“I want the Sky-Slaughter Diagram,” Jiang Chen said after a moment of contemplation, his eyes gleaming with intent. He understood why the Lord of God’s Abandonment was willing to negotiate. It was likely due to the looming presence of the Devouring Beast preparing to awaken and the subtle aura of the Heavenly Fox Empress. Jiang Chen had already handed the Supreme Soul Jade to the Empress, and although she was currently dormant, her presence was undeniable to a being as perceptive as the Lord of God’s Abandonment. The Sky-Slaughter Diagram represented unparalleled value, tied to the legacy of an Immortal Monarch. Its worth was beyond imagination. Though the Land of God’s Abandonment had studied it for countless years, it had yielded no breakthroughs, prompting them to abandon their efforts. “How do you know I possess the Sky-Slaughter Diagram?” The Lord of God’s Abandonment’s voice turned cold and contemplative. “Are you from the upper realms?” The revelation startled the crowd. The mention of the diagram and the “upper realms” left the assembled forces dumbfounded, their minds filled with countless questions. What is the Sky-Slaughter Diagram? What are the upper realms? Could they refer to the Immortal Domain? And how does Jiang Chen know all this? The weight of these mysteries left everyone frozen in place, their thoughts a tangled mess. “These details are irrelevant,” Jiang Chen replied, his tone calm but firm. “You and I both know that the diagram is a liability—a hot potato. Here, in this fragmented realm, it might serve to shield against certain forces.” “But if it returns to the upper realms, it will only bring disaster. You understand as well as I do what would happen then.” The Lord of God’s Abandonment fell silent. “In the end, keeping it will only expose you to greater danger,” Jiang Chen continued. “And besides, you don’t have much time left.” His words struck a nerve. In the original story, the Lord of God’s Abandonment had once been a true immortal from the Immortal Domain. However, his quest for the Sky-Slaughter Diagram had led to a brutal conflict with supreme beings, leaving him grievously injured and forced to flee to the Nine Heavens Realm. Trapped in this broken world, the Lord of God’s Abandonment had been unable to recover, his injuries festering as he waited for the passage to reopen. When it finally did, he returned to the Immortal Domain, only to meet his end due to the very diagram he had coveted. It eventually fell into the hands of an unparalleled faction, sparking countless battles until the protagonist, Du Guyun, emerged victorious and unveiled its secrets. Jiang Chen’s gaze was steady, his demand clear. He wanted the diagram, not just for its immense value but to avert the inevitable calamity that its possession would bring. Jiang Chen was uncertain if the Lord of God’s Abandonment would give in to his request. After all, the Sky-Slaughter Diagram was of immense importance, tied to the Lord’s tragic history. It was unreasonable to expect him to relinquish it so easily. “Choose another request,” the Lord of God’s Abandonment said softly, unwilling to part with what he considered his most valuable possession, something he had fought tooth and nail to obtain. Jiang Chen wasn’t surprised by the refusal. His request had been a calculated gamble. While acquiring the diagram would have been ideal, not getting it didn’t leave him disappointed. “There’s nothing else I want,” Jiang Chen replied calmly. “If you return to the upper realms and find yourself under attack, you can send the Sky-Slaughter Diagram to me in your final moments.” His statement was both direct and dismissive, knowing that anything truly valuable would never be handed over voluntarily by the Lord. “You make strange requests,” the Lord of God’s Abandonment said, a trace of helplessness in his tone. Jiang Chen’s words carried an air of inevitability, as if his death were already written in the stars. “I’ve always wondered how such a prodigy could arise in this small world. Someone like you would be a Dao Child in the Three Thousand Dao Domains.” With those parting words, the immortal light from the Land of God’s Abandonment dimmed, and the Ye Clan’s Great Emperor disappeared into its depths. Jiang Chen chose not to stop him, unwilling to provoke a direct conflict with the Lord of God’s Abandonment for now. Furthermore, he didn’t want the situation to escalate to a point where the Devouring Beast and others were prematurely awakened. Though Jiang Chen didn’t obtain the diagram, he wasn’t far from achieving his goal. His understanding of the original story gave him clarity: the Sky-Slaughter Diagram was nothing short of a calamity waiting to happen—a death invitation in the Immortal Domain. Possession of it almost guaranteed the attention of supreme powers seeking to destroy the bearer. The Lord of God’s Abandonment, should he return to the Immortal Domain, would undoubtedly meet his end. Jiang Chen’s subtle warning may have planted the seed for the diagram to eventually fall into his hands without further conflict. Satisfied with this outcome, Jiang Chen calmed his thoughts. Despite the apparent stalemate, his gains were substantial. As the gathered forces dispersed, peace gradually returned to the starry skies. Jiang Chen tore through the void and appeared at the Heavenly Fox Clan’s territory, his gaze calm but sharp. “I heard you’ve been pressuring the Heavenly Fox Clan to join you. Care to explain?” His voice was steady, yet it carried an undeniable weight that silenced the gathered ancient imperial clans. The atmosphere became stifling, as if time itself had frozen. “No such thing,” Bai Ye finally said, his expression complex. “Now that the Heavenly Fox Clan has aligned with the Primordial Holy Land, we naturally won’t interfere.” Having witnessed Jiang Chen dominate the Ye Clan’s Great Emperor and overheard his conversation with the Lord of God’s Abandonment, Bai Ye had no intention of crossing him. Any thought of opposition had been thoroughly extinguished. In terms of strength, they were no match. In terms of background, they paled in comparison. Though Bai Ye didn’t know Jiang Chen’s exact origins, the discussion with the Lord of God’s Abandonment revealed enough to suggest he came from the upper realms and possessed a significant background. Bai Ye chose to retreat entirely. “There’s been no such coercion. The Heavenly Fox Clan’s decisions are their own. Let’s disperse!” One by one, the ancient imperial clans vanished, leaving the void calm once more. It was as if their earlier gathering had never occurred. Watching the retreating figures, the Heavenly Fox Clan’s Supreme Elder, once brimming with confidence, stood dumbfounded. He had relied on their support, only to find himself utterly abandoned. “What about your promises to back me?” His voice trembled, barely masking his despair. “They all ran away… leaving me looking like a fool.” “Supreme Elder, do you have anything left to say now?” asked Tianye, the Heavenly Fox Clan’s matriarch. With Jiang Chen behind her, her posture straightened, her confidence soaring. She smiled mockingly at the elder. “Look at your so-called allies. They’re useless cowards, scattering at the first sign of trouble. They’re no match for the Primordial Holy Land.” The events of the day had cemented the Primordial Holy Land’s dominance over the Nine Heavens Realm. No immortal faction dared challenge them, except perhaps the ancient sovereigns in the forbidden zones or the insane former emperors seeking the immortal road. For now, no one else dared provoke them. The Supreme Elder let out a long sigh, defeated and speechless. With the Heavenly Fox Clan’s threats neutralized, they formally aligned themselves with the Primordial Holy Land, free from future interference. Jiang Chen’s intervention had decisively removed any lingering dangers. The Nine Heavens Realm, for now, remained under the undisputed shadow of the Primordial Holy Land.