The sky was high, the clouds were wisps, and the autumn sun was warm. The empty Ancient Street was silent, its atmosphere timeless...
The young man carried himself with an elegant air, while the young woman was as quiet as a Youu Lan orchid.
"The young Jiang Jichen, invincible in Body Refining, unstoppable in his divine might, defeated a Murong in seven punches. He is a rare and excellent son-in-law. Tell her to prepare ten thousand Spirit Pills, a thousand Spirit Ginsengs, a hundred Spirit Grasses, ten cubes of Spirit Stones, and one Spirit Weapon. With this as a betrothal gift, she might just barely be worthy of proposing marriage to him..."
"Is that truly what was said?"
The beautiful young woman's voice was as soft as ever, a pleasant and soothing sound to the ear.
But when Jiang Jichen heard this, he felt as if he'd been struck by lightning, and his face paled slightly.
'Just my luck,' he thought. 'I haven't even managed to deal with Murong Hee and Shen Yuqing yet, and I've already attracted this little tigress.'
The young woman before him was, of course, Princess Qing Ling. She was probably here to settle a score!
'That big-mouthed Han Qing has really done me in this time. I'd rather have a huge battle with Murong Hee and Shen Yuqing than face this woman, even without any Condensing Spirit Pills on the line.'
However, Jiang Jichen was a man with memories of a past life. The momentary shock was merely an influence of his current life's emotions, causing his composure to slip for a moment.
But he quickly calmed down. Since he couldn't escape, he had no choice but to face her bravely.
"I never said that. Please don't take it seriously, miss!"
Jiang Jichen denied it flatly. He wouldn't admit to it even if it killed him.
"Those words have already spread throughout Cyan Moon City. Why do you still wish to deny it, Young Master?"
Zhao Qingling still spoke in a soft, gentle voice, appearing as tender as water. But Jiang Jichen silently warned himself not to be fooled by her image as a quiet, beautiful girl.
"Rumors die with the wise. I can see that you are an exceptionally intelligent and remarkable woman. I'm sure you wouldn't believe such gossip!"
Jiang Jichen replied with a deadpan expression, but his words betrayed him. The flattery was obviously laid on thick.
He just hoped Princess Qing Ling would be pleased enough to drop the matter and leave.
"Young Master, were you just praising me?"
Princess Qing Ling's eyes shimmered like autumn waters full of affection as she stared at Jiang Jichen and asked.
At this moment, Jiang Jichen finally sensed that something was off, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He could only bite the bullet and say, "I am merely speaking the truth. Your grace is like a divine moon in the sky—"
"Really? Brother Jichen, I've decided to marry you!"
But suddenly, that's what Princess Qing Ling said.
'Huh? This isn't how this scene was supposed to go. The mood changed way too fast. What's going on?'
"Um, this..."
Jiang Jichen thought he must have misheard, his voice filled with confusion as he responded.
"Ever since you saved me that time, I secretly made a resolution. In this life, I must marry Brother Jichen!"
Princess Qing Ling said, her eyes brimming with deep affection as she gazed at Jiang Jichen.
Alright, at this moment, Jiang Jichen's thoughts were in a mess. He never imagined that this life's Jiang Jichen had actually saved Princess Qing Ling, and that she had long since intended to marry him.
The problem was, he didn't remember any of it!
He had thought Princess Qing Ling was here to cause him trouble, but he never expected this kind of drama. This was only going to be worse.
Jiang Jichen sighed and said, "You know as well as I do that my path as a Spirit Cultivator is ruined and my Dao of Body Refining is broken. In this life, I can only be an ordinary person. I'm moved by your feelings for me, but I am not worthy of you!"
To extinguish her feelings, Jiang Jichen had no choice but to continuously belittle himself, hoping she would give up on the idea.
"If you are a mortal, then I will stop cultivating from this day on and spend a hundred years with you in the Red Dust!"
Even that wasn't enough to dissuade Princess Qing Ling. It seemed she was truly in love with the old Jiang Jichen.
But Jiang Jichen knew this was just Princess Qing Ling's wishful thinking. Behind her stood the Third Prince and a massive family. How could they possibly agree to let her be with a cripple?
The four families breaking off their engagements was the best precedent. This was the will of every family, not something a young girl could defy.
"Alright. The truth is, I am determined to seek the Dao, even if it means certain death. It is said that the life of a Cultivator is the most arduous, while the Red Dust is full of charm, but I will choose to challenge the broken path of Body Refining. That is a path of nine deaths and no life. I cannot allow a single lingering attachment in my heart. I ask for your understanding, Princess Qing Ling."
This time, Jiang Jichen spoke with a resolute voice, showing no mercy.
He was a decisive person. If he didn't make a clean break now, it would only lead to more trouble. Therefore, he could only be ruthless and unfeeling, rejecting Princess Qing Ling on behalf of the former Jiang Jichen.
"A cripple like you, what right do you have to challenge the Body Refining Dao? Even the Great Powers of this era wouldn't dare make such a claim, because they know it is a path of certain death."
"Princess Qing Ling, it's not worth giving your heart to a waste of space like him. Besides, the Third Prince would never agree. Since that's the case, allow me to cut him down for you!"
Just as Jiang Jichen's voice faded, a cold voice rang out, and several young masters emerged, walking down the empty Ancient Street.
The one in the lead had shoulder-length hair, a handsome yet cold face, and was dressed in blue robes. Fanning himself with a Jade Bone Fan, he walked over arrogantly. In just over ten breaths, he had already crossed several hundred meters to appear before Jiang Jichen.
