Chapter 1052: VIP Gathering

Jiang Fan had recently been shamelessly riding on the Bodhisattva's coattails. The Bodhisattva suddenly sent a kasaya; surely it wasn't an attempt to recruit him?

"The Bodhisattva has taken so much trouble," Jiang Fan said. "Our Pavilion Master will surely like it; I'll hand it over to him later."

The corners of the several eminent monks' mouths twitched. The rosy-lipped and fair-toothed Dharma Seal Vajra smiled lightly, "Benefactor Jiang, this kasaya was worn by the Bodhisattva. It possesses the power to repel enemies and subdue demons."

Hearing this, Jiang Fan finally tucked it into his Heavenly Thunder Stone. It seemed the Dharma Seal Vajra understood Jiang Fan best.

"Youran, please lead the masters inside." Xu Youran sighed inwardly. She had once thought Jiang Fan would become a sworn enemy of White Horse Temple, but now their relationship was surprisingly harmonious. She hoped they had given up on converting Jiang Fan. Gracious and composed, she immediately invited them in.

Tong Fei immediately felt all pressure vanish. When he looked at Jiang Fan again, he no longer dared to underestimate him. How many people in the Tai Cang Great State received personal gifts from a Bodhisattva?

Just then, another trace of spiritual energy emanated from the horizon. It was a middle-aged man with a distinguished bearing, arriving alone on a cloud. It was none other than the Lord of Jiangshan Yipin Tower.

"Why are you here?" Jiang Fan said dismissively. "I didn't pay you to be a shill." This man, who charged money for every extra word he uttered, wouldn't show up for no reason at all.

The Tower Lord smiled faintly, surveying the Tianji Pavilion. "For a worthless sect, I wouldn't go even if invited. For a valuable sect, I'd come on my own even if not invited. Tianji Pavilion has great potential. I believe it will be an important client for my Jiangshan Yipin Tower in the future. Coming to offer congratulations and make some acquaintances, it's not too much, is it?"

Only then did Jiang Fan relax, saying, "As long as you don't charge me money." "Mingzhu, please lead the Tower Lord inside."

Tong Fei was already somewhat numb. Among the Three Divine Sects and Seven Great Cults, leaders from two of them had personally arrived. The pomp and circumstance of the Tianji Pavilion seemed excessively grand.

Soon after, another lone figure arrived: Venerable Qiyin. He cupped his hands and smiled, "Fellow Daoist Jiang, congratulations. Thank you for taking care of Peiyuan, and also for bringing back the Golden Dragon Scissors from the Transcendent Relic."

The loss of the Golden Dragon Scissors had left him frantic with worry these past days. Fortunately, though Jiang Fan obtained it, he did not keep it for himself but returned it through Yu Peiyuan's hands. This was a great help to him.

"This is a small congratulatory gift; please don't mind it." He took out a piece of paper on which various inscriptions were traced. "I heard Peiyuan say you have a soul artifact, so you probably need to cultivate soul power, right? These are texts that the Pavilion Master of our Tianya Haige transcribed from the Jade Paper Heavenly Book in his possession. They should be of some help to you."

The Jade Paper Heavenly Book? Jiang Fan was overjoyed, cupping his hands rapidly. "Venerable Qiyin, you've helped me a great deal! I'll gladly accept it then!" He already possessed the content of four pages of the Jade Paper Heavenly Book, and with this new addition, it would be enough to cultivate his soul to the five-aperture Nascent Soul stage. When encountering six-aperture or seven-aperture Nascent Soul experts, he wouldn't be at such a disadvantage as he had been in his previous battle with the Sanqing Mountain expert.

"Qingxian, quickly usher Fellow Daoist Qiyin to his seat." Liu Qingxian was just about to lead Venerable Qiyin away when a bright, youthful laugh came from the horizon. "Old friends part ways like rivers and seas, separated by mountains and streams for ages. Junior Brother Jiang, Junior Sister Liu. Long time no see."

A spirit boat flew through the air, and standing on board was Jian Linyuan. Jiang Fan looked up, his eyebrows raising in delight. "Senior Brother Jian? Why are you here?"

Jian Linyuan landed, cupped his hands, and smiled. "This title of Senior Brother, I'll accept it one last time. Don't call me that anymore; it's too much of an honor for me. You are now a king who eclipses the prodigies of the Three Divine Sects and Seven Great Cults. I should be calling you 'Senior'."

