252: Chapter 252 The Crimson Flame Venerable Appears

A crimson light suddenly illuminated the distant horizon.

The light arrived with incredible speed; just a moment ago, it was merely a faint spark at the edge of the sky, but in the blink of an eye, it had covered half the heavens. Like a burning sun, it surged toward the direction of Cangming Mansion, carrying a scorching and majestic aura.

Wherever the crimson light passed, the remaining lead-gray clouds above Beiming City were scorched, churning and curling. The cold air permeating the atmosphere suddenly receded, replaced by a rushing wave of heat. Even the shattered bluestone slabs on the ground faintly glowed with a warm red light.

Jiang Li seemed to sense something and abruptly looked up. Her sparkling almond-shaped eyes instantly erupted with a gleam of pleasant surprise, and she nearly jumped up on the spot.

"Dad!"

When she shouted this, even Cangming Chiguang, who was kneeling on the ground, could not help but slightly lift his eyelids.

The crimson light suddenly converged above the courtyard, transforming into a tall and slender figure that landed steadily upon the bluestone slabs, which had been furrowed and scarred by the Heavenly Tribulation and the battle.

It was a middle-aged man with a tall stature, wearing a dark red robe with golden flame patterns embroidered on the hem, which remained motionless in the cold wind.

His features were sharp and defined, and his brows carried the natural dignity of one who had long held a high position. His crimson eyes, like two burning flames, scanned the members of the Cangming Clan kneeling all over the courtyard.

Peak Saint King Realm.

Jiang Yan's gaze swept quickly across the courtyard, passing over the black-robed guards of the Cangming Clan kneeling on the ground, over the paper-white faces of the two Saint King Old Ancestors, and over the bloodstains and stone dust still uncleaned from Cangming Chiguang's forehead.

Finally, his gaze fell upon the figure in the green shirt in the center of the courtyard.

Shen Qingyuan stood there with his hands tucked into his sleeves, his posture casual. Beside him hovered two Quasi-Emperor Realm Puppets, one black and one gold, their bodies flowing with runes like two silent guardian deities.

His green shirt fluttered slightly in the cold wind, and his expression was exceptionally composed.

Jiang Yan's gaze paused for a moment on the two Quasi-Emperor Realm Puppets before shifting back to Shen Qingyuan's face, a flash of deep, sharp light passing through his crimson eyes.

He did not rush to speak, but instead glanced first in Jiang Li's direction.

Jiang Li was standing not far behind Shen Qingyuan. The young girl, in her fiery red dress, was filled with irrepressible excitement. Seeing her father's gaze turn toward her, she hurriedly waved at him, her voice filled with joy: "Dad! Come over here quickly! This is Brother Qingyuan, he is so amazing!"

Jiang Yan withdrew his gaze and stepped toward Shen Qingyuan.

With every step he took on the shattered bluestone slabs, his pace was steady and powerful. Where his feet landed, the cracked ice and rubble emitted a faint "crunching" sound, yet he did not stir up any excess spiritual power fluctuations.

He stopped three zhang away from Shen Qingyuan.

Those crimson eyes met Shen Qingyuan's gaze in mid-air for a brief moment—no probing, no clash of spiritual power, just a simple glance.

Jiang Yan took a deep breath and slightly cupped his hands.

"Jiang Yan of the Chiyan Divine Palace, greets Your Excellency."

His voice was neither high nor low, but it carried an undisguisable sense of solemnity.

Although Jiang Yan had been hiding in the shadows and had not approached just now, he had seen almost everything that happened in the Cangming Mansion.

The combined attack of the three Saint King Old Ancestors had been suppressed with a single palm; the all-out encirclement by the two Quasi-Emperor Realm Puppets had been captured with both hands; the Profound Ice Spirit-Locking Formation had been shattered with a single stomp—he had seen it all clearly.

Precisely because he saw it clearly, he understood all the more what this young man before him signified.

Cangming Chiguang was a powerhouse at the Peak Saint King Realm, and those two Saint King Old Ancestors were no simpletons either. Coupled with the Profound Ice Spirit-Locking Formation accumulated by the Cangming Clan over ten thousand years, even a Quasi-Emperor Realm powerhouse would find it difficult to escape if they broke in.

