-six Great Dao laws around Jiang Chen shattered one after another, exploding into dazzling streams of light that filled the sky.

Two streaks of light shot upward and crashed into each other high above.

The shockwaves spread outward in waves.

In just a moment, mountains and rivers within hundreds of thousands of miles were flattened, wiped away as if they had never existed.

Even the ground began to vanish, layer after layer turning to nothing and exposing the deep underground—earth that hadn't seen sunlight for thousands of years.

Such a huge disturbance couldn't possibly go unnoticed.

The battle waves spread for hundreds of thousands of miles. Cultivators nearby all saw it. Many were caught in the aftermath and injured just from the shockwaves.

Bao Rui, at the Peak-stage of the Nirvana Cleansing realm, witnessed everything clearly.

This… is way too strong.

His heart pounded.

This has already reached the Void Tribulation level. It's terrifying.

If I went up there, I wouldn't even qualify to step into that battlefield. I probably couldn't survive the leftover power at the center.

His eyes locked onto the sky.

Jiang Chen has mastered forty-six Great Dao laws. Just three short of the threshold to break into the Void Tribulation realm.

A chill ran through him.

Even among the top figures in the Profound Jade Immortal Domain, Jiang Chen would stand near the very front.

Shen Xin, without the weapons and armor provided by the Profound Jade Immortal Alliance, simply wouldn't be able to match him.

Still…

From a distance, the two streaks of light were still clashing fiercely. It looked like neither side had clearly gained the upper hand yet.

For now, it seemed like a stalemate.

Bao Rui kept watching without blinking.

Of course, he didn't forget his responsibilities. While observing the battle, he quickly sent detailed reports back to the Profound Jade Immortal Alliance.

He reported the clash between Jiang Chen and Shen Xin. He also explained the situation on the Immortal Martial Continent—there were no demons at all. Not a single one in sight. It seemed the demon race had given up on any plan to attack from the rear.

All of this was sent to Phoenix Cry Immortal Star.

When Feng Haojin received the news, he was stunned by the strength Jiang Chen and Shen Xin had shown.

At the same time, he felt relieved.

Since the Immortal Martial Continent hadn't been invaded, the suspicion that Jiang Chen was secretly working with the demons weakened a lot.

Still, Feng Haojin didn't trust him.

In his eyes, capturing Jiang Chen was still a top priority. If that wasn't possible, then they would keep him trapped on Prosperous Stone Immortal Star and deal with him later, once they had enough manpower.

After thinking it through, Feng Haojin sent an order to Bao Rui.

He was to work together with Devil Saber Shen Xin and try to capture Jiang Chen alive—if they had the chance.

Which meant Bao Rui now had to look for the right moment to step in.

I'd love to help, but this is a Void Tribulation–level fight. How am I supposed to get involved?

He mocked himself inwardly, but on the surface, he quickly accepted the order.

Time passed.

High above, Jiang Chen and Shen Xin kept fighting. The sky darkened, the land broke apart, and the terrain changed beyond recognition. Seas dried up. Mountains vanished.

Even Bao Rui, watching from a distance, felt a deep chill run through him.