Chapter 304 The Devil Legion
Just like the Dongcheng Clan in the Central Plain, whose every word carried weight, the foundation of the Jiang family in Beijiang of Zhongzhou State was also unique.
Perhaps the Jiang family in Beijiang still had not reached the absolute dominance like the Dongcheng Clan had in the Central Plain, but in Beijiang, the Jiang family could definitely be said to be the biggest wealthy family.
This was the Jiang family of Jiang Shan.
It was also the Jiang family that Jiang Shangyu was from.
In the past 100 years, almost three generations of the Jiang family contributed themselves to operate their business in Beijiang. If there was no accident, there would be a fourth generation, and the next generation, and they would continue to operate. Sooner or later, the largest province in Zhongzhou State would completely become the backyard of the Jiang family.
This was a family with enough wisdom and toughness.
They were reasonable, steady, and down to earth.
The changes in Beijiang over the past nearly 100 years had almost always clearly carried the marks of the Jiang family.
The Jiang family’s current patriarch was Jiang Shan.
He was one of the members of the Decision Making Committee of Zhongzhou State, the leader of the Beijiang, one of the former Four Spirits of Zhongzhou State, and the former General of Nine Regions.
He was really in a high position, whether in Beijiang or in Zhongzhou State.
The Jiang family rose to power in the generation of Jiang Shan’s grandfather.
The old man, Jiang Shan’s grandfather, did not have any so-called background or patron back in those years. After been a.s.signed to Beijiang, they worked hard and a.s.siduously for nearly 40 years.
The old man himself had not achieved much, and becoming mayor of a prefecture-level city was the apex of his career.
But he had left a great range of connections that could not be underestimated.
The four siblings of Jiang Shan’s father’s generation began to earn a foothold in Beijiang with the support of the old man.
Jiang Shan’s eldest uncle entered the western theatre of operations.
Jiang Shan’s father continued to move on the official career path and eventually entered the promotion sequence. Although he was a deputy, his energy was absolutely unusual and he finally caught the eyes of the Prince Group.
Jiang Shan’s aunt established the family business of the Jiang family.
His other uncle specialized in martial arts.
The four siblings made their own development, which was the origin of the entire Jiang family.
After a few decades, the Jiang family started to prosper during Jiang Shan’s generation.
The resources acc.u.mulated by the previous two generations in Beijiang and the connections of the Prince Group were fully utilized by Jiang Shan.
Jiang Shan also lived up to the family’s expectations and went all the way up in this land of valiance.
He was steady, silent, and strong, but kept a low profile.
In the time of three generations, the Jiang family changed from their initial no-roots to a second-rate family, and finally completed the transformation to a front-line giant.
The Jiang family was the soul of Beijiang.
While Beijiang was the backup of the Jiang family.
This kind of relationship had acc.u.mulated in successive generations and had become decorous and pa.s.sionate.
Jiang Shangyu had stayed in Beijiang for a week.
But he never got to meet his father.
Jiang Shan was very, very busy.
He could be said to be one of the most promising leaders among all previous Beijiang leaders. His daily schedule was always full. Jiang Shangyu got the information from the secretary that Jiang Shan had not returned home for nearly a month.
But Jiang Shangyu had to wait.
He had something very important to confirm with his father.
The time was getting closer to noon.
An old-fashioned Mercedes slowly entered the council compound of Beijiang. The Number One plate in Beijiang reflected the light in the sunshine, which seemed mysterious and majestic.
Jiang Shangyu, who was sitting on the balcony and staring blankly, stood up and jumped directly from the balcony on the second floor.
The Mercedes slowed down.
Jiang Shangyu, who walked next to the car, opened the rear door.
Jiang Shan, who finally took some time to go home, stepped out of the car.
Jiang Shan was not tall, and he looked slightly fat. Less than 50 years old, his hair was already grizzled. He also had dark skin. Just by looking at his appearance, he looked like a fat man who was not very eye-catching.
But this was a fat man with great tolerance.
His expression was calm and serene, and he carried a kind of natural majesty that would be gained after staying in a high position for a long period. His temperament was like the vast land of Beijiang, desolate and distant.
