Chapter 82 : Chapter 82

Chapter 82. Everyone Asks How to Break Through Beyond the Martial God Realm. Dad, Why Are You Looking at Me?

Above the sky, where dark clouds churned and rolled, a thunderclap suddenly exploded. The flash of lightning blinded everyone at the banquet for a brief moment.

Jiang Zhentian waved his hand lightly. In the next instant, the wind and thunder ceased, the dark clouds dispersed, and sunlight pierced through the damp air, forming a rainbow after the storm.

Surrounded by the power of laws, he slowly descended from the sky and took his seat at the head of the venue, his bearing imposing and majestic.

Every guest attending the birthday banquet revealed a look of shock. Their eyes widened as they stared at the white strands of energy circling around Jiang Zhentian.

That was the power of laws. In Huaxia’s most authoritative institute for researching the cultivation system beyond the Martial God realm, a paper had once been published on the subject.

It stated that beyond the Martial God realm, one transcended the mortal flesh and gained control over the power of laws.

As long as the laws did not perish, one could live forever and be called a “god.”

“Damn! Patriarch Jiang really took that step? This pressure from the laws is terrifying.”

“I never thought Patriarch Jiang would actually succeed. The Zhou family patriarch has been in seclusion for five years just to touch that level. The Jiang family’s status is probably going to rise to another level now.”

“Exactly! He’s the first person in all of Huaxia to break through beyond the Martial God realm. The upper echelons of Huaxia will probably pour even more resources into the Jiang family. The family is only going to become more prosperous from here on out. I’m so jealous.”

“...”

In an instant, everyone in the venue raised their glasses to congratulate Jiang Zhentian, eager to flatter him.

The Jiang family would inevitably stand far above the other four top families in the future. Even if they could not curry favor with them, it would be best not to offend them.

At the center of the venue, Zhou Mingyuan’s expression shifted unpredictably as he stared at the power of laws floating around Jiang Zhentian, his brows tightly furrowed.

How was this possible? How could Jiang Zhentian really have broken through to a realm beyond the Martial God?

Hadn’t Jiang Dongnian said Jiang Zhentian was only putting on a show?

Fine, Jiang Dongnian. So you two brothers joined forces to deceive me, did you? Bastard!

Zhou Mingyuan’s hand, hidden inside his sleeve, slowly clenched into a fist, producing crisp cracking sounds.

Now that Jiang Zhentian had broken through beyond the Martial God realm, Su Zhan would never choose the Zhou family again. The scheme Zhou Mingyuan had laid out for five years had all become worthless.

He let out several rough breaths, then turned his head and glared viciously at Jiang Dongnian, who was seated below, his eyes filled with indescribable hatred.

Meanwhile, Jiang Dongnian sat there in a daze, staring at his elder brother in utter disbelief.

“H-How is this possible? Big Brother failed several times before. Why did he succeed this time?”

His face showed both shock and anxiety, because Jiang Zhentian’s breakthrough beyond the Martial God realm also meant that he could directly veto the decisions of the Council of Elders.

That meant even if the Council of Elders objected, they would still have to endure it if Jiang Zhentian wanted Jiang Yichen to remain the heir.

What was he supposed to do now?

Jiang Dongnian was truly panicking. He had been planning this for so long. How could he possibly be willing to give up just like that?

His gaze swept across Su Zhan, Chu Ningfeng, and Tang Wuji, and a plan slowly formed in his mind.

“It seems this is the only way.”

He secretly sent a message to Zhou Mingyuan and explained his countermeasure.

At that moment, Su Zhan, Tang Wuji, and Chu Ningfeng all wore expressions of shock tinged with gravity.

They slowly sat back down, their eyes never leaving Jiang Zhentian.

Now that Jiang Zhentian had broken through beyond the Martial God realm, the Jiang family was destined to dominate alone in the future. From now on, they would all have to rely on the Jiang family to some extent.

Their only option now was to maintain good relations with the Jiang family.

Tang Wuji rotated the golden ring on his left thumb and asked, “Brother Jiang, have you... truly reached the level of a ‘god’?”

Chu Ningfeng and Su Zhan also looked at him expectantly.

Jiang Zhentian pondered for a moment, then shook his head. “I have only comprehended the power of laws. My physical body has not yet transcended the mortal form. At most, I can be considered to have stepped with one foot into the level of a ‘god.’”

The power of laws was incredibly mighty. Without a body capable of bearing that power, one could not unleash the true strength of the laws.

The three of them nodded slightly, but that only made them feel even more out of reach.

They were all Martial Gods, yet they did not even possess the qualifications to touch that level.

“Brother Jiang, for the sake of our many years of friendship, could you share with us your insights on comprehending the power of laws?” Chu Ningfeng asked with a refined smile.

Tang Wuji also chimed in, wearing the shameless expression of an old rogue. “Brother Jiang, our breakthroughs are nowhere in sight, so just tell us. Let us share in your good fortune.”

