Chapter 1189: The Affable Li Li Jingzhe

The small courtyard was quiet, nestled among a sea of bamboo; mountain wind blew through the grove, stirring up rustling sounds.

Li Luo, however, felt no awkwardness at all. Taking Jiang Qing by the hand, he walked straight into the small courtyard. Li Hongyou hesitated for a moment, then carefully followed them in.

In the courtyard there was a small table, and now several steaming dishes had already been laid out on it. From the look of them, they had just been cooked — and by Li Li Jingzhe himself, no less.

To be able to eat a meal personally prepared by a Double-Crowned King — within the entire Dragon Fang Lineage, there were probably only a handful of people who could enjoy such treatment.

"Sit, sit."

Li Luo beckoned Jiang Qing and Li Hongyou to take their seats, then smiled at Li Li Jingzhe and said, "Grandfather, do you need me to help?"

Li Li Jingzhe waved his hand. After bustling about for a while, he carried over a plate of bamboo-leaf green bamboo shoots, set it on the table, and only then sat down.

Li Luo then picked up the wine pot and poured him a cup.

Li Li Jingzhe pinched the wine cup, but his gaze was directed at Jiang Qing, who sat beside Li Luo. His expression had always been stern, giving off an extremely strong sense of pressure — so much so that even Li Li Qingpeng and Li Li Jinpan, his two biological sons, were trembling with nerves in front of him.

But at this moment, Li Li Jingzhe's face was clearly shifting, and he forced out what seemed to be a gentle smile, his voice also doing its best to sound soft: "Your name is Jiang Qing, is that right?"

Jiang Qing gave a slight nod and said, "This junior is Jiang Qing, greetings to..."

She had originally wanted to address him as Lineage Head, but felt it might come across as too distant.

"Just like Li Luo, call me Grandfather." Li Li Jingzhe said.

"Greetings, Grandfather." Jiang Qing went along readily, without affectation or fear.

"Did you both used to live in Daxia?" Li Li Jingzhe asked.

"Mm. I grew up with my master, my master's wife, and Li Luo. They founded a force in Daxia called 'House Luolan Mansion.' Although it's nowhere near as grand and vast as the Dragon Fang Lineage, it was a very warm home." Jiang Qing said softly.

"With Master and Master's Wife as witnesses, Li Luo and I both pledged a marriage contract."

Li Luo couldn't help but show a strange smile, because this so-called marriage contract had actually been brought about by his old man "sweet-talking" a young lady, after which he himself had been beaten by his furious mother from the inner room all the way out to the outer room — so the process was hardly as warm and beautiful as Jiang Qing had described.

"With parents as witnesses, it naturally conforms to propriety. Speaking of which, this is also Li Luo's good fortune." A trace of a smile appeared on Li Li Jingzhe's face. The girl before him not only had outstanding looks and bearing, but her innate talent was also matchless. Qin Li Tianwang's line's Qin Yi had originally been considered a peerless beauty, but compared with Jiang Qing, she was clearly a notch below.

"Come, eat while it's hot." He pointed at the dishes on the table.

Li Luo didn't stand on ceremony and was the first to wolf down his food. Jiang Qing and Li Hongyou, by contrast, were far more elegant, merely tasting lightly, and then both of their beautiful eyes lit up — clearly the flavor was excellent.

Li Li Jingzhe didn't pick up his chopsticks, only watching the young people before him, his gaze slightly dazed. If only, back in the year when Li Taixuan had brought Dantai Lan home, he had treated them the same way — perhaps none of the later events would have happened?

Why had he, back then, been so harsh and furious?

Li Li Jingzhe's heart was complicated. Perhaps he had ruled the Dragon Fang Lineage with an iron hand for too many years, which was why he had been so enraged by Li Taixuan's defiance — after all, in front of his three children, he had maintained his authority for so many years.

Perhaps precisely because of that lesson back then, now, facing the Jiang Qing that Li Luo had brought home, Li Li Jingzhe chose to set aside all his authority and sternness, striving to show the most affable demeanor he could.

"You were gone for almost half a year this time. I nearly sent your uncle to the Tianyuan Ancient Academy to demand you back." Li Li Jingzhe said to Li Luo.

Li Luo smiled and said, "It was just a mission from the academy, Grandfather. You needn't worry."

Then he added proudly, "Did you see my current strength?"

Li Li Jingzhe glanced at him and gave a slight nod. "Da Tian Xiang Jing — it is indeed rather rapid. It seems the benefits you gained this time were considerable."

"But then again... compared to Qing, you're far behind."

"Her speed in reaching the Marquis Realm is even faster than Taixuan's and Dantai Lan's back then. She carries three Nine-Grade Light Phases, and has also forged a 'Ten-Pillar Golden Terrace,' stepping onto the Path of the Unparalleled."

The look in his eyes as he gazed at Jiang Qing was full of admiration, because even for a powerhouse like himself, this level of innate talent was astonishing. Truly compared, the Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan of those days both seemed somewhat inferior.

