Chapter 285: The Chosen One

Chapter 285: Chapter 285: The Chosen One

Though still reeling from the shock, everyone sat down once Elder Lu spoke.

Jiang Fan could feel Lu Youyou’s searing gaze still fixed on him, and he felt too awkward to meet her eyes.

At Elder Lu’s prompting, the group took their seats. Li Jiaxiang and his wife quickly fell into casual conversation with Elder Lu, while Lu Youyou started chatting with Li Muwan.

Jiang Fan was somewhat distracted. Fortunately, both Elder Lu and Lu Youyou were tactful enough not to bring up the Yin Family or Yin Ruxue at all.

Jiang Fan breathed a secret sigh of relief.

"By the way, Jiang, the last time I saw you, you were already in the Innate Realm. Seeing you this time, it seems your skills have progressed even further. I wonder, have you had another breakthrough?"

As they were chatting idly, Elder Lu suddenly turned to Jiang Fan.

The moment Elder Lu finished speaking, Li Jiaxiang’s expression changed drastically.

"What? He’s a Grandmaster? An *Innate Realm* Grandmaster?"

"Jiang... Jiang Fan, how come you’ve never mentioned this?"

Jiang Fan looked blank. "Elder Lu, sir... what’s a Grandmaster? What’s the Innate Realm? I have no idea what you’re talking about."

Jiang Fan suddenly remembered that the last time at the Yin Family’s estate, Elder Lu had seemed to be rambling on about something for a while, but he hadn’t understood what the old man meant back then.

"Jiang, you really don’t know?" Elder Lu frowned.

Ever since their last meeting at the Yin Family’s estate, Elder Lu had assumed Jiang Fan was merely playing dumb, pretending to be weak to catch his enemies off guard. But now, it seemed Jiang Fan genuinely didn’t know what a Grandmaster was.

"Elder Lu, forgive my bluntness, but I really don’t know a thing about this damn Grandmaster stuff."

"In that case, are you saying that your current level of attainment was achieved purely by accident, Jiang?"

"If you want to put it that way, then... I guess so!"

"Then... you must be the Chosen One!"

"Uh... well..."

Elder Lu’s words left Jiang Fan speechless.

"Jiang Fan, you’re an Innate Realm Grandmaster? I can’t believe you were hiding it so well," Li Muwan said in astonishment.

"Mu Wan, he’s definitely at the Innate Realm, if not higher. Grandpa and I saw him break through with our own eyes."

"You’ve been hiding your true strength all this time, Jiang! With this kind of power, why did you need me to step in back at the orphanage?" Li Jiaxiang asked in disbelief.

"Elder Lu, sir, Mu Wan, I honestly have no idea what you’re all talking about," Jiang Fan said with a wry smile. "Elder Lu, what in the world is this ’Grandmaster’ stuff, anyway? Why don’t you explain it to me?"

"It seems you really are the Chosen One!"

Elder Lu sighed in admiration and began to explain. "Grandmasters are legendary figures across the entire Huaxia Continent, symbols of ultimate power. In Yang City, each of the Eight Great Clans has a powerful Grandmaster presiding over it. To join the ranks of the great noble families and ensure a lasting legacy, having a Grandmaster is an absolute necessity."

"Among Grandmasters, there are naturally different tiers of strength. They are ranked by realm: External Strength, Inner Strength, Postnatal Realm, and Innate Realm. Each of these realms is further divided into initial, intermediate, and peak stages. As for what lies beyond the Innate Realm, even I have never witnessed it!"

"So, you’re saying I’m at the Innate Realm right now?"

Elder Lu nodded and sighed. "I have trained my entire life, yet I’ve only managed to barely reach the initial stage of the Postnatal Realm. But you... you’re so young, and I personally witnessed you break through to the Innate Realm. Now, seeing you again, your power seems to have increased tremendously. If you aren’t the Chosen One, then what are you?"

Jiang Fan could only offer a wry smile. ’So that’s how they explain it,’ he thought.

Elder Lu continued, "Last time, when I saw your exceptional power and that you were unaffiliated with any sect, I assumed you were a Grandmaster from some reclusive Noble Family, just pretending to be weak. I never imagined you truly possessed such strength without even realizing it!"

Jiang Fan felt like he was in a fog, but he had little interest in Grandmasters and the like. ’My current realm, as Elder Lu calls it,’ he thought, ’is probably all thanks to the Celestial Return Medical Records and the Dragon Elephant Profound Skill.’

"Jiang Fan, if you’d just told us you were a Grandmaster, what was the point of us even vetting you? You and Wan’Er should go register your marriage tomorrow!"

"Huh?" Jiang Fan was taken aback by Li Jiaxiang’s suddenness.

Mrs. Li chimed in, "Exactly! We’ve approved of this marriage for a long time!"

Li Muwan’s face turned beet red. She quickly interjected, "Mom, Dad, what are you doing...?"

Li Jiaxiang and his wife exchanged a look, realizing they had perhaps been a bit too eager.

"Sir, Ma’am," Jiang Fan stammered, "um... Wan’Er and I don’t have any plans to register our marriage just yet. After all, both of our careers are just taking off..."

"We understand, we absolutely understand! We’ll leave it up to you and Wan’Er. Young people’s business is for young people to decide. But don’t take too long, we’re waiting for grandchildren!" Li Jiaxiang boomed with laughter.

Jiang Fan was at a loss for words. ’Talk about a one-eighty,’ he thought. ’Isn’t this change in my future father-in-law a little too drastic?’

"Mom, Dad, stop saying such ridiculous things!" Li Muwan said, flustered.

Jiang Fan’s face was also flushed. He couldn’t believe Li Jiaxiang would say something so outrageous.

And to top it off, Mrs. Li, surprisingly, didn’t try to stop him.

Just then, Elder Lu also let out a hearty laugh. "Jiaxiang, you’d better hold on tight to a prized son-in-law like him. Otherwise, my Lu Family might just have our eye on him!"

"Grandpa, you..."

A moment ago, Li Muwan had been the one blushing furiously. Now, it was Lu Youyou’s turn.

’This is getting more and more out of hand,’ Jiang Fan thought.

"Ahem... Elder Lu, sir, perhaps we could talk about something else? Sir, didn’t you have other business with Elder Lu today?"

Li Jiaxiang chuckled. He could see Jiang Fan was embarrassed, but he had made his point and had no intention of teasing him further.

Besides, Jiang Fan’s words had reminded him of his purpose. He selected one of the gift boxes and said, "Oh, that’s right, Elder Lu. Here is the top-grade ginseng you asked me to find. I made a special trip to the provincial capital to get it for you. I almost forgot all about it until Jiang Fan just reminded me!"

Elder Lu nodded, his gaze falling on the exquisite box in Li Jiaxiang’s hands.

A moment later, the box was opened, revealing a ginseng root inside.

Upon seeing it, Elder Lu immediately took the box from Li Jiaxiang. The ginseng root was quite large, with a dense rhizome head and a slightly rough, pale yellow skin. A quick glance was enough to identify it as a centennial ginseng.

"Excellent!" Elder Lu exclaimed happily. "At a glance, this looks like a wild ginseng that’s around two hundred years old. The quality is superb! I’m sure it will be more than enough to nourish the blood, promote body fluids, and greatly replenish one’s Vitality!"

Seeing Elder Lu’s satisfaction, Li Jiaxiang broke into a proud smile.

At that moment, Jiang Fan’s attention was also drawn to the wild ginseng in Elder Lu’s hands.

Now that the two elders were no longer teasing him, he adopted a serious expression and examined the root carefully.

"Elder Lu, are you planning to use this wild ginseng to treat your heart condition?"