As they spoke, the two suddenly kicked out, aiming directly for Jiang Chen. Both were cultivators at the first stage of Qi Condensation, their true essence flowing, each kick carrying a thousand jin of force. The kicks were fierce, a sinister wind whistling.
The onlookers' hearts tightened. Were they going to kill someone on the street?
Jiang Feng's lips curled into a slight smile, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes. These two lackeys were quite clever; this was the effect he wanted. If they could kick Jiang Chen to death, so much the better. As long as Jiang Chen died, even if those few clan elders in the family had objections, they could only leave the family fortune to his own lineage.
However, the moment Jiang Hong and Jiang Xuan's feet were about to touch Jiang Chen, a sense of emptiness suddenly came from their insteps. A strange sense of pressure appeared, instantly chilling them. And Jiang Chen's figure vanished before their eyes. In a flash of lightning, a gust of wind attacked. The two had no time to react...
Slap! Slap!
The next moment, two crisp slaps echoed through the street. Everyone heard them clearly. The force was terrifyingly strong. The two spun like tops in the air for more than ten rounds before falling heavily, half their faces smashed, revealing white teeth.
Jiang Chen calmly wiped his hands and said coldly:
"Chapter 3: Green Tea Bitch Sū Wēi. Asking for a beating."
Half the street fell silent.
These two slaps not only knocked the two unconscious but also stunned everyone present. The scene of Jiang Chen's tragic death they had imagined did not happen. Instead, these two who were at the Qi Condensation stage were seriously injured in one move.
"What happened? Wasn't Jiang Chen not yet in Qi Condensation? How did he win against them?"
"This trash... no, no... How did this Jiang Chen do it? Did you see his movements?"
"No, in the blink of an eye, these two were knocked out. Look at their faces, so mangled. That slap had at least thousands of jin of force!"
Everyone was collectively dumbfounded, their minds completely frozen.
Jiang Feng, who had been grinning and preparing to watch Jiang Chen get severely injured, also stood there in shock.
This fool...
No!
He's not a fool anymore!
What happened in the Myriad Beast Mountain Range?
Could he have obtained some heaven-defying opportunity?
Jiang Chen wore a nonchalant expression, as if he hadn't delivered those two slaps just now.
Jiang Feng's surprise flashed fleetingly. His eyes turned fierce. "I didn't expect you'd actually have some skills. How about we have a sparring match, brother to brother?"
"Sure. They all say you're a martial arts genius. I genuinely want to learn from you."
Jiang Chen's eyes also held fighting spirit. Although he hadn't reached Qi Condensation, he already possessed immense strength, augmented by the divine abilities he'd devoured from several demon beasts yesterday. He wanted to test how big the gap was between him and the legendary Jiang Family genius.
Hearing their conversation, the onlookers were already somewhat stunned. Was this still the same trash, Jiang Chen? He knocked out two cultivators at the heavy Qi Condensation stage with two slaps, and now, from the sound of it, he dared to challenge Jiang Feng!
Could it be that this trash had been faking it all along, accumulating strength in secret?
Jiang Feng was amused by Jiang Chen's words. He thought that Jiang Chen, after defeating two ants, dared to challenge a lion?
"Jiang Chen, hah... Hahaha! You, dare to challenge me? I don't know what fortuitous encounter you've had, but the difference in our potential is like heaven and earth, decided from birth. Fate has decreed that I am an existence you will forever look up to. Perhaps I've been too kind to you these years, making you mistakenly believe we are in the same world!"
"Are you done with your nonsense?" Jiang Chen asked coldly.
Jiang Feng's face contorted. This trash was repeatedly provoking him.
He decided not to hold back anymore, saying with utter disdain, "One move. It will only take one move to let you know the difference between us!"
Jiang Feng suddenly attacked. True essence flowed through his meridians, and a faint white light appeared on his right fist. He struck directly at Jiang Chen's chest like lightning, powerful enough to crumble mountains despite the small movement!
Jiang Chen didn't dodge. His fist left afterimages, whistling with a piercing sound.
He dares to clash head-on with Jiang Feng?
Jiang Hai's face was filled with terror. The surrounding neighbors also showed shock. Was this Jiang Chen's brain still as stupid as before? If he had truly become smart, he would at least dodge a few moves. Perhaps he could last a few more breaths. To charge straight into a frontal collision? Wasn't this asking for death?
"Trash!"
Jiang Feng's lips curved. If not for his father stopping him, Jiang Chen would have died by his hand long ago. Although he called it sparring, the true essence of Qi Condensation Stage Eight surged out; it was a killing blow from the start!
*Bang!*
A dull thud.
