Chapter 296: Jiang Hao and Jiang Yi: Strive to Alleviate the Clan Chief

As Jiang Yi's voice fell.

Jiang Hao then remembered this matter.

He immediately cast the previous events aside.

He promptly took out his space ring and opened it.

The next instant.

The scene within came into view.

Gazing at the vast array of resources, piled like small mountains.

Jiang Hao widened his eyes, lips slightly parted, plunged into profound shock.

Heaven have mercy.

He had truly believed the clan chief had merely granted him a few "small trinkets" as a greeting gift.

Yet he never imagined the cultivation resources inside were so lavish—something he had never seen in his life!

At this moment, Jiang Hao could not help but ask himself a soul-deep question.

Does the clan chief have some misunderstanding about the word "small"?

Or has the clan become this wealthy already?

At this moment, seeing Jiang Hao's dazed expression.

Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow, feeling a hint of surprise.

"Could it be..."

His eyes narrowed slightly, instantly realizing the clan chief's "small gift" to him might not be so simple.

Thinking of this, he immediately took out his space ring and swiftly opened it!

Soon, he too saw the scene inside the space ring.

Gazing at the dense clusters of spirit stones and spirit herbs, glowing faintly, along with piles of cultivation techniques and treasures.

Jiang Yi's pupils shrank instantly to needle points.

His heart was swept by a storm of shock that refused to settle for a long time!

Such an abundance of cultivation resources.

He had never seen anything like it in his life!

Without exaggeration.

This was the first time in his life he clearly felt just how poor he truly was!

Jiang Daoxuan's casual gift was excessively generous to both of them.

It could even be said to have shattered their understanding and violently reshaped it.

Directly causing the two brothers to fall silent, staring at each other without words.

More than ten breaths later.

Only then did they gradually return to their senses.

They looked at each other, seeing the shock on each other's faces.

Jiang Yi carefully put away the space ring and said gravely: "The clan chief's greeting gift is far too generous—likely impossible to obtain even within the clan today."

"Therefore, this matter must never be carelessly revealed to outsiders."

"After all, we brothers have just arrived here and have achieved nothing yet; if others learn of the clan chief's special favors toward us, they may feel injustice..."

"So our top priority is to grow stronger quickly, leaving no room for others to gossip..."

Jiang Hao clenched the space ring in his right fist, a warmth rising in his heart.

He silently memorized the clan chief's kindness toward him and his brother, then nodded:

"Brother, rest assured—I know the gravity of this matter and will never give others a chance to gossip."

"Besides, the clan chief has been so good to us—I can't repay him fast enough; how could I possibly boast about it and make others resent him?"

Jiang Yi patted Jiang Hao's shoulder: "Good. The clan chief's kindness toward us brothers is as heavy as the nine heavens—impossible to repay in a lifetime; we must repay him well in the future..."

Jiang Hao said: "Understood! From now on, I will cultivate diligently, strive to grow strong as soon as possible, relieve the clan chief of some burdens, take on his responsibilities, and become the pillar of this family!"

"Well said! Then let's hurry and begin cultivating now!"

"Mm-hmm!"

As the last words fell.

Jiang Hao and Jiang Yi immediately parted, each returning to their rooms, ready to fully devote themselves to cultivation!

The next day.

Tiandou Prefecture.

In the courtyard of the prefect's residence.

Sima Nan sat atop a pavilion, sipping hot tea as a light breeze brushed past, admiring the surrounding scenery.

To his right stood a short, plump young man.

He was Sima Nan's only son, "Sima Xuan."

At this moment, Sima Xuan held fish food made from special spirit herbs, scattering it into the pond beneath the pavilion.

As the fish food fell, countless golden spirit fish, glowing faintly, swiftly surfaced and began fighting over it.

Each of these spirit fish, if placed outside, would be extremely valuable, drawing fierce competition among cultivators.

But in his eyes, they were merely entertainment.

And to Sima Nan's left.

Stood a tall man.

It was Zhao Hu, returned from Cangwu Mountain.

At this moment, accompanied by his narration.

Sima Nan's expression remained unchanged, showing no ripple of emotion, as if utterly indifferent to these matters.

Only when Zhao Hu fell silent.

Sima Nan let out a light laugh: "Zhang Cang... Qingshan Sect? These factions are truly desperate—they've rushed over the moment we spread the word, sniffing out the scent. But they're nothing but pitiful insects before the imperial court..."

After speaking, he continued: "All of this is trivial. But what of Jiang Daoxuan? What impression did he leave on you? Is he truly as the rumors claim?"

Zhao Hu's face twisted in indecision, his expression growing hesitant.

By now, he didn't know whether he should voice his true feelings.

After all, that terrifying pressure was something he had never encountered in his life.

If he truly spoke of it, he might seem to be boosting the enemy's morale and diminishing his own.

At this moment, noticing Zhao Hu's silence.

Sima Nan raised an eyebrow and coldly said: "If there's something, speak plainly."

As his words fell.

Sima Nan paused his action of feeding the fish and turned to look at the two.

Zhao Hu trembled, then knelt to the ground, stammering: "My lord, that day before Jiang Daoxuan, though I did not see his face, merely his back sent me a crushing pressure—stronger, perhaps, than the oppression you've ever exerted upon me..."

"Oh?"

A flicker of surprise passed through Sima Nan's eyes.

"Laughable. I admit his title as the White-Clothed Sword Marquis is currently in full bloom, and his destruction of the Tang family was indeed astonishing. But compared to me, he still lacks the necessary depth."

"Even if he didn't turn to look at you, merely facing his back—that wasn't out of disdain. I suspect it was out of fear!"

"Using various tricks, combined with the environment, he fabricated an aura. Commander Zhao, you've likely been deceived by him..."

Sima Nan shook his head.

He was the invincible powerhouse whose name shook Tiandou Prefecture and whose pressure dominated countless factions.

Naturally, he held absolute confidence in his own strength!

How could he, because of Zhao Hu's few words, feel inferior?

He could only think: had the man been tricked by Jiang Daoxuan's petty schemes?

He couldn't help but marvel at Jiang Daoxuan's profound scheming.

Trying to use Zhao Hu's false report to intimidate me? These sects and noble families are utterly foolish!