51: List

After leaving the Zhang family, Jiang Chen carried Zhang Jian's child on his shoulder and returned to the hotel in the city center.

The young child had been forcibly separated from his mother and had long since lost his voice from crying.

His crying annoyed Jiang Chen, so he knocked the boy out with a mental shock.

After leaving the old city district, Jiang Chen took several deep breaths of fresh air. The smell there was truly unbearable—depressing, damp, with the scent of fermenting trash cans.

If it weren't for the sake of completing the mission, these things would never have appeared in his world.

Thinking of this, he applied a bit more force to the hand gripping the child.

Several iron-blue finger marks appeared on the unconscious child's arm, and even in his deep sleep, he couldn't help but furrow his brows in pain.

"Hmph, I hope you aren't as useless as that father of yours. If I had known he was such trash, the family shouldn't have spent resources to cultivate him in the first place!"

When he returned to the hotel room, he saw Jiang Tianlong and Chen Ze frowning at a small note.

The two of them looked up together at Jiang Chen, who had returned from outside, and the child he brought back.

Neither of them showed any expression of surprise; they clearly knew what Jiang Chen had gone to do.

Jiang Tianlong said with a frown, "You're back. I don't know what those Old fellows in the family are thinking. Why do they raise the children of these outsiders generation after generation? It's completely useless and a waste of family resources!"

Hearing these words, Chen Ze, who was standing to the side, looked somewhat awkward.

Because he was also an outsider. Although he wasn't an orphan raised by the Jiang Family like Zhang Jian, he couldn't have achieved his current status without the support and resources the Jiang Family spent behind the scenes.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen immediately stopped Jiang Tianlong, who wanted to continue speaking, and explained, "Young Master Tianlong, you can't put it that way."

"Our Jiang Family is still young, after all. Our foundation is far from being able to compare with the other three families that have followed the Great Xia Imperial Family since the founding of the country."

"Precisely because of this, the Ancestor allows outsiders to join the Jiang Family and recruits geniuses. According to the Ancestor's words, even if they aren't named Jiang, they are still family. And... didn't That Adult emerge from this? This also shows that the Ancestor's method is effective."

At the mention of 'That Adult,' even the overbearing Jiang Tianlong showed a respectful and fearful expression.

But he still said, "That Adult is indeed very powerful. It's hard to imagine he actually came from such humble beginnings..."

"However, he is just an exception. With his talent, he would have become the center of attention anywhere. He cannot be taken as a representative figure."

Jiang Chen echoed, "Young Master Tianlong is right, but according to the Ancestor's intentions, everyone supported by the Jiang Family is a member of the Jiang Family. There's no need for the Young Master to be so exclusionary toward them."

As he spoke, he glanced secretly at Chen Ze.

Noticing his gaze, Jiang Tianlong realized he had just said the wrong thing and quickly shut his mouth.

On the side, Chen Ze also cast a grateful look toward Jiang Chen.

"Alright, let's not talk about that. What were Young Master Tianlong and President Chen looking at just now?"

Speaking of this, Jiang Tianlong's anger flared up again: "That Old fellow Guo Linshan actually really sent over a list of items!"

Hearing this, Jiang Chen smiled bitterly and said, "Young Master Tianlong, this is something we agreed to after all. If we go back on our word... it will have a certain impact on the prestige of our Jiang Family."

Jiang Tianlong snorted coldly: "I know that, and I never thought about going back on it, but that old brat Guo Linshan actually took this opportunity to open his mouth wide like a lion!"

Jiang Chen stepped forward and picked up the note that Jiang Tianlong had just slapped onto the table, wanting to see what exactly Guo Linshan had asked for that would make him so angry.

"Fifty military-grade quenching thought beads. Hmm... the quantity is a bit high, but it's barely acceptable."

"One gold-rank monster beast egg? Is it possible Guo Linshan wants to contract another monster beast? This Old fellow's potential should have already reached its limit..."

When he saw the third item, he instantly understood why Jiang Tianlong was so angry and why Guo Linshan was demanding a new gold-rank monster beast egg.

"One earth-type monster beast crystal core of level seventy or higher? This old brat isn't just opening his mouth wide like a lion; his ambition is quite large as well."

Jiang Tianlong said with lingering anger, "Exactly. That Old fellow's beast is also a Gold-rank earth-type monster beast. He probably wants a level seventy earth-type crystal core because he was stimulated by Yu Shenghuo's breakthrough and wants to help his own beast break through its bloodline shackles."

By relying on the feedback of power when a monster beast breaks through, Guo Linshan would also have a very high probability of breaking through himself.

Although the level cap for a Gold-rank Demon Beast is level 70, the number of monster beasts that can actually reach this cap is few and far between.

During the growth process, a monster beast will suffer loss to its bloodline and potential due to various situations, to the point where it eventually becomes trapped at a certain level for life, unable to advance an inch. This is the bloodline shackle.

At this time, it is necessary to use external power to help the monster beast repair the deficiencies in its bloodline and break through the shackles.

Clearly, this was Guo Linshan's plan.

Although he had already applied for a crystal core from his superiors in the Great Xia Spirit Guards, he had been waiting for a reply.

After all, for the Great Xia Spirit Guards who manage the entire country, resources only tilt toward young people with higher status and greater talent.

And a Detachment Commander like him simply doesn't count for much; his age is an even more fatal factor.

Rather than pinning his hopes on the higher-ups approving his application, it was better to try extorting the Jiang Family. After all, to the foundation of a great family, a level seventy monster beast crystal core was nothing.

Although Guo Linshan didn't really think he could get it, he had just added the monster beast crystal core with a 'try and see' attitude.

Moreover, with the level seventy monster beast crystal core as a foil, the first two items, which were originally somewhat excessive, didn't seem like much anymore.

But what he didn't expect was that after Jiang Chen looked at the list, he was first surprised by Guo Linshan's lion-like appetite.

Then, after a moment's thought, he told Jiang Tianlong, "Young Master Tianlong, I think we can agree to his request..."

Jiang Tianlong looked at him with some surprise and said, "Although breaking a promise damages the prestige of our Jiang Family, being extorted at will also makes the Jiang Family look like an easy target. Principal Jiang Chen, you should know this."

"So... I'm very curious why you would agree so decisively?"

With an ill-intentioned smile on his face, Jiang Chen said, "Young Master Tianlong, one must be willing to part with the child to catch the wolf."

"Guo Linshan humiliated you so much today; aren't you angry?"

Thinking of Guo Linshan's words, which seemed sarcastic to him, Jiang Tianlong's anger, which had subsided, flared up again: "Of course I'm angry, but that was on his turf... why, do you have a way to vent this grievance for me?"

Jiang Chen leaned into Jiang Tianlong's ear and said, "Not only can we vent this grievance, but we might even be able to complete the family's mission along the way..."

As he spoke, he began to whisper his plan into Jiang Tianlong's ear.

Although Chen Ze was not involved from beginning to end, the two of them did not hide it from him either.

Listening to their plan, Chen Ze only felt a chill in his heart, and his hand holding the teacup began to tremble.

"Is this what a great family is like... they don't value the lives of the common people at all..."

Looking at the military uniform representing the Great Xia Spirit Guards that Jiang Tianlong was wearing, and remembering the oath he took when he joined, he only felt a sense of immense irony.