Chapter 298

Inside the Heavenly Emperor's Palace, Jun Xiaoyao sat in meditation, cultivating.

This lecture benefited Jun Xiaoyao himself greatly.

He felt his own path had become clearer.

"The Origin of the Divine—origin represents the starting point; after that, layered transformations must arise. Perhaps I can use this to forge an entirely new cultivation system?"

Jun Xiaoyao pondered.

As a transmigrator, his thinking was scattered, his methods unlike anyone else's—he was a natural anomaly.

The idea of creating one's own cultivation system was something other cultivators would never even consider.

Other cultivators had no concept whatsoever of forging their own cultivation system.

But Jun Xiaoyao did.

"This isn't something to rush. The accumulation required is too profound—I still lack a solid foundation," Jun Xiaoyao murmured, shaking his head slightly.

Such a thing sounded insane, and it was far beyond his current capabilities.

Yet if he could accomplish it, it would be a groundbreaking feat.

At that time, Jun Xiaoyao might very well usher in an entirely new era of cultivation!

Of course, such a thing was still far from his present reality, and he was in no hurry.

Eat your meal one bite at a time; walk your path one step at a time.

As Jun Xiaoyao pondered, he suddenly turned toward the door and said, "Come in. Why linger outside?"

At the sound of his voice, a small, short-legged figure darted in—delicate, snow-pale, and adorable: Jiang Luoli.

She held two teacups in both hands, her big eyes darting nervously, fidgeting.

"What is it?" Jun Xiaoyao said coolly.

"Xiaoyao brother, Luoli knows you love tea. This tea is brewed with ten-thousand-year-old ancient tea leaves and snow water from Tianshan. Could you please try it?"

Jiang Luoli placed the two teacups on the desk.

Her small hands twisted together, her cheeks faintly flushed.

"Thoughtful," Jun Xiaoyao smiled faintly.

Though this girl could be dense at times, when it mattered, she was genuinely considerate.

Jun Xiaoyao knew her intentions, but right now, he truly had no such thoughts.

Jun Xiaoyao lifted the teacup and slowly brought it toward his lips.

Jiang Luoli nervously swallowed, staring fixedly at Jun Xiaoyao, a light sheen of sweat forming on her skin.

Jun Xiaoyao paused, glancing at Jiang Luoli's flushed face. "Are you hot?"

"No, not at all! The weather's just so nice today!" Jiang Luoli shook her head vigorously, laughing it off.

"My family's territory is protected by arrays—it's always spring here," Jun Xiaoyao said, exasperated.

"Is…is that so? Oh…right, of course," Jiang Luoli stammered, her heart pounding like a startled deer.

Jun Xiaoyao glanced at Jiang Luoli again, his lips nearly touching the teacup.

At that moment, Jiang Rou's voice sounded from outside.

"Xiaoyao, your mother has something to discuss with you."

Jiang Rou entered, saw Jiang Luoli, and smiled. "Luoli's here too."

"Ah…Mom…uh…you two talk. Luoli won't disturb you."

Seeing Jiang Rou arrive, Jiang Luoli panicked, cowered, and fled in a fluster.

Only Jun Xiaoyao and Jiang Rou remained.

"That girl," Jiang Rou chuckled, then said to Jun Xiaoyao, "Xiaoyao, have you still not warmed to her? I quite like her."

Jun Xiaoyao set down the teacup, sighing. "Mother, I'm still young. I have no such thoughts."

"Fourteen isn't young anymore. Try harder—I want grandchildren," Jiang Rou smiled, lips pursed.

Jun Xiaoyao gave a wry smile.

He could ignore anyone—but with family, he was helpless.

"What did you need to speak with me about?" Jun Xiaoyao changed the subject.

Jiang Rou's smile faded, replaced by a quiet solemnity.

"There's been a matter within the family. It's time you knew." Jiang Rou said.

"Hasn't Jun Clan been peaceful?" Jun Xiaoyao asked, puzzled.

The Jun Clan was currently celebrating, utterly tranquil.

But then Jun Xiaoyao immediately realized—he ventured, "You mean…Jiang Clan?"

Jiang Rou frowned slightly and nodded. "Yes. Your grandfather, Jiang Daoxu, is in poor health. He may not last much longer."

"Grandfather…"

Only then did Jun Xiaoyao recall—he had never visited Jiang Clan since his birth, nor met any of his Jiang relatives.

"Your grandfather, though an Ultimate Sovereign, spent his early years warring for Jiang Clan—fighting ancient imperial clans, battling life's forbidden zones, invading ancient burial grounds—and left himself with deep-rooted injuries," Jiang Rou's eyes grew slightly red.

Jiang Rou's father, Jun Xiaoyao's grandfather Jiang Daoxu, was a legendary powerhouse.

Once Jiang Clan's unparalleled prodigy, he later became its pillar, fighting ceaselessly.

In his later years, though he attained the Ultimate Sovereign realm and became Jiang Clan's backbone, he paid for it with chronic illness and hidden ailments.

In recent years, Jiang Daoxu's condition had worsened steadily.

"When you turned ten, your grandfather wanted to attend, but his health prevented him," Jiang Rou said, voice low.

"Is there truly no cure for his hidden injuries?" Jun Xiaoyao frowned.

Though he had never met this grandfather,

he was still blood kin—he could not turn a blind eye.

"Alas… it's complicated," Jiang Rou sighed.

Jun Xiaoyao pondered. Even the ancient Jiang Clan's vast resources could not fully heal Jiang Daoxu—only prolong his life.

"Xiaoyao, in a few days, come with me to Jiang Clan to visit your grandfather."

"Of course," Jun Xiaoyao nodded.

Jiang Rou then departed.

Jun Xiaoyao fell into deep thought.

Emotionally and rationally, he should help his grandfather Jiang Daoxu.

Jiang Daoxu was one of Jiang Clan's pillars—if he fell, Jiang Clan would suffer greatly.

That was not what Jun Xiaoyao wished to see.

After all, he was half-Jiang himself.

"I'll take it one step at a time. I'll judge after meeting my grandfather," Jun Xiaoyao thought.

At that moment, footsteps sounded again outside the door.

Jun Xiaoyao assumed Jiang Rou had returned.

He turned, slightly surprised.

The visitor was Jiang Shengyi.

Dressed in snow-white robes, her celestial beauty like a painting, she resembled a pure, untainted goddess from the Moon Palace.

"Shengyi sister?"

Jun Xiaoyao hadn't expected her to come to him.

Given her previous demeanor, she had seemed distant from him.

Jiang Shengyi's celestial face bore a hint of timidity, no longer the calm composure she once showed Jun Xiaoyao.

"Shengyi sister, have some tea."

To ease the awkwardness, Jun Xiaoyao said.

He picked up a teacup and took a few sips.

Jiang Shengyi also lifted her cup, as if to steady her nerves, and drank it all at once.