"By the way, Chen'er, what is your cultivation level currently?" Fearing that some sparring might take place during the upcoming family gathering and wanting to prevent her son from losing face, Ji Ruxue decided to check Jiang Chen's cultivation realm so she could help him prepare in advance.
"My cultivation? Would you like to test it yourself, Mother?" A faint smile touched Jiang Chen's lips. Since he was currently within his own Invincible Domain, he had nothing to fear from anyone making a move here.
"Very well, Chen'er. I will suppress my cultivation to the Mighty Realm and test you today!" With a wave of her small hand, potent vital energy surged. An unimaginable force, wreathed in cyan light, came sweeping toward Jiang Chen.
"Dissipate." Watching Ji Ruxue's palm strike with a smile, Jiang Chen uttered a single, casual word.
Instantly, the energy gathered in Ji Ruxue's palm vanished completely.
"What?" Ji Ruxue stared at Jiang Chen in astonishment. Jiang Chen stood with a faint smile, the Qi of Chaos—heavy yet ethereal—surrounding his entire body.
"Chen'er, you actually managed to achieve 'word follows intent'! Could it be that you have already progressed this far on the path of Dao laws?" Ji Ruxue could hardly believe her eyes.
"Don't worry, Mother. Even though I stay in this courtyard every day, I have never neglected my practice. You needn't worry about my cultivation."
Hearing this, Ji Ruxue finally set her mind at ease.
"All right, Chen'er, then Mother will head back first. When the time comes, I'll send someone to notify you to attend the family gathering." With that, Ji Ruxue turned and left.
Before departing, Ji Ruxue left behind a jade slip containing information about some of Jiang Chen's peers.
After Ji Ruxue left, Jiang Chen dragged a stool out from his room and sat by the edge of the pond, quietly watching the goldfish in the water with a trace of worry in his expression.
"Now that all my cultivation has been absorbed by that bastard System, and my Invincible Domain has a range of only one hundred meters, I really don't know what I'm going to do when the time comes. Although the Jiang Family is indeed very united, sparring and challenges among peers are extremely common. If someone challenges me then, won't my cover be blown?"
Sensing Jiang Chen's anxiety, several goldfish in the pond surfaced one after another, continuously blowing bubbles toward him.
Fortunately, Jiang Chen was naturally optimistic. After a brief sigh, he resumed his usual routine, calmly chopping firewood and cooking meals just like any other day.
As soon as Jiang Chen stepped back inside, hushed voices broke out in the courtyard.
"It seems the master is deeply worried. Do none of you have a solution?" Several little goldfish poked their heads out of the water and addressed the willow tree on the bank.
The rooster in the coop stood up and glanced at the goldfish in the pond.
"Hmph, why are you staring at us, you little phoenixes? Do you happen to have a good idea?" Realizing the rooster's disdain, the goldfish retorted.
"Three-Legs, what about you? Do you have any ideas?" Hearing this, the crow on the willow tree fluttered down and landed quietly on the millstone.
"Me? How could I have any good ideas? You must remember, our cultivation hasn't fully recovered yet. Especially once we leave this courtyard, our abilities will be suppressed. Perhaps if that old yellow dog from back then were still around, he might have a way. After all, apart from the willow spirit, his power was the best preserved among us." The crow looked toward the pond and spoke indifferently.
"That big yellow dog? Forget it, we don't even know where he is now," the rooster said with contempt, then lowered its head and closed its eyes.
"That's enough. This is the master's family banquet; it's not as serious as you make it sound. Here, the master will never suffer any harm." The willow tree gently stroked its branches, seemingly expressing its stance.
Days passed, and the day of the Jiang Family gathering soon arrived.
At this moment, the central plaza of the Jiang Family estate was thronged with a large gathering of clansmen from the various main and branch lines.
"Have you heard? This time, all three of our family's Divine Sons will be appearing at this grand family gathering!" a burly man built like a pagodasaid excitedly to his companion.
"Indeed! I never thought we'd have the opportunity to see all three Divine Sons appear at the same time. It's truly an honor for us. I hope to catch a glimpse of Lady Jiang Linglong soon—she is the goddess of my heart!" Another sturdy man's eyes burned with fierce anticipation.
"If the two of us could become followers of Lady Jiang Linglong, that would be wonderful!"
"Hmph! Jiang Linglong's strength is indeed decent, but Big Brother Jiang Wanjie is the strongest among the three Divine Sons," a petite female cultivator pouted and retorted directly.
"Oh, if you say that, I have to disagree. Divine Son Jiang Lingtian's strength is the greatest."
The young members of the Jiang Family were all arguing animatedly about their respective favored youths, each convinced that the Divine Son they supported was the strongest. After all, this family gathering was not merely a social event, but also a chance for the main and branch lines to display their strength.
If they could become a Divine Son's follower or catch the eye of a family elder, they might leap to the heavens in a single bound and change their destiny.
Just as the crowd of the Jiang Family was buzzing with discussion, a massive phoenix chariot suddenly tore through the void in the distance, treading on flowing fire amidst a tremendous roar. Flying atop the chariot was a fluttering banner embroidered with the character "Jiang," radiating an imposing and breathtaking aura.
"Look, that's the carriage of Fairy Linglong."
The crowd raised their heads to gaze at the phoenix chariot in the sky. A figure clad in bright red battle armor stood firmly at the front, carrying a large sword strapped to her back. The massive blade contrasted sharply with her petite frame.
Her graceful figure encased in battle armor, paired with a face as delicate as peach blossoms, stood out sharply against her warlike attire. This was Jiang Linglong, one of the Jiang Family's Divine Sons, whom outsiders also called the Goddess of War.
"Wow, Fairy Linglong, look at me! Look at me!" Cries of infatuation erupted from many male cultivators in the plaza.
"Lady Linglong, I'm right here!" Many female cultivators also waved their hands continuously toward the sky, hoping to catch her attention.
"A bunch of fools. Jiang Linglong's strength is alright, but a woman should act like a woman. Always wearing armor and fighting and killing—she has no gentleness or virtue whatsoever," a few female cultivators sneered quietly, seemingly displeased by Jiang Linglong's overwhelming spotlight.
"What are youh? How dare you criticize Lady Linglong?" Immediately, more people stepped forward to refute them.
However, the murmurs from below failed to draw Jiang Linglong's attention. She leaped straight down from the phoenix chariot and flew into the grand hall.
Just as Jiang Linglong flew inside, the sky suddenly twisted, and a golden talon tore through space, reaching out from within. Moments later, a massive golden roc emerged.
Atop the roc stood a dazzling figure radiating a myriad of rays of light, blindingly bright like the midday sun. When the roc landed, it revealed a figure seated cross-legged, resembling a youthful Supreme.