Chapter 137: Forceful and Overbearing (Third Update)

"I am helpless in this, too!" Jiang Fan shrugged. "I am now at the Earth Immortal realm. What kind of woman could possibly be a match for me? Who could bear my offspring?"

"What? An Earth Immortal?" Jiang Zhengan’s eyes widened instantly in disbelief. Nangong Yue and Jiang Shan were equally stunned.

"Yes!" Jiang Fan nodded, unleashing an aura that blanketed the hall. Jiang Zhengan and Jiang Shan felt their bodies sink, nearly unable to move. They gasped, their hearts filled with shock. How much time had passed, and yet he was already an Earth Immortal? Jiang Shan and Jiang Zhengan had both stepped into the Primordial Spirit realm, but they lacked the confidence to attain the status of Earth Immortal, even with another hundred years of cultivation.

"Good, good, good!" Nangong Yue, however, was overjoyed. "An Earth Immortal! This is a figure standing at the pinnacle of the world. From this day forward, our Jiang family will truly soar. Even your maternal grandfather's family won't be able to catch up. But about the marriage...!" She, too, found it a headache.

Xiao Qing and Xiao Qian, the two maids serving on the side, had sparkling eyes, happy for their young master.

"You two should consider giving me a few more younger brothers," Jiang Fan suggested.

Jiang Zhengan and Nangong Yue exchanged glances and couldn't help but smile bitterly, yet they stopped pressuring their son. Finding a match of equal status was impossible, and an ordinary woman simply wouldn't do. Their son was just too powerful.

"Fine, we'll have another one, no, several!" The old couple finally reached a decision. In truth, they had been wavering all along but hadn't made up their minds. Now, it was settled. However, they glanced intentionally or otherwise at Xiao Qing and Xiao Qian; the two young girls were becoming more radiant by the day, leaving them deep in thought.

"Third brother, you will marry before the year is out, that’s decided!" Jiang Fan made the final call. "I will give you a generous gift, at least a Dharma treasure. Furthermore, in the future, I will do my best to help you attain the Earth Immortal realm!"

"Can I refuse?" Jiang Shan gave a wry smile.

"If you refuse, I'll seal your cultivation and force the wedding!" Jiang Fan said with a grin. "There is still plenty of time. You can go and choose a partner. Whoever you fancy, even if it's a princess of the current dynasty, I will make it happen for you!"

"Alright then!" Jiang Shan resigned himself to his fate. Who could fight against such an overbearing younger cousin? In truth, he didn't mind carrying on the family line; it was a matter of great importance to the clan. "As for the partner, I won't force it. I'll take this time to travel and hope to find a woman I like. If all else fails, I'll just find someone of matching status."

"Not just one, but many, many of them!" Jiang Fan added.

"You brat, you've really got me cornered!"

"Haha, this is a blessing for you!"

"Go to hell!"

They ate until midnight. "I plan to head out," Jiang Fan said as they stepped into the courtyard.

"Going out again?" Jiang Zhengan felt a bit helpless. Ever since his son achieved success in his cultivation, he had been in seclusion almost every day, and it was rare for his parents to see him.

"Yes!" Jiang Fan replied. "I should be back soon!"

"Then take Xiao Qing and Xiao Qian with you!" Nangong Yue knew she couldn't stop him, so she suggested, "It will be good to have someone to look after you on the road."

"Young master...!" Xiao Qing and Xiao Qian looked at him with longing eyes.

Jiang Fan was moved and nodded. "Very well!"

"The young master is so kind!" The two girls were so excited they nearly jumped. Without further delay, Jiang Fan waved his sleeve, whisking the two girls away as they transformed into a streak of light.

***

"Is this what an Earth Immortal is?" Jiang Shan said with yearning.

"An Earth Immortal..." Jiang Zhengan sighed softly. As he watched Jiang Shan leave, he wrapped his arm around his wife. "Jiang Fan’s path is destined to be walked alone. It is probably difficult for him to leave behind heirs. Since he won't have sons, we shall give him younger brothers!"

"You old lecher!" The two mumbled as they returned to their room.

High above, Jiang Fan stood still. The two girls he had brought were nowhere to be seen. He sent a strand of consciousness into the Jade Spring Mansion, where the two girls were standing in bewilderment.

"This is my immortal destiny. From now on, you will cultivate here. You are not allowed to leave until you reach the Primordial Spirit realm!" Jiang Fan condensed an avatar and pointed to the Enlightenment Platform. "This will allow you to quickly grasp your cultivation levels. Also, the door to the True Illusion Realm—once inside, it is a place of tempering. There are spirit springs for your cultivation and all sorts of techniques and divine abilities for you to study at will!"

After a brief introduction, Jiang Fan vanished. "Remember, no leaving until you reach the Primordial Spirit realm!"

"Young master...!" the two girls cried out, but there was no response. They looked at each other and pouted, then began to inspect the empty hall. There was no exit, only a platform in the center and a door on the left wall labeled "True Illusion Realm." Nothing else existed. Clearly, the Scripture Pavilion and the True Inheritance Path had been hidden by Jiang Fan.

Outside, Jiang Fan turned into a streak of light, vanishing in an instant, covering a hundred miles in the blink of an eye. As he traveled, he took out the silver token and infused it with his consciousness, feeling several subtle fluctuations of divine sense within, which could be used for communication.

"Where are you?"

