Chapter 18

Jiang Chen walked straight to the head of the room and sat down, his demeanor calm and composed, without a word.

Seeing this, the young man smiled faintly, not finding anything amiss with the master’s actions. A master capable of refining a perfect elixir naturally had a sense of pride.

“I am Li Changhong of the Chicheng Li family. I greet you, Master.”

This young man was indeed Li Changhong, who bowed respectfully to Jiang Chen, his manners impeccable.

“Chicheng Li family?”

Jiang Chen was taken aback. The Li family was a prominent family in Chicheng, holding a position equivalent to the Jiang family in Tianxiang City.

Jiang Chen did not know that Li Changhong was currently helping the Murong family against the Jiang family, nor did he know that the old man beside Li Changhong was the elixir master from the Murong family who could refine a 70% elixir.

Similarly, Li Changhong did not know that the master capable of refining a perfect elixir was the very Jiang Chen he was determined to eliminate.

“With your talents, staying in this small Tianxiang City would be a waste. Why not follow me? I can ensure that you will be a guest of the Li family. You should know that the small Jiang family is not even worthy of tying our shoes. Staying here would be a demotion for you.”

Li Changhong was straightforward, directly stating his intentions.

These words instantly made Jiang Chen feel a deep dislike.

“Get lost.”

Jiang Chen said coldly, showing no respect. As the First Sage of the world, why would he care about a small Li family?

“What did you say?”

Li Changhong’s smile froze, and he was stunned. He couldn’t understand why, after revealing his name, the person in front of him was still so rude, and he didn’t know why the master suddenly became hostile. His words were humble and had no fault.

“You’re asking for trouble. My young master’s favor is your fortune. In this vast domain of twenty-eight cities, no one dares to speak to my young master like this.”

The old man, who was at the mid Qi Sea realm, was immediately angry.

“Master, I am sincerely inviting you.”

Li Changhong’s eyes also showed a hint of anger.

“Go away, Jiang Cheng, see them out.”

Jiang Chen’s tone was cold, and he turned to leave. If not for the current conflict between the Jiang family and the Murong family, making it unwise to provoke the Chicheng people, Li Changhong’s words belittling the Jiang family would have been enough to cost him his life. Even with a mid Qi Sea realm expert present, Jiang Chen could still kill him.

Jiang Chen disappeared from the hall, leaving Jiang Cheng outside the door in surprise.

“Master’s temper is indeed unpredictable. Hmm, Master actually knows my name.”

Jiang Cheng instantly felt a strong sense of presence in the elixir shop. He had never met the master before, yet the master knew his name. That was the master.

Jiang Chen left, leaving Li Changhong with a face full of malice. He had never been so rebuffed in his life. In this small Tianxiang City, someone actually dared to show him no respect.

“Young master, this person is so arrogant, why not just eliminate him?”

The old man said coldly.

“Hmph! With a bit of talent, he dares to be so rude to me. It’s truly laughable. For now, let’s not worry about him. Once I destroy the Jiang family and take over the elixir shop, we’ll see what he does.”

Li Changhong coldly replied.

“Gentlemen, please leave. You are not welcome here.”

Jiang Cheng imitated the tone of his young master, feeling that he could also be as impressive as his young master.

Li Changhong glared at Jiang Cheng and left in a huff.

Murong Family!

“Young Master Li, how did it go? Did you meet the master?”

Murong Zhan asked as Li Changhong returned.

“Hmph! That person is ungrateful. Once I destroy the Jiang family, I’ll settle the score with him. Master Murong, I will help you eliminate Jiang Chen now.”

Li Changhong was full of anger.

Hearing about eliminating Jiang Chen, Murong Zhan’s spirit was immediately lifted. He dreamed of eliminating Jiang Chen but lacked the opportunity.

“That Jiang Chen stays at home all day. What method will you use to eliminate him?”

Murong Zhan asked.

“I will kill him personally. Master Murong, you should...”

Li Changhong’s face was full of sinister smiles as he leaned in to Murong Zhan’s ear and whispered something.

Murong Ying’s eyes lit up, and he gave Li Changhong a thumbs up: “Young Master’s plan is brilliant. If it succeeds, we can eliminate Jiang Chen in one fell swoop. Once Jiang Chen is dead, Jiang Zhenhai will lose his mainstay, and the Jiang family will be no longer a concern.”

...

At noon, Jiang Chen was practicing the Dragon Transformation Technique in the courtyard. He had returned to the city lord’s residence last night and temporarily put aside the elixir refining. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

Jiang Chen frowned.

The door to the courtyard was pushed open, and the captain of the guards, Jiang Cheng, walked in: “Young Master.”

“Jiang Cheng, if you don’t have a good reason, I will break your legs.”

Jiang Chen hated being disturbed during his practice. Jiang Cheng’s timing was terrible.