The two collided squarely, each retreating several meters before managing to stand their ground.
Terror appeared in Jiang Feng's eyes.
"What!" He was already at Qi Condensation Stage Eight, and he couldn't even push Jiang Chen back with one blow?
Everyone looked at each other, disbelieving. They had expected Jiang Chen to be severely injured or even killed by this move. Not a single person had expected that Jiang Chen not only wouldn't fall but would also push Jiang Feng back!
Jiang Feng's attack had failed, and he was completely enraged. True essence rapidly gathered in both his arms.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
The two rushed at each other again. With each collision, a hurricane exploded from their fists.
The entire street fell silent.
Everyone was dumbfounded. Some even pinched their thighs, thinking they were dreaming. Could the bullied trash Jiang Chen actually be on par with the Jiang Family genius, Jiang Feng?
How was this possible?
Even Jiang Hai's face was filled with disbelief. Was this still his grandson? Although Jiang Chen did have some brute strength, he wouldn't be this strong. After all, Jiang Feng's talent was said to be the most promising in the Jiang Family, with the potential to surpass Jiang Lie. And this genius was engaged in a prolonged, mutually-matched fight with Jiang Chen!
*Boom!*
The two were sent flying back again.
Jiang Feng's breathing grew rapid, true essence churning in his sea of qi. His eyes stared fixedly at Jiang Chen, his expression becoming extremely unpleasant. He felt the immense force emanating from Jiang Chen's fists; half his arm was trembling slightly.
Jiang Feng's face turned extremely grim. He said coldly, "I didn't expect you to be so deeply hidden. Speak, what stage of Qi Condensation are you at?"
Jiang Chen's true essence surged within him, confronting Jiang Feng's. Their gazes met like two bolts of lightning, sparks flying.
"Do I need Qi Condensation to beat trash like you?"
There was an uproar around them.
"How is this possible? Jiang Chen isn't even in the Qi Condensation stage! He's fighting evenly with Young Master Jiang Feng!"
"Young Master Jiang Feng is benevolent. He must have held back; otherwise, he could have crippled Jiang Chen in one move."
"After all, he's his brother from the main family. Young Master Jiang Feng probably used at most ten percent of his strength."
"I think he didn't even use five percent. Young Master Jiang Feng is outstanding in swordsmanship. If he drew his sword, Jiang Chen would be no match for him in one round."
The surrounding Jiang family members agreed wholeheartedly. No one could accept that a trash who hadn't even reached Qi Condensation could fight their idol to a draw.
Jiang Feng's arm felt numb for several breaths before recovering. He narrowed his eyes. The once elegant demeanor was now completely cold and gloomy. He forced a smile and said, "I know you have some brute strength, but your strength is limited to this. I haven't even used any martial arts. In my eyes, you are still a laughable ant. If I went all out, it would only take one move to kill you."
His true essence circulated, his robes billowed, and his bones crackled. Hurricanes condensed around him, his aura continuously strengthening.
Jiang Chen also became extremely solemn. He felt a life-or-death crisis from Jiang Feng. He assumed a boxing stance, ready to defend at any moment.
"Young Master Jiang Feng! Please show mercy!"
Just then, a clear and pleasant voice sounded from behind the crowd, flowing into everyone's hearts like a clear spring. The noise of the crowd instantly quieted, and everyone turned to look.
They saw a young girl in a pink dress gracefully walking over. Her appearance was charming, her skin like congealed fat, and she seemed to radiate light. She was Sū Wēi, Jiang Chen's former fiancée. She was considered one of the top beauties in Tianwu City, not only for her exquisite looks but also for her reputation for kindness and gentleness.
She had once been engaged to Jiang Chen. When the news spread that such a beauty was to marry this trash, Jiang Chen, countless people in Tianwu City were outraged and indignant.
Sū Wēi walked to Jiang Feng's side and said softly, "Young Master Jiang Feng, Jiang Chen was once engaged to me. If he has offended you, please grant me this favor and spare him."
Jiang Feng's eyes flashed with ruthlessness upon hearing this. He glanced coldly at Jiang Chen, then finally dissipated his true essence, gritting his teeth. "Jiang Chen, for Miss Su's sake, I will spare your life today. But you had better pray you don't run into me again, or I will surely take your life!"
Sū Wēi's clear, watery eyes flickered slightly as she looked at Jiang Chen with a look of helpless regret and disappointment, as if he had failed to live up to expectations. "It's good that you could return safely. Uncle Jiang Lie saved my father's life, and to repay that kindness, our engagement was set. Even if your talent was poor, I never thought of breaking it off. When I heard you had gone missing a few days ago, I even sent people to search for you. After a long search yielded no results, I then canceled the engagement. Perhaps it was fate that we were not meant to be...
