Chapter 607: Spirit Essence of the Moon, the Situation of the Jiang Family (Two-in-One)

Hearing the Second Elder's words.

The Great Elder frowned, then shook his head faintly, "Every member of the Jiang Family must abide by the clan rules; I am naturally no exception."

"It is just that, as everything has yet to be investigated, for the Second Elder to execute Jiang Wuji and Jiang Ling now is perhaps a bit too hasty."

"Whether Jiang Wuji and Jiang Ling have truly betrayed the family, I will investigate personally."

The Second Elder frowned, "Great Elder, the facts are already laid out before us; what else is there to investigate?"

The Great Elder looked at Yuan Fei, whose consciousness had already been controlled, "What a person knows may be a fact in their own view, but it is not necessarily the true fact."

"Controlling consciousness only allows one to speak the facts as they understand them."

"Furthermore..."

"Yuan Fei's consciousness is currently under someone else's control; any words spoken might be uttered under artificial manipulation, so how can they serve as evidence?"

The Second Elder's expression sank, "Great Elder, I still possess that much judgment."

The Great Elder shook his head, "There are thousands of Techniques in this world; no one dares claim they can see through everything. I do not trust you; I must investigate it myself."

"Then we can perform Soul Searching on Yuan Fei!" the Second Elder said in a deep voice.

The Great Elder shook his head, "Did I not already say? What Yuan Fei knows is not necessarily the truth; even Soul Searching would prove nothing."

"Great Elder, you are being unreasonable." The Second Elder's expression darkened.

The Great Elder looked at the Second Elder with a cold expression, "Second Elder, you must recognize your own status."

The Second Elder's expression faltered.

The Great Elder shifted his gaze to look at Wang Jianqiang, "This young friend, I suspect you of deliberately framing Jiang Wuji and Jiang Xuan, so you must also undergo an investigation."

"Come with me; if you are innocent, I will not lay a finger on you."

Wang Jianqiang narrowed his eyes.

This old fellow is quite shrewd?

He won't lay a finger on him?

What a joke.

If he were to go with him, would his life and death still be in his own hands?

Only a fool would believe that.

Seeing that Wang Jianqiang did not make the slightest move.

The Great Elder frowned, "You do not wish to return with me? Since that is the case, then I must offend you."

Having said that, he pointed a finger at Wang Jianqiang.

A streak of Spirit Light shot toward Wang Jianqiang.

Just as this Spirit Light was about to land on Wang Jianqiang.

A middle-aged man suddenly appeared in front of Wang Jianqiang.

He waved his palm, dispersing the Great Elder's finger strike.

Seeing the newcomer.

The elders were all startled and bowed slightly, "Greetings, Clan Head."

"Uncle."

"Father."

Seeing the newcomer, the worry on Jiang Xuan's and Jiang Shan's faces vanished instantly, replaced by expressions of pleasant surprise.

Is this the Jiang Family Clan Head?

Wang Jianqiang studied the middle-aged man in front of him, his expression shifting.

Under the gaze of everyone.

The newcomer nodded and looked at the Great Elder.

"Great Elder, let today's matters end here."

"You may take Jiang Wuji and Jiang Ling to investigate them yourself."

"As for this young friend."

As he spoke, he looked at Wang Jianqiang, "I will handle the investigation myself."

Upon hearing this, the Great Elder's eyes flashed.

He nodded, "Since the Clan Head has ordered it, then so be it."

After speaking, he waved his palm toward Jiang Wuji and Jiang Ling, and flew away with the two of them.

After the Great Elder left, the other elders also departed one after another.

Not long after.

In front of the Treasure Pavilion, only Jiang Shan, Jiang Xuan, Wang Jianqiang, and the Jiang Family Clan Head remained... along with a Nascent Soul.

The Jiang Family Clan Head looked at Yuan Fei's Nascent Soul.

"Put him away first."

"Yes, Father."

