Origin Paradise!

Jiang He immediately began preparing the medicinal soup, using the Worry-Free Fruit as the main ingredient, along with a variety of other seemingly impressive ingredients.

The Marquis narrowed his eyes. This guy must have taken advantage of the destruction of the Infernal Fortress to escape and make a fortune. In that case, it makes sense that he has the right material, after all, it is the storage of a duke.

After a while, the soup was ready.

The old lady nodded. Just smelling the aroma made her feel a little more relaxed. Her instinctive desire easily overcame the slight discomfort. Having enjoyed decades away from the battlefield, she was extremely disgusted by this long-lost pain in her body.

"This is... cough cough cough... medicinal soup?"

In the medicine bowl, pieces of fruit bobbed in the boiling "mountain spring water".

It's all just blood poison... Jiang He nodded, "The old lady has keen insight."

The complex drug testing process began. The Marquis's residence brought out special non-dead items for testing extraordinary categories. Three maids of varying strengths tested the drugs on themselves, and everything went smoothly.

Jiang He secretly activated the final time loop, restoring the blood poison, which had lost all its activity, to its peak.

The old lady voluntarily drank the large bowl of thick, poisonous blood in one gulp.

The Worry-Free Fruit is the fruit that the Emperor's Rest Tree produces every year. It has the highest quality and is of the highest level. Jiang He's evil energy comes from the Abyss Ghost, and Lilith greatly reduced the Abyss Ghost's pollution by using the Worry-Free Fruit. If we don't talk about the blood poison and the fact that the Cursed One and the Pharmacist are the same person, this medicinal soup can be described as a cure-all.

call!

In full view.

The old lady breathed a long sigh of relief, and wisps of black mist rose from her body, restoring a rosy glow to her previously pale face.

"Alright, alright, Lieutenant Jiang, the major is still too underutilized. How about becoming a first-class retainer of the Si family and serving me on a regular basis?"

Rong En Hall was completely silent. Si Ning gripped the hilt of her sword.

Jiang He looked up, her gaze calm.

"Grandma, are you afraid of dying?"

Chapter 454 Spring War

Inside Rong En Hall.

The old lady's change of heart surprised everyone present.

But what Jiang Gongfeng said was even more earth-shattering.

This time, the elders and the family members who were offering sacrifices actually quieted down, swallowing back words like "you brat" and "daring."

The eldest marquis had a hostile eye. As the eldest son, he knew his father's character perfectly well. His father believed that he was the foundation upon which the Si family depended for survival, and therefore, compared to the psychological status of his family, he had an absolute advantage.

During the same period, including children born to concubines, there were a total of more than twenty children. Apart from his blood ties with his deceased eldest and youngest sons, the elders treated the others more like subordinates.

To this day, only Si Jianian, a direct descendant of three generations, receives some favoritism.

The Marquis knew perfectly well that the Old Madam was afraid of death and had an intense desire for wealth and luxury.

The truth, revealed swiftly, was a great humiliation for the Si family.

No matter how outstanding Jiang Wuyang's alchemy skills are, he will never let him leave Rong'en Hall alive today.

"What is the meaning of this offering?" The old lady's expression darkened. "Using a favor to repay a debt, you are defying your superior. Do you want to test the sharpness of my sword?"

"My sword is not bad either."

The old lady gave a cold laugh, and the various meaningful gazes around her made her feel a long-lost sense of embarrassment.

After many years, the soft sword wrapped around her arm fell into her palm. The "Taiyin Chapter" of the "Sword Scripture of All Stars" was activated, and the terrifying aura of the Golden Peak made the entire Rong En Hall so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Whoosh!

Star Sword Technique - Taiyin Thrust.

The cold and cunning swordsmanship contained a corrosive and chilling power, making the hall seem to be covered with a layer of frost, causing the elders and retainers to tremble.

Since someone provoked her, Si Ning loosened her grip on the sword hilt with peace of mind. She carefully examined the Taiyin Sword, noting that a strike imitating the power of the stars was particularly lethal.

Snapped!

Jiang He snapped his fingers with a calm expression.

In an instant, it was as if all was silent.

His soft sword fell to the ground, and the Marquis jumped up from his seat, his face full of disbelief.

With a loud crash, the old matriarch lost her footing and fell. Her aged skin turned crimson, and deadly lines spread across her body. The epic blood poison rapidly penetrated, eventually invading her soul and merging with its prey.

A terrifying, inhuman burst of pain erupted.

