Chapter 234: Ancestor Hongxuan, the Mysterious Iron Box

In fact, because of the special nature of the Marrow-Cleansing Pill, its true value could rival even some earth-grade low-quality elixirs!

Yet, such a precious elixir—once the Jiang Clan Leader made his move, he actually produced three whole pills!

The Jiang Clan Leader is truly far too generous.

I clearly only did some things within my duty, yet I received such a weighty reward.

At this moment, Ding Xuan, due to excessive shock, instinctively suspected that he had misheard something.

To confirm, he looked toward Jiang Chen and, in a trembling voice, asked: "This thing... is truly a reward for me?"

Seeing Ding City Lord looking as though he had never seen the world, Jiang Chen could not help but think of his former self.

There was a time when he too had been like this—shocked beyond words over a single Marrow-Cleansing Pill, unable to calm down for a long while.

Thinking of this, he gave a wry smile: "Naturally, it's for you."

He could not bear to speak the truth outright.

In today's Jiang family, aside from the infants, a thing like the Marrow-Cleansing Pill was basically already one per person.

The kind of thing that had piled up in the family treasure vault, unable to be used up, and could only be taken to exchange supplies with other factions.

Yet Ding Xuan treated it like a supreme treasure.

This stark contrast stirred an intense sense of family pride within Jiang Chen.

If the Clan Leader had not suddenly come out of seclusion, let alone the fact that the Jiang family would have long been destroyed by the Tang family back then.

Even at its peak, it would absolutely have been unable to obtain a single Marrow-Cleansing Pill—how then could it be like today, able to treat the Marrow-Cleansing Pill like candy beans and supply the entire clan?

On the other side.

Upon hearing Jiang Chen's reply.

Ding City Lord instantly wept with joy.

Heaven take pity—his longing for this moment had truly lasted far too long!

What moved him even more was.

The Jiang Clan Leader was actually so considerate, giving him three Marrow-Cleansing Pills!

In other words, aside from using one himself.

The remaining two could be freely distributed—handed to relatives, subordinates, friends, or used to exchange supplies, all perfectly fine.

To be able to consider things so thoroughly—the Jiang Clan Leader truly lives up to his name!

At this moment, a sudden pang of regret welled up within Ding Xuan.

He bitterly loathed himself for not having swallowed his pride earlier and gone to be a hound under the Jiang family's door.

If he had not wasted so many chances to curry favor, he would probably have broken through to the Origin Sea realm long ago, wouldn't he?

Sigh—following Sima Nan, how could that ever compare to the sheer satisfaction of following the Clan Leader, my lord?

Ding Xuan sighed inwardly, then carefully stored the three Marrow-Cleansing Pills into his Purple Mansion space.

After doing all this, he immediately looked toward Jiang Chen and asked deferentially: "Many thanks, Young Master Chen. I'm sorry to trouble you to rush all this way so early in the morning. If I don't play host at all, my conscience won't rest. How about this—I host a banquet later to feast and reward you. What do you say?"

Upon learning that Jiang Chen had stepped into the Origin Sea realm at an age not yet twenty.

Ding Xuan's attitude became extremely humble; he had already prepared himself to fawn over the other party.

After all, such a heaven-chosen talent so highly valued by the Jiang Clan Leader—

If he served him well, then when he returned to Cangwu Mountain and spoke a few good words on his behalf before the Clan Leader, my lord, wouldn't that be wonderful?

However, something unexpected happened.

Jiang Chen was seen shaking his head: "Many thanks for City Lord Ding's kind intentions, but I still need to return to the ancestral residence later, so I appreciate the thought—no need for the banquet..."

Seeing there was no chance to curry favor, Ding Xuan inwardly sighed at the pity, exchanged a few pleasantries, personally saw Jiang Chen to the gate of the City Lord's residence, and watched him leave until he was out of sight.

Only after Jiang Chen's figure had completely vanished from view.

Did Ding Xuan finally relax slightly, then turn around and, unable to wait, return to his room, preparing to take this exceptionally precious profound-grade top-quality elixir—the Marrow-Cleansing Pill!

Not long after.

Jiang Chen smoothly returned to the ancestral residence.

After gathering with many elders and finishing a meal.

A white-haired old man, suddenly holding a small iron box whose surface was pitch-black, walked straight over.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen felt somewhat puzzled: "Great-Granduncle, what is this?"

The old man carefully placed the iron box on the table.

"Not long ago, City Lord Ding sent people to repair and renovate our Jiang family ancestral residence—you should know about this, right?"

"Before leaving, the Grand Elder mentioned this matter to me. Could it be that this thing is related to that event?"

"Mm, you guessed right. Back then, when the renovation reached the ancestral shrine, beneath the stone platform where the spirit tablet of our ancestor Hongxuan was placed, we happened to discover this object."

"Ancestor Hongxuan?"

Jiang Chen's brow rose slightly; he felt a bit surprised.

Naturally, he would not feel unfamiliar with the name Jiang Hongxuan.

After all, before the Clan Leader, my lord came out of seclusion, the other party was the only Purple Mansion cultivator in several hundred years of Jiang family history to have a clear record in the clan annals!

In the past, the Jiang family had declined for various reasons.

And ultimately, having no choice, was forced to attach itself to the Tang family.

It was not until Ancestor Hongxuan broke through to Purple Mansion that the Jiang family successfully broke free of the Tang family's control.

Later, he even passed down the Qi-Drawing Art and the Thunder-Rushing Palm, which became the Jiang family's clan-suppressing ultimate arts.

And now, upon thinking that this seemingly ordinary little iron box was very likely left behind by distant ancestor Hongxuan.

Jiang Chen could not help but feel a deep curiosity welling up within him.

He had never expected this.

It was only a visit to the ancestral home, yet he had stumbled upon such an encounter.

Then, burning with intense curiosity, he first released his spiritual sense, attempting to probe the situation inside the iron box.

But once again, something unexpected happened.

The spiritual sense he released was as if it had struck an invisible wall, completely cut off outside, unable to penetrate deeper!

"Oh?"

Jiang Chen's gaze shifted slightly, and he felt utterly astonished.

What material on earth was this iron box forged from? It could actually block the probing of his spiritual sense?

The thought flashed through his mind, and he immediately stretched out both hands, gripping the surface of the iron box, preparing to force it open!

But after several dozen breaths.

Jiang Chen was stunned to discover that even though he had exerted every ounce of his strength, the iron box had not budged in the slightest!!

Hmm?

Even with the physical strength he currently possessed, he could not break open this object.

What on earth was contained inside?

Just as Jiang Chen was lost in thought.

The people nearby could not help but sigh.

"When we first discovered this object, we wanted to open it, but there was no way at all. Because even using methods like dripping blood, burning with fire, submerging in water, smashing, and so on, none of them could open it. There wasn't even the slightest wear—it remained as good as new..."

Hearing this, Jiang Chen no longer prepared to keep trying, and immediately stored the iron box into his Purple Mansion space.

He looked at the crowd: "Since that's the case, then I'll wait until I return to Cangwu Mountain and hand this object over to the Clan Chief to handle. The Clan Chief, my lord, is immensely powerful, so surely there must be a way to open this object!"

"That is true."

The crowd nodded, expressing their agreement one after another.

If one were to speak of who in the current Jiang clan was most likely to open the iron box.