Returning after 10000 Years Cultivation - Chapter 104

Her skin was as fair as snow, her features exquisitely painted, her figure slender and delicate. Her waist was narrow, her chest full and curvaceous, her hips round and perky. The boatneck collar of her blouse revealed a tantalizing glimpse of her snowy cleavage, enough to stir the imagination.

As a cultivator, she carried an ethereal, otherworldly aura, yet her time spent honing her skills in the mortal world only added to her allure—seductive, enchanting, a femme fatale capable of ensnaring hearts with a single glance or smile.

Noticing Jiang Tian’s gaze, Shen Mange blushed coyly and teased, “I’m still unmarried. Why don’t I marry you first, and then you can join the Shennong Sect? That way, you’ll gain two powerful backers—the Shennong Sect and the Yanjing Shen family!”

“With the Shennong Sect in my hands and me as your woman, wouldn’t all those rare medicinal herbs and countless ancient texts be yours for the taking? Whatever you desire, whenever you wish?”

As she spoke, she swayed her slender, snake-like waist, leaning toward Jiang Tian until her full chest pressed against his arm, soft yet firm. Her rosy lips brushed close to his face, as if to plant a kiss on his handsome features.*

“Damn! Jiang Tian’s luck is just too good!”

Chen Bo quickly lowered his head, not daring to look further, but inwardly, he was screaming in disbelief.

As the Shennong Sect’s head disciple and a scion of the Shen family, Shen Mange was like an untouchable princess—both within the sect and in the secular world. Countless young elites and noble heirs had pursued her, only to be met with indifference.

Yet now, she was throwing herself at Jiang Tian with such fiery passion.

The implication was clear: if Jiang Tian so much as nodded, she’d strip off her clothes and offer herself to him.

“Dear heavens, compared to Jiang Tian, I’m not even worth scraps.” Chen Bo drowned in self-loathing, too ashamed to even feel jealousy.

“Jiang Tian, you should accept her offer…” Even Jiang Lin was tempted, seeing the benefits.

If Jiang Tian married Shen Mange and joined the Shennong Sect, the sect would have no reason to force him to hand over his pill recipes or betray him later.

With the Jiang family currently weakened, gaining the support of a major sect like the Shennong Sect—overflowing with pill formulas and rare herbs—would propel them to new heights, allowing them to dominate the secular world.

The so-called “three great families of Jinling” would be nothing more than chickens and dogs, scurrying away in fear.

“You are somewhat attractive, with decent martial arts skills—Inner Strength mastery—and your alchemy isn’t bad either.”**

Jiang Tian’s words made Shen Mange’s heart flutter with hope.

But in the next moment, he suddenly slapped her across the face, sending her tumbling to the ground.

“Get lost! Beauty is but a skeleton, flesh but a shell. In my eyes, you’re nothing!”**

Facing the stunned gazes of the three onlookers, Jiang Tian remained utterly composed, his voice dripping with disdain.

“How could you ever be worthy of being my wife? How could you compare to my adorable, scatterbraised wife—the one who burns every dish and always oversalts the food?”**

“However… I do need a maid. You might just barely qualify for that.”**

“A—a maid?!” Jiang Lin was dumbstruck, stammering in disbelief.

Even Chen Bo nearly collapsed in shock.

Who was Shen Mange? A descendant of the Yanjing Shen family, the Shennong Sect’s prodigy and head disciple, destined to lead the sect—a true phoenix among mortals, with suitors lining up from Yanjing to Hubei.

Yet Jiang Tian had the audacity to demand she become his maid? Such arrogance was unheard of, even among grandmasters!

“Jiang Tian! You—you go too far!” Shen Mange trembled with rage.

She was a proud daughter of heaven, blessed with beauty and talent. Wherever she went, men flocked to her like stars around the moon.

Yet today, after offering herself and promising immense benefits, Jiang Tian had slapped her away and declared her fit only to be a servant. Even if he was a young grandmaster, this was an unbearable humiliation.

Once, she had revered Jiang Tian.

Now, she despised him with every fiber of her being.

She wished for his immediate death!

“Fine! Consider my affections wasted!”**

Shen Mange scrambled to her feet, fighting back tears as she forced a smile.

“In three days, we’ll go to the Shennong Sect. Let’s hope Grandmaster Jiang gets what he wants—and leaves with his pockets full!”**

“Little girl, I was going to grant you a great opportunity. You don’t want it? You refuse to be my maid?” Jiang Tian asked, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“If you can conquer the Shennong Sect, I’ll be your slave for three lifetimes! But I doubt you have what it takes!”**

Shen Mange’s face flushed with fury, her chest heaving.

She had met arrogant men before, but Jiang Tian was on another level.

With a derisive snort, she turned and stormed off, her anger still boiling.

