Chapter 7

"Get out!" Jiang Chen dodged the teacup thrown at him and slipped away. A wave of overwhelming grief and indignation washed over him. In his past life, countless celestial maidens had admired and pursued him. To think that in this life, he had found a beggar girl. And that he had inexplicably lost his virginity shortly after his rebirth – how tragic.

After yesterday’s turmoil, Jiang Chen felt the urgency of time. As long as he failed to condense Qi for a single day, Jiang Feng’s schemes against him would continue. In a world of chaos, strength was the only capital for survival.

He meditated and cultivated in his room all day, absorbing the blood qi from over a dozen demonic beasts. His True Essence was already overflowing, crashing against his Qi Sea like thunderous waves. Yet, he was still one step away from Qi Condensation and Meridian Opening. After all, it was a Sage’s Legacy. Even with his vast knowledge, there were many obscure parts difficult to comprehend. It wasn’t until dinner that Jiang Chen left his room.

Nangong Wan'er wished she could see less of Jiang Chen. Seeing him emerge, she subtly curled her lips with a hint of disdain. Jiang Chen paid it no mind.

"How is grandpa’s cooking? Can you still eat it?"

Nangong Wan’er shot him a glance with her beautiful eyes. "It’s alright."

Truth be told, she had been living rough these past few days and hadn’t eaten a proper meal. Saying it was just 'alright' was only to provoke Jiang Chen.

"Is that so? Grandpa’s cooking is quite good. Here, try this." As Jiang Chen spoke, he picked up a piece of braised fish in vinegar and placed it in Nangong Wan’er’s bowl.

"You!"

Nangong Wan’er had been eating quite happily until this scoundrel started bothering her the moment he arrived. Who knew if this piece of fish had his saliva on it?

"Don’t worry, I didn’t use my own chopsticks," Jiang Chen retorted impatiently. If not for the aphrodisiac his grandfather had given him yesterday, would I, the majestic Jade-Faced Young White Dragon, have been in bed with a beggar girl like you? However, recalling it, even though this woman was a beggar, her appearance was top-tier. Her skin was as smooth as silk, and her figure was impeccable. He couldn’t help but feel a flicker of longing.

Seeing Jiang Chen’s gentlemanly demeanor, Nangong Wan’er’s teeth itched with hatred. If not for her serious injuries, she would have slapped him to death five or six times by now.

"I warn you, you are not allowed in my room tonight!"

Jiang Chen put down his chopsticks and frowned. "Strictly speaking, you are staying in my room. I hope you can understand your subordinate status."

"Since I’m here, it’s my room!" Nangong Wan’er, accustomed to the domineering ways of the Monster Race, cared nothing for Jiang Chen’s words.

"You don’t want the fish? Then I’ll eat it myself." Jiang Chen couldn’t be bothered with her. He hurried to eat, needing to cultivate after the meal. Once I succeed in condensing Qi, the first thing I’ll do is divorce you!

"Who said I don’t eat fish? I love fish!" As she spoke, Nangong Wan’er took a chopstick and scooped up half a fish into her bowl, stuffing her mouth until it bulged. She glared fiercely at Jiang Chen, thinking, *Once my injuries heal, I will make you beg for death and wish for it!*

The peaceful dinner table quickly became a battlefield. Whatever one person wanted to eat, the other would immediately try to snatch it.

"Ptooey! Ptooey! Ptooey!" Just as he was about to be defeated, Jiang Chen unleashed his ultimate move: the saliva tactic.

"Hmph, hmph, excuse me, I concede! All these dishes are mine now." If Nangong Wan’er’s glare could kill, Jiang Chen would have died over eight hundred times.

Jiang Chen smiled slightly and calmly picked up a piece of braised pork. "Do you want some? It has my saliva on it, you know. Hahahaha."

Nangong Wan’er gritted her teeth in hatred. Her counterattack was even more ferocious than Jiang Chen’s.

"Ptooey! Ptooey! Ptooey! Ptooey!" Her spit flew even further than Jiang Chen’s.

Jiang Chen looked at Nangong Wan’er with a hint of fear. This woman, truly fitting the description of being made of water, possessed such formidable combat power at the dinner table! Her attacks were fierce and venomous, no weaker than his own.