"Ah!!" The old lady's face was filled with terror, yet she convulsed from the excruciating pain, desperately crying out, "Stop!"

The elders and the worshippers fell silent, each revealing a bewildered expression. The exact level of power that could make even a peak-level Gold Saint unable to endure was unimaginable.

"Stop right now, Jiang Gongfeng! Everything can be discussed!" The First Marquis couldn't help but stand up and reach out. With the death of the patriarch, the Si family could no longer maintain its status as a mid-grade aristocratic family.

Jiang He calmly said, "Wealth and honor will still be yours, but the direct descendants of the Si family will be confined to Rong En Hall, and Si Ning will become the head of the family. She is of Si family blood. I think this is a result that both of us can accept."

"Secondly, everyone present must undergo blood poisoning. It cannot be ruled out that some individuals may try to be clever and seek help from the outside world. Therefore, starting today, a system of collective punishment will be implemented, with five people grouped together and executed as appropriate."

"Finally, hand over the 'Sword Sutra of All Stars Arching Over the Sword' and the Mars Sword."

Not far away, the Marquis flew into a rage and shouted, "What kind of joke are you making? You're asking for death!"

boom!

The Grand Marquis charged forward wielding the Chenshui Sword Escape Technique, his movements as swift as lightning. But before his sword could strike the enemy, a Taiyin Sword Light slashed down, severing one of his arms.

Blood stained the dome.

The Marquis clutched his wound, looked at the old lady standing up in front of him, and couldn't help but smile dejectedly. People can only see their true nature when they encounter difficulties. Although he had expected it, he still felt heartbroken when it actually happened.

"You are so selfish."

The old lady scoffed and said, "Leaving aside the debt of gratitude for giving birth to you, without me, you would have long since fallen into poverty and become noble families. Now that I have suffered misfortune, it is time for you to repay me."

The two worshippers planned to sneak away.

A flash of Taiyin sword light immediately appeared, and the two corpses were separated.

Jiang He prepared the Blood Poison Soup on the spot, which was then distributed to everyone by the two marquises' wives. Because of his gluttony and time loop, he could control the timing of the blood poison's onset at will, effectively installing a switch in each person's body that could cause sudden death at any time.

Si Ning sat down in the former master's seat with a smile. As it turned out, her choice to form an alliance with someone was quite correct.

"I will only hand over the sword manual," the old lady said resolutely.

"Hmm?" Jiang He frowned.

The old lady's face was resolute as she said, "Without the Yinghuo Sword, the two of you could kill me at any time. I will never back down on this point. You can try if you don't believe me. I'm not so stupid as to let others have their way with me."

"You old hag," Si Ning gritted her teeth.

"I am your ancestor!"

"You're swearing, aren't you?"

"It's just a fact; you'll never be a lady of high society in your life."

The two men were practically hurling insults at each other inside Rong En Hall.

Jiang He remained noncommittal. He had no intention of killing the old matriarch for the time being. One reason was to maintain the Si family's mid-level status, complete the main quest, and extend the spring offensive. The other reason was that, in the face of the Yan family's frenzied retaliation, a peak-level Golden-rank henchman would be enough to serve as a backer for a period of time.

……

Empire Millennium, March 10.

In Cangwu Province, the Si family underwent a major upheaval.

Si Ning, the eldest daughter of the third wife, completely took over all power from the old matriarch, gained the unanimous approval of the retainers and elders, and was qualified to cultivate the complete "Sword Scripture of All Stars Arching".

At the same time, Lemon Hall was established.

The head of the family, Si Ning, re-established a family management organization, inviting the young marquis to serve as a strategic advisor, the eldest marquis to serve as the leader of the combat team, and the elders and retainers to serve as advisors to the upper court, with limited voting rights and the right to propose motions.

For unknown reasons, the worshippers brought their families and close relatives to the Marquis's residence, and Rong'en Garden was halted and turned into a resettlement site.

During this period, Jiang He dispatched 3,000 Dawn agents to be stationed in various parts of the Si family, to supervise, clarify operational processes, and increase control.

Since the Rong En Hall incident, Si Jianian, Yue Qingyu, and others have been under house arrest in the hall, accompanying the old lady day and night. Their living arrangements, food, gold and jade, opera troupe, and other amenities have remained unchanged.

The Lemon Hall is located on the Looking-Out Pavilion in front of the Marquis's Mansion, and it has the highest decision-making power over the Si family's profits, guards, and inheritance.

