Chapter Eleven: The Arrival of the Sanctuary Envoy, Storms Rise Anew
Page 1/3
Storm clouds suddenly gathered over Lingxiao City. The aftermath of the Su family’s defeat had yet to settle when news of the imminent arrival of the Sanctuary Envoy spread like a hurricane, stirring up a new wave of turmoil. The entire city buzzed with speculation, and various factions grew restless.
“I heard this time the Sanctuary has sent an elder from the Mysterious Silence Realm, and even the Ninth Sacred Son himself is coming!”
“The Mysterious Silence Realm? That’s a force capable of subduing all of Lingxiao City. The Jiang family is in serious trouble this time!”
“They say the so-called Inheritance Pagoda can instantly boost cultivation and contains countless high-grade elixirs. Even the Sanctuary is tempted by it!”
“How much longer can the Jiang family stay arrogant? This time, they’ve hit a brick wall!”
“Arrogant? The Jiang family is willing to use their own resources to help the poor — that’s not arrogance. It’s the Su family that brought disgrace upon themselves!”
Voices rose and fell, exaggerations multiplying. Even some scattered cultivators and small factions who had already submitted to the Jiang family began watching from the sidelines, secretly reaching out to the Su family, hoping to hitch a ride on the Sanctuary’s power.
Inside the Jiang family’s council chamber, elders sat in a circle, facing lists of family assets to protect and the layout diagrams of the Xuanyellow Indestructible Array. Jiang Cheng presided in the main seat, his expression stern, eyes sharp as blades.
The presence of the Xuanyellow Indestructible Array weighed heavily on everyone’s minds. This formation was not only the foundation of the Jiang family’s current strength but also one of their greatest sources of confidence, capable of fully resisting attacks from Mysterious Silence Realm experts.
One elder cautiously spoke, “Clan Leader, the Sanctuary Envoy comes with overwhelming force. We can hardly withstand the pressure of the Mysterious Silence Realm. Perhaps we should recall all clan members, activate the array, and temporarily avoid the storm?”
Jiang Cheng slowly lifted his gaze, eyes cold as ice. “Temporarily avoid the storm?”
Though calm, his voice carried a crushing weight, like a sharp blade piercing their hearts.
“The Jiang family seeks to rise, not to cower! If we lack even the courage to face the storm head-on, how can we speak of a future?”
The elders gasped inwardly, a flicker of awe stirring in their hearts. After all, this was the Sanctuary and the Mysterious Silence Realm!
Even the Jiang elders could not conceal their unease.
One whispered hesitantly, “Clan Leader, the Sanctuary is one of the top nine powers in Dongzhou. They come with ill intent… Besides, though Sacred Maiden Su Ruoxi has pledged allegiance to the Jiang family, will she really aid us against her own sect? Her Nirvana Realm cultivation—how can it stand against the elders of the Mysterious Silence Realm?”
Jiang Cheng let out a cold laugh, his aura surging. Rising like an immovable mountain, he was imposing beyond measure.
“The Jiang family has endured the oppression of the Su family and the mockery of the world. Now that we have finally stood tall, I will not tolerate anyone trampling on our honor!”
His voice rumbled like thunder, shaking every soul present.
“Remember this—Jiang family honor is defended by our own fists alone! The Su family is but the first stepping stone beneath our feet, and the Sanctuary, only the second! Whoever dares come must pay the price!”
Jiang Cheng smiled coldly, scanning the room before issuing orders: “Take three Broken God Pills and send them to the Dong family of alchemy, the Cheng family of forging, and the Yao family of formations. Tell them these pills are a choice—submit to the Jiang family or perish.”
“Send someone to the Su family with this message: their chances are gone. There will be no next time.”
At these commands, the council fell silent.
Though shaken, none dared to object.
Jiang Cheng’s decisiveness and resolve deeply intimidated them. Some could not understand it but were powerless to resist; others felt a path to unstoppable strength unfolding before their eyes.