Nangong Wan’er watched the piece of meat in Jiang Chen’s hand fall to the ground, scared away by her. She began to laugh triumphantly. *An eye for an eye! You’ve lost, haven’t you?* Soon, her smile froze.

Jiang Chen took a deep breath, picked up a piece of braised pork that had the most of her saliva on it, and looked intently at Nangong Wan’er. "Do you think you’ve won for sure? Hmph! You underestimate me too much. When I first stepped onto the path of immortality, I ate in the sect’s canteen for many years. I encountered countless experts, and occasionally had to fend off attacks from flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and rags, yet no one could defeat me. You have lost this battle!"

Like a streak of divine light in the dark night! A myriad of brilliant rays flashed, a stunning soaring arc pierced the heavens! Jiang Chen’s eyes were incredibly resolute, fixed on the saliva marks on the braised pork. He put the saliva-laced pork into his mouth, chewed it carefully, his expression even showing a hint of intoxication. Nangong Wan’er almost vomited. *This man is truly disgusting!*

Jiang Chen looked mockingly at Nangong Wan’er, his defeated opponent. "It’s just a bit of saliva, what’s the big deal? Besides, didn't we kiss last night? You didn't seem disgusted then."

"Get lost!" Nangong Wan’er picked up a piece of dirt and threw it onto the dining table, splattering everywhere. *Fine, then no one eats.*

Nangong Wan’er stomped back to her room, secretly vowing, *Jiang Chen, one day, I will make you kneel before me and beg for mercy! Every day, you will repent for your actions.*

Chapter 13: Epiphany

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

In his room, as the Heaven Swallowing Chaos Scripture circulated, the True Essence in Jiang Chen’s Qi Sea surged like a tide. Golden runes flashed within his meridians, as if transforming into a golden deity.

True Essence like a roaring tide, emitting the sound of breaking waves, mysterious and profound. He comprehended the various essentials of the Heaven Swallowing Chaos Scripture. The Sage’s Legacy unfolded like a landscape painting in his mind, cross-referencing with the immortal techniques he had previously cultivated. Hand seals condensed, countless peak battles replayed in his mind, from which he had drawn endless inspiration.

After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes. Divine light blazed within them, yet a trace of worry marred his expression. For days, Jiang Chen had been cultivating the Heaven Swallowing Chaos Scripture and contemplating methods for condensing Qi, but progress was slow. The Sage’s methods were too profound; even with his knowledge, he couldn’t fully grasp them. Moreover, the Sage’s technique seemed incomplete, always feeling like some crucial chapters were missing. If not for Jiang Chen’s exceptional comprehension, he probably wouldn’t have even entered the first level.

Rather than Jiang Chen choosing the Heaven Swallowing Chaos Scripture, it was as if the Heaven Swallowing Chaos Scripture had chosen him.

He wanted to sleep, but a restlessness persisted within him, constantly recalling the intimate scene from that night. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

In fact, Jiang Chen couldn’t be blamed entirely. Nangong Wan’er possessed the Succubus Bloodline, which exuded immense charm towards the opposite sex. Forget her alluring figure and graceful demeanor; even her unintentional aura of seduction was something ordinary men couldn’t resist.

Jiang Chen sat cross-legged, True Essence surging in his Qi Sea, continuously washing over his meridians. After a full half-hour, although he felt refreshed, an unerasable restlessness remained in his heart. After some thought, he went directly to the courtyard, took off his shirt, drew water from the well with a bucket, and poured it over his head. Several buckets later, the restlessness still didn’t abate.

Jiang Chen picked up his Fine Steel Spear and began practicing the martial technique left by Jiang Lie. The immortal techniques from his past life required immortal energy and were not applicable to this world. Instead, this family heirloom martial technique allowed Jiang Chen to move with great vigor.

Although it was only a first-tier martial skill, in Jiang Chen’s hands, its power was no less than a second-tier skill. Heavy thrusts, endless and infinite, the spear technique was the same; the movements were broad and grand, opening and closing, like the surging waves of the sea, boundless and endless. Even though he hadn’t yet reached the Qi Condensation Realm, the True Essence circulating within him still exuded a magnificent aura.