This was a Spirit Cultivation Step Technique, a true Light Body Step Technique that could only be practiced by those who had reached the Eighth-level Mortal Realm. It could increase one's speed, allowing them to cover several meters in a single step.
Jiang Jichen actually recognized the young man before him: Lü Yinghao, son of the Grand Chancellor of the Celestial Pearl Country.
The Grand Chancellor, second only to one and above all others, was a true figure of power in Cyan Moon City. As his only son, Lü Yinghao's status was naturally extraordinary.
Not only that, but Lü Yinghao was also a famous cultivation genius in Cyan Moon City, having reached the Late Stage of Level Eight Mortal at the age of eighteen.
"Why would Young Master Lü need to act personally to kill this cripple? We're more than enough to destroy him!"
At that moment, the three young masters behind Lü Yinghao finally caught up. They also appeared to be eighteen or nineteen years old, their cultivation already at the Seventh-level Mortal Warrior Realm.
"What are you all doing here? This is my business! Why are you interfering? All of you, get lost!"
Princess Qing Ling finally snapped out of it. Her pretty face turned cold, and her previous gentle and quiet demeanor vanished. She now seemed brash and outspoken, her words unrestrained and crude, even showing signs that she was about to attack.
Lü Yinghao was fine, but when his three followers heard Princess Qing Ling's words, their faces inexplicably paled, and they subconsciously took a step back. They had clearly experienced her methods before.
'This must be the true nature of Princess Qing Ling,' Jiang Jichen thought. 'I was almost fooled by her appearance just now.'
Jiang Jichen watched from the side, thinking to himself.
However, no sooner had Princess Qing Ling's voice fallen than a giant hand manifested from Spiritual Power descended from the sky, snatching her up and moving her a hundred meters away.
"Commandery Princess, the Prince ordered this old woman to watch you. You are not to interfere in any matter concerning Jiang Jichen."
It was an old woman, around seventy or eighty years old, with white hair and a face full of wrinkles. She had a deathly, lifeless aura about her.
But her earlier move—condensing spirit into a hand to grab someone from a hundred meters away—had already revealed her cultivation at the Innate Fourth Realm.
"Old Mrs. Liu, let me go! Jiang Jichen saved my life! How can Father forbid me from helping him?"
Princess Qing Ling shouted furiously, not believing Granny Liu's words.
"It is true that Jiang Jichen saved your life, but the Prince has already compensated him sufficiently. The debt of gratitude has been cleared. Furthermore, he promised the Prince that he would not pester you again. Therefore, this is all the Prince's will. Please do not make things difficult for this old woman, Commandery Princess!"
Granny Liu said in a gloomy voice.
"How can a life-saving favor be 'cleared'? You old hag, let me go! I have to help Jiang Jichen!"
Although Princess Qing Ling had heard about Jiang Jichen defeating Murong Qingshu, Lü Yinghao was a Late-stage Eighth-level Mortal whose cultivation power was several times greater than Murong Qingshu's. Moreover, even if Lü Yinghao's followers attacked together, they would be far stronger than Murong Qingshu.
From this, she deduced that Jiang Jichen, having lost his ability as a Spirit Cultivator, was no match for these people under any circumstances.
Jiang Jichen saw that Princess Qing Ling was still trying to protect him even in a situation like this. Though her temper and personality were a bit unrefined, she at least genuinely cared for him.
Granny Liu was naturally unmoved by Princess Qing Ling's words. She directly suppressed the princess and said grimly, "The Commandery Princess should just watch the show from the sidelines. The Prince said that only by seeing Jiang Jichen die with your own eyes will you finally give up!"
Hearing Granny Liu's words, Princess Qing Ling was shocked. "So, you were the one who leaked Jiang Jichen's whereabouts, letting those people gather on their own to kill him! You've all gone too far!"
Princess Qing Ling knew that if what she said was true, then Lü Yinghao was likely just the first wave. There would be a second team, a third... Even if Jiang Jichen could miraculously defeat Lü Yinghao and his men, what about the people who came after?
Granny Liu gave a sinister smile and said, "Among young people, life-and-death struggles are common. It's inevitable that a life or two will be lost. Besides, when some people die, they just die. Who would care about their worthless lives?"
...
The person with the "worthless life" was, of course, Jiang Jichen. Although Granny Liu and Princess Qing Ling were a hundred meters away, their words naturally did not escape Jiang Jichen's powerful spiritual senses.
The Third Prince's actions sent a chill through Jiang Jichen's heart. He had saved the man's daughter, yet to ensure Princess Qing Ling had no more ties to him, the Prince was using others to eliminate him. 'But do these people really think they're enough to take my life?'
At this time, Jiang Jichen was already surrounded by the three young masters.
Although they kept calling Jiang Jichen a cripple, the fact that he had defeated Murong Qingshu was undeniable. Therefore, when it came to actually fighting him, anyone with a cultivation below the Eighth-level Mortal Realm wouldn't dare be careless.
"This cripple who can't use Spirit Cultivation is too arrogant, daring to boast about challenging Young Master Lü. Today, let's teach him a good lesson!"
"We'll make him kneel and beg Young Master Lü for forgiveness."
The three young masters declared coldly, seven lines of interweaving blue and gray Spiritual Power Lines circulating around their bodies. They were ready to attack at any moment.
Jiang Jichen stood in their midst, as unshakable as a mountain. He calmly uttered two words: "Hold on."
"Waste, what else do you have to say?"
one of the young masters asked coldly.
"Two thousand First-Grade Spirit Condensing Pills from each of you," Jiang Jichen said coldly, holding up two fingers.