"Let's call it Lemon Pavilion," Si Ning decided after careful consideration.

The old lady was unwilling to hand over the Yinghuo Sword, but she wasn't in a hurry. Now that she held power, as long as she investigated carefully, she would eventually find clues; it was just a matter of time.

"But the problem of not being able to make ends meet is too serious."

Si Ning lit a lemon mosquito coil. She stared blankly at the mountain of ledgers in front of her, her cool and pretty face somewhat dazed.

The Marquis's family's annual income is roughly 200,000 taels of gold. The cost of raising guards, daily expenses, and the cultivation of the young members cannot be stopped, which takes up most of the income. The Si family members also need to maintain relationships, give gifts during festivals, and hold banquets, which are all related to the influence of a mid-grade family.

As the head of the family, not only do you not make money, you also have to resist the urge to fill this bottomless pit.

"The reforms aren't difficult to begin, but they seem unnecessary." Si Ning had a headache. If it's difficult to open up new sources of revenue, then she could cut back on existing ones. The problem was that she wasn't really here to be the head of the family. Obtaining the Sword Manual and finding the Yinghuo Sword were the fundamental tasks. Besides that, there were main quests to plan. The time and energy costs of reforms were too great.

"Give me some advice, Jiang Da Gongfeng."

"Busy."

Opposite him, Jiang He sat cross-legged. As he circulated his breathing technique, a hazy sunlight emanated from his body, and the eighth node took shape.

[Hint: All your attributes +1]

[Hint: Your energy level +500]

[Energy Value: 56500]

[Hint: Main quest ② has been completed]

[Hint: You have gained 10000 experience points and game currency]

[Hint: Your player level has increased to LV35 (756/3500)]

[Hint: You have gained 3 True Attribute Points and Skill Points]

Jiang He began allocating real attribute points.

[Strength: 43+2→45+2]

[Agility: 44+2 → 46+2]

[Constitution: 43+2→45+2]

[Spirit: 44+2→45+2]

[Charm: 49+8→50+8]

All skill points were invested in Gun Mastery.

[Gun Master LV67: When using spear-type weapons, deals 318% additional damage, and 10% of total damage is converted into true damage. Ultimate Abilities: Flash of Elegy, Fleeting Moment, Turbid Waters and Yellow Sky, Eternal Sky, Impermanence of All Things, Watching the Sea and Listening to the Waves]

After the upgrade was completed, Lao Hei and Wu He brought news that they had been upgraded to LV33 and LV37 respectively. The former obtained an Undying-grade staff, which significantly enhanced his support spells, while the latter obtained a shadow-type eye-embedded item, suitable for running away and survival.

As for Jiang He, he received a castle, which was usually only the size of a palm, resembling a model.

[Name: Fortress - Ancient Oath]

[Category: Armor]

[Quality: Unfading]

[Effect ①: Unyielding - Unyielding level of sturdiness, capable of self-repairing itself by replenishing its flesh and blood, and its appearance can be adjusted between a model and a fortress]

[Effect ②: Iron Oath - Blood Groove Thorns: Thorns mixed with paralyzing venom seep from the walls. Decapitation Gate: Gates are installed every five meters; when they fall, the spiked blades can sever even the most fortified targets. Boiling Oil Corridor: The hollow layer within the walls stores extraordinary boiling oil, which is sprayed through pipes...]

[Effect ③: Vault of the Dead - The remains of the fallen are placed in an underground crypt and can be converted into: Skeleton Cannon Filler (100 cannons = Perfect Elemental Cannon) / Undead Sentinels (Life level -1 in life, lasts for 24 hours)]

[Effect 4: Death Workshop - Can enchant 10000 weapons daily, adding the perfect-grade spell Death Invasion. Enchantment duration: 2 hours]

[Note: People don't remember blood, but city walls do (Fortress Mode: Walls are 100 meters high, 9 kilometers long on each side, and 12 meters thick)]

Jiang He examined the fortress model. Each brick seemed to be mixed with the ashes of the craftsmen. He could vaguely see distorted human faces, and countless blood-brown lines crawled all over the wall, resembling blood and tears.

[Hint: Your partner Wuhe has donated 20000 game coins]

[Hint: Your partner Lao Hei has transferred 20000 game coins]

[Game Coins: 50100]

Jiang He's expression turned a little strange when she heard the notification sound. Compared to the Si family's finances, Gluttony was the real bottomless pit. Fifty thousand game coins was indeed a lot, but it would only be a blink of an eye.