Jiang Shan nodded and put away Yuan Fei's Nascent Soul.

"Uncle, Jiang Wuji and Jiang Ling have clearly betrayed the clan; why did you so easily let the Great Elder take them away?"

Jiang Xuan looked at the Jiang Family Clan Head, a flash of confusion and a trace of imperceptible dissatisfaction crossing her pretty face.

But what level of cultivation did the Jiang Family Clan Head possess?

Although the trace of dissatisfaction on Jiang Xuan's face was fleeting, it was still keenly captured by him.

He shook his head without explaining.

He turned his head to look at Wang Jianqiang, a smile appearing on his stern face, "That Shan'er was able to defeat the Piaoxue Trading Firm and return the Qian Yu Trading Firm to the throne of the number one trading firm in Tianyue City is all thanks to your help, young friend."

"We are friends; helping each other is only right."

Wang Jianqiang smiled slightly.

The Jiang Family Clan Head looked deeply at Wang Jianqiang, "It is Shan'er's good fortune to be able to make a friend like you."

Wang Jianqiang's expression stirred, and he smiled, "You are too kind, Senior."

"I am not being kind."

The Jiang Family Clan Head shook his head, then turned to look at Jiang Shan, "Shan'er, go quickly and fetch the Moon Spirit Essence."

Jiang Shan nodded and walked into the Treasure Pavilion.

After Jiang Shan left, the Jiang Family Clan Head looked at Wang Jianqiang, his gaze flickering.

Wang Jianqiang looked at the Jiang Family Clan Head, "Senior seems to have something to say to this junior."

The Jiang Family Clan Head smiled, "This is not the place for a conversation; wait for Shan'er to return, and we shall talk at my place."

Just then, Jiang Xuan seemed to think of something and looked at the Jiang Family Clan Head, "By the way, Uncle, didn't you send people to investigate the whereabouts of the Sixth-tier Pill Recipe earlier?"

"What was the result?"

The Jiang Family Clan Head shook his head, "I have yet to find out who stole the Pill Recipe."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuan nodded.

Not long after.

Jiang Shan walked out of the Treasure Pavilion, holding a Jade Bottle in his hand.

After arriving before Wang Jianqiang, he did not avoid anything and handed the Jade Bottle to Wang Jianqiang, "Daoist Friend Wang, this is the Moon Spirit Essence; please take it."

Wang Jianqiang took the Jade Bottle, opened the stopper, and looked inside.

A cool and pure aura was immediately revealed.

His eyes brightened.

It really was Moon Spirit Essence!

He covered the bottle with the stopper and cupped his hands toward Jiang Shan, "Many thanks, Daoist Friend Jiang Shan."

Jiang Shan shook his head.

The Jiang Family Clan Head smiled, "Next, would you be willing to accompany me on a trip, little friend?"

"Since Senior has commanded it, this junior naturally dares not refuse."

Wang Jianqiang nodded.

"Little friend, there is no need to be so formal. Since you are friends with Xuan'er and Shan'er, you are not an outsider." The Jiang Family Clan Head smiled warmly.

Wang Jianqiang nodded.

"Shan'er, Xuan'er, you two come as well."

The Jiang Family Clan Head looked at Jiang Shan and Jiang Xuan again, then led the three of them into a Pavilion.

After the group of four entered a spacious hall and each took their seats.

The Jiang Family Clan Head looked at Jiang Xuan, "Xuan'er, you asked me for the Sixth-tier Pill Recipe earlier; have you already found someone to refine the Sixth-tier Pill?"

Jiang Xuan was startled.

Before she could speak, the Jiang Family Clan Head looked at Wang Jianqiang with a smile and continued to say to her, "The Alchemist you found must be Little Friend Wang, right?"

"If I am not mistaken, Little Friend Wang's Alchemy cultivation has reached at least the Sixth-tier Intermediate level."

Upon hearing the Jiang Family Clan Head's words.

Jiang Xuan looked at Wang Jianqiang.

