Chapter 1038: Trouble Has Arrived

Jiang Fan gave an awkward smile. "Just two left."

Seeing Xia Chaoge's eyes dim slightly, he quickly added, "Don't worry, there are still a few more."

"Hua Wuying, come here!"

In the sky, Hua Wuying, with a troubled expression, flew down from among the clouds.

She obediently came to Jiang Fan's side.

Everyone looked at the girl, who was younger than Jiang Fan but had also reached the Nascent Soul realm, with expressions of surprise.

Liang Feiyan exclaimed in astonishment, "Junior Brother Jiang, which family's young beauty have you enticed this time?"

Jiang Fan rolled his eyes at him.

He introduced, "Let me introduce you. She's worth four Heaven-Ascending Pills."

"So, while I'm in seclusion, make sure to keep a close eye on her and don't let her run away."

Four Heaven-Ascending Pills?

Everyone's eyes turned red.

They looked at Hua Wuying as if she were a human-shaped Heaven-Ascending Pill.

Xia Chaoge's downturned lips subtly curved upwards again.

Although she didn't need Heaven-Ascending Pills, it was enough that Jiang Fan had her in his thoughts. She chuckled softly, "Thank you, Martial Uncle."

"During the sect's founding ceremony, I'll have a gift for you too."

Jiang Fan was surprised.

Xia Chaoge had prepared a gift for him?

He felt a little anticipation.

Ye Banxia sat on the jade phoenix chair, crossing her fair, slender legs and said, "Among those four Heaven-Ascending Pills, one must be mine."

Jiang Fan chuckled wryly and said, "Of course, one is for Senior Sister Ye."

Previously, when the Demon Emperor Nu Xin underwent tribulation, he used Ye Banxia's jade phoenix chair and even destroyed it. Now, Yue Mingzhu and Liu Qingxian needed the jade phoenix chair for their tribulations. Her share couldn't be omitted for anyone.

Jiang Fan scanned the crowd, his gaze sweeping over the four Deputy Pavilion Masters, Ren Guhong, Wang Chongling, and the others who had reached the ninth stage of Core Formation.

He said seriously, "There are only this many Heaven-Ascending Pills available right now."

"I'll try my best to look out for more for everyone, but I can't guarantee that everyone will receive one."

"Because even in Taicang Great State, opportunities for tribulation are not easily come by."

"Please understand."

Even the thick-skinned Liang Feiyan quickly said, "Junior Brother Jiang, please don't say that."

"Opportunities for tribulation should be sought by us ourselves. How could we rely on you? And how could we blame you if we don't receive one?"

"You focus on your own matters; we will find our own opportunities."

Everyone cupped their hands in salute.

Jiang Fan had already done more than enough for the Heavenly Secret Pavilion; no one would blame him for anything.

Jiang Fan nodded, then took out the high-grade crystal ore vein and handed it to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master, saying, "Pavilion Master, please find a way to bury this beneath the sect."

"This will increase the spiritual energy here, allowing disciples in the Core Formation realm to cultivate faster."

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master scanned the spatial storage device, surprised. "Where did you get this?"

He had visited Taicang Great State many times and naturally knew the extraordinary nature of this crystal ore. Only powerful cultivators at least at the six-aperture Nascent Soul stage, and with extraordinary status, would possess such an item.

Jiang Fan said with an unnatural expression, "A kind-hearted elder sponsored it unconditionally."

"Just take it."

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master's face was filled with joy. "With such a spiritual vein suppressing us, the spiritual energy of our Heavenly Secret Pavilion won't be inferior to that of famous mountains and grand rivers."

"Our disciples' cultivation speed will far surpass what it was on the continent."

After finishing all his instructions, Jiang Fan's gaze swept over everyone, and he suddenly felt that someone was missing.

After recalling for a while, he finally remembered.

"Oh, right, where's Gu Xin'er?"

"Didn't she also carve her name and intend to come to the New Heavenly Secret Pavilion?"

"Why isn't she here?"

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master showed a strange expression and said, "Gu Xin'er took leave and departed a month ago."

"She said she would return with congratulatory gifts when the New Heavenly Secret Pavilion is established."

