Remembering Jiang Zhan.
This was a notebook specially written by Xia Xueqin to commemorate the man she once loved. While the content carried some personal emotional color, it largely reflected Jiang Zhan's life.
After reading the diary, Jiang Wuming's heart was in turmoil.
Although his master, Tianlong Daoist, had reminded him not to reveal his identity, subtly hinting that his father Jiang Zhan's death was suspicious, he was still deeply shocked after reading the diary and learning about everything his father had done back then!
Especially the part where three thousand Loulan soldiers built a Great Wall with their flesh and blood to resist Gu Zhengze, the helmsman of Long Country, Marshal Qi Wufu of the Martial Department, and Zhuge Lingjun, which made his heart tremble!
He couldn't imagine what reason had led those three thousand Loulan soldiers to do all this!
However, his reason told him that if his father had chosen to confront the Martial Department that day, the long spears in the hands of the three thousand Loulan soldiers would have definitely pointed at the Martial Department!
"Wuming, come and eat."
Later, when Jiang Wuming's emotions had calmed down, Xia Xueqin walked into the room.
As a Three-star War God, Xia Xueqin possessed strong sensory abilities. She could tell from Jiang Wuming's breathing frequency that he had finished reading the diary and had calmed down.
"Aunt Xia, thank you for letting me understand my father's past and know what kind of person he was."
Jiang Wuming stood up and bowed to Xia Xueqin in thanks.
"Wuming, you don't have to thank Auntie. You are Jiang Zhan's son, and you have the right to know all this. Besides, you would have found out sooner or later."
Xia Xueqin shook her head and looked at Jiang Wuming with affection. "Moreover, speaking from another angle, considering the relationship between your father and me, I should have done more for you!"
"Aunt Xia, the diary has very little description of the divine battle in Loulan Ancient City—what exactly was that divine battle about?"
Jiang Wuming was not someone who stood on ceremony. He did not dwell on thanking Xia Xueqin but instead asked about the doubt in his heart.
"On that occasion, the number of extraterrestrial cultivators who descended upon Loulan Ancient City exceeded any previous time and was the highest in global history. Furthermore, their overall strength far surpassed previous levels.
In addition, the leader of the extraterrestrial cultivators who descended was extremely powerful!
In that battle, the War God Hall did not provide support to Long Country. The Long Country Martial Department fought alone. Both Zhuge Lingjun and Qi Wufu participated, but they were ultimately no match for the leader of the extraterrestrial enemy forces.
In the end, your father killed that enemy leader. To be precise, he perished together with that enemy leader!"
Xia Xueqin explained. Even though Jiang Zhan had been dead for twelve years, her emotions were still heavy as she recalled that battle. "This is the information I know. As for the true circumstances of that divine battle, only Qi Wufu and Zhuge Lingjun are most clear."
"Understood, Aunt Xia."
Jiang Wuming pondered. If his master, Tianlong Daoist, also did not know the specific details of that battle, he decided that if he had the chance, he would definitely find Qi Wufu and Zhuge Lingjun to ask for clarification.
"Wuming, Zhuge Lingjun was severely injured in that battle. After returning to the Dragon Gate, he stepped down as the Sect Master of the Dragon Gate and went into seclusion to recuperate. He has not emerged since.
Qi Wufu's injuries were less severe, and he emerged from seclusion a few years ago.
If you wish to understand the situation of that battle, you can only find a way to approach Qi Wufu."
Xia Xueqin guessed Jiang Wuming's intentions and reminded him.
"Alright, Aunt Xia."
Jiang Wuming nodded, then walked out of the room with Xia Xueqin and went to the dining room to eat.
The so-called dining room was actually just a wooden table and four chairs, extremely simple.
Xia Dong was already waiting in the dining room.
Originally, after carrying water, she wanted to find Jiang Wuming, but Xia Xueqin strictly forbade it.
"Brother Wuming, did you finish reading that diary? Are you especially proud of your father?"
Xia Dong asked with a smile as she saw Jiang Wuming and Xia Xueqin enter the dining room.
Before Jiang Wuming could reply, Xia Xueqin said with a stern face, "Why so many questions? Eat."
Xia Dong picked up her chopsticks with a wronged expression and silently began to eat.
"Wuming, Auntie's cooking is not very good, please bear with it."
Xia Xueqin sat down, picked up a pair of serving chopsticks, and served Jiang Wuming a dish.
"Mom, if I hadn't read that diary, I would definitely have thought Brother Wuming was your son and Uncle Jiang Zhan's son!"
Xia Dong said indignantly.
Jiang Wuming: "???"
Xia Xueqin secretly sighed.
This had once been her greatest wish in life, but it would never be realized.
...
While Jiang Wuming was having dinner with Xia Xueqin and Xia Dong, in another wooden house at the Immortal Residence of the East Sea Martial Arts Academy.
