Chapter 156: Jiang Yunli's Betrothal, Journey To The Ji Family

Head of the family!

Undoubtedly, the so-called head of the family was the old man Jiang Minghuang had mentioned back then.

But in Gu Changqing’s inherited memories from Jiang An, Jiang An seemed to have never actually met this head of the family.

Right, he wasn’t qualified to meet him.

Although Jiang An bore the surname Jiang, he was not truly one of the Jiang family.

The Jiang family was immensely powerful, so many sought to attach themselves to it. These outsiders who worked for the Jiang family were treated as guests, known as guest officials.

Jiang An only bore the surname nominally, which simply meant he enjoyed the protection of the Jiang name.

But even among the guest officials, Jiang An was among the most ordinary.

Invited by the head of the family to attend a meeting in the Jiang family’s main hall…

It was undoubtedly some major matter.

Gu Changqing did not delay. Relying on the memories in his mind, he quickly arrived at the Jiang family’s main hall.

The vast hall was filled with many cultivators, their auras differing. Based on aura strength they sat along the sides of the hall, the closer to the main seat the stronger the cultivators’ auras.

Gu Changqing merely found a corner to sit in.

Once everyone was seated, two figures soon appeared, drawing the gaze of all.

The head of the Jiang family!

He was a middle-aged man with temples half white, a mustache, sitting at the main seat with an imposing air even without anger.

His features were refined and handsome. Even at his age he bore an extraordinary bearing.

Beside the head of the Jiang family stood a woman in a blue court dress.

Her skin was like smooth white jade, her features delicate and refined, possessing the aura of a classical beauty combined with the softness of an Eastern woman.

The two different temperaments blended to form a unique charm.

The woman’s gaze was pure and clear, free of any impurity or emotion, somewhat cold, an otherworldly chill.

Jiang Yunli!

When Gu Changqing saw the woman, the name naturally surfaced in his mind.

Jiang Minghuang’s sister!

The gathered cultivators rose and bowed to the head of the Jiang family.

After a brief response, the Jiang family head gazed at the woman beside him. “Yun’er, on this trip to the Ji family, don’t disgrace the Jiang family’s reputation.”

“These guest officials are fairly capable. Choose ten from among them to accompany you.”

Jiang Yunli was just as her name suggested.

Calm and graceful like the clouds, courteous and poised.

She nodded to the head of the Jiang family, then turned her gaze to the crowd.

Everyone’s gazes burned hot. Meeting the young woman’s eyes, they all showed eager smiles.

Opportunities to accompany a top Jiang family figure were rare.

With such a chance, one could display oneself and gain the Jiang family’s favor. Therefore many wore expressions that tried to attract her attention, hoping to be chosen.

Jiang Yunli scanned the cultivators, her pale jade-like fingers casually pointing at a few.

“You, you…”

Those chosen were all visibly excited, their faces joyful.

The guest officials not chosen looked crestfallen, clutching their hands and sighing.

Soon nine had been chosen. At that moment, everyone’s eyes turned to the young woman, fervently presenting themselves in hope of becoming the lucky tenth.

However, Jiang Yunli’s gaze fell upon the man in the furthest corner, silently contemplating something, standing out from the other guest officials.

“And you.”

The cultivators murmured in astonishment. They couldn’t understand what there was about this one-armed man that led this noble Jiang daughter to pick him out of the vast crowd at a glance.

Gu Changqing looked up and met those cold eyes.

But the latter quickly looked away.

…

Outside the mirror.

The gathered cultivators were somewhat speechless.

Ye Chen also felt a surge of grimness in his heart!

This was downright outrageous!

He felt at this moment as if Gu Changqing was like some fated chosen one. What was this main character energy! How could he be chosen under these circumstances? Ridiculous!!!

Was he more handsome than Ye Chen? More dazzling among the crowd?

Ye Chen’s heart was grim, but then thinking of the two’s fates, his heart grew heavy yet considerably more at ease.

Jiang Minghuang gazed at the woman in the scene.

His eyes were already blurred with tears.

He had lost his mother at a young age and was rakish in temperament, not one who loved cultivation.

Yet paradoxically, he was the Jiang family’s only male scion, born destined to bear many burdens.

Therefore, his father was extremely harsh on him.

From childhood, it was his sister who gave him motherly warmth, carefully protecting him and watching over his growth.

In his heart, the most important people, besides his father, were his sister and Gu Changqing.

But, of all things, Gu Changqing had turned his sister into an artifact spirit!

Now, seeing the sister who had once cared for him so deeply, boundless sorrow welled up in his chest.

“Could it be that if you hadn’t chosen him this time, your story wouldn’t have begun, you wouldn’t have…”

Jiang Minghuang murmured softly, his eyes painfully red.

He could foresee that it was at that moment that his sister became entangled with Gu Changqing, which ultimately led to her tragic end.

…

Inside the mirror.

A massive flying ship slowly sailed through a mist-shrouded sea of clouds.

The ship was enormous. Its long sail resembled a mountain spanning the earth as it cleaved through the vast cloud sea.

On the long sail, a large character “Jiang” stood out strikingly.

The entire ship was forged from an exceedingly rare jade essence.

Every speck of jade essence was valuable, let alone forging an entire flying ship.

From a single ship alone one could see how overwhelmingly formidable the Jiang family’s wealth was!

Gu Changqing stood in a corner of the ship, staring at the sea of clouds beneath his feet.

Jiang Yunli stood at the bow, gazing into the distance with an unreadable expression, her thoughts unknown.

Other guest officials clustered behind Jiang Yunli, chattering as they praised the ship’s grandeur and the Jiang family’s wealth.

Many cultivators were also trying to ingratiate themselves with this legitimate daughter of the Jiang family!

However, the Jiang family’s daughter seemed unaware and paid no mind to the cultivators’ flattery.

Gu Changqing cast a sidelong glance at Jiang Yunli.

Many memories surged chaotically through his mind.

Jiang Yunli was not only extremely beautiful, but her cultivation talent was exceptional. One of the rare prodigies of her generation.

The purpose of this trip was to head to the Ji family, a branch of the Xuanyuan lineage.

And this Jiang family’s legitimate daughter was betrothed to the young master of the Ji family. This trip was to observe the rites according to protocol.

The Jiang family was the purest main line of the Xuanyuan branch and the marriage between the two clans was to continue Xuanyuan’s pure bloodline.

It was a matter of family strategy.

And this woman was, in some sense, a sacrifice!

Gu Changqing stared at the woman on the bow, seemingly understanding why she appeared indifferent to such a momentous marriage.

Boom!

Just as Gu Changqing pondered, the flying ship suddenly lurched.

The next moment, the colossal ship exploded outright!

The terrifying blast roared like thunder, shattering the endless sky. The cloud waves surged, filling everyone’s hearts with dread!