Chapter Six: The Wedding Night, As the Storm Gathers

The Jiang family was, after all, a veteran second-tier clan in Lingxiao City. With the entire family mobilized and sparing no effort, the banquet proceeded smoothly until nightfall. Representatives from all factions in Lingxiao City, including the City Lord’s Mansion, had arrived—ostensibly to offer congratulations, but in reality, to probe the family’s true strength and navigate the shifting landscape of power. The Jiang family patriarch and the elders, having taken Jiang Cheng’s declaration of becoming the new head of the family as no mere joke, were already locked in urgent deliberations.

Though the guests had yet to fully disperse, the newlyweds had already thanked them and retreated to their bridal chamber. The affairs of the family could be left to his father, his grandfather, and the elders; that was a matter for tomorrow. After all, a moment of a wedding night is worth a thousand pieces of gold.

The night was like water, and the candlelight in the room flickered gently, casting the silhouettes of two figures against the red silk canopy. Su Ruoxi sat cross-legged on the bed, her red wedding gown fanning out like flames, making her skin appear even more translucent and fair. She kept her eyes closed, her features slightly knit, and a thin sheen of sweat beaded on her forehead.

An indescribable, scorching heat surged within her. It felt as though a ball of fire was constantly stirring her spirit, and the source of this flame was none other than the man before her—Jiang Cheng. Su Ruoxi’s breathing grew shallow. Even with a Dao heart tempered over ten thousand years, she found it difficult to maintain her composure.

"So hot..." she whispered to herself. Her eyelashes trembled, and she bit her lower lip, trying to suppress the growing desire. She understood that Jiang Cheng’s physique was overly domineering, as searing as the sun, emitting an attraction that made her instinctively yearn to be close to him. It felt as if every instinct in her body was telling her that if his power were to enter her, breaking through the barriers, it would shatter the constraints and awaken her own Taiyin Phoenix power.

Yet, this desire was laced with unspeakable shame and reluctance. "I am Su Ruoxi, a reincarnated Empress with a ten-thousand-year Dao heart; how can I be swayed by such emotions?" She warned herself repeatedly, yet the inexplicable attraction grew stronger, as if countless threads were pulling at her, causing the Fire Phoenix essence within her to stir restlessly.

She opened her eyes slightly to look at Jiang Cheng. This man... He sat with his eyes closed, his expression solemn. Golden spiritual energy surged around him like a tide, and a warm yet domineering power flowed continuously into her body, nourishing her chaotic meridians. Suddenly, Su Ruoxi sensed that the heat did not exist within her alone; there was a trace of restraint—and longing—hidden in Jiang Cheng’s aura as well.

"He... wants this too?" The thought struck her like thunder, causing her mind to tremble and a crimson flush to spread to the roots of her ears. Instinctively, she wanted to pull away, but her body felt as if it were held by an invisible force, unable to move. She realized that Jiang Cheng’s physique was not merely healing her; it was testing her limits. She could even sense his breathing becoming heavier, yet he never once overstepped.

"He is holding back..." A tremor passed through Su Ruoxi’s eyes, and a complex emotion welled up within her—a mixture of unprecedented agitation and bashfulness.

"Don't be afraid. I will take it slowly," Jiang Cheng’s voice was low and gentle, like a clear spring flowing through her restless heart. Su Ruoxi stared at him, stunned. This man was clearly powerful beyond imagination, possessing a strength within him capable of crushing anything, yet before her, he chose tenderness and restraint.

Jiang Cheng slowly extended his hand, his fingers lightly touching her shoulder. A wisp of gentle spiritual energy flowed like ink. This energy was no longer as domineering as before; instead, it was slow and soft, like spring rain moistening the earth, permeating every meridian in her body and smoothing out the restless Fire Phoenix flames. Su Ruoxi’s body gradually relaxed, and the uncontrollable desire was slowly dissolved by this gentle force. However, the faint agitation and longing did not vanish; they were merely buried deep within her heart, like embers beneath the ashes.

"Who on earth is he... to be able to shake my Dao heart so easily?"

***

Su Ruoxi closed her eyes, forcing herself to stop thinking, but the strange feeling in her heart lingered. Seeing her expression settle, Jiang Cheng’s lips curled into a faint smile. "Take the medicinal pill tomorrow. I will clear your meridians daily; in time, you will awaken naturally."

Su Ruoxi did not speak. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes again, a hint of cold detachment returning to her gaze. "Jiang Cheng, who... exactly are you?" Her voice remained cold, yet it carried a tremor she could not conceal.

Jiang Cheng smiled calmly, his gaze steady. "I am your husband."

This simple sentence caused Su Ruoxi’s face to flush once more. She turned her head away, shy and cold. "I have accepted your betrothal gifts, and I am already your wife. Why did you not..." She left the words unfinished, the red glow in the room unable to mask her crimson cheeks. That night, the atmosphere between them had quietly shifted.

"Your Taiyin True Phoenix body has not yet awakened, and I believe you already know the nature of my physique. If I had done that, you would have been hurt. As husband and wife, we have a long road ahead."

The candles flickered, the silk curtains hung low, and the lingering echoes of the True Dragon and Phoenix spirits intertwining had yet to dissipate. She nestled into the crook of his arm; as a light breeze brushed past, their robes overlapped, their breathing mingled, and it seemed as if only stillness and tenderness remained in the world. Tonight was wordless, yet ripples stirred in their hearts, like an ink-wash painting slowly unfolding into eternal peace.

At the break of dawn, the atmosphere inside the Jiang family hall was subtle and solemn. The family head, Jiang Zhentian, sat in the main seat, surrounded by all the elders. The air was heavy, yet undercurrents surged; everyone knew that the topic of the day—the succession of the family head—would determine the future path of the Jiang clan.

