Chapter 828

After months of accumulation.

By continuously absorbing purchased spiritual beasts through the Taotie spiritual sense.

Even while busy handling the merchant guild's affairs, he still cultivated to the Sun Wheel Realm, First Layer.

Precisely because of this, his aged, decaying body sprouted anew like an old tree budding, regaining vitality and ultimately transforming into his current vigorous, youthful appearance.

Suddenly, a voice sounded from his side: "Has the guild master mastered this technique? If any part is obscure or difficult to understand, I may explain it..."

Jiang Shan slightly lifted his head and looked to his side.

There, in his line of sight, stood a middle-aged man clad in a gray robe.

This man was the elder ancestor of the Nangong clan: Nangong Zhantian.

He had once descended upon Cangwu alongside Ding Xuan, boasting he would challenge the clan chief to battle.

Yet before even laying eyes on the clan chief, he had already been defeated by Jiang Chen.

Afterwards, the clan chief appeared, accepted his allegiance, and assigned him to assist at his side.

When Jiang Shan first met Nangong Zhantian and learned he was a Ninth Layer Myriad Manifestations Realm powerhouse, he felt an instinctive unease.

After all, working alongside a being who could erase him with a mere gesture was like walking with a tiger—never knowing when disaster might strike.

But fortunately, perhaps the clan chief's aura of intimidation was so immense that it left even this Ninth Layer Myriad Manifestations Realm powerhouse with deep psychological scars.

Thus, over these past months, the man had been remarkably cooperative and obedient, diligent and tireless, never once abusing his deep cultivation base to scheme or act improperly.

As a result, Jiang Shan gradually grew accustomed to him, and his inner discomfort vanished entirely.

Currently, Nangong Zhantian has been appointed Chief Patron of the Cangwu Merchant Guild, and most of his clan members now work for the guild.

As for today's meeting, it was him teaching Jiang Shan the ancestral technique: the Void Transformation Art!

Once activated, it allows the true body to briefly vanish into the void, leaving behind an afterimage to fend off enemies and evade attacks.

It is quite an excellent survival technique.

If judged purely by innate talent, he far surpasses none among the clan's prodigies.

To be honest, he spent months practicing this Void Transformation Art before finally mastering it.

Jiang Shan leaned back in his grand master's chair, sighing: "Thank you, Nangong Patron. I have successfully mastered this technique."

Nangong Zhantian was startled: "Truly?"

He instinctively felt skeptical.

After all, even with his own talent, it took him a full three years to master it.

Jiang Shan, however, thought nothing of it and did not notice the surprise in his words.

"Naturally."

With that, he immediately demonstrated the Void Transformation Art right before Nangong Zhantian's eyes.

Seeing this, Nangong Zhantian stood frozen like a wooden statue.

Then, a bitter smile spread across his face as he could not help but exclaim: "Guild Master Jiang is truly a genius beyond compare—not only does his cultivation speed far exceed imagination, but his comprehension is equally astonishing..."

Over the past months, he had watched every change in Jiang Shan's body and spirit.

Precisely because of this, he often felt bewildered and even doubted his own existence.

Ordinary cultivators advance quickly in the early stages, then slow down drastically over time.

But this Guild Master Jiang was extraordinary: his early cultivation was painfully slow, even describable as foolish—he seemed utterly incapable of reaching the Primordial Realm.

Yet once he reached the later stages, he surged forward with terrifying, illogical speed, leaping across multiple major realms in mere months, arriving directly at the Sun Wheel Realm!

This astonishing cultivation pace stirred a bold thought in Nangong Zhantian's mind.

Give this man another hundred years—no, ten years!

At most ten years, with his current momentum, he might achieve the Primordial Spirit and utterly surpass me!

At this moment, facing Nangong Zhantian's praise, Jiang Shan appeared unmoved.

He shook his head: "A genius beyond compare? Can such praise truly apply to one as dull as I?"

"Within the clan, among the Eight Wonders of Cangwu, which one does not surpass me a thousandfold?"

"Compared to them, I have merely endured a little more hardship."

Here, Jiang Shan's voice paused slightly.

He slowly lifted his head, gazing at the rafters, his eyes filled with distant memories.

Just as Nangong Zhantian was puzzled.

A low voice suddenly spoke:

"My life has been like walking on thin ice—I once desperately pursued everything, yet always failed to attain it; I once burned with passion, harboring lofty ambitions, yet all turned to smoke; in my twilight years, I accomplished nothing, fell into ruin, plunged into the abyss, and hovered between life and death..."

"Over nearly a hundred years, I learned perseverance and humility, and came to understand: nothing in this world should be filled to brimming; those who overflow invite disaster; those who remain humble and modest receive fortune."

Jiang Shan lowered his head, gazed deeply at Nangong Zhantian, and smiled: "Forgive me, Nangong Patron—I was just recalling the past, and these words slipped out. Don't take them to heart."

Nangong Zhantian's expression turned solemn; he quickly waved his hand: "Only today did I learn of your arduous past—I was presumptuous."

"Such a mindset—I am ashamed. I am not worthy to stand beside you..."

Nangong Zhantian felt overwhelming shame.

Recalling his own millennia-long journey, even after achieving Ninth Layer Myriad Manifestations Realm, he had never shed his arrogance, his sense of superiority.

As Jiang Shan said: nothing in this world should be filled to brimming; those who overflow invite disaster.

That was precisely why his later fate unfolded as it did.

First, he was publicly defeated by Jiang Chen, a junior, on Cangwu Mountain; then subdued by the Jiang clan chief, Jiang Daoxuan.

Had I possessed even half of Jiang Shan's mindset when I ended my seclusion, where would I have found such calamity?

Seeing this, Jiang Shan's expression softened, and he comforted him: "Nangong Patron, you were born noble—long before, you were already a famed Moon Wheel cultivator in Tiandou Prefecture. Who among those you met would not have shown you some respect?"

"Ultimately, it was your environment that shaped your arrogant nature. To expect you to become like me would be unfair."

Nangong Zhantian's expression eased somewhat.

He looked at Jiang Shan with a complicated expression, drew a deep breath, and said with admiration, "I think I finally understand now why Clan Leader Jiang wanted you to serve as the president of this Cangwu Merchant Guild..."

Jiang Shan smiled and said nothing more.

Seeing this, a glint flashed in Nangong Zhantian's eyes. He suddenly thought of something and hurriedly leaned in.

He stopped beside Jiang Shan and took out an item stored within his Purple Mansion space.

In an instant, a chunk of iron the size of a fist, entirely an antique bronze color, appeared out of thin air and hovered in midair.

Just as Jiang Shan furrowed his brow, feeling a trace of doubt—

Nangong Zhantian's voice suddenly rang out: "President, my lord, you once specifically instructed us to search for clues about saint-grade low-quality divine iron..."

Jiang Shan's eyes lit up, and he instantly had a guess: "Could it be this item?"