"Wudu Mountain. Are you coming?"

"I'll be there soon!"

"Good!"

Jiang Fan put away the token and continued his journey. The one he had just contacted was Ji Changkong. The Emperor had ordered the eradication of the Divine Hidden Sect. Even as a first-rate sect, its demise was inevitable. A sect with thousands of years of heritage surely possessed many treasures; since he knew about it, how could he miss out? Moreover, he was now an Earth Immortal, fearing nothing in heaven or on earth. Even with the Emperor standing before him, he dared to face him head-on.

"The Emperor is truly unfathomable," Jiang Fan mused. "First, he received guidance from Nangong Rou’s past life, and then he obtained an immortal opportunity. I am likely not his match as of yet. But once I reach the perfection of the Earth Immortal realm and complete the fourth layer of the Profound Dao Technique, I should be able to suppress him." He possessed at least that much confidence.

Wudu Mountain—"No Crossing Mountain," where no living thing crosses and the mortal dust does not enter. Jiang Fan’s speed was immense; tens of thousands of miles were covered quickly.

High above in the distance sat a hundred-meter-long treasure ship, hovering motionless, emitting layers of golden light that turned the dark night into gold. On the deck, armored soldiers stood in formation, looking imposing. Sitting at the prow were several people, including Ji Changkong.

"Over here!" Ji Changkong sensed Jiang Fan’s aura, stood up, and waved.

*Whoosh!*

Jiang Fan moved through the air and landed on the ship. The armored guards, who had looked alert, shifted their gazes. Jiang Fan smiled. "Am I late?"

"Not at all!" Ji Changkong laughed. "Come, come, let me introduce you. These are all from our Inspection Division! This is Great Elder Sikong Ming, then Qin Ruhai, Yang Tao, Chen Jian, and Ma Guangyuan. Including myself, there are six great elders. Everyone, this is the Jiang Fan I mentioned!"

They exchanged greetings—neither overly passionate nor lacking in courtesy.

"Jiang Fan, this is Senior Ding Haichuan, an elder of our Inspection Division," Ji Changkong introduced the old man sitting in the center with solemnity. The old man had gray hair and his eyes closed. Even during the introduction, he did not open them.

Ji Changkong’s expression soured immediately. Jiang Fan’s smiling face also darkened; he glanced at the man once and then looked away. *If you don't show me respect, I'll treat you like air. Do you really think that being an Earth Immortal elder allows you to ignore others?* Jiang Fan flicked his sleeve and stood with his hands behind his back.

"How rude! You don't even pay respects when seeing an elder?" The young girl standing behind Ding Haichuan saw Jiang Fan’s attitude and snorted coldly. "Did your parents never teach you manners?"

"What are you, to lecture me?" Jiang Fan turned his head, his divine eyes flashing. With a single glance, he sent the girl flying through the air, causing her to spit blood as she landed on the deck. "Remember, you can eat anything, but you can't say just anything—people die for that!"

"You!" The girl was furious.

The seated Ding Haichuan waved his hand, finally opening his eyes. His indifferent expression deepened slightly. "Little child, such a temper. Since no one taught you not to act recklessly in front of a True Human, I shall teach you a lesson!" He raised his arm and pointed a finger.

"Senior Ding, don't!" Ji Changkong was shocked. He knew Ding Haichuan was arrogant and dismissive of others, but he never expected him to be so disrespectful, not even offering a polite word. He also disliked the girl's arrogance, but he never imagined Jiang Fan would strike her so heavily, nor that Ding Haichuan would retaliate. They were here on a punitive expedition; if they fell into internal strife before even reaching their target, it would be a disaster. As for Qin Ruhai and the others, they watched with cold eyes.

"Brother Ji, it's fine!" Jiang Fan pulled him aside. "A 'True Human'? Teaching me a lesson? He really thinks he’s something special!" Jiang Fan also raised his arm and pointed a finger.

The two fingers were a meter apart, but the forces they unleashed collided.

*Bang!*

The energy exploded. The ship shook, the golden light flickered violently, nearly plummeting from the sky. Ji Changkong and the others were sent staggering back. As for Ding Haichuan, his expression changed wildly. As he retreated, layers of precious light burst from his body, barely allowing him to block Jiang Fan’s finger.

"The Finger of Non-Existence—truly the heritage of the Non-Existence Sword Sect!" Ding Haichuan’s eyes narrowed into slits. "And I never expected you to have attained the Earth Immortal realm. Since you are an Earth Immortal, you are a peer. My apologies for the offense!"

Jiang Fan nodded. He finally understood: in the eyes of this Ding Haichuan, those below the Earth Immortal realm weren't worthy of his notice; only upon reaching that level were they considered peers.

"Brother... Brother Jiang, you've attained the Earth Immortal realm?" Ji Changkong exclaimed. Qin Ruhai and the others looked at each other in shock. They had all researched Jiang Fan, especially after the massive incident in the Hundred Rivers Prefecture. Who could have imagined that someone who was once a small fry had reached the Earth Immortal realm? Even Ding Haichuan had suffered a minor setback just now.

"I broke through not long ago," Jiang Fan said. "With just this one ship, can we take down the Divine Hidden Sect?"

"Don't underestimate this ship; it is a high-grade treasure!" Ji Changkong exhaled, suppressing the shock in his heart as he explained, "The sect fears nothing more than a golden treasure ship arriving at their gates. Just watch and see."