Jiang Shangyu smiled and called him, “Dad.”
Jiang Shan nodded and said indifferently, “Let’s have meal first. I have a meeting in the afternoon.”
Jiang Shangyu responded and took the bag from his father, walking into the Number One villa of the council compound.
Seven days at home.
He knew very well that the time he could really spend with his father was during this meal.
Jiang Shangyu made a few dishes himself, and a braised fish was the only meat dish.
The father and son sat at the table and silently ate like the wind rolling up the clouds.
After eating, Jiang Shangyu made Jiang Shan a cup of tea.
“What are you doing home?” Jiang Shan took the teacup and asked casually.
…
…
“The final maneuver of the two houses begins in a month. Dad, will you go there too?” asked Jiang Shangyu.
Jiang Shan drank a sip of hot tea, slightly indulged for a while, then shook his head. “I’m not sure. I have received an invitation, but I may not have the time.”
He put the teacup down and knocked on the table and said, “Gu Hanshan has entered your Three Thousand World, right?”
Jiang Shangyu nodded. His expression was still relaxed, but his eyes became dignified.
This news had already spread throughout Zhongzhou State.
But for the father and son, such news obviously had other meanings.
Jiang Shan’s thick finger tapped on the table for a long time, and finally, he said, “What are your plans?”
…
Jiang Shangyu said respectfully, “I’ve come home this time to see what you have planned.”
Jiang Shan was silent again.
This time, he was silent for a longer time.
Jiang Shangyu waited patiently.
…
Jiang Shan looked at Jiang Shangyu and suddenly asked, “Regarding w.a.n.g Yuetong… Is there any progress?”
Jiang Shangyu had no choice but to smile. He spread his hands and said, “Your son is not charming enough. I have seen her several times, but her att.i.tude was always indifferent. I never got to ask her out for a movie and or a meal. I have not even approached her within two meters. What progress can I make with her?”
“Always been like this?”
Jiang Shan was also somewhat helpless.
Jiang Shangyu nodded. Although he was smiling bitterly, he didn’t seem to be depressed. “I am not really thinking about it now. I heard that she had lived with Li Tianlan a few years ago. I have met Li Tianlan. Though he disappeared for three years, he could be said to be the top person among the young generation of Zhongzhou State, at least in terms of reputation. Since w.a.n.g Yuetong has him in her heart, I don’t expect to change anything.”
Jiang Shan frowned.
w.a.n.g Yuetong had always been one of the goals he focused on, but it was not until more than a year ago that Jiang Shan began to act.
In the mid-term change more than a year ago, Jiang Shan was among the top candidates who could be promoted.
The three chief executives retired, and except for the position of Dongcheng Wudi, Jiang Shan was capable to sit in either of the remaining two vacant positions.
However, the point was that he didn’t want to move at all.
The backer that was trying to push him up was the Prince Group behind him.
Moving from Beijiang to the center of Zhongzhou State, the Hidden Dragon Sea, was a huge advancement in power, but this was not what Jiang Shan wanted.
The short-term expansion of power did not have many benefits for him. On the contrary, because Jiang Shangyu had not yet fully grown up, once he left Xinjiang, the foundation of the entire Jiang family would be affected.
Beijiang meant everything to the Jiang family.
Once Jiang Shan rushed to the commanding heights, the foundations and forces acc.u.mulated by generations of operations would meet an extremely fierce disruption, which no one in the Jiang family would like to see.
However, the one who proposed this motion was the Prince Group.
Jiang Shan was one of the super important figures of the Prince Group, so the Prince Group’s promoting him to the top was not all because of worrying about the gradual enlargement of the Jiang family in Beijiang, but also because of the overall consideration.
Pushing Jiang Shan up one step, and the vacant position of the first leader of Beijiang could be taken up by the successor of the Prince Group as a transition in advance, so that he could finally strive to get a better position and ranking in the next change.
This was a consideration from the perspective of the entire group.
And the benefits were obvious.
However, group interests and personal interests often conflicted.
If Jiang Shan didn’t want to move, then the next successor of the Prince Group would find it difficult to get an ideal position to get gilded.
