NOVEL NEXT Chapter 133: The Jiang Family
Chapter 133: The Jiang Family
“Miss Jiang, can you find me an inn?” Xiao Xixi said suddenly. “Your husband can go with you to the Jiang family. I won’t go. It’s just not convenient.”
She had her own considerations. As a woman who came from a humble background, she felt out of place in a prestigious family like the Jiangs in Taizhou Prefecture City. If she went to the Jiang family, she would undoubtedly feel uncomfortable everywhere she went.
If someone asked her about her identity, how would she answer?
If someone asked her about her relationship with Xu Lian, how would she respond?
Not only would she feel embarrassed and awkward, but it would also cause Xu Lian to be looked down upon. Most importantly, it would likely increase the resistance to Xu Lian and Jiang Xianyu being together. So, why should she bring any trouble upon herself?
“Husband?” Jiang Xianyu didn’t make the decision herself, but instead looked at Xu Lian inquiringly.
Xu Lian thought about it and felt that this might be for the best. Although it was common in this world for a man to have multiple wives and concubines, bringing Xiao Xixi to visit Jiang Xianyu’s family home would be somewhat impolite.
Xu Lian hugged Xiao Xixi for a moment. “I’m sorry to make you feel like this.”
Xiao Xixi smiled flirtatiously. “Why should I feel wronged? The Jiang family is the Jiang family, and I am me. The Jiang family has nothing to do with me. I’ll just consider it as coming to Taizhou Prefecture with Husband for a fun trip”.
So Jiang Xianyu found an inn and settled Xiao Xixi there.
She and Xu Lian went on to the Jiang family.
It’s worth mentioning that the inn was actually a cave dwelling, rich in spiritual energy, making it suitable for cultivation. Of course, the price was also steep-ten Spirit Stones per day. Xu Lian paid for a month’s stay in one go.
“Where is the Jiang family?” Xu Lian asked as the carriage continued on, passing countless cave dwellings and streets without any sign of stopping.
Jiang Xianyu replied, “At the deepest part of the Great Canyon, the source of the Illusory River.”
Alright… Xu Lian realized then that he had underestimated the situation. Taizhou Prefecture City was built above the Illusory River, and the ancestors of the Thirteen Clans, as the pioneers of the Illusory River, basically owned the entire city. Naturally, the place where the Thirteen Clans resided would be the place with the highest concentration of spiritual energy – the source of the river.
The carriage continued its journey.
After traveling for most of the day, they finally arrived at the source of the Illusory River. The water, constantly changing color, cascaded down from a high place like a waterfall.
There was a barrier here, making it impossible to clearly see the situation inside. Everything was shrouded in a mist.
Jiang Xianyu took out a jade token engraved with “Jiang” and led Xu Lian through the barrier.
The mist disappeared, and the scene before them became clear.
They were standing on a very ancient stone staircase, each step worn and pitted, bearing the marks of countless years.
Jiang Xianyu led Xu Lian step by step up the stone stairs.
At the top of the stairs, the view suddenly opened up.
Good heavens… Xu Lian was slightly shocked. Before him was a massive reservoir, like an endless ocean, its water constantly shifting in color. The concentration of spiritual energy here was outrageously high!
Obviously, the Illusory River at the bottom of the canyon was just a small overflow from this huge reservoir… If all the cultivators in Taizhou Prefecture City came here and saw this, what would they think?
In the middle of this boundless reservoir was a towering ninety-nine-story pagoda. Each level was lush with greenery, and beneath the trees, one could vaguely see densely packed houses.
Jiang Xianyu untied a small boat at the edge of the reservoir. After Xu Lian boarded, she used her energy to propel the boat forward – no paddles needed.
Xu Lian asked, “What floor does your family live on?”
Jiang Xianyu shook her head, “This is the residence of one of the Thirteen Clans, the Ji family.”
Xu Lian was speechless. Only one Ji family had so many people, yet Jiang Xianyu had said earlier that the Thirteen Clans were in decline. He couldn’t imagine what the Thirteen Clans were like at their peak.
A single Demon Sealing Cave had extracted so much spiritual substance. How powerful must the great demon and his eight generals sealed within it have been? It was beyond his imagination.
The energy-powered boat moved quickly, like a speedboat.
As they passed under the towering pagoda, Xu Lian looked up and felt dizzy.
The boat sailed deeper into the vast reservoir.
Ahead of them stood an ancient towering tree, each of its leaves like a piece of land densely packed with houses.
Compared to this ancient tree, the Spirit Tree in Pingyang County was like a sapling… Of course, size isn’t everything. It’s hard to say which tree is more valuable, the Spirit Tree or this ancient tree.
“This is the residence of the Yao family,” Jiang Xianyu said briefly.
After passing the ancient tree, the boat continued to sail for a while. Xu Lian’s eyes widened as he saw a creature floating on the water that was part fish, part bird. It was unimaginably large. Could it be the legendary Kun?
As if reading his thoughts, Jiang Xianyu said, “This is the corpse of a Kunpeng fry, with just a trace of the Kunpeng bloodline, not purebred. The Ying family has made their residence inside it.”
A fry? Xu Lian didn’t want to speak anymore, feeling like he was showing his lack of worldly experience – which he was. Most of the cultivators in the world probably hadn’t seen this either. If it weren’t for Jiang Xianyu, he wouldn’t have been able to come here.
Ahead.
A colossal warship floated on the water like a huge island.
“This is the residence of our Jiang family,” Jiang Xianyu said.
Xu Lian thought that this seemed a bit more normal.
As the small boat approached the warship, it looked incredibly tiny, like a small leaf.
“Miss!”
“The Miss has returned!”…
Someone noticed and shouted excitedly.
More and more people gathered, quickly forming a huge crowd.
Jiang Xianyu extended her hand, and Xu Lian understood and took it.
The two of them lightly stepped on the boat and leaped onto the deck of the warship.
The crowd, a sea of heads, all turned their eyes to Xu Lian, scrutinizing and critical. He felt the pressure – being the son-in-law of a prestigious family was no easy task.
The crowd parted and a tall young woman walked over with a smile, “Xianyu!”
Jiang Xianyu let go of Xu Lian’s hand and quickly stepped forward to hug the young woman, “Sister.”
After a moment, they parted.
Jiang Xianyu introduced Xu Lian, “This is Xu Lian, my destined husband.”
Then she introduced the tall young woman to Xu Lian, “This is my cousin, Jiang Yunyan.”
Xu Lian gave a slight nod, exuding a hint of arrogance… as Jiang Xianyu had previously suggested, it was better to appear more assertive.
Jiang Yunyan looked up and down at Xu Lian, then smiled, “Your looks are decent, but there’s still a gap from what I imagined.”
Xu Lian asked, “What did you imagine?”
Jiang Yunyan replied, “Xianyu spent over three years as the leader of a small merchant caravan on the route from Pingyang County to Yanfu County City, just to find her destined partner in Ghost Child Ridge.
Three years are incredibly precious to a young cultivator.
In my mind, Xianyu’s mate should be someone who is surrounded by a divine aura, like a god walking the earth.”
As she spoke, she couldn’t help but laugh.
Xu Lian humorously replied, “I will try my best to surround myself with an aura in the future.”
Jiang Yunyan chuckled, “You have passed my test. As long as Xianyu is happy, I approve. Whether you can pass the others’ tests depends on your performance.”