Jiang Chen nodded solemnly. Along the way, he had killed more than ten demonic beasts, confirming that only by personally killing them could he absorb their blood energy and divine abilities.
However, in his previous life, he had been in the Immortal Realm and was born an immortal, so he had no knowledge of the basic Qi Condensation methods in the mortal world. Furthermore, the Heaven Swallowing Chaos Scripture was a scripture of a sage, and it wouldn't detail such fundamental matters.
This directly led to Jiang Chen, despite being at Body Tempering Stage Ten, having no clue about condensing Qi. However, Jiang Chen believed that with his intelligence, given some more time to study, he would surely succeed in condensing Qi.
Jiang Hai understood what his grandson meant. Jiang Chen was no longer the unaccomplished youth he once was. From Jiang Chen's eyes, he saw the youthful spirit and a hint of composure unbefitting his age.
The old man nodded, his tone firm: "Since you've decided, Grandpa supports you!"
Jiang Chen smiled and said: "Grandpa, tomorrow you can sell these beast cores and get some possessions. I'm getting married in two days. Although it's to stay in Tianwu City, we can't be too shabby."
Jiang Hai put away the beast cores, his eyes full of relief:
"Chen'er, who do you plan to marry? Do you have someone in mind? Grandpa will help you arrange it."
Jiang Chen drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, filled with heroic spirit:
"Haha, I don't have one yet! But with your grandson's abilities, the girls in Tianwu City are all fair game!"
...
In the Jiang family's mansion in Tianwu City.
Lanterns flickered, illuminating the main hall as if it were daytime. A middle-aged man sat at the head of the table, exuding an extraordinary aura. However, his narrow eyes revealed a sinister nature. This man was the new family head of the Jiang family – Jiang Changling.
Below, Jiang Feng stood with his head bowed, his face gloomy.
"Father, why don't we just kill them, grandfather and grandson, to eliminate future trouble!" Jiang Feng gritted his teeth and said.
Jiang Changling glanced at Jiang Feng with disappointment, as if he were not forging steel, and said coldly:
"Kill, kill, kill, all you know is to kill! I just took over as patriarch, and Jiang Lie's family is already dead. What will people think of me? Jiang Lie contributed to the Jiang family becoming the number one family in Tianwu City. If he hadn't died on the front lines, this position of patriarch wouldn't have fallen to me."
Jiang Feng said ungratefully:
"Father, I heard that Jiang Lie didn't die, but became a deserter?"
Jiang Changling snorted coldly:
"That was a false message I spread. How many times have I told you, the supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting! Now that the Jiang family is basically in our hands, and Jiang Chen isn't even a cultivator in the Qi Condensation Realm, he can't stir up any trouble."
Jiang Feng frowned:
"Dad, if it weren't for those old geezers in the family insisting on passing half of their assets to Jiang Chen, we wouldn't have to go through all this trouble."
Jiang Changling waved his hand, his tone impatient:
"That's enough, you can't say anything about the clan elders' decisions. Young Master Lin Han will be here in a few days, so prepare yourself. He's an extraordinary figure, and even being his servant would be better than having all the wealth in Tianwu City. Jiang Chen's matter, I'll handle it personally."
After speaking, he glared at Jiang Feng again, his tone stern:
"Also, stay away from that Su Wei. I'm telling you, she's not a good woman. Who knows, maybe one day she'll trample on your corpse to climb to a higher position!"
Jiang Feng's heart skipped a beat, and he retreated uneasily.
...
Deep within the Myriad Beast Mountain Range,
Beside a mountain stream, a woman with a voluptuous figure and a face that could cause chaos in the world hid behind a rock. Her aura was terrifying, her eyes cold, with a hint of demonic energy. Only after the disciples of the Taixuan Sword Sect flew away did she slowly reveal herself.
"I didn't expect this human territory to be so dangerous," she muttered softly, her voice as pleasant as a clear spring, yet tinged with weakness.
She was Nangong Wan'er, the saintess of the Nine Tribulations Demonic Cult. She possessed the seventh-rank Succubus bloodline, yet she still fell into a disadvantage against Fairy Xiyue, the saintess of the Taixuan Sword Sect. If she hadn't seized the opportunity to release the Succubus Aphrodisiac Poison when Fairy Xiyue was unprepared, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
"Cough, cough, cough..." Nangong Wan'er coughed up a mouthful of blood, barely suppressing the surging Moonlight Power within her body. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and murmured softly: "Such a powerful Fairy Xiyue, worthy of being the peerless prodigy who cultivates the Moonlight Sword Canon. It seems I can't use my demonic power for a while..."
She looked up at Tianwu City in the distance, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes: "The more dangerous the place, the easier it is to be discovered. I can only hide in Tianwu City..."
