Marriage Alliance

Actually, Jiang Cheng was not the only one in the sitting room.

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

His Blood Qi surged just as fiercely; he too was a Blood Qi Realm Ninth Layer martial artist.

Moreover, he bore some resemblance to Jiang Cheng.

"The Jiang Family Head?"

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

The man was Jiang Cheng's father, as well as the current Jiang Family Head, Jiang Lingchuan!

Why had the dignified Jiang Family Head personally come to the Su Family, and even to the First Branch?

"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 a marriage alliance with the First Branch. That is why I came to visit."

Jiang Lingchuan briefly explained his purpose.

"A marriage alliance?"

Zhang Chen looked utterly bewildered.

The First Branch had only Su Zhenzhen as its sole daughter.

Who was the Jiang Family seeking to marry into?

"Jiang Family Head, please speak plainly. Who are you seeking a marriage alliance with?"

Zhang Chen asked.

"Of course, the Third Miss of the Zhang Family."

"Hm? Little sister?"

Zhang Chen was slightly stunned.

He truly had not expected this.

Even Zhang Su found it very surprising.

Jiang Cheng...

In truth, Zhang Su did not dislike Jiang Cheng.

Although the other party had "annulled the engagement," there had been reasons behind it.

Su Mulan truly was not worthy of Jiang Cheng.

And Jiang Cheng's talent in martial arts truly was formidable.

He had a great chance of cultivating Internal Force in the future and becoming an Internal Force martial artist.

Why would such a martial artist with boundless prospects form a marriage alliance with his little sister?

Zhang Chen narrowed his eyes slightly before speaking. "I would like to know the reason. Please speak frankly."

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 a marriage alliance with 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 not for the fact that my Jiang Family still has an ancestor who is an Internal Force martial artist, the Wei Family would likely have made a move against us long ago."

"But our ancestor is already advanced in years and likely cannot hold on much longer. The Jiang Family must produce a new Internal Force martial artist. Yet that may take a long time, and the Jiang Family cannot place all its hopes on Cheng'er alone. In contrast, Young Master Zhang Su is astonishingly gifted, with a great chance of cultivating Internal Force."

"If Young Master Zhang Su cultivates Internal Force and becomes an Inner Sect disciple of the Guiyuan Sect, perhaps he will be able to stand toe-to-toe with Wei Yunzhou. At that time, he can naturally protect my Jiang Family as well."

"This time, my Jiang Family sincerely wishes to form a marriage alliance with 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 cultivate any martial art within the armory as he pleases!"

Jiang Lingchuan's words made everyone understand.

Rather than saying that the Jiang Family wanted a marriage alliance with the Zhang Family—

It would be more accurate to say that they wanted to forge a close relationship with Zhang Su.

"The Wei Family..."

Zhang Chen and Su Zhenzhen exchanged glances.

They knew that the Wei Family had set its sights on the Su Family.

They had never expected the Wei Family's appetite to be so great that it wanted to swallow even the Jiang Family whole in one bite.

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

Zhang Chen raised his head and looked at Zhang Su.

It was clear that he was already somewhat tempted.

Their little sister had indeed reached the age of marriage.

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

If not for the Wei Family's threat, coupled with Zhang Su defeating Jiang Cheng and displaying an extraordinarily terrifying talent in martial arts—

The Jiang Family would likely never have sought a marriage alliance with the Zhang Family, no matter what.

"The Jiang Family Armory..."

Zhang Su's eyes lit up.

The Jiang Family was also a martial arts family that had been passed down for several centuries.

Its foundations ran deep.

How could its collection of books amount to merely ten thousand volumes?

Who knew how many martial arts manuals alone it possessed?

If he could find some martial arts with a Compatibility Rate above 90%, gaining more Compatibility Points would be an enormous harvest for Zhang Su.

However, Zhang Su did not agree immediately.

"Elder brother, we must ask little sister what she thinks! If she has no objections, then naturally I will not object either."

Zhang Su spoke.

"Very well. Please wait a moment, both of you."

Zhang Chen immediately rose to his feet and went with Zhang Su to the rear courtyard, where they found their little sister, Zhang Lingyi.

Zhang Lingyi knew nothing about what had happened in the front hall.

As Zhang Chen explained, a spark of radiance suddenly flashed in Zhang Lingyi's eyes.

"Lingyi, do you want to go meet Jiang Cheng? If you are dissatisfied, elder brother will absolutely not force you!"

Zhang Chen said decisively.

Though a young woman's marriage could be decided by him, her eldest brother, with a single word—

Their parents had died early, and Zhang Chen had always felt that he had failed his younger siblings.

Therefore, when it came to such an important matter as marriage, Zhang Chen was unwilling to force his little sister.

Zhang Su also spoke, his tone calm. "Little sister, if you do not like him, no one can force you!"

Though Zhang Su's tone was calm, the meaning in his words was resolute.

