There was also another emerging from closed door cultivation apart from Jiang Chen, and that was Eastern Gouyu.
This girl who had given up the identity of being an Eastern Kingdom princess had gone through great effort and finally absorbed the Five Dragons Opening Heavens Pill after three months, smashing through the shackles of the true qi realm, breaking through to the spirit realm, and truly becoming a spirit qi practitioner!
After breaking through, Gouyuâs entire demeanor had also undergone a drastic change.
Her competitive spirit that had originally been written all over her twenty two year old face was now supplemented with a few traces of cool poise.
âGouyu greets the young master.â Gouyuâs clear voice rang out like a piece of jade.
âHahaha, congratulations, congratulations. Gouyu, youâve finally broken through to the spirit realm and become a new legend for your Eastern clan!â
It was likely that a twenty two year old breaking through to the spirit realm had never appeared before in the history of the Eastern clan.
To this day, Jiang Chen still hadnât caught sight of the revered patriarch of the Eastern clan. As such, he didnât know what level in the spirit realm his training was.
However, Jiang Chen had no interest in this matter. He held no good feelings towards the men of the Eastern clan.
Eastern Lu was irresolute and hesitant, heartless and lacking in loyalty.
The old grandfather had said he was in closed door cultivation, but not even a peep had been seen from him when his family clan had sunk into dire straits.
Therefore, Jiang Chen wasnât the slightest bit favorably inclined towards the men of the Eastern clan.
However, it was a different case entirely with the Eastern clan women.
Gouyu was headstrong and true; Zhiruo was innocent and kind.
And now that Gouyu had broken through to the spirit realm, Jiang Chen was truly happy for Gouyu from the bottom of his heart.
Gouyu was quietly delighted to hear Jiang Chenâs compliments. She had worked so hard and let go of the glories of being a princess to follow Jiang Chen. This was in order to pursue the boundless martial dao on one hand, but also to demonstrate her abilities in front of Jiang Chen and win his acceptance.
Although she already knew that Jiang Chen would never have any mundane love for her in this life, Gouyu still followed the man she had set her sights on without a murmur of complaint or regret. Her efforts in this life would be justified if she received but a word of acceptance or compliment from Jiang Chen.
âYoung master, Gouyu cares not at all for some legend of the Eastern clan. I, Gouyu, am now the young masterâs follower. All mundane and ordinary matters are as though the floating clouds to me.â
Gouyuâs attitude was serious. Her mental state has risen by quite a bit after breaking through to the spirit realm.
Sheâd realized that pursuing the boundless martial dao was the truest desire within her heart. What had she gained for toiling away on behalf of the Eastern clan for twenty years?
Even the patriarch of the Eastern clan hadnât shown himself when the clan needed him.
She was a girl, was she to fight to the death for so-called royal gains and so-called family honor?
She had done all that she could and couldnât do.
Now, it was time to bid farewell to the matters and relationships of the mundane world.
If she had to identify any mundane ties that she still cared about, that would be Eastern Zhiruo, the little niece she had doted upon since young.
Jiang Chen somewhat understood Gouyuâs thoughts.
Taking a look around, he was greatly satisfied when he saw that Xue Tong had fully recovered and that all the other personal guards were in fine spirits.
He was about to respond when an underling reported that Qiao Baishi was requesting an audience.
Jiang Chen knew that Qiao Baishi still hadnât thoroughly handled his future mother-in-law when he saw the latterâs dejected expression.
âBaishi ah, it looks like you havenât gotten a handle on your future mother-in-law yet?â
Qiao Baishi smiled wryly, âThat old woman isnât responsive to anything and has hardened her heart to marry her daughter off to some genius in the Azure Heaven Northern Palace, muttering something about a marriage between equal social status ranks.â
Jiang Chen started. âEqual social status ranks? What do you mean?â
âAi, the old woman disdains that Iâm from a small place like the Eastern Kingdom and am unsuited for Qingyan.â
Qingyan was Elder Ningâs name.
âThis is to say that you havenât told her our relationship?â
âI told Qingyan that you and I are friends. However, the old woman doesnât seem to acknowledge the relationship between friends.â Qiao Baishi was still quite cautious. He didnât dare reveal their master and disciple relationship without Jiang Chenâs nod.
Although Jiang Chen had told him to act as he would last time to the fullest extent of his abilities, he still hadnât been able to thoroughly handle the head of the Southern Palace without Jiang Chenâs personal backing.
âThis is to say that itâs not just the old woman objecting, but you also have a love rival?â Jiang Chen smiled.
Qiao Baishi puffed out his chest, âIâm not afraid of love rivals. Qingyan has no interest in that so-called genius from the Northern Palace. She likes me.â
Jiang Chen didnât doubt this. Qiao Baishi was quite smart and had a silver tongue. Heâd have absolutely no problem at all in handling a woman who liked to be pretty like Elder Ning.
Not to mention that there was a heaven defying pill like the Four Seasons Eternal Spring Pill!
âYoung master Chen, the problem is that the old woman has already publicly voiced her desire to hold a competition to select a groom, which is set for tomorrow. Once this competition is held, it will be easy for things to become set in stone. Iâm worried that the old woman is predisposed towards that so-called genius, leaving me on a passive footing.â
âTomorrow?â Jiang Chen started. âThat fast?â
âIndeed young master Chen! So Baishi can only put on a thick skin and ask the young master for help.â
Jiang Chen chuckled. Qiao Baishi was one of his first loyal men. Heâd even been the one to send Baishi to the Southern Palace.
