On the way back to the Jiang residence, Jiang Wang had narrowly survived at least a dozen ambushes.
Each time, his calm and precise cultivation allowed him to evade or neutralize the threats, but even the most skilled attacks could not hide the danger. The Li family had clearly mobilized significant resources—True One Realm cultivators, even a Half-Step Supreme—but Jiang Wang, protected by the formidable aura of his Supreme July, emerged unscathed.
When news of this reached Li Jingtian, his fury burned like wildfire.
"Sending out so many True One Realm cultivators… and even a Half-Step Supreme! And after all that effort, they haven't managed to harm a mere Mysterious Spirit Realm cultivator?!" His voice trembled with anger, almost uncontrollable.
The elder who had brought the report bowed quickly. "Master, to avoid revealing my identity, I did not dare send a Supreme Realm cultivator directly. But Jiang Wang… he possesses the protection of the Supreme Realm, which is why he survived unscathed."
Li Jingtian closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, trying to calm the storm of fury inside him. He was himself a cultivator in the Supreme Realm, and he knew all too well the staggering difference between True One Realm and Supreme Realm. Yet, what truly enraged him was the ineptitude of those three entry-level cultivators who had failed so miserably.
"Forget it," he muttered, waving a dismissive hand. "As long as your identity remains hidden, wait for another opportunity. Retreat for now."
---
Meanwhile, Jiang Wang returned to the Jiang family in serene satisfaction. His first stop was his immortal residence, where he carefully took out the Xuanyan Dao Tree from the system space. The small world of his immortal abode, a sanctuary suffused with the aura of the Great Dao and dotted with countless precious medicines, was perfectly suited for cultivation and growth. Even the soil contained an abundance of spiritual substances. Planting the Xuanyan Dao Tree here was effortless, a simple flourish of his hand and intention.
With the Dao Tree safely nurtured, Jiang Wang sought out his father, Jiang Xundao, to report the ambush.
"Humph! The Li family has gone too far!" Jiang Xundao's eyes darkened. "Do they really think they can act without consequences?"
"Without concrete evidence, it's impossible to directly confront the Li family," Jiang Xundao admitted, though a glimmer of cunning lit his gaze. "But if Li Jingtian plays dirty, why can't we?"
At that moment, an elder stepped forward from the side of the hall.
"Master Feng!" Jiang Xundao greeted him warmly.
The elder smiled, bowing slightly. "Rules are rules. You are the head of the family; naturally, I, an old servant, will address you as such."
Jiang Xundao wasted no time. "Feng Lao, I need you to send several Half-Step Supremes to the Li family's fairy mine. Cause them as much disruption as possible. If some of the Li family members happen to be… removed from the picture, all the better."
Feng Lao's eyes gleamed as he nodded in agreement. Then, he glanced at Jiang Wang, who had been quietly observing, and a warm smile crossed his face.
"The Son of God is truly remarkable. With him, the Jiang family may rise to another glorious era," Feng Lao said with genuine admiration.
Jiang Wang clasped his fists respectfully. "Thank you, Grandpa Feng. Your words honor me."
Satisfied, the elder departed, leaving Jiang Xundao to smile with narrowed eyes. "Destroy more of the Li family's fairy mines. I want Li Jingtian to feel the consequences of his arrogance!"
Though the Changsheng Jiang family wielded considerable influence, they were not a family that indulged in wanton tyranny. Their reputation throughout the fairyland was carefully preserved, and they maintained honor in every endeavor. If not for the previous life's betrayal—Ye Fan and Li Qingxuan sabotaging the Jiang family—they would have remained untouchable.
Jiang Wang watched his father with a mixture of amusement and mild exasperation. Even as the elder rubbed his hands in eager anticipation of conflict, Jiang Wang shook his head.
---
Stepping out of the hall, Jiang Wang ran directly into Li Qingxuan, who had come looking for him.