At that question, Jiang Zhentian’s expression stiffened.

His insights on comprehending the power of laws? What insights did he have?

After taking that Heaven-Seizing Fortune Pill Xiao Chen had given him, he had vaguely felt as though something were calling out to him. After ten days of secluded comprehension, he had simply grasped the power of laws. It really was that simple.

Jiang Zhentian’s gaze fell on Jiang Yichen, who was seated below, and astonishment flickered in his eyes.

He had taken the pill with a try-it-and-see attitude, yet the pill that his formerly useless rebellious son had given him had really been as miraculous as he claimed.

The more he looked, the more gratified he felt inside.

This brat had finally gotten back on the right track.

“To comprehend what lies beyond the Martial God realm, you must first sense the call of the laws. As for the rest, it will happen naturally. This is something that can only be understood intuitively and cannot be explained in words.”

Jiang Zhentian bluffed in high spirits.

Shen Qingyue, seated beside him, shot him a glance, but she did not expose the truth that the pill had come from Xiao Chen.

Outside the home, she still gave her husband face.

At home, however, face was not a thing.

Su Zhan and the other two frowned slightly. That explanation was as good as saying nothing at all.

Still, they could understand. Insights like these were not something they could freeload off for free.

Su Zhan sighed and touched the prosthetic right leg beneath him, his mood turning melancholy.

A comrade who had once been inferior to him had gone farther and farther ahead, while he himself was moving backward.

Still, there was one thing that comforted him. Now that Jiang Zhentian had comprehended the power of laws, the Jiang family might well become a good destination for his daughter in the future.

The birthday banquet officially began amid Jiang Zhentian’s stunning entrance. One first-rate family after another presented gifts, all hoping to leave a good impression on him.

Below, the younger generation of the Five Great Families also began building connections.

The disciples of the Jiang family, in particular, were almost overwhelmed by the eager friendliness of juniors from the other great families.

Jiang Feng watched all of this. Ever since Jiang Zhentian had appeared, he had been sitting there stiffly, without moving an inch.

He knew that now that Jiang Zhentian had comprehended the power of laws, if his father did not want him to become the heir, then no matter what he did, he would never obtain that position.

Damn it! Why was that man always so lucky every single time?

He had been certain of victory. As long as he won the team league championship, he would become the heir.

But now...

Was everything going to vanish like a bubble?

Jiang Feng lowered his head, utterly unwilling to accept it.

The frightening aura radiating from him caused the younger members of the other great families, who had originally wanted to befriend him, to retreat one after another.

“Holy crap! Brother Yichen, your dad is seriously incredible. He actually touched the level of a ‘god.’ Can I cling to your thigh?” Tang Long shamelessly pressed his face close.

Jiang Yichen held that plump face back with one hand. “Could you show a little ambition?”

“My dad became a Martial God by clinging to someone else’s thigh, and that method works great,” Tang Long said without the slightest embarrassment.

The corner of Jiang Yichen’s mouth twitched. In his previous life, Tang Wuji really had done exactly that. Rumor had it that he had shamelessly pestered the daughter of Huaxia’s Commander-in-Chief until he actually succeeded in getting close to her.

With that relationship in place, the Tang family never needed to care about the attitude of the other great families, and every year Huaxia only increased the resources allocated to them.

After Tang Wuji relied on those advantages to become a Martial God, even Huaxia’s Commander-in-Chief found him more and more pleasing to the eye. It had to be said, there really was something to that strategy.

Jiang Yichen smiled helplessly.

“Brother Yichen, your father is really amazing. He even managed to suppress my dad,” Su Linyu praised happily as well.

Now that Uncle had comprehended the power of laws, her father would definitely not force her into a marriage alliance with the Zhou family anymore. That meant she could stay by Brother Yichen’s side all the time.

Until...

Until Brother Yichen fulfilled their marriage engagement and the two of them began living a sweet and blissful life together.

Jiang Yichen looked at the excitement flickering in Su Linyu’s eyes as she stood there daydreaming, and his expression turned rather strange.

What was this girl thinking about now?

He was just about to ask when a crowd of formally dressed young heirs, all wearing warm smiles, swarmed toward him.

“Young Master Jiang, long time no see. Have you been well lately?”

“Young Master Jiang, I heard you performed brilliantly in the martial exam. Tell us about it, will you?”

“Young Master Jiang, I recently obtained an ancient jade from the Kunlun Ruins. The workmanship is exquisite beyond comparison. I’m certain you’ll like it.”

“...”

Those former drinking-and-party friends who rarely contacted him before were now all taking the initiative to greet him, squeezing Tang Long, Chu Xingchen, and Su Linyu off to the side.

However, faced with their enthusiasm, Jiang Yichen’s reaction was incomparably cold.

When I was down and out, I never saw any of you acting like this.

[Ding! Lie-Flat Choice triggered...]