Chapter Ten: Advancement

The box was opened, revealing a verdant expanse. Nangong Yue's eyes immediately widened as she carefully picked up the jade ring to examine it.

"Clear as crystal, not a single flaw!"

"It's like spring in full bloom!"

"This is flawless jade!"

"And the craftsmanship is exquisite beyond compare!"

"It's worth a fortune!"

"Each of these pieces is absolute perfection!"

"My goodness, Xiaofan, where did you get these?"

Nangong Yue scrutinized them closely, exclaiming in admiration from time to time; in the end, she was utterly astonished, and even Jiang Zheng'an's eyes gleamed with excitement.

Jiang Fan, a little embarrassed, said, "Mother, could you keep it a secret?"

"A secret from me?" Nangong Yue raised her brows. "Xiaofan, you're really growing up!"

"A child grows up and should have some secrets of his own," Jiang Zheng'an interjected, his tone turning serious. "But is the source entirely proper?"

"Father, rest assured, it's absolutely proper!" Jiang Fan let out a sigh of relief.

"Good, that's all I needed to hear." Jiang Zheng'an nodded. "You didn't take these out because you've set your sights on some young lady, have you? Do you have any idea how much this set of jewelry is worth?"

"Father, I spend all day at home—when would I have met any young ladies?" Jiang Fan replied, half amused, half helpless. "I just wanted you both to help me appraise them."

"Our Jiang family has the Treasure Pavilion; your father oversees it, and I handle the transactions," Nangong Yue said as she inspected each piece again, only putting them down after a long while. "These are the finest of the fine, made of flawless jade—exceedingly rare. Even a single pair of earrings would fetch at least a hundred thousand taels of silver!"

"A hundred thousand taels?" Jiang Fan was taken aback.

One tael of silver equaled a thousand copper coins, and two copper coins would buy a meat bun.

Nangong Yue nodded. "And this is a complete set. By my estimate, it's worth at least thirty million taels of silver!" Even as she uttered the figure, she couldn't help her heart from fluttering.

"Lower your voice!" Jiang Zheng'an quickly signaled.

Steady as he was, that number still sent a tremor through him.

"Xiaofan, this set of jewelry is worth nearly half of the Jiang family's entire fortune!" Jiang Zheng'an said gravely. "Did you chance upon some immortal fate? Otherwise, who could possibly give you such treasures?"

"Immortal fate?" Nangong Yue's eyes sparkled.

Jiang Fan only smiled.

He truly had no way to explain.

But his parents had unwittingly provided him with the perfect excuse.

"Your successful foundation building today—was that, too, a result of this immortal fate?" Jiang Zheng'an pressed, finally relaxing a little as he gestured toward the jewelry. "Are you showing us these because you want something?"

"I want to sell them to buy medicinal pills, but I have no connections. I'll have to trouble the two of you," Jiang Fan replied.

"For us, selling one item would be nothing, but if we sell the whole set, it's more trouble than it's worth," Jiang Zheng'an mused. "Yue, it can only be you."

Nangong Yue nodded. "Xiaofan, tomorrow I'll take these to the provincial capital to see your grandfather. As it happens, he needs some rare treasures to present at court and strengthen his connections—nothing could be more appropriate. Tell me what pills you need, and I'll have your grandfather prepare them. Their value will only exceed this jewelry's, not fall short."

"That's wonderful," Jiang Fan said. "I'll continue to cultivate the Diagram of the Profound Way."

"No!" Jiang Zheng'an refused outright. "Now that you've obtained immortal fate, how can you continue on such a limited path?"

"That's right, Xiaofan," Nangong Yue agreed. "The Diagram of the Profound Way is a body-refining technique. If there were further inheritances, it would be another matter, but with only thirty-six diagrams, even if you master them fully, the highest you can reach is the peak of the innate realm. With no way forward, why waste your immortal fate?"