Jiang Chen, I know you are unwilling, but some things cannot be changed. The gap between you and Young Master Jiang Feng cannot be bridged by a moment of luck. With your aptitude, accepting reality is the greatest growth. Forget about me, and pretend our engagement never existed."
Because of Sū Wēi's appearance, the battle was timely quelled. The surrounding crowd immediately burst into admiration.
"Fortunately, Miss Su arrived. Otherwise, if Young Master Jiang had gotten serious, Jiang Chen would have surely died!"
"Miss Su is too kind. She gave this fool a full five years to reach Qi Condensation, and now she's saved Jiang Chen again. It seems the Su family's debt to the Jiang family is now repaid."
"I think Young Master Jiang Feng and Miss Sū Wēi are a match made in heaven..."
"Indeed, when they stand together, they are truly a pair of beauties..."
"They are a perfect match, truly a perfect match."
Jiang Chen looked at Sū Wēi coldly, his heart unmoved. He had long been accustomed to such hypocritical dramas in the Immortal Realm, but to perform hypocrisy with such perfection was rare. If he hadn't seen through Sū Wēi's true colors long ago, he might have actually been deceived by her act. However, the current Jiang Chen was no longer the weak boy who was bullied at will. Such clumsy tricks were nothing more than the games of a clown in his eyes.
He curled his lips, a mockery undisguised in his gaze, and swept his eyes over Sū Wēi, saying faintly, "You're trying so hard to act, aren't you tired? You're a bitch at heart, why pretend to be a saint? Also, since the engagement has been broken off, the betrothal gifts sent to your family five years ago should be returned in full, shouldn't they?"
"Chapter 4: A Real Man Never Worries About Not Finding a Wife."
A flicker of panic crossed Sū Wēi's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure, forcing a smile. She pretended to be confused and said, "Jiang Chen, what are you talking about? I don't understand."
"You don't understand?"
Jiang Chen sneered, his gaze sharp, staring directly at Sū Wēi. "Fine, then I'll make it clearer. On the fifth day of the third month five years ago, my father sent the betrothal gifts, including three Qi Condensation Pills, one Second-grade Mortal Weapon, and five hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones. These were all sent by my father for my marriage. Now that you and I have broken off the engagement, the betrothal gifts should naturally be returned. Do you understand now?"
The onlookers erupted, whispering amongst themselves. Their gazes towards Sū Wēi shifted slightly. No wonder Sū Wēi had agreed to marry Jiang Chen back then. In this border town, those items were almost the accumulation of a small family for decades.
Sū Wēi hadn't expected Jiang Chen to remember so clearly, her face turning even more unsightly. She bit her lip and said in a low voice, "Jiang Chen, those things... I've used them up over these years of cultivation. You also know that my Su family hasn't been well-off these past few years, so..."
"So you used them up with a clear conscience and are now breaking the engagement?"
Jiang Chen interrupted her, his tone filled with undisguised mockery. "Sū Wēi, do you really think I, Jiang Chen, am an idiot? Five years ago, the Su family was just a small clan. If my father hadn't helped, you would have been wiped out during the demon beast attack. Now that you've grown strong, you turn around and deny everything, trying to fob me off with a few hypocritical words? How laughable! A woman with a heart of a snake and scorpion like you, is fit to marry into my family? I agree to the annulment! But those betrothal gifts must be returned in full within three days! If even one pill is missing, or one spirit stone is short, I, Jiang Chen, will not let this go!"
Sū Wēi's face turned green and then white. She opened her mouth but couldn't utter a sound. Jiang Chen's words struck her where it hurt the most, and they were all true, leaving her with no room to argue.
Jiang Feng, seeing this, had a ruthless glint in his eyes. He stepped forward, blocking Sū Wēi. "Jiang Chen! Don't push it too far. Miss Su gave you five years. Consider these treasures compensation for Miss Su's youth. If you continue to be ungrateful, don't blame me for being impolite!"
Jiang Chen let out a sneer, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Feng. "Her youth needs compensation, but mine doesn't? Jiang Feng, do you think you're so great just because you're at Qi Condensation Stage Eight? If I hadn't held back just now, you'd be lying on the ground. What, want to fight again?"
Meeting Jiang Chen's gaze, Jiang Feng inexplicably felt a chill in his heart, as if he were being stared at by a ferocious beast. He instinctively took half a step back, but as Jiang Chen retracted his gaze, that terrifying feeling quickly dissipated. He had already experienced Jiang Chen's strength in their previous exchange and felt a hidden sense of dread. However, he quickly came up with an idea.
