Han Xuanji offered no explanation.
Su Ming, however, immediately felt his heart settle, as if he had found his anchor.
Though he didn't understand why Senior Brother Han wanted him to agree, out of absolute trust in Han Xuanji, he made his decision internally, feigning deep thought on the surface.
Xuanyuan Po wasn't in a hurry either, waiting for Su Ming's response.
The crowd gradually grew, when suddenly, an angry voice echoed.
A figure appeared, forcefully pushing through to the front of the crowd.
Everyone looked over, and some immediately recognized his identity:
"That Prodigy from the Jiang Family... It's said he received an Old Ancestor's Legacy. While his strength isn't high, his potential cannot be underestimated. He has already replaced the Divine Son Jiang Lingxiao as the leader of this generation's Jiang Family."
The newcomer was none other than Jiang Hao. Upon learning that Su Ming was being troubled, as a good brother, he naturally came over.
Also a person of great Luck, Jiang Hao hailed from the top-tier Jiang Family in the Immortal Realm. Behind him stood several powerhouses of the Jiang Family.
Jiang Hao was unaware of Han Xuanji's plan and only thought Su Ming was being difficult, so he angrily retorted:
"Don't think everyone fears your Human Emperor Hall! If a future Human Emperor is like you, I think the Human Race is finished!"
As soon as these words were uttered, Xuanyuan Po's followers immediately expressed their displeasure.
Ye Qing, standing beside him, took a fierce step forward, glaring at Jiang Hao:
"Presumptuous! How dare you slander the future Human Emperor!"
Xuanyuan Po raised a hand to stop Ye Qing, his expression still calm, but a layer of frost had settled in his eyes:
"Brother Jiang, why such words? When did my actions, Xuanyuan Po's, become yours to judge the future of the Human Race?"
"Just because you condone your subordinates forcing my brother to pick a side!"
Jiang Hao took a step forward, unyielding, and said coldly:
"My brother Su Ming clearly doesn't want to participate, yet you set up this trap to force him. Such conduct, how is it different from bullying by power?"
Behind him, several Jiang Family powerhouses silently stepped half a pace forward, their Qi coalescing. Though they said nothing, their stance was clear.
Whispers arose among the Cultivators watching:
"This Young Lord of the Jiang Family is truly loyal and righteous..."
"Xuanyuan Po's actions are indeed a bit too eager. If the high-ranking officials of the Human Emperor Hall learn of this, their evaluation of him will surely drop."
"That's right, although the Xuanyuan Family is powerful, the Jiang Family is not to be trifled with. Back then, the Jiang Family also resisted foreign races and rendered great service to the Human Race."
These hushed discussions, though quiet, clearly reached Xuanyuan Po's ears.
His expression remained unchanged, but the fingers in his sleeve subtly tightened.
Su Ming felt anxious, secretly cursing Jiang Hao's impulsiveness for disrupting Senior Brother Han's plan.
But at the same time, a warm current flowed through his heart. To stand up for him at this moment proved that Jiang Hao truly considered him a brother, not just a casual friend.
He was about to speak and smooth things over.
A calm yet undeniable voice rang out:
"Why such a commotion?"
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, only to see Han Xuanji standing silently to the side, his aura profound, his gaze calmly sweeping across the entire scene.
He specifically glanced at Xuanyuan Po.
[Xuanyuan Po: Golden Immortal Perfection, Human Emperor Bloodline, Dao Spiritual Root Aptitude, Da Luo Disciple, possessing the Saint Emperor's Luck, has successfully Cultivated the Xuanyuan Family's supreme Cultivation Technique, "Xuanyuan Ancient Saint Technique," considered by the Xuanyuan Family to possess the Aptitude of a Human Emperor, and is one of the nine Human Emperor Candidates.]
His background is not simple; it seems this fellow holds a significant position in the Human Emperor Hall.
Han Xuanji thought silently, but he didn't feel particularly impressed.
Golden Immortal Perfection, just so-so.
Any Cultivator whose Cultivation was inferior to his didn't need to make him feel any pressure.
Having Cultivated until now, he had seen many Prodigies, but it seemed no one with a greater Aptitude than his had appeared yet.
