Marriage Alliance

In truth, there was more than just Jiang Cheng in the living room.

There was also a middle-aged man with an imposing aura.

His blood qi surged just as violently; he was also a martial artist at the ninth level of the Blood Qi Realm.

Moreover, his features bore a striking resemblance to Jiang Cheng.

"The head of the Jiang Family?"

Zhang Chen was slightly taken aback when he saw the middle-aged man.

The man was Jiang Cheng's father, the current head of the Jiang Family, Jiang Lingchuan!

Why would the dignified head of the Jiang Family come to the Su Family in person, and to the First Branch at that?

"You two nephews have arrived at just the right time. I have already gone to the Third Branch to formally annul the engagement, and I intend to form an alliance with the First Branch, so I have come to pay a visit."

Jiang Lingchuan stated his purpose simply.

"An alliance?"

Zhang Chen was completely bewildered.

The First Branch only had one daughter, Su Zhenzhen.

Who was the Jiang Family looking to marry?

"Master Jiang, please speak plainly. Who are you looking to marry?"

Zhang Chen asked.

"Naturally, the third young lady of the Zhang Family."

"Hm? My little sister?"

Zhang Chen was slightly stunned.

He truly hadn't expected this.

Even Zhang Su felt very surprised.

Jiang Cheng...

In truth, Zhang Su did not harbor any resentment toward Jiang Cheng.

Although the other party had "annulled the engagement," there had been a reason for it.

Su Mulan was indeed unworthy of Jiang Cheng.

And Jiang Cheng's talent in the martial path was indeed very strong.

In the future, he had a great chance of cultivating Internal Force and becoming an Internal Force martial artist.

Why would such a promising martial artist want to marry his little sister?

Zhang Su narrowed his eyes slightly, then spoke up: "I would like to know the reason; please be direct."

Jiang Lingchuan's gaze swept over Zhang Chen and Zhang Su, then he let out a long sigh: "To be honest, the main reason my Jiang Family seeks to marry your sister is because of Young Master Zhang Su."

"The Wei Family has produced a Wei Yunzhou, who has already become an Inner Sect disciple of the Guiyuan Sect. If it weren't for the fact that my Jiang Family still has an ancestor who is an Internal Force martial artist, I fear the Wei Family would have already made a move against us."

"However, our ancestor is advanced in age and likely cannot hold on for much longer. The Jiang Family must produce a new Internal Force martial artist. But this may take a very long time, and the Jiang Family cannot pin all its hopes on Cheng'er alone. Conversely, Young Master Zhang Su is brilliant and talented, with a high probability of cultivating Internal Force."

"If Young Master Zhang Su cultivates Internal Force and becomes an Inner Sect disciple of the Guiyuan Sect, perhaps he could stand on equal footing with Wei Yunzhou. At that time, he would naturally be able to protect my Jiang Family."

"This time, our Jiang Family is sincere about marrying into the Zhang Family. Therefore, we are willing to open the Jiang Family Armory. Aside from the Jiang Family's most core martial arts, Young Master Zhang Su may practice any martial art within the armory as he pleases!"

Jiang Lingchuan's words made everything clear to everyone present.

It would be more accurate to say the Jiang Family wanted to establish a close relationship with Zhang Su rather than marry into the Zhang Family.

"The Wei Family..."

Zhang Chen and Su Zhenzhen exchanged a glance.

They knew the Wei Family had their eyes on the Su Family.

They hadn't expected the Wei Family's appetite to be so large that they wanted to swallow the Jiang Family in one gulp as well.

"Second brother, what do you think..."

Zhang Chen looked up at Zhang Su.

It was clear that he was already somewhat tempted.

His little sister was indeed at the age to be married.

Furthermore, the Jiang Family was a martial arts family, and Jiang Cheng was the Qilin Child of the Jiang Family.

If not for the threat of the Wei Family, combined with the fact that Zhang Su had defeated Jiang Cheng and displayed terrifying talent in the martial path, the Jiang Family would likely never have sought an alliance with the Zhang Family.

"The Jiang Family Armory..."

Zhang Su's eyes lit up.

The Jiang Family was also a martial arts clan with a heritage spanning hundreds of years.

Their foundation was profound.

How could their collection of books be limited to merely ten thousand volumes?

There was no telling how many martial arts manuals they possessed alone.

If he could unearth some martial arts with a compatibility rate of over 90%, it would be a massive gain for Zhang Su, allowing him to increase his compatibility value even further.

However, Zhang Su did not agree immediately.

"Big Brother, this matter must be decided with our little sister's consent! If she has no issues with it, then I naturally won't object."

Zhang Su spoke up.

"Very well, the two of you, please wait a moment."

Zhang Chen immediately stood up and went to the backyard with Zhang Su, where they found their little sister, Zhang Lingyi.

Zhang Lingyi knew nothing of what had transpired in the front hall.

As Zhang Chen explained the situation, a glimmer of light suddenly sparked in Zhang Lingyi's eyes.

"Lingyi, do you want to meet Jiang Cheng? If you aren't satisfied, Big Brother will never force you!"

Zhang Chen said with absolute certainty.

Although he, as the eldest brother, could decide the major life events of his younger sister, their parents had passed away early, and Zhang Chen always felt he owed his younger siblings.

Therefore, when it came to marriage, Zhang Chen was unwilling to force his little sister.

Zhang Su also spoke, his tone calm: "Little Sister, if you don't like him, no one can force you!"

