31: Chapter 31 The Ancient Jiang Family

Central Province, a land of outstanding people and spiritual energy, is the core heartland of the Ancient Immortal Realm.

Sects are as numerous as forests and dynasties rise and fall here, but those who truly stand at the top of the pyramid have always been the few Ancient Families that have been passed down for countless ages.

The Jiang Family is one of them.

However, the Jiang Family's ancestral land—Shennong City—has recently been shrouded in a cloud of gloom. Pedestrians on the once bustling streets walked in a hurry with solemn expressions, and even the hawking by the roadside lacked its usual energy.

The reason was simple: the Jiang Family's brilliant Divine Maiden, Jiang Liuli, who was said to possess the "Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart," was dying.

Deep within the Jiang Family manor, inside the discussion hall.

Jiang Wudao, the head of the Jiang Family, sat in the main seat. This powerful expert, who usually awed Central Province, now looked as if he had aged ten years overnight, with graying temples, sunken eyes, and a face full of exhaustion and despair.

Below him sat more than a dozen alchemy masters and divine doctors from all over Central Province. Every one of them had white hair and beards, but at this moment, they all hung their heads and sighed. None dared to meet the hopeful eyes of the Jiang Family Head.

“Masters...”

Jiang Wudao's voice was hoarse, as if his throat contained grit. “Is there... truly no way at all?”

“As long as Liuli can be saved, whether it's Saint Medicine, Imperial Weapons, or my Jiang Family's secret techniques, as long as you speak up, I, Jiang Wudao, will never haggle!”

An old man wearing a green alchemy robe sighed, stood up, and cupped his hands.

“Family Head Jiang, it's not that we are incompetent, but the Divine Maiden's constitution is simply too unique.”

“The Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart is a physique envied by the heavens. Extreme wisdom leads to injury; deep affection does not last.”

“Furthermore, the Divine Maiden was born with severed meridians, and the life force within her body has long since been cut off. She is currently relying entirely on that half-stalk of Undying Divine Medicine to hang on by a thread. This... this is destiny!”

“Destiny?!”

Jiang Wudao slammed the table suddenly and roared in grief and indignation, “My Jiang Family has practiced medicine to help the world for generations, cultivating the Shennong Grand Dao. Why is the heavens so cruel to my daughter?!”

“If the heavens want her dead, then I shall defy the heavens!”

Although the words were domineering, everyone could hear that this was merely the desperate roar of an old father.

Just as the atmosphere in the hall became suppressed to the point of near-suffocation...

“Ang—!!!”

A loud and high-pitched dragon roar exploded over Shennong City without warning.

Immediately following, a vast and boundless, extremely noble purple-gold aura fell like a waterfall, instantly dispersing the gloom that had shrouded the Jiang Family for many days.

Nine True Dragons, each a thousand feet long, pulled a shimmering golden carriage, crushing the void as they rumbled down in front of the Jiang Family manor.

Such a terrifying display instantly alerted all the experts of the Jiang Family.

“Who dares to intrude upon my Jiang Family?!”

Several powerful divine senses soared into the sky.

However, when they clearly saw the emblem on the carriage and those Nine True Dragons, all their anger instantly turned into astonishment.

“Nine dragons pulling a carriage... This is that one from the Eastern Wasteland...”

“The Ancient Xu Family?!”

“The only son of The Longevity Emperor, Xu Chen?!”

Jiang Wudao was also stunned, and then his brow furrowed deeply.

Young Master Xu? That 'soft-rice man' who has been in the spotlight recently and supposedly fathered a son with a Chaos Body?

What is he doing here?

Although he was puzzled, out of respect for an Imperial Clan, Jiang Wudao still forced himself to pull himself together and led a group of elders out to meet him.

...

Outside the Jiang Family's main gate.

Xu Chen, dressed in clothes as white as snow and holding a folding fan, stepped slowly down from the carriage.

He looked at the ancient manor before him, which, though grand, exuded an air of decay, and a meaningful smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

“So this is the Jiang Family...”

