Chapter 23: The Imperial Clan of the Eastern Wastes

Chu Feng stared coldly at the old man before him. This time, the system showed no reaction—he was not a Child of Destiny, so he naturally would not go mad upon glimpsing messages from a thousand years in the future.

Chu Feng asked, “May I ask why you wish to kill my consort?”

The old man’s name was Jiang Tai, who sneered and replied, “Because she deserves to die. She dared to impersonate the eldest miss of my Jiang family, coveted our resources and status, and even stole the ink-jade qilin pendant belonging to my lady. It’s highly likely that my lady met her end at her hands—does she not deserve death?”

Chu Feng gave a cold snort. “Before you kill my consort, did you ever consider my opinion?”

“This is the Supreme Mystery Dao Sect. You’ve trespassed upon our grounds—if anyone’s courting death, it’s you.”

“Since you’re here, there’s no need to leave.”

Chu Feng cared little for his opponent’s identity or motives. If he hadn’t arrived in time, Shen Qianxue would indeed have been killed by this man.

With a single sword strike, Chu Feng attacked Jiang Tai.

Jiang Tai’s expression changed drastically. He bellowed, “How dare you attack me! Do you know who I am? Your little Supreme Mystery Dao Sect, with your meager cultivation at the Nascent Soul stage—are you not afraid of your entire sect’s extermination?”

Chu Feng scoffed, “You certainly talk a lot.”

“A dead man—does it matter to me who you are?”

“You—!”

Jiang Tai was enraged. He, a scion of the Jiang family, was being belittled by a mere cultivator from a minor Dao sect. He decided to teach this upstart a lesson. With a swift motion, he struck at Chu Feng.

He unleashed the Void Palm Seal—one of the Jiang family’s secret techniques. This move ignored the barriers of the void, a single palm able to shatter space itself. Countless foes had perished beneath the might of this strike.

Yet as Jiang Tai attacked, Chu Feng’s brow furrowed. He had intended only to use the Limitless Sword Scripture, but now it seemed he needed to unleash the Heaven-Opening Sword.

In an instant, his sword intent shifted. Jiang Tai’s Void Palm Seal collapsed before it could take form, the overwhelming sword intent crashing down with unstoppable force, striking Jiang Tai squarely in the chest.

The old man flew backward like a rag doll, blood spurting from his mouth. His vitality drained, and his body grew weak and listless.

With an expression full of disbelief, Jiang Tai demanded, “Who are you? How can you possibly be this strong?”

Chu Feng replied coldly, “There’s much you don’t know. Besides, I owe you no explanations.”

“It’s time for you to die.”

He flicked out a strand of sword intent.

Jiang Tai never imagined Chu Feng would truly strike to kill. As death closed in, terror overwhelmed him. “I am of the Jiang family, one of the imperial clans of the Eastern Wasteland! If you kill me, the Jiang family will never forgive you!”

But Chu Feng’s hand did not falter.

The next moment, Jiang Tai’s body was pierced through. Blood gushed from the wound, and he died on the spot.

Watching Jiang Tai’s demise, Shen Qianxue’s face was filled with worry. “Husband, what now? He mentioned the Jiang family is an imperial clan of the Eastern Wasteland.”

Chu Feng nodded. “Don’t worry. I know a bit about the Jiang family. Besides, though his surname is Jiang, he’s not of the direct bloodline.”

“If neither you nor I speak of this, who would ever know I was the one who killed him?”

The imperial clans of the Eastern Wasteland were descended from ancient emperors—offspring born of those who had achieved the Immortal Ascension Realm. Their physiques could not be inherited, but with talented parents, there was a good chance of awakening remarkable constitutions. The bloodline itself, however, could be passed down, though it would gradually weaken through the generations. Thus, the imperial clans valued powerful bloodlines greatly and would immediately search for any lost heirs of their lineage.

“No wonder the Jiang imperial clan is so formidable—he certainly carried many treasures.”

Moreover, his fortune value was as high as eighty thousand. A value of one hundred thousand would mark him as a Child of Destiny.

Yet just as Chu Feng killed Jiang Tai, in the void above, a woman in blue robes was shaken to her core. “To think that such a small Supreme Mystery Dao Sect harbors someone with an innate sacred body. What a pity he is not of my Jiang family’s blood.”

This search for the Jiang family’s lost kin was not undertaken by Jiang Tai alone.

“However, since Shen Qianxue dared to impersonate a member of my Jiang family, with her sacred body talent, she is worthy of being brought into my clan.”

This thought took root in the mind of the woman in blue.

As for Chu Feng killing Jiang Tai, she felt no urge for revenge.

Within the Jiang imperial clan, those like Jiang Tai were little more than cannon fodder. If they could bring benefit to the clan, they were acknowledged; if not, their lives were of no consequence. In the eyes of those with imperial blood, his death meant nothing.

The value of Shen Qianxue far exceeded that of Jiang Tai.

As Chu Feng departed, the woman in blue appeared before Shen Qianxue.

Having just witnessed Jiang Tai’s fate, Shen Qianxue was startled by the sudden appearance and regarded the blue-robed woman with wariness.

The woman smiled sweetly. “Are you afraid of me?”

Shen Qianxue nodded. “Anyone who can appear here without sound or trace is far from ordinary. Senior, you must also be of the Jiang clan.”

The woman nodded. “My name is Jiang Yan. Rest assured, I am not here to kill you or your husband. Instead, I have come to grant you an opportunity.”

“You intended to pose as a member of the Jiang family to join us? Now I can give you that chance—come with me to the Jiang clan.”

Shen Qianxue shook her head. “Senior, you misunderstand. I never intended to join the Jiang clan. My father schemed for me to impersonate your kin and enter the clan, but I know well that in such a great family, one can fake an identity, but not the bloodline. I could never truly become one of you.”

“It was all a misunderstanding, and besides, I already have a husband.”

The blue-robed woman snorted. “Are you not afraid I’ll kill you and your husband both?”

Shen Qianxue’s face changed instantly, fear and anxiety gripping her heart. Though Chu Feng had slain Jiang Tai, she still worried about the power of this new arrival.

The woman continued, “Come with me to the Jiang family, and I will spare your husband. Otherwise, not only he, but your entire Shen family, will have to accompany you to the grave.”

Shen Qianxue bit her lip. “I’ll go with you to the Jiang family, but I have one condition.”

The woman sneered. “Do you really think you’re in a position to bargain?”

Shen Qianxue fell silent, but after a moment, she persisted, “I will go with you, but I must write a letter to tell my husband where I’ve gone.”

“Fine,” the woman replied with disdain. “Do you really think your husband could ever find you?”

“The moment you set foot in the Jiang family, the two of you will be people of different worlds.”

As for Chu Feng, he cultivated the Supreme Celestial Scripture. Even though it contained only five hundred characters, it was enough to prevent the woman in blue from perceiving his true nature. In her eyes, Chu Feng was of ordinary talent. Had she known he possessed a sacred body, she might have weighed her words with greater care.

Shen Qianxue left, writing a letter before departing with the blue-robed woman.