Ancestral Home

"Are you plotting against Junior Brother Jiang?"

On the sidelines of the training grounds, Sun Wu noticed Zheng Hao and his group departing.

In the past, he certainly wouldn't have bothered to pay them any mind.

But now, he could not allow Zheng Hao and the others to lead Jiang Chen astray.

It seemed he would have to find an opportunity to properly knock some sense into them.

Amidst the heated, intense training, an hour passed by quickly.

Cultivation: Second Qi and Blood Gate · Early Stage (7%)

Drenched in sweat, Jiang Chen finished his training once again, while the progress on the Myriad Dao Chart climbed steadily.

"Jiang Chen, have you broken through to the Second Qi and Blood Gate?"

Seeing this, Luo Yang even set aside his own training and hurried over at the first opportunity.

"I broke through just two days ago."

Jiang Chen walked over to the water vat and took large gulps of the cool well water.

"You wouldn't happen to have medium-grade aptitude, would you?"

Luo Yang thought it over, and there was only one reason Jiang Chen could cultivate so quickly: the aptitude test must have been wrong.

As for taking forbidden drugs, he had never even considered such a thing.

Even if his own family gave him forbidden drugs, Jiang Chen's family would never do the same for him.

After all, Jiang Chen was the only male heir in his family.

If something were to happen to him, it would be the end of their line.

"I wish, but unfortunately, I only have ordinary aptitude."

Jiang Chen set down the wooden ladle, feeling quite refreshed as the cool breeze blew over him.

"Then how are you cultivating so fast?"

Hearing this, Luo Yang knew it wasn't appropriate to ask, but he couldn't help himself.

"Because I have a good constitution and can easily absorb the medicinal power."

Jiang Chen's words were true, though they weren't the whole truth.

His constitution was indeed not weak, and he could truly absorb the medicinal power completely.

But in the final analysis.

The enlightenment bonus and the permanent realm retention provided by the Myriad Dao Chart were the most important core factors.

"It's a pity. If you had realized this sooner, you might have been able to catch up in time for the year-end Martial Exam."

Luo Yang could not hide his envy, followed by a look of deep regret.

Jiang Chen had wasted too much time.

If he had focused solely on bitter cultivation after joining the Martial Arts Hall.

Then Jiang Chen would have had a decent chance of placing in the year-end Martial Exam.

But now, it was all too late.

Even if Jiang Chen's constitution was excellent, having fallen so far behind, it was impossible to catch up.

Jiang Chen smiled and said nothing.

However, from Luo Yang's words, it was clear that news of the True Sun Sect taking over White Cloud Prefecture and establishing city defense forces in every county was already circulating in small circles.

Because of this, every faction with any foundation would be preparing for the Martial Exam with all their might.

This year's Martial Exam would likely be unprecedentedly fierce.

I hope Senior Brother Sun can manage to get his hands on some high-quality Five Elements Pill.

Jiang Chen whispered to himself.

In previous Martial Exams, simply stepping into the True Martial Realm was basically enough to secure a ranking.

This year, an ordinary True Martial Realm cultivator would likely struggle to make the list.

To be safe, he naturally had to increase his odds of winning as much as possible.

After resting for a long while and recovering his strength, he threw himself back into his bitter training.

In the blink of an eye, it was noon, and the scorching sun hung high in the sky.

The disciples on the training grounds left in twos and threes.

Jiang Chen and Luo Yang also finished their training and headed to the cafeteria to eat.

"Qingzhu, I just heard some news."

In a corner of the cafeteria, Zhao Xiaoyue carried her meal over and found Wang Qingzhu sitting alone.

"What news?"

Wang Qingzhu asked casually.

Ever since the news from the Upper Sect spread, the Wang Clan, which had always been lenient with her, strictly ordered her to come to the Martial Arts Hall every day.

The reason the Wang Clan sent her to practice martial arts was to arrange a marriage for her.

And the talented disciples of the Martial Arts Hall's inner courtyard were the perfect candidates for such a marriage.

Otherwise, with her ordinary aptitude, she would never have received such favorable treatment.

"I heard that Jiang Chen has stepped into the Second Qi and Blood Gate."

Zhao Xiaoyue said.

"Second Qi and Blood Gate? Jiang Chen?"

Wang Qingzhu was taken aback.

Didn't Jiang Chen just reach the perfection of the first Qi and Blood Gate not long ago?

How much time had even passed since then?

He had actually stepped into the Second Qi and Blood Gate?

"It seems Jiang Chen really did take forbidden drugs."

Zhao Xiaoyue said while eating.

A few days ago, when Wang Qingzhu suspected that Jiang Chen had taken forbidden drugs, she hadn't quite believed it.

But seeing Jiang Chen's current progress, she had no choice but to believe it.

With ordinary aptitude, it was impossible to cultivate this quickly.

"Forbidden drugs?"

This time, it was Wang Qingzhu's turn to ponder.

The effect of forbidden drugs was to burn one's potential, thereby becoming stronger rapidly in a short period.

But hadn't Jiang Chen already made a leap in progress when he was at the first Qi and Blood Gate?

Could forbidden drugs trigger a second breakthrough?

