Chapter Two: The Elixir of Immortality—Astonishment! An Engagement Promised

Boom!

Su Ningshuang instinctively raised a spiritual shield, but in an instant, that overwhelming aura shattered it completely. She took several steps back, her face pale to the extreme, and looked toward Jiang Cheng—the handsome young man standing with his hands behind his back. His skin was etched with intricate golden runes, resembling a true god descended to the mortal world: majestic, immortal, radiating supreme authority, and burning with the utmost Yang and indomitable power.

Her expression was filled with shock.

Runic Realm!

Hadn’t Jiang Cheng’s cultivation fallen before?

More importantly, he had only been at the late Enlightenment stage previously, yet now he had broken through two realms and condensed divine runes!

How was this possible?

She had relied on countless treasures at the Linglong Holy Land just to barely break through to the Purple Mansion. At her age, she was already a genius within hundreds of miles.

Seeing this, Jiang’s parents were both astonished and delighted. Their son’s cultivation had not only recovered but had grown far stronger—so much so that even they could not fathom it. They suddenly realized that their son had become much more mysterious during the time they had not seen him.

“If there’s a next time, don’t blame me for ignoring years of affection!” Jiang Cheng’s voice was cold, his gaze filled with warning.

Then, he withdrew his imposing aura, returning to his original elegant and affable demeanor. With a cheerful smile, he looked at Su Ruoxi. “Ahem, Miss Su, have you considered what I said just now?”

He dared to reprimand Su Ningshuang so openly in front of Su Ruoxi, the Holy Maiden of the Holy Land, precisely because he knew there was a rift between Su Ruoxi and the Su family. Not only that, Su Ruoxi was not actually related by blood to the Su family; she was merely their adopted daughter.

Back when her talents remained undiscovered and Su Ruoxi’s past life memories were dormant, the Su family had even resorted to poisoning her with a sedative to force her into an arranged marriage. The mastermind behind this was none other than Su Ningshuang’s father.

Su Ruoxi’s willingness to support Su Ningshuang despite past grievances was meant to settle these lingering karmic debts.

According to her past life memories, after Su Ningshuang joined the Linglong Holy Land, Su Ruoxi severed ties with the Su family. It could only be said that the Su family brought this upon themselves.

Indeed, just as Jiang Cheng had anticipated, Su Ruoxi did not care deeply for Su Ningshuang. From beginning to end, she remained remarkably calm, her eyes fixed intently on Jiang Cheng as if trying to discern something within them. Yet the dark golden pupils held no ripples, as serene and deep as an abyss, showing only occasional appreciation without any disrespect. This, in turn, raised Su Ruoxi’s esteem for him.

“Heh,” she smiled lightly. “Little one, do you even know how much older I am than you?”

An ancient aura of time’s quiet depth radiated from Su Ruoxi. With millennia of experience in handling others’ affections, she was long accustomed to such matters.

Jiang Cheng’s lips curled into a mysterious smile as he uttered a single word: “Ten thousand!”

The crowd was baffled, but Su Ruoxi’s heart thundered and her expression changed drastically. Her usually indifferent gaze sharpened, and a bone-chilling coldness radiated from her being. She had lived for ten thousand years; only a few knew this truth, and now a mere youngster had spoken it aloud, instantly putting her on high alert.

“Miss Su, why don’t you take a look at my betrothal gifts before deciding?” Jiang Cheng calmly opened the box in his hand.

In an instant, a surging flood of sacred essence burst forth, filling the entire room.

Inside the box lay three golden pills and a milky white lotus flower. Surrounding them were the laws of the Dao, vibrant with boundless vitality and endless immortal power that struck directly at the soul of everyone present.

Jiang Cheng was somewhat helpless. The novice gift pack from the system contained treasures of such high quality, but his own storage ring was of such poor quality that he could not store them, so he had to display them openly.

Worried about attracting covetous eyes? He was, but with the great emperor’s pressure granted by the system, he had enough power to intimidate all of Eastern Continent.

Jiang Cheng stood with his hands behind his back, saying nothing. As the Empress, Su Ruoxi surely understood the value of these treasures and would weigh the pros and cons carefully.

Not only Su Ruoxi, but Jiang’s parents and Su Ningshuang were utterly shocked. Lingxiao City was just a border town on the Eastern Continent; they had never seen treasures with such dense spiritual energy.

The essence of the laws in the air alone made them feel their bodies undergoing a profound, mysterious transformation.

Such treasures were unlikely to be easily found even within the nine great holy lands.

All eyes converged on Jiang Cheng once more, feeling a mixture of unfamiliarity and mystery, especially Su Ningshuang, whose emotions were in utter turmoil.

She had trained in the Linglong Holy Land and seen many treasures, yet none even approached a tenth or a hundredth of these in worth.

Most crucially, she was but an ordinary core disciple. Though favored by the Holy Son, he had many strong concubines, and whether she would receive his affection was uncertain.

Yet Jiang Chen, a mere young master from an ordinary family and a man she had abandoned, now bestowed such astonishing treasures.

Regarding the broken engagement, she suddenly felt a twinge of regret. Had she been too impulsive? If she had not broken off the engagement, wouldn’t all these treasures have belonged to her?

Her heart was thrown into chaotic confusion.

Of course, the most surprised was Su Ruoxi. Others merely saw these items as extraordinary but unfamiliar; as the Empress of the Immortal Empire, she immediately recognized them, especially the Sacred Spirit Creation Fruit.

It contained the law of life and retained a trace of primordial essence, capable of resurrecting the dead and curing the most terrifying Dao curses in the world.

It was precisely what she lacked.

Even in her past life, this was an exceedingly rare treasure.

At first, she had thought that even if she returned to the empire to exact revenge, she would be cursed for life.

Unexpectedly, it had appeared in this remote minor family.

Her heart was shaken and difficult to calm.

She also knew Jiang Cheng’s background—clearly just a young master from an unremarkable family.

So why could he produce an elixir of immortality? Moreover, the masculine vigor he exuded just now seemed to carry some special power.

“Miss Su, what do you think?” Jiang Cheng closed the box, and the divine light instantly faded.

Su Ruoxi quickly composed herself, fixing her gaze on him. “An innocent man is not guilty, yet to possess treasure invites blame. Aren’t you afraid I might kill you and seize these gifts?”

“I dare display them so openly because I have my backing,” Jiang Cheng replied lightly.

Then he added, “Of course, besides these, I have one more betrothal gift I believe you will not refuse.”

“Oh?” Su Ruoxi’s curiosity was piqued. “What is it?”

Jiang Cheng stepped forward, leaning close to her ear.

Suddenly, a strong masculine aura swept over her.

Having never been touched by the opposite sex, her Dao heart, dormant for ten thousand years, trembled violently.

Her exquisitely beautiful, immortal-like cheeks immediately flushed with a rosy glow, and in her eyes flickered a trace of embarrassment.

Just as she was about to express anger, Jiang Cheng’s words left her completely stunned.

“Miss Su, I can help you awaken your Taiyin True Phoenix Body.”

Having said this, he returned to his original place.

The others were curious about what Jiang Cheng had whispered to Su Ruoxi, but Su Ningshuang had a bad feeling and hurriedly shouted, “Auntie, don’t listen to his deceit—he’s a fraud!”

Su Ruoxi ignored her completely, raising her head with a serious expression. “Is this true?”

“Of course!” Jiang Cheng nodded confidently and calmly.

“Very well!”

“I accept!”

Without hesitation, Su Ruoxi agreed to Jiang Cheng’s proposal.