A profound silence fell over the council hall upon hearing Long Xiaotian's words. Those present were curious about what the third major announcement would be.
Long Xiaotian, as if prolonging the suspense, took a small sip of tea from his cup and then directed his gaze toward his grandson, Long Xingyun.
"Xingyun," he cleared his throat and said, "Jiang Feijiao's daughter, Jiang Xueyan, is the most beautiful woman in Snow City. In terms of skill, she is no inferior to you."
"If I defeat Jiang Feijiao tomorrow, he will undoubtedly send Jiang Xueyan out. At that time, you will step forward and capture this woman in one fell swoop."
"According to the law of the jungle among hidden aristocratic families, the victor is king and can demand three most important things from the vanquished. At that time, Grandpa will, in front of Jiang Feijiao, demand Jiang Xueyan to be your wife!"
"This is also the third major matter Grandpa has announced!"
"Ah, this..." Long Xingyun never imagined that the third major matter his grandfather would announce was for him to marry Jiang Xueyan. "Grandpa, although Jiang Xueyan is naturally a beauty, her personality is too stubborn, and she has always been arrogant!"
"I fear I won't be able to handle her then!"
Upon hearing this, Long Xiaotian's aged face darkened, and he reprimanded, "If you cannot even control one woman, how can you be worthy of being a disciple of that peerless master?"
"Are you not intentionally embarrassing both your grandfather and me by saying that?"
Hearing his grandfather's words, Long Xingyun mumbled, "Fine, fine, Grandpa, I'll listen to you!"
In truth, after much deliberation, Jiang Xueyan was indeed a remarkable woman.
However, if his grandfather won tomorrow's battle, Jiang Feijiao would not only lose his position as the head of the Northern Branch but would also be forever expelled from the hidden aristocratic families.
At that point, the Long and Jiang families would become eternal enemies. Could one marry the daughter of an enemy?
But in front of his grandfather, Long Xingyun currently had no say in such matters and could only obey.
His grandfather's words held some truth; how could one be a disciple of a peerless master if he couldn't even conquer a woman!
After the three major announcements were made, Long Xiaotian's gaze swept across the attendees once more. "Tomorrow will be a day for our Long family to hold our heads high. Does everyone have confidence?"
"Yes!"
Everyone present roared in unison.
After all, the Long family regaining the position of the head of the Northern Branch and returning to the hidden aristocratic families was a good thing for everyone present.
Even if some were unconvinced by Long Xingyun, at this moment, unity was paramount.
Finally, Long Xiaotian addressed the attendees again, "When Yun and I returned from the south, that peerless master gave us a large bottle of top-grade energy pills."
"Tonight, you can each collect two energy pills from Uncle Zhong. Not a single one more."
Upon hearing this, the crowd cheered in unison again: "Thank you, Grandpa!"
For any mighty cultivator, obtaining even one top-grade energy pill was like striking gold, let alone two.
"Azong, Xingyun, and Xingfeng, stay. The rest of you may leave!" Long Xiaotian announced loudly.
As the others departed, Long Xiaotian shook his head helplessly, his head bowed as if in great pain. "These damned brats, they're all a bunch of freeloaders! Why should I give each of them two energy pills!"
He then looked up at Long Xingfeng and Uncle Zhong, took out two small bottles from his person, and said, "Each of these bottles contains thirty energy pills. They are for you two!"
"Thank you, Grandpa!" Long Xingfeng exclaimed, happily somersaulting on the ground.
Long Xiaotian smiled, "You don't need to thank me for this. I originally intended to give you ten, but Xingyun added twenty for you!"
Upon hearing this, Long Xingfeng hugged Long Xingyun's shoulders and shook him vigorously. "Little brother, it's good to have treated you well! You're the one who treats me well!"
At this moment, Uncle Zhong pushed the bottle of energy pills back. "Sect Leader Long, I'm old now, and this thing is of little use to me. Please keep it for yourself!"
Long Xiaotian immediately pushed it back again. "Azong, these energy pills are of great benefit for nourishing the body. You'll definitely benefit from accepting them!"
"Also, I have something else to ask of you!"
Uncle Zhong asked, "Sect Leader Long, whatever it is, just ask!"
Long Xiaotian nodded and said, "Tomorrow's battle between our Long family and the Jiang family requires someone from the Martial Affairs Bureau to be a witness."
"Also, all the major and minor hidden aristocratic families in the north must be present!"
Uncle Zhong nodded upon hearing this. "This is essential. I will handle it personally and will personally go to the Martial Affairs Bureau to deliver the invitations!"
Long Xiaotian smiled, "I knew this task was perfect for you. I wouldn't trust anyone else with it."
"Sect Leader Long, I have a question I don't know if I should ask?" Uncle Zhong said with some confusion.
Long Xiaotian laughed heartily. "Azong, our relationship is like brothers. What is there that cannot be asked!"
Uncle Zhong asked, "From your tone, it seems certain you will win tomorrow's battle against the Jiang family. Are you truly that confident?"
"After all, if you lose tomorrow, the Long family will suffer immensely. Perhaps all your assets will be confiscated by the Jiang family."
"At that time, the Long family will have no hope of ever rising again!"
Long Xiaotian smiled, "Azong, thank you for your concern for the Long family. You can rest assured that Yun and I gained a great deal from our trip to the south. We are fully confident in defeating the Jiang family."
"I originally planned to rest for two days before challenging Jiang Feijiao. However, on my way back, I consumed three more energy pills consecutively, and my internal cultivation broke through repeatedly."
"This has made both Yun and me somewhat impatient to meet the Jiang family!"
Hearing him say this, Uncle Zhong was deeply shocked.
Just which divine being did Sect Leader Long and his grandson visit in the south that allowed both of them to simultaneously enter the Xiantian realm?
What puzzled him was, what realm had that peerless master reached?
...
Jiang Mansion, Snow City's foremost aristocratic family.
At this very moment, the Jiang Mansion was adorned with lanterns and banners inside and out. Today, Jiang Feijiao was to welcome a distinguished guest.
This guest was from Sakura Country, named Sakarai Koushi. He also hailed from an ancient martial arts family, and his purpose in coming this time was to propose marriage to Jiang Xueyan.
Last spring, Jiang Xueyan, along with friends, went to Sakura Country for sightseeing and happened to meet Sakarai Koushi, who was instantly captivated by her beauty.
Later, after much inquiry, he learned that Jiang Xueyan was the daughter of Jiang Feijiao, the patriarch of the Northern hidden aristocratic families in Huaxia.
Even more coincidentally, his father had frequent business dealings with Jiang Feijiao.
Therefore, Sakarai Koushi had his father intervene, and with a single phone call, the two elders easily settled the marriage.
Jiang Feijiao knew that Sakarai Koushi's father had deep connections in Sakura Country, and forming an alliance with such a family was something he greatly desired.
Thus, when Sakarai Koushi formally came to propose, Jiang Feijiao naturally made grand arrangements.