"If it's not forbidden drugs, could it be... precious medicine?!"

So-called precious medicine referred to heaven-sent treasures formed by absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth; it would be no exaggeration to say they were worth ten thousand gold.

If Jiang Chen's cultivation progress was so fast, and it wasn't because he took forbidden drugs, then it could only be that his family had found precious medicine.

"In the end, he is just relying on external forces."

Thinking of this, Wang Qingzhu collected her thoughts.

Ordinary aptitude was still too poor.

If he had medium aptitude, she might have taken a few more looks at Jiang Chen.

Jiang Clan, ancestral residence.

"Second Qi and Blood Gate?"

In the main hall, Jiang Guiyuan, with his white hair and beard, raised an eyebrow as he looked at the letter in his hand.

"Grandfather, what happened?"

A man wearing a long robe approached.

Jiang Junyue, Jiang Xuan's father.

With Jiang Guiyuan above him and Jiang Xuan below, Jiang Junyue was practically the designated next head of the family, and he basically took charge of all the clan's affairs.

"This is a letter sent by Jiang Sihai."

Jiang Guiyuan put down the letter.

"His son broke through to the Second Qi and Blood Gate?!"

Seeing the content of the letter, Jiang Junyue blurted out, "This is impossible!"

It was no wonder he didn't believe it.

Ever since Jiang Chen joined the Martial Arts Hall, he had been fooling around with others all day long.

After half a year of cultivation, his Standing Post Technique had only just reached the entry level, and on top of that, he had ordinary aptitude.

No matter how one looked at it, it was impossible for him to step into the Second Qi and Blood Gate in such a short time.

"Didn't Jiang Sihai agree to hand over five hundred taels of silver every month? What is he trying to do now? Backing out?"

"Even if he wants to back out, he should at least find a decent excuse!"

"Stepping into the Second Qi and Blood Gate in one month, and he hopes the clan will provide financial support? Isn't this obviously talking nonsense?"

Jiang Junyue was very dissatisfied.

At present, the entire clan's situation was precarious, and they should be working together to overcome this difficulty.

How could one disregard the safety of the entire clan for the sake of personal interest?

"Given Jiang Sihai's temperament, he should be able to see the situation clearly."

Jiang Guiyuan said instead.

"Grandfather, you don't actually believe what he said, do you?"

Jiang Junyue was stunned, finding Jiang Guiyuan's reaction very strange.

With such an obviously clumsy excuse, had his grandfather lost his mind?

"You said it yourself, this excuse is too preposterous. If it weren't true, why would Jiang Sihai use a reason that could be poked through with a single finger?"

Jiang Guiyuan waved his hand, telling Jiang Junyue to calm down.

"But that's impossible!"

"I've looked into that brat Jiang Chen. He's been in the Martial Arts Hall for half a year and only just managed to reach the entry level of the Standing Post Technique. With that lazy attitude, could he reach the Second Qi and Blood Gate in a month?"

"Unless the sun rises in the west!"

Jiang Junyue still felt that Jiang Sihai was just spouting nonsense to deliberately drag them down.

"Such a thing is not entirely impossible."

Jiang Guiyuan spoke slowly.

"Do you mean that to compete for resources, Jiang Sihai used forbidden drugs on his son? He shouldn't be that shortsighted, should he?"

Jiang Junyue reacted immediately.

Come to think of it, if forbidden drugs were used to stimulate potential, it would indeed be possible to break through consecutive gates in such a short time.

But if that happened, the path of martial arts would be completely severed.

Would Jiang Sihai destroy his own foundation for a momentary dispute?

"Jiang Sihai wouldn't, but that doesn't mean his son wouldn't."

Jiang Guiyuan smiled.

Jiang Sihai only had Jiang Chen as his sole heir, so he naturally wouldn't let Jiang Chen take such risks.

But what if Jiang Chen had secretly bought and consumed forbidden drugs?

"That brat Jiang Chen is indeed capable of doing such a thing."

Jiang Junyue realized.

An idiot who wasted his martial arts training for a woman and even dared to break into a haunted house—it wouldn't be surprising regardless of what outrageous thing he did.

"Write back and tell Jiang Sihai that clan resources are currently limited and we cannot fund his son, but he doesn't need to hand over his family's earnings for the time being."

Jiang Guiyuan instructed.

"We're not taking Jiang Sihai's harvest?"

Jiang Junyue was anxious.

Five hundred taels a month meant six thousand taels a year.

And this six thousand taels, which didn't even need to be paid up to the City Lord's Mansion, could be used entirely for Jiang Xuan, which he naturally found unacceptable.

The consumption of resources for the Three Qi and Blood Gates was already astonishing; once one stepped into the True Martial Realm, it would surely be even more terrifying.

At this critical moment, not a single penny could be spared.

"Don't be impatient. In a few days, once Jiang Sihai sees his son's true condition, he will naturally hand over the silver voluntarily. By then, it won't just be five hundred taels a month."

Jiang Guiyuan sipped his tea calmly.

It remained the same: everyone has selfish motives.

For the sake of Jiang Xuan's future, he didn't mind playing the villain.