Great Jing Dynasty, Xuanzhou, Red Cloud Sect.
The night was as deep as water, and behind a tall Library Pavilion, there were two adjacent thatched huts.
Lu Ye sat cross-legged in one of the huts, cultivating, with a faint aura flashing around him.
Moments later, he opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air.
"Two months since I've transmigrated here, and I've finally reached the Condensing Origin Fourth Layer."
Lu Ye was not a native of this chaotic martial arts world but a lucky transmigrator.
Upon transmigrating, he realized this was a chaotic martial world with power struggles among multiple rulers, vassal kings in turmoil, and demons running rampant.
Fortuitously, the top sect of Xuanzhou, the Red Cloud Sect, was recruiting disciples.
Thus, Lu Ye traveled a long way to get here.
After a series of tests, he barely qualified to become a Servant Disciple of the sect.
However, due to a lack of silver for a bribe, he was assigned to guard the Library Pavilion.
The sect's Library Pavilion was different from the Scripture Pavilion.
The Scripture Pavilion stored various Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts Secret Manuals collected by the sect and was considered a heavily guarded place.
In the Library Pavilion, most were various anecdotes and unconventional information from the continent.
You might not see even one or two disciples here in a month; it was leisurely, but there was no benefit to be gained.
Fortunately, at the beginning of his transmigration, a Myriad Dao Pavilion also arrived in his mind along with Lu Ye.
Every ten days, it could produce elixirs, cultivation techniques, martial techniques, talismans, and even talent, etc.
Relying on this golden finger, Lu Ye reached the Condensing Origin Fourth Layer within about two months of transmigrating.
Condensing Origin, Postnatal, Innate Realm!
In the Condensing Origin Realm, one condenses Heaven and Earth Source Qi, tempers oneself, and possesses speed and strength beyond ordinary people.
In the Postnatal Realm, even a casual strike has a terrifying force capable of splitting stones.
Once one achieves the Postnatal Realm, it signifies being able to establish oneself in major cities and even start a martial arts school.
Achieving the Innate Realm means soaring into the sky, walking on air, founding an Innate Clan, and continuing for hundreds of years.
In this chaotic martial world, having such a peaceful place to cultivate was thanks to the Red Cloud Sect.
"The Red Cloud Sect is quite comfortable. Once I achieve the Innate Realm, I might as well look after the sect."
Such a quick advancement for a servant would surely attract attention.
He pondered for a moment, and without sufficient strength, he wanted to prevent his secrets from being exposed.
Lu Ye used the Myriad Dao Pavilion's inherent concealment function to display his cultivation as Condensing Origin First Layer.
Shortly after Lu Ye concealed his cultivation, a powerful aura descended without any concealment in front of the Library Pavilion.
"Where is the Tower Guardian?"
Lu Ye's heart suddenly tightened. What a strong aura! Is it the Innate Realm or higher?!
He quickly moved to the front of the Library Pavilion and saw a palace-dressed woman standing there.
Her expression was as indifferent as the moon, extremely exquisite, with a faint aura of long-standing authority.
"This seat is Red Cloud." In the moonlight, the palace-dressed woman said indifferently.
"Servant Peak Disciple Lu Ye greets the Sect Leader." Lu Ye bowed in salute.
"Open the Library Pavilion door."
Moments later, after seeing the Red Cloud Fairy enter the Library Pavilion, Lu Ye's heart settled down.
It turned out that the visitor was indeed the current Sect Leader of the Red Cloud Sect.
Fortunately, the Red Cloud Fairy only had him open the pavilion door and nothing else.
After a while, the Red Cloud Fairy came out.
She came to browse information about the Forbidden Land of Xuanzhou, the Black Tide Forbidden Land.
She was about to leave directly.
But looking at Lu Ye, who was guarding by the pavilion door and was handsome and clear in appearance.
Thinking about the request from the Jiang Family in Cloud Leaf City and the generous gift they sent, among which was something she needed, the Red Cloud Fairy's eyes slightly moved.
He does look good. Sending this servant disciple in the First Layer to marry into the family would be contributing to the sect, better than wasting time in the sect.
...
The next morning.
An order sent through the Miscellaneous Peak Steward arrived in Lu Ye's hands.
"What?"
"You're saying I've been exceptionally promoted to an Inner Sect Disciple and am to marry the Eldest Miss Jiang of the Innate Clan in Cloud Leaf City, Jiang Qingge?"
Lu Ye was stunned.
The sect actually... sent him to form an arranged marriage?
He thought highly of the sect, and now they want him to marry into the family?
…
Cloud Leaf City, Jiang Family.
As one of the two major Innate Clans in the city, the Jiang Family had always been immensely prestigious.
