Chapter Nine: An Auspicious Beginning

Breaking into someone’s home, the kitchen knife covered in fingerprints—
Even if he had no such intentions, it would be impossible to explain himself.
Jiang Yaoxing’s face twisted in pain, humiliation, and the indignity of being trampled by the younger generation.
He never imagined that Jiang Taichu would dare to lay hands on him.
Jiang Taixuan looked up at his elder brother with admiration. Although his previous self had rejected Jiang Yaoxing’s advances, he had never taken action, and there had always been a trace of fear toward Jiang Yaoxing.
There was no helping it; the difference in seniority and internal cultivation values naturally bred fear.
The impact had been accumulating since childhood, only gradually fading as he grew older.
Jiang Taixuan, knife in hand, ran over, gripped the blunt edge, and handed it to Jiang Taichu: “Brother, here’s your knife.”
“What do I need it for? Give it to our dear uncle. He’s the one wielding the knife and threatening violence,” Jiang Taichu sneered.
Jiang Yaoxing’s body shuddered, his twisted face forcing a smile: “Good nephew, good nephew, uncle has no ulterior motives. Uncle just came to check on you.”
“Don’t want the elixirs anymore?” Jiang Taichu said coldly.
“I don’t want them. They’re your elixirs—how could uncle take them from you?”
“What if Qingyun doesn’t get into a top university?”
“That’s his own lack of ability.”
“And the broken tea table?”
“I’ll pay for it.”
“And the money you owe?”
“This… uncle truly doesn’t have it.”
“You must have it! If I don’t get the money, don’t blame me for reporting to the Judicial Bureau.”
The Judicial Bureau, which governed the laws of Blue Star, highest enforcer: the Celestial True Lord of Qingyuan, Yang Jian. Within the star, the Mech Corps of the True Dao managed affairs.
Jiang Yaoxing’s face grew truly troubled now.
Over the years, he’d borrowed at least fifty or sixty thousand from Jiang Taichu’s family, always refusing to pay back.
He could scrape together a few million, but this fifty or sixty thousand was truly out of reach.
His wife controlled the family finances, and he never got any money in daily life.
“I only have just over five thousand on me right now,” Jiang Yaoxing said, sulking.
“That five thousand is for the tea table. As for the money you owe, I expect to receive it next holiday,” Jiang Taichu replied coldly.
It wasn’t that he was lenient, but he had to go to work and had no time to collect debts.
Jiang Taixuan had to attend school, so he couldn’t collect either.
“Alright, alright, I promise, I promise,” Jiang Yaoxing nodded hurriedly.
Jiang Taixuan opened his mouth to speak, but finally just sighed and said nothing.
Only then did Jiang Taichu step away from him.
Jiang Yaoxing scrambled up, obediently transferred 5,863 to Jiang Taichu.

