Chapter 1023: White Bone Alliance Visitor

Inside the martial arts arena, several prodigies from various sects had already arrived.

Jiang Fan even recognized one of them.

“Junior Brother Jiang!” a sweet cry rang out.

Jiang Fan turned his gaze and saw it was his acquaintance, Yu Peiyuan, who was currently conversing with several elite disciples from the Heavenly Edge Pavilion.

When she caught sight of Jiang Fan approaching, she initially froze, then her eyes lit up with surprise as she ran over.

“Why are you here too?”

Jiang Fan smiled faintly, “Just came to have a look. Did you come with your master, Venerable Seven Tones?”

Yu Peiyuan’s smile stiffened, and she said awkwardly, “Master isn’t speaking to me anymore.”

Jiang Fan was surprised. Sensing the faint Nascent Soul aura within Yu Peiyuan, he immediately understood the reason. Yu Peiyuan had failed her tribulation. Venerable Seven Tones had given her the only opportunity to undergo the tribulation, but she hadn’t successfully formed a Nascent Soul. Venerable Seven Tones was inevitably disappointed.

“Victory isn't constant in battle; keep striving,” Jiang Fan said, patting her shoulder reassuringly.

Yu Peiyuan sighed bitterly, “How could I have another chance? It’s not easy for Master to accumulate one tribulation opportunity, and there are so many disciples waiting for their turn. It’s unlikely to ever be my turn again. A heterodox Nascent Soul is the end of my journey in this life. It’s just a pity that I wasted Junior Brother Jiang’s blue seed and that fifth-grade spirit pill that enhances Nascent Soul cultivation.”

She sighed deeply, her eyes holding an indelible regret. Every opportunity for tribulation is incredibly precious; many people never get a chance in their entire lives. The fact that she could even attempt it once already surpassed most people. As for trying again, it was unlikely Venerable Seven Tones would consider her within the next few years.

Jiang Fan pondered for a moment, then said, “Don’t rush. Continue preparing for the tribulation. If there’s an opportunity in the future, I’ll let you try again.”

Fairy Yunshang’s acquisition of the Heavenly Fox bloodline largely owed to Yu Peiyuan’s precious sixth-grade Reversion Pill. It wouldn't be too late to give her an Ascent Pill once Jiang Fan had some to spare.

Yu Peiyuan merely took it as comfort and smiled wryly, “Thank you, Junior Brother Jiang.”

“By the way, where is your seat? If it’s quite far back, you can come sit with us at Heavenly Edge Pavilion.”

Just as she finished speaking, a leading disciple from Heavenly Edge Pavilion walked over and gently reprimanded her: “Junior Sister Yu, don’t be disrespectful to a senior.”

He was a One-Aperture Nascent Soul cultivator and naturally sensed the surging Nascent Soul power within Jiang Fan. He immediately spoke up to stop Yu Peiyuan.

A senior? Yu Peiyuan gasped, “Junior Brother Jiang, you… you successfully passed your tribulation?”

Jiang Fan nodded, “Just lucky, I suppose.”

Yu Peiyuan felt a pang in her heart. The young disciple from the Transcendent God ruins was now a Nascent Soul senior.

“Senior Tyrant.”

Hua Wuying, who had followed closely behind, saw Jiang Fan and Yu Peiyuan talking from afar. Her pretty face immediately tightened as she stepped forward and said, “Senior, please take your seat quickly. The exchange conference is about to begin.”

She displayed her wristband: number nine. Her seat was in the row behind Jiang Fan’s.

Jiang Fan cupped his hands towards Yu Peiyuan, “We’ll talk later.”

After Hua Wuying had walked a distance, she turned back and glared at Yu Peiyuan, whispering, “Senior, don’t get too close to this Yu Peiyuan. She’s in league with that villain Jiang Fan!”

Yu Peiyuan stood rooted to the spot, deep in thought. Telling Jiang Fan that Jiang Fan was a villain? Hua Wuying seemed to be playing a new game.

“Junior Sister Yu, who was that person?” The leading Heavenly Edge Pavilion disciple walked over, eyeing Yu Peiyuan with a hint of surprise. “When did you get to know such a prominent figure?”

Yu Peiyuan was stunned.

