Returning after 10000 Years Cultivation - Chapter 98

In the previous life, during the business war with the Chen family, the Jiang family was plagued by defeatism. They repeatedly backed down, unwilling to endure losses to strike a blow against their enemy, which led to them being outmaneuvered at every turn and ultimately crushed by the Chen family in a single decisive strike.

Jiang Tian wanted to teach Jiang Lin a lesson: only by standing firm and pressing forward without retreat could they truly defeat their enemies.

“Jiang Tian, this is a martial arts gathering. You have no right to be here! Get out!”

Seeing Jiang Tian approach, Chen Bo sneered contemptuously. “What do you think you’re doing? Trying to force your way in? Hah! A worthless fool like you should think twice—this is the Shennong Sect’s territory. One word from me, and you’re dead!”

“Hmph, the Shennong Sect? Worthless! Me attending this gathering is doing you a favor!”

Jiang Tian smirked coldly.

“You dare threaten me? Even your sect leader wouldn’t have the guts to speak to me like that!”

“An ant like you only deserves to lie down or kneel when speaking to me. Since you don’t know your place, I’ll teach you!”

With a disdainful chuckle, Jiang Tian strode forward and suddenly raised his hand—slapping Chen Bo across the face.

Whoosh!

Chen Bo flew backward like a kite with its string cut, blood spraying from his mouth, teeth scattering in the air. He crashed to the ground like a dead dog, his face swollen and bruised like an overripe fruit.

Dazed, Chen Bo clutched his head, shaking it for several seconds before realizing he had been struck. Rage exploded in his chest.

Scrambling to his feet, he pointed at Jiang Tian and roared, “Jiang Tian! You good-for-nothing trash! How dare you hit me?! I’m an outer disciple of the Shennong Sect!”

He couldn’t believe it. Jiang Tian, the infamous waste of the declining Jiang family, had actually struck him—Chen Bo, the rising star of the Chen family and a disciple of the Shennong Sect, a being revered like a god in the eyes of ordinary people!

And yet, Jiang Tian had the audacity to hit him—right in front of so many guards and witnesses! This was outrageous!

“Correction—you’re a menial disciple.”

Jiang Tian’s expression was utterly indifferent, as if he had merely swatted a fly. His words cut like a knife.

“Jiang Tian! Shut up! Apologize to Young Master Chen right now!”

Jiang Lin’s heart sank in despair. She was on the verge of tears, thinking Jiang Tian had just doomed them both.

If he had offended Chen Bo, not only would she lose any chance of entering the gathering, but they might even be killed on the spot.

“A mere ant isn’t worthy of my apology.”

Jiang Tian remained utterly composed, speaking slowly. “Killing him would be as easy as slaughtering a chicken.”

“Jiang Tian! You’re courting death!”

Chen Bo trembled with fury, his eyes icy enough to kill. With a wave of his hand, he barked, “Men! Beat this bastard to death!”

Though his status in the Shennong Sect couldn’t compare to that of Lady Mange or Elder Zhang Yanghao, Chen Bo still held some influence among the outer disciples and was responsible for the gathering’s security.

“Yes!”

Seven or eight burly men, their auras fierce, immediately closed in on Jiang Tian, cracking their knuckles with malicious intent.

“Jiang Tian, let’s run! I’ve heard these people are martial artists—killing us would be like cutting grass!”

Jiang Lin was terrified, her face pale, her body trembling. She clutched Jiang Tian’s sleeve, begging him desperately.

“Chen Bo! Do you have a death wish?! How dare you disrespect Grand Alchemist Jiang!”

At that moment, a sharp, cold voice rang out. Shen Mange strode over, her face frosty, murderous intent radiating from her.

“Elder Sister! He barged in uninvited and hit me! Of course I had to stop him!”

Chen Bo was on the verge of tears, rushing forward to explain anxiously:

“You’ve been deceived! He’s a complete fraud! He doesn’t even understand basic herb properties, let alone concoct pills!”

“What do you know?!”

Lady Mange raised her hand and slapped Chen Bo hard across the face, sending blood gushing from his nose. “Do you think I don’t know Grand Alchemist Jiang’s skills?”

“What kind of trick did this bastard pull to make Elder Sister worship him like a god?!”

Chen Bo clutched his face, glaring at Jiang Tian with venomous hatred, his teeth grinding in silent fury.

“Still glaring?!”

Lady Mange’s beautiful face was icy as she pointed at Chen Bo and scolded sharply: “Do you want to die? One more disrespectful word, and expulsion will be the least of your worries—I’ll kill you myself!”

“Y-Yes, Elder Sister! I won’t dare again!”

Chen Bo shuddered violently, his face deathly pale as he bowed deeply.

This seemingly gentle and refined elder sister was actually ruthless—countless unruly disciples had met brutal ends at her hands.

“Kneel!”

At her cold command, Chen Bo immediately dropped to his knees, trembling like a leaf.

But when facing Jiang Tian, Lady Mange’s expression transformed into one of reverence. She bowed respectfully and said:

“Grand Alchemist Jiang, after discussing with Elder Zhang last night, we concluded that only with your presence would this pill exchange truly be a top-tier event.”

“I had intended to deliver an invitation, but you’ve graced us with your presence instead! Mange failed to welcome you properly—please forgive my oversight!”

“Why is this Elder Sister Mange treating Jiang Tian—this good-for-nothing—with such respect?”

