Brilliant, dazzling radiance crashed over everyone's minds in wave after wave.
In an instant, the entire reception hall was filled with all manner of glittering rare treasures. Rosy mist churned, divine light blazed, as though they had arrived at a treasure trove.
Spirit stones and rare ores, pills and spiritual fruits, divine weapons and sharp artifacts, Cultivation Manuals and Secret Scrolls... there was everything one could want, enough to dazzle the eye.
Even the foundations accumulated by Yuyi City's Four Great Families over several centuries were likely no more than this.
The clan elders, who had already been exceedingly curious about those Sumire Rings, began to tremble. Even their whitening beards quivered, their breathing grew hurried, and blazing light could not be concealed in their eyes.
And this was merely the treasure inside one of the Sumire Rings.
Su Changkong looked over, froze for a moment, then turned his gaze away with tremendous difficulty.
"Young Master Jiang truly is extravagantly wealthy..."
Only after an unknown amount of time did one of the clan elders swallow and reluctantly withdraw his gaze.
His words won the unanimous agreement of the other clan elders and the Su Manor clansmen.
Rumor had it that this Prime Minister's son had once fought with the son of a high minister over a courtesan in one of the Imperial Capital's pleasure quarters, brutally smashing the other man into grave injury with sheer wealth.
Afterward, that minister had even brought his badly injured son to kneel outside the Prime Minister's Manor for three days and three nights before barely receiving his magnanimous forgiveness.
Yet although wealth stirred the heart, if one married the Prime Minister's son, she would probably only become a concubine. Neither the position of principal wife nor equal wife could be hoped for.
For Su Manor, even becoming a concubine could only be considered marrying above their station.
But everyone knew that this would simply be pushing Su Qinghan into a pit of fire.
Would that spoiled young master truly treat Su Qinghan well after she married him?
Anyone could speak pretty words, but any clear-eyed person could tell at once that what he had said earlier was unreliable.
From the standpoint of Su Manor's overall interests, everyone naturally hoped Su Qinghan would marry him. Even if she were only a minor concubine, she would still be the Prime Minister's son's concubine.
What if one day Great Xia's imperial surname changed to Jiang? Would Su Manor not become imperial relatives then?
"Qinghan, what do you think about this matter?" Several clan elders asked gently.
Su Qinghan seemed to snap back to her senses. Naturally, she knew what every clansman was thinking at this moment.
"I will consider what Young Master Jiang said..." she replied softly.
"Didn't they say that Su Qingyao could help you return to cultivation?"
"Why... didn't you marry her?"
Not long after returning to the City Lord's Mansion, a cool, crisp, pleasant fragrance drifted over from behind him.
Jiang Lan had long since grown accustomed to Li Mengning appearing and vanishing like a ghost. He merely answered casually, "That information was false."
"False?"
The aura behind him seemed to turn much colder in an instant.
Beneath her light veil, Li Mengning's delicate brows knitted slightly.
Jiang Lan did not know where the original owner had gotten that information, but this was not the time to pursue it.
He narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Mother should have given you Domain Breaking Talismans, right?"
Li Mengning thought for a moment, then nodded.
"I want you to take me to the Blood-Colored Plateau," Jiang Lan said.
After thinking it over, he realized that if he wanted to seize the Blood Immortal Sect ruins' opportunity ahead of time, his greatest obstacles were currently his cultivation, strength, and time.
Even if he set off now, it would take at least ten days to half a month to reach the Blood Immortal Sect ruins from his memories.
Besides, what suitable excuse could he use to fool everyone? Compared to that, Li Mengning was far more suitable as a useful tool.
She never asked about Jiang Lan's affairs. When there was nothing to do, she was so unobtrusive that she practically seemed not to exist.
Jiang Lan, who knew the plot, was also very reassured about her and did not fear that she would harm him.
"No."
The moment he finished speaking, Li Mengning refused. In a low voice, she said, "It's dangerous there."
Jiang Lan turned to look at her.
The only thing about her that dissatisfied him was that she was somewhat stubborn and would not listen to him.
"What... do you need? I'll bring it back for you."
Li Mengning ignored his gaze. With her face covered by a veil, no shift in emotion could be seen on her flawless, fair cheeks.
"I'm just trying my luck. Haven't there recently been rumors that many opportunities have appeared on the Blood-Colored Plateau? Even in broad daylight, rosy light can be seen rising into the air, with divine objects flying out wrapped in spiritual radiance."
Jiang Lan withdrew his gaze and said offhandedly, "Quite a few disciples from sects, as well as children of powerful clans and noble families, have gone there to try their luck."
The Blood-Colored Plateau was a perilous region in the northern part of Danzhou Prefecture. It had numerous mountain ranges and hills, sparse vegetation and ancient trees, and yellow sand that filled the sky.
It was said to be an ancient battlefield ruin where many people had died. Blood-colored mist lingered there year-round, blotting out the sun, while many demonic beasts and Fierce Demons roamed about.
Cultivators who went there to train often died tragic deaths, so many Aristocratic Clans and sects regarded it as a forbidden land.
Occasionally, Rogue Cultivators and disciples of Great Sects would go there to temper themselves and seek opportunities.
In Jiang Lan's memories, the Blood Immortal Sect ruins were located on the Blood-Colored Plateau.
"Don't go."
Li Mengning's brows furrowed. She seemed somewhat conflicted about this matter as well.
But her brows soon relaxed, and she added, "I'll help you snatch the opportunity back."
"..."
Jiang Lan sighed inwardly, so faintly it was almost imperceptible. Why was it so troublesome to get this girl to do something?
"I'd better have Uncle Ying take me there instead."
He rose directly and headed outside.
A gust of crisp, cold wind accompanied by a pleasant fragrance swept over, and Li Mengning stepped in front of him.
"Don't..."
She seemed very conflicted too, but seeing Jiang Lan's expression, as if he would go find someone else if she refused, she could only say softly, "I'll take you... but you have to listen to me..."
"The Blood-Colored Plateau is dangerous. I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you."
It was rare for her to say so much today. Usually, she was like a mute—either humming, nodding, shaking her head, or simply saying nothing.
Jiang Lan found it rather amusing, but he still answered casually, "All right, I'll listen to you."
Only then did Li Mengning nod. With a wave of her fair hand, a green jade talisman appeared, flickering with a soft, clear glow and emanating an aura of space.
Domain Breaking Talismans were possessed only by core disciples of truly top-tier Great Sects. They were exceedingly rare, their forging conditions extremely harsh, and their cost equally astonishing.
They were life-saving trump cards. At a crucial moment, talisman light would cover the entire body and allow one to flee directly into the void, traveling ten thousand miles in a single breath.
However, Domain Breaking Talismans could not compare to Lin Fan's Eternal Calamity Sword. The instant a powerful cultivator sensed the aura of a Domain Breaking Talisman, they could seal heaven and earth and freeze the void, preventing anyone from escaping easily.
Lin Fan's Eternal Calamity Sword, on the other hand, could ignore the seals of heaven and earth altogether. It was simply outrageously overpowered.
"Let's go."
Jiang Lan estimated that traveling from Yuyi City to the Blood-Colored Plateau would require at least two or three Domain Breaking Talismans. Given Li Mengning's status, she should have enough.
Once he had taken care of his business, he would repay her with several more. After all, these things were meant to save one's life.
"Hold me tight."
Li Mengning's glasslike eyes lingered on his face for a long while before she finally spoke in a soft voice.
Before you continue