"Oh! So you must be Jiang Tiedan!"
Jiang Che's words made Jiang Langsheng's old face completely lose its composure.
Inside the ancestral hall, several other old-timers were watching. They were the eyes of the Jiutian Jiang Clan left in the mortal realm. By burning incense and paying a certain price, they could project their spiritual shadows into the Jiang Clan's ancestral hall to briefly communicate with their descendants.
"Haha... Langsheng, aren't you angry? 'Tiedan'... it's been centuries since anyone called you that, hasn't it?"
"If this youngster hadn't mentioned it... I would've almost forgotten you even had such a nickname!"
The others burst into laughter, thoroughly humiliating Jiang Tiedan.
Even Jiang Yunhuang beside them couldn't help but feel embarrassed—his grandson was really going all out, wasn't he?
Daring to call one of these old ghosts by their nickname right to their face?
These figures were practically confirmed as Jiang Clan ancestors, and even he had to show them utmost respect—at least on the surface.
Ahem, let's move past this for now. Though you aren't a direct descendant of our Jiang Clan, your blood still carries our lineage. That makes you one of us!"
Jiang Langsheng maintained his lofty demeanor, as if the name "Tiedan" had nothing to do with him.
"Young descendant, you must know that beyond the mortal realm lies the Nine Heavens, correct?" Jiang Langsheng stroked his beard lightly.
"I do."
Jiang Langsheng chuckled.
"Then do you know just how vast the Jiang Clan's influence is in the Nine Heavens?"
Without giving Jiang Che a chance to respond, he continued proudly,
"Our Jiang Clan in the Eastern Cangtian is an ancient family with a million-year legacy. Every generation has produced immortals who left behind their teachings, and our clan is even under the protection of a living Great Emperor... We are known as the Eternal Immortal Clan! Across the entire Nine Heavens, who dares not give our Jiang Clan face?"
"Of course, young descendant, you may not have heard of immortals or Great Emperors... but you must have read many fantasy tales, no? A Great Emperor... far exceeds your imagination!"
Jiang Che's lips twitched at this. Though the old ghost sounded polite, his tone reeked of arrogance.
Sure, he might just be a country bumpkin with no real exposure to the so-called world of cultivation—only knowing it through fantasies—but that condescending attitude of yours... really pisses me off!
Jiang Che smirked.
"Ah, I'm used to being a rogue cultivator. I don't care much for clan traditions, let alone the Jiutian Jiang Clan... Our bloodline has diverged over tens of thousands of years."
He muttered to himself, "After so long... even apes could evolve into humans. What's the point of clinging to bloodline heritage? Tracing it back scientifically... my ancestors were probably some Australopithecus from millions of years ago!"
Jiang Langsheng and Jiang Yunhuang: "......"
Jiang Langsheng's scalp tingled—he had never encountered such a rebellious descendant!!!
Apes?!
How could the Jiang Clan's founding ancestor possibly be an ape? Was this a joke?!
"You... you insolent brat! The Jiang Clan's ancestors are not to be insulted!"
"But I'm not wrong, am I? Humans evolved, didn't they? That's what I learned in school."
Jiang Che picked his nose, deliberately trying to provoke.
"You... millions of years ago, the ancient Celestial Court of Blue Star still existed. There were no apes back then—"
[Jiang Langsheng! Watch your words!]
Someone beside Jiang Langsheng warned him, and he quickly regained his composure—he had almost slipped up.
Meanwhile, Jiang Che raised an eyebrow. The ancient Celestial Court millions of years ago?
Another interesting tidbit to note.
"Jiang Yunhuang!!! Is this how you raised your descendant?!"
Though Jiang Che was rebellious to the bone, he was still a rare treasure. If a Chaos Green Lotus Immortal Body fell into someone else's hands, the Jiang Clan's Great Emperor ancestors might just crawl out of their graves to strangle them!
Jiang Yunhuang, of course, was no pushover either. The Jiutian Jiang Clan might sound impressive... but it didn’t scare him!
