Chapter 57: Jiang Huan's Stance

"Hmm." Jiang Huan's hand returned to a natural position, and he responded to Xiao Bei's words with a nod. Then, with a smile, Jiang Huan said to Xiao Bei, "I didn't expect it, Xiao Bei. After two years, you've had a great opportunity. At seventeen, you've actually become a Ninth Rank Later Heaven Warrior... Looking at the entire Wu Kingdom, or even Luzhou, your talent and intelligence are unmatched, the very best. Two years ago, I was still wondering when you would be able to start cultivating, and then I would immediately let you be with Xiaoyuan... Ah, time flies. In the blink of an eye, you've grown so much."

Xiao Bei smiled, naturally knowing that all of this was what Jiang Yuan had told Jiang Huan. Otherwise, with the strength of an Eighth Rank Later Heaven Warrior, which was comparable to the peak of a Seventh Rank Later Heaven Warrior, Jiang Huan wouldn't know that he was actually a Ninth Rank Later Heaven Warrior.

Smiling at Jiang Huan, Xiao Bei said, "Uncle, I don't deserve such praise."

Jiang Huan sighed and shook his head, "It's not that you don't deserve it, but you must accept it. However, Xiao Bei..."

Pausing for a moment, Jiang Huan looked at him with some doubt, "'Blood Sacrifice Technique,' has it really had no effect on you? You should know, although our Jiang family is declining, we still have a few healing elixirs. I don't want my future son-in-law to suffer a loss of his extraordinary talent in martial arts because of a moment of recklessness."

"Dad!"

Jiang Yuan called out to Jiang Huan in a shy voice, then twisted her body to get out of his embrace and moved closer to Zhang Lan, whose expression had turned to a smile.

"Uncle, my body is fine, and the 'Blood Sacrifice Technique' has even had a detoxifying effect, stabilizing the power increased by the elixirs I used before. Otherwise, Uncle, I wouldn't dare to kill an already injured innate realm beast."

Xiao Bei replied to Jiang Huan.

Jiang Huan nodded, then released his martial aura.

The aura enveloped Xiao Bei like a large hand.

Xiao Bei remained still, adjusting his external martial aura to the level of a Ninth Rank Later Heaven Warrior.

After a while, Jiang Huan withdrew his martial aura.

"Good, your aura is steady and strong. It seems you really aren't injured... Xiao Bei, Xiao Bei, at seventeen, a Ninth Rank Later Heaven Warrior, I, Jiang Huan, am very eager to see how old you will be when you break through to the innate realm!"

Looking at Jiang Yuan by Zhang Lan's side, Jiang Huan said, "Sister, don't worry. As long as the Xiao family agrees to Xiao Bei and Xiaoyuan's marriage, I, Jiang Huan, will ensure that the Jiang family won't interfere... However, I want to say one thing: can we have the two children hold a wedding ceremony and set the date, and then wait until they both reach the innate realm before they consummate their marriage? After all, breaking their virginity too early can affect their cultivation..."

"Sure, sure... everything should prioritize the children's cultivation." Zhang Lan, hearing Jiang Huan's words, felt a weight lifted from her heart. When she heard that Jiang Huan's condition was for the children's benefit, she nodded.

When Xiao Bei heard Jiang Huan's words, even his master-level mindset felt a bit awkward, and his face showed a slight pause.

On the side, Jiang Yuan had already been giving Jiang Huan the evil eye, but she couldn't stop him from speaking more and more explicitly.

"Dad..."

With no other choice, Jiang Yuan could only call out softly.

Jiang Huan then smiled and said, "What's the problem? It's something that will be said sooner or later. Alright, I won't say it anymore."

After a few more words with Zhang Lan, Jiang Huan's expression changed, and he said to Xiao Bei, "Xiao Bei, follow me to the entrance of the Xiao residence. Xiaoyuan, you and Aunt Zhang go back first."

"Okay."

Jiang Yuan nodded, then supported Zhang Lan and gradually walked away.

Watching Zhang Lan and Jiang Yuan leave the martial arts hall, Jiang Huan turned to Xiao Bei and said, "Xiao Bei, in the end, do you have the confidence to win first place?"