After handing over the money, he rushed to the door, his face once again twisting into a fierce scowl: “I’ll pay you—pay you nothing, you brat! One day, I’ll make sure you’re dead.”
With that, he fled in embarrassment.
He didn’t actually dare to curse, afraid Jiang Taichu would chase after him with the knife.
“Damn it,” Jiang Taixuan gritted his teeth. “I should never have let him go.”
“Enough, let’s eat. We made more than five thousand today, aren’t you happy?” Jiang Taichu said calmly.
Jiang Taixuan grinned: “Big brother, you’re incredible.”
“Of course.”
The two brothers sat at the table, eating dinner and watermelon.
Afterward, Jiang Taixuan took the initiative to clean up the broken tea table, and Jiang Taichu returned to his room.
He took out the recorder from his pocket. A voice played: “Pay you nothing, you brat! One day, I’ll make sure you’re dead.”
Only that line was recorded; the rest wasn’t suitable for evidence.
He knew his uncle well—after being thwarted, he’d always utter threats before leaving.
This recording didn’t have much effect, but it would be enough for the Judicial Bureau to summon him for a chat.
His uncle had barely left when he threatened his nephew—what kind of behavior was that?
If the Judicial Bureau couldn’t deal with him, Jiang Taichu had another plan: bring the recording to Jiang Qingyun’s school and play it for all students and teachers, so everyone could see what kind of father this was.
If Jiang Qingyun was morally bankrupt, then no top university would accept someone like that.
Genius?
Top universities never lacked geniuses—they certainly didn’t need bullies and degenerates!
Jiang Yaoxing doted on his son; now that there was a chance Qingyun could get into a top university, he bragged about it to everyone, acting as if it was guaranteed.
Jiang Taichu tucked the recorder away, entered his dreams.
The night passed quietly. Before dawn, Jiang Taichu rose.
Breakfast was ready; Tang Yu and Zhang Jing sat at the table, mooching a meal at his house.
The four ate breakfast and left together—his friends went to work, Jiang Taixuan to school.
“Why’s your tea table gone?” Tang Yu asked.
“It was getting old, so I’m planning to replace it,” Jiang Taichu replied, not elaborating.
The others didn’t ask further. They began to pray for luck, hoping to find valuable artifacts at work today.
Jiang Taichu smiled, assuring them he’d help in their search.
They arrived at Earth Company, entered the Star Hall, donned the Mountain Patrol mechs, and entered Earth No. 10 Star.
The communication channel buzzed as Yang Xianzhi spoke: “We were supposed to drink together, but something came up last time. Tonight I’ll bring good wine to you.”
“Agreed,” Jiang Taichu answered.
He wanted to build a good relationship with Yang Xianzhi—not only was he his supervisor, but there was another reason: Yang was his surname!
Anyone who could manage a star and bore that surname was likely a member of the Yang family behind Earth Company.

This time, a professional fighter aircraft transported them to the work zone.
Previously, they could fly there themselves due to proximity, but with the distance now greater, flying would waste too much time.
Aboard the fighter, they reached the work site, and the three began their tasks.
Jiang Taichu scanned the mountain peaks, accelerating his exploration, quickly surveying his assigned area.
Within half a day, he accomplished what previously took a full day.
In the afternoon, he searched through Tang Yu and Zhang Jing’s areas.
By evening, the terrain veins on a mountain flowed, and an ore appeared in his sight.
A Primeval Vein Stone!
Though not as valuable as Geng Metal Ore, it was three times larger and of much higher quality than the Primeval Stones he’d previously acquired.
“Taichu, you really are the Emperor Wa’s favored son!” Tang Yu laughed.
“Why couldn’t it be in my area?” Zhang Jing lamented.
“A good start. I’ll contact Yang Xianzhi,” Jiang Taichu said, smiling.
Yang Xianzhi was delighted at the news: “Excellent, excellent! Tonight, you three mustn’t eat dinner—wait for me to bring a feast.”
“We’ll dine together tonight,” Jiang Taichu said, grinning.
The three returned to the rest area, skipping dinner, waiting for Yang Xianzhi.
The other employees gave them cold, indifferent glances, clearly uninterested in conversation.
Lu Fang’s gaze was filled with resentment.
Even Tao Zhong, who had once been friendly, avoided their eyes, cold and distant.
Jiang Taichu remained calm, unconcerned with their opinions.
After a while, Yang Xianzhi came in, smiling: “Brother Taichu, come, let’s have a drink in my room.”
The rest area naturally had independent, supervised rooms, far more luxurious than theirs.
“Let’s bring the goods first,” Tang Yu said, never one to be discreet. He took out the Primeval Vein Stone and showed it off to the others.
Crack—
Lu Fang, in the middle of eating, snapped his chopsticks, his teeth grinding audibly.
The others’ eyes reddened—how outrageous! Another treasure found?
Wasn’t this supposed to be a resource-poor star?
“Quality’s good; I’ll give you five elixirs,” Yang Xianzhi said, smiling.
“Turn two of them into cash. I need money,” Tang Yu grinned, needing to save up for a mech.
“Alright, three elixirs for you, eight thousand will be transferred to your account shortly.”