Chapter 108: The Elder's Obstruction

What left them most speechless was this: had she fallen ill from anger because she couldn't recruit Jiang Fan?

Even Jiang Fan couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

Without hesitation, he immediately began refining the Nine-Flavor Heart Nourishing Pills in an orderly manner. His technique was skillful, unlike the other disciples who often fumbled. This drew continuous gasps of admiration from the many disciples.

Soon after, the pills were ready. Su Qiuning examined them closely and exclaimed, "Top-grade Nine-Flavor Heart Nourishing Pills! Even Master might not be able to refine something like this!"

Jiang Fan said, "Quickly, go give them to Elder Wen."

Su Qiuning nodded and immediately rushed back into the hall.

A short while later, she emerged, wiping away tears, looking very sad.

Jiang Fan's heart sank. "Did the medicine not work?" he wondered.

Yuan Zhiyu pouted. "All that effort, fierce as a tiger, only to see the disciples crying when the results are revealed."

Gong Caiyi, however, inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief. "That's more like it. It would be strange if he excelled at everything." A disciple who was skilled in movement techniques, possessed high sword dao talent, and could also refine medicine... she would be truly envious. Good thing his alchemy wasn't up to par.

But to their surprise, Su Qiuning shook her head repeatedly. "No, it's not that. The medicine was very effective. After taking it, Elder Wen woke up immediately."

Jiang Fan was baffled. "Then why are you crying? You've caused everyone to misunderstand!"

Su Qiuning started crying again. "But Master found out that you refined the medicine, and that it was even better than hers. She then pounded her thigh, sighed a few times toward the sky, and fainted again."

Silence fell before the hall. For a moment, no one knew whether to cry or to laugh. It seemed that the more Jiang Fan showcased his alchemy talent, the more severe Master's emotional distress became.

With a bitter expression, Jiang Fan handed the remaining Nine-Flavor Heart Nourishing Pills to Su Qiuning. "As long as I'm here, your Master's illness won't get better. I'll take my leave." He then cupped his hands towards a dazed Gong Caiyi and said, "Sect Master Gong, let's go. We shouldn't disturb Elder Wen's recovery."

"Oh, oh." Gong Caiyi, still somewhat absent-minded, followed Jiang Fan away. She stared intently at Jiang Fan's retreating back, an expression of disbelief on her face. She whispered again, "Zhiyu, where exactly did you get your information from? See for yourself, does he really seem like someone without spiritual roots?"

Yuan Zhiyu even wondered if she had been misled. Staring at Jiang Fan's back, she stammered, "I... I'll go ask around again!"

Gong Caiyi sighed softly, looking at Jiang Fan with a hint of envy in her eyes. "Sect Master Liu truly has good fortune. If only I had a disciple like him."

Yuan Zhiyu stuck out her tongue. "Master, we are a sect for women. We don't have a precedent for accepting male disciples."

Gong Caiyi rolled her eyes at her. "Do I need you to remind me? Can't I even express a little envy?" She was merely expressing her feelings. Actually taking Jiang Fan as a disciple was absolutely impossible.

By this time, it was already dusk. Visiting three peaks had taken a full day. Jiang Fan led them back to the Sect Master Peak first.

As they passed the foot of Reincarnation Peak, a small, reddish-brown furball was gnawing on a spiritual ginseng root it had presumably stolen from somewhere, chewing loudly on a tree branch. When it spotted Jiang Fan passing below the tree, it immediately recognized him. Its dark, glistening nose wrinkled, and it hurled the spiritual ginseng in its paw at Jiang Fan.

Jiang Fan was highly alert. Hearing the rush of air, he flicked his sleeve, sending the incoming spiritual ginseng flying away. He then looked up, meeting the small spirit beast's gaze. The little spirit beast cheekily turned its back, wiggled its rear at him, and then scurried into the dense forest like a wisp of smoke.

Jiang Fan was furious! That darn creature!

He was about to give chase, but then he glanced towards the dense forest, which was the direction of Grand Elder's Reincarnation Peak. He had no choice but to stop. It was truly inconvenient to go to Reincarnation Peak while accompanied by Gong Caiyi and the others.

Meanwhile, Yuan Zhiyu had also spotted the small spirit beast. She was incredibly excited. Glancing at Jiang Fan, she leaned close to Gong Caiyi's ear and whispered her discovery.

"What?"

Gong Caiyi was overjoyed. Her entire purpose in coming to the Green Cloud Sect was to find this small spirit beast. Forcing herself to appear calm, she pointed towards Reincarnation Peak and said, "Where is that? I'd like to go up and see."

Jiang Fan looked hesitant. "It's getting late," he said. "Perhaps we should come back tomorrow."

