Detection

"Hmm?"

Watching Jiang Sihai's righteous display, the clan elders were bewildered.

Wasn't it said that Jiang Sihai was going back on his word and unwilling to hand over the resources?

Why, then, did he appear so cooperative now?

"It seems he knows Xuan'er is about to enter the True Martial Realm and wants to cozy up to us."

Jiang Junyue was also stunned, but then he suddenly realized.

Jiang Sihai must have sensed that there was something wrong with Jiang Chen's cultivation progress.

Only Jiang Guiyuan, sitting in the main seat, looked at Jiang Sihai before letting his gaze fall upon Jiang Chen, who was calmly sipping tea.

Jiang Chen was too quiet!

He could tell that this wasn't a feigned calmness, but rather the confidence of someone with true substance!

"Could it be..."

A shocking thought immediately drifted through Jiang Guiyuan's mind.

Could it be that Jiang Chen didn't take any forbidden drugs?

That shouldn't be possible.

Jiang Chen only had ordinary aptitude; if he hadn't taken forbidden drugs, how could he have entered the Second Qi and Blood Gate in such a short time?

So, where did this father and son get their confidence?

"I knew it, Sihai is still very reasonable. Since that's the case..."

A clan elder came to his senses and was about to follow Jiang Sihai's lead to settle the matter.

"Seventh Uncle, I came to the ancestral home today to announce a joyous occasion!"

Jiang Sihai, however, interrupted the elder.

"A joyous occasion?"

The group of clan elders looked at Jiang Sihai in unison, not understanding where this joy was coming from.

Jiang Junyue blinked.

Why did the direction of this matter feel a bit off?

Shouldn't Jiang Sihai be taking the opportunity to hand over the resources and then heap praise upon Jiang Xuan?

What exactly was he up to?

"My son, Jiang Chen, has entered the Three Qi and Blood Gates!"

Under the gaze of everyone, Jiang Sihai announced excitedly.

"What?!"

"Jiang Chen has entered the Three Qi and Blood Gates?!"

Hearing Jiang Sihai's words, the group of clan elders all suspected they had misheard.

According to the intelligence gathered by the clan, Jiang Chen had been slacking off ever since he joined the Martial Arts Hall half a year ago, not even having grasped the Standing Post Technique.

Now Jiang Sihai was claiming that Jiang Chen had entered the Three Qi and Blood Gates?

That was pure nonsense.

"Jiang Sihai, do you take all the clan elders for fools?"

Jiang Junyue, who had felt something was wrong earlier, couldn't help but laugh.

He had been wondering what Jiang Sihai was planning; it turned out to be a deathbed struggle.

He had been paying close attention to Jiang Chen's aptitude and cultivation progress.

Before the incident at the haunted house, Jiang Chen hadn't even condensed his martial arts qi and blood.

It was impossible for him to have made a triple jump and entered the Three Qi and Blood Gates in less than two months, right?

That wasn't just normal cultivation; even taking forbidden drugs couldn't achieve that.

"Three Qi and Blood Gates..."

Jiang Guiyuan, who had been secretly observing Jiang Chen, had a look of shock in his eyes.

Was this the reason Jiang Chen was so calm?

But was it even possible?

To go from not even having mastered the Standing Post Technique to entering the Three Qi and Blood Gates in such a short time—that was simply flying.

But if it were a lie, why would Jiang Sihai announce it publicly?

The clan elders wouldn't just believe whatever he said.

Anything involving the distribution of resources would be subject to careful scrutiny.

Unless...

"Sihai, are you certain you aren't mistaken? Jiang Chen has stepped into the Three Qi and Blood Gates?"

Seventh Uncle and the other clan elders looked toward Jiang Chen in unison, frowning as they asked.

Such obvious nonsense was naturally something they could not believe.

Yet, Jiang Sihai spoke with such absolute certainty...

"It is naturally true."

Jiang Sihai said, filled with pride.

"Jiang Sihai, do you think you can muddle through with such drivel? 'Three Qi and Blood Gates,' why don't you just say your son has stepped into the True Martial Realm while you're at it?"

Seeing Jiang Sihai's expression, Jiang Junyue sneered in displeasure.

"I am an honest man; I must seek truth from facts and cannot speak blindly."

Jiang Sihai remained all smiles, completely unbothered by Jiang Junyue's mockery.

"Enough. Chen'er, circulate your qi and blood and let us see."

Seeing the two about to bicker again, Jiang Guiyuan spoke to Jiang Chen.

"Yes!"

Jiang Chen stood up calmly. Martial qi and blood, pure as jade, whistled through his body, and a formidable aura swept outward.

"This fluctuation..."

"It really is the Three Qi and Blood Gates!"

"How did he manage this?!"

Instantly, the group of clan elders rose to their feet, unable to hide their shock.

Jiang Guiyuan's eyes narrowed as well, surprise surging within them.

"Impossible!"

"How could he be at the Three Qi and Blood Gates? Not long ago, he hadn't even grasped the Standing Post Technique. How could he possibly have stepped into the Three Qi and Blood Gates?!"

