Chapter 160: Mountain? Dragon? Or a Snake?

The Chen Clan has cultivated Dragon Tooth Rice; from now on, the Chen Clan may never lack Dragon Tooth Rice again.

The bag the daughter brought back is worth quite a sum; you can't buy it elsewhere, and you saw it yourself—Chen Chuyang that kid is truly good to Hongxue. Hongchen back then didn't even have one ten‑thousandth of Hongxue; if Chen Chuyang had been this attentive to Hongchen, perhaps Hongchen wouldn't be thinking of breaking off the marriage.

Jiang Luolan stared at the remaining Dragon Tooth Rice; that bowl of Dragon Tooth Rice left her pleasantly dazed, with an endless aftertaste.

This kind of spiritual rice is truly delicious, and its benefits to the body can be felt directly. Such a good thing, Chen Chuyang said he would give it to his daughter, bringing back a whole bag at once. Don't underestimate this bag; if they resell it, countless people would scramble for it, and it could easily fetch several thousand spiritual stones.

Jiang Luolan envies Chen Chuyang's regard for Hongxue and also thinks Chen Chuyang is a good man.

Unfortunately, the relationship between the eldest daughter and the Chen Clan has deteriorated; after a quarrel and the broken engagement, the Chen Clan and the Shang Clan are no longer the same as before. The matter between Hongxue and Chen Chuyang hasn't been settled, and they are anxious.

Especially Jiang Luolan, who had originally planned to finalize things quickly after the eldest daughter left; who knew an unexpected incident would arise.

"The matter between Hongxue and Chen Chuyang must be established quickly; it can't be delayed."

"Otherwise, if we drag it out for two or three years, when your eldest daughter returns, something untoward might happen."

"We could get engaged first and marry later; how does that sound?"

Jiang Luolan asked her husband for his opinion: to get engaged, establish the relationship, and later find an opportunity to marry.

This is a big matter; they are still young, so they can set it now and marry in two years—everything will be just right.

By then, the son will have fully grown and can support the Shang Clan's household; with Chen Chuyang's assistance, Jiang Luolan believes Shang Yue can quickly become stronger. After all, he's her own brother‑in‑law; he couldn't possibly refuse to help, right?

The relationship between the two families indeed needs to be drawn closer; it shouldn't be widened because of the eldest daughter.

In short, Jiang Luolan is very supportive of this marriage.

The problem is the husband.

Shang Yingnian took a deep breath and asked, "What did they say after your last visit to the Chen Clan?"

A few days ago, Jiang Luolan went to the Chen Clan and chatted with Long Ming.

The two women chatted about this and that; men shouldn't interfere. Shang Yingnian didn't know the content of their conversation, nor had he asked, and only now, recalling it, did he speak up to inquire.

Jiang Luolan rolled her eyes at her husband and said wordlessly, "It's been so many days, and you only now remember this. Long Ming and I have talked a lot, including matters of this sort; Long Ming naturally agrees, and neither of us has any problem."

"The current problem lies with you two men, and I don't even know what you're thinking. Everyone else has no objections, yet you two seem clueless about what's going on."

"Long Ming has seen the daughter and interacted with her; he's very satisfied with Hongxue. Regarding this matter, Long Ming also hopes we can finalize it quickly, lest the lack of a formal status harms Hongxue's reputation."

On this point, she needs to speak properly to her husband.

Clearly a decisive person, yet when it comes to his daughter, he becomes hesitant.

He doesn't resemble his usual self as a husband at all.

Shang Yingnian gave a bitter smile and said, "Ah, it's not that I'm thinking Hongxue is still young, so I'm not in a hurry to marry her."

"She is my Baby daughter; I don't want her to leave me so early."

"Chen Chuyang that kid is the same; he wants to marry our daughter, but the man doesn't come. If he doesn't come in person, how can I be at ease handing my daughter over to him?"

Jiang Luolan already knew her husband had something going on, and indeed it was so.