Although he couldn't compare to those ancient powerhouses who had Cultivated for countless years, compared to the Prodigies of this era, Han Xuanji felt he had already won too much.
Han Xuanji merely glanced, then looked at Jiang Hao and nodded slightly.
Immediately, he cupped his hands to Xuanyuan Po and said:
"Your Highness Xuanyuan, my Junior Brother is young and impetuous. If he has offended you, I hope you can be magnanimous."
With a few words, he both acknowledged Jiang Hao's favor and gave Xuanyuan Po a way out, subtly diffusing the tense atmosphere.
It was strange; the Cultivation Han Xuanji displayed at this moment was only Late Stage Profound Immortal, yet upon his appearance, the previously volatile atmosphere quietly eased.
Seeing Han Xuanji step forward, Jiang Hao also breathed a sigh of relief and quietly retreated.
Xuanyuan Po, who had clenched his hands, relaxed them, looked deeply at Han Xuanji, and said:
"So it's Daoist Han of the Heavenly Palace, my apologies, my apologies, this is all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding."
Xuanyuan Po couldn't quite see through Han Xuanji's depth until a voice from his protector reached his ear, and then he understood.
"Your Highness, this child is by no means an ordinary Prodigy. Don't let his apparent Profound Immortal Cultivation deceive you. According to Old Ancestor, the other party possesses the Ancient Double Pupils, with astonishing talent, and has actually already stepped into the Golden Immortal Realm. Within the entire Great Luo Heaven, he is among the top-ranked peerless Prodigies. The Lingxu Heavenly Palace has always hidden his talent, which is why it is unknown to the outside world. If you can gain his support, it would be greatly beneficial."
"No wonder."
Xuanyuan Po thought to himself.
He could see that both Su Ming and Jiang Hao were extremely convinced by Han Xuanji. If he could get his support, wouldn't it be a huge gain?
In fact, among the two Human Emperor Candidates in the Human Emperor Hall, Chu Wuya's popularity in the outside world was only higher than his, not lower. While he came from the Human Emperor Hall and was favored by many high-ranking officials there, and his Cultivation was higher, the other party's talent was equally extraordinary. Moreover, he possessed the demeanor of a wise monarch who welcomed scholars, and was on good terms with many Human Race Prodigies.
Furthermore, there has always been a rumor that one race cannot have two emperors. His Xuanyuan Family had already produced one Human Emperor, how could another emerge?
Therefore, Xuanyuan Po was very eager to expand his influence to gain an advantage in the subsequent struggle.
He also wanted to prove himself and break this rumor.
Thinking of this, Xuanyuan Po decided to win over Han Xuanji properly and secretly transmitted a message:
"Brother Han, I truly bear no ill will towards you all. This banquet at the Human Emperor Hall is even a great Opportunity for you."
"Do you know about the Ancient Trial Path?"
Xuanyuan Po's voice resonated in Han Xuanji's Sea of Consciousness, carrying a perfectly balanced sincerity and overture of recruitment.
Han Xuanji's eyes flickered slightly, and he likewise transmitted a reply:
"I do not."
With so many factions in the world, how could he possibly know everything?
"Cough, cough."
Xuanyuan Po's heart lit up when Han Xuanji responded, and he immediately explained:
"Brother Han, you may not know, but this Ancient Trial Path is no ordinary place. It is not only a place to temper oneself and verify the Dao, but it also concerns the qualification to enter the core area of the Human Emperor Hall!"
He paused slightly, observing Han Xuanji's reaction, and continued:
"If one performs exceptionally on the Ancient Path, gains its recognition, and condenses enough 'Humanitys Fortune Marks,' a portal will open deep within the Ancient Trial Path, leading to the core of the Human Emperor Hall.
There, the Legacy imprints of past Human Emperors are preserved, and one can even access the Legacy of Human Race powerhouses throughout history!"
"Humanitys Fortune Marks, past Human Race Legacies?"
Han Xuanji showed a hint of interest.
This indeed touched upon his blind spots in knowledge; this place sounded very impressive.
As the protagonists of the Heavenly Dao, the Human Race, having endured countless years, had produced an unknown number of powerhouses. If each of these individuals left behind even a little something, it would be a colossal fortune.
Thinking of this, Han Xuanji was tempted.