A prominent figure? Ma Qingyan, who was quite ambitious and considered himself one of the five legendary prodigies of Taicang Great State, actually gave such a high appraisal of Jiang Fan?

It wasn’t until she saw Jiang Fan’s seat that she was completely dumbfounded. It was the number one seat! While Ma Qingyan was only number four.

Yu Peiyuan looked utterly bewildered. Jiang Fan could actually overshadow all the prodigies present and take the number one seat?

She stammered, “This… this is my friend.”

Seeing that Yu Peiyuan was reluctant to reveal more, Ma Qingyan didn't press her, merely remarking, “You certainly have good connections. You always seem to meet surprising people. Alright, let’s take our seats. The discussion will begin once Feng Yuanzong and a few other prodigies arrive. As someone who received help from Jiang Fan, you’ve attracted quite a bit of prejudice. Later, you should make some critical remarks about him to clearly distance yourself.”

Yu Peiyuan nodded subconsciously.

Then, she suddenly understood.

Wait! Isn’t Jiang Fan right here? Are they really going to denounce him?

Looking at Jiang Fan firmly seated in the number one spot, she felt a surge of apprehension for everyone present.

A short while later, most of the invited guests had arrived. Only Feng Yuanzong was missing.

“I’m only number two? Yun Che, what are you playing at?”

From the entrance, Feng Yuanzong’s angry reprimand rang out. As the strongest performing prodigy from Taicang Great State in the Ancient Ascent Path, and having then broken through to the Nascent Soul realm in one fell swoop, his strength was beyond doubt. Securing the number one seat should have been a given.

Yun Che said, feeling wronged, “Senior Feng, the wristbands assign the seats automatically. What’s the use of getting angry at me?”

Feng Yuanzong huffed indignantly, “I want to see who this esteemed person is who dared to take my seat.” He was already simmering with anger over the matter of the Jade Paper Heavenly Scroll. And now, someone was recklessly crossing his path. He immediately strode furiously into the martial arts arena, heading straight for the number one seat.

“You, get up!” he pointed at Jiang Fan.

At that moment, Jiang Fan was engrossed in reading the topics on a jade slip. Suddenly hearing the reprimand, he looked up.

Their eyes met, and they both recognized each other.

Feng Yuanzong froze. Th-this wasn’t that damned Jiang Fan from the continent, the one who attracted Jiang Wuya, was it? No, this was a conference to denounce him! How did he himself come? And he was sitting so brazenly in the front row?

Jiang Fan smiled faintly and said, “Fellow Daoist Feng, long time no see.”

Feng Yuanzong snapped back to reality, his mouth opening and closing as he was momentarily at a loss for words. Should he just reveal his intentions directly and denounce him on the spot? Or should he wait until the conference was over and everyone was mobilized?

Everyone craned their necks, not without anticipation to see how the two would contend for the number one seat. Feng Yuanzong was overbearing, but the one called Tyrant, who was granted the number one seat by the wristband, was certainly no ordinary person.

Just then, Yun Che at the entrance quickly whispered, “Senior, Senior, this is our private exchange conference; entry requires an invitation.”

Everyone’s gaze shifted. They saw a fair-skinned, handsome young man with sharp features, appearing to be around twenty years old, holding a folding fan and smiling as he entered.

“Gentlemen, pardon my intrusion. Upon hearing there was a martial arts exchange conference for young talents here, I, Jiao, felt a strong desire to attend and pay my respects. I hope you will grant me this small favor.”

He subtly released his aura. It was clearly that of a Three-Aperture Nascent Soul cultivator!

A Three-Aperture Nascent Soul at such a young age? Everyone present was astonished.

Those twenty years old and younger were considered the same generation. Everyone present was roughly in the same age bracket. However, being able to pass the tribulation and form a Nascent Soul meant being a top talent among peers, commanding admiration.

What was going on with the young man before them? He was actually already at the Three-Aperture Nascent Soul cultivation level?

Every single person present was utterly shocked.

Feng Yuanzong’s expression turned serious, “Who are you? Since when did Taicang Great State have a figure like you?”

The white-clad youth lightly fanned himself with the painted fan in his hand and said with a smile, “I am Jiao Huangyin, from the White Bone Alliance.”