Gong Caiyi was impatient. She started climbing the steps at once. "Then I'll go by myself," she said.

How could Jiang Fan let her go up alone? He could only stop a passing disciple and instruct him to quickly report the news to the Sect Master Peak. He, meanwhile, followed Gong Caiyi all the way up Reincarnation Peak.

At Reincarnation Peak, evening cultivation was currently underway. Grand Elder Feng Guzen was personally instructing his disciples, who were meditating before an ancient wall covered in sword slashes, knife carvings, and imprints of fists and feet.

"Sect Master Gong? Quick, bring spiritual tea and spiritual fruits!" Feng Guzen was greatly surprised. He had thought that the Sect Master would never arrange for Sect Master Gong to visit Reincarnation Peak. Therefore, he hadn't made any preparations.

Gong Caiyi smiled. "Elder Feng, there's no need for such ceremony. I was just passing by your peak and found the scenery particularly striking, so I came up to take a look."

How could Feng Guzen know that she was there to find the small spirit beast? He immediately began arranging things enthusiastically. "Then, allow me to personally show Sect Master Gong around?"

With everyone present, how would she go about finding the small spirit beast? Even if she found it, they would easily detect her intentions, and then it would be difficult to say whether she could take it out of the Green Cloud Sect.

"I've visited several peaks in a row and I'm a bit tired. I'll just stay here and watch your disciples' comprehension. Let my disciple Zhiyu explore on her own."

Yuan Zhiyu understood immediately. "Master, then I'll go by myself," she said.

Feng Guzen immediately called Cao Zhen over. "You go accompany Zhiyu."

But Yuan Zhiyu replied, "No need, I prefer to be alone."

"That wouldn't be good. If word gets out, Reincarnation Peak will be accused of lacking hospitality." A flicker of suspicion crossed Feng Guzen's eyes. It was clear that Gong Caiyi wanted her disciple to act alone. Could she be looking for something on Reincarnation Peak?

Suddenly, he saw Jiang Fan and understood. It must have been Liu Wenchen who arranged this. He must have asked Gong Caiyi for help, using the pretext of sightseeing to investigate the true nature of Reincarnation Peak. Realizing this, resentment welled up in his heart. Plotting against him, was he? Preposterous!

His gaze towards Jiang Fan naturally became unfriendly. "I believe your name is Jiang Fan, isn't it?" he said.

Jiang Fan, neither humble nor arrogant, cupped his hands. "This disciple, Jiang Fan, greets the Grand Elder." With Gong Caiyi present, what could the Grand Elder possibly do to him?

Feng Guzen glanced at Gong Caiyi, then at Jiang Fan, feeling it was necessary to make an example of someone. Firstly, to give Liu Wenchen a warning. Secondly, to let Gong Caiyi see what a joke the Sect Master Peak was.

"You, a martial artist without spiritual roots, yet are so highly valued by the Sect Master, entrusted with the important task of accompanying Sect Master Gong. You must have some extraordinary qualities, don't you? Coincidentally, my disciples are currently comprehending the Moke Stone Wall. Would you like to give it a try?"

Gong Caiyi's eyes showed surprise. "Elder Feng is certainly generous," she said, "but Jiang Fan's aptitude is too low. It might not be suitable for him."

The Moke Stone Wall was a meteorite from outside this world. It bore the residual combat traces of powerful cultivators and contained their lingering martial arts wills. Those with strong comprehension abilities could gain insights into formidable techniques from it. It was said that the most impressive feat was someone comprehending a high-grade Profound-tier sword technique. The drawback was that those with insufficient comprehension, if they tried to force an understanding, could easily be harmed by the residual martial arts wills within it. Mild cases resulted in headaches, severe cases in unconsciousness. Since Jiang Fan had no spiritual roots, his comprehension was likely ordinary, making it unsuitable for him to participate.

Feng Guzen chuckled. "That's where you're mistaken," he said. "Jiang Fan is the Sect Master's beloved disciple. If he doesn't even dare to attempt the Moke Stone Wall, wouldn't people laugh at Sect Master Peak for taking in a good-for-nothing?"

Well played! With words spoken to this extent, if Jiang Fan still cowered, it would truly bring shame upon Sect Master Peak.

Comprehending techniques, was it? So far, no cultivation technique had ever presented a challenge to him. He cupped his hands and said, "Since the Grand Elder puts it that way, then I, this disciple, will give it a try. However, let me make one thing clear: any techniques I comprehend will belong solely to me. When that time comes, please do not make things difficult."

Gong Caiyi's heart skipped a beat. No way! Could this guy also possess incredibly strong comprehension abilities? That would be simply outrageous!