Jiang Zhentian swept his gaze over the elders and spoke in a deep voice, "Everyone, my grandson Jiang Cheng’s strength was witnessed by all of you last night. Not only has he stepped into the Cave Heaven Realm, but he also suppressed the Su family, reclaiming honor for our house."

The elders nodded slightly, their eyes reflecting awe and shock. Jiang Cheng’s performance the previous night had moved them all. However, Jiang Zhentian’s tone shifted, his expression grave. "Nevertheless, the position of family head is no small matter. Though Jiang Cheng has the strength, we must confirm this carefully to ensure the submission of the entire clan."

The hall fell into a brief silence. Then, a grey-haired elder rose, looking at Jiang Cheng with complex emotions, and bowed. "Young Master, for years you were considered to have lost your cultivation entirely. Yet now, your strength is unfathomably great—even reaching the Cave Heaven Realm, far surpassing your peers. We admire this, but there are some things for which you must provide a reasonable explanation."

"Indeed, Young Master!" another elder added, his tone testing and skeptical. "Though our family has not declined, we have faced a lack of resources and a gap in talent for years, with the Su family eyeing us like tigers and other clans in Lingxiao City waiting to pounce... Have you considered how you will lead the Jiang family out of this predicament once you take the seat? Furthermore, where did this sudden leap in strength come from?"

A low murmur of discussion filled the hall. "That’s right, for him to suddenly become so strong, could he have been hiding his cultivation all along?" "The position requires both virtue and talent; we cannot look at strength alone..." "The burden on the Young Master's shoulders is no light one!"

For a moment, many looked hesitant. While Jiang Cheng’s strength had shocked them, the position of family head was a matter of great importance, and voices of opposition and doubt began to emerge. Jiang Cheng listened, his gaze sweeping over them calmly. His expression was indifferent, yet carried an inexplicable dignity. He stepped forward, his voice cold, yet imbued with unquestionable power.

"Are you doubting my strength, or are you doubting my resolve? I did not speak in jest when I said I would succeed the position of family head. I, Jiang Cheng, keep my word!"

His gaze swept across the whispering elders like the edge of a blade, his voice suddenly sharp. "When I lost my cultivation, did you ever mistreat me?"

The crowd was taken aback, then lowered their heads. "No," an elder murmured. "Even when you had no cultivation, the Jiang family never mistreated you. After all, you are the eldest son of the direct line and the face of our family."

Jiang Cheng smiled slightly. "Very well. Precisely because of that, I am here today not to argue with you, but to tell you this: the difficulties facing the Jiang family will be resolved, one by one." He flicked his right hand, and golden light shimmered in his palm as two jade bottles appeared out of thin air, emitting a rich, medicinal fragrance.

"These are seventh-grade pills: the God-Breaking Pill and the God-Nourishing Pill."

"What? Seventh-grade pills!"
"Ignoring bottlenecks to break directly into the Divine Sea Realm?!"

The hall was instantly in an uproar. Every elder stared fixedly at the two bottles, their breathing growing rapid. Jiang Cheng remained calm. "From today on, these pills will be stored in the Jiang family treasury. Any clansman may exchange for them based on contribution points. The greater the merit, the more resources you receive."

"Contribution points?!"
"He is actually opening up the treasury's resources! The Young Master intends to inspire the entire family to work as one!"

Jiang Cheng stood with his hands behind his back. "Furthermore, I will lay down the tenth-tier Profound-Silence Profound-Yellow Indestructible Array. This array is condensed from the essence of Heaven and Earth, making it impervious to all attacks and repelling all evil. From today, the Jiang family need not fear any external threats."

As he spoke, a low rumble echoed through the hall, and a curtain of profound-yellow light flickered, enshrouding the entire Jiang estate. The elders felt the immense power emanating from the array, their faces filled with shock and ecstasy.

"That is an array that only a master of the Profound-Silence Realm could set—and at least two of them!"
"Could it be that the Young Master has several Profound-Silence array masters behind him?"
"To set such an array in the blink of an eye... he is unfathomable. A blessing for the Jiang family!"

Looking at Jiang Cheng again, their eyes held no more doubt, only complete awe and conviction. Jiang Zhentian also felt a flash of astonishment and admiration. He nodded slowly and announced, "Everyone, are there any further questions? Who supports this? Who opposes?"

The hall was silent. The elders were stunned; during their earlier debate, they had unconsciously begun addressing him as the Family Head, clearly having already accepted his leadership. They rose in unison and spoke with one voice: "Congratulations, Young Master, on succeeding as the head of the Jiang family! May you lead us to the pinnacle!"

[Ding! Host has achieved the status of Clan Leader. The "Clan Return System" has been upgraded!]
[System functions unlocked: Primary Mission Release System, Primary Clan Shop System.]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the special growth-type clan artifact—the Heavenly Balance Treasury!]

Heavenly Balance Treasury
Grade: Profound-Tier High Grade (Growable)
Type: Special Growth Item (Bound)
Function: Clan mission distribution, resource management, contribution exchange system...

Jiang Cheng stood in the center of the hall, his mind composed, his gaze deep. A faint smile touched his lips. This system upgrade left him feeling indifferent. *Doubting that I was hiding my strength? Heh, then let them keep thinking that.* Everything was within his control.

Outside the hall, even by utilizing the wisdom of her past life, Su Ruoxi could not comprehend it. She watched the scene quietly, her gaze as gentle as water. *Hiding his cultivation to test the family? Heh, they know not that my husband’s power has already transcended their understanding.* She watched Jiang Cheng, the corner of her lips lifting. *Who are you really? I am certain the Holy Lands will send people; how will you handle that when the time comes?*

As she mused, Su Ruoxi suddenly felt a sense of foreboding and cast a glance toward the eastern horizon.