Wang Jianqiang merely smiled, not showing the slightest change in expression.

Seeing this, Jiang Xuan nodded to the Jiang Family Clan Head.

Seeing Jiang Xuan admit it, a look of amazement flashed across the Jiang Family Clan Head's face.

This was a Sixth-tier Alchemist!

Although there is only a one-realm difference between a Fifth-tier High-grade Alchemist and a Sixth-tier Alchemist.

The gap is immense.

Under normal circumstances, it is almost impossible to cross this chasm without hundreds of years of accumulation.

Once one becomes a Sixth-tier Alchemist, not only does their ability improve significantly, but their status among Cultivators of Alchemy also soars.

No matter where they go, they can be called an Alchemy Master.

Furthermore.

An Alchemist of this level will be supported by all Alchemists.

If they fall in a normal fight or commit evil and deserve their fate, that is one thing.

But once they suffer unilateral persecution.

All Alchemists will stand up for them.

Furthermore.

At this level, which Alchemist is not of a great age?

And they are all incredibly arrogant.

That Wang Jianqiang, at such an age, has actually become a Sixth-tier Alchemist.

It is simply unimaginable.

Thinking of this.

The Jiang Family Clan Head's eyes became brighter than ever before.

A Sixth-tier Intermediate Alchemist!

Even for him, if he wanted an Alchemist of this level to refine a Pill, he would have to cater to the other party's mood.

Otherwise.

How else could Jiang Xuan's father, his own brother, have carried the burden of his foundation injuries for so many years, remaining unrecovered until now?

It is no exaggeration to say.

That Xuan'er and Shan'er were able to befriend Wang Jianqiang is a stroke of good fortune for the entire Jiang Family.

He flipped his palm and took out a Jade Slip.

He looked at Jiang Xuan and smiled, "Xuan'er, aren't you looking to ask me for that Sixth-tier Pill Recipe to treat your father's foundation injuries?"

"This is it."

Jiang Xuan was stunned, "Uncle, didn't you say the pill recipe had already been stolen?"

The Jiang Family Clan Head smiled, "The one that was lost was merely a fake."

"The reason I lied to you is simple: I just wanted to send out a signal that I was urgently seeking a Sixth-tier Pill Recipe."

"To show it to certain people within the family."

Jiang Xuan's expression shifted, "The Great Elder?"

The Jiang Family Clan Head nodded.

Seeing this, Wang Jianqiang felt a sudden realization.

Ever since he arrived at this Jiang Family, he had sensed that the atmosphere in the Jiang Family was somewhat off.

A Clan Head should, by rights, possess absolute authority within the family.

But from the attitude some in the Jiang Family held toward Jiang Shan, it was clear that certain people in the Jiang Family did not seem to care much for the Jiang Family Clan Head.

So that was it...

Just then, the Jiang Family Clan Head suddenly sighed.

He looked at Jiang Xuan, "Xuan'er, you have some ability now; although you have had your suspicions about some matters, you do not know the full picture, and it is time I told you."

Jiang Xuan was stunned, lost in thought.

After a moment of contemplation, the Jiang Family Clan Head continued, "Ever since the Ancestor fell, the Great Elder's faction has been restless, but with your father's assistance in the past, our faction was still able to barely suppress the Great Elder's faction."

"But ever since your father met with misfortune, the strength of our faction has been unable to continue suppressing the Great Elder's faction."

"We have even faintly fallen into a disadvantage."

"As the Jiang Family Clan Head, I must not only guard against the covetous eyes of other powers, but also worry about the Great Elder's faction..."

Having said this, he looked at Jiang Xuan.

"Because of this, when the Great Elder insisted on leading the push for your engagement to Jiang Wuji, I had thought of stopping it, but I was worried the Great Elder would cause chaos and allow other powers to take advantage of the situation, so I could not stop it."

"Fortunately, you had a mind of your own and proposed the wager with the family, which gave me room to intervene in secret."

