12: Departure, Nangong Family

Deep within the sleeping quarters of Holy Son Peak.

Jiang Chen sat cross-legged, his aura perfectly harmonious, with not a trace leaking out.

The power of the Seventh Realm Soul Transformation Peak was thoroughly tamed by Jiang Chen, flowing docilely through his Meridians.

After several days of refinement, the incredibly overbearing Dao Yan Heavenly Demon Body was finally completely under his control.

With a thought, the Devilish Qi could be deeply hidden within his body, making him indistinguishable from an ordinary Cultivator.

Jiang Chen slowly opened his eyes, which were perfectly clear, with not a trace of black light remaining.

“Hoo…”

He exhaled a turbid breath, which formed a faint white mist in the air that lingered for a long time.

“System, check on that leek’s status,” Jiang Chen lazily asked in his mind.

“Ding! Leek Observer Little Cotton Jacket at your service!”

The System’s cheeky voice immediately rang out.

“Reporting, host, the child of destiny Lin Fan’s vital signs are stable. He is currently barely clinging to life in a forgotten corner of the Inner Sect Disciple living area.”

A light screen then unfolded before Jiang Chen.

In the image, Lin Fan was lying in a dilapidated wooden hut, his face pale and his aura weak.

Although his injuries had improved, his cultivation had regressed, his Meridians were damaged, and his entire being exuded an air of defeat.

Jiang Chen watched, the corners of his mouth unconsciously curling up.

“It’s good that he’s still alive; his vitality is quite tenacious,” he commented. “His psychological fortitude is still a bit lacking. This is just the beginning, and he already looks half-dead.”

“It seems next time I harvest, I’ll have to be careful with the intensity, so I don’t actually break him.”

“host, you are truly too gentle! This System is crying to death!”

“Naturally.”

Jiang Chen stretched, stood up from the futon, and said, “We are professional villains; our main focus is sustainable development.”

He walked to the window, his gaze directed towards the depths of the Holy Land, the wrinkled face of the Seventh Ancestor and his profound words appearing in his mind.

“Taiyin Ancient Tomb, Nangong Mingyue, Profound Yin Sacred Body… I can put off harvesting leeks for a bit; it’s time to go see my fiancée.”

Jiang Chen muttered to himself, a smile appearing on his face.

Nangong Mingyue’s cold and beautiful face flashed through his mind.

Perhaps due to his Transmigration, Jiang Chen didn’t have much affection for this nominal fiancée.

But now, Nangong Mingyue’s value in his eyes was different.

She was no longer just a Daughter of Destiny, but a walking, breathing secret treasure, an excellent cauldron that could further advance his Dao Yan Heavenly Demon Body.

The thought of conquering such a proud and disdainful Daughter of Destiny, pulling her down from her high pedestal, filled Jiang Chen with an inexplicable excitement.

“System, are there any new missions regarding Nangong Mingyue?”

“Ding! Detecting the host’s strong desire to conquer the Daughter of Destiny Nangong Mingyue, which aligns with the strongest villain’s core values!”

“System Mission issued: Pay a visit! Please, host, go to the Nangong Family and display your absolute dominance as her fiancée before Nangong Mingyue!”

“Mission Reward: 3000 Villain Points! Luck Index +100! One random special item!”

“Mission Failure Penalty: The host will be forced to study “Female Virtues” and hand-copy it one hundred times.”

Jiang Chen’s face instantly darkened by half.

“Female Virtues? This dog System is getting more and more playful.”

He adjusted his robes and spoke faintly to the shadows outside the hall.

“Jiang Jiu.”

“Your subordinate is here.” A hoarse voice appeared out of thin air, as if it had always been there.

“Prepare the carriage, we’re going to the Nangong Family.”

“Yes.”

The shadows rippled slightly, then fell silent again.

A moment later, above Holy Son Peak, clouds and wind gathered.

Nine ink-colored Dragons, whose auras were comparable to the Eighth Realm Mahayana Peak, pulled a luxurious carriage made entirely of Star Profound Iron, breaking through the air.

Around the carriage, clouds and mist swirled, and the Dao rhyme was naturally formed. Wherever it passed, it caused countless Hongtian Holy Land Disciples to look up in shock, wondering which important figure was traveling.

Jiang Chen leaned against the soft couch in the carriage, propping his chin with one hand, looking down at the rapidly receding mountains and rivers below.

“Nangong Mingyue, I’m coming.”

“I hope this time, you can be a bit more obedient.”

...At the same time, within a resplendent palace in Hongtian Holy Land, where Spiritual Qi was almost materialized.

A handsome young man wearing a gold-threaded cloud-patterned robe, but with a hint of gloom between his brows, was playing with a Jade Slip in his hand.

He was Xu Ying, one of the five True Disciples of Hongtian Holy Land.

His cultivation at the Sixth Realm Nascent Soul Peak gave him a crucial position among the younger generation of the entire Hongtian Holy Land.

And Jiang Chen’s Saint position had always been his coveted goal.

“Saint, Jiang Chen…” Xu Ying crushed the Jade Slip in his hand, a hint of jealousy flashing in his eyes.

He had just received news that Jiang Chen had ostentatiously left Hongtian Holy Land in the nine dragon chariot, which only the Holy Lord could use.

Before this, he had already known everything that happened in the assessment arena.

A month ago, he was a waste who failed to Breakthrough a Realm and almost died.

A month later, his cultivation not only skyrocketed to the Seventh Realm, but he could even crush Lin Fan, who had shone brightly in the assessment, with a single move.

This change made Xu Ying feel an unprecedented threat.

He had always thought that Jiang Chen was just a waste who occupied the Saint position by relying on his identity as the Holy Lord’s son.

As long as the Holy Land Grand Competition arrived, he could legitimately replace him.

But now, it seemed this waste was about to become a true fierce tiger.

“I can’t wait any longer.” Xu Ying stood up and paced back and forth in the hall.

The Holy Land Grand Competition was his only chance.

He must thoroughly trample Jiang Chen underfoot in the Grand Competition, so he would never rise again.

However, Jiang Chen was now a Seventh Realm Soul Transformation, while he was only at the Sixth Realm Peak; a direct confrontation offered slim chances of victory.

He needed a chess piece.

A chess piece who harbored deep-seated hatred for Jiang Chen, and who would stop at nothing to stall and exhaust him.

A name surfaced in his mind.

Lin Fan.

“A homeless dog who was publicly humiliated and had everything taken by Jiang Chen; his hatred should be strong enough, right?” A chilling smile appeared on Xu Ying’s face.

He waved towards the shadows outside the hall, and a trusted subordinate silently appeared before him.

“Go to the Inner Sect on my behalf and invite a Disciple named Lin Fan to me,” Xu Ying calmly instructed.

“Remember to be polite.”

“Yes, Senior Brother Xu.” The subordinate accepted the order, his figure flashed, and he disappeared from the hall.

Xu Ying sat down again, picked up the Spiritual Tea on the table, and took a small sip.

“Jiang Chen, do you think that by luckily breaking through to the Seventh Realm, you can firmly hold onto the Saint’s position?”

“The Saint’s position is mine, and no one can take it!”