3: Chapter 3: The Immortal Clan – It's Only Just Beginning

"There is no rush for this matter. Has the efficacy of this Medicinal Pill been verified?"

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan stared at the three snow-white Medicinal Pills on the table.

His withered hands could not stop trembling.

With a cultivation level of Level 5 Qi Refining Great Perfection, he was strong enough to walk sideways in Jiangyuan City, yet at this moment, he could not even hold a tiny mud pill steady.

Mortals without Spiritual Roots cannot cultivate to become immortals in their entire lives.

This is the iron rule of the Spirit Realm.

For millions of years, countless brilliant and talented experts have tried to break this natural chasm, and all have ended in failure.

Now, a Trash of the Family at Level 5 Qi Refining had produced a Medicinal Pill without any Spiritual Qi fluctuations, claiming it could perform a Heaven-Defying change of fate.

In normal times, Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan would have slapped this babbling junior to death.

But the rich medicinal fragrance emitted by the nearly one hundred top-grade spirit gathering pills beside them was constantly assaulting his reason.

Jiang Feng shook his head.

"First, find a reliable Family member to test the efficacy of the Medicinal Pill."

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan looked up.

A fierce light shone from the depths of his murky eyes.

If this Medicinal Pill was real, the Jiang Family could mass-produce Cultivators.

But if it were fake, or had lethal toxicity, the fate of the person testing the medicine would be unknown.

Jiang Nan looked at Jiang Feng.

His voice was dry but carried determination.

"Second Brother, use my third daughter, Jiang Qing."

Jiang Qing was sixteen years old this year.

She was Jiang Nan's biological daughter.

She was born without Spiritual Roots.

In a cultivation Family, having no Spiritual Roots meant one could not even be listed in the genealogy. When they reached a certain age, they could only become tools for marriage alliances or be sent to manage mundane affairs in secular industries.

"Qing'er is sixteen now. Her blood and Qi have matured, and her foundation is solid; she should be able to withstand the impact of the medicinal power."

"If it truly succeeds, it is an Opportunity she has cultivated for several lifetimes."

"If there are any mishaps..."

Jiang Nan closed his eyes.

"Consider it her fulfilling her duty to the Family!"

The cruelty of the cultivation world was vividly displayed at this moment.

For the rise of the Family, the Family Head had gambled his Mortal daughter's life on a possibility.

Jiang Feng sat upright in his chair, remaining silent.

He had absolute certainty in the top-grade Medicinal Pill produced by the System.

This would not only give Jiang Qing an Opportunity but also serve to completely settle the hearts of his eldest brother and Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan.

"Young Master Jiang Chen, go call for her." Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan ordered.

Half an incense stick later.

A pretty young girl wearing a coarse cloth dress lowered her head and crossed the threshold.

She walked very slowly, her shoulders slightly hunched.

In the Jiang Family, Mortals must maintain absolute respect when facing Cultivators.

Even if she was the biological daughter of the Family Head.

"Father, Fourth Ancestor, Second Uncle."

Jiang Qing knelt on the bluestone bricks, her forehead pressed against the back of her hands.

On the way here, she had thought a lot.

A few days ago, she heard that an old Loose Cultivator wanted to buy some virgin girls to use as cauldrons, offering a price of ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

She thought that was her fate.

Jiang Nan looked at his daughter kneeling below and, unable to bear it, said.

"Qing'er."

"Your Second Uncle has obtained a kind of Divine Pill that might help you grow Spiritual Roots."

Jiang Qing suddenly looked up.

Her eyes were filled with disbelief.

Grow Spiritual Roots?

"But this Medicinal Pill has not been verified, and its medicinal properties are unknown."

Jiang Nan's voice was cold and hard.

"If you eat it, you might... die."

The main hall fell into a deathly silence again.

Jiang Qing looked at her father sitting high above.

There was reluctance in her father's eyes, but more of it was determination.

Jiang Qing turned her head to look at Jiang Feng, who was sitting on the side.

That Second Uncle, who had always been called a Trash in the Family, was sitting upright there, his gaze profound.

Jiang Qing knew she had no right to refuse.

Rather than dying in humiliation, it was better to gamble on this.

Thump.

Jiang Qing straightened her body, and her knees slammed heavily onto the blue bricks.

"This daughter is willing!"

She kowtowed fiercely.

"Thank you, Second Uncle, for bestowing this Opportunity!"

Jiang Feng flicked his finger slightly.

The snow-white mortal shedding pill traced an arc and landed in Jiang Qing's palm.

Jiang Qing did not hesitate.

She tilted her head back and swallowed the Medicinal Pill.

The Medicinal Pill melted as soon as it entered her mouth.

A warm breath slid down her throat and into her Dantian.

The next second.

Boom!

Jiang Qing's body arched violently.

The originally calm, warm breath instantly turned into a violent torrent, rampaging through her limbs and bones.

Her Meridians, which had been blocked for sixteen years, were forcibly torn open.

The flesh and blood of a Mortal were broken apart inch by inch under the scouring of Spiritual power, and then rapidly reorganized under the effect of the mysterious medicinal power.

Jiang Qing gritted her teeth tightly, a low growl emitting from her throat.