Jiang Cheng stood with hands behind his back, eyes icy cold, murmuring, “The sky over Lingxiao City now belongs to the Jiang family. The Sanctuary? Nothing but another stepping stone.”
Page 2/3
As dusk fell, ominous clouds blanketed Lingxiao City. A flying vessel inscribed with golden runes tore through the sky, heading straight for the Su family estate, radiating overwhelming pressure.
“Boom—!”
The Sacred Vessel hovered above the Su family gates. Over a dozen disciples clad in golden armor stood suspended in the air. Leading them was a white-haired elder of the Mysterious Silence Realm, with the Ninth Sacred Son towering above all, gazing disdainfully at the Su family below.
“Lingxiao City welcomes the Envoy of the Linglong Sanctuary. Hail the Sacred Son and the venerable elders. We invite Your Highness to lodge at the Su family.”
“I am Su Ningshuang, pay respects to Your Highness, and to the Lord,” she said with a flattering smile, her figure graceful as she bowed deeply, eyes full of admiration and longing. Her voice was soft, each word dripping with servility: “The Su family has prepared a grand feast to welcome Your Highness. Please honor us with your favor.”
The Ninth Sacred Son cast her a faint glance, lips curling into a half-smile. He nodded as if replying to mere formality, then turned to the accompanying elders: “Prepare the feast.”
That night, the Su family spared no effort to attend to the Sacred Son and his retinue.
The family patriarch, injured and bowed, offered apologies and spoke of the rumored Jiang family Inheritance Pagoda, causing the Ninth Sacred Son to raise an intrigued brow. The Su family watched his expression, hope stirring faintly in their hearts.
Meanwhile, in her chamber, Su Ningshuang clenched a handkerchief tightly, her heart tangled with unease. Her parents’ words echoed in her mind:
“Ningshuang, the Sacred Son is the most honored being in Dongzhou. If you please him, the Su family can rise again.”
“Your innocence is your greatest asset. The Sacred Son will surely favor you. Do not hesitate—this is the Su family’s sky, your sky.”
“You must seize this chance, or the Su family’s future is lost.”
Su Ningshuang took a deep breath, eyes clouded with struggle and pain. Memories of Jiang Cheng, her childhood companion, surfaced unbidden.
She bit her lip as silent tears slid down. “Jiang Cheng… if you hadn’t been crippled, I wouldn’t be in this state.”
Yet despite her turmoil, she adorned herself elegantly and lay on her bed, anxious, awaiting the Sacred Son’s arrival.
Time passed slowly; the night deepened but no movement came.
At dawn, Su’s mother watched her daughter emerge alone, puzzled. “Ningshuang, the Sacred Son last night…”
Su Ningshuang lowered her head, silent, lips pressed tight, her eyes revealing loss and shame.
Her mind was filled with the Sacred Son’s coldness and disregard. Though he had taken several concubines, he showed no interest in her.
“Could it be… I can’t compete with those concubines? Or does the Sacred Son simply not desire me?”
Thoughts of Jiang Cheng surfaced again—the man who had once been so devoted to her, trembling with excitement at her touch. She suddenly felt that if it were Jiang Cheng, he would have eagerly taken her into his arms by now.
“But the Sacred Son is so noble; how could he be compared to that cripple?”
Su Ningshuang comforted herself, “The Sacred Son ignoring me must be a mark of his noble disposition. He despises petty schemes. His refusal is a sign of respect! Surely he waits for the formal concubine ceremony…”
Meanwhile, aboard the Sacred Vessel, the accompanying elder and the Sacred Son concluded their secret discussion.
“Sire, that Su family girl is plain and weak in aptitude. Even my own concubine is a hundred times better. Forcibly using her as a bargaining chip to exchange the Inheritance from the Jiang family—”
“Hm, this plan is feasible. Su Ruoxi risked everything for the Pagoda. One concubine can hardly compare to the Sanctuary’s First Sacred Maiden,” the Sacred Son replied with a cold sneer, his tone indifferent. “However, Jiang Cheng may not be so easily swayed.”