The Jiang family residence was not large, and Nangong Wan’er was naturally awakened by the commotion in the courtyard. She donned a thin robe and strolled to the edge of the corridor, where she saw Jiang Chen executing his spear techniques with flowing grace. Although the moves were simple, they contained profound principles of the Great Dao. Nangong Wan’er pursed her red lips, her beautiful eyes shining with a strange light.

Jiang Chen was covered in sweat, his offense and defense fluid and exhilarating. Suddenly, she froze.

Faint golden runes began to appear in Jiang Chen’s meridians. These were the Supreme Battle Marks, visible only to those who practiced the Nine Tribulations Demonic Art. The Nine Tribulation Demonic Sect was founded by a peerless heavenly demon of ancient renown. He had obtained a fragment of a heavenly book, obscure and profound. Despite his immense genius, he only deciphered a few lines, yet he soared to become the strongest expert of the Monster Race. Moreover, with this fragment, he created one of the ten great demonic arts of the Monster Race: the Nine Tribulations Demonic Art. Legend had it that upon reaching great accomplishment in the Nine Tribulations Demonic Art, Supreme Battle Marks would appear on one’s body, granting infinite power. Although the golden runes in Jiang Chen’s meridians flashed by momentarily, as the Saintess of the Nine Tribulation Demonic Sect, she saw them clearly. Her breathing quickened. No wonder she felt a natural closeness to Jiang Chen. The Nine Tribulations Demonic Art had no recorded success in tens of thousands of years. Just how had this human man achieved it? Although he was still very weak now, a human with Supreme Battle Marks was by no means ordinary!

Jiang Chen noticed Nangong Wan’er at the corridor.

"It’s so late, why aren’t you sleeping?"

Nangong Wan’er remained composed. "You’ve been practicing your spear in the middle of the night, it’s very noisy, how could I sleep?"

Leaning against the corridor pillar, Nangong Wan’er was only wearing a thin robe, her graceful figure incredibly alluring.

"How long have you been practicing this spear technique?"

"About three to five days. What do you think, are you impressed by my spear technique?"

"Hmph, with this little skill, you still want to impress me."

Jiang Chen said earnestly, "If you say something else is not good, I’ll admit it. But if you say my spear technique is not good, that is a man’s shame."

Nangong Wan’er immediately understood what Jiang Chen was referring to and felt a surge of shame and annoyance. Then, her beautiful eyes shifted. "At twenty years old, you haven’t even reached the Qi Condensation stage. What good is a good spear technique?"

Now it was Jiang Chen’s turn to feel wronged. His Qi Sea was already full, so why couldn’t he condense Qi into his meridians?

A wild thought suddenly arose in Nangong Wan’er’s mind. "However, I do know some methods for condensing Qi. If you call me 'master,' I’ll teach you."

"You? What method of condensing Qi could you possibly know..." Jiang Chen sneered. A beggar girl, at best, could only be in the Body Tempering Stage.

"The Way of Heaven diminishes the excess and supplements the deficient. Thus, emptiness overcomes fullness, deficiency overcomes excess. Concentrate the spirit in the Dantian, let the breath roam the Purple Mansion..."

Jiang Chen was full of mockery at first, but as Nangong Wan’er spoke, his heart was stirred by huge waves. What was originally obscure and difficult to understand suddenly became clear. The immense True Essence in his Qi Sea surged violently, impacting his eight major meridians. As Nangong Wan’er uttered each word, blood qi swirled around Jiang Chen.

Suddenly, The surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth began to converge towards Jiang Chen. It was the True Essence within Jiang Chen that resonated with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, creating a vortex of spiritual energy with powerful momentum!

Epiphany! A state of extreme clarity, difficult to attain in the martial arts. In such moments, previously incomprehensible passages would suddenly become clear.

Nangong Wan’er was astonished. She had casually uttered the method for condensing Qi and opening meridians from the Nine Tribulations Demonic Art, yet Jiang Chen was able to grasp its true meaning so quickly, even drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. What kind of comprehension was this! Even in the Nine Tribulation Demonic Sect, he would be considered a prodigy. For a moment, she even entertained the idea of bringing Jiang Chen to the Nine Tribulation Demonic Sect.