He sneered, his tone full of mockery and contempt. "You, a mere Body Tempering cultivator, dare to challenge me? Furthermore, Miss Su may have indeed received those items, but the ownership of those items ultimately belongs to the Jiang family! And you—a trash who can't even step into the Qi Condensation realm, what right do you have to inherit the Jiang family's assets? Don't forget, according to the Jiang family rules, if a lineage has no Qi Condensation cultivator, they will be driven out to the farms outside the city, completely losing the right to inherit the family business! Jiang Chen, do you think you still have the right to stand here and talk nonsense? You're just a piece of trash abandoned by the family!"
Indeed, to ensure the family's development, if a lineage had no Qi Condensation cultivator, they would be expelled from Tianwu City. Although cruel, in these chaotic times, it was necessary to continue the bloodline.
"It seems you are quite familiar with the family rules," Jiang Chen said with a cold laugh, his gaze like a knife sweeping over Jiang Feng. "Then you should also know that the family rules also state—those who marry before the age of twenty-five cannot be expelled due to insufficient cultivation. I am only twenty years old this year. As long as I get married within this month, I will have an extra five years of cultivation time. Five years is enough for me to reach the Qi Condensation stage, or even higher."
"You!" Jiang Feng's brows knitted together, his face somewhat contorted. He had indeed overlooked this family rule and didn't expect Jiang Chen to use it to counterattack. He gritted his teeth and said coldly, "Get married? Who would be willing to marry you, a trash at the Body Tempering stage? Stop daydreaming!"
Jiang Chen remained unfazed, saying calmly, "That's not for you to worry about. I have my ways."
Jiang Chen's words struck Jiang Feng's heart like a heavy hammer. He had thought Jiang Chen was at his wit's end, but he hadn't expected him to have such a fallback. Jiang Feng's expression instantly turned grim, his fists clenched, his knuckles turning white.
Sū Wēi's expression also turned cold, her beautiful eyes fixed on Jiang Chen. Although she only felt disgust towards Jiang Chen, the thought that the "lapdog" who once followed her was preparing to marry someone else ignited an inexplicable anger within her. She bit her lip, a trace of unwillingness flashing in her eyes.
The strong wind blew, rustling Jiang Chen's robes. He was already handsome, and now, the proud aura in his eyes possessed the bearing of a scion of a noble family.
Some young girls in the crowd had a hazy look in their eyes, their cheeks blushing, their hearts stirred.
Jiang Chen said loudly, "A real man never worries about not finding a wife! I refuse to believe that without Sū Wēi, I, Jiang Chen, can't find a wife! Everyone, three days from now, please come and attend my wedding banquet!"
Jiang Feng clenched his fists, glaring at Jiang Chen. He said word by word, "Then, three days from now, I will see how you become the biggest joke in Tianwu City! No, you are already the biggest joke in Tianwu City!"
With that, he suddenly turned around and strode away. The fierce aura emanating from him caused those around to back away, not daring to approach.
...
As night fell,
This was the happiest day Jiang Hai had experienced in years. Despite their poverty, he prepared a table full of dishes and even broke tradition by getting some wine.
"Chen'er, today is a happy occasion. Have a drink with Grandpa."
Jiang Hai's face was full of smiles, but his eyes held a hint of tears.
Jiang Chen looked at the white-haired, stooped old man and felt a pang of sadness. He nodded and said softly, "Okay, Grandpa, I'll have a drink with you."
Jiang Hai raised his wine cup, his voice trembling slightly. "If your father could see you like this, he could rest in peace... Let's pack up these next two days and leave Tianwu City. Your Grandpa doesn't care about any Jiang family assets. As long as you can live your life safely, Grandpa will be content..."
Jiang Chen silently drank a cup of wine, his eyes firm. Since he had been reborn, he wanted to live a magnificent life. If he couldn't even resolve this small difficulty, how could he avenge his master, Immortal King Chóngmíng?
"Grandpa, I am now at Body Tempering Stage Ten, and with my strength, ordinary Qi Condensation cultivators are no match for me. My father was a great hero of Tianwu City. As his son, how can I flee in fear after being bullied?" As Jiang Chen spoke, he took out more than a dozen beast cores from a small bundle. There were not only First-order Demon Beast cores but also several Second-order Demon Beast cores emitting brilliant light. Jiang Hai was instantly shocked. Even Qi Condensation cultivators might not be able to kill Second-order Demon Beasts. How could Jiang Chen, who was only at the Body Tempering stage, achieve this?
"This... Did you kill all these?" Jiang Hai's voice trembled, his face full of disbelief.