Overwhelming Fortune

After the two women exchanged greetings, Ning Haichan personally stepped forward and pulled Li Ji'an to the center.

"Father-in-law, Uncle Chen, this is Li Ji'an. His talent is exceptional, his character outstanding, and he is also one of Chong'an Prefecture's reserve immortal seedlings."

"Yes, yes, yes! Brother Li is incredible! If he hadn't been born into hardship, his achievements now would definitely... only be a little worse than mine, but he'd certainly be far stronger than her! And Brother Li has never taken a Marrow Cleansing Pill either, right, Brother Li?" With so many big shots present, Ning Yutan found her courage. Tugging at Li Ji'an's sleeve, she openly fired away at Ning Sujin.

Ning Sujin's expression immediately darkened, and she shot Ning Yutan a sharp glance.

Especially when she saw Ning Yutan brazenly clutching Li Ji'an's sleeve, an inexplicable blaze rose in her heart.

"Brother An, didn't you say before that you were particularly fond of the Su Family's Floating Duckweed Steps? My grandfather is here today, so you can ask him in person. Is there a problem with that, Grandfather?" Ning Sujin looked toward Su Jishi, her words carrying the intent of killing two birds with one stone.

Of course, aside from her habitual sparring with Ning Yutan and her attempt to test Su Jishi, she truly did want to secure Li Ji'an a martial art that could save his life in a critical moment. After all, that fellow was terrified of death.

"..." Su Jishi froze, clearly not quite able to process it.

He looked at Li Ji'an, then at Ning Sujin, then at Ning Yutan.

Suddenly, his aged face became a spectacle.

"This little bastard..." In the end, he stared at Li Ji'an meaningfully.

Ning Yutan was stunned as well. She had not expected that old woman to go so mad just to compete with her.

"Brother Li, didn't you also say that our family's Falling Flower Sword Technique is invincible beneath the heavens? If you want to learn it, I'll have my father teach it to you. Right, Father?" She refused to be outdone, frantically blinking at her father.

"Ah!" Ning Haichan looked at Ning Yutan in utter disbelief.

Seeing that neither man answered, the two women exchanged a glance and continued applying pressure.

"Grandfather?"

"Father!"

"Well... the Floating Duckweed Steps are my Su Family's inherited movement art... but if Sujin is the one asking, then it isn't impossible..." Watching the changes in Ning Sujin's expression, Su Jishi finally relented. This Time, he had also come with the task of finding a way to resolve the misunderstanding between grandfather and granddaughter, laying the groundwork for inviting Ning Sujin back to the Su Family in ten years.

In any case, if Li Ji'an married Ning Sujin, he would count as a member of the Su Family. To achieve minor success in blood exchange at twenty and rank among the reserve immortal seedlings was more than enough to demonstrate his talent. Becoming an immortal seedling was basically hopeless, but with family resources supporting him, he had hope of becoming a Grandmaster of qi and blood in this lifetime.

Ever since the Su Family's second-generation seedling, Su Su Su, had been tricked away by Ning Haichan, and its third-generation Su Fan had successfully been taken to the Immortal Realm by an immortal master, the family had indeed been left with a gap in its ranks. If Ning Sujin and Li Ji'an could return to the clan, they should be able to preserve the family's standing for another century.

Once Ning Haichan came to his senses, he was even more forthright. "What difficulty is there in that? I have always admired Ji'an. So long as my worthy nephew Ji'an asks, there is naturally no reason not to."

"Hm?" Yet Ning Haichan's ready agreement made Su Jishi frown slightly.

You didn't give a Marrow Cleansing Pill to my precious granddaughter, yet you still want to snatch a man from her?

It also turned the contest between Ning Yutan and Ning Sujin into a draw.

"Ning Haichan, what do you mean by this?" Su Jishi slapped the table and glared at Ning Haichan.

Ning Haichan was utterly bewildered. Wasn't this all about choosing a husband for Sujin?

