Chapter 116: Zhou Lao

Just as Jiang Han's inner killing intent surged.

Not far away, a young Gao family youth was glancing left and right, scanning the surroundings.

Upon spotting Jiang Han's figure, his eyes lit up, and he hurried forward: "Jiang Han, someone from your Jiang family has arrived—they're now in the council hall. The patriarch sent me to call you over."

Jiang Han, startled by the interruption, froze for a moment.

Why would the family send someone here now? Could something major have happened?

Thinking of this, Jiang Han felt a chill—he instantly dropped the broom and sprinted toward the council hall.

Not long after.

By the time Jiang Han arrived, the council hall was already filled with many people.

Jiang Han's gaze swept across the room—the man seated at the head was none other than the Gao family patriarch, Gao Mingshi.

Beside him sat Jiang Hongyang, the head of the branch family, and a black-haired youth who looked barely older than himself.

Who is this person?

Jiang Han's eyes flickered slightly, a hint of curiosity stirring.

At that moment, noticing Jiang Han's gaze, Jiang Yan lifted his head slightly and unconsciously sized him up.

Seeing nothing unusual, he slowly withdrew his gaze.

But just then, Zhou Lao's voice suddenly sounded: "Young master, your cousin here is no ordinary fellow..."

"Oh? What do you mean?"

Jiang Yan's eyes showed a flicker of surprise, and he immediately asked inwardly.

"Heh, from what I've observed, your cousin's cultivation base has already reached Bone Forging Realm, ninth layer."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan instantly felt intense curiosity.

According to Jiang Hongyang, the branch family patriarch,

Jiang Han's innate constitution was abysmally poor, causing his cultivation speed to be excruciatingly slow—effort wasted, results minimal.

Even with the resources left behind by Jiang Dao Ying, after years of cultivation, he had only reached Blood Condensation Realm, ninth layer.

But how long has he been staying at the Gao residence? His cultivation base has exploded upward—quietly, invisibly, he broke through an entire major realm, leaping straight to Bone Forging Realm, ninth layer!

Such terrifying cultivation speed even surpasses what I and Chen Ge achieved in our prime.

Could it be that my cousin isn't as worthless as rumored—on the contrary, is he a hidden cultivation genius?

Thinking of this, Jiang Yan's interest in Jiang Han surged!

At the same time, Zhou Lao also felt a flicker of curiosity about the changes on Jiang Han's body, and unconsciously released his perception to probe his condition.

As his Heaven-Man-tier perception deepened, the ease on Zhou Lao's face gradually vanished, replaced by solemnity.

This kid seems... suspicious?

In Zhou Lao's perception, Jiang Han's innate constitution was indeed abysmal.

Without intervention, he would likely remain trapped in the Post-Heaven Realm for life—there was absolutely no chance he could break into the Primordial Heaven Realm!

Yet, despite such a terrible constitution, within this short span, he had broken through consecutively, rising from Blood Condensation Realm, ninth layer, to Bone Forging Realm, ninth layer.

Such a massive leap in power was utterly incomprehensible, defying all logic!

Just as Zhou Lao was deeply baffled, unable to make sense of it—

A terrifyingly overwhelming aura erupted from deep within Jiang Han's body!

This... this aura?!

Zhou Lao's pupils shrank, his face turned ashen—he looked as if he'd seen a ghost, and without hesitation, he immediately retracted his perception, skillfully curling up into a corner of his ring.

In that instant, he realized with dread that the power within this aura was no weaker than Jiang Chen's in his prime!

Clearly, Jiang Han, like Jiang Chen, was a man of immense fate, bearing a Great Karma beyond the Saint Realm!

Had Jiang Han's cultivation not been so weak, unable to conceal his anomalies, Zhou Lao doubted he would have noticed anything unusual at all.

Zhou Lao's expression turned bitter; he sighed inwardly.

Counting the Jiang patriarch, the young master, and Jiang Chen—now adding Jiang Han—

A tiny Jiang family had produced four extraordinary prodigies, each with extraordinary fate and unparalleled luck—this was simply incomprehensible!

Could the Jiang bloodline possess some hidden divine trait I'm unaware of?

Lost in thought, Zhou Lao even began to suspect: could the true origin of the Jiang family be a fallen ancient imperial clan, one that faded into obscurity over endless ages?

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Feeling Jiang Yan's gaze fixed on him, Jiang Han frowned.

Then, when he saw the meaning-laden smile on Jiang Yan's face—

He suddenly stiffened, his heartbeat seeming to pause half a beat.

A seemingly absurd thought quietly surfaced in his mind.

Could this man have seen through my cultivation base?

Jiang Han's expression changed instantly, his eyes filled with shock and doubt.

But just then, Gao Mingshi, the Gao family patriarch, spoke up.

"You once feared the Black Tiger Sect's power, so you sent Wanrou and this boy Jiang Han back to our Gao family."

"Out of old ties, I didn't refuse—I willingly risked offending the Black Tiger Sect to shelter them. But now that Wanrou is dead, you want to take Jiang Han back—do you owe the Gao family an explanation?"

Jiang Hongyang, knowing he was in the wrong, hurried to explain: "This was our only option. The Black Tiger Sect is too powerful, and you know our Jiang family's strength—if we provoked them, we'd be utterly destroyed. We had no choice. Please, Lord Gao, understand."

"But now we must take Han'er back because the main family patriarch has ordered all of us—without exception—to report to Cangwu Mountain and formally return to the main house. This time, Jiang Han must come with us."

Hearing Jiang Hongyang's firm tone, Gao Mingshi's expression darkened, and he instinctively opened his mouth to retort.

But the words died on his lips—he suddenly remembered something, and swallowed them back.

Cangwu Mountain? That name sounds familiar...

Gao Mingshi's brow furrowed tightly as he kept recalling.

Relying on a memory far superior to that of ordinary people, he soon recalled a piece of news he had learned some time ago.

This was because the Gao family operated numerous trade caravans and frequently conducted business with the surrounding cities.

Therefore, not long ago, the family trade caravans had brought him some news about the forceful rise of the Jiang family of Cangwu.

These messages, after passing through countless mouths, inevitably had some omissions and were not complete.

Thus, Gao Mingshi only knew the name of the Jiang family of Cangwu, but did not know what relation they had to Wudan City.

But now, if what Jiang Hongyang said was true, then was this Jiang family main branch settled on Cangwu Mountain the very Jiang family of Cangwu from the rumors?

Afterwards, in order to verify this conjecture.

Gao Mingshi forcefully suppressed the surging emotions within him, looked toward Jiang Hongyang, and asked: "Cangwu Mountain? I recall your main branch clearly was not in Wudan City?"

As soon as his words fell, Jiang Hongyang immediately explained: "In the past, our main branch did indeed live in Wudan City, but some time ago, the Clan Chief issued an order to relocate the main branch to Cangwu Mountain to settle, so now, Cangwu Mountain has already become our main branch's new place of refuge......"