Xiao Zhan gripped the wooden box tightly, his heart beginning to waver. His father, the previous Xiao family patriarch, had told him never to take out the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade.
This jade was of paramount importance; the slightest mistake could lead to the Xiao family's annihilation.
For many years, only he knew about the jade; even the two elders were unaware of the reason.
But now, so many years had passed, and he was already in his sixties, with only a few years left to live. These two Earth-rank cultivation techniques should be very suitable for Yan'er. With them, Yan'er's chances of winning the three-year agreement would surely increase significantly.
Xiao Xun'er was almost in tears. She had returned in a hurry and hadn't brought the Earth-rank cultivation techniques with her; otherwise, she would have used them to buy the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade.
Seeing Xiao Zhan's wavering, Jiang Cheng, with a flick of his embroidered robe, conjured a sixth-grade pill out of thin air.
"This pill is called the Exquisite Barrier-Breaking Pill, a high-grade sixth-rank pill."
A rich medicinal fragrance filled the room as the wooden box opened, a scent that was refreshing and invigorating!
These words caused an uproar throughout the hall!
Even the two elders of the Xiao family couldn't help but move closer to examine it. After confirming that it was indeed a sixth-grade pill, they couldn't help but gasp. This guy actually managed to produce a sixth-grade pill—it was astonishing!
Yun Yun remained calm, murmuring to herself, "I didn't expect it to actually be a sixth-grade Exquisite Barrier-Breaking Pill. Anyone below the Dou Ling level who consumes it can increase their strength by three stars... calling it a seventh-grade pill wouldn't be an exaggeration."
In the entire Jia Ma Empire, only the Pill King Gu He could refine sixth-grade pills, but even he was powerless to produce a sixth-grade Exquisite Barrier-Breaking Pill.
Because anyone who wanted to refine something of this caliber needed to possess a rare treasure of heaven and earth—a strange fire!
Xiao Zhan's heart raced, and he swallowed hard. Yan'er must desperately need this Rank 6 Exquisite Breakthrough Pill...
"How about it?" Jiang Cheng chuckled softly, "A Rank 6 Exquisite Breakthrough Pill, plus two low-level Earth Rank fighting techniques, should be enough to exchange for the jade piece you have."
"Uncle Xiao, no!" Xiao Xun'er exclaimed urgently, "The jade piece is incredibly valuable, far more valuable than two fighting techniques and a Rank 6 Exquisite Breakthrough Pill. If Uncle Xiao trusts me, give the jade piece to Xun'er, and Xun'er will ask the clan leader for ten Earth Rank cultivation techniques for the Xiao family."
The two elders exchanged glances and sneered, "Xun'er, don't be afraid to speak your mind. If you can produce it now, we will absolutely believe you. But if you can't, we can only make an exchange."
"Earth-rank Battle Techniques are something only a handful of people in the entire Jia Ma Empire can cultivate. Moreover, once the sixth-grade Exquisite Breakthrough Pill is swallowed, the Clan Chief can break through to the Battle Spirit realm in the shortest possible time, and our Xiao family can also advance to the Imperial Capital."
The Xiao family has lived in this small Wutan City for several years, and their desire to return to the Imperial Capital has been brewing for quite some time.
The First Elder followed suit, saying, "Clan Chief, we have all witnessed the rise and fall of the Xiao family. Now that the opportunity to break through to the Battle Spirit realm is before us, we cannot miss such a good opportunity!"
Xiao Zhan nodded in agreement, his right hand involuntarily handing over the box containing the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade.
However, at this moment, a black smoke filled the Xiao family's main hall. In a short while, a shadow surged upwards, eventually solidifying into a humanoid shape.
The figure was completely shrouded in a black robe, slightly raising its head to reveal a dark and aged face.
"Heh, this little guy is quite sensitive," the black-robed man chuckled softly, then whispered, "There are some things you can't touch, otherwise, you'll have nowhere to go on this continent!"
"A Dou Huang?!" Yun Yun stood up, warily watching the sudden appearance of a Dou Huang powerhouse.
"Threatening me?"
Jiang Cheng sneered, "Do you know that what I hate most in my life is being threatened? Do you really think that an ancient clan powerhouse would come here?"
Hearing this, the black-robed man's expression froze, and he abruptly turned to look at Jiang Cheng. Even Xiao Xun'er instinctively covered her cherry-red lips.
Image
"How do you know...who are you?!"
Jiang Cheng reached out with his bare hands, and the dark figure didn't even have a chance to react before being caught in his palm.
"My name is Jiang Cheng, a traveler who wanders the world."
Such a nonchalant action left Ling Ying, a Dou Huang, pale-faced.
Jiang Cheng drew the blade beside him and smiled: "A swordsman, having mastered its power, should look down upon the world."
"However, you're still a bit lacking."
Jiang Cheng's fingers twitched slightly, and Ling Ying felt as if he had been hit by a truck, flying backward uncontrollably, crashing through three walls of the Xiao family, and disappearing from the Xiao family.
"Elder Ling!"
Xiao Xun'er was shocked. Elder Ling's cultivation was at the eight-star Dou Huang level, yet he was so easily thrown out of the Xiao family's main hall, without any ability to resist.
Who exactly is this person?
"Young lady, there's no need to panic. I govern with virtue. If you don't resort to any underhanded tactics, I won't attack you."
Jiang Cheng glanced at Xiao Xun'er, his gaze returning to Xiao Zhan.
Xiao Zhan, aware of this man's formidable strength, quickly presented the Xiao family's jade piece with both hands. "Senior, this is your jade piece..."
Jiang Cheng opened the box, and upon seeing the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade lying quietly inside, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Thank you, Clan Chief Xiao. I'll take my leave now. Sect Master Yun, let's go."
With that, Jiang Cheng turned away gracefully, his left hand behind his back, the folding fan in his right palm slowly waving, displaying the demeanor of a refined gentleman.
Coupled with his unparalleled beauty, any woman would feel her heart race.
"Who exactly is this person?"
...
Above the void.
Jiang Cheng turned to look at Yun Yun, the sect leader of the Yunlan Sect, behind him, and chuckled, "What's wrong, Miss Yun Yun? Is something on your mind?"
Yun Yun pursed her lips and said, "I've never understood, sir, what is your cultivation level? Why couldn't that eight-star Dou Huang last even a single round against you?"
"Hehe, whatever cultivation level you desire, that's all you need. I'm just a traveler. To travel the world and read countless books is my true calling. If you don't mind, you can stay with me and cultivate diligently. You'll surely achieve great things in the future."
Yun Yun said bitterly, "Senior is too kind. I am the sect leader of the Yunlan Sect. If I leave, wouldn't my disciples be distracted from their cultivation?"
Jiang Cheng didn't speak. Only he could control her path, but he would still offer her some help.
After all, one of the women he loved most in his past life was Yun Yun, the sect leader of the Yunlan Sect—that silly girl.
Her sect was destroyed, her teacher was killed, and she wandered with her disciple Nalan Yanran, eventually settling in the Flower Sect, only to be feared by others. Her life was full of hardships.
(End of this chapter)