Chapter 119: Cao Zhen's Discontent

Jiang Fan, however, stood his ground, unmoving as a mountain. His posture remained ramrod straight. Kong Wushuang, on the other hand, was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground. Both his arms were grotesquely twisted, clearly broken. The outcome left everyone present wide-eyed and stunned.

Kong Wushuang, who had poured his all into the fight—the foremost body refinement genius of the Nine Sects, the one who had defeated Qingyun Sect's top newcomer in a single move—was now defeated by Jiang Fan in a single move, in the very field he prided himself on most!

Liu Wenchen was dumbfounded. His least favored disciple had defeated a formidable opponent whom even Cao Zhen had lost to? He quickly snapped out of his daze, rushing forward with overwhelming surprise and joy. Gripping Jiang Fan's shoulders, he exclaimed, "Well done! Absolutely excellent!"

Qingyun Sect's reputation was not only saved but also significantly enhanced! "Your Giant Sect claims to be the premier sect for body refinement, do you not? Well, it seems your strongest new disciple isn't as capable as a no-spiritual-root disciple from our Qingyun Sect!"

Kong Yuanba rushed over to examine Kong Wushuang. Discovering both arms shattered, he roared in shock and fury, "Boy! You were too heavy-handed!"

Gong Caiyi leaped and landed beside Jiang Fan. With a hint of schadenfreude, she remarked, "It's their ancestral ceremony, and your Giant Sect just had to come here and flex its muscles. Now that you've been humbled, you're throwing a tantrum?"

Seeing two sect masters defend Jiang Fan, Kong Yuanba gritted his teeth and glared hatefully at Jiang Fan. "Good boy! I'll remember you! I hope our Giant Sect disciples don't 'accidentally' run into you during the beast tide defense!" With that, he picked up Kong Wushuang and departed, his face dark.

Watching him depart, Liu Wenchen and Gong Caiyi both inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Liu Wenchen cupped his hands to Gong Caiyi, expressing his gratitude. "Thank you, Sect Master Gong, for your protection. Kong Yuanba has always been overbearing and fiercely protective. My disciple injured his favorite apprentice; normally, he would never have let it go."

Gong Caiyi turned to Jiang Fan with a touch of regret and sighed, "I truly admire you. Alas, we are not destined." Her voice carried an undeniable note of regret. She had, after all, lost the bet with Liu Qingxian. As per their agreement, she could no longer offer to take Jiang Fan as her disciple.

Jiang Fan also held a deep fondness for the gentle and considerate Spirit Beast Sect Master. He cupped his hands and said, "Sect Master Gong has shown me great kindness these past few days, and this junior will forever be grateful."

Gong Caiyi then allowed a faint smile to grace her lips. From her waist, she produced a bottle of Earth Phoenix Grass juice. "As agreed, this is for you." Jiang Fan's heart lifted with joy. "Thank you, Sect Master Gong," he said. This was excellent stuff! Combined with the superb Foundation Establishment Pill, it could elevate one's Foundation Establishment realm by another stage.

Immediately afterward, Gong Caiyi pressed a black sword into his hands. "Consider this sword a personal gift from me. Keep it as a memento." Jiang Fan grew even more delighted upon seeing it. This black sword, pulled from the Sword Mound of Heavenly Sword Peak, was a mid-grade magic artifact. Though the purple sword on his back was incredibly powerful, it was not suitable for use unless facing a formidable, life-threatening foe. For everyday sparring, a magic artifact like this black sword was precisely what he needed.

"Sect Master Gong's generosity... this junior is at a loss for how to repay it," Jiang Fan said awkwardly, feeling indebted. Gong Caiyi, however, chuckled softly. "What repayment do I seek from you? If you ever have the chance in the future, please visit my Spirit Beast Sect; I, the Sect Master, will personally host you." Jiang Fan nodded vigorously. "This junior will certainly come to visit." With that, Gong Caiyi summoned her flying mounts, and she and her disciples boarded them. With an indescribable regret, they ascended into the sky and departed.

