Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
Chen Ji wrapped his withered hands carefully around the skin of the flood dragon. He nodded at the other two Branch Heads present, Chen Xican and Chen Tiankun.
The faces of both men showed much joy. They were unable to conceal their inward excitement.
The fourth volume of the “Four Nine Mysteries” was about to return to the Chens. The family would surely undergo many momentous changes.
Chen Ji’s face was slightly embarrassed.
He had, after all, given his promise. The Chens would never lay their hands on the treasure within the jade box, no matter what it was.
Who would have guessed that the fourth volume of the “Four Nine Mysteries” would be in the box?
Had the Chens seized this volume, they would have given the world something to talk about. They would have been mocked by all the monks in the world.
What should he do?
Chen Ji cast an imploring look at Half-Saint Liuli.
After all, Half-Saint Liuli was Zhang Ruochen’s future mother-in-law. It was better for her to come forward to communicate.
Half-Saint Liuli certainly knew how important the “Four Nine Mysteries” was for the Chens. Had she not come forward, they would have resorted to other means to get ahold of it. They had to have it at any cost.
Liuli walked over to Zhang Ruochen and said, “Ruochen, you ought to realize that the fourth volume of this manual is of great significance to the Chens. Very well, state your condition. The Chens will do everything in their power to fulfill it.”
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes stared at Bu Qianfan standing opposite him.
After Liuli made her request, Zhang Ruochen could not ignore her. He stopped staring at her and looked thoughtful. He asked, “Are you sure they will agree to any condition?”
All three Branch Heads responded almost at the same time. “Of course.”
Zhang Ruochen fixed his eyes at Huang Yanchen. “Very well! I do have one condition… well, I hope that Senior sister apprentice Yanchen can become an heiress of the Chens. I believe everyone will agree to this condition, won’t they?”
“That’s impossible. How can a Chen inheritor be a woman with a different surname?” White-Robed Elder Chen Xican instantly changed his expression and shook his head. He thought that Zhang Ruochen’s condition was too difficult.
The Green-Robed Elder Chen Tiankun was more gentle. He was more indirect as he said slowly, “Appointing an heiress of the Chens is a grave matter. You need to consider many factors. A final decision can only be made after careful negotiations between the Branch Head and the Elder’s Hall. There are too few of us to make this big decision.”
Even Huang Yanchen kept shaking her head at Zhang Ruochen. She whispered. “The Chens won’t let a woman be a Chen heir. No woman with a different surname can possibly hold such a position. And besides, there’s no way I could be one with my present abilities.”
Of course, Zhang Ruochen had reasons for his condition.
Huang Yanchen’s Xuanwu holy source had already been exposed. Many people would be secretly coveting it.
Making her a Chen heiress was the only way she could receive maximum protection. At the same time, she could also receive additional practice resources.
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, “There is a precedent of someone with a different surname becoming the leader of the Chens. I also recall a woman being their leader once. If they could do that, why can’t you?”
Zhang Ruochen looked into the depths of the Saint Prince’s Mansion. He roused his Qi and shouted into the air, “This condition isn’t too much, is it?”
He transmitted his voice over the entirety of the Saint Prince’s Mansion.
Everyone thought that Zhang Ruochen had gone mad. He had even thought of making a woman from outside the family a Chen heiress. How could that be possible?
However, after an interval of three breaths, a voice rang out from the Saint Prince’s Mansion. “An heiress for the fourth scroll of the “Four Nine Mysteries”… that’s not asking too much. I grant you this request.”
The voice was being transmitted across a great distance. Everyone present felt an enormous sense of pressure, as if the whole world was shaking.
It was the present Chen leader, the Prince of the Eastern Region.
Everyone in the family knelt, pressing their palms and faces to the ground. They looked like they were worshipping the gods. Even Half-Saints did the same.
After the ritual, they got to their feet again.
Apparently, Zhang Ruochen’s condition was not excessive.
After all, he had only helped Huang Yanchen win the identity of a heiress. She was still not its final leader.
Each generation trained many heirs, but only one would ultimately become the future leader of the Chens.
Even if Huang Yanchen were an heir, it would be almost impossible for her to become its ultimate leader.
But this new identity made her status completely different among the Chens.
Even Huang Yanchen felt like it was a dream come true. She had never thought she could one day become a Chen heiress. Had not the leader made the promise, she would never have believed it.
The happiest people were naturally the Qianshui Commandery Prince and Half-Saint Liuli.
“Yanchen, shouldn’t you kneel and thank the leader?” The Qianshui Commandery Prince urged her.
Huang Yanchen gradually calmed down. She took a deep breath, knelt on one knee, and bowed in the direction of the Saint Prince’s Mansion. “Thank you for the honor, Leader.”