Yet, this young man had merely raised his hand and taken a step, crushing all resistance in this courtyard to dust.

Such methods had already exceeded the scope of what an ordinary "Quasi-Emperor" could explain.

At the very least, he was at the Peak Quasi-Emperor Realm, or perhaps something even more terrifying.

Therefore, he lowered his posture significantly.

Shen Qingyuan looked up to size up the Palace Master of the Chiyan Divine Palace, his gaze sweeping over the restrained yet scorching spiritual power fluctuations around him, and gave a slight nod.

"Your Excellency is Little Li'er's father?"

Jiang Yan nodded and looked again at Jiang Li, who was standing behind Shen Qingyuan. Seeing that the little girl was completely unharmed and her breath was steady, clearly having suffered no injuries, the string in his heart that had been pulled tight finally relaxed completely.

He cupped his hands toward Shen Qingyuan again: "My daughter is mischievous and ran away from home to come to the Northern Plains. Thanks to Your Excellency's care, I am deeply grateful."

Hearing this, Jiang Li immediately stomped her feet in defiance: "I didn't just run away from home! I left a note!"

Jiang Yan ignored her, his gaze remaining fixed on Shen Qingyuan.

Shen Qingyuan waved his hand: "Little Li'er is quite likeable. She helped me with quite a few things; it can't be considered care."

Jiang Yan then turned his head to glance at the three people, including Cangming Chiguang, kneeling not far away. His gaze swept over their paper-white faces and returned to the two Quasi-Emperor Realm Puppets quietly hovering beside Shen Qingyuan.

"Your Excellency subdued the Cangming Clan single-handedly and took two Quasi-Emperor Realm Puppets for your own use. Such a feat, I find truly astonishing." His tone carried a hint of sincere admiration. "Even in the Central Plains, those Emperor Clans with the deepest foundations might not necessarily possess the boldness of Your Excellency."

Shen Qingyuan smiled and did not reply.

A mere compliment; he could accept it.

Jiang Yan was silent for a moment. His gaze swept over the Cangming Clan Cultivators still kneeling on the ground, not daring to lift their heads, then returned to the two Quasi-Emperor Realm Puppets beside Shen Qingyuan. He suddenly asked: "Is Your Excellency's visit to the Northern Plains solely for the purpose of refining Puppets?"

Shen Qingyuan did not answer immediately.

He turned his head to look at Jiang Yan. Those calm eyes revealed no excessive emotion, yet it caused Jiang Yan's heart to skip a beat.

"emperors blood." Shen Qingyuan withdrew his gaze, his tone still casual. "Since I am already here, I naturally have to take a look. I presume Palace Master Jiang is also interested in that drop of emperors blood?"

Jiang Yan nodded slowly.

"I will not hide it from Your Excellency, I have been trapped at the Peak Saint King Realm for several hundred years and have never been able to touch the threshold of the Quasi-Emperor Realm."

His voice lowered slightly, and a hint of undisguised burning intensity flashed in his crimson eyes. "The emperors blood contains the dao rhyme of a Great Emperor; it is one of the few Opportunities in this world that can help one touch the barrier of the Quasi-Emperor Realm. My trip here is indeed for the emperors blood."

He paused, his gaze landing on Shen Qingyuan, his tone becoming more solemn: "However, since Your Excellency is also interested in the emperors blood, I will not compete for it. Being able to form a good relationship with Your Excellency is more valuable than fighting for that drop of emperors blood."

He said these words sincerely and magnanimously.

Jiang Yan had lived for over two thousand years. To be able to lead the Chiyan Divine Palace to the ranks of the top powers in the Central Plains—a place of fierce competition—he relied not only on his cultivation but also on his precise judgment in knowing when to advance and retreat, and in understanding the situation.

The fate of the Cangming Clan was laid out right before him; how could he possibly go and touch that bad luck?

Shen Qingyuan looked at him with some surprise and smiled: "Palace Master Jiang is quite straightforward."

Jiang Yan smiled slightly: "Having lived for a long time, one must eventually understand what should be sought and what should not."

As he spoke, his gaze fell upon Jiang Li.

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