Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 475 - 59: Entering the Jiang Family, Meeting Jućai_2

Chapter 475: Chapter 59: Entering the Jiang Family, Meeting Jućai_2

[The Jiang family might really be in trouble, how should I say it? Well, it’s too late now, we’ll reach the Jiang family in less than half a day...]

Thoughts were intermittent, Gu Wen could glimpse the heart’s intentions but was unable to delve deeper.

Chi Yu Zi’s cultivation was approaching that of an Immortal, exhibiting an aura of near transcendence. However, the Taiyin, one of the Nine Luminaries, evidently couldn’t fathom the hearts of Immortals; as Yu Hua had mentioned, after becoming an Immortal, he could no longer read minds.

But to Gu Wen, this was just a small toy; knowing other’s hearts was useless to him, he’d give it away when meeting someone suitable.

Lu Chan seemed quite suitable.

Storing away the Taiyin Bottle, Chi Yu Zi suddenly became serious and said: "Gu Wen, the Jiang family might really be found out. If so, they might likely face execution of the entire clan."

Gu Wen replied: "Let’s go meet the True Man, everything will be revealed."

"What are you going to do then? Shelter them? If you will, throw me into the inheritance treasure; if not, just nod and I’ll help you deal with it."

Chi Yu Zi clenched his right fist, a strand of golden light burst forth, clearing the clouds ahead for dozens of miles.

"I can resolve everything before the Immortal Boat arrives."

Gu Wen calmly said: "Chi Yu Zi, you and I should be the ones with most alike temperaments. You need not worry for me, I will kill."

"Alright, if you can’t bring yourself to do it when the time comes, you must let me do it."

Chi Yu Zi scratched his head, sighing and frowning, looking more anxious than Gu Wen.

"Your younger brother I’ve seen back then, had no aptitude for cultivation, merely relying on pills would reach at most the Golden Core. Golden Core lifespan is five hundred years; for him to live so long now, there must be a problem, probably using some evil skill."

"Jiang Jucai shouldn’t be an issue, ten years ago I saw him in Daoist Sect; as the steward of the Jiang family, he frequently engages with various Pill Sects, should not be a problem."

"When the time comes, we’ll just capture the main culprit, Daoist Sect will understand."

Chi Yu Zi rambled on, including words of comfort, embodying the saying of a sharp mouth but a soft heart.

Gu Wen quietly nodded in response, his gaze towards the distance without much emotional fluctuation.

He was not one to be indecisive; when it was time to act, he wouldn’t hesitate. If Jiang Fugui indeed became a cannibal evil cultivator, Gu Wen would let him die painlessly.

But his calmness didn’t stem from this; he still believed Jiang Fugui wouldn’t commit such acts.

Recalling those years of begging, a coarse biscuit forged gratitude.

Back then, Jiang Fugui was just a small tea shopkeeper, his shop was rented, the rent was borrowed, and near bankruptcy during disaster years.

Then his original wife ran away with someone, leaving only him and young Jiang Jucai.

The old fellow had a keen sense of crisis, he frequently sought Gu Wen, a seasoned beggar, for advice even before going bankrupt, paying a biscuit each time. He even said if the tea shop collapsed someday, he’d come begging.

For Jiang Fugui, a biscuit was nothing, but for Gu Wen, it was life-saving food.

Then Gu Wen entered the Royal Mansion, incidentally pulling Jiang Fugui along.

Thus, the great merchant came to be.

——————————————

Jiang family ancestral land.

A man, seven feet tall, broad forehead, handsome and dignified, dressed in a mystic robe exuding a majestic aura, sat in meditation.

Under the effect of the Spirit Gathering Array, the surrounding spiritual energy condensed into crystal-clear dewdrops on the walls.

Each of his breaths swept up massive amounts of spiritual energy.

He was the nominal leader of Danqing State, the Pill Alliance Hierarch, formed by various Pill Sects, the most powerful True Monarch in the world today.

Second Ancestor of the Jiang family, Jiang Jucai.

Suddenly, a divine thought flew in, filled with chilling coldness, making one’s skin crawl just by hearing.

"Recently, there are many True Martial Arts bugs in Danqing State."

He replied: "Danqing Sect produces pills, a prosperous land of the world, Daoist Sect naturally keeps a tight watch. Even if they want to investigate, they should check other places; your Heavenly Demon Sect has been rampant in recent years."

"In the world, nearly ten million people of the Human Race go missing each year. In Danqing State alone, the number is just ten thousand; only Xuanhuang State can compare globally."

The cold divine thought laughed: "A Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, with belly open, can eat how much? Even ten thousand is a lot."

Jiang Jucai said: "My father is unwilling to eat much."

"Unwilling to eat much?"