At the very least, both of their first Marquis Terraces were Nine-Pillar Golden Terraces, falling just a little short of the Ten-Pillar Unparalleled.

Of course, this didn't mean that forging a "Ten-Pillar Golden Terrace" for the first one guaranteed becoming an Unparalleled Marquis in the future, because reaching the end of that Path of the Unparalleled was by no means an easy task.

The ancient records contained many such accounts — some peak heaven's favorites, blessed with countless fortuitous encounters, forged a "Ten-Pillar Golden Terrace" for their first Marquis Terrace, yet in their subsequent cultivation, started high but ended low, with the grade of their later Marquis Terraces actually growing lower. Although even so, they were still far stronger than other Marquis-level powerhouses, the Path of the Unparalleled had nonetheless been broken.

Without seven "Ten-Pillar Golden Terraces" as a foundation, one naturally couldn't forge the "Unparalleled Divine Throne" and ascend to the rank of Unparalleled Marquis.

Conversely, some Marquis-level practitioners whose first terrace failed to reach "Ten-Pillar Golden Terrace" might not necessarily be unable to accumulate slowly and burst forth later, forging the Path of the Unparalleled anew.

But overall, those who could forge a "Ten-Pillar Golden Terrace" on their first try were naturally all of the very highest talent — after all, it at least counted as opening the Path of the Unparalleled ahead of time.

And Jiang Qing carried three Nine-Grade Light Phases — a born Sacred Seed of Light, who in the future could wield the "Authority of Light." She might truly have a chance of becoming an "Unparalleled Marquis," standing tall between heaven and earth, looking down on all Kings.

If the old fellows from the other four lineages learned that he had such an outstanding future granddaughter-in-law, they'd probably be so jealous their eyes would turn red.

At this thought, even with Li Li Jingzhe's temperament, he couldn't help but stroke his beard, a strange sense of pride rising in his heart.

My grandson truly is blessed with good fortune.

As for Li Li Jingzhe using Jiang Qing to put him down, Li Luo expressed indifference — after all, after so many years of growing up, he had long grown used to this sort of move.

But so what? She's my fiancée.

Li Luo grinned and pressed his advantage, saying, "Since you're so pleased with Sister Qing, could I trouble you with a small matter?"

"What?"

Li Luo immediately produced the "Holy Thorn Spike" he had obtained in Xiao Chentian. He had specifically taken it from Jiang Qing before coming, and said, "Then I'd trouble Grandfather to step in and use these materials to forge a Marquis Treasure for Sister Qing. How about it?"

Jiang Qing had now already Enter the Marquis Realm, so her previous treasures were somewhat outdated. Unless one spent a long period of time nurturing them by her side, they couldn't be elevated into "Marquis Treasures."

Li Li Jingzhe gave a wave of his sleeve, sweeping away those "Holy Thorn Spikes," and said with a faint smile, "Don't worry — I won't let you down."

He had actually prepared some meeting gifts, but since Li Luo had this intention, Li Li Jingzhe didn't mind spending a little more effort and resources to forge this sentiment into reality.

He knew young people liked to come up with these tokens of love.

Jiang Qing also followed Li Luo in offering thanks, then said, "Li Luo's innate talent is also extremely strong. He carries three palaces and six phases, no inferior to mine. He is now already at Da Tian Xiang Jing, not far from the Marquis Realm. I believe his breakthrough speed will be even faster than mine, and when he enters the Marquis Realm, he will also be able to forge a 'Ten-Pillar Golden Terrace.'"

Li Luo drew in a breath. Sister Qing, don't randomly pile the pressure on me — do you really think a "Ten-Pillar Golden Terrace" is that easy?

Still, Jiang Qing's defending him like this did make Li Luo's heart feel warm and fuzzy.

Li Li Jingzhe, meanwhile, showed a trace of a smile and said, "This boy is indeed not bad either — he has the air of one who surpasses his masters. If in the future he can achieve the rank of 'Unparalleled Marquis,' I'll hand over my position as Lineage Head to him."

"But then again, he's still far from that right now."

Li Li Jingzhe asked, "What are your plans from here?"

"What does Grandfather think?" Li Luo countered.

Li Li Jingzhe pondered slightly and said, "Go to the 'Dragon Fang Guard.' That is the most suitable place for you. All of the Dragon Fang Lineage's top heaven's favorites and resources are gathered there. If you want to obtain the best Foundation Establishment spiritual treasures, you'll need to go there as well."

"However, the place where the 'Dragon Fang Guard' is located is extremely dangerous — far beyond comparison with the Twenty Banners. And there, your status may not be of much use."

"How about it? Are you still willing to go?"

Li Luo revealed a brilliant smile.

"It doesn't matter."

"These identities are useless, but I still have a fiancée backing me up — a Three Paths Nine Luminescence Bright Phase, 'Ten-Pillar Golden Terrace' fiancée."

The moment these words came out, even with Li Jingzhuo's temperament, he couldn't help but reveal an expression caught between tears and laughter.

Good lad.

You're not relying on your identity, but on your fiancée?

Aren't you living just a little too transparently?