That damned sense of face hindered him.

"Is that all?"

Shang Yingnian nodded, "Yes, that's the only point; my demands aren't high."

This concerns his dignity and also Chen Chuyang's regard for Hongxue.

As a son‑in‑law, not coming to visit me is unacceptable, right?

He wants to set the betrothal but doesn't even come to propose.

Isn't this just causing trouble?

Jiang Luolan rolled her eyes at her husband and said, "Even if they intend to come, they need confirmation; they can't just show up and have you give them a cold shoulder, can they?"

"I'm telling you, this matter is settled like this; later, you yourself discuss the terms with Chen Yuan."

Shang Yingnian lifted his head, about to speak.

Jiang Luolan glared at him, and Shang Yingnian instantly dared not speak.

"Hongxue's marriage must not encounter problems; I don't want to beg anyone again. If it goes wrong, next time you'll have to explain it yourself to your daughter."

"I..."

Thinking of Hongxue's famous outburst, Shang Yingnian shrank back; once his little daughter gets angry, no one gives her face.

Even her older sister dares to scold her; it's hard to speak for oneself.

"Fine, you go handle it."

After saying that, Shang Yingnian collapsed weakly onto his chair.

His eyes were hollow.

Jiang Luolan nodded with satisfaction; having settled the husband, the other matters were basically also resolved.

What remains is to negotiate a set of terms.

This is a matter between her and Long Ming; both families know the rules and how to proceed.

One day later.

Underground, Chen Chuyang was still analyzing the cavernous rift before him.

He touched it with his hand, analyzing bit by bit, then gradually widening that fissure.

From a single initial crack, it grew to the size of a fist before his eyes.

The spiritual qi inside found an outlet and surged outward in a swarm; that surge almost swept Chen Chuyang and Xiao Liyu away.

After the man and Xiao Liyu steadied their forms, they again observed the opening; the Mixed‑Origin Bell clung to the aperture, absorbing all the spiritual qi, and Chen Chuyang recovered from his disheveled state, still watching the opening.

"Indeed it's a cavern, and this cavern is no small one, and..."

The opening widened, and that oppressive pressure began to seep out.

Xiao Liyu curled up behind Chen Chuyang, unwilling to face that pressure directly.

"Roar."

The dragon's roar sounded again, echoing deep within Chen Chuyang's soul.

Chen Chuyang shivered, lifted his head, and his Spiritual Sense seeped through, entering the aperture of the cave heaven.

His strengthened Spiritual Sense now carried a hint of demonic beast blood, which blended with the aura inside the cave heaven.

After altering his own aura, the cave heaven's suppression over him disappeared.

That terrifying oppressive pressure aimed at him also disappeared.

Indeed, the demonic beast blood is the key to entering the cave heaven; I absorbed the demonic beast blood, and both my body and soul were tinged with its aura, so I was not targeted.

Just as he had anticipated, he took out a bottle of demonic beast blood, continued to consume a few drops, letting his body be filled with the aura of demonic beast blood.

Just like that terrifying aura, they share the same source.

That oppressive pressure aimed at him has weakened considerably.

I knew this would happen; demonic beast blood is important—I entered through a rift and would be identified as an intruder.

Little carp, come have a few drops too.

The little carp shook its head in refusal, but it had no choice; Chen Chuyang forcibly shoved the drops into it.

After swallowing it, the little carp felt desperate, knowing Chen Chuyang would surely take it into that cave heaven.

That dangerous place, it did not want to enter.

"Break."

The fist-sized opening began to expand, large enough for a person to enter; Chen Chuyang stopped his destruction, slipped through, then set up formations inside to conceal the opening, laying down several formations in succession, completely covering everything—without entering the formations, one could not detect any abnormality here.

After doing all this, Chen Chuyang was very satisfied with his handling.

Too perfect—this way, no one will know about this opening.

After setting up the formations, he raised his head and saw a mountain blocking his view.