There was a hint of wistfulness in his words. He had thought that after returning to the Jian family, backed by a towering power, his fate would gradually diverge from Jiang Fan's. Unexpectedly, he failed his tribulation, while Jiang Fan succeeded and became famous after a battle at the Fire Worship Cult's martial arena. In a sense, their destinies did diverge, but in a completely opposite way to what was expected.

Jiang Fan, also noticing that he had failed his tribulation, patted his shoulder and comforted him, "Don't worry. The Jian family has a deep foundation, so you won't be short of opportunities. Your chance will come again soon."

Jian Linyuan smiled helplessly. "How could it be that easy? I'm not the only one in the Jian family waiting to undergo tribulation." He had only earned his tribulation opportunity through years of meritorious service as an undercover agent in Tianji Pavilion. Heaven knows when the next opportunity will be.

Liu Qingxian comforted him, "Yes, Senior Brother Jian, you are still young; there are plenty of opportunities ahead of you." It was just a casual remark, and Jian Linyuan didn't give it much thought. However, when he glanced at Liu Qingxian and found that she had also successfully passed her tribulation, his whole expression instantly fell. "You... you also passed your tribulation?"

Liu Qingxian beamed, clutching Jiang Fan's arm. "My husband helped me." Jian Linyuan's heart sank completely. He realized he would have been better off sticking with Jiang Fan than returning to the Jian family. He said enviously, "Junior Sister Liu truly has excellent fortune."

Liu Qingxian continued to comfort him, "Oh, I'm nothing special. Xu Youran and Yue Mingzhu have also successfully passed their tribulations. Even the former Sea Charm Demon King and Cloud Mist Concubine have broken through to the two-aperture Demon Emperor stage. Xia Chaoge and Liang Feiyan have also secured an opportunity to undergo tribulation and are likely to undergo it soon. So, Senior Brother Jian, don't rush. What's meant to be yours will eventually be yours..."

"Senior Liu, please stop," Jian Linyuan said, unable to take it anymore. He had come happily to offer congratulations, but was mercilessly jabbed with one blow after another. "I'm fine now, please stop comforting me." The more she comforted him, the worse he felt.

Jiang Fan chuckled. "Qingxian, please lead them to their seats. I'm waiting for the last two guests."

Shortly after, Fairy Qianlan and Venerable Yunhuo arrived. Jiang Fan showed a warm smile. "You two seniors have taken great pains." Others could only be considered guests of Tianji Pavilion. These two, however, were long-standing members of Tianji Pavilion. Their status was different, so naturally, Jiang Fan had to receive them personally.

"Please follow me." Venerable Yunhuo, however, stopped Jiang Fan and took out a storage artifact. "The Senior asked me to give this to you." That mysterious red-faced old man? Jiang Fan took the storage artifact and looked, secretly surprised. It was actually three low-grade spiritual artifacts! Even among the Nascent Soul experts of the Three Divine Sects and Seven Great Cults, only a few possessed low-grade spiritual artifacts. Mid-grade spiritual artifacts were only mastered by late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. The value of three low-grade spiritual artifacts was self-evident.

Fairy Qianlan glared at him with a hint of envy. "I never realized you, this little rascal who only knows how to annoy me, have such a silver tongue, making the Senior so happy. He's been at the Fire Worship Cult for so many years, and I've never seen him give anything to anyone! And look at you, you just walked away with three low-grade spiritual artifacts for free!"

Jiang Fan said with a sincere expression, "Fellow Daoist Qianlan, since you are our Pavilion Master's Senior Sister, one of these three spiritual artifacts is naturally yours. Pick one." He offered the storage artifact.

"What?" Fairy Qianlan was overjoyed, and surprised. "Really?" She reached out to take the storage artifact, but Jiang Fan pulled his hand back, smiling, "Of course not."

Fairy Qianlan was stunned, then immediately stamped her foot in a fit of pique. "You're deliberately annoying me again! I'll chop you up!"

With a clang, she pulled out a forty-meter long broadsword. Jiang Fan's eyelid twitched. "Why is your blade so long?" Fairy Qianlan said maliciously, "It's specially customized for you! I'll let you run thirty-nine meters first!"

"Good heavens!" Jiang Fan immediately used his Cloud Shadow technique to flee. Fairy Qianlan angrily pursued him inside. Venerable Yunhuo followed with a wry smile.

Finally, only Tong Fei, ignored by everyone, stood alone by the gate tower. His face turning pale then flushed, he muttered, "It's just a sect founding ceremony. If I don't go, I don't go. What great loss could possibly befall me?"