Boom!

Next, Nangong Wan’er witnessed a scene she would never forget in her life. Innumerable spiritual energies converged around Jiang Chen. Jiang Chen’s aura was continuously rising. Though he was still at Body Tempering Stage Ten, the faint aura he inadvertently emitted already surpassed that of ordinary Qi Condensation stage martial artists!

Spiritual energy integrated into his flesh and blood, nourishing his meridians. Jiang Chen’s body itself was undergoing transformation.

Extreme Realm! Nangong Wan’er considered a possibility: the legendary Martial Dao Saint Body. Every step taken would be an entry into the Martial Dao Extreme Realm! And only those who entered the Extreme Realm were truly invincible within their own realm! Lin Xiyue was a Martial Dao Saint Body. Although her realm was only half a level higher than Nangong Wan’er’s, her strength far surpassed Nangong Wan’er’s. Jiang Chen was not a Martial Dao Saint Body, so how could he also enter the Martial Dao Extreme Realm? Could it be because of those golden runes?

Rolling spiritual energy poured into the eight meridians. The trickles gradually converged into a lake. Every inch of his flesh and blood was now glowing. The spiritual energy in his meridians nourished his flesh and blood, like a rebirth.

Nangong Wan’er’s eyes sparkled. Jiang Chen must possess a great secret. Both the golden runes and his ability to enter the Martial Dao Extreme Realm indicated that he was far more than he appeared!

As she hesitated, a sharp pain erupted in her chest and abdomen again.

*Cough, cough, cough!*

Nangong Wan’er let out a series of rapid coughs, waking Jiang Chen from his epiphany. He happened to see Nangong Wan’er cough several times, and even a bit of crimson stained the hand covering her mouth.

"What’s wrong? Are you alright?" Jiang Chen hurried to help her, but Nangong Wan’er pushed him away. A fleeting look of apology flashed in her beautiful eyes. She had interrupted his epiphany, which was equivalent to cutting off a tremendous opportunity for Jiang Chen.

"I’m fine, it’s an old ailment. I’ll be fine after resting." Nangong Wan’er turned and went back to her room.

Jiang Chen felt the changes within his body. Although his realm had not improved, the True Essence in his Qi Sea had solidified several times, and it contained the true meaning of the Great Dao. Now, the foundation was even more solid than in his previous life. Furthermore, he had a deeper understanding of the Heaven Swallowing Chaos Scripture, currently only grasping the first three levels.

First level: the divine ability to devour blood qi, but the higher the rank of the demonic beast, the greater the difficulty of devouring it.

Second level: the ability to unleash the devoured blood qi, greatly enhancing one's strength.

Third level: the ability to devour the essence of all things and perfectly utilize the power of divine abilities, even enhancing their power through the circulation of the Heaven Swallowing Chaos Scripture.

However, the Sage’s Legacy was vast and profound; to truly comprehend it all, he could only slowly study it.

He looked at Nangong Wan’er’s room, lost in thought for a long time. The Heaven Swallowing Chaos Scripture was a Sage’s Legacy, and Nangong Wan’er’s few words of incantation had resolved the long-standing problem of condensing Qi that had troubled him. Could the beggar girl he picked up possibly be a martial arts prodigy of supreme talent?

*You can’t just make the donkey work without feeding it. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the pharmacy and buy her some medicine for lung illness.* After all, she was his lawfully wedded wife.

...

Ever since Jiang Chen had taught Xie Sandao a lesson, the neighbors who used to look down on him now treated him with much warmth. The moment he stepped out early in the morning, Xiǎo Cuì, the tofu seller, asked if he wanted her tofu. If it were the Jiang Chen of the past, he would have shamelessly accepted more slices. But as a rising star in the martial arts world of the future, while he needed to be approachable, he also had to maintain some distance. Jiang Chen politely declined her kind offer.

He soon arrived at the apothecary. "Shopkeeper Chén, I’ve come to buy some medicine."