Her jade neck glowed with a rune, transforming into a raggedly dressed old woman. She staggered towards Tianwu City.
Chapter 5: The Demon Saintess
Although Tianwu City was just a border town, its streets were bustling with people, and merchants came and went continuously.
Under a large tree at a street corner, a disheveled, raggedly dressed female beggar was curled up.
Looking closely, although the beggar's appearance was plain, her eyes were as alluring as peach blossoms, subtly exuding a captivating charm.
She was the runaway demon race enchantress – Nangong Wan'er. To evade the search by the Taixuan Sword Sect, she had to disguise herself like this, planning to recover from her injuries in Tianwu City before making further plans.
...
On the other side, Jiang Chen was unusually busy today.
"Xiao Cui, even though I often snatched your candy when we were kids and took your clothes while you were bathing, you must know that men say one thing and mean another. The reason I did that was actually to attract your attention.
I know you must have feelings for me too. Now, it's time for lovers to finally be together. Marry me!"
"Get lost! So it was you who stole my clothes! You made me stay naked in the bathhouse all day! Hurry up and get lost, or I'll report you to the authorities!"
...
"Sister Li, I know you're a few years older than me, but perhaps you don't know that I lost my mother at a young age and have always lacked maternal love.
I haven't gotten married at twenty because I've been deeply in love with you. Now, it's time to reveal my feelings. If you don't object, we'll get married the day after tomorrow!"
"Jiang Chen, you little brat! I noticed your lecherous gaze a few years ago, and I didn't expect you to really have thoughts about me! If you had said this a few days ago, I might have agreed. But now, I'm pregnant with Blacksmith Zhang's child, and we're getting married next month."
...
"Widow Wu, a woman without emotional experience is not a woman. I think, on this street, only you are a true wo— hey, hey, hey... Let's talk, don't hit me!"
...
Jiang Chen walked on the street, his face filled with grief and indignation. As a prodigy from the Immortal Realm, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?
He had thought that with his outstanding appearance and noble character, those young girls would flock to him.
He never expected this world to be so pragmatic. Because he couldn't break through to the Qi Condensation Realm, let alone young girls, even widows were unwilling to marry him.
Jiang Chen couldn't help but sigh to the heavens:
"Are there no perfect loves that transcend material constraints and are solely based on spiritual connection?"
Suddenly, a raggedly dressed woman at the street corner caught his attention. The beggar's clothes were full of patches, and she looked extremely thin, as if she hadn't eaten in days.
At this moment, Nangong Wan'er also noticed Jiang Chen walking towards her. Her eyes suddenly sharpened. How could this man have the aura of Fairy Xiyue from the Taixuan Sword Sect on him! Could it be the Succubus Aphrodisiac Poison?
She thought of a possibility...
Jiang Chen walked closer. Based on the principle that good deeds are rewarded, he decided to accumulate some merit first. Thus, he took out two ounces of silver from his pocket and offered it to the female beggar:
"Here, go buy some food to eat."
"Thank you... Thank you, young master."
The female beggar said softly, her voice tinged with weakness.
"Giddy up!"
"Giddy up!"
Just then, several horsemen galloped over, raising dust wherever they went. The leading rider shouted:
"A demon race enchantress has appeared in the Myriad Beast Mountain Range outside Tianwu City! This enchantress has killed countless people and is extremely wicked! This is a portrait of the enchantress. Once discovered, report her to the authorities immediately!"
Jiang Chen looked up at the portrait on the poster. The woman was graceful and alluring, a rare beauty, no less than the fairy he had encountered earlier. As he was engrossed in looking, the female beggar seemed startled and suddenly buried her head in his embrace.
Jiang Chen sniffed and smelled a faint, refreshing fragrance.
Hmm?
This shouldn't be. This woman looks unkempt, why does she smell so nice?
Only after the horsemen left did the female beggar slowly raise her head, looking in the direction the horsemen had departed, lost in thought.
Only then did Jiang Chen notice that although the woman was disheveled, her figure was alluring and graceful, just hidden beneath her tattered clothes, making it difficult to discover. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he blurted out:
"Are you willing to marry me?"
Nangong Wan'er was contemplating how to deal with the pursuit from the Taixuan Sword Sect when she was suddenly interrupted by Jiang Chen's words. She asked in disbelief: "What did you say!?"
Jiang Chen gently brushed a strand of hair from his forehead, exuding the extraordinary demeanor of a prodigy from the Immortal Realm. Apart from his martial path inability to enter the Qi Condensation Realm, in terms of appearance, he was the most handsome guy on this street.