Although Zhang Su's tone was very calm, the meaning behind his words was firm.

"I..."

Zhang Lingyi looked up at her eldest and second brothers.

Her heart was deeply moved.

Her eldest brother was considerate of her.

Her second brother was protective of her.

"Actually, I have already met Young Master Jiang before, so... I will leave the decision to Big Brother and Second Brother."

After saying this, Zhang Lingyi's face turned bright red.

Zhang Chen and Zhang Su exchanged a glance.

A smile appeared on both of their faces.

How could they not understand their little sister's true feelings?

It was clear she had long been fond of Jiang Cheng.

She had simply kept it hidden in her heart all this time.

"Hahaha, good! Little Sister, I will go and give the Jiang Family our answer right now."

Zhang Chen and Zhang Su immediately left and returned to the front hall.

When Jiang Lingchuan and Jiang Cheng saw Zhang Chen and Zhang Su return, their eyes were filled with a hint of anticipation.

Zhang Chen said with a smile: "My little sister has agreed. However, for a matter as important as marriage, we must follow the proper customs. You may return and send a matchmaker to propose."

"That is only natural."

Jiang Lingchuan was very happy.

"I cannot stay away from the mountain for too long this time, so may I go to the Jiang Family to examine your martial arts now?"

Zhang Su asked directly.

"Yes, of course! The Jiang Family naturally welcomes Young Master Zhang Su."

Jiang Lingchuan did not hesitate and agreed immediately.

He was eager to establish a relationship with Zhang Su as soon as possible.

The sooner, the better.

If Zhang Su went to the Jiang Family now and studied their martial arts, he would have a connection with them.

This was a good thing; it was exactly what the Jiang Family hoped for.

Thus, Zhang Su did not delay any further. He left the Su Family with the father and son of the Jiang Family and headed straight for the Jiang Family estate.

Soon, Zhang Su entered the Jiang Family residence.

"Father, let me take Young Master Zhang to the Armory."

Jiang Cheng spoke up.

"Very well."

Jiang Lingchuan also intended to allow Jiang Cheng and Zhang Su to build a stronger connection.

Jiang Cheng led Zhang Su toward the Armory.

Along the way, Jiang Cheng suddenly asked, "Brother Zhang, that Light Shadow Killing Sword of yours shouldn't be a top-tier sword technique, right? I also practice a top-tier sword technique, so I have a rough idea of the power a perfected top-tier technique possesses."

"That strike of yours... I still haven't been able to see it clearly even now..."

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Zhang Su's face.

"The Light Shadow Killing Sword is a peerless sword technique!"

Zhang Su did not hide the truth.

In fact, it could have been guessed.

After all, the Jiang Family still possessed quite a few top-tier martial arts.

"As I thought... a peerless sword technique..."

Jiang Cheng suddenly realized.

Clearly, he had already suspected as much for a long time.

However, Jiang Cheng was also well aware of what kind of terrifying talent was required to master a peerless sword technique.

Without talent, one could not master such a technique even if it were placed right in front of them.

At this moment, he became even more convinced that his father's decision was correct.

Zhang Su truly had a boundless future.

An alliance through marriage with the Zhang Family was the right choice.

"Young Master Jiang, actually, you don't need to belittle yourself. You have mastered a top-tier cultivation technique, condensed two hundred strands of blood energy, and mastered a top-tier martial art. Within the Outer Sect of the Guiyuan Sect, you could certainly contend for a spot among the top ten outer disciples."

"Furthermore, with your family's profound heritage, you have a great chance of cultivating Internal Force in the future, and you aren't much inferior to Wei Yunzhou."

Zhang Su said.

Jiang Cheng suddenly stopped.

He looked at Zhang Su with a strange expression.

"Hm?"

"Did I say something wrong?"

Jiang Cheng let out a long sigh and said, "Brother Zhang, I'm afraid you don't know Wei Yunzhou, nor have you looked into his achievements, have you?"

"Wei Yunzhou... he is a heaven-sent talent. Based on a peerless cultivation technique, he exceeded five hundred strands of blood energy before cultivating Internal Force. The moment he entered the Inner Sect of the Guiyuan Sect, he was taken as a personal disciple by an elder of the Houtian Realm."

"With his talent, he has a great hope of becoming a Houtian powerhouse! There is even a sliver of hope for him to challenge the legendary Xiantian Realm..."

"Compared to Wei Yunzhou, my talent is not worth mentioning."

Jiang Cheng was also a person who held himself in high regard.

However, he admitted that his talent was far inferior to Wei Yunzhou's.

The two were not even in the same league.

"A heaven-sent talent..."

A strange glint flashed in Zhang Su's eyes.

No wonder the Jiang Family was under such immense pressure.

They were even forced to use Jiang Cheng for a marriage alliance.

No wonder his sister-in-law and eldest brother looked so grave whenever the "Wei Family" was mentioned.

No wonder the Wei Family acted so unscrupulously.

It turned out it was all because Wei Yunzhou was no ordinary inner disciple.

"Brother Zhang, we have arrived at the Armory. You may choose any martial art inside as you please!"

"Very well, thank you for your trouble, Brother Jiang."

Jiang Cheng immediately summoned two servants.

"Brother Zhang, if you need anything, you can instruct these two."

Zhang Su nodded.

With that, Jiang Cheng did not linger any longer, turned around, and left.