Really?

Jiang Fan's face showed surprise.

She really had no presence; he hadn't even noticed her disappearance for over a month.

Never mind her.

"I'm going into seclusion for three days now."

"During this time, I'll trouble you to guard the four Heaven-Ascending Pills well."

"Also, if that charred woman wakes up, notify me immediately."

Having said that, he arrived in front of a specially excavated secret chamber in the back mountain.

He planned to digest the Nether Ghost Flame.

According to the "Five Currents of Emptiness," reaching mastery in any of the 'currents' allows one to cultivate a source.

He didn't know what a 'source' was, but it must be extremely powerful.

However, just as he was about to enter the secret chamber, a fragrant breeze wafted over him.

Cloudy Robe Immortal, dressed in snow-white robes, stepped into the chamber first, then gently looked back and said, "Jiang Lang, I want to further elevate my cultivation."

Her jade-like face was slightly flushed, and her eyes held a hint of shyness.

She felt that using the Demonic Nascent Fruit to break through to a Two-Aperture Demon Emperor was somewhat wasteful. It would be better to utilize the Heavenly Fox bloodline to push from the peak of a One-Aperture Demon Emperor directly to the Two-Aperture stage. Then, use the Demonic Nascent Fruit to advance to a Three-Aperture Demon Emperor. That, she believed, would be a true display of respect for the Demonic Nascent Fruit.

It just meant making Jiang Fan work a bit harder.

Jiang Fan's heart fluttered upon hearing this. But recalling the Heavenly Fox bloodline and its irresistible, terrifying abilities, he couldn't help but feel hesitant.

For a moment, he hesitated on the spot.

Cloudy Robe Immortal gently sat on the edge of the bed, looking at him shyly. "Jiang Lang, are you afraid?"

Who's afraid?

Jiang Fan gritted his teeth and plunged into the secret chamber. Then he slammed the stone door shut with a bang and shouted, "Heavenly Fox bloodline, I'll go all out with you!"

A day later, Cloudy Robe Immortal left the secret chamber, her face radiant.

Her skin was translucent, her beautiful face flushed like an immortal's. Her eyes and brows held a faint smile. The demonic nascent within her abdomen had also successfully opened its second aperture as desired.

Inside the secret chamber, Jiang Fan was listless, with two dark circles under his eyes, constantly muttering, "Too brutal, completely drained..."

As he mumbled, he took out the Holy Fire Token. He forced himself to gather his energy and began to absorb the flame.

**White Bone Alliance.**

In the eerie, dimly lit grand hall, four figures, emanating Nascent Soul aura, appeared faintly.

Three of them stood on either side of the hall. At the highest point of the hall sat a powerful figure shrouded in darkness. His entire being exuded the terrifying aura of a seven-aperture Nascent Soul.

His identity was self-evident: the White Bone Alliance Leader!

The last Nascent Soul figure, a four-aperture one, cupped his hands and asked, "Alliance Leader, how should these two be dealt with?"

On the floor of the grand hall, Mu Ying and her uncle lay on the ground, covered in blood.

Mu Ying's ten fingers had been individually broken, and her arms twisted like ropes. Her uncle had his eyes gouged out, and dozens of black steel needles pierced through his body from front to back.

"Imprison them."

"When we catch that Nascent Soul youth named Jiang Fan, have them identify him."

Mu Ying and her uncle, after all, could not escape the clutches of the White Bone Alliance. Even though they had fled far and hidden extremely well, the White Bone Alliance, with its formidable powers, captured them back. Under severe torture, neither of them could endure the inhumane torment and revealed what had happened.

"Yes, Alliance Leader!"

"Oh, and another sect, called the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, has arrived at Green Litchi Mountain."

"How should they be dealt with?"

The Alliance Leader's voice was indifferent: "Make them leave."

"The teleportation array in the underground palace is not to be touched by others."

The last Nascent Soul cultivator bowed and said, "Yes."

"Should I go now then?"

The Alliance Leader was silent for a moment.

"Go on the day of their sect's founding ceremony."

"In front of their guests, eradicate the Heavenly Secret Pavilion."

"Tell them that Green Litchi Mountain permits no other force."