You already brought out the Su Family's movement art. How could I possibly be stingy? Besides, he'll be my son-in-law in the future.

"Hmph, boy, listen well. So long as my Sujin is willing, this old man can also pass down my Su Family's ultimate art, the Stormy Pear Blossom Needles, to you!" Su Jishi directly played his trump card!

Thump—Ning Haichan's heart skipped a beat as well!

The Stormy Pear Blossom Needles could be called an ultimate art because, in the realm of hidden weapons, it was nearly without rival. It was a truly top-tier technique for sneak attacks and assassinations.

If his future son-in-law learned such an ultimate art of the Su Family, then even after Chen Xiaosheng passed away, the Ning Family would possess a secret weapon.

His emotions surging, he could no longer hold back. He immediately turned to Chen Xiaosheng. "Uncle Chen, this junior has made up his mind. If Ji'an is willing, please take him as your successor! Pass the Heaven Breaking Divine Fist on to him!"

"You!" Su Jishi's eyes widened.

Taking it this far?!

Chen Xiaosheng, who had been quietly watching the drama unfold, had not expected it to land on his own head. Instinctively, he appraised Li Ji'an a few more times. He was no stranger to Li Ji'an—in fact, he could be said to know him well.

How could the affair of the two young ladies of the marquis's residence vying for affection at the Immortal Seeking Academy escape the residence's informants? And it was only after he personally observed Li Ji'an in secret that they determined Li Ji'an had not been the one actively toying with the two women's feelings.

He had investigated Li Ji'an's talent, character, and even temperament.

Had he not been delayed in childhood, he would absolutely have counted as a peerless genius.

Chen Xiaosheng himself was quite satisfied.

"What kind of ridiculous name is Heaven Breaking Divine Fist? This old man has never acknowledged that name. In any case, I promised the old marquis long ago. Just make sure you mean it." Chen Xiaosheng finally laughed and cursed.

As Chen Xiaosheng nodded in agreement, the immortal official sent to receive them in the military tent looked at Li Ji'an with utterly changed eyes.

Envy, amazement, friendliness, and even a trace of ingratiation.

The dragon-riding son-in-law of a ducal estate, the grandson-in-law of the Su Family's Grandmaster of qi and blood, the successor of the Grandmaster of qi and blood Chen Xiaosheng... and a cultivator of four top-tier martial arts. One could already foresee the splendor of his future ascent to the peak of the Grandmaster Ranking.

At once, everyone's attention focused on Li Ji'an.

Li Ji'an's eyelids twitched. He truly had not anticipated this scene in advance, nor was he in the mood to rejoice over four top-tier techniques that would make people outside fight until their heads were cracked and blood spilled.

The two women had been competing for Five Years, and in truth, they had both grown accustomed to it. After spending so much time together, both of them had come to understand Li Ji'an's character and disposition. They had long since changed from mere tools in each other's competition into close friends who understood one another, and there was a measure of affection between them.

But it was still far from romantic love.

Only recently, after unexpectedly learning of Ning Sujin's miraculous "Auspiciousness and Inauspiciousness Avoidance," had Li Ji'an become somewhat swept away by Ning Sujin's actions.

In this regard, he admitted that he was being somewhat greasy—or, it can be said, that the sudden sense of security had gone to his head.

But when he searched his heart, it was still more for the sake of that sense of security.

And there had been a premise to that: he already knew of Ning Sujin's aspiration to seek immortality, and given her talent, she would Most Likely ascend with the Immortal Masters at the next Immortal Ceremony. That was why he had never considered what came after.

But now that Duke Dingguo and the Su Family's Ancestor had gotten involved... they were clearly aiming for marriage, children, and the continuation of the bloodline.

Leaving aside the fact that he possessed the "rejuvenation" cheat, whether to protect that secret or because he did not wish to personally endure the blade of rosy beauties turning to skeletons, of white-haired people sending off black-haired ones, he was currently unsuited to marrying and having children.