Liu Qingxian, however, let out a long sigh of relief, muttering, "That woman finally left." Then, smiling, she approached Jiang Fan, and with a playful wink at the beaming Liu Wenchen, she asked, "Well, Father? My judgment wasn't wrong, was it? I told you to take Jiang Fan as your disciple. I didn't disappoint you, did I?"

Liu Wenchen cleared his throat, his gaze towards Jiang Fan now holding less prejudice. "Jiang Fan possessing such strong body refinement talent is certainly unexpected," he admitted. "Unfortunately, our Qingyun Sect's body refinement resources are far inferior to those of the Giant Sect." He felt a deep regret in his heart. If Jiang Fan's talent lay in the art of spells, that would be excellent. Then he would certainly prioritize Jiang Fan's cultivation. However, Qingyun Sect does not specialize in body refinement.

From afar, Cao Zhen watched the scene, his eyes red with jealousy. The opponent he had utterly failed to defeat, Jiang Fan had effortlessly triumphed over. Didn't this prove he was inferior to Jiang Fan? "What's so impressive? It was just luck, winning against Kong Wushuang once!" he grumbled resentfully.

A flicker of disgust crossed Jiang Fan's eyes. This person was truly irritating. He couldn't help but say, "If I recall correctly, you and Senior Sister Liu had an agreement, didn't you? If I defeated you at the ancestral ceremony, you would withdraw from Reincarnation Peak and pledge allegiance to the Sect Master's Peak. Now, isn't it time to fulfill that agreement?"

At his words, everyone present's expressions shifted. Cao Zhen, with his seventh-grade spiritual root, was the Grand Elder's most prized new disciple. If he were truly forced to leave Reincarnation Peak and join the Sect Master's Peak, how much face would Reincarnation Peak lose?

Upon hearing this, Feng Guchan immediately retorted, "You impudent child! Those were merely jests, how can you take them seriously? Don't you dare try to sow discord between the Reincarnation Peak and the Sect Master's Peak!"

Refusing to acknowledge it? And then turning the tables, slandering Jiang Fan for having sinister intentions? Jiang Fan looked at Cao Zhen dispassionately. "A bet made in front of a Sect Master, nine Elders, and all the disciples—can that truly be considered a joke? Cao Zhen, if you can't handle losing, then don't play! You're making a spectacle of yourself!"

Cao Zhen's self-esteem was immensely strong. He was enraged by these words. Gritting his teeth, he turned and knelt before Feng Guchan, kowtowing. "This unfilial disciple, Cao Zhen, failed to win the bet. Now, I will fulfill the agreement and withdraw from Reincarnation Peak!"

Immediately after, he moved to stand before Liu Wenchen, kneeling on one knee. Liu Wenchen was thrilled; this was a seventh-grade spiritual root, just like his daughter's, possessing infinite potential! But his next words put Liu Wenchen in a difficult position.

"Sect Master, I am willing to join the Sect Master's Peak. However, I refuse to be associated with Jiang Fan! The Sect Master's Peak will have me, or it will have him, but it cannot have us both!" His implication was clear: he was forcing Liu Wenchen to expel Jiang Fan from the sect. One had no spiritual root, the other had a seventh-grade spiritual root. Did Liu Wenchen even need to state whom he would choose? Cao Zhen's malicious intentions were evident to everyone present!

How could Liu Wenchen possibly expel Jiang Fan? The young man had already secretly pledged himself to his daughter! Yet, he also absolutely did not want to give up Cao Zhen. "Cao Zhen, Jiang Fan has just rendered a great service. If I expel him from the sect now, what would the world think of me?" Liu Wenchen patiently reasoned, "It's better to resolve enmity than to perpetuate it. Grant this Sect Master this favor: you two become friends from this day forward. What do you say?"

With the words spoken, could Cao Zhen possibly refuse to give face? He shifted his gaze, a sneer twisting his lips. "Becoming friends with him isn't impossible. I heard he, a spiritual-root-less waste, has two wives as beautiful as flowers. If he's willing to give me one, I might consider..."

Before he could finish his sentence, a cold glint flashed in Jiang Fan's eyes. Without hesitation, he unleashed a Shocking Dragon Palm! Cao Zhen had already anticipated this and sneered, "You dog! I've wanted to experience your strength for a long time! Do you really think I'm inferior to you?"