Jiang Junyue's eyes widened, unable to believe what he was seeing.

"Seeing is believing, yet you still refuse to accept it. You truly are stubborn."

Jiang Sihai was very satisfied with Jiang Junyue's reaction.

Ever since Jiang Xuan was found to have medium-grade aptitude half a year ago, Jiang Junyue had worn a detached, pretentious air whenever he was around.

Today, the tables had turned; it was his turn to show off.

"Old Seven, you are skilled in medicine. Go and examine Chen'er's condition."

Jiang Guiyuan broke the silence.

He did not hide his intentions; he suspected Jiang Chen had taken forbidden drugs.

Seventh Uncle stepped forward, first observing, listening, questioning, and feeling the pulse, then using acupuncture to prick the acupoints. The more he examined, the greater the shock on his face became.

"How is the situation?"

The group of clan elders waited in unison for the answer.

Jiang Guiyuan and Jiang Junyue also stared without blinking.

"There are no signs of Chen'er having taken forbidden drugs. His martial qi and blood are extremely pure, and his foundation is quite solid."

Seventh Uncle withdrew his hand, stating the result with a strange expression.

Jiang Chen was actually at the Three Qi and Blood Gates?

And he hadn't taken any forbidden drugs?

This, this, this...

"Does this mean that Xuan'er went from the entry level of the Standing Post Technique to the Three Qi and Blood Gates in less than two months?!"

Hearing Seventh Uncle's diagnosis, the eyes of the clan elders lit up, and they stared at Jiang Chen as if he were a rare treasure.

One had to know that even Jiang Xuan, who possessed medium-grade aptitude and the support of the entire clan's resources, had taken three or four months to reach the Three Qi and Blood Gates.

In other words, Jiang Chen's martial talent was even higher than Jiang Xuan's?

This naturally filled them with wild joy!

No faction could refuse the birth of a genius!

"So he was indeed hiding his light."

Jiang Guiyuan was somewhat calmer.

He did not believe that Jiang Chen's talent was superior to Jiang Xuan's.

Ordinary aptitude being stronger than medium-grade aptitude?

That completely defied common sense!

Therefore, the only possibility was that Jiang Chen had been hiding his true ability all along.

They said that after entering the Martial Arts Hall, he spent his days chasing after women.

They said that after half a year of cultivation, he hadn't even grasped the Standing Post Technique.

These were all smoke screens.

After Jiang Chen joined the Martial Arts Hall, he must have been training diligently, without the slightest slack.

Otherwise, with the talent of ordinary bone structure, it would be impossible to step into the Three Qi and Blood Gates so quickly.

"Seventh Uncle, are you sure you didn't make a mistake in your examination?"

Jiang Junyue was incredulous, even speaking without thinking.

"I wouldn't make a mistake on such a simple diagnosis."

Seventh Uncle frowned slightly; if it weren't for Jiang Guiyuan above him and Jiang Xuan below him, he wouldn't even bother with this brainless fool.

"Jiang Junyue, I heard you hired a private physician to condition your son. Why don't you bring him over to take a look?"

Jiang Sihai naturally wouldn't miss such a perfect opportunity to twist the knife.

"You... I..."

Jiang Junyue's face flushed bright red.

His intention was that he didn't believe Jiang Chen could cultivate so quickly, but he never meant to question Seventh Uncle.

That guy Jiang Sihai was as insidious as ever, always twisting the knife whenever he got the chance.

"Old Seven, how is Chen'er's bone structure?"

Jiang Guiyuan sighed inwardly.

Jiang Junyue's brains and methods were completely inferior to Jiang Sihai's.

"That's right, isn't Chen'er of ordinary bone structure? How could he cultivate so quickly?"

"Could it be that the initial test was wrong?"

Jiang Guiyuan's words, which struck directly at the heart of the matter, immediately drew the attention of the clan elders.

They now suspected that the diagnosis result when testing the bone structure had been wrong.

It was highly likely that Jiang Chen also possessed medium bone structure.

Two geniuses with such bone structure in one clan.

This would be a blessing from the heavens.

"Chen'er's talent is indeed only ordinary bone structure."

Seventh Uncle said.

This was also the reason for his strange expression.

He truly couldn't fathom how someone with mere ordinary bone structure could have such a cultivation speed.

"Ordinary bone structure?"

The previously excited atmosphere felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over it; the clan elders frowned, feeling as if their lifelong common sense had been turned upside down.

"I understand now!"

"Jiang Sihai, the previous news was all released by you on purpose!"

"You wanted to use this method to swindle resources from the clan!"

"You, you are too insidious!"

Jiang Junyue, having been played, immediately seized the opportunity to jump out.

"If he had been training hard since the day he joined the Martial Arts Hall, then with the aid of resources, it is indeed possible to step into the Three Qi and Blood Gates in over half a year."

The clan elders came back to their senses one after another, and their initial excitement and agitation vanished completely.

Most of them possessed ordinary bone structure and knew its potential all too well.

In a word, ordinary bone structure was too inferior.

No matter how many resources were invested, the future was extremely limited, and it was not worth cultivating at all.