15: Chapter 15 The Storm Is Brewing

The Jiang Family ancestral grounds were as silent as a grave.

The air was thick with a burnt smell, mingled with the chaotic aura of dissipating Spiritual Qi.

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan slumped on the meditation cushion, his chest heaving violently, his withered skin flushed with an unnatural crimson.

He gasped for air, his murky eyes filled with lingering fear.

Before him, dozens of jade bottles lay shattered on the ground, the Medicinal Pill inside having long since turned into useless powder.

"So close... A little more, and I would have truly shattered my Dantian and died."

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan's voice was hoarse as he raised a trembling hand, sensing the stable aura within his body.

Foundation Establishment had failed.

The foundation platform, which should have been formed, had collapsed on one side at the very last moment.

Strangely, from the ruins of the foundation platform, a wisp of energy completely different from that of the Qi Refinement Stage had emerged.

A False Foundation.

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan closed his eyes to look inward, his lips curling into a smile that was both bitter and relieved.

The so-called False Foundation was a special state formed after a failed Foundation Establishment, where residual medicinal power was used to forcefully compress Spiritual Qi to a critical point.

Although there was no true Dao foundation, the Spiritual Qi had still been converted into True Qi through the foundation platform.

This was the True Qi possessed only by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

Although the amount was scarce, for Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan, it was a Heaven-Defying stroke of fortune.

"To think... I actually survived."

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan slowly stood up, his joints popping with a series of sharp cracks.

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan felt that his vitality was much stronger than before, and his Lifespan had increased by fifty years.

For an old man nearing the end of his Lifespan, this was nothing short of a divine blessing.

Suddenly, Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan remembered something.

At the moment the Spiritual Qi dissipated, a profound Spiritual Qi seeped out from the depths of the ancestral grounds, gently supporting Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan's about-to-shatter Dantian.

It was precisely that power that allowed Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan to save his life and achieve the False Foundation.

"The depths of the ancestral grounds..."

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan turned his head, looking toward the pitch-black underground passage.

That was where the foundation of the Jiang Family lay—the Old Ancestor who had been in seclusion for eighty years, Ancestor Jiang Xuan.

"Could it be that the Old Ancestor..."

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan's heart raced, but he dared not think any further.

If the Old Ancestor was still alive, then the Jiang Family had never truly declined!

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan straightened his tattered robes, tied up his hair again, and strode out of the seclusion stone chamber.

The sunlight outside was blinding.

At the entrance of the council hall, the Clan Head Jiang Nan was pacing anxiously back and forth.

Meanwhile, Jiang Feng was leaning leisurely against a pillar, holding half a spirit fruit in his hand and nibbling on it unhurriedly.

Seeing Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan, Clan Head Jiang Nan's face lit up with joy, and he hurried forward, his voice urgent: "Fourth Ancestor! Did you... succeed in Foundation Establishment?"

Jiang Feng also cast his gaze over, calmly observing Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan.

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan walked up to the two of them, and looking at Jiang Nan's hopeful eyes, he finally let out a long sigh and shook his head.

"It is merely a False Foundation; in the end, I failed to take that step."

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan's tone was desolate, but his expression had gained a touch of composure. His gaze shifted to Jiang Feng, his eyes becoming complex.

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan knew very well that if not for Jiang Feng's foundation establishment pill, the many Qi Gathering pills, and that final mysterious assistance, he would have long since turned to dust.

"Feng'er, Fourth Ancestor is ashamed; I have let down your Medicinal Pill."

Jiang Feng chuckled, casually throwing away the fruit core and clapping his hands.

"Fourth Ancestor is too polite. What of a False Foundation? In this world, how many people at the Qi Refinement Stage Perfection can achieve a False Foundation?"

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan was slightly stunned, and a warm current flowed through his heart.

Although he had not achieved Foundation Establishment, the pressure brought by the True Qi within his body was enough to deal with any Cultivator in the Qi Refinement Stage.

These extra fifty years of Lifespan were enough for Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan to guard the Jiang Family for a time.

"Feng'er is right." Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan took a deep breath, "Although this old man is not a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, from today on, within a hundred miles of Jiangyuan City, whoever dares to bully my Jiang Family, these old hands of mine can still crush a few more heads!"

Jiang Feng nodded, not saying anything more.

