Gathering at the Jiang Residence: The Association of the Chosen Revealed

"Hehe, Shen Yu, you still claim to have no feelings for me?" Jiang Che said with a smile.

He possessed the 'Divine Listening' skill, capable of hearing the voices of all things and discerning truth from falsehood in the world.

Shen Yu truly didn’t love him, but Jiang Che couldn’t understand why she had acted so strangely the night before.

A woman’s heart was as unfathomable as the ocean, but could it really deceive Divine Listening?

That was just absurd—Divine Listening was a god-tier skill, after all.

"No, this is just a habit of holding your hand. Don’t overthink it," Shen Yu said, her expression returning to normal.

"I’m going to take a shower... You can leave now." Shen Yu’s brows furrowed slightly.

The bloated feeling wasn’t very comfortable.

"Then I’ll take my leave? Take care, sweetheart, especially since you’ve been pregnant for a whole day now..."

Shen Yu: "???"

Pregnant already? And just for one day?

"I’ve read enough books—you can’t fool me. Pregnancy usually takes at least three weeks to detect, doesn’t it? How the hell can you tell after just one day?"

But Jiang Che’s abilities were terrifying—she had experienced them firsthand. What if she really was pregnant?

Shen Yu remained silent.

"I’ve made breakfast for you. I’ll get going now."

Jiang Che chuckled, then changed his clothes and left. Staying overnight at Shen Yu’s place was already the extent of his tenderness.

...

The Jiang Family Residence.

In just one night, the Jiang family had received many visitors—mostly from the ancient martial arts world.

"Brother Jiang, did your family unearth a spiritual vein? Why is spiritual energy suddenly gushing out like this?"

Ai Kun, a grandmaster from the ancient martial Ai family, wore an ingratiating smile as he stood beside Jiang Yunhuang, rubbing his hands like a fly.

Many other grandmasters were present, and even Xu Rong, the deputy leader of the Fateweavers Association, had brought Chen Hao along.

"Master Jiang... this spiritual energy smells incredibly sweet. I can even feel my cultivation loosening..."

Though the crowd was large, they remained composed. After all, apart from the Fateweavers Association members... most were only at the peak of the grandmaster realm, while Jiang Yunhuang’s cultivation had long surpassed theirs.

If this were any ordinary family, they would’ve already declared, 'This treasure is fated with me!' and started looting.

"This is the revival of the Boundary Gate my Jiang family guards. The spiritual energy is returning... In the future, it will spread from our family to the entire world. Everyone will benefit."

Jiang Yunhuang’s tone was firm, showing no fear of open robbery—this was the confidence his Transcendent Realm cultivation gave him.

Back on Emei Mountain, he had fought three Transcendent Realm experts alone without losing ground, shocking the entire ancient martial world of Dragon Country.

Chen Hao nudged Xu Rong’s arm and whispered, "Brother Xu, your overall strength rivals a fifth-stage Transcendent. Should we just take it by force?"

Clearly, Chen Hao was setting Xu Rong up again.

He knew full well about the connection between the Jiang family and Jiang Che. Though he wasn’t sure how strong Jiang Che was now, the Fateweavers Association’s wariness spoke volumes—Jiang Che was no pushover.

If he could use Jiang Che to eliminate Xu Rong, the deputy leader position would be his.

Xu Rong glanced at Chen Hao.

"The leader’s orders are clear—no action against the Jiang family. They have connections in the Nine Heavens... We can’t act recklessly."

Chen Hao: "..."

What a shame.

...

"Rest assured, spiritual energy will be abundant in the future. Our Jiang family is just closer to the source, so we benefit first. But you’ll all catch up once the full revival happens... It’ll be the same for everyone."

The crowd was stunned by Jiang Yunhuang’s shameless words.

Was it really the same?

It was like inhaling secondhand smoke in a bathroom—the effect wasn’t the same for someone squatting inside versus someone standing outside the door.

But they didn’t dare say much. Jiang Yunhuang might be easygoing, but his fists weren’t.

"Then... Brother Jiang, you wouldn’t mind if I moved into your family’s estate, would you?" Ai Kun asked slyly, planning to settle in the Jiang residence and enjoy the purest secondhand smoke—er, spiritual energy.

"I do mind."

"..."

"What if we move near your family instead? There’s a plot of land next to the Jiang estate—we’ll buy it immediately!" The patriarch of a wealthy ancient martial family quickly instructed his steward.

"Honestly, it’s unnecessary. This is the era of spiritual energy revival... Eventually, all gates will reopen one after another."

Jiang Yunhuang was speechless. If this kept up, property prices near the Jiang family would skyrocket.

A single square meter might even sell for seven figures.

Just then, Xu Rong stepped forward.

"Master Jiang, do you remember me? I’m Xu Rong!"

Chen Hao followed behind him, having altered his appearance with disguise techniques beforehand—he didn’t want to implicate his own ancient martial Chen family.

"Xu Rong..." Jiang Yunhuang narrowed his eyes.

He had noticed Xu Rong from the start—in fact, his attention had been fixed on this man the entire time.

"Heh, long time no see, Mr. Xu."

They had clashed years ago. Though Xu Rong wasn’t a martial artist, he wielded bizarre supernatural abilities as a top-tier esper. Back then, he had fought Jiang Yunhuang, then at the peak of the grandmaster realm, to a draw.

Now, over a decade later, Xu Rong’s strength was undoubtedly even more unfathomable.

"Master Jiang, we intend to send investigators to the Boundary Gate. This matter is too significant... If beings from the Upper Realm descend, a single Transcendent like you may not hold them off!"

Jiang Yunhuang’s gaze darkened. The elusive Fateweavers Association was still an enigma to him. Rumored to have ties to the Upper Realm, they weren’t to be trifled with.

"The Fateweavers Association?" Jiang Ruoxu, hiding behind Jiang Yunhuang, tensed.

Of course, he had heard of them—an organization with a blood feud against his master.

"Master, should we eliminate them? With my grandfather here, we’re not afraid of them!"

[No need. That man is wearing a gray robe—only a deputy leader of the Fateweavers’ Human Pavilion is entitled to that. Your grandfather is no match for him.]

Jiang Ruoxu instantly deflated.

Ahem, my mistake.

Just then, a voice rang out from behind, reaching everyone’s ears.

"Make way, everyone. Why’s the Jiang family so lively today?"