In that moment, Jiang Wuhen displayed a ruthlessness utterly unlike his usual self.
Deep down, Luo Qingning felt more gratified than anything.
It was only—
“That Xiao Chen is born rebellious. He’ll never willingly submit to anyone. Trying to bring him under our wing would be… harder than ascending to heaven.”
“After today’s battle has escalated this far, Hen’er, do you think there’s still any chance of befriending him?”
Luo Qingning asked.
Killing Xiao Chen was, in the end, the worst option.
Luo Qingning knew full well that someone blessed with great fortune like him was not so easily killed.
Forcing his death would likely fail and only drain one’s own fortune. The loss would outweigh the gain.
Hearing this, Jiang Wuhen smiled mildly.
“Rest assured, Shizun. Lock him up for a few days first and wear down his edge.”
“When the time comes, I’ll test him myself.”
“If he’s a smart man, he’d best accept my goodwill. Otherwise, I have a hundred ways to put him in his grave!”
“But before that, I’ll need Shizun to mobilize the sect’s ‘Heavenly One Shadow Guards’ to dig up everything about this man’s background. That way, I can prescribe the right treatment.”
Jiang Wuhen said plainly.
Luo Qingning smiled and casually produced a jade slip from her storage ring, handing it to Jiang Wuhen.
“It’s all been investigated. Have a look.”
Jiang Wuhen took the jade slip, closed his eyes, and projected his consciousness into it.
In an instant, a flood of information surfaced in his mind.
“Xiao Chen. Heavenly Fire City. The Xiao Clan. Son of the clan head…”
“Betrothed since childhood to Lin Ziyan, daughter of the head of the Lin Clan of Azure Nether City…”
“Before seventeen, unremarkable, known as a genius only within Heavenly Fire City. Rose to prominence overnight, mastering the way of pill refining without a teacher…”
“…”
Jiang Wuhen digested the information and frowned.
“Shizun, could Xiao Chen’s fiancée be that person from the Divine Maiden Sect…?”
The words landed, and Luo Qingning nodded.
“Correct. Lin Ziyan is the current Saintess of the Divine Maiden Sect and the heir to the next Divine Maiden!”
“And at the same time… the legendary successor of the Azure Nether Sword Emperor!”
Hearing this, a look of keen interest crossed Jiang Wuhen’s face.
No wonder the kid had gotten tangled up with the Divine Maiden Sect. So this was the connection.
So he’s sponging off his fiancée and using the Divine Maiden Sect’s muscle to hijack a wedding?
Jiang Wuhen clicked his tongue inwardly. As expected of a Son of Fortune. He’d effortlessly done what ordinary people couldn’t.
Living off a woman, in style!
Luo Qingning smiled gently.
“It sounds absurd, but in these times, having three wives and four concubines is commonplace. As for you, child, swearing in the Heavenly One Divine Hall today to take only one wife in this life… it was sincere, but it did seem a bit out of step with the world.”
“Then again, Hen’er, are you really willing to take only one wife for life, for Mu Yunxi’s sake?”
As she spoke, the corner of Luo Qingning’s mouth curled upward, her expression one of someone who had already seen through everything.
Jiang Wuhen smiled, neither confirming nor denying.
“Alright, it’s getting late. Hen’er, you’ve had a long day. Get some rest. Your Shizun will head back.”
“Remember: from now on, if any trouble comes your way, don’t hide it. Tell your Shizun. With me here, I won’t let you suffer the slightest wrong!”
Luo Qingning said plainly.
Jiang Wuhen nodded.
“Shizun, your disciple will remember!”
“Mm.”
Luo Qingning smiled and nodded, rising to leave.
But just then—
“Shizun!”
Jiang Wuhen suddenly called out.
Luo Qingning stopped and turned back with a soft smile. “What is it, Hen’er?”
Jiang Wuhen was quiet for a moment, then spoke with a serious face. “Shizun, from now on… please don’t steal other people’s fortunes for my sake anymore. I know everything you’ve done was for my good. But I don’t need those things anymore…”
The situation on the Desolate Ancient Continent was far more complicated than he’d imagined.
Being a villain was a job he could handle on his own.
Still, the words came off as somewhat cold.
Fortunately, Luo Qingning didn’t mind.
She smiled.
“The double pupils are already an invincible path. Why borrow another’s bone…”
“Had your Shizun known earlier that you possessed the ancient double pupils, she would never have taken another’s supreme bone and grafted it onto you.”
