Indeed, a behemoth like the Prime Minister’s Mansion would never let its future heir keep a useless trophy wife who was only for show. In the past, of all the women associated with Jiang Lan, not one had ever been heard of marrying into the Jiang Family.

But Chu Chan had no desire to be a trophy wife, nor did she believe she was destined to be one.

"Young Master, Chan’Er understands," Chu Chan replied at once, her expression firm and earnest, radiating an unprecedented resolve.

Jiang Lan nodded, seemingly pleased, and gently stroked her dark hair. "My affection for you alone," he said, "is far from enough."

"Don’t be afraid of causing trouble, and don’t become hesitant and timid, worrying about every little thing. The Jiang Family has never feared trouble. In fact, it’s the mediocre who hoard resources that we despise the most."

"A person of value, even if they cause trouble, will always have someone to back them up."

"So, rest assured. I will always stand behind you. If you want me to take you back to the Jiang Family, then you must demonstrate a value that my parents will acknowledge."

"Otherwise, my affection for you alone won’t be enough."

His words were half-truths. If Chu Chan were just an ordinary person, he wouldn’t have given her a second glance, no matter how beautiful she was.

’As for bringing up his parents, it was really to give Chu Chan a greater sense of urgency. Otherwise, he worried she might become complacent. What would he do if she lost her ambition?’

’All his careful planning would be for naught.’ 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Chan’Er will not disappoint your earnest efforts, Young Master," Chu Chan replied sincerely.

She hadn’t expected Jiang Lan to say so much for her sake. While she was moved, a greater part of her felt a sense of self-mockery.

’Who would have thought that the person in this world who cared most for her future would be a profligate heir she had known for less than a day.’

Just then, Jiang Lan suddenly felt a surge of providence within his Mud Ball Palace. The color of his Destiny Dao Fruit deepened as it began maturing toward its second stage.

He was a little surprised.

’Was Chu Chan’s providence really this profound? This is a bit beyond my expectations.’

"Young Master, on my way back, I passed by Wuyi Lane and bought a few new dresses..."

"I was hoping you could help me see if they fit."

A captivating mist swirled in Chu Chan’s eyes. She leaned close to Jiang Lan’s ear and whispered the words with a hint of shyness.

Jiang Lan froze for a moment before it dawned on him. ’This girl really knows how to have fun.’

’Wuyi Lane... now that’s a fine establishment.’

’If I recall correctly, the outfits I saw in Xiao Yingyue’s Sumeru Ring back at the Bottom of the Abyss of Despair were made from Jueqiao, a silk produced by the Merfolk.’

Although he had some other matters to discuss with Chu Chan, he had to set them aside for now.

’No business is more important than the business at hand.’

A moment later, Chu Chan appeared, having changed into a floor-length black dress as light and thin as smoke. Against the dark fabric, her snow-white skin appeared hazy and indistinct, making it look all the more delicate and dazzling.

Jiang Lan’s gaze, however, was mostly fixed on her long, straight, jade-like legs. He inwardly clicked his tongue in approval.

’The black silk in this world,’ he thought, ’is made of a far superior material to what I saw in my past life. It’s like a veil of twilight mist, her snow-white skin faintly visible beneath—utterly bewitching.’

...

「A few days passed in the blink of an eye.」

Amidst a sea of mountains, a White Jade Cloud Ship sped through the sky, shrouded in rosy twilight and enveloped in a clear, bright glow.

The emblem of the Jasper Pool Sect was emblazoned on the Cloud Boat’s banner, which whipped in the wind with an imposing air.

Atop the Cloud Boat, a woman with her face veiled by a light scarf sat cross-legged with her eyes closed.

Her dark hair danced in the wind, yet her pristine, sacred white robes remained perfectly still, concealing the indistinct curves of her jade-like body. Her figure was graceful and elegant, her neck slender, her skin like ice and jade. A lustrous white sheen seemed to flicker across her flesh, exuding an otherworldly and transcendent aura, as if she were a celestial being who partook not of the mortal world. She inspired an urge to worship, a being to be admired from afar, never to be defiled.