The divine thought laughed more wildly, seeming to have heard a joke.

"Whether it’s one or ten thousand, or even a million, they all must die to Daoist Sect. Do you think eating fewer bites would lessen the whipping? If you’re going to do it, go all out; it’s better to gamble on immortality. If you become an Immortal, you can go anywhere in this vast world."

"Our sect’s ancestor is just half a step away from Immortal Ascension; if you can provide two million blood food within ten years, you also will enjoy immortality."

Jiang Jucai could never agree, he refused: "I only promised to provide pill channels, nothing more."

Every year, over ten million people disappear from the Human Race. Spread across thirty-six states, hundreds of cities, millions of towns, and tens of thousands of villages, this isn’t particularly many. On average, one in every thousand people goes missing, and another one dies of unnatural causes.

Danqing State has a population of a hundred million. Losing two million people suddenly would prompt the Daoist Sect to mobilize troops and besiege Danqing State.

"Eating one person is a crime; eating ten thousand makes you a Demon. Your father is no longer human. Why not fall into the Demon Path and share the Great Bliss Heaven?"

The Divine Thought continuously instilled various Magic Skills, all of which involved practices of eating people for cultivation.

Jiang Jucai would never learn such a Cultivation Technique. If it were truly omnipotent, the Heavenly Demon Sect would not have become loathed by all.

He said, "Saving ten thousand people and eating one, the merits and demerits offset each other."

"Hypocrite, do you think the Daoist Sect would care about you that much? Even if you saved millions, the Daoist Sect would still kill you in the end."

Jiang Jucai closed his eyes. The cold Divine Thought nagged for a full half hour before leaving begrudgingly.

An hour later, another Divine Thought arrived, this one from a Jiang family cultivator.

"Second Ancestor, Jiang Ning sent a message saying he encountered a great power who had old ties with the Jiang family. The letter mentions they seem to have a good relationship with Chi Venerable."

A former acquaintance of the Jiang family?

Probably here to establish connections again.

"What level of cultivation?"

"I don’t know. The letter didn’t specify. But based on past experiences, it’s highly likely this is another con artist brought back by the young master."

Jiang Jucai succinctly said, "You entertain them courteously in my place. If they possess Mahayana Realm cultivation or above, then notify me."

It might be a fraud, but the Jiang family wouldn’t miss a meal.

Two more hours passed, and another Divine Thought arrived.

"Second Ancestor, the guest has arrived. I can’t discern their cultivation level."

"Who are they?"

"Never seen them before, don’t know. The guest wishes to see you."

See me?

Jiang Jucai pondered, coming up with several guesses in his mind.

Perhaps an Inspector in disguise.

After careful consideration, he decided it was best to meet them. If it truly was someone from True Martial Palace, offending them would lead to endless troubles.

Moreover, things have been quite sensitive recently.

——————————————

Meanwhile, in the Jiang family’s guest reception hall.

Redwood chairs, gold-thread cushions, antiques like clouds, porcelain likened to paintings.

It could be said to be the epitome of elegance and luxury.

Gu Wen and Chi Yu Zi were both uncouth individuals, unable to appreciate these things. Xie Yunnan, however, had some understanding and could explain each item to them.

Antiques in the Cultivation World were mostly remnants of Magic Treasures. The so-called antiquity mainly lay in the Magic Skill’s age or whose prototype it was.

Gu Wen didn’t care for these implications, but his eyes lit up hearing that such broken pieces could sell for high prices.

Because he was truly out of money, now having less than two hundred top-grade Spirit Stones.

Not enough for a meal of Nine Transition Golden Core braised pig trotters.

Suddenly, the conversations stopped, and footsteps approached from afar.

Stewards akin to butlers and a crowd of maidservants quickly bowed their heads, only seeing a hem of a Mystic Robe flash by.

Jiang Jucai marched in with a stride like a dragon and a tiger. As he stepped into the hall, he froze like a stone carving.

Thinking he was making a significant contribution, Jiang Ning stepped forward eagerly and said, "Second Ancestor, I’ve brought back three seniors. This is Hong Chen senior, who said they have old ties with the Great Ancestor and traveled a long distance to meet."

"This is Chi Venerable, the legendary True Martial Demon Cleansing Venerable."

"And this one is a senior disciple from Broken Sword Mountain."

Jiang Ning introduced them with spirited enthusiasm, the only one speaking in the hall. Realizing something was wrong, his voice grew anxious and eventually faded.

Thud!

Second Ancestor Jiang knelt down, staring blankly at the unremarkable Qingyi Taoist, full of disbelief, suspecting it to be an Illusion Technique.

He stammered, "Mr. Wen, have you come out?"

Gu Wen said unhurriedly, "Jucai, you’ve grown much stronger."