Chapter 147: Carry Me to Greatness

“You mean, even with it open like this, the Heroic Spirit Abundant Domain can still last for a month?”

Jiang Yan asked Xue Han with pleasant surprise.

Xue Han was somewhat bewildered by his sudden change in attitude but still replied:

“Although the Wraith Essence inside the Heroic Spirit Abundant Domain helps with Spiritual Power growth, it contains too many Impurities. Most Martial Artists absorb it very slowly—didn’t you know that?”

She looked puzzled.

Jiang Yan thought to himself that he usually just devoured Wraith Essence directly and had never really paid attention to this detail.

However, Jiang Yan hadn’t sought out Xue Han to discuss the Heroic Spirit Abundant Domain. He looked at her and asked:

“I heard you’re from Myriad Pottery Academy, one of the four great academies?”

Xue Han looked up. “Yes.”

Jiang Yan nodded. “That makes things easier.”

He continued, “Do you have any influence at Myriad Pottery Academy?”

“Before I graduated, I stepped into the True Intent Realm and held some weight within my grade.”

Jiang Yan: “What’s the Realm of the strongest person in your academy? And what’s their influence like?”

Xue Han gave Jiang Yan a thoughtful glance before replying:

“Probably True Intent Perfection, an Innate twelve-Aperture Martial Artist named Chang Yin.”

“As for influence… everyone on Tianyuan Star knows of him.”

“Wow, that’s really impressive.”

Jiang Yan sighed, but his eyes held no admiration for the strong—instead, they were mixed with something less pure.

Xue Han stared into his eyes, feeling she understood him less and less.

“Why are you asking about him?”

“Heh, tell me more about this Chang Yin in detail.”

Jiang Yan seemed very interested in this man. Xue Han’s gaze toward him grew strange, and she instinctively took a step back.

Still, she obediently answered:

“Chang Yin was born in Heart Origin City No. 0. His ancestors once possessed Martial God Bloodline. He opened eight Apertures at birth, accompanied by celestial phenomena and the resonance of myriad laws, shaking the entire Tianyuan Star.

Before turning eighteen, he successively opened four more Apertures, reaching twelve. After eighteen, he used Spirit Aperture Source Liquid to open his thirteenth Aperture. His Talent is truly Heaven-Defying.”

He never participated in any selection exams. At seventeen, Myriad Pottery Academy spent enormous resources to recruit him. Now, he has become the face of the entire academy.

After Xue Han finished speaking, she looked at Jiang Yan’s expression and found that instead of being shocked, he showed an “appreciation” she couldn’t quite understand.

It was probably “appreciation”—Xue Han couldn’t grasp Jiang Yan’s true intentions.

She continued.

“At thirteen Apertures and the Peak of True Intent, he has already reached the pinnacle of the younger generation. Only the hidden foundations of some major powers might stand a chance against him.”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Jiang Yan clapped three times and looked at Xue Han: “Do you have a way to get him to come to the Hundred Prisons Hunting Ground?”

Jiang Yan suddenly asked, but the request was so tricky that even he didn’t think it was possible.

As expected, things turned out as Jiang Yan thought.

“I could never invite him.”

“Why?”

Xue Han muttered, her expression somewhat unnatural.

“I rejected him once. After that, he left resentfully, and we haven’t spoken since.”

Jiang Yan felt regretful—so this Chang Yin was also a romantic at heart.

Not wanting to push her, Jiang Yan settled for the next best thing.

“Can you get other strong individuals to come to the Hundred Prisons Hunting Ground?”

Xue Han nodded. “Yes, but I need a reason. Otherwise, they won’t enter.”

Xue Han was, after all, a True Intent Realm Martial Artist, so her words carried some weight. Her fellow students would likely give her some face, but a legitimate reason was still necessary.

Jiang Yan smiled and said, “I want to open a Dueling Arena and need some well-known figures to help build its reputation.”