He could see that although Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan's aura was chaotic, his foundation was solid. As long as he did not encounter a true Foundation Establishment Cultivator, his combat power with the False Foundation was enough to run rampant in Jiangyuan City.

...

The next day, the atmosphere in Jiangyuan City was strange.

The anomaly in the Jiang Family ancestral grounds had dissipated too quickly, and everyone was convinced that the Fourth Ancestor of the Jiang Family had failed to achieve Foundation Establishment.

For a time, various forces were restless.

Wang Family residence, secret chamber.

"Hahahaha! Heaven helps me!"

Ancestor Wang Gang, the head of the Wang Family, slammed a palm onto the table, causing the teacups to jump.

Ancestor Wang Gang's face was full of smiles, his eyes sinister.

"That old immortal Jiang Yuan failed his breakthrough; he must be suffering from backlash right now and his life is nearing its end!"

Below, a trusted Cultivator flatteringly echoed, "Clan Head, our people have found out that although the Jiang Family is heavily guarded, that Death Qi from the failed Foundation Establishment can be smelled from several streets away! The Jiang Family is finished!"

"Once Jiang Yuan falls, the Jiang Family's greatest trump card will be gone." Ancestor Wang Gang stood up with a sneer, "As long as that old thing from eighty years ago, Ancestor Jiang Xuan, does not show his face, the Jiang Family is just meat on the chopping block!"

"Clan Head, as for the Li Family..." the subordinate asked.

"That old fox Clan Head Li Ziwen wants to swallow the Jiang Family more than anyone else." Ancestor Wang Gang said disdainfully, "Pass on my order, contact the Li Family, and discuss how to divide the Jiang Family at the Drunken Immortal Restaurant tonight!"

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, in the Li Family study.

Clan Head Li Ziwen gently waved his folding fan, a smile on his refined face.

"The Jiang Family is seeking its own death."

Clan Head Li Ziwen placed the secret letter over the candle flame, watching the letter paper turn to ashes, greed flashing in his eyes.

"Jiang Yuan, oh Jiang Yuan, if you had stayed put honestly, I would still have been three parts wary of you. Now that you have forcefully attempted Foundation Establishment, you have instead revealed your lack of strength."

"Old Ancestor, what if Ancestor Jiang Xuan is still alive..." an Elder of the Li Family said with concern.

Clan Head Li Ziwen sneered, his eyes full of calculation, "If he were alive, would the Jiang Family be reduced to taking a concubine for a sixty-year-old cripple to bring good luck? This is clearly an act of desperation, trying to cast a wide net to fish out a Genius descendant to extend their life."

"Jiang Yuan's risk this time was a helpless gamble as his Lifespan was nearing its end. In the end, he lost the bet."

Clan Head Li Ziwen closed his folding fan and looked into the distance toward the Jiang Family.

"Pass the word down, prepare generous gifts, and go meet with the head of the Wang Family tonight. It is time for this Jiangyuan City to change masters."

...

Jiang Family, backyard.

Su Wan was carefully draping a brocade robe over Jiang Feng.

"Husband, rumors are spreading outside that the Wang and Li families are frequently interacting; I fear they have ill intentions." Su Wan's voice carried worry.

Jiang Feng took the spirit tea handed over by Zhang Yuniang and took a casual sip.

"What is there to worry about?"

Jiang Feng smiled faintly, his tone relaxed.

"The Wang and Li families are just two grasshoppers jumping about. They think Fourth Ancestor is finished and that the Jiang Family is a soft persimmon, not knowing that this play has only just begun."

"Husband, should we not make some preparations?" Zhang Yuniang leaned in a little closer, blinking her lively large eyes.

Jiang Feng put down the teacup, his eyes playful.

Jiang Feng had confirmed yesterday that Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan's False Foundation state was enough to make the early stage of Foundation Establishment feel troublesome.

More importantly...

Jiang Feng looked up at the sky.

Do you really think the Jiang Family only has one trump card?

"Preparations?"

Jiang Feng stretched, his bones cracking.

"Just have them prepare their coffins."

"Wan'er, go notify the Eldest Brother to strictly guard the gates for these few days and not to attack. As for the businesses outside, let them go if they must."

Jiang Feng's voice was not loud, but it instantly put Su Wan and Zhang Yuniang at ease.

"Yes, Husband." Su Wan bowed gracefully and turned to leave.