Huang Yanchen knew very well that Zhang Ruochen was the one who had helped her gained this honor. The person she should be most grateful to was him.
When she stood up, her eyes gazed at Zhang Ruochen with complex emotions.
She did not express her thanks.
If she were to express her thanks, her relationship with Zhang Ruochen would appear too distant. Sometimes, two people only needed a look to communicate.
A few intelligent people had finally realized it was Zhang Ruochen’s ploy to take back the jade box. He had also deliberately opened the box. He had been digging a hole from the start, waiting for the Chens to jump into it.
Zhang Ruochen’s purpose was to win his fiancee the status of an heiress.
The Chens must compromise for the sake of the fourth volume of the “Four Nine Mysteries”.
“Clap!”
“Clap!”
…
Bu Qianfan clapped his hands and said sarcastically, “How smart, Zhang Ruochen! You are very clever to use such ingenious tricks. Even the Half-Saints here are all inferior to you. No wonder you are the head of the young Six Great Kings of the Eastern Region.”
He continued. “Your wedding gifts are indeed remarkable treasures. But I haven’t lost yet. I have a special gift that I haven’t brought out.”
All those present showed much disdain.
“Could any wedding gift match the Xuanwu holy source and the ‘Four Nine Mysteries?’”
“Bu Qianfan is really looking for death. He has offended the Chens and Sword Saint Xuanji. Just you wait! Saint Bu Gentry will soon be in big trouble.”
…
While everyone was mocking Bu Qianfan, Zhang Ruochen started looking quite solemn. He stared at Bu Qianfan and said, “You have a wedding gift? What gift?”
Bu Qianfan’s right index finger gently caressed his chin. A bizarre expression crept onto his face. He smiled. “I think everyone can tell that you love Miss Yanchen very much. Unfortunately, I can’t match your love. Before revealing my wedding gift, I have to ask you a question: If your mother and Miss Yanchen were to fall into the water at the same time, who would you save first?”
Zhang Ruochen had a very bad premonition. His eyes became extremely cold. “What are you talking about?”
Bu Qianfan still smiled. “I was just joking with you. Surely, you don’t need to be so nervous?”
“SWOSH!”
Zhang Ruochen immediately moved forward, and his figure streaked ahead. In a moment, he had dashed to where Bu Qianfan was. He aimed a stab right between his eyes with lightning speed.
Bu Qianfan never thought Zhang Ruochen could move so horrifically fast.
He immediately stopped smiling and took a step backward. His gloved right hand struck the tip of the Ancient Abyss Sword.
Zhang Ruochen’s hand rotated rapidly. The force of the sword underwent a minuscule change and passed through the fingers of Bu Qianfan.
“Tch!”
The Ancient Abyss Sword stabbed Bu Qianfan between the eyes and passed through his skull. Bu Qianfan was killed on the spot.
Everyone was flabbergasted by this scene.
Zhang Ruochen killed Bu Qianfan?
No matter how annoying he was, Bu Qianfan was still a disciple of the Saint Bu Gentry. The Gentry would not rest at this affront.
The next moment, even more amazing things happened before everyone.
About 30 meters in front of Zhang Ruochen, the air became slightly distorted. A totally unhurt Bu Qianfan materialized.
The figure of the man who was killed by Zhang Ruochen’s sword gradually became indistinct. It finally vanished.
“How did this happen?”
“Did my eyes fail me?”
“Wasn’t Bu Qianfan killed? How did another Bu Qianfan appear?”
…
Zhang Ruochen was not surprised at all. His eyes were tightly glued onto Bu Qianfan. “I guessed right, after all. You’re indeed a demonic shadow. Di Yi, why don’t you show yourself?”
Had Bu Qianfan turned into someone else’s shadow?
When Zhang Ruochen said “demonic shadow,” many people immediately responded. How unusual this Bu Qianfan was. They surrounded him.
“Ha, ha! Zhang Ruochen, you have finally seen through my disguise. You have taken much longer than I expected.” Bu Qianfan smiled.
Bu Qianfan had taken on his former appearance. But the voice from his lips was totally different. It was obviously someone else’s voice.
Suddenly, he stared daggers at Zhang Ruochen and said coldly, “Begin.”
“RUMBLE!”
1,200 brute elephants, each carrying a carriage full of Spiritual Crystals, was rushing towards East Region Saint Mansions.
The elephants trumpeted and the shafts of the carriages kept turning. Gravel and sand flew everywhere. Smoke billowed.
Everyone knew that brute elephants were war behemoths. But, originally, they were savage beasts used for delivering wedding gifts. As a result, people naturally forgot their aggressiveness.
At this moment, they became infuriated and burst forward with frightful rage.