It was normal for a beggar woman to be momentarily stunned by such a sudden proposal from a handsome young man. Jiang Chen repeated his words:
"I said, are you willing to marry me?"
Jiang Chen tried his best to put on the gentlest smile.
Nangong Wan'er glared at the young man in front of her. As a proud daughter of the Demon Race, she was worshipped by all in the Demon Realm. Even the prodigies of various factions dared not be so presumptuous in front of her.
She couldn't believe this man dared to make such a request to her. How could she not be furious?
"If you don't want to die, get lost! Get lost quickly!" she said coldly.
Jiang Chen was stunned, tears welling up in his eyes. In one day, he had suffered more setbacks in love than in his previous life combined. Being rejected by a widow was one thing, but even a beggar refused him.
Fine, he would pack his bags and wander the earth with his grandfather, leaving this heart-wrenching place.
Giddy up!
Giddy up!
Just then, another cloud of dust filled the air. Over a dozen horsemen galloped over again, and the leading rider shouted:
"The demon race enchantress is adept at disguise. Report any suspicious individuals, regardless of gender, to the authorities! Those harboring the enchantress will be executed immediately!"
As Jiang Chen was about to get up and leave, the beggar woman rushed forward again, pressing her head tightly against his chest. Jiang Chen felt a softness against his chest and couldn't help but feel flustered:
"I didn't expect this beggar to be so well-endowed..."
After the horsemen left, Jiang Chen remained in a half-crouching position, motionless, his mind alert:
"If you don't agree, fine. Are you trying to frame me? Look everyone, I didn't do anything to you, you just fell on me."
Nangong Wan'er's mind raced. There were too many people searching for her in Tianwu City now. It would be better to hide by this young man's side for now, and when the heat died down, she could find a way to escape back to the Demon Realm. Having made up her mind, she looked intently at Jiang Chen:
"I agree!"
Jiang Chen was taken aback: "What did you say?"
Nangong Wan'er repeated: "I said, I agree to marry you."
Jiang Chen looked at her suspiciously: "Your attitude changed so quickly, could there be some conspiracy?"
"If I said it's because you're handsome, would you believe me?"
Jiang Chen pulled Nangong Wan'er up and said confidently: "You have to believe me! I didn't expect that even as a beggar, your taste is quite good! Come with me."
"Where to?"
"Come home with me."
...
Jiang Chen brought Nangong Wan'er to his home's bathhouse:
"You go in and wash up first. I'll go to the street corner and buy you a couple of outfits. Since you're marrying me, you can't be seen like this."
Nangong Wan'er was naturally a clean person, and her disheveled appearance was purely out of necessity. She nodded and walked into the bathhouse.
Inside the bathhouse, steam filled the air. A face that could make all the people in the world hold their breath appeared. Eyebrows like distant mountains, lips like exquisite red jade, and curves as captivating as mountains, radiating an enchanting charm to the core.
The Succubus bloodline already granted extraordinary beauty, and she was a top-tier among them, arguably surpassing all others in beauty.
"I didn't expect Fairy Xiyue to have broken through to the peak of the True Essence Realm!" Nangong Wan'er recalled that battle with lingering fear. As the saintess of the Nine Tribulations Demonic Cult,
She considered herself unrivaled among her peers. Little did she expect that upon arriving in human territory,
She would encounter Fairy Xiyue of the Taixuan Sword Sect. After a fierce battle, she was defeated and severely injured. If it were a normal injury, with the Demon Race's powerful regenerative abilities, she would have recovered quickly. However, the Moonlight Sword Canon cultivated by Fairy Xiyue was extremely special. Even after the wounds healed, the Moonlight Power remained accumulated in her demonic meridians, causing excruciating pain with the slightest use of demonic power.
"Cough, cough, cough!" Nangong Wan'er coughed out a few mouthfuls of blood, her face as pale as paper.
She had been suppressing her injuries. Now, she was even weaker than an ordinary person. It seemed she could only stay in Tianwu City for a while to slowly clear the Moonlight Power from her body.
"I've put the clothes by the door, go get them," Jiang Chen called from outside.
Nangong Wan'er reached out and took the clothes, revealing a slender, fair arm. Jiang Chen's eyes widened at the sight:
"This beggar... is so fair?"
Chapter 6: Jiang Chen's Wedding
Nangong Wan'er changed into the clothes. Although they were just coarse linen garments, they looked exceptionally graceful on her. Although she had altered some of her features, she was still a rare beauty. She slightly adjusted her bodice before stepping out of the bathhouse.
"Young master, I'm ready," she said softly, her voice as pleasant as a clear spring.
Jiang Chen rubbed his eyes. A woman with a voluptuous figure stood before him.
