Chapter 381: Chapter 100 True Sisterly Affection
"How is it?"
Feng Manlou leaned in with a conspiratorial air, "The Divine Farmer’s Cauldron is a Jiang family heirloom, only the Family Head may possess this symbol of legitimate succession. You are now at the sixth rank and qualified to wield the Ochre Whip. If you were to obtain the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron, none in the Jiang family would be more deserving than you. Who else but you can embody the true Jiang lineage?"
"You know this too?" Jiang Li asked in surprise.
News of the Ochre Whip being in the Dinghu Sect had spread among the Ji and Jiang families; many knew of it.
However, Jiang Li’s eligibility to handle the Ochre Whip after reaching the sixth rank was a secret decision discussed by a few elders of the Dinghu Sect, theoretically known to only a select few.
"It is only natural," Feng Manlou declared proudly, "Don’t be deceived by my humble status; my wife is a woman whose words carry the weight of nine cauldrons. Ninety-nine percent of the Ji Family dare not disobey her, and she, in turn, listens to me. The husband guides the wife; this is an unbreakable truth of the sages."
"How very impressive," Jiang Li said with feigned awe.
Words from the Dragon King’s Son-in-law ought to be taken in reverse.
Likely, his so-called lowly status and the dictum of ’the husband guides the wife’ were false; it’s probably closer to ’the wife guides the husband.’
Still, this explained how Feng Manlou might know of the handling of the Ochre Whip; eliminating the possibility of an insider in Dinghu Sect, the only other source could be from Ji Lingguang.
At least on the surface, that would make sense.
Jiang Li took him seriously.
"It is only natural."
Feng Manlou also took Jiang Li’s praise to heart, then added, "While the Ochre Whip is within the Dinghu Sect and your mentor can certainly decide how to handle it, the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron is kept in the Divine Capital, administered by the Ji Family. The Gongsun Family indeed has influence, but not as much as the Ji Family, nor does your mentor have as much influence as the figure behind the Yin Law Department."
Though the two factions are from the same sect, it’s essential to delineate the control clearly.
Moreover, the person behind the Yin Law Department is also third grade, but he hasn’t shown himself for many years. There had been rumors that the loss of the Ochre Whip by the Jiang family decades ago was his doing. He had since been battered by Heaven’s Punishment and had been healing all these years, hence not participating in the Emperor’s recent attempt at eternal life.
Though Tianxuan possesses third grade combat power, it isn’t enduring, and he also lacks the seniority of that seasoned monster. Within clan hierarchy, seniority is indeed a significant factor.
At such a time, with the support of a significant figure from the Ji Family, procuring the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron would be much easier.
Jiang Li looked towards Feng Manlou.
Clearly, Feng Manlou’s wife was that significant figure, representing the Princess Ji Lingguang in forming this alliance.
’The two old rivals teaming up?’
Jiang Li observed how rapidly times were changing and became increasingly cautious, temporarily suppressing his eager thoughts.
"I’m not in a position to decide this matter; it must be left to my mentor," Shi Baonan reiterated about his mentor.
"You can do it, brother," Feng Manlou said with complete trust, "Tianxuan would surely appreciate your input. Trust me."
Jiang Li: "..."
’He probably doesn’t know that the mentor has already sniffed out the trail...’
Jiang Li suspected that Feng Manlou’s visit also aimed to gauge his relationship progress with his mentor. By managing to retrieve the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron, one could see how much Tianxuan valued Jiang Li.
The person in Feng Manlou’s household probably also wanted to know how far off the day was when fortunes would reverse.
’Is this what sisterly love looks like? Plotting together yet secretly stabbing each other, just watching the spectacle?’ Jiang Li felt he had learned something new.
Though he was indeed tempted to use this moment to test Tianxuan’s feelings for him, after some thought, Jiang Li decided to consult Tianxuan rather than impulsively agree.
Having already subtly made his move, there was no need to keep pushing; better wait for the prey to walk into the trap.
With these thoughts, Jiang Li planned to decline again.
But just then, Tianxuan’s voice rang out again in his ears, "Agree to it."
His mouth, already opening, continued to move, but his response changed, "Then shall I give it a try?"
"Give it a try," Feng Manlou’s face was full of encouragement.