“No matter. Your Highness, you exchanged the love of Jiang Cheng, your own concubine, for the inheritance. No one can argue with you now. You only need this ‘righteousness’.”
“As for Jiang Cheng and Su Ruoxi’s willingness—do their wishes matter with you and me here?”
“If necessary, I will personally suppress the Sacred Maiden. Bind Su Ningshuang and send her to that brat’s chamber; if needed, force them to share a bed. This way, we openly seize the inheritance and return immediately.”
The elder’s voice dropped, eyes cold as steel. “It’s settled: a useless concubine traded for a treasure comparable to the Sanctuary’s legacy—that’s a bargain!”
The Sacred Son nodded, a frosty smile curling his lips. “A mere concubine is but a disposable pawn in my hand. Let it be so!”
They continued plotting details before the Sacred Son summoned his maid to call Su Ningshuang.
Unaware, Su Ningshuang remained lost in her fantasies, interpreting the Sacred Son’s coldness as nobility and distinction. Little did she know, in his eyes, she was nothing but a discardable pawn.
Meanwhile, the Jiang elders readied themselves as though facing a great enemy. At last, the Sanctuary’s Sacred Son arrived, but the confrontation was not as tense as they had imagined.
The Sacred Vessel stopped outside the Jiang family mansion. The Ninth Sacred Son disembarked slowly, his splendid robes making him seem like a god descended. Behind him, elders and guards stood in formation, exuding overwhelming presence.
Outside the Jiang council hall, Jiang Cheng stood with hands behind his back, eyes coldly fixed on the visitors. Beside him, Su Ruoxi wore a simple yet elegant gown, radiating incomparable cold beauty and composure.
The Sacred Son’s gaze swept over Jiang Cheng with disdain before settling on Su Ruoxi, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. “Su Ruoxi, the proud Sacred Maiden, has truly gone to great lengths for a mere trifle.”
Su Ruoxi’s eyes were calm as she heard the mockery; lips curved slightly in a disdainful smile, frosty and aloof. “What you think I’m after is irrelevant.”
She stepped forward to stand beside Jiang Cheng, her eyes filled with resolve and tenderness. “To outsiders, I may have forsaken the honor of the Sanctuary Sacred Maiden, even broken the so-called rules.”
She turned to the Sacred Son, voice cool and sharp. “What you call treasure is mere dust to me. Jiang Cheng is my choice. Why I choose him is unimportant, for to choose is to share triumph and defeat, life and death.”
Her words were gentle yet resolute, striking a chord with all present.
The Sacred Son’s smile stiffened, coldness flashing in his eyes. He said slowly, “Su Ruoxi, do you understand what this means? You’ve betrayed the Sanctuary’s rules, forfeited your chance at the Sacred Lord’s succession, and may even be cast out by the Sanctuary itself.”
Su Ruoxi laughed lightly, eyes sharp as lightning, voice clear and firm. “I have never cared. I care not for the Sanctuary’s judgment, nor your opinions. Su Ruoxi lives this life for herself.”
Jiang Cheng’s eyes flickered; he reached out to grasp Su Ruoxi’s hand, glaring coldly at the Sacred Son. His voice was low and powerful, “My wife is no one’s concern but mine.”
At that moment, Su Ruoxi’s composure and resolve, combined with Jiang Cheng’s fierce protection, brought silent tears to someone confined in a box.
The Sacred Son’s expression darkened, freezing cold intent spreading in his gaze. Yet after exchanging a glance with the elder of the Enforcement Hall, his face returned to a smiling mask.
“Clan Leader Jiang, no need for anger. Matters concerning the Sacred Maiden are beyond what a single Sacred Son can handle.”
“I have come bearing gifts for the Jiang family and for Clan Leader Jiang Cheng. Bring my generous offering up to his chambers.”
Two maidservants carried a box that blocked spiritual energy, heading toward the Jiang mansion.