Chapter 79 : Chapter 79

Chapter 79. The Fountain of Life—The Zhou Family Panicked

That night, at a side courtyard of the Zhou family estate.

Zhou Mingyuan and Jiang Dongnian sat across from each other in a pavilion, drinking tea and chatting.

“Brother Jiang, is the child Jiang Feng confident about winning the league championship?” Zhou Mingyuan asked with a smile as he sipped his tea.

Jiang Dongnian laughed smugly. “Feng’er has poached every last team Jiang Yichen had. The championship is his for the taking.”

Zhou Mingyuan let out a surprised sound, and inwardly, he was overjoyed.

Jiang Dongnian had told him long ago that the Jiang family would decide its heir based on who won the Huaxia Team League championship.

If Jiang Yichen lost his status as heir, then Su Zhan would absolutely never agree to marry his daughter to Jiang Yichen.

And if that happened, Su Zhan would have no choice but to choose the Zhou family.

Now that all of Jiang Yichen’s teams had been poached, what was he supposed to use to compete in the league?

Still, the lessons of the graduation ceremony and the martial exam left Zhou Mingyuan somewhat uneasy.

“Brother Jiang, did Jiang Yichen not ask the Yanhuang Team to return?”

Jiang Dongnian shook his head and said indifferently, “One month before the league began, he threw together a team at the last minute. Brother Zhou, there’s no need to worry. The league championship will absolutely belong to Feng’er.”

When Zhou Mingyuan heard that, he thought for a moment before asking, “How strong is this hastily assembled team?”

“Haha, Brother Zhou, you still don’t trust Feng’er.” Jiang Dongnian shook his head and explained, “The Spark Team Jiang Yichen put together at the last minute only has two people in the sixth realm. The rest are all in the fourth realm.”

The moment those words were spoken, the worry gripping Zhou Mingyuan’s heart finally settled.

Among the top ten strongest teams in the league, every member was a Sixth-realm Great Grandmaster. With the Spark Team’s lineup, if they could still win the championship, it would be an insult to common sense.

“So Brother Jiang already prepared everything in advance. I was overthinking it. Once Jiang Feng becomes the heir, I will definitely come in person to offer my congratulations.”

“Good. Then I’ll borrow Brother Zhou’s auspicious words.” Jiang Dongnian’s smile was radiant.

Zhou Mingyuan continued sipping his tea. Then he suddenly thought of something and asked, “Brother Jiang, ten days ago you said Jiang Zhentian had gone into seclusion to break through beyond the Martial God realm. Is that true?”

Jiang Dongnian waved his hand dismissively. “My elder brother? He just refuses to give up. I’ve lost count of how many times he has tried to break through, and not once has he succeeded.”

“This time, it’s definitely just for show—to put some pressure on the other families. If you don’t believe me, then attend my elder brother’s birthday banquet tomorrow and see for yourself.”

Zhou Mingyuan nodded slightly. Beyond the Martial God realm! No one in the entire world had ever reached it.

The Zhou family head had already been in seclusion for many years in order to touch that level, and all clan affairs were being managed by him, the Grand Clan Elder.

For Jiang Zhentian to break through was as difficult as ascending to heaven. It seemed he really had been worrying too much.

At last, Zhou Mingyuan was completely at ease.

He continued drinking tea with Jiang Dongnian and probing him for information until the moon had risen directly overhead.

“Tomorrow is my elder brother’s birthday banquet. We’ll have a proper catch-up then.” Jiang Dongnian rose and took his leave.

Zhou Mingyuan escorted him to the entrance, smiling as he watched him go.

The two of them were merely taking what they needed from each other. As long as they kept up appearances, that was enough.

“Grand Clan Elder, Doctor Li is already in the main hall. He says he has something extremely important to discuss.”

Just then, the butler approached and reported respectfully.

Zhou Mingyuan frowned, straightened his clothes, and stepped into the main hall.

“Li Ming, didn’t I tell you not to come see me unless absolutely necessary? Su Zhan is not that easy to fool.”

The moment he entered, his face was stern.

Five years ago, after Su Zhan lost his right leg in the Mount Tai Fengshan Ruins, Zhou Mingyuan had already begun laying out his plans.

He had bribed Li Ming, one of the Ten Great Physicians of Huazhong, and arranged for him to monitor Su Zhan’s physical condition at all times and report to him regularly.

His goal was simple. First, he would draw the Su family into an alliance. Then, once Su Zhan fell below the Martial God realm, he would swallow the entire Su family in one bite.

If he did not plan ahead, the other families would certainly come to take a share as well.

Li Ming hurriedly nodded. “Elder Zhou, I had no choice. If I didn’t come see you now, Su Zhan might really regrow his severed limb.”

What?!