With the help of his master Lin Zhiping, Wang Zhisheng successfully broke through to the Three-star Warrior realm.
"Master, I succeeded!"
Wang Zhisheng felt the surging power filling his body and said excitedly, as if he had been injected with chicken blood.
Originally, he had arranged to have fun with some wealthy young men from Donghai that night, but he received a call from his master Lin Zhiping. The latter asked him to come to his residence at the Immortal Residence, gave him a pill, and then guarded him, allowing him to successfully break through to the Three-star Warrior realm.
"The pill I gave you is a Heavenly-grade Blood Vitality Pill. Although you are not yet qualified to break through to the Three-star Warrior realm, the Heavenly-grade Blood Vitality Pill is the medicine used by Six-star Warriors to attack the Seven-star Warrior realm. For you to use it to break through to the Three-star Warrior realm is equivalent to using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. As long as I guard you, clear your meridians, and guide your blood vitality, breaking through is not difficult."
Lin Zhiping nodded.
"Master, why did you insist that I break through to the Three-star Warrior realm today?"
Wang Zhisheng was a little confused.
The East Sea Martial Arts Academy had a rule that the children of all teachers could study martial arts at the academy unconditionally.
This was a form of benefit for the academy's teachers.
As a teacher of the academy, Lin Zhiping was eligible, but he was not yet married and had no children. Therefore, he gave this quota to his disciple Wang Zhisheng.
Whether it was his taking Wang Zhisheng as a disciple or giving the precious quota for studying martial arts at the East Sea Martial Arts Academy to Wang Zhisheng, it was because he and Wang Zhisheng's father were sworn brothers, and the latter had once saved his life.
"Although you have been admitted to the East Sea Martial Arts Academy and meet the academy's regulations, becoming a Three-star Warrior will prevent others from gossiping."
Lin Zhiping explained the reason and then said, "As for the issue of your unstable foundation due to forcibly breaking through to the Three-star Warrior realm using the Heavenly-grade Blood Vitality Pill, you don't need to worry. You can slowly consolidate your foundation in the future."
"Master, you worry too much. If anyone were to gossip about me entering the Martial Arts Academy like this, then the guy in our dormitory named Su Qiang would probably be drowned in saliva!" Wang Zhisheng said.
"What do you mean?" Lin Zhiping was not familiar with Su Qiang.
"That Su Qiang is also a Two-star Warrior and is not the child of an academy teacher," Wang Zhisheng said.
"Then how was he admitted to the East Sea Martial Arts Academy?" Lin Zhiping looked puzzled.
"He was admitted to the East Sea Martial Arts Academy solely through the connection of Jiang Zhan's son, Jiang Wuming," Wang Zhisheng revealed the inside story he had learned.
"That Jiang Wuming? What qualifications does he have to have the East Sea Martial Arts Academy admit a Two-star Warrior?"
Upon hearing the name Jiang Zhan, Lin Zhiping frowned, his tone slightly subdued.
"It is said that Dean Ren personally agreed."
Wang Zhisheng continued, "Not only that, but I heard that he might become a teacher at our academy, and he might even be the one to give the first lesson to our freshman class after the opening ceremony!"
"The minimum requirement for a teacher at the East Sea Martial Arts Academy is a Martial Arts Grandmaster. Jiang Zhan's son, what merit does he have to not only enter the academy as a teacher in violation of regulations but also to give you your first lesson?"
Lin Zhiping's tone was quite indignant, filled with deep resentment.
"Master, you don't know, but that Jiang Wuming has a thicker skin than the city walls.
A while ago, in order to stand up for his adoptive father, he shamelessly went to my uncle for help, but he was ruthlessly rejected by my aunt and cousin.
I thought that Jiang Wuming's background was exposed, and his life was in danger, so he shamelessly went to Dean Ren.
Dean Ren, out of consideration for Jiang Zhan, not only allowed that nobody named Su Qiang to enter the East Sea Martial Arts Academy but also appointed Jiang Wuming as a teacher at the East Sea Martial Arts Academy and provided Jiang Wuming with protection!"
Wang Zhisheng stated his guess.
This time, Lin Zhiping remained silent, his face as dark as charcoal.
He had lived in Jiang Zhan's shadow his entire life.
Even after Jiang Zhan's death, he had failed to change that!
Now, upon learning that Jiang Zhan's son was going to enjoy special privileges, he felt quite indignant and desperately wanted to stop it, but he could do nothing.
He was not qualified to question Ren Xiaoyao's decision, nor could he deny the great contributions Jiang Zhan had made to Long Country and even the entire world!
"Master, don't worry, when that Jiang Wuming teaches tomorrow, I will publicly expose his ugly face!"
Seeing Lin Zhiping's dark expression, Wang Zhisheng volunteered.
...