Jiang Cheng shrank back in fear and quickly said: “Young Master, I didn’t mean to disturb you. Father wants to see you and has asked you to go to the meeting hall immediately.”

“Father wants to see me. Do you know why?”

Jiang Chen asked. Normally, if Jiang Zhenhai needed him, he would come himself or send a servant to his residence. Rarely would he go to the meeting hall, indicating that something significant had happened.

“Young Master, I heard that the Murong family has issued a challenge. Now, the guest masters and elders are all in the meeting hall.”

Jiang Cheng did not hide anything.

“Challenge? I’ll go see.”

Jiang Chen tidied his clothes and walked out of the courtyard towards the meeting hall. The Murong family issuing a challenge was unexpected. If it was due to Murong Hao, there should have been some movement yesterday, not now.

In the Jiang family meeting hall, Jiang Zhenhai sat at the head of the table, with five or six Qi Sea realm experts on either side, including Zhou Beichen. On Jiang Zhenhai’s right, a challenge letter lay quietly.

“Father, Uncles.”

Jiang Chen walked in, his appearance refined and his eyes bright, his posture straight, a true dragon among men. The Qi Sea realm guest masters and elders present all nodded in approval.

Once, they were all unwilling to look at this spoiled young master, but recently, this young master had undergone a dramatic change, completely different from before. Even Murong Zhan had suffered a setback at his hands, and the Murong family’s top genius had been crippled. Moreover, he now called them uncles, showing basic respect.

Such a young genius, who wouldn’t like and admire?

“Chen, you’re here.”

Jiang Zhenhai’s expression softened when he saw Jiang Chen.

“Father, I heard the Murong family issued a challenge. What’s going on?”

Jiang Chen asked.

“The challenge letter is here. Take a look yourself.”

Jiang Zhenhai handed the challenge letter to Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen quickly read the contents of the challenge letter. It was about resolving the feud between the two families through a duel. Three days later, the Jiang family and the Murong family would each select a young representative to duel in the central square of Tianxiang City. The stakes were significant, with both families’ elixir shops as the prize. The loser would forfeit their elixir shop to the other family.

“Haha, quite interesting. Even the elixir shops are on the line. This is a bet with everything. Murong Zhan is really going all out.”

Jiang Chen laughed and casually tossed the challenge letter aside. The stakes were enormous. Although the Murong family and the Jiang family had many businesses, the elixir shops were the core. The herbs and celestial essences collected by the chambers of commerce would ultimately be used in the elixir shops.

There were only two elixir shops in all of Tianxiang City, and neither side could afford to lose. Losing the elixir shop would mean losing the source of wealth. Murong Zhan putting the elixir shop on the line indicated that he was serious.

“Chen, don’t you think there’s something wrong with this challenge letter?”

Jiang Zhenhai asked.

“Indeed, there is.”

Jiang Chen smiled: “The Murong family’s top genius, Murong Hao, has been crippled by me. The Murong family can no longer find a genius to match me, unless someone from their younger generation has reached the Qi Sea realm. Only then would Murong Zhan dare to make such a decision.”

“The young master is right. The young master only crippled Murong Hao yesterday. Murong Zhan is not a fool; he knows the young master’s strength. Yet, he still issued this challenge and put the elixir shop on the line. There must be something fishy.”

Zhou Beichen said.

“In my view, Murong Zhan is either crazy or has a sure thing. That old fox is not crazy, so I believe he must have a trump card. As the young master said, it’s likely that someone from the Murong family’s younger generation has reached the Qi Sea realm.”

Another person added.

“Chen, what do you think? Should we accept the challenge? Murong Zhan’s target is clearly you.”

Jiang Zhenhai looked at Jiang Chen. Everyone present was not foolish. This challenge letter was clearly aimed at Jiang Chen. The recent events had made everyone aware of Jiang Chen’s terrifying power. Murong Zhan’s hatred for Jiang Chen exceeded that of Jiang Zhenhai, and he dreamed of eliminating him.

This challenge letter not only provided an opportunity to eliminate Jiang Chen but also to cripple the Jiang family’s elixir shop. Murong Zhan’s intentions were clear.

“Accept it, of course. If I’m not mistaken, this challenge letter has not only been issued to our Jiang family but has also spread throughout Tianxiang City. Everyone is waiting to see the show. If we don’t accept, it would mean we’re afraid of the Murong family. Murong Zhan would use this to his advantage, and the Jiang family would lose face.”

Jiang Chen smiled calmly, showing no signs of tension: “Moreover, if Murong Zhan wants to play, we’ll play along. I want to see what he’s up to.”

“Chen, don’t be careless.”

Jiang Zhenhai frowned, his face full of worry.

“Father, don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. Besides, this challenge letter is almost a direct challenge to me. Not accepting it would be a huge joke.”

Jiang Chen was relaxed and unconcerned. As the First Sage of the world, he had never retreated.