At those words, Zhou Mingyuan’s eyes flew wide open, and his whole body stiffened.

“W-What did you say?!”

Li Ming said anxiously, “This evening, when I went to change Su Zhan’s prosthetic, I discovered that Jiang Yichen had given him a bottle of Fountain of Life. It can regenerate severed limbs...”

He truthfully told Zhou Mingyuan everything about the Fountain of Life.

Zhou Mingyuan’s breathing immediately grew heavy, and disbelief shone in his eyes.

Jiang Yichen again. How had that useless good-for-nothing, who had wasted four years, ended up ruining every single one of his plans?

Zhou Mingyuan clenched his fists. He was furious, but also deeply shaken.

The Jiang family actually possessed a divine object capable of regenerating severed limbs. Could it be that the Jiang family was not what Jiang Dongnian claimed at all?

Had they been hiding even more?

He lowered his eyes and thought carefully, recalling all the abnormal changes in Jiang Yichen since the graduation ceremony, along with the Grandmaster-level strength he had displayed during the martial exam.

A sense of unease suddenly rose in his heart.

Because Jiang Yichen existed, the course of his plans was beginning to drift farther and farther from its original path.

Zhou Mingyuan let out a heavy sigh and asked, “Where is the Fountain of Life now?”

“It’s in the hands of Miss Su. After hearing my warning, Su Zhan won’t use it for the time being. There’s still time.”

“I understand. Go back first. And remember—do not let anyone find out about our relationship.”

Li Ming’s expression turned solemn, and he nodded before leaving the main hall.

A vicious gleam flashed through Zhou Mingyuan’s eyes. He absolutely could not allow Su Zhan to use the Fountain of Life. He had to find a way to snatch it from Su Linyu.

“I’ll arrange for those people to move after the Jiang family’s birthday banquet. Jiang Yichen, you really are becoming a serious headache.”

He ground his teeth as he spoke.

...

The next day, early morning.

Jiang Yichen stretched lazily and slowly sat up.

“I have to say, getting a foot massage before bed really does make sleep feel incredible.”

He could not help sighing in satisfaction. Then he glanced around the newly renovated room, where everything was controlled by artificial intelligence.

“Xiao Ai, I’m getting up. I’m attending my father’s birthday banquet today.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a virtual window appeared out of thin air with a smiling face displayed on it.

“Understood, Master. Selecting formalwear for the banquet now. Automatic dressing mode activated,” the intelligent voice said.

Two mechanical arms extended from behind the bed, opened the wardrobe, and selected a dark suit, a white shirt, and a tie.

But Jiang Yichen merely frowned slightly, and the arms immediately returned that outfit and chose a white casual suit instead—comfortable yet elegant.

Heh. This thing was a little too smart.

The two mechanical arms dressed Jiang Yichen, then the bed automatically extended into the bathroom, where it began brushing his teeth, washing his face, and styling his hair.

Jiang Yichen did absolutely nothing and simply enjoyed the whole process in comfort.

Only after completing all their tasks did they send the impeccably handsome Jiang Yichen out of the room.

“Wishing Master a pleasant day.”

Jiang Yichen could not help marveling. The service really was impeccable.

In his previous life, he had been so busy with team matters that even washing up and fixing his hair had felt like a waste of time. It had been miserable.

But now, not having to do any of it himself had become a kind of pleasure.

“Brother Yichen, I made a heart-shaped breakfast for you today~ Hurry and try it. Once you’re done eating, we can get ready to go to the Jiang family.”

As he stepped into the living room, Su Linyu, dressed in a pink formal gown that exposed her snow-white shoulders, came up to greet him with her usual sweet smile.

Looking at that radiant smile, Jiang Yichen’s mood brightened even further, and he suddenly felt that life truly was beautiful.

He sat down, looked at the heart-shaped breakfast, and let out a laugh before happily tasting it.

“Brother Yichen, take this back. My father doesn’t want it.”

Su Linyu pushed the Fountain of Life toward him, and there was now a trace of sorrow in her eyes.

Jiang Yichen was taken aback. In his previous life, after Su Zhan allied with the Zhou family, his realm had fallen below Martial God because of his missing right leg, and the Zhou family had then taken over all of the Su family’s businesses.

Whenever Su Linyu came to see him, she would say that Su Zhan often complained that she had destroyed the Su family with her own hands.

He should have wanted more than anything to regenerate his severed limb and return to the peak of the Martial God realm. So why would he refuse it?

“What happened?” he asked.

Resting her head in both hands, Su Linyu told him everything that had happened the previous night.

Understanding immediately, Jiang Yichen sighed inwardly. Ah, Su Zhan, Su Zhan. You were given a chance to return to your peak, and yet you truly failed to seize it.