"I..."

Zhang Lingyi looked up at her eldest and second brothers.

She felt deeply moved.

Her eldest brother was considerate of her.

Her second brother was protecting her too.

"I actually met Young Master Jiang a long time ago, so I... will leave it to elder brother and second brother to decide."

By the time she finished speaking, Zhang Lingyi's face had already turned crimson.

Zhang Chen and Zhang Su exchanged glances.

Smiles appeared at the corners of both their mouths.

How could they fail to see what their little sister was thinking?

She had clearly taken a liking to Jiang Cheng long ago.

She had simply kept it hidden in her heart and never spoken of it.

"Hahaha, good! Little sister, I will go give the Jiang Family an answer at once."

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

When Jiang Lingchuan and Jiang Cheng saw Zhang Chen and Zhang Su return, anticipation flickered in both their eyes.

Zhang Chen said with a smile, "Little sister has agreed. However, marriage is a major matter, and we must still follow the proper customs. After you return, simply have a matchmaker come to propose."

"Of course."

Jiang Lingchuan was delighted.

"This Zhang cannot stay down the mountain for too long. May I go to the Jiang Family now to inspect the martial arts?"

Zhang Su asked directly.

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

Jiang Lingchuan agreed without the slightest hesitation.

He could not wait to establish a relationship with Zhang Su.

The sooner, the better.

If Zhang Su went to the Jiang Family now and viewed the Jiang Family's martial arts, then he would have a connection with the Jiang Family.

This was a good thing, something the Jiang Family could only wish for.

Thus, Zhang Su did not delay any longer. He left the Su Family with the Jiang father and son, heading straight for the Jiang Family.

Before long, Zhang Su entered the Jiang Family.

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

Jiang Cheng spoke.

"Good."

Jiang Lingchuan also intended for Jiang Cheng and Zhang Su to build more connections between them.

Jiang Cheng led Zhang Su toward the armory.

Along the way, Jiang Cheng suddenly asked, "Brother Zhang, that Light Shadow Killing Sword of yours should not be a top-tier sword technique, right? I have also practiced top-tier sword techniques, and I roughly know the power of a top-tier sword technique at the perfected stage."

"I still have not clearly seen that sword strike even now..."

Zhang Su smiled faintly upon hearing this.

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

Zhang Su did not conceal it.

In truth, it was something one could guess.

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

"So that was it... a peerless sword technique..."

Jiang Cheng suddenly understood.

Clearly, he had already suspected as much.

But Jiang Cheng also understood even more clearly what kind of terrifying talent was required to master a peerless sword technique.

Without talent, even if a peerless sword technique were placed before one's eyes, one would still be unable to master it.

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

Zhang Su truly had boundless prospects.

Forming a marriage alliance with the Zhang Family was the right choice.

"Young Master Jiang, there is no need for you to belittle yourself. You were able to master a top-tier cultivation method, condense two hundred strands of Blood Qi, and master a top-tier martial technique. Among the Guiyuan Sect's Outer Sect, you could also compete for a place among the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples."

"Moreover, your family's learning runs deep. You have a great chance of cultivating Internal Force in the future, and you are not much inferior to Wei Yunzhou."

Zhang Su said.

Jiang Cheng suddenly stopped walking.

He looked at Zhang Su with a strange expression.

"Hm?"

"Did I say something wrong?"

Jiang Cheng let out a long sigh. "Brother Zhang, I fear you do not know Wei Yunzhou, nor have you learned about his deeds?"

"Wei Yunzhou... He is a heaven-gifted genius. Using a peerless cultivation method as his foundation, he cultivated Internal Force only after surpassing five hundred strands of Blood Qi. The moment he entered the Guiyuan Sect's Inner Sect, a Postnatal Realm elder accepted him as a Personal Disciple."

"With his talent, he has a great chance of becoming a Postnatal Realm powerhouse! There is even the slightest hope that he may charge at the legendary Xiantian Realm..."

"With my little talent, compared to Wei Yunzhou, I am not worth mentioning."

Jiang Cheng was also someone who thought highly of himself.

Yet he believed that his talent was far inferior to Wei Yunzhou's.

The two of them did not even qualify to be mentioned in the same breath.

"A heaven-gifted genius..."

A strange glint flashed through Zhang Su's eyes.

No wonder the Jiang Family was under such immense pressure.

They had even been forced into using Jiang Cheng for a marriage alliance.

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

No wonder the Wei Family acted so recklessly and without restraint.

It turned out that it was all because Wei Yunzhou was no ordinary Inner Sect disciple.

"Brother Zhang, the armory is here. You may choose the martial arts inside as you please!"

"Good. Thank you for the trouble, Brother Jiang."

Jiang Cheng immediately summoned two servants.

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

Zhang Su nodded.

Thus, Jiang Cheng did not linger any longer and turned to leave.