"Jiang Chen! You beat up that scoundrel Xie Sandao a while back, you’ve got some skills! Xie Sandao has done plenty of wicked deeds. You really stood up for us neighbors. What medicine do you need? I’ll give you a 20% discount."

Most people on this street had been troubled by that group of hooligans, so they greatly appreciated Jiang Chen’s actions. *Indeed, one cannot be too outstanding. Two fans at the start of the day, offering a discount even on medicine!*

"What medicine is needed for a cough?"

Shopkeeper Chén had been running an apothecary for over thirty years. For common ailments, he didn’t even need a doctor to prescribe medicine.

"Tell me the symptoms, and I’ll take a look."

Jiang Chen recalled. "It’s a frequent cough, sometimes with blood...".

Shopkeeper Chén understood immediately. The only people in the Jiang family were Jiang Hai and Jiang Chen. The sick person must be Jiang Chen’s new wife. It was understandable; these beggars lived hand-to-mouth, so their bodies were naturally weak, and some ailments were not surprising.

"It’s just Lung Yin Deficiency, nothing serious. Take three qian of Sha Shen, two liang of Mai Dong, four qian of Sheng Di, and three fen of Bai Ji... Boil them into a decoction. Take three to five doses, and it should be fine."

As Jiang Chen left the apothecary, a middle-aged man with a sinister expression walked in. It was the family head of the Jiang family, Jiāng Chánglíng.

"Family Head Jiang, what brings you here?" Shopkeeper Chén hurriedly bowed. Jiāng Chánglíng was an influential figure, someone he absolutely could not afford to offend.

Jiāng Chánglíng’s expression was indifferent. "Let’s talk inside."

In the back hall of the apothecary, Shopkeeper Chén respectfully poured tea for Jiāng Chánglíng. "Family Head Jiang, what do you need at my humble shop? I’ll personally deliver it to you later."

Jiāng Chánglíng picked up the tea and took a sip. "Just now, that foolish boy Jiang Chen, what medicine did he buy?"

"Just ordinary medicinal ingredients for treating Lung Yin Deficiency."

"Lung diseases are difficult to treat. I heard there were many tuberculosis patients in Lingnan a couple of years ago. If it’s contagious, it would be a disaster for the entire city."

A cruel glint flashed in Jiāng Chánglíng’s eyes. "It’s definitely not tuberculosis, just a common minor ailment. I know the symptoms of tuberculosis..."

At some point, Xiè Sāndāo had walked in, his face contorted with malice as he glared at Shopkeeper Chén. "If Family Head Jiang says it’s tuberculosis, then it must be tuberculosis! You old fossil, can’t you understand human speech!"

Shopkeeper Chén looked at Jiāng Chánglíng and Xiè Sāndāo with pure terror, suddenly understanding the situation. He repeatedly bowed and said, "This humble one understands, this humble one understands."

Chapter 14: Undercurrents

Today, the streets of Tianwu City were filled with more refugees. They were clad in rags, begging by the roadside. It wasn’t just the human race suffering defeat on the front lines; the demonic beasts in the Myriad Beast Mountain Range were also stirring. It was rumored that great demons had appeared, and recently, demonic beast roars had shaken the mountains, causing civilians from hundreds of miles around to converge on Tianwu City.

On a small road outside the city, an old man in his eighties, dressed in coarse linen and holding a wooden staff, followed the crowd slowly. Suddenly, a piercing shriek broke through the sky. A fierce wind howled, kicking up sand and stones. A magnificent, multi-colored tiger dozens of meters long descended from the sky. Its aura was immensely powerful; wherever it passed, forests fell and giant trees snapped. The crowd immediately fell into chaos.

The terrifying demonic beast opened its maw and inhaled, and dozens of people were sucked into its bloody abyss. Blood splashed out as it seemed to enjoy a feast. Amidst the fleeing crowd, an old man looked on indifferently. He raised a finger and flicked it. A drop of dew drifted out, transforming into a beam of light like a galaxy. The terrifying creature, which moments before had been ferocious, turned into a pool of blood the next instant.

The survivors, unaware of why the demonic beast had suddenly perished, believed a deity had manifested and hastily prostrated themselves, offering continuous prayers. The old man, leaning on his staff, ambled slowly toward Tianwu City.