“Jiang Tian, so what if you’re a young grandmaster? Do you even know the Shennong Sect’s true power?”**

The sect had multiple grandmasters guarding it, along with a protective mountain array. If he dared set foot there, he’d be walking into a death trap!

Today, out of admiration, she had offered him a chance to avoid certain doom. But he had thrown it away.

“One day, when you’re cornered and begging at my feet, licking my toes for mercy—you’ll regret this!”**

“Go to hell!”**

Over the next three days, Shen Mange expected Jiang Tian to seclude himself and prepare for the upcoming confrontation with the Shennong Sect.

Instead, he spent the time shopping and sightseeing.

“Hah, this kite is gorgeous! Qing’er would love it—buy a few!”**

“Oh? Persimmons this big? Qing’er might like these—get a crate!”**

“Liangxiang chestnuts? Perfect for Qing’er’s chicken soup—buy, buy, buy!”**

Jiang Tian practically combed through every specialty market in Galo Mountain City, amassing a hoard of souvenirs. Shen Mange and Chen Bo were reduced to pack mules, lugging his purchases around.

Shen Mange was fuming. What kind of peerless beauty is this wife of his, to make him dote on her like this?

Back at the hotel, Jiang Tian packed and mailed the haul to Linzhou.

Then, clapping his hands, he announced: “Alright, time to go plunder—ahem, I mean, seek justice from the Shennong Sect!”**

“Jiang Tian, let me come with you!” Jiang Lin, now thoroughly impressed, saw him as the future head of the Jiang family and wanted to cling to his coattails.

“No, you head back,” Jiang Tian waved her off.

The Shennong Sect trip was too dangerous. His airheaded cousin would only be dead weight.

“But…” Jiang Lin hesitated, her expression conflicted.

“You want pill recipes?” Jiang Tian smacked his forehead, instantly understanding.

Jiang Lin had come to the alchemy exchange hoping to secure a few recipes for the Jiang family. But after the bloody chaos, she had left empty-handed.

“Yes! Exactly!” She nodded eagerly, eyes pleading.

Now that Jiang Tian was a master alchemist—even the Shennong Sect’s head disciple had tried recruiting him—his recipes had to be better than the sect’s.

“Easy enough.”**

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Tian swiftly wrote out seven or eight recipes and handed them over.

These formulas used common herbs but, through his refinements, achieved miraculous effects. Once released, they would dominate the market.

“Jiang Tian, thank you! I’ll report this to Grandfather and—”**

“No. Don’t tell Grandfather. Don’t tell anyone,” Jiang Tian cut her off sternly. “What you’ve seen and heard—not a single word.”**

“Just say you bought these recipes from the Shennong Sect at great cost. Understood?”**

“Why?” Jiang Lin was baffled.

In the family, every junior fought for the patriarch’s favor to boost their standing. Why would Jiang Tian hide his achievements?

“Just do as I say. No questions,” Jiang Tian said coldly. “If you breathe a word, you’ll regret it.”**

His aunts and female relatives were notorious gossips. If word of his abilities spread, the three great families of Jinling might act rashly, forcing his hand before he was ready.

“Fine, fine! My lips are sealed!” Jiang Lin shuddered and nodded frantically.

Once she left, Jiang Tian’s group checked out and drove deep into the Shennongjia forest.

On the road, Shen Mange couldn’t resist asking: “Jiang Tian, you killed Hong Tianzhao. Aren’t you going to wipe out the Hong family in Hankou to tie up loose ends?”**

“Do they still want revenge? Fine by me—I’ll make sure they never return,” Jiang Tian drawled lazily from the back seat.

Arrogant! Insufferably arrogant!**

Shen Mange seethed, but upon reflection, his words held truth.

Hong Tianzhao had been the strongest in the Hong family—a grandmaster. If even he had fallen to Jiang Tian, the rest would only be marching to their deaths.

Forcing a smile, she said: “True, but the Hongs control Hankou’s docks, river transport, hotels, real estate, and commercial properties. Their visible assets alone are worth billions, not to mention their underground dealings. Why not take it all for yourself?”**

“Pah! A few scraps of silver? Not worth my time. What I want is your Shennong Sect’s treasures!” Jiang Tian scoffed.

Wealth meant nothing to him. If he wanted it, he could take it anytime.

What he needed was the sect’s thousand-year-old Green Spirit Wood. With it, he could set up a spirit-gathering array and break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining. At that point, he’d be unstoppable—even veteran grandmasters would be no match.

“Delusional! Boastful fool!”**

Shen Mange sneered inwardly. “You have no idea what our sect is capable of, nor the power of Elder Zuo. When the time comes, you’ll never leave alive!”**

“What, a few grandmasters or Daoist mages?” Jiang Tian heard her muttering and smirked. “Your master, Zuo Zimu, is only fit to stoke my furnace. I could crush him with one slap!”