Translator: CinderTL
Song Wen stepped out of the arrow tower and approached Jiang Xuan. Before he could speak, Jiang Xuan said, "This is the Second Young Master of the Jiang Family's direct line—Jiang Yushan. Pay your respects immediately."
Upon hearing this, Song Wen bowed deeply to the young man named Jiang Yushan.
"Ai Kun greets the Second Young Master. As a newcomer, I humbly request your future guidance."
Jiang Yushan didn't respond immediately, instead sizing Song Wen up and down. His gaze was like that of a city dweller looking at a bumpkin from the countryside—a mixture of curiosity and disdain.
"The world claims that all those who ascend from the Lower Realm are exceptional talents with unwavering resolve. Yet, why do I see no trace of anything extraordinary about you?"
Song Wen replied, "I am merely a fortunate soul who ascended through diligent effort. Compared to a dragon among men like the Second Young Master, I am but a firefly's glow—nothing extraordinary at all."
Jiang Yushan said, "You're quite the smooth talker. But such flattery won't work on this young master. Be honest: Did you obtain some powerful inheritance or treasure that allowed you to ascend?"
Song Wen was taken aback. He had never imagined Jiang Yushan would openly demand his 'opportunity.'
"Young Master, as you know, the Lower Realm is barren, with scarce Spiritual Qi and few treasures worthy of your attention."
Jiang Yushan's gaze turned cold, his voice sharpening.
"Don't try to deceive me. Hand over whatever you rely on to achieve Divine Transformation. In the future, this young master will protect you. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Song Wen frowned, a flicker of resentment in his eyes.
"Second Young Master, I..."
Seeing Jiang Yushan's unwavering resolve, Song Wen turned to Jiang Xuan, his gaze pleading for help.
Jiang Xuan remained indifferent, turning his head away and ignoring Song Wen completely.
Defeated, Song Wen's expression darkened. With a sigh of resignation, he activated the Storage Ring on his finger, pouring out all its contents.
Spirit stones, Mystic Treasures, medicinal pills, Spirit Grass, cultivation method jade slips—a dazzling array of treasures scattered across the ground, including a Corpse-Nourishing Coffin.
Jiang Yushan's gaze swept over the scattered treasures, his face betraying undisguised disdain.
Though spirit stones carpeted the ground, most were low-grade and mid-grade, their total value barely reaching four hundred high-grade spirit stones.
The Mystic Treasures numbered four or five, but all were mid-grade and high-grade.
As for the Spirit Grass and medicinal pills, they were mostly Third-Tier and Fourth-Tier items.
None of these treasures could possibly catch Jiang Yushan's eye.
Jiang Yushan extended his Spirit Sense again, examining each jade slip.
But the results were still disappointing. Not a single Cultivation Method or secret art caught his interest.
His gaze fell on the Corpse Coffin.
With a flick of his folding fan, a beam of Spiritual Power shot out, opening the coffin.
Inside lay a Fourth-Tier Peak Corpse Puppet.
This was the only item that made Jiang Yushan pause for a second glance.
"You, a Divine Transformation Realm cultivator, have only this much treasure?" Jiang Yushan demanded, his voice cold.
Jiang Yushan wasn't the only one who found Song Wen's collection lacking. Jiang Xuan, standing beside him, shared the sentiment, as did the crowd of onlookers drawn by the commotion.
Most of the onlookers were Nascent Soul cultivators, with a few at the Divine Transformation level. Those with lower cultivation—golden core or Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators—had also been drawn by the commotion but dared not approach too closely, merely watching from afar.
The crowd surveyed the scattered treasures with expressions ranging from indifference to disdain, some even wearing smug expressions of superiority.
However, a small group shook their heads sadly, as if pitying Song Wen or lamenting their own circumstances.
Song Wen instinctively checked the Storage Ring in his heart and said, his expression fearful, "Second Young Master, these treasures represent everything I've gathered in my entire life."
"Hmph! Lower Realm scum, as expected, you're impoverished," Jiang Yushan sneered. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he added, "Wait a minute!"
His eyes sharpened like daggers as he fixed Song Wen with a cold stare, as if trying to pierce through his disguise.
"If the Lower Realm is truly so barren, how could you have ascended? You must be hiding something else."
Just then, a figure of striking beauty descended from the sky, landing before Jiang Yushan. It was the cold and elegant female cultivator.
The arrogant Jiang Yushan, who had been so overbearing moments before, transformed into a mouse before a cat upon seeing her. He became noticeably restrained, even subtly fearful.
"Nephew greets Aunt," Jiang Yushan said with a forced smile, bowing deeply.
The cold and elegant female cultivator glanced at him. "Who authorized you to come to Demon Subduing City?"
"Aunt, how have you been lately? Nephew has been thinking of you constantly," Jiang Yushan replied, dodging the question and trying to change the subject.
The cold and elegant female cultivator was unimpressed by his response. Her voice remained cold and authoritative.
"I asked you, who gave you permission to come to Demon Subduing City!"
"This..." Jiang Yushan stammered, struggling to find words. After a long pause, he finally managed a few syllables: "Aunt, I was traveling nearby when I noticed an unusual phenomenon above Demon Subduing City—a sign of Ascension. Curiosity piqued, I came to investigate."
Upon hearing this, a layer of frost instantly coated the cold and elegant female cultivator's delicate features.
"Traveling near Demon Subduing City! Who gave you such audacity? Don't you know that to the east of Demon Subduing City lies the Rotting Miasma Ridge? It's overrun with demon beasts and poisonous creatures. Our clan poured countless resources and manpower into establishing Demon Subduing City precisely to prevent those venomous insects and demon beasts from invading the Qianchang Wilderness."
"Recently, the Rotting Miasma Ridge has erupted in multiple beast tides. Our clan paid a heavy price to repel them. Yet you, ungrateful as you are, traveled thousands of miles to wander near Demon Subduing City? I suspect you're not here to travel; you're here to play."
Though the cold and elegant female cultivator seemed to be scolding Jiang Yushan, every word dripped with concern. There was a distinct sense of "I wish you were better" in her tone.
Jiang Yushan stood frozen, head bowed, eyes darting away from the cold and elegant female cultivator's sharp gaze.
The cold and elegant female cultivator shifted her attention from Jiang Yushan, her gaze sweeping over the treasures scattered across the ground and the crowd of onlookers.
Among the onlookers were members of the Jiang Clan by blood or marriage, as well as outsiders like Song Wen.
Most of these outsiders were rogue cultivators who had either voluntarily joined the Jiang Family or been forced to do so for various reasons. Deep down, they felt no sense of belonging or loyalty to the Jiang Family, only self-interest.
Correspondingly, the Jiang Family treated them with cold indifference, often marginalizing and mistreating them.
Normally, she wouldn't have spared these outsiders a glance.
However, with the recent surge of beast tides in Rotting Miasma Ridge, these people still held some value. She couldn't afford to let them grow resentful of the Jiang Family.
Therefore, Jiang Yushan's public humiliation of Song Wen was truly unwise.
(End of the Chapter)
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