More importantly, Ning Yutan would soon ascend to the Immortal Realm, and he knew perfectly well of Ning Sujin's desire to seek immortality. When the time came, whom was he supposed to marry and have children with?

So this was, in truth, all a misunderstanding—Su Jishi and Ning Haichan had been blinded by the outward appearance of the two women vying for him, while neither understood Ning Sujin's true thoughts, resulting in this farce.

Naturally, he could not allow the mistake to continue.

"Sister Jin and Yutan have shown Li far more favor than I deserve. As for the immense kindness of the two Grandmasters and the Duke, this junior is even more overwhelmed with gratitude and trepidation. I will engrave such sentiments upon my heart and never forget them until my teeth are gone. It is only... that this nephew's heart is wholly set on seeking immortality. For the next ten years, I will devote all my thoughts to cultivating internal arts and have no plans to practice external arts for the time being!"

After contemplating for a moment, he spoke truthfully.

He had absolutely not tried to be clever and freeload off them.

It might have worked, perhaps, but the risks were greater.

Nor did he play petty tricks by stalling, dragging things out, or speaking vaguely. Instead, he stated his intentions outright.

With "rejuvenation," he could not speak for the Immortal Realm, but in this mortal world, there was no need for him to hurry. He could take things life by life, slowly. Even the pinnacle martial art ranked first on the Martial Arts List would eventually fall into his hands. Why take such a risk now?

Otherwise, if Ning Sujin also ascended to the Immortal Realm ten years from now, how was he supposed to get along with the Duke's residence?

The moment he finished speaking, the entire hall was stunned, just as expected.

After their shock, the group of Immortal Officials found it rather unexpected. Such overwhelming wealth, status, and power—and he was giving it up?

Once they recovered, all of them frowned slightly. Their gazes held a faint mixture of amusement and exasperation, along with pity as they looked at Li Ji'an.

They secretly sighed that Li Ji'an was still young—proud and arrogant, unable to see himself clearly, ignorant of the principle that a towering building rose from level ground.

Become immortal?

Looking through the Immortal Seeds of every previous generation, especially those of the current few generations, which one had not been born into a family of merit and distinction?

Without the accumulation of several generations, no matter how gifted an ordinary person might be, how could he possibly compare to the children of powerful aristocratic clans, whose talent was no worse than his and who had been nurtured on every sort of precious resource since childhood?

Born in poverty, being able to become a reserve Immortal Seed was already a blessing cultivated over several lifetimes. Now, with peerless martial arts delivered right before him, he did not know to be grateful, but instead pushed them away with his own hands. He was truly foolish beyond saving.

Perhaps it was also because he had been born in such a small place and had never seen much of the world. Ranking among the top three in a single province had made him feel too good about himself.

Once he reached the imperial capital and met those true peerless prodigies, he would understand the gap between them.

Especially once he learned how rare the martial arts manuals here truly were, he would surely regret his words and actions today.

But this matter had nothing to do with them. They said no more, merely turning to look at Ning Haichan.

Ning Haichan's expression stiffened. His first thought was not that Li Ji'an had rejected the martial arts manuals, but rather that he had displayed unwillingness toward his precious daughter.

Seeking immortality? Could seeking immortality compare to his daughter?

Was this little bastard blind?

Yet after recovering a little of his rationality, a trace more appreciation entered his gaze toward Li Ji'an.

At the very least, it proved that the boy had not approached his daughter for wealth, glory, or peerless divine arts, nor was he the kind of person who would bend himself for fame and profit.

His will was not thrown into disarray by beauty, his eyes were not blinded by wealth, and he would not bow for divine arts.

"He is someone, after all!"

And because of this, his desire to have Li Ji'an as his son-in-law grew threefold stronger.

"What harm is there in waiting another ten years?"

"I just wonder whether he can get past that old stubborn fool, Father-in-law... And Uncle Chen has never found a successor he approved of in his entire life. He finally loosened his lips, only to be refused now. Who knows..." He could not help looking worriedly toward Su Jishi and Chen Xiaosheng.