After all, Jiang Shan started his career in the Prince Group, so even if he didn’t want to move, he could not clearly object to the proposal.
However, at that time, he had close contact with the w.a.n.g family of Beihai by the opportunity of investigation.
He did not hide his behavior.
He met w.a.n.g Tianzong and expressed his hopes to arrange a marriage with the w.a.n.g family of Beihai.
The objects of the marriage were w.a.n.g Yuetong and Jiang Shangyu.
w.a.n.g Tianzong said that he couldn’t control his own wicked girl with an iron face, but he also said that they could let them get in touch first.
Shortly after Jiang Shan came back, w.a.n.g Yuetong had entered Youzhou. In the past year, she had been working in a position at the deputy office level in the Headquarters of the General Staff. Her job had created an opportunity for Jiang Shangyu.
The contact between Jiang Shan and the w.a.n.g family of Beihai was obvious.
After weighing the balance, and in addition to getting the pressure brought by Kunlun City, the Prince Group finally canceled the idea of letting Jiang Shan move from his position.
But the cracks on both sides had gradually formed.
Jiang Shangyu knew that his father was looking forward to the marriage between himself and w.a.n.g Yuetong.
Only now, it seemed that such a marriage would not happen.
Therefore, over the past year, under the circ.u.mstance of having enmity with the Prince Group, the Jiang family’s situation had been very difficult with enormous pressure.
It was no secret that the Jiang family could not arrange a marriage with the w.a.n.g family of Beihai.
So the Special Warfare Group, which had been very close to the Jiang family, began to extend an olive branch quietly.
However, Jiang Shan had not responded to it.
With the approaching of the final maneuvers of the two houses, Jiang Shangyu’s Three Thousand World accepted Gu Hanshan, which could be said to be the most obvious signal given by the Jiang family over the past year.
This signal was sensitive enough to at least cause the uneasiness of the Prince Group.
But now, everything was still not clear.
Jiang Shangyu came back to see what specific plan Jiang Shan had.
Gu Hanshan entered Three Thousand World.
This seemed to be just a transaction and union between juniors.
But in fact, in the eyes of the Special Warfare Group and the Prince Group, it was the clearest signal.
There would be two endings under this signal.
The first ending was that in the case of Gu Hanshan occupying the dominant position, Jiang Shangyu would withdraw from the Three Thousand World after the final maneuver.
The second was that Jiang Shangyu would stay and take the position of the second leader of Three Thousand World.
The first ending proved that although there was some disrepair in the relationships between Jiang Shan and the Prince Group, he was still a member of the Prince Group. At least there was no obvious disagreement.
The second ending was equivalent to directly stating that the Jiang family had stepped into the standpoint of the Special Warfare Group.
The position of the Jiang family would become very subtle.
When a member in the Decision Making Committee changed his standpoint, the impact would be huge, but before Jiang Shan officially made a final decision, the Jiang family was still worthy to be drawn over. However, in the meantime, it would also cause hostility within the Prince Group.
This was a subtle and dangerous opportunity.
Before the final maneuver began, Jiang Shangyu had to listen to his father’s decision.
Jiang Shangyu suddenly said, “If you have not decided yet, I can withdraw from Three Thousand World after the maneuver.”
…
Jiang Shan’s finger, which had been hitting on the table, paused. He looked up at his son and said, “Are you willing to do this?”
Jiang Shangyu smiled and said, “It’s nothing. What belongs to me cannot be taken by Gu Hanshan.”
Jiang Shan took a deep look at his son and said with composure, “What plans do you have?”
“There is no specific plan yet. I just have a goal.”
Jiang Shangyu shook his head and whispered, “Li Tianlan.”
Jiang Shan’s eyes suddenly condensed. “Li Tianlan… Do you want to cooperate with him?”
“It’s always a matter of getting in touch first.”
Jiang Shangyu remembered the young man who had a bright smile and almost killed him in the Heaven Capital three years ago.
…
“What if you don’t have to quit Three Thousand World?” Jiang Shan asked.
“It is even more necessary to meet with Li Tianlan.”
