Qian Renxue's Reward

Jiang Mingyang left the town after all.

Ye Lingling and her mother reportedly planned to stay a few more days, treating the townspeople's illnesses and injuries.

Questions weighed on Jiang Mingyang as he resumed his journey, and he was in no mood to take it slowly.

He quickened his pace. Two days later, a young man of extraordinary bearing returned to the Heaven Dou Empire Capital.

But the young man's state of mind had changed. Doubt about the Heaven Dou Empire's rule had taken root in his heart... The seed was growing at an astonishing pace. Perhaps one day, it would become a tree towering into the clouds...

Jiang Mingyang went straight to the Jiang Family estate. As soon as he reached the gate, a smiling servant hurried forward to greet him. "Third Young Master, you're back."

One small comfort was that he hadn't come home to one of those scenes from novels where he had to slap someone's face.

His appearance had hardly changed, so the servants naturally recognized him at a glance.

In reality, those novel plots where someone deliberately provoked the protagonist just to get slapped in the face almost never happened.

However poorly a young master was doing, he was still the master. What servant would dare bully him?

Besides, servants born into great families might be proud, but they were also masters at reading people. If you showed up in rags and couldn't carry yourself with confidence, who else were they supposed to stop?

Jiang Mingyang nodded. One gatekeeper followed close behind, rapidly filling him in on everything that had happened in the Jiang Family during his absence, while the other ran inside to announce his return.

When Jiang Tian, Xue Fang, and the others heard that Jiang Mingyang was back, they hurried out to see how he was.

The moment Jiang Tian saw him, he burst out laughing and clapped him on the shoulder. "Well? What did you learn from this journey? Any questions?"

Jiang Mingyang smiled, relaxing. "I do have many questions, but I'll need to seek the answers myself someday and resolve my doubts with my own eyes."

Jiang Tian smiled. "If they're questions you need to answer for yourself, I won't ask.

"My views might influence you, and that wouldn't help you grow."

Jiang Tian then waved the servants away.

Once they had left, Jiang Mingyang said, "Father, I reached level forty-four on this trip! And my fourth Soul Ring is a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring."

Jiang Tian stared in shock, then sighed. "How did you improve so quickly? A Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring for your fourth ring... Have I fallen behind the times?"

Jiang Mingyang told him about meeting Dugu Bo and discovering the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, then took out the Immortal Herbs he had prepared.

"This is Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. Eating it sends vital energy through the limbs and opens the eight channels of the bloodline; it can forge a body impervious to harm. It's for you, Father. Of course, your cultivation is already so high that its effects won't be quite that dramatic.

"This Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid is for Mother. It can speed up her cultivation from now on.

"And these two Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma will strengthen the foundation, nourish vital energy, and increase cultivation. They're for Eldest Brother and Second Brother."

Jiang Tian patted Jiang Mingyang on the shoulder, touched and delighted.

The Immortal Herbs' value was clear from the fact that they had helped Jiang Mingyang advance without any hidden drawbacks, yet he had shared them without hesitation.

But the herbs themselves weren't what made Jiang Tian happy.

No one wanted a child they had raised for years to turn out an ungrateful wolf cub. Seeing Jiang Mingyang now, he knew the Jiang Family's wealth and luxury hadn't spoiled the boy they had taken in.

Jiang Mingyang looked at them. "These Immortal Herbs are precious. We shouldn't let anyone else know about them. I'll stand guard while you absorb them."

Jiang Tian and the others nodded repeatedly, then entered the cultivation chamber.

In less than half an hour, all four had finished absorbing their herbs.

Just as Jiang Mingyang had predicted, the herbs did not contain enough energy to advance someone at Jiang Tian's Soul Douluo level—or at the Titled Douluo level—even a single rank.

Fortunately, Jiang Tian had already spent a long time cultivating. After absorbing the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, he advanced one rank to level eighty-six.

At the very least, it had saved him three years of work. It might even have saved him a lifetime.

That was no exaggeration. At the Soul Douluo level, anyone could become stuck at any rank, sometimes for the rest of their life.

Jiang Tian's physique had also improved tremendously, leaving him overjoyed.

After absorbing the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, Xue Fang reached level sixty.

Eldest Brother Jiang Ti reached level seventy-four after absorbing his Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma.

Second Brother Jiang Nan reached level sixty-six.

That evening, the family shared a joyous reunion dinner. Everyone looked refreshed and eager for what lay ahead.

At the first glimmer of dawn the next day, Jiang Mingyang went to the Crown Prince's palace and requested an audience with "Xue Qinghe."

A trusted attendant brought Jiang Mingyang to "Xue Qinghe's" residence, then went to report his arrival at the Eastern Palace, where "Xue Qinghe" was handling official business.

Before long, "Xue Qinghe" appeared before Jiang Mingyang.

"Xue Qinghe" dismissed the servants and changed back into Qian Renxue. Her eyes reddened as she pulled Jiang Mingyang fiercely into her arms. He gently wrapped his arms around her slender waist.

When Qian Renxue released him, Jiang Mingyang took out the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower and the Lovesick Heartbreak Red. "I found these two Immortal Herbs during my travels.

"The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower is a powerful pure-yang tonic that can greatly increase the user's Soul Power. The Lovesick Heartbreak Red requires a drop of blood before it can be used."

Jiang Mingyang then told Qian Renxue the story of the Lovesick Heartbreak Red.

Without hesitation, Qian Renxue let a drop of blood fall onto it. The Lovesick Heartbreak Red promptly bloomed in all its beauty.

She smiled happily at the sight, then glanced at Jiang Mingyang, her cheeks flushed. "Stand guard for me."

In less than half an hour, Qian Renxue finished absorbing the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. She sensed the changes in herself and said happily, "My Soul Power rose three levels. I'm at level fifty-eight now. My attributes seem to have improved a little too, though not by much."

Seeing Jiang Mingyang's puzzled look, Qian Renxue explained, "I'll wait until I reach the Soul Douluo level to absorb the Lovesick Heartbreak Red. That way, it can save me a great deal of cultivation time."

Jiang Mingyang nodded slowly. "Then, Qianqian... aren't you going to reward me?"

Qian Renxue's ears turned bright red, and Jiang Mingyang hurriedly kissed her.

"My belt grows loose, yet I regret nothing; some things, I now know, must be learned firsthand."

Beautiful music rose softly.

An hour later

Qian Renxue rested against Jiang Mingyang's chest, her eyes gently closed, her expression one of bliss.

Jiang Mingyang suddenly attained enlightenment. All desire for the beautiful things of this world left him, as though he were a god or Buddha walking among mortals.

The Grand Ancestor Emperor ascended after enjoying three thousand women!

"Rumors Stop with the Wise"