"It's precisely because I have obtained immortal fate that I must continue cultivating," Jiang Fan replied with a mysterious smile.

"Immortal fate?" Jiang Zheng'an hesitated, but finally relented. "Very well."

Having settled things with his parents, Jiang Fan silently breathed a sigh of relief.

To cultivate rapidly, one needs resources—and for that, his parents' help was indispensable. Otherwise, how could he dare to bring out such treasures? He wouldn't even be able to explain their origin.

Night fell. Jiang Fan continued to consolidate his mastery of the sixth diagram, stopping only when his progress slowed to a crawl before returning to his room to rest.

In another room—

"Anzi, what do you think happened to Xiaofan? What sort of immortal fate did he obtain to be gifted such rare treasures?"

"How should I know! But it all feels rather strange. If he truly obtained immortal fate and was given such treasures, why would he need to trade them for pills? It doesn't add up. Yue, do you think there's anything amiss here?"

"Perhaps it's just that he doesn't have access to low-grade pills and has to exchange treasures for them?"

"Sigh, best not to overthink it. Yue, let's just get some sleep."

"Mm."

The lights went out, and the couple drifted into peaceful slumber.

At dawn the next day, the two rose early and left for the provincial capital together—leaving Jiang Fan no chance to see them off.

He didn't waste any time. After washing up, he began his cultivation.

All morning he practiced, but the seventh diagram was still incomplete.

Jiang Fan was not discouraged—cultivation, after all, demanded patience above all.

The sun moved from east to west.

The small courtyard remained tranquil.

He cultivated in silence while Xiaoqian and Xiaoqing practiced their swordsmanship nearby.

As the setting sun slanted over the mountain,

Jiang Fan sat cross-legged, his legs alternately folded. One hand was pressed upright against his chest, the other reached behind to touch the back of his head, leaning slightly to the left—a posture he had yet to master.

At that moment, his hand finally brushed the back of his head.

Instantly, his bones shuddered and his blood surged, resonating perfectly with the rhythms of heaven and earth. Spiritual energy flooded the air, rushing into his body.

In the world of Swallowing the Starry Sky, the first practice of genetic origin energy would draw the power of the cosmos for a profound transformation and sublimation.

So too in this world.

Upon establishing his foundation, whether through body refinement or energy cultivation, one would attract spiritual energy into the body. For those who cultivated energy arts, opening the dantian was paramount; for the body-refining path, it meant cleansing the tendons and marrow, transforming the bloodline—a physical leap to a new level.

Spiritual energy poured in, suffusing his organs, blood, and marrow, reaching the finest structures of his body—causing his blood to be refined, his marrow to transform, his bones to become denser, his muscles more powerful, and his sinews as strong as steel.

This intense metamorphosis brought a tingling pleasure deep in his bones, like countless ants crawling, yet also a profound sense of joy at the very elevation of life itself.

These contradictory sensations surged through him all at once.

Jiang Fan remained unfazed, maintaining the pose.

Muscles quivered, bones vibrated, and his heartbeat seemed to echo the rhythms of the cosmos—inside and out, man and heaven in perfect accord.

After half an hour, the gathering spiritual energy finally dissipated.

"Wonderful," Jiang Fan exclaimed as he stood, stretching his arms. He could feel power coursing through him, delight lighting his expression. But his skin was slick with a layer of greasy sweat, reeking with a sour stench, so he pinched his nose.

"Congratulations, young master, on your breakthrough!" Xiaoqian, who had been waiting nearby, said. "Hot water is ready, and your clean clothes are where they always are. Please go wash up!"

"Young master, I'll sprinkle the flower petals right away!" Xiaoqing came in, carrying a flower basket.

"Alright," Jiang Fan said as he entered the bath chamber, shooing the servant girls out.

Outside, the two maids whispered together.

"Xiaoqing, we've served the young master for so many years—why did he suddenly drive us out?"

"He must be growing up. He's shy now!"

"Growing up? Shy?"

"That's right."