Jiang Shangyu dropped his eyelids and said, “I can give the dominance of Three Thousand World to Gu Hanshan. But why can’t he ask himself if he is qualified? Why should he take it for granted?”
“Be careful.”
Jiang Shan frowned.
“Don’t worry, father.”
Jiang Shangyu whispered, “I won’t do anything before I am confident of success.”
Jiang Shan grunted with a.s.sent, and said, “Then don’t quit for now. How long will it take for you to enter the Thunder-shocking Realm?”
Jiang Shangyu had not only the Exquisite Bone, but also the Heavenly King Heart.
He was at the peak of the Fire-flaming Realm three years ago.
Three years later, he still had not entered the Thunder-shocking Realm.
“Anytime.”
Jiang Shangyu laughed. “Dad, I am going to celebrate for myself. Lend me the cruise ship of Second Uncle.”
“You’re thinking…”
Jiang Shan was pondering.
“I want to hold a banquet, and the location is in Huating.”
Jiang Shangyu smiled and said, “I have sent out the invitations. w.a.n.g Shengxiao, Gu Hanshan, Song Ci, Li Tianlan, and Dongcheng Rushi will all receive the invitations. In addition… I also invited w.a.n.g Yuetong. Since Li Tianlan will go, w.a.n.g Yuetong will definitely go. Hah… maybe there will be a funny scene of bustle to watch.”
“w.a.n.g Yuetong…”
Jiang Shan shook his head and sighed, “It’s such a pity. If she can marry you…”
Jiang Shangyu was a little astonished. “Dad, why do you pay so much attention to the w.a.n.g family of Beihai? Even if we don’t stay in the Prince Group, staying in the Special Warfare Group will not be worse than being with the w.a.n.g family of Beihai, right?”
“What do you know?”
Jiang Shan shook his head with self-mockery. “The w.a.n.g family of Beihai has a special status in Zhongzhou State. They are powerful, but their focus is destined to be placed in Beihai Province. If we cooperate with the w.a.n.g family of Beihai, Beijiang may come under the power of the Southeast Group, but we Jiang family are the master in Beijiang. As long as we have no other thoughts, w.a.n.g Tianzong will not interfere with the affairs of Beijiang.
“Kunlun City is different. Even if we join the Special Warfare Group, Gu Xingyun will secretly support the forces that are capable to resist the Jiang family. Kunlun City has a long history, but it stood at the top for such a short time. It is just a nouveau riche. How could it compare with the w.a.n.g family of Beihai?
“You can look down on any influence, but you must not underestimate the w.a.n.g family of Beihai.”
Jiang Shan’s eyes were dignified.
Jiang Shangyu casually snorted and smiled. “Of course. How am I qualified to look down on the w.a.n.g family of Beihai?”
Jiang Shan frowned and sighed softly. “We are in a difficult situation now, but if there are other options, try to stay away from Li Tianlan. That kind of possible cooperation…”
He suddenly paused. “You think highly of him, don’t you?”
“He is a person with unlimited possibilities.”
Jiang Shangyu said, “I have had contact with him. Someone like him would never be so arrogant as he is now if he isn’t confident of success. I saw from the video that he has smashed Gu Yunxia, and I also saw the video of him fighting Song Ci. The video of the war made me feel… strange. Li Tianlan is not normal, but I can’t say exactly what is abnormal in him. Dad, I have an intuition that w.a.n.g Shengxiao will not be a match for Li Tianlan considering his current strength. Even among the younger generation, no one could be Li Tianlan’s rival.”
“So what?”
Jiang Shan said indifferently, “After all, he is still one of the younger generation. Does Li Tianlan have time to grow up?
“If you want to talk about the older generation, then there is nothing to worry about.”
Jiang Shangyu said disapprovingly, “His Highness Li Honghe is still alive. He forcibly resumed his peak state at the border, so he should be stronger now. At that time, Senior Li was already third on the Divine List. Now, even if he is not w.a.n.g Tianzong’s opponent, he would not be too much weaker than him. As long as he is alive, the w.a.n.g family of Beihai would not dare to take action easily.”
“Indeed.”