His normally calm expression hardened into a mask of icy contempt. Li Qingxuan, taken aback by the sudden shift, felt a pang of humiliation. She had expected at least some lingering warmth from him, but what she saw instead was unyielding disdain.
"How dare he!" her heart burned. "He actually dislikes me!"
Her anger and confusion flared at once. In the past, Jiang Wang had been courteous and restrained, never daring to provoke her. Now… he not only refused her entreaties but looked upon her with clear revulsion.
"What are you doing here?" Jiang Wang's voice was sharp, slicing through the air like a blade.
Li Qingxuan's initial confusion gave way to anger. "Jiang Wang, you are so petty! I merely reside in the same immortal palace as Brother Ye Fan. We each have our own rooms. We are nothing more than ordinary fellow Taoists practicing together. Why are you so hostile?"
Jiang Wang's intent was clear. He tolerated her presence only to exploit the connection with Ye Fan, the luck points, and the opportunities to exchange for skills, magical treasures, and elixirs. He had been plundering destiny points like a careful tactician, using every advantage in his grasp.
Li Qingxuan, still blinded by her assumptions, persisted. "As a man, why are you so stingy? If there were ever anything between us, it would have happened long ago!"
The shadows behind Jiang Wang suddenly shifted. An aura of godly or demonic power erupted, filling the space around them with suffocating intensity. Li Qingxuan froze in terror. The shadowy presence behind him seemed ready to consume her. Her legs trembled, her face drained of color, and for a fleeting moment, she feared for her life.
Then, as quickly as it had arisen, the aura receded. Jiang Wang's voice returned to its normal, indifferent tone. "What exactly brings you here today?"
Relief washed over Li Qingxuan. She gasped for breath, noting the chill in his eyes and the commanding aura he exuded. No longer daring to speak out of turn, she stammered, caught between curiosity and fear.
Her thoughts inevitably turned to Ye Fan. "Jiang Wang… did you take Brother Ye Fan's Xuanyan Dao Fruit?"
Jiang Wang's lips curled into a sneer. "Ye Fan's Xuanyan Dao Fruit? When did this ownerless treasure become his?"
Li Qingxuan choked back a retort but pressed on. "So you admit it… you took the Dao Fruit?"
"And so what if I did?" Jiang Wang replied coldly. "I obtained it through my own effort. If Ye Fan has the courage, let him come claim it."
She bit her lip, stubbornly insisting, "Then at least give some Dao fluid to help Brother Ye Fan recover from his injuries. The Jiang family has plenty. Why be so miserly?"
Jiang Wang laughed lightly, amusement laced with disdain. "Dao fluid? A mere pool of it is required to repair such injuries. If Ye Fan wants it, he can trade cultivation resources for it! Since you care so much for him, use your own resources to help him!"
Li Qingxuan's eyes flashed with frustration. "The Jiang family has abundant resources. Why not give him a little? You're nowhere near as generous as Brother Ye Fan!"
Her voice hardened. "I am your fiancée, and yet you begrudge even a fraction of what we have. How could I have misjudged you so completely?"
Jiang Wang's lips curved into a faint smile, but it was cold, unyielding. The casual air of disdain was enough to silence her completely.
---
In that brief encounter, the power dynamics were clear. Jiang Wang was no ordinary cultivator. Even his interactions carried the weight of authority and strategy. Every decision, every word, was measured. Li Qingxuan, though once confident, was now reminded that the Jiang family, and Jiang Wang himself, were forces not to be trifled with.
Through subtle manipulation and quiet dominance, Jiang Wang had not only secured the Xuanyan Dao Tree but had also affirmed his position within the Jiang family. His enemies, both seen and unseen, had been sent clear signals: the Jiang family would not be so easily threatened again.
And as Li Qingxuan walked away, her anger mixed with a reluctant awe, Jiang Wang's expression returned to serene focus. The path ahead was long, but every step was calculated, each move deliberate, like a master weaver threading destiny itself.