The old man also picked his nose. "Ancestors, what can I say? Our mortal Jiang Clan's teachings emphasize freedom in raising descendants."
Seeing Jiang Yunhuang adopt the same nonchalant attitude, Jiang Langsheng was utterly defeated!
Here he was, a mighty Creation Realm expert, rendered speechless by two insignificant descendants.
The worst part? He couldn’t even truly lose his temper!
Thanks to the Jiang bloodline, this Chaos Body was practically guaranteed to belong to the Jiang Clan. Once brought to the Nine Heavens and nurtured by the clan, he’d be a surefire immortal seedling!
Left with no choice, he changed the subject.
"Heh... youngster, I see your cultivation isn’t bad. Do you need any techniques?"
Jiang Langsheng rubbed his hands together eagerly.
"Absolutely! I’m in desperate need! With the spiritual energy resurgence lately... I keep getting my ass kicked by stronger cultivators!"
Joking aside, who would turn down free benefits?
Though the system in Jiang Che’s mind sold techniques and divine skills for cheap, why pass up a chance to freeload?
"Huh? Getting your ass kicked?"
Jiang Langsheng was baffled. Wasn’t this descendant a Chaos Green Lotus Immortal Body? How could he possibly lose fights?
Since when did Chaos Bodies become so weak?
And shouldn’t a Chaos Body be favored by Blue Star’s Heavenly Dao, treated like the heavens’ own son? This didn’t make sense!
But that wasn’t the main issue—he had finally found the kid’s weakness.
Ahem, our Jiang Clan has techniques aplenty... Earth-grade techniques aren’t even worthy of our scripture vault. Heaven-grade and Saint-grade techniques are as common as dirt, and direct descendants can even cultivate Emperor-grade techniques!"
"Great, then hand over a dozen or so Emperor-grade techniques." Jiang Che said casually.
Jiang Langsheng: "......"
Buddy, do you think Emperor-grade techniques are cabbages? Just casually asking for a dozen?
Ahem...
Jiang Che smirked. "What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you don’t have any? If not, quit bragging, alright?"
"Nonsense! Our Jiang Clan doesn’t have Emperor-grade techniques? We even have Immortal-grade ones!"
Jiang Langsheng was furious!
Insult him if you must, but never insult the Jiang Clan!
"Then give me a few?"
Jiang Langsheng fell silent again before slowly replying, "Emperor-grade techniques... require approval from the clan elders. And with the severance between realms now... communicating with the lower world through divine projection is already difficult. Passing down high-grade techniques would incur immense karmic backlash... the cost is too great..."
"If Emperor-grade is too costly, then a few hundred Saint-grade ones will do!"
Jiang Langsheng: "......"
Why was this kid so shameless? Did he really think he was haggling at a market? 'One yuan for Emperor-grade and Saint-grade, take them all' kind of deal?!
And... he had a sneaking suspicion this kid already knew about his overpowered physique. After all, the Immortal Body was his bargaining chip!
Without it, you’re just a nobody!
"I won't ask for too much, given how shabby you look... Probably don’t have much say in the Nine Heavens Jiang Clan anyway. Let’s make it simple—99 Saint-grade techniques, 9 Emperor-grade techniques, and 1 Immortal-grade technique. If you’re short on the Emperor or Immortal grades, you can owe me for now..."
"You—"
Not enough Emperor-grade techniques, and now you’re demanding an Immortal-grade one? Immortal-grade techniques in the Jiang Clan are reserved for the Patriarch-level elders and Imperial Scions! You’re not even close to that level... Dream on!
Jiang Langsheng gritted his teeth. This little brat was way too audacious—daring to call him shabby?
Lies aren’t the blade; the truth cuts deeper!
Sure, his Creation Realm cultivation might not rank high in the Jiang Clan, but he was still a force to be reckoned with, dominating an entire region unchallenged!
"I... Our Jiang Clan will pay! But we’ll need to consult the family first..."
In the end, Jiang Langsheng surrendered!