Her hair was styled in a bun, held by a wooden hairpin. A gentle, serene smile graced her face, making one feel as if basking in a spring breeze. Even though she wore a simple, loose-fitting coarse linen dress, she exuded a captivating allure, radiating charm.
"Young master, what are you looking for?" Nangong Wan'er asked softly.
"My beggar girl that I picked up?"
Jiang Chen replied subconsciously.
"That's me."
Nangong Wan'er smiled slightly,
"You look like this? And you need to be a beggar?"
Jiang Chen was speechless, but he understood a little. In this chaotic world filled with demonic beasts, possessing outstanding beauty could be a burden for ordinary people. He sighed and asked no further questions.
In the hall,
Jiang Chen brought Nangong Wan'er, who had adopted the alias Gong Wan, to Jiang Hai.
"Grandpa, this is Gong Wan. She's a beggar who fled from Lingnan. I plan to marry her."
Jiang Hai was taken aback.
Although this woman was attractive, she was ultimately a beggar.
After a moment's thought, he understood the reason – Jiang Changling and his son must have orchestrated this.
Even if Jiang Chen couldn't condense Qi, with his outstanding appearance, there would have been girls willing to marry him. But how could Jiang Changling and his son stand by and watch Jiang Chen get married?
They must have warned all the unmarried women in the city, forcing Jiang Chen to marry only a beggar who had fled famine.
Thinking of this, Jiang Hai couldn't help but show a hint of sadness.
"Chen'er, you don't have to do this. We can still live outside the city. It pains Grandpa to see you wronging yourself like this."
Jiang Chen's voice also choked up. The memories of Jiang Hai's care for him were vivid. Although he had lived two lives, he had long considered Jiang Hai as his real grandfather. Now that they were in a chaotic world overrun by demons, if they were driven out of Tianwu City, how would his elderly grandfather survive?
"Grandpa, this is just a temporary measure. I told her that once I succeed in condensing Qi, she can leave anytime!" Jiang Chen comforted him.
"Alright, when that time comes, Grandpa will find you a good one," Jiang Hai wiped away his tears, his tone full of heartache.
Nangong Wan'er remained silent, watching the grandfather and grandson with cold eyes, a murderous intent flickering within them. She sneered inwardly:
"Is marrying me such a hardship? When my powers recover, it will be the day you all die!"
...
The news that Jiang Chen was going to marry a beggar quickly spread throughout Tianwu City, once again shocking everyone and becoming the target of mockery and gossip among the townsfolk.
"To stay in the Jiang family a little longer, he stooped so low as to marry a beggar. He's truly unworthy of being a son!"
"Jiang Chen is too pathetic. I thought his mind got better after returning from the Myriad Beast Mountain Range, but it seems it only worsened. Marrying a beggar, he truly has no shame. He's nothing like his deceased father."
"A few years ago, during the martial talent test, I heard he couldn't even sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. A good-for-nothing like him is lucky to even marry a beggar. Look at Young Master Jiang Feng, at such a young age he's at Qi Condensation Stage Eight and can contend with young masters from great families. They're like heaven and earth...".
"How can he be compared to Young Master Jiang Feng? If it weren't for Young Master Jiang Feng's benevolence, they wouldn't be living in such a nice courtyard and would have been kicked out long ago..."
...
In the Su family's backyard.
A little maidservant ran over breathlessly: "Miss, Miss, it's bad news!"
Su Wei, dressed in a light yellow dress, had an elegant and refined demeanor. Her hand, which was playing the zither, slowly stopped. She said indifferently: "What is it, causing such a fuss?"
"Jiang Chen is getting married! And he sent an invitation!"
Su Wei's expression was indifferent: "So what?"
"He's marrying a female beggar."
"Zing—"
A zither string broke.
Su Wei's face instantly turned grim: "To humiliate me, Jiang Chen would go to such despicable lengths."
"Then Miss, shouldn't we not go on the day after tomorrow?" the little maidservant asked cautiously.
"Why shouldn't I go?" Su Wei sneered, a glint of coldness in her eyes. "The more he acts like this, the more I should go in person. At that time, I'll let Jiang Chen know why a phoenix in the sky is a celestial bird he can never touch."
...
In the Jiang family residence, Jiang Feng was furious.
"I can't believe this brat actually got married! Father, didn't you already give instructions?"
Jiang Changling glanced at Jiang Feng sideways, his tone laced with impatience: "What's the use of giving instructions? The people of Tianwu City fear me, but do beggars fear me?"
What he said was true. As the new family head of the Jiang family, the residents of Tianwu City naturally feared him. However, beggars drifted from place to place, and he couldn't control them. He thought it was a sure thing, but unexpectedly, such a variable had arisen.
"Anyway, this brat doesn't have much ability. Why don't we just kick them out?