“And how did he become ‘Grand Alchemist Jiang’ when he knows nothing about medicine?!”

Jiang Lin’s mind reeled in shock. She stood frozen, staring in disbelief.

“Hmph. Seems we had the same idea.”

Jiang Tian barely glanced at Shen Mange, his expression indifferent, before stepping onto the platform.

After a brief hesitation, Jiang Lin hurried after him. The crowd parted—no one dared block their way.

…

At this moment, the elevated platform was arranged with stone chairs encircling a massive round table at the center. Over twenty martial artists had already gathered—unlike the previous night, there wasn’t a single ordinary person among them. All were warriors from prominent families and sects.

“Why are there so few people at this gathering?” Old Man Qiu whispered to Jiang Tian, his expression uneasy.

“Why bother worrying?” Jiang Tian snorted, a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes.

“Haha! Grand Alchemist Jiang, you’ve arrived so quickly!”

Seeing Jiang Tian, Hong Tianzhao rose with a beaming smile, clasping his hands in greeting.

Tang Qianbian, Niu Bowen, and the other martial artists also stood to welcome Jiang Tian warmly.

“I came uninvited—apologies for keeping you all waiting.”

Jiang Tian sat casually on one of the stone chairs, crossing his legs with effortless ease. “Lady Mange mentioned she intended to send me an invitation. Does that mean you’ve prepared some spirit herbs?”

“Are these all martial artists? Their auras are terrifying—even Grandfather pales in comparison…”

Jiang Lin’s heart pounded like a drum. Like a small bird seeking shelter, she stood meekly behind Jiang Tian, as if serving as his attendant.

“Of course!”

Lady Mange took the seat beside Jiang Tian, handing him a cup of tea with a charming smile. “Last night, after much deliberation, we simply couldn’t bear to miss out on your supreme-grade pills. So we rushed to gather some spirit herbs from our sect’s stores overnight, hoping they might catch your esteemed eye!”

“Grand Alchemist, please take a look!”

A Shennong Sect elder carefully opened a large brocade box placed on the stone table.

“Hm?”

Jiang Tian’s gaze flickered slightly when he noticed an incense burner with candles placed at the center of the table.

But his face remained calm as he scanned the contents of the box—then his heart skipped a beat.

How peculiar!

Dragon’s Mallow, Snow Tea, Purple Duckweed, Summer Ice Wintergreen… These herbs weren’t particularly rare, nor were they especially old—only about a decade in age.

Yet they radiated an intense verdant energy, elevating them far beyond their ordinary status.

Verdant Wood, also known as Green Spirit Wood, took fifty years just to sprout, a century to grow an inch, and a full millennium to mature.

A fully matured Verdant Wood contained vast, pure wood-element spiritual energy—a rarity even in the outer realms, and precisely the kind of material needed for a spirit-gathering formation.

“These herbs are quite exceptional. I’m willing to trade twenty pills for them.” Jiang Tian nodded slightly.

“Grand Alchemist Jiang has a discerning eye! These herbs are treasures our sect has preserved for years!”

Lady Mange sighed softly before smiling. “Then let’s proceed with the exchange!”

She quickly listed the names and quantities of the pills.

Jiang Tian took a bundle from Old Man Qiu, retrieving several porcelain bottles and portioning out the agreed-upon pills.

“Good. Since everyone is busy, I’ll take my leave now.”

Jiang Tian stood, lifting the brocade box.

“Grand Alchemist, why the hurry?” Hong Tianzhao rose anxiously, his tone warm and inviting. “Stay and chat! Visit my estate for a few days before departing!”

“Thank you for your kindness, Patriarch Hong.”

Jiang Tian declined with a wry smile. “The mountains and rivers will always bring us together again, but I’m burdened with mundane affairs. I must go.”

“Grand Alchemist, this is premium Cloud Mist Tea harvested from our Shennong Sect’s Cloud Peak—a tribute reserved for emperors in ancient times. Won’t you and Old Man Qiu stay for a cup?”

Lady Mange smiled sweetly, her eyes sparkling as she handed Jiang Tian a teacup.

Seeing how respectfully Hong Tianzhao and Shen Mange treated Jiang Tian, Jiang Lin was even more astonished.

Jiang Tian didn’t refuse. He accepted the tea and drank it in one gulp.

Tang Linglong took a small sip, while Old Man Qiu hesitated before barely wetting his lips.

Placing the cup back on the table, Jiang Tian turned to leave. “No need to see me out.”

“Jiang Tian! Did you really think you could leave?!”

In that instant, Lady Mange’s expression twisted into something cold and merciless. All traces of warmth vanished as she hissed:

“Hand over all your pills and formulas, and I might spare your worthless life!”

“Jiang Tian, what are they doing?!”

Jiang Lin’s face paled in shock. She hadn’t expected Shen Mange’s sudden betrayal.

“Are they… trying to rob us?!”

Realization dawned, and terror gripped her. Her body trembled as she clutched Jiang Tian’s sleeve, as if that alone could offer some protection.

These martial artists were said to be superhuman beings. Against them, ordinary people like her and Jiang Tian would be crushed like ants.

“Hah! Do they even have the ability to rob me?”

Jiang Tian stood with his hands behind his back, glancing at Shen Mange with mocking indifference.

Ambushes, poison, assassination, pillaging—Jiang Tian was the grandmaster of such tactics.

For these people to try such tricks on him?

It was like waving a blade before the God of War himself.