Chapter 1227: Moonlit Pearl Bids Farewell

Unaware of this, Jiang Fan quietly took out the Fate-Altering Jade Butterfly and inserted the twelve souls he had seized