"Have you heard? Murong Xiangming, the number one beauty of our Hanwu City, is getting married."

"What? For real? Murong Xiangming is getting married? To who?"

"To Qin Lie, the son of Master Qin, the President of the Alchemist Guild."

"Tsk tsk, a talented man and a beautiful woman. That Qin Lie is already a Second-Grade Alchemist at such a young age. They’re a perfect match."

"Yeah, it’s a shame. A girl as beautiful as Murong Xiangming becoming someone else’s wife just like that."

"The wedding is in three days at the Alchemist Guild."

"Gods, I can’t even imagine it. The scene will be so grand and lively. You think we could sneak in and get a glimpse?"

"Stop dreaming. The people going that day will all be the heads of major powers. People like you and me can only watch from the main gate."

The news spread like wildfire.

It wasn’t just Hanwu City; people in several nearby ancient cities were stirred to action.

After all, both the Treasure Elephant Pavilion and the Alchemist Guild were among the top powers.

Many smaller factions wanted to curry favor with them.

So, one could only imagine how grand the occasion would be.

「At the Jiang Family.」

A recovered Liang Yiyi rushed in excitedly. "Young Master, Young Master, there’s some explosive news!" she exclaimed with delight.

She seemed thrilled by some incredible news she had heard.

Jiang Chen stopped his Cultivation. For the past few days, he hadn’t gone to the Alchemist Guild, practicing the Shadowless Sword Technique at home instead.

He still hadn’t broken through to the Second Form, Sword Intent Startled Swan.

However, he had already perfected the First Form, Fast Sword Has No Edge.

His sword had become unimaginably fast.

BZZZZ...

A fly buzzed past Jiang Chen.

A glint flashed in Jiang Chen’s eyes, and the sword in his hand shot out.

SWISH!

His movement stopped in an instant. A fly was impaled on the tip of his sword. Its wings were still buzzing, but its body had been pierced through.

With a flick of his sword, Jiang Chen shook the fly into dust.

While wiping the tip of his sword, Jiang Chen suddenly said with a hint of resignation, "I’ve been so busy with my Cultivation lately, I forgot about something important."

He shook his head at himself.

Then he looked at Liang Yiyi, who had just run in.

"What’s this explosive news?" he asked.

It seemed even the most explosive news couldn’t stir Jiang Chen’s heart.

Liang Yiyi’s cheeks were flushed.

"That Young Miss from the Treasure Elephant Pavilion, the number one beauty of Hanwu City, Murong Xiangming—she’s getting married!"

"Oh, right, Young Master, I remember that Murong Xiangming came looking for you before."

Liang Yiyi was just repeating what she’d heard. She had seen Murong Xiangming before since the latter had visited the Jiang Family.

"Is that so?"

Jiang Chen was surprised. He was genuinely taken aback by the news of Murong Xiangming’s marriage.

’Murong Xiangming doesn’t seem like the type of woman to marry herself off so easily.’

’This news really is explosive.’

Even he found it a bit shocking.

It was no wonder. Based on his interactions with her, Murong Xiangming was definitely not a rash person.

So the news of her marriage was bound to be surprising.

Liang Yiyi said, "It’s true. It’s the talk of the town now; everyone knows about it."

"You’re the only one who wouldn’t know, busy all day with either Alchemy or Cultivation."

Jiang Chen fell silent.

This news didn’t really affect him.

It was just a surprise. Murong Xiangming getting married had nothing to do with him.

"Alright, I understand."

With that, Jiang Chen washed up, changed his clothes, and prepared to head out, frowning as he did so.

’Huh? What’s wrong with the Young Master?’

’He seems unhappy.’

Liang Yiyi noticed that Jiang Chen had an unusual expression as he left.

But she didn’t ask any further questions.

Jiang Chen headed straight for the Treasure Elephant Pavilion.

He had asked Murong Xiangming to help him sell quite a few Elixirs, but he had been too busy to go see her these past few days.

Now, he planned to go over and check on things.

He needed to collect his meta-crystals. He had even asked Murong Xiangming to help him buy a suitable sword.

He wondered if there was any news.

"Young Master Jiang Chen."

Seeing Jiang Chen arrive, the staff of the Treasure Elephant Pavilion immediately greeted him warmly.

The Jiang Chen of today was considered a VIP of the Treasure Elephant Pavilion, and a Golden Card Member at that.

Soon, Jiang Chen was escorted by Lu Ming to the third-floor reception hall.

Lu Ming was quite familiar with Jiang Chen, as he was the one who always received him.

Jiang Chen didn’t waste words, saying directly, "I’d like to see your Young Miss."

Lu Ming looked a bit awkward. "Young Master Jiang Chen, our Young Miss isn’t seeing anyone recently."

"I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed."

Jiang Chen was even more surprised.

"She won’t even see me?"

"I have important business to discuss with your Young Miss."

Lu Ming gave a bitter smile.

"Alright, I’ll go ask again."

With that, he hurried away.

A short while later, he returned, shaking his head.

"Young Master Jiang Chen, I told her, but the Young Miss is unwilling to meet. She said for you to go back."

"If there’s anything, you can talk about it after the wedding."

At that moment, Jiang Chen’s expression grew even stranger.

’Something’s not right. Murong Xiangming hasn’t given me my meta-crystals yet.’

’Even if she’s preparing for her wedding, there’s no reason for her to refuse to see me.’

Jiang Chen fell silent, not leaving just yet.

He suddenly asked Lu Ming, "Has your Young Miss been acting unusually lately?"

Lu Ming was taken aback. He thought for a moment. After all, Murong Xiangming’s wedding was a top priority.

He had paid attention to the matter and had even secretly observed Murong Xiangming’s every word and action because of it.

Because from Lu Ming’s perspective, this whole affair was rather strange.

He was silent for a long while before suddenly slapping his forehead. "Young Master Jiang Chen, to be honest with you, I know that our Young Miss couldn’t stand that Qin Lie before."

"But this time, I heard that after meeting with Qin Lie, the Young Miss changed completely. She’s dead set on marrying him, and no one can stop her."

"Even our Pavilion Master, Master Tian Mu, personally tried to persuade her once, telling her to reconsider carefully. But she just berated him, and our Pavilion Master didn’t dare to try again."

"It seems the Young Miss is truly willing."

He still shook his head slightly.

Jiang Chen waved his hand and continued to ask, "Just tell me what unusual behaviors she’s had."

"For example, ways she’s been different from her usual self."

Lu Ming thought about it again.

Then he said, "Unusual behavior... she seems to have become even colder than before."

"However, I did see her once when her eyes seemed completely devoid of color, like a lost person, but she quickly returned to normal."

"That’s all, really."

Jiang Chen was startled upon hearing this.

He said to Lu Ming, "There is definitely something wrong with your Young Miss."

"I want to see Master Tian Mu."

Lu Ming hesitated.

"The Pavilion Master is busy preparing for the Young Miss’s wedding," he said helplessly.

But Jiang Chen suddenly grew serious.

"Lu Ming, I know you are loyal to your Young Miss, but I have to say, if someone has tampered with her, forcing her to marry Qin Lie, then this matter is huge."

What?

Lu Ming was flabbergasted.

"No way! Our Young Miss’s Cultivation has already broken through to the Martial King realm. Who in Hanwu City could possibly tamper with her?"

"That’s... impossible, right?"

Lu Ming absolutely refused to believe Jiang Chen’s speculation.