"Believe in yourself, you are after all going to be a son-in-law who joins his wife’s family, and Tianxuan will surely be willing to help you."
He looked at Jiang Li, as if seeing a fellow junior on the same path, yet also as if looking at a brother in difficult circumstances. It was not easy being a son-in-law to the Ji Family, and how could it be easy for one from the Gongsun Family?
My dear brother, I am waiting for the day when we can truly call each other brothers.
He patted Jiang Li’s shoulders heartily and left laughing loudly, his demeanor resembling that of an ancient carefree scholar.
It seemed he was here to incite Jiang Li to take a gamble, not really to join forces sincerely.
After Feng Manlou left, a gentle breeze rose behind Jiang Li and the figure of Tianxuan silently appeared.
"Master."
Jiang Li was about to turn his wheelchair around, but Tianxuan stopped him.
She pushed the wheelchair from behind, slowly moving along the corridor, while speaking, "Isn’t it strange why your master agreed to this matter?"
"Yes," Jiang Li did not turn back, speaking in a low voice, "Retrieving the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron isn’t urgent. Besides, if we retrieve the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron here, getting the Ochre Whip might complicate things."
After all, there are people in the sect who are wary of the Jiang Family.
Getting either the Ochre Whip or the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron was enough to make people wary; they would definitely try to prevent Jiang Li from getting the second item, accomplishing something not even the previous Jiang Family master could.
— To unify the Dao Fruits within the two Dao Artifacts.
Like the Xuanyuan Sword, Emperor Yan’s Dao Artifact also has the problem of difficulty in acknowledging a master.
Lower than third grade are the basic requirements for using a Dao Artifact, but not the only conditions. If one cannot fuse with it, and cannot master it, even if they are also of second grade, they may not use a Dao Artifact of the same grade, let alone a third grade.
Therefore, the ancestors of the Jiang family chose to split the Dao Fruit into two artifacts, thus lowering the conditions.
This way, third rank strong people of the Jiang family could use the Dao Artifact that best fits their bloodline and cultivation body, and there might even appear a third grade capable of containing Emperor Yan’s Dao Fruit. Even within the third grade, there are differences; not all third grade Dao Fruits are equal.
This way, it ensured a lower limit and also avoided having a Dao Artifact that could not be used.
If someone could meet the conditions of a second grade Dao Fruit, they could fuse the two, mastering Emperor Yan’s Artifact.
Alas, such a person had not yet appeared.
Jiang Li was someone who had the potential to achieve this. His glittering track record reflected his exceptional talents, whether friends or foes, no matter how much they disliked Jiang Li, they had to admit that this youth would achieve great things. It was not impossible for him to accomplish this task.
"Complications are for later, but getting the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron is something we can achieve now. Sometimes goals do not need to be too far-reaching, focusing on the present is enough."
Tianxuan was pushing the wheelchair and spoke slowly, "The Sect Leader has already returned to the sect, and your Ochre Whip might not be so easy to reach. Moreover, on Ji Family’s side, I also need a trustworthy person to join forces with, to stabilize the court and the Ji Family, to prevent someone from inviting the Sect Leader to Divine Capital again."
After all, that Sect Leader’s stance has remained quite ambiguous until now.
And because the Ji Family has lost their strongest force, the Emperor, they are also in a tense situation currently, it is not unlikely they might want the Sect Leader to stay in Divine Capital permanently.
Although the Sect Leader also needs to keep the Daoist Lord in check, who knows if he really takes that seriously?
Until now, Jiang Li and Tianxuan still had not figured out the Sect Leader’s true intentions.
Thus, an ally is absolutely essential.
"Feng Manlou certainly understood this point; that’s why he thought it sufficient for you to pass along a message expressing his intent. After all, my relationship with that woman in his family isn’t very good. He may look ordinary, but with Ji Lingguang’s discernment and temperament, how could he marry someone just ordinary? This man must have extraordinary abilities. Also, they are likely thinking—"
Tianxuan suddenly let out a cold laugh, her words carrying a chilling undertone, "Good, I was just thinking of showing that woman some true colors, and she came right to our doorstep."
So, this lady also thought of stabbing from behind.
Such profoundly sincere sisterly affection, it astonishes and sighs one.
’No wonder she could easily manipulate my senior sister.’