Jiang Shan’s face was a bit gloomy. “The w.a.n.g family of Beihai really does not dare to do anything easily. But it’s not absolutely impossible!”
Jiang Shangyu was silent for a while. Thinking of the more and more majestic behavior style of the w.a.n.g family of Beihai in recent years, he still shook his head. “If they really take action… I don’t think they can withstand the counterattack of Senior Li because that would make them suffer a lot.”
“Bullsh*t!”
Jiang Shan’s slightly obese face shook.
He gave his son a stern look. Taking a deep breath, he suddenly said after a good while, “Our Jiang family has developed very well these years… Many people say that if the Jiang family can have a master in the Invincible Realm, then we definitely won’t be weaker than the real top giants like Dongcheng Clan now. Have you heard that?”
Jiang Shangyu raised his eyebrows and nodded subconsciously.
Jiang Shan smiled bitterly. He said with some self-mockery, “In fact… we used to have a master in the Invincible Realm.”
For an instant.
Jiang Shangyu almost jumped out of surprise.
“The Jiang family used to have a master in the Invincible Realm?”
Even if it was back in the day, Jiang Shangyu had never heard of it.
“How is this possible?!” he asked after taking a deep breath.
…
“Nothing is impossible. “Only a few people know about this. Maybe only I know.”
Jiang Shan put on an ugly smile. “Our Jiang family’s master in the Invincible Realm was almost the shortest-lived master of the Invincible Realm in the Dark World. It was not a glory. It was a shame.”
Jiang Shangyu stared at his father, breathing quickly.
“It’s your little grandfather.”
Jiang Shan sighed softly. “We had been very close to the Special Warfare Group. More than 20 years ago, after Li Kuangtu committed treason, Kunlun City just became in charge. During that period, the old patriarch of the w.a.n.g family of Beihai just died…
“You should know that w.a.n.g Tianzong’s breakthrough into the Invincible Realm was relatively late, so during that time, the w.a.n.g family of Beihai had no masters in the Invincible Realm.
“Gu Xingyun’s ambition was great. Just after dragging the Li family down, he tried to swallow the w.a.n.g family of Beihai while it was relatively weak at that time. During that time, w.a.n.g Tianzong did not enter the Invincible Realm, so as long as he died, there would be another situation in the w.a.n.g family of Beihai.
“However, at that time, Kunlun City was closely watched by all parties. It was not appropriate for them to take action, so they found your little grandfather, my uncle.
“At that time, on the surface, little uncle was a top master at the Half-step Invincible Realm, but only I knew that he had just broken through to the Invincible Realm, and only because of this we were impressed by the benefits given by Kunlun City. My little uncle in the Invincible Realm accepted the trade and went to the w.a.n.g family of Beihai to a.s.sa.s.sinate w.a.n.g Tianzong.”
Jiang Shangyu twitched his mouth and subconsciously said, “What happened next?”
“Next?”
Jiang Shan’s mouth corner twitched, and he said bitterly, “Then, of course he failed and died.”
…
Jiang Shangyu continued to ask, “How?”
Jiang Shan was silent for a long time before he breathed deeply.
“I don’t know.”
Jiang Shan said, “Little uncle finally escaped back, but he died directly in front of me before he could say a few words to me.
“It was not a master in the Invincible Realm who left him a fatal injury. It was…”
A panic that looked similar to having a nightmare emerged on Jiang Shan’s face.
It was an unconcealed fear and dread. It came from his instincts and his soul.
“It was… 12 elites. Six Thunder-shocking Realm masters, and six Fire-flaming Realm masters!”
…
Jiang Shangyu could not help but shout, “How could this be possible?!”
He couldn’t imagine how could such a ridiculous lineup could kill a master in the Invincible Realm.
Even if it was a master who just entered the Invincible Realm.
“This is the truth.”
After the extreme fear, Jiang Shan’s expression became numb.
…
“What the h.e.l.l were those people?” Jiang Shangyu asked subconsciously.
“I secretly checked, but there was no result. It was like those people never existed. The only clue I have is the name that was left by your grandfather when he died.”
Jiang Shan breathed deeply, and said in a low voice, “The Devil Legion!”