Suddenly, the white-robed woman on the Cloud Boat opened her eyes. Her clear pupils showed no ripple of emotion, yet they seemed to hold insight into all of heaven, earth, and every living being.

She glanced ahead and raised a hand. The Cloud Boat immediately descended toward the mountains below.

Simultaneously, a streak of azure light shot out from her wide sleeve. It whistled through the air, transforming into an azure Daoist Sword interwoven with Dao Marks. Wreathed in twilight, it slashed downwards with terrifying might.

BOOM! A small mountain instantly exploded, and a wretched figure shot out from the blast, soaring into the sky in an attempt to flee.

"Ling Zhuyun! My Nether Abyss Sect and your Jasper Pool Sect have always kept to ourselves! Why must you be so ruthless, hunting me all this way?"

The wretched figure, dressed in tattered black robes, had a sinister, effeminate face and a vicious expression. He shrieked the question as he fled.

The white-robed woman on the Cloud Boat, however, remained impassive. She stated calmly, "You abducted dozens of innocent women to practice the Revolving Yin-Yang Grand Technique, draining their cultivation completely. Afterward, you erased their memories and refined them into puppets for your carnal pleasure."

"Such an act defies the harmony of the heavens and has angered both gods and ghosts. You should offer your neck to the sword. Only then might you have a sliver of a chance at reincarnation."

"If you remain obstinate and continue to flee, you will only end up with your body and soul utterly annihilated."

"Heh, ridiculous! Your Jasper Pool Sect cultivates the Western Scripture and requires supplementary Elixir Pills. And what of the mountain sprites and demons you use to refine those pills? Have you killed so few?"

"You cultivate your Western Scripture, and I’ll practice my Revolving Yin-Yang Grand Technique. We should keep to ourselves, so why must you meddle? Why don’t you go to the territory of the Demon Race and seek justice for them?"

The fleeing, sinister figure grew furious upon hearing this and let out a cold sneer. "You’re just a bunch of whores chasing a hollow reputation! Stop putting on such a righteous and noble act. If my cultivation were far higher than yours, would you still dare to ruin my fun?"

"Many seniors in my sect do the same. Why don’t I see you meddling in their affairs?"

The white-robed woman’s expression remained unchanged. "Demons are demons, and humans are humans," she said simply. "I naturally feel no pity for the Demon Race."

"But I saw you. Therefore, I cannot spare you. The world is full of injustice, and I can only right the wrongs I witness. If I were to happen upon the elders of your sect harming the innocent, I would cut them down without mercy all the same."

As she finished speaking, a ripple of emotion finally appeared in her eyes.

With a flick of her slender, jade-like hand, the Daoist Sword vibrated in mid-air and transformed into a sky full of sword shadows, surging forward like a vast ocean to engulf its target.

The Void rumbled and the sword shadows howled, their pressure suffocating.

The fleeing figure’s eyes filled with despair and indignation. In the next instant, he was swallowed by the sword shadows and exploded into a mist of blood, unable to even utter a scream.

The white-robed woman watched this scene without any change in her expression. Then, with a flick of her jade-like hand, a wave of energy as radiant as moonlight spread out and instantly ignited the blood mist, ensuring the man was well and truly dead, his body and soul annihilated.

’Brother Ye sent word that an immortal’s abode is about to emerge on Purple Mist Mountain, suspected to be the legacy of the Great Divine Ability User, Purple Mist True Monarch.’

’Brother Ye is magnanimous and upright; he would never deceive me in this matter.’

’And over in Anyang City... it seems a junior sister has encountered some trouble...’

Having done all this, the white-robed woman beckoned lightly to retrieve her Daoist Sword, then steered the Cloud Boat away.