She fell to the ground, rolling crazily.

At the same time, large patches of black Impurities seeped out from the surface of her skin, accompanied by a strong, fishy stench.

Jiang Nan stood up abruptly, wanting to rush over.

"Don't move!"

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan gave a sharp shout, pressing down hard on Jiang Nan's shoulder.

At the same time, he stared intently at the young girl on the ground.

His Divine Sense of Level 5 Qi Refining Great Perfection was released without reservation, enveloping Jiang Qing's body.

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan felt it.

Underneath those dirty blood and Impurities, a brand-new power was awakening.

That was Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

The air in the main hall began to distort.

The surrounding drifting Spiritual Qi seemed to be pulled by some kind of force, rushing crazily toward Jiang Qing's body.

Two rays of light, one red and one gold, shone from within Jiang Qing's body.

Scorching fire-attribute Spiritual Qi.

Sharp gold-attribute Spiritual Qi.

Two completely different forces circled around Jiang Qing, eventually turning into a pillar of light that shot straight to the roof.

The tiles of the main hall were blown away.

In the air, the Spiritual Qi formed a tiny vortex.

The commotion attracted the attention of many people in the Jiang Family.

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan stood up abruptly.

With a wave of his sleeve, he dispersed the Spiritual Qi vortex.

"Spiritual Qi entering the body... Meridians being reshaped..."

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan's voice was trembling and somewhat hoarse.

"Gold-Fire Dual Spiritual Roots!"

"Top-tier Aptitude!"

Jiang Nan clenched his hands into fists.

Looking at his daughter on the ground wrapped in spiritual light, his eye sockets instantly turned red.

It succeeded.

A Mortal growing Spiritual Roots, a Heaven-Defying change of fate.

Jiang Qing stopped rolling.

She sat blankly on the ground.

The coarse cloth dress on her body had been soaked through with sweat and dirty blood.

She spread her hands.

A warm current flowed within her body, following Jiang Qing's will.

Jiang Qing tried to guide that power.

A cluster of red flames danced out of thin air at her fingertips.

Illuminating her face, which was covered in grime and tear stains.

She was now a dual-Spiritual Root Cultivator with top-tier Aptitude.

Jiang Qing turned around quickly.

Facing Jiang Feng.

She kowtowed heavily three times.

Her forehead hit the blue bricks, making a dull sound.

"Jiang Qing thanks Second Uncle for the grace of rebirth!"

Jiang Feng sat on the chair and accepted it calmly.

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan strode to the front of the hall.

He grabbed the heavy wooden doors with both hands and slammed them shut.

Cutting off all prying from the outside world.

He turned around.

Looking at Jiang Feng, who was sitting in the chair.

This person was the oldest in the Jiang Family, had the highest cultivation, and had been the backbone of the Family for decades.

His knees bent.

Thump.

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan knelt before Jiang Feng.

Moisture shimmered in the depths of his eyes.

"Heaven bless my Jiang Family!"

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan buried his head deep between his arms.

Jiang Nan also walked quickly to Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan's side, cupped his hands, and knelt on one knee.

"Second Brother, accept a bow from your Big Brother!"

The dignified Cultivators of Level 5 Qi Refining Great Perfection and Level 8 Qi Refining.

The Family Head and Old Ancestor of the Jiang Family.

At this moment, they were extremely respectful to a Trash of Level 5 Qi Refining who was over sixty years old.

In the cultivation world, those who are accomplished are teachers.

The things Jiang Feng had produced were enough to change the fate of the entire Jiang Family.

Jiang Feng quickly stepped forward to help them up.

"Big Brother, Fourth Ancestor, please get up quickly."

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan and Jiang Nan stood up.

Their backs were hunched unconsciously, and their eyes were fixed tightly on Jiang Feng.

"Feng'er..." Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan changed his form of address, his tone filled with determination, "What do you plan to do?"

Jiang Feng looked at Jiang Nan.

"Use all the idle Spirit Stones in the treasury and activate all the secret connections of the Family."

"Just use the excuse I mentioned before: that I am old, seeking pleasure, and have given up on myself, to widely seek a Dao Companion."

"Do not be picky about Family status."

"Mortal women, widows, daughters of small Families, discarded Prodigies."

"As long as their background is clean and they can bear children, do not refuse any of them."

Jiang Nan did not hesitate at all.

"Good, I will issue the order immediately. From now on, the Jiang Family will follow Second Brother's lead!"

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan added from the side, his tone cold and stern, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Qing on the ground and Young Master Jiang Chen in the corner.

"Whoever leaks a single word about tonight's events, this old man will definitely extract their soul and scatter their spirit!"

...

Soon, the side door of the Jiang Family opened quietly.

Teams of core confidants changed into plain clothes, rode out on horseback, and scattered into every part of Jiangyuan City.

The main hall became quiet again.

Jiang Qing had already been taken away to wash up and rest.

Fourth Ancestor Jiang Yuan and Jiang Nan also left, beginning to prepare for the matter of taking concubines.

Jiang Feng walked to the threshold.

He looked up at the sky.

Jiangyuan City was too small.

The Thirteen Provinces of the Spirit Realm were vast.

Jiang Feng's path to an Eternal Family had just begun.