“Sure enough, even the air is permeated with the smell of 'finishing'.”

“System, sign-in.”

Xu Chen muttered in his heart.

According to the system's nature, arriving at a new map, especially one with a mission objective, would definitely yield special rewards.

【Ding! Detected that the host has arrived at the Central Province Jiang Family.】

【Signing in...】

【Sign-in successful!】

【Congratulations to the host for obtaining the God-level skill: 【Ancient Medical Classic · Yin-Yang Chapter (Max Level)】.】

【Skill Description: This is a miraculous book of the medical path written by the ancient Yellow Emperor, Xuanyuan. It specializes in treating various incurable diseases, especially cold poison, severed meridians, and stagnation in female constitutions, with the effect of bringing the dead back to life. The core essence is: Yin and Yang complementing each other, blending like water and milk.】

【Bonus Item: Golden Needle Acupoint Method (Requires physical contact to use).】

Seeing this reward, Xu Chen almost couldn't help but laugh out loud.

System, oh system, can you be any more direct?

What 'Ancient Medical Classic'? This is clearly a dual cultivation manual disguised as a medical book!

But... I like it.

“Ahem.”

Xu Chen restrained his smile, straightened his clothes, and looked at the approaching Jiang Family members with a look of compassion for the world on his face.

“Junior Xu Chen greets Uncle Jiang.”

Xu Chen cupped his hands slightly toward Jiang Wudao with perfect etiquette, leaving no room for fault.

Jiang Wudao looked at the young man before him, who was full of vitality and as handsome as a demon. Although he envied the Xu Family for having such a successor, his heart grew heavier when he thought of his own dying daughter.

“So it is Young Master Xu's arrival. Please forgive me for not welcoming you properly.”

Jiang Wudao forced a small smile. “I wonder what business brings Young Master Xu all the way from the Eastern Wasteland? If it is to blame me for not attending your son's full-month banquet, then...”

“Uncle, you overstate it.”

Xu Chen interrupted him, closed his folding fan, and his expression became serious.

“Junior has not come this time for personal matters.”

“Rather, I heard that the Jiang Family Divine Maiden is suffering from a strange illness and has sought many famous doctors to no avail.”

“Junior is untalented; although I am not proficient in the Dao of Alchemy, I occasionally obtained an ancient medical book and have some insights into this 'Born Severed Meridians' condition.”

“So I specifically hurried over, wishing to... take a look for the Divine Maiden.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire place went into an uproar.

The elders of the Jiang Family looked at each other with strange expressions.

The alchemy masters who hadn't left yet couldn't help but scoff aloud.

“Take a look?”

“Young Master Xu, treating illnesses and saving people is no joke! It's certainly not a method you use to coax women in places of pleasure!”

“We have studied the medical path for thousands of years and are still helpless. You, a mere stripling, actually dare to say you have insights?”

“It's simply the most ridiculous thing in the world!”

Facing everyone's doubts and ridicule, Xu Chen was not at all annoyed.

He just glanced indifferently at those mediocre doctors, then looked directly at Jiang Wudao, his tone calm yet carrying a strong sense of confidence:

“Uncle.”

“I know you don't believe me.”

“But does the current Jiang Family have any other choice?”

“Treating a dead horse as if it were alive—what if... this blind cat really happens upon a dead mouse?”

Jiang Wudao looked into Xu Chen's eyes, which were as deep as the starry sky.

For some reason, he actually felt an unprecedented certainty from this young man.

That was a level of confidence that even he, a great power of this age, did not possess.

Moreover, Xu Chen's words hit his weak spot.

Yes, there were no choices left.

Instead of watching his daughter wait for death, why not... take a gamble?

“Good!”

Jiang Wudao took a deep breath, as if he had made some sort of decision.

“Since my nephew has this intention, then... please!”

...

In the Jiang Family's rear mountain, at the Listening to Rain Pavilion.

This was Jiang Liuli's bedroom and also the place with the densest spiritual energy in the entire Jiang Family.

Before even getting close, Xu Chen smelled a thick fragrance of medicine, mixed with a faint, orchid-like scent as if it were about to wither.