But today, the atmosphere in the Jiang Family hall was heavy.
An extraordinarily beautiful woman in a white dress, her facial features like a masterpiece of heaven, had dark eyes at the moment.
On the main seat, the Patriarch of the Jiang Family, Jiang Lianshan, looked at this daughter who was outstanding in every aspect but unable to cultivate, and sighed.
"Qingge, I know you are upset."
"But the Ancestor was already weak in qi and blood. Now, after failing to break through the Innate Fourth Layer and suffering from backlash in haste, he is seriously injured and on the brink. If outsiders learn of this, the Jiang Family's downfall would be imminent."
Jiang Qingge spoke sorrowfully, "So, you want me to form an arranged marriage with the Red Cloud Sect?"
Jiang Lianshan said, "The Red Cloud Sect is a great sect in Xuanzhou. I heard the disciple they are preparing for the marriage is also an outstanding Inner Sect Disciple, a rare young talent."
Jiang Qingge stubbornly said, "But I have never even met him, no matter how brilliant. If the daughter doesn't like him, I don't want this engagement."
To marry a stranger without any feelings, Jiang Qingge felt she couldn't do it.
His face sank, Jiang Lianshan frowned, "Nonsense! Do you realize what time it is, and you're still acting childishly here?"
After a pause, Jiang Lianshan continued.
"Where did your status as the Eldest Miss of the Jiang Family come from? You cannot cultivate, yet you still enjoy various privileges, all dependent on the Jiang Family!"
"The Jiang Family is now facing a great crisis. As the Eldest Miss, it's time for you to sacrifice a bit for the family."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingge's courage vanished.
Jiang Qingge revealed a self-deprecating smile, "That's right, I, Jiang Qingge... cannot cultivate."
The light vanished from her eyes, and she regained her calm, rising to leave.
"In that case, Qingge will follow the Patriarch's arrangements."
Watching Jiang Qingge leave, Jiang Lianshan was silent for a while, then sighed.
News of the Jiang Family Ancestor's failed breakthrough and critical injury had not yet spread.
The Jiang Family could still marry into the Red Cloud Sect's Inner Sect, borrowing the Red Cloud Sect's prominence.
Once the news spread...
Even hoping for a marriage, they'd be lucky if the Red Cloud Sect sent a Servant Disciple.
And by then, the beautiful yet uncultivatable Jiang Qingge... would surely attract unwanted attention and face a miserable fate.
Jiang Lianshan understood that the marriage alliance was inevitable and... unavoidable.
...
Looking at the huge Cloud Leaf City before him, Lu Ye still couldn't quite wrap his head around it.
Seriously... The Red Cloud Sect just sent him, the future Innate Realm, out like this?
Lu Ye had protested, but the steward who accompanied him mercilessly rejected it.
Accompanying him were other Inner and True Disciples of the Red Cloud Sect who came to congratulate.
Their expressions varied as they regarded this suddenly newly-promoted "inner sect" junior brother.
Some were gloating, while others, knowing Jiang Qingge's beauty, felt Lu Ye had struck it lucky.
The Jiang Family expedited the marriage alliance.
The day after Lu Ye arrived in Cloud Leaf City, they announced the marriage of Eldest Miss Jiang Qingge and Red Cloud Sect Inner Sect Disciple Lu Ye.
An alliance between the Innate Jiang Family and a Red Cloud Sect Inner Disciple.
To outsiders, it seemed a perfect strong alliance, laying seeds for greater strength and future.
In no time, the city was bustling with guests.
After the wedding ceremony, Lu Ye, sent into the bridal chamber, felt a bit strange.
He hadn't even married in his previous life, yet here... he ended up getting married?
However, his voice was quite weak; having his protest against the arranged marriage dismissed by the steward, he could only reconcile with the circumstances.
The Jiang Family was an Innate Clan, and they were strong.
Here, he should be able to cultivate peacefully.
Looking at the Jiang Family's Eldest Miss sitting by the bedside, as if like a puppet.
Lu Ye walked over and lifted the red bridal veil.
Underneath, Jiang Qingge's stunning face, with brows like the moon, showed a hint of resignation.
"Husband, let me help you change clothes..."
Lu Ye: "..."
Watching Jiang Qingge, with her fair hands stretched to undress him and prepare to go further.
Lu Ye said, "Wouldn't this... be a bit too fast?"
Jiang Qingge, feeling dispirited, bit her lip, "Not fast..."
At this moment, a sudden urgent shout of a young girl came from outside.
"Sister, come out quickly! It's extremely important!"
Jiang Qingge, who had just removed Lu Ye's outer garment, paused, showed a trace of apology, and hurried out.