Hearing this, Jiang Xuan was stunned, then a look of realization appeared on her face.

As a descendant of a great family, one's life and death are sometimes not one's own to decide, let alone marriage.

At the time, although she did not want her fate to be controlled, she had steeled herself and proposed the wager with the family.

But she had never thought the family would agree.

Yet the final result had surprised her greatly.

The family had actually agreed.

Originally, she had found it a bit strange.

So, there had been support from her uncle behind the scenes.

No wonder the family had agreed to the wager with her.

Although the final conditions set were nearly harsh, they had ultimately helped her buy time.

The Jiang Family Clan Head looked at Jiang Xuan and continued, "Jiang Wuji is highly valued by the Great Elder and has been carefully cultivated; he is not a fool."

"Since he dared to make contact with Yuan Fei, the Great Elder's hands are likely not clean either."

"I imagine that in order to seize power in the Jiang Family, he has already taken an irreversible step."

"Under normal circumstances, even if he had established a connection with the Yuan Family, he likely would not have acted easily."

"But now that Jiang Wuji has been exposed, he will inevitably accelerate his pace, and it won't be long before he completely breaks with our faction."

"Before that happens, your father must recover, otherwise our faction's chances of winning are very slim."

"This is also why I did not directly fall out with the Great Elder before."

Hearing this, Jiang Xuan nodded with a solemn expression.

She looked at Wang Jianqiang, "Daoist Friend Wang, I must trouble you."

After Jiang Xuan finished speaking, Jiang Shan also looked at Wang Jianqiang, "Daoist Friend Wang, I leave it to you."

"Little Friend, if the Jiang Family can survive this crisis, we will be eternally grateful; if you have any difficulties in the future, the entire Jiang Family will go through fire and water without hesitation."

The Jiang Family Clan Head looked solemnly at Wang Jianqiang.

Facing the gazes of the three.

Wang Jianqiang slowly let out a breath.

He nodded solemnly.

He looked at the Jiang Family Clan Head, "Senior, rest assured, although refining a Sixth-tier Pill will cause some irreversible damage to Wang..."

"But I am a life-and-death friend of Xuan'er, and also a friend of Daoist Friend Jiang Shan."

"Helping with this favor is only right and proper."

Hearing Wang Jianqiang's words, the Jiang Family Clan Head felt a stir in his heart.

Will refining a Sixth-tier Pill cause him damage?

So that was it.

No wonder he has achieved such terrifying accomplishments in the Dao of Alchemy at such a young age.

So it turns out he has been practicing a special Alchemy technique.

All things in the world emphasize balance.

To have such terrifying progress in Alchemy naturally comes with side effects.

Therefore.

He did not harbor the slightest doubt toward Wang Jianqiang's words.

Instead, it made Wang Jianqiang's dreamlike Alchemy cultivation speed seem reasonable to him.

Jiang Shan looked at Wang Jianqiang, a flash of determination in his eyes.

"Daoist Friend Wang, you are truly loyal."

"In the future, if there is anything you need me, Jiang Shan, for, just say the word."

At the same time.

A flash of worry crossed Jiang Xuan's eyes.

She knew that Wang Jianqiang's attainments in Alchemy were very strong.

But before coming to Tianyue City, everything Wang Jianqiang had refined were only Fourth-tier Pills.

He had not even refined a Level 5 Pill before.

He had indeed refined one once before at the Qian Yu Trading Firm.

But he had never mentioned that it would come at a cost.

It was only just now, when Wang Jianqiang said that refining a Sixth-tier Pill would come at a cost.

She finally realized it.

Daoist Friend Wang might not be a true Sixth-Rank Alchemist, but is able to refine Sixth-tier Pills above his level through special means.

This method would require him to pay a great price.

The reason he did not say anything when refining pills at the Alchemy Hall before.

Must be because he was afraid she would worry.

Thinking of this.

Her expression as she looked at Wang Jianqiang softened.