Seeing the serious expression on Jiang Huan's face, Xiao Bei answered without hesitation, "Uncle, rest assured. I will definitely win first place this time, and marry Jiang Yuan."

Jiang Huan nodded, his face not showing much joy as he said to Xiao Bei, "Xiao Bei, you'd better reach the innate realm as soon as possible, understand?"

Xiao Bei didn't understand the deeper meaning of Jiang Huan's change of topic, but he guessed that Jiang Huan, through the events of Xiao Bei's childhood and Jiang Yuan's attitude toward him, wouldn't have any ill intentions. He replied, "Reaching the innate realm is something that can be achieved quickly."

Jiang Huan's mouth opened slightly, then he chuckled, "No wonder my daughter Xiaoyuan looks up to you, Xiao Bei. Good... now, follow me to the entrance of the Xiao residence."

Then, Jiang Huan walked straight to the entrance of the martial arts hall. In the presence of people who had not yet left the martial arts hall and were watching their conversation, he and Xiao Bei disappeared from the martial arts hall.

After Jiang Huan and Xiao Bei left the martial arts hall, the crowd immediately burst into discussion, with voices of speculation everywhere.

The topic was no longer about Xiao Bing's death but had completely shifted to Xiao Bei!

Although Jiang Huan's and Zhang Lan's voices were low, and Jiang Huan used his martial aura to disrupt the air so that no one could hear, from their expressions, the crowd could guess that Jiang Huan's stance on Xiao Bei and Jiang Yuan's marriage was the opposite of He Xiu's!

Jiang Huan, it could be said with certainty, still agreed to Xiao Bei and Jiang Yuan's marriage, just as he did before he emerged from seclusion two years ago!

Most of the people present had stopped to listen to the gossip about Jiang Huan and Xiao Bei's conversation. Moreover, there was no such thing as a completely sealed wall, so whether it was the Xiao family or some members of the Jiang family, they already knew that today, the crazy Xiao Yun, who had run to the martial arts hall to point out his brother's death and Jiang Yuan's marriage, had already been agreed to by Xiao Feng and also had Xiao Zhan's nod.

Therefore, Jiang Huan's appearance and his expression while talking to Xiao Bei caused a lot of discussion!

In their hearts, although they believed that Jiang Huan's stance was the opposite of He Xiu's and that he agreed to Xiao Bei and Jiang Yuan's marriage, they also knew that there was still one thing missing for the marriage to happen: the Xiao family's agreement... and the Xiao family's agreement meant that Xiao Bei, according to the rumor, had to win first place in this family trial to have a chance to change Xiao Feng's mind.

Could Xiao Bei win first place?

Not to mention whether the hidden injuries from using the 'Blood Sacrifice Technique' had healed, even if Xiao Bei wasn't injured, how could an Eighth Rank Later Heaven Warrior be a match for the Ninth Rank Later Heaven Warriors among the Xiao family's descendants?

"Huh? That's not right. I heard with my own ears that Jiang Huan said Xiao Bei was a Ninth Rank Later Heaven Warrior! Although the voice was very low, now that I think about it, Jiang Huan did say that." The slightly overweight young man said to his mother beside him.

He was the closest to where Xiao Bei and Jiang Huan were, but even so, he was about twenty meters away.

"Forget it, son, could you hear what Xiao Bei was saying?" His mother clearly didn't believe him, "We were more than twenty meters away, and your strength is a bit lacking. Plus, Jiang Huan used his martial aura to isolate the air. How could you possibly hear clearly?"

The young man's face turned red, "But I really did hear it..."

"Stop it. A Ninth Rank Later Heaven Warrior at seventeen? Who would believe that? I think it's more likely that others are saying that Xiao Bei's true strength is less than an Eighth Rank Later Heaven Warrior because of the hidden injuries from using the 'Blood Sacrifice Technique.'" His mother glared at him.

"But..." The young man wanted to say more, but his mother said, "Don't say anything more. Just listen to the head of the family and wait at the entrance of the Xiao residence for the others to return. I'll go back and rest..."

Seeing that his mother was no longer paying attention to him, the young man muttered, "Jiang Huan just broke through to the Flag Rank. His aura couldn't have leaked and let me hear what he said, right? Hmph, who knows, maybe Xiao Bei really is a Ninth Rank Warrior, and he'll shock you all when the time comes!"