“Now that you’ve perfectly fused with this supreme bone, you must not rely on it too heavily. Otherwise, if you lose your heart of invincibility, your Shizun… would have harmed you.”
“Hen’er, you’ve grown up. From now on, your Shizun will discuss things with you as much as possible when it comes to matters concerning you.”
Luo Qingning smiled with doting indulgence.
Those words, and this moment, flowed through Jiang Wuhen like a warm current.
He nodded solemnly.
“Thank you, Shizun!”
By the time the words fell, Luo Qingning had already gone.
In the spacious room, the lamplight flickered and the candle flames wavered.
Jiang Wuhen lowered his head, looked at his hands, and felt the torrent of power coursing through him.
Very powerful!
But not enough!
On to cultivating!
Even born a villain, there were things he longed to protect.
…
Time flew. Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Above Jiang Wuhen’s temporary palace, dark clouds gathered thick, pressing down with unbearable weight.
Black clouds twisted and coiled across the sky, forming an inverted funnel of a vortex. Spiritual energy from every direction surged madly into it, the colossal disturbance shaking nearly half of the Heavenly One Immortal Sect.
Until—
RUMBLE!
The instant the heavenly thunder cracked, everything seemed to break through some invisible shackle. The gale howled like a dragon’s cry.
A colossal phantom that could swallow heaven and earth appeared, surveying the world with disdain.
Though it flashed by in an instant, that moment felt eternal, searing itself into every soul.
Long after the phenomenon faded, the people of the Heavenly One Immortal Sect dared approach the place.
“That phenomenon came from the Imperial Son’s temporary palace. Could it be caused by the Imperial Son’s breakthrough?”
“There’s no other possibility.”
“I recall that three days ago, during the Imperial Son’s battle with that Xiao Chen, he seemed to be at the transcendent realm’s seventh stage. Could it be that in a mere three days, the Imperial Son has broken through to the divine martial realm?”
“At the divine martial realm, the ordinary soul sublimates into a divine soul. Mental strength increases a hundredfold, and with an indestructible divine soul, one becomes undying. The Imperial Son already possesses the ancient double pupils. This breakthrough will be yet another sublimation for him.”
“Our sect’s Imperial Son truly has the bearing of a great emperor!”
The crowd sighed in admiration.
Meanwhile, inside the temporary palace.
Jiang Wuhen let out a long, turbid breath. The instant he opened his eyes, everything in the world became incomparably clear to him.
He could even make out the color and cut of Mu Yunxi’s inner garments from as far away as the ‘Welcoming Immortal Pavilion’.
“Three days of the ‘Hundredfold Comprehension Halo’ and I’ve finally reached the divine martial realm!”
“If I faced Xiao Chen again now, I’m confident I could beat him in a single move.”
Jiang Wuhen felt the immense power within him and thought to himself.
Of course, that assumed Xiao Chen’s strength was still at its level from three days ago.
Time to go fleece another round.
Just as the thought surfaced, a report came from outside the hall.
“Imperial Son, Yi Shanjin requests an audience!”
Yi Shanjin’s voice rang out.
Now here was a loyal subordinate.
“Mm, come in.”
Jiang Wuhen said.
Soon, Yi Shanjin stood before Jiang Wuhen, standing at respectful attention.
“How are your injuries?”
Jiang Wuhen looked him up and down and asked.
Yi Shanjin hurriedly cupped his fists.
“Thank you for your concern, Imperial Son. This subordinate is thick-skinned and tough. After three days of recuperating with medicinal pills, my body is fine.”
Jiang Wuhen nodded.
“Mm. Is there something you need?”
The words landed, and Yi Shanjin’s expression turned furtive, his eyes darting about.
“The Imperial Son has been in secluded cultivation for three hard days. So… this subordinate took the liberty of bringing the Divine Maiden Sect’s people to you.”
“The Empress did say they were… yours to dispose of as you see fit…”
“Besides, the Empress has placed a ‘Soul-Controlling Curse’ on each of them. They’re no different from mortals and have absolutely no power to resist!”
As he spoke, the corner of his mouth curled into a sly grin.
Jiang Wuhen’s brow furrowed, and he rebuked him.
“Nonsense!”
“I, Jiang Wuhen, am an honorable man. How could I take advantage of someone in distress!”
Here, Jiang Wuhen paused. Then his tone shifted.
“Still, since they’re already here… standing outside would be an affront to public decency. Send them in…”
