Chapter 1645 - Fake!
Just from the appearance and soul aura, Jiang Feifei was unable to tell who was real and who was fake. Thus, she could only use her conversation with her father as a gauge.
“You said that…” After pondering for a moment, Jiang Fangyou was just about to answer the question when a voice interjected him.
“You said, ‘I don’t want to marry that Zhang Xuan! All he does is humblebrag with his strength and crush the confidence of others. Furthermore, he even rejected the little princess of the Luo Clan publicly, not showing any considerations for the other party’s dignity at all!’”
“This…” Jiang Feifei was stunned for a moment before nodding slowly. “Indeed, that’s what I said…”
“…”
Jiang Fangyou’s body jolted once more. At that moment, he felt like the thief had slipped into his mind and taken a peek at his memories.
Those were the words that his daughter had said to him earlier, so how was the other party able to recite them so accurately?
With veins popping on his temples, Jiang Fangyou roared angrily, “No, that’s not right… You were hiding by the side earlier, weren’t you? Otherwise, how could you have known the conversation between me and Feifei?”
He was supposed to apprehend the thief who had stolen the treasures of the Jiang Clan, but things had swiftly spiraled out of control, to the extent that he was even beginning to doubt his own identity. No words could begin to describe how he was feeling.
“Hah, I can also say that you were snooping around earlier!” Zhang Xuan scoffed disdainfully. “Alright, stop this pointless struggling and reveal your true form! Otherwise, if all of us make a move together, the only fate that will await you is death!”
“I…”
Hearing those words, Jiang Fangyou’s body trembled in agitation. He wanted to refute the thief’s words, but he was unable to find any convincing argument to back himself.
The tides were truly against him now. The elders did not believe him, and he did not have the Clan Head Token or any insignia to prove his identity. If they made a move against him, he would not stand a chance at all.
In the worst-case scenario, he might even lose his life.
“Alright, why don’t I speak some words of fairness?”
Just as Jiang Fangyou was at a loss over what to do, a voice suddenly sounded amid the elders. Following which, an old man walked out from the crowd.
Zhang Xuan shot a glance over and recognized the other party to be Elder Fangyun of the Jiang Clan.
Even though his standing within the clan was not too high, he was a highly respected elder whose words carried much say in the Jiang Clan. Earlier, Zhang Xuan had also offered him guidance.
“Elder Fangyun, please feel free to speak!” Zhang Xuan clasped his fist.
“Un!” Elder Fangyun nodded. With a complicated look in his eyes, he said, “Earlier, you offered us guidance on our cultivation. I was listening closely to it, and your words were directed right at the crux of soul cultivation. In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say that there are no flaws in your words at all… I would have been truly delighted to have you as our clan head. Under your lead, it would only be a matter of time before our Jiang Clan surpasses the Luo Clan and the Zhang Clan… A pity it is, but you aren’t!”
“I am not?” Zhang Xuan was taken aback. “I truly am Jiang Fangyou…”
Elder Fangyun raised his hand to stop Zhang Xuan. “To be honest with you, I’m not the only one who has noticed it. All of the elders over here have become vaguely aware of it, be it consciously or subconsciously. All of us have known Clan Head Jiang Fangyou for at least a century now, and we are all well aware of the limits of his capabilities. To see through our flaws and resolve them impeccably… he doesn’t possess the ability to do so! If he really had that in him, our Jiang Clan wouldn’t have been ranked at the bottom of the Three Premier Clans…”
“Elder Fangyun is right. Jiang Fangyou is a decent person, but there’s really nothing outstanding about his capabilities!”
“You are way more formidable than our clan head!”
Right after Elder Fangyun said his piece, a few other elders quickly voiced their agreement.
Hearing about his mediocrity, Jiang Fangyou really wanted to find a place to hide.
The hell! Is this how you all view me? Nothing outstanding about my capabilities? Good, I’ll remember you! We’ll have a good talk later on!
At the very least, can’t you all not put me down in front of a stranger?
It was just a moment earlier that he had been desperate to prove his identity to the elders, but now that they had finally recognized him as the real clan head, instead of delight, he felt as if his heart had been pierced by countless arrows.
In this moment of sorrow, he saw his daughter nodding in agreement. “My father’s capabilities are indeed a little lacking. There’s no way he would be able to point out everything you just said!”
