Tenfold Improvement

Upon hearing Elder Xu's words, Jiang Lianyue was startled, "What, an engagement with the Shen Family?"

Elder Xu nodded, "The Shen Family's second young master, Shen Huan, has broken through to the Sword King realm in Sword Dao. A Sword King at sixteen, he's several times more monstrous than his senior brother Su Lie. His talent and potential guarantee him at least the Sword Emperor realm, and he's highly likely to become Qingzhou's first Sword Saint. I heard he's already on the candidate list for the next head of Spirit Sword Academy.

"Many aristocratic families in Qingzhou are scrambling to form marriage alliances with the Shen Family to climb higher. Therefore, the Old Pavilion Master wants you to return quickly. When Shen Huan visits home next month, he'll arrange a meeting for you!"

Jiang Lianyue remained silent after hearing this, her expression clearly displeased.

"I heard the Shen Family is also seeking connections with the Eldest Young Lady of the Xu Family, Xu Miaoyi, Shangguan Yao of the Shangguan Family, and the Ninth Princess of Wei, Wei Hongyan."

"Wei Hongyan has always been aloof and arrogant, looking down on all men. Why would she be interested?" Hearing about Wei Hongyan, Jiang Lianyue was somewhat surprised.

Elder Xu nodded:

"Wei Country is currently facing internal and external troubles. Not only is the government unstable, but the neighboring Sang Country is eyeing it covetously, constantly plotting to annex Wei. Wei Hongyan is likely forced into this. If she can form a marriage alliance with the Shen Family, Wei Country can receive the Shen Family's assistance. This will not only consolidate her father's imperial power but also make Sang Country wary."

"Alas, we are not masters of our own fate!" Jiang Lianyue shook her head. Often, women from imperial families or great aristocratic families could not control their own lives.

"Miss, do you have confidence?" Elder Xu asked.

"Confidence in what?" Jiang Lianyue looked at Elder Xu.

Elder Xu smiled, "Naturally, in forming a marriage alliance with the Shen Family."

"Who said I agreed to this marriage!" Jiang Lianyue immediately became displeased.

"Not only is Shen Huan monstrously talented, but he's also a handsome and distinguished young man. Countless women dream of marrying him. Don't you find him to your liking, Miss?"

"Setting aside what kind of person Shen Huan is, I at least dislike being treated as a bargaining chip," Jiang Lianyue said sternly.

Elder Xu shook his head:

"The Old Pavilion Master attaches great importance to this matter. In my opinion, Miss may not have a choice this time."

"That's not necessarily true!" Jiang Lianyue smiled mysteriously and then closed her eyes to rest.

As night fell, everyone in the Nan Family was immersed in cultivation.

Now that they had luxurious cultivation rooms and abundant cultivation resources, everyone was cultivating with all their might.

In a cultivation room, Qin Guan sat cross-legged. Strands of pure Spiritual Energy continuously flowed from the Spirit Stones, being absorbed into his body.

He had obtained twenty-five Low-grade Spirit Stones from killing Yan Rong and the Black Dragon protector. The Spiritual Energy in the air in the back mountain was too thin and impure for cultivation. Now, absorbing the Spiritual Energy from Spirit Stones significantly increased the speed of condensing and opening up his Laogong acupoint.

The next day, Nan Yunqi, along with Chen Guanxiang, Old Mo, and a few others, began to frantically expand the Nan Family's influence. The properties and industries of multiple families, including the Xiao Family and Song Family, were quickly taken over and annexed by the Nan Family.

The Nan Family transformed from a third-rate family directly into the strongest first-rate family in Luyun City. No force in Luyun City dared to provoke the current Nan Family; they all avoided it.

However, although the Nan Family appeared to be at the height of its power, many forces in Luyun City knew that Spirit Sword Academy and Cloud Mist Sect would not let the matter rest. The higher the Nan Family climbed, the harder they would fall. No matter how fast they developed, they were merely paper tigers.

Two days later, in the early morning, Qin Guan slowly opened his eyes in the cultivation room.

"As expected, cultivating with Spirit Stones is still the best!"

Looking at the five lusterless Spirit Stones in front of him, Qin Guan clicked his tongue.

In these three days, he had successively opened the Shenmen, Neiguan, and Shaohai acupoints. His first acupoint, Laogong, could now store Spiritual Power the size of a fist.

However, as the Spiritual Power stored in the acupoints became more condensed and pure, Qin Qin discovered that the consumption of Spiritual Power when circulating the Huan Yuan Sword Art had increased significantly, and the speed of condensation and opening had also slowed down considerably.

He had only opened four acupoints so far. If he were to open all one hundred and eight acupoints and expand them all to the size of a Cultivator's Dantian and Qi Sea, Qin Guan dared not imagine how long it would take or how many cultivation resources would be consumed.

However, as long as he could cultivate Sword Dao, no matter how difficult or how much effort it took, Qin Guan was willing.

"Kid, it will take at least seven or eight years to fully comprehend this incomplete manual."

Just then, the voice of the Little Black Tower suddenly came from Qin Guan's mind.

Hearing the Little Black Tower speak, Qin Guan was somewhat surprised. This fellow hadn't said a word to him since the last secret realm.

"Tower Master, do you have any good suggestions?" Qin Guan hurriedly asked.

"No." The Little Black Tower replied.

Qin Guan nodded slightly and then asked, "Tower Master, what do you think of this cultivation method?"

"This cultivation method is extraordinary. If all one hundred and eight acupoints can be developed into Dantian and Qi Seas, its power is unimaginable," the Little Black Tower said.

"Tower Master, do you think I should open all the acupoints first, or open a few acupoints, then slowly condense and expand them, and then open the next acupoint after they are mostly expanded?"

"Opening all the acupoints and then condensing and refining them is a fast method, but it's difficult and extremely resource-intensive. Refining acupoint by acupoint is slow, but it's less difficult and less prone to errors."