Xue Han pondered for a moment before replying, “I have an idea. Given your identity as the one who slew the Demon Lord, coupled with my persuasion, I believe some strong individuals would be willing to come and challenge you. However, the gimmick would have to be challenging you.”

“Defeating the one who killed the Demon Lord—I’m sure many would find that intriguing.”

Xue Han’s mind worked quickly, almost aligning perfectly with Jiang Yan’s thoughts.

“But…” Xue Han glanced at Jiang Yan. “Heart Origin City is filled with Prodigies, many of whom are stronger than me. Are you confident you can defeat them?”

Jiang Yan chuckled. “Just focus on ‘inviting’ them here. Once they step inside, the matter will be as good as settled.”

“Lock the door and beat the dog?”

The phrase slipped out of Xue Han’s mouth before she realized its impropriety, and she hurriedly tried to recover.

“I’ll return to Myriad Pottery Academy to gather people.”

With that, she hastily departed.

After leaving, Xue Han glanced back inadvertently and found the man had already vanished without a trace.

“Strange, isn’t he afraid I might leave and never return to this Hundred Prisons Hunting Ground?”

But soon, she smiled bitterly.

“No wonder. From the moment he spared me last night, he was already planning for today.”

“Perhaps I’m just a dispensable part of his scheme.”

Having me would be beneficial, but losing me wouldn’t be a pity.

Jiang Yan believed that a woman with a stubborn Dao Heart but an unusual “attachment” to her life wouldn’t go back on her word—and even if she did, it wouldn’t matter.

“Was agreeing to ‘submit’ last night in exchange for survival really the right choice?”

Xue Han’s face was shadowed with gloom as she arrived at the teleportation exit of the Hundred Prisons Hunting Ground, torn between hope and fear.

Her figure faded away.

The former Myriad Pottery encampment from last night had now become Jiang Yan’s resting place.

Inside the newly erected tent.

“Bro Jiang, I’m also a True Intent Realm Martial Artist. I graduated from Starfall Academy a year ago and have some connections. Should I also go back and gather people for you?”

Yang Qing fawned as he poured tea for Jiang Yan, offering a sheepish smile.

Jiang Yan’s dark and light eyes fixed on Yang Qing as he accepted the teacup.

“Xue Han alone is enough for promotion. After all, Myriad Pottery Academy is one of the four great academies, so its reputation is sufficiently high.”

The implication was clear: your Starfall Academy is just average, so there’s no need to get involved.

“Ah… this…”

Yang Qing understood the meaning behind Jiang Yan’s words but still persisted.

“Bro Jiang, I just want to contribute in some way. Although Starfall Academy can’t compare to the four great academies, it still has some heritage on Tianyuan Star.”

Tap.

The crisp sound of porcelain clinking echoed, and the entire tent fell silent for a moment.

The air grew still, and Yang Qing could even hear the beating of his own heart.

“Bro Jiang, please… drink your tea.”

“It’s a bit too hot, and I don’t care for this flavor.”

“Yes, yes. Next time I go out… uh, I’ll have someone bring you a better batch of tea.”

Jiang Yan stood up. “Actually, I don’t like drinking tea.”

After a pause, he continued.

“Actually, I never forced you to stay.”

“Bro Jiang… what do you mean?”

“You’re free to leave if you wish. You contributed by offering advice today, so I won’t kill you.”

“I…” Yang Qing felt as if something were stuck in his throat.

He hadn’t expected his ploy to have been seen through long ago.

After a long while, he seemed to have figured something out, and bowed respectfully to Jiang Yan with clasped hands.

“Bro Jiang, I’ll be honest with you. I, Yang Qing, was never born to pursue being the strongest—I just want to live a good life in this world.

Yesterday, agreeing to submit to you was merely a delaying tactic. I intended to find an excuse later to leave Baiyu and never return.”

He took a deep breath and declared resolutely, “But just now, I’ve had a realization.”

Jiang Yan smiled faintly, asking, “What realization?”

Yang Qing placed his hand over his chest, his eyes now holding something different.

“Bro Jiang, make me awesome!”