Jiang Fangyou clutched his chest tightly.
I know that you are trying to convince the other elders for me, but surely you don’t have to say such hurtful words!
How in the world did I come to have a daughter like you?
It was just a moment ago that Jiang Fangyou had felt guilty about threatening his daughter with a political marriage. However, since his daughter did not seem to have much respect for him, he suddenly felt that it might not be such a bad idea to marry her off to Zhang Xuan…
While Jiang Fangyou’s heart was bleeding profusely, Zhang Xuan could not help but be startled by the situation before him.
He had thought that he would be able to win the crowd from the Jiang Clan over by pointing out their flaws and resolving their issues, but it turned out to be the key that gave him away…
It was indeed a difficult life for those who were too outstanding. No matter how he concealed himself, others would still see through him easily.
No matter where he was, he would shine like a firefly in the midst of the night. So conspicuous, so outstanding…
“To be able to offer us guidance on our soul cultivation and not make the slightest mistake in the details at all… If I’m not mistaken, you must have browsed through all of the books in our Jiang Clan Repository, right? Also, just a moment ago, the ‘Submission of the Predecessors’ phenomenon occurred. You are the one who has comprehended the Soul Quintessence, right?” Jiang Fangyun asked.
Even though he had been exposed, it did not seem like the elder of the Jiang Clan was intending to corner him. Thus, he nodded and admitted to it. “That’s right!”
“To be able to comprehend the Soul Quintessence and have such a deep understanding of our Jiang Clan… Could you possibly be a member of the Jiang Clan’s side family?” Jiang Fangyun asked doubtfully.
They were aware that a top-notch genius had appeared in the Luo Clan—Luo Tianya!
Despite being from the side family. Luo Tianya had managed to comprehend the Spatial Quintessence of Sealing. Could the same have happened to them?
Otherwise, how could the other party have such a deep understanding of them and their cultivation techniques?
Hearing those words, Zhang Xuan was conflicted. He had no idea how he should answer that question.
“Actually, regardless of whether you are from the side family or not, the fact that you have comprehended the Soul Quintessence means that you are qualified to become our clan head! Furthermore, you have already tamed the Clan Head Token and taken control of our Guardian Formation!”
With eyes glowing in excitement, Jiang Fangyou took a step forward, clasped his fist, and bowed down. “Thus… I hope that you can become our real clan head and lead our Jiang Clan through the crisis that lies ahead of us!”
“…” Zhang Xuan was startled by the sudden turn of events.
It took him a moment before he could respond. He shook his head and said, “To be frank, I am not from the Jiang Clan!”
It would have been one thing if he was a member of the Jiang Clan’s side family, but he had absolutely no ties to the Jiang Clan at all!
“You aren’t from the Jiang Clan?”
Everyone was taken aback.
“It’s fine. It doesn’t make a huge difference. The fact that you have comprehended our Jiang Clan’s Soul Quintessence means that you have an inseverable relationship with our Jiang Clan… Why don’t we marry Feifei to you then? This way, you’ll still be qualified to be our clan head!” Elder Fangyun offered.
“No way!” Not expecting the Elder Fangyun to determine her marriage so casually, Jiang Feifei hurriedly shook her head in disapproval.
Putting aside the fact that the person before her had disguised himself as her father, she did not even know who and how old the other party was! How could she possibly be willing to marry a complete stranger?
“Elder Fangyun, you are too courteous. I’m willing to negotiate on the matter of becoming the clan head of the Jiang Clan, but as for marrying her… forget it!”
If the Jiang Clan did not mind an outsider becoming their clan head, he could still consider the matter.
Jiang Fangyou did have some ties with the scholarly young man, but as a clan whose heritage could be traced back to tens of thousands of years ago, it was unlikely that the entire clan had betrayed mankind. Most likely, it would just be a few black sheep here and there.
Otherwise, the Master Teacher Pavilion would have noticed something by now.
More importantly, if the Jiang Clan had truly betrayed mankind, his position as the clan head would help him steer them back to the right path and stop them from doing anything that would harm mankind.
“You said… forget it? What do you mean by that?” Jiang Feifei exploded furiously. I haven’t even said my piece yet, and you are already in such a rush to reject me…