Jiang Che: Ancestor Jiang Hong, Actually, My Surname Is Jiang

"Achoo!"

Jiang Che sneezed. "Who's talking about me?"

In a way, his sixth sense was spot-on—a certain tsundere little mermaid was already preparing to descend and capture him.

At the moment, Young Master Jiang was at the Jiang family residence, listening to Old Man Jiang Hong's teachings.

Ever since gifting Jiang Che the Canglong Ring, the old man had taken an extraordinary interest in his only disciple, frequently descending to the mortal realm through various means.

"Jiang Che, what level have you reached in the One Palm Scripture I taught you?"

A faint silhouette hovered before Jiang Che, hands clasped behind his back, his expression stern.

"I've already mastered it to perfection," Jiang Che replied nonchalantly.

"Only mastered it to perfection? You spend your days indulging in women... I knew it—wait! Did you just say you've mastered it to perfection??" Jiang Hong nearly lost his composure.

"That's right. I've comprehended all the true essence of the One Palm Scripture. The only thing holding me back is my cultivation level."

Jiang Che spoke as if it were no big deal.

He truly had mastered the One Palm Scripture to its peak. Without exaggeration... whatever insights Jiang Hong had, Jiang Che had them too. The only difference was his lower cultivation level.

It was like playing a game where you max out all your talents, skills, and affinities in advance but still lack the levels to match.

"How is this possible? You're just a minor cultivator at the Divine Comprehension stage. This is an Emperor-tier technique, not some common trash you'd find on the roadside!"

Jiang Hong was almost amused by the absurdity.

"Esteemed Ancestor, I swear I'm not lying!"

With that, Jiang Che directly demonstrated his comprehension of the technique's true essence right in front of Jiang Hong's projection.

Jiang Hong: "???"

The old man stiffened.

"This... this..."

The One Palm Scripture was an Emperor-level technique he had spent his entire life studying. Its most crucial aspect was the invincible intent behind each strike—a single palm to annihilate all foes. This wasn't something you could fake.

How had this kid grasped it in just a month?

Worse yet, he hadn't even taught him properly... Was he making himself look redundant?

Jiang Che, however, remained unfazed. When in doubt, just turn to the system!

The One Palm Scripture was merely an Emperor-tier technique. A few hundred thousand points in the system were enough to max out its proficiency.

In the system, Emperor-tier techniques generally cost millions of points, but purchasing them came with instant mastery.

"Uh... Ancestor Jiang Hong, is the One Palm Scripture really that hard? I found it pretty simple."

Jiang Che's casual remark reached heights of effortless arrogance that pretenders could only dream of.

Jiang Hong: "......"

Was this the power of a Chaos Immortal Body + Immortal Mark + Spatial Dao Laws + the Destiny Sovereign of the Ancestral Land?

A once-in-an-era genius stacked with every possible buff, casually mastering in a month what took others millennia of grueling cultivation.

He couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy—though, since Jiang Che was his disciple, Jiang Hong quickly consoled himself.

"By the way, Jiang Che, have you found the Chaos Fruit I left for you in the Canglong Ring?" Jiang Hong asked.

"Treasure that Chaos Fruit. You'd be hard-pressed to find another like it across the Nine Heavens! Once you reach the Nirvana stage, consuming it will allow you to condense a Chaos Heart."

Jiang Hong grew more animated as he spoke. "With your once-in-a-hundred-millennia Chaos Immortal Body, you're destined to comprehend the Chaos Laws. If you then forge a Chaos Heart... fully merging with chaos itself, you might even grasp the Chaos Origin in the future... breaking through the shackles of legend. When the Immortal Realm finally coalesces, you'll still stand at the pinnacle."

As a Great Emperor, Jiang Hong was usually beyond such emotional displays, but even he couldn't contain his excitement.

This investment was beyond worthwhile. Though the kid was cunning, greedy, and a bit of a skirt-chaser, at least he wasn't the ungrateful type.

"Ancestor Jiang Hong, what exactly do you mean by the 'Immortal Realm'?"

Jiang Hong paused, then chuckled. Seeing no reason to hold back, he explained.

"No harm in telling you. You know of the Nine Heavens' origin, right? After the ancient Celestial Court fell, the Nine Heavens gradually emerged. The Heavenly Dao's power was split into ten parts, with the mortal realm—the Ancestral Land—claiming one."

"The current resurgence of spiritual energy is actually being driven by the powerhouses of the Nine Heavens. Once the spiritual energy fully revives... the Nine Heavens and the mortal realm will merge completely. With the combined efforts of countless immortals, a true Immortal Realm may be born—one where the legendary immortality can be attained!"

"So the true golden age is coming. I won't lie... gifting you treasures like the Canglong Ring is absolutely me buying your loyalty!"

Jiang Hong was blunt and unapologetic.

For a moment, Jiang Che actually felt a little guilty. The old man was being so transparent, while he'd been using a fake name all along. That didn't sit right.

"Uh... actually, Ancestor Jiang Hong, my real name isn't Jiang Che. It's Jiang Che."

Jiang Hong blinked. "Yes, I know you're Jiang Che."

"Ancestor, my surname is Jiang—as in 'the great river flows east'..." Jiang Che's gaze drifted, betraying his guilt.

Jiang Hong: "......"

[Ding! Host has successfully scammed Great Emperor Jiang Hong. Reward: 150 million Scam Points.]

Instantly, Jiang Che's guilt vanished. Ah, nothing like the generosity of his ancestors—rewards in the hundreds of millions!

A Great Emperor ancestor only needed to lift a finger, and it outweighed years of grinding from the common folk.

"Hah! Jiang Che, Jiang Che! What a Jiang Che you are, fooling even me? Wait... what about the Heavenly Dao oath you swore earlier...?"

Jiang Hong immediately began calculating, only to grow even more speechless.

Logically, Jiang Che's little lie shouldn't have held up under his scrutiny. He was a Great Emperor—a mere thought could unveil the truth.

But he'd never bothered to verify Jiang Che's background. After all, he prided himself on his sharp judgment. Once he trusted someone, he didn't second-guess.

"Never mind. If you could even fool the Heavenly Dao, this old man can take some comfort in that."

The Heavenly Dao saw all. Though he didn't know how Jiang Che had pulled it off, the kid probably had some supreme treasure masking his true identity.

"Ancestor Jiang Hong, even if I'm not a Jiang by blood, I swear I'll stand firmly with the Jiang family in the future!"

Jiang Che immediately pledged his loyalty. After all, he still needed the Jiang family's backing.

And honestly, Jiang Hong had treated him exceptionally well—practically emptying his coffers for him. The only thing he hadn't handed over was his underwear.

Jiang Hong laughed. "You rascal... you like beautiful women, don't you? Once you ascend to the Nine Heavens, just snatch up any maiden you fancy. This ancestor will back you!"

Such a young man, so easily handled.

"Ancestor, you mean it?" Jiang Che's eyes lit up. Having a Great Emperor as backup? Now that was the life.

"The word of a Great Emperor is law. No falsehoods." Jiang Hong stroked his beard.

Jiang Che grinned wider. What kind of celestial beauties had Young Master Jiang set his sights on?

The Mermaid Queen. The Destiny Maiden from the Heaven Pavilion...

I just hope this old man Jiang Hong keeps his word when the time comes.