“Cough, cough... cough, cough, cough...”

A series of heart-wrenching coughs came from inside the room, breaking one's heart to hear.

“Liuli...”

Jiang Wudao's eyes reddened as he quickly pushed open the door.

Xu Chen followed closely behind.

The room's furnishings were simple and elegant, with a scholarly air.

On a large red sandalwood carved bed, layers of curtains hung low.

Through the curtains, a thin figure could be vaguely seen lying on her side on the couch.

“Is this the legendary sickly Divine Maiden?”

Xu Chen's heart stirred, and he immediately activated the system's scanning eye.

【Ding! Target locked.】

【Name: Jiang Liuli】

【Identity: Jiang Family Divine Maiden】

【Height: 168cm (Tall and slender, a typical bony beauty)】

【Measurements: B86 (C) | W54 | H88】

【Beauty Score: 95 points (Deducted due to sickly appearance; original appearance was 99 points)】

【Constitution: Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart (Incomplete), Born Severed Meridians】

【Status: Life force exhausted, near death (Remaining lifespan: 3 days)】

【Detailed System Evaluation:】

Bust: Although her body is thin due to the torment of illness, the parts that should be there haven't shrunk at all. It is a kind of exquisite beauty concealed by loose hospital robes, like an inverted white jade bowl. Softness level: SSS grade.

Waist: A true 'willow waist,' too thin to be grasped. Because she hasn't eaten much for years, her waist is so thin it seems it would break with a little force, greatly stimulating male desires for both cruelty and protection.

Hips: Perfect bone structure, round and perky buttocks; an ultimate child-bearing physique.

Special Fetish Tag: Fragility. Beneath the pale skin, blue veins are faintly visible, making one unable to resist wanting to bully her harshly, to see her cry, and then gently coax her back to health.

“This data... this figure...”

Xu Chen sucked in a breath of cold air in his heart.

How is this a patient? This is clearly an exquisite, fragile piece of art!

Especially that waist that is 'too thin to be grasped'; if both hands were to pinch it...

“Ahem.”

Xu Chen quickly composed himself and suppressed those slightly erotic thoughts. Now was the time for treatment; he had to be professional and serious.

Jiang Wudao gently lifted the curtains.

A small face, so pale it was almost transparent, appeared before Xu Chen's eyes.

Beautiful.

A kind of morbidly gorgeous beauty.

She was like an exquisite porcelain doll, with features as beautiful as a painting, yet carrying a deep sorrow. Those eyes, which should have been full of spiritual energy, were now dim and lusterless, filled with numbness toward death.

Seeing Jiang Wudao enter, she struggled to sit up but was pressed down by him.

“Father... why have you come again...”

Jiang Liuli's voice was incredibly weak, like a thin thread of breath. “Don't bother anymore... I know my own body...”

“Don't talk nonsense!”

Jiang Wudao held back his tears. “Father has found a new divine doctor for you! He is the Young Master of the Eastern Wasteland's Xu Family, and he says he can save you!”

“Young Master Xu?”

Jiang Liuli was slightly stunned and turned her head with some effort to look at Xu Chen, who was standing behind Jiang Wudao.

Their eyes met.

Xu Chen looked at her. His eyes didn't have the pity or disgust that ordinary people showed when seeing a patient; instead, they held an unhidden appreciation and... amazement.

He smiled slightly, like a spring breeze brushing across the face, instantly dispersing the dead silence in the room.

“Miss Jiang.”

Xu Chen stepped forward, his voice warm and gentle. “I heard you were ill.”

“It just so happens that I have a 'medicine' here specifically for treating heart ailments.”

“Although the process might be a bit... special, such as needing the Golden Needle Acupoint Method, or even physical intimacy.”

“But as long as you are willing to cooperate, I guarantee that in three days, you will be able to get out of bed and dance.”

Jiang Liuli looked at the confident and spirited youth before her.

Her heart, which had long been like dead ashes, actually, for some inexplicable reason...

Skipped a beat.