Now that he and an elder of the Southern Palace had fallen in love, there was no reason for Jiang Chen not to give him a hand.
âDonât worry, Iâll take care of this matter for you.â Jiang Chen clapped Baishiâs shoulder. âJust wait to take the beauty home!â
Jiang Chen could handle even Ye Chonglou, he didnât think there was much difficulty in handling a mere head of the Southern Palace, even if the old woman was going through menopause.
The obstacles of marriage were just those having to do with positions of power and money.
Add to that the fact that Qiao Baishi and Elder Ning truly loved each other, things would be even easier then.
After sending off Qiao Baishi, another infrequent visitor arrived at the Jiang manor -- old man Fei Xuan from the Qingyang Valley!
Ever since Jiang Chen had refined the Five Dragons Opening Heavens Pill last time, old man Fei had thoroughly vanished.
Jiang Chen had tried to find him through a variety of ways in the meantime but had failed to get in contact with him. Jiang Chen had almost suspected that this roguish old man had disappeared without a trace after receiving the Renewal Purity Pill.
But the old man had reappeared again after disappearing for a few months.
Old man Fei was wearing a uniformed outfit today, a long robe of interweaving black and green with a tree embroidered at the chest of his robe.
âOld man Fei, youâre still alive?â Jiang Chen felt a surge of irritation in his heart when he saw old man Fei.
âHeh heh, donât be angry young master!â As usual, old man Fei was boisterous and appeared completely without principles. He walked in front of Jiang Chen and massaged Jiang Chen in a fawning manner. âYoung master, I was a bit out of line this time, but you must understand. I wasnât just playing around, but fighting for my personal future!â
Looking at old man Feiâs joyful beam and complete lack of earlier depression, Jiang Chen was rather curious, âOld Fei, judging from your high and vigorous spirits, did you take a wife or something?â
Old man Fei chuckled, âTaking a wife is something that will happen sooner or later. I damned well swear that Iâm going to take eight or ten wives after a short while and thoroughly enjoy life.â
âTsk tsk, you look rather happy. Whatâs with the clothes? Are you purposefully here to show off?â Jiang Chen pointed at Old Feiâs clothes in question.
âYoung master Chen, youâre right! I, Old Fei, am not just the master of Qingyang Valley now, but also have a senior executive position within the Precious Tree Sect! My position is second to that only of an elder-in-waiting!â
A thick sense of pride was in Old Feiâs tone as his brows and eyes danced, charged with boundless enthusiasm. He was like a child with lots of candy in hand, showing off for his friends.
Old man Fei chortled as he stood before Jiang Chen, âOf course, more than half the credit for my accomplishments of today goes to the young master. I completely utilized the Renewal Purity Pill this time to improve myself. My senior executive position goes straight to the head of the sect and was personally vested by the head of the sect!â
No wonder old man Fei was all smiles. It turns out that his dearest wish of many years to return to the sect had finally materialized!
Old man Fei suddenly fell to his knees in front of Jiang Chen and sobbed, âYoung master, I, old Fei, am not someone who does not know good from bad. If it wasnât for you, I likely wouldnât have the chance to return to the sect in this lifetime, much less than become a senior executive. When you comforted me and said that I would have the opportunity to return to the sect in grand style one day, I never thought that this day would arrive so quickly! Young master, youâve given me new life!â
Old man Fei kowtowed heavily a few times.
His gratitude towards Jiang Chen was genuine and from the heart. Heâd finally been released from dozens of years of yearning and dozens of years of striving. All had finally come true, and it had all been thanks to Jiang Chen. How would he not feel indebted towards Jiang Chen?
âOld man Fei, so youâve got a conscience after all. Alright, I have a matter here that you can actually help with as a senior executive of the Precious Tree Sect.â
âWhat is it? Please speak freely, young master. As long as you donât want me to betray the sect, I wonât even crease my brow if the young master wants me to go into boiling water and walk through fire.â
âMm, I like this kind of attitude.â Jiang Chen smiled. âI donât want you to betray the sect, I only want you to be a matchmaker.â
âMatchmaker?â Old man Fei started.
âYou know my man Qiao Baishi. Heâs with Elder Ning of the Southern Palace but is running into opposition from Elder Ningâs mother. You can do something about this, right?â
Fei Xuan laughed. âJust this? Donât worry young master, although no one yet knows of my status as a senior executive, the medallion of a senior executive isnât just for show! A mere elder of the Southern Palace? Harumph! That a friend of mine finds her daughter worthy is thanks the blessings of her ancestors!â
Old man Feiâs tone was completely different now that he was a senior executive.
However, he was still quite honest in front of Jiang Chen and smiled, âYoung master, in front of you, Iâm always your most loyal follower, Old Fei. Heh heh.â
This old man was crafty and shrewd. He knew better than anyone that this young master wasnât simple. Heâd tasted such sweetness after acknowledging Jiang Chen as his young master, if he kept close to Jiang Chenâs footsteps in the future, then perhaps thereâd be more good matters awaiting him in the future!
With old man Feiâs intelligence, how would he not understand this? Therefore, even though he was a senior executive, he still kept a humble profile in front of Jiang Chen.
He didnât feel the slightest bit of conflict when Jiang Chen told him to do something, but felt rather honored, hoping that there would be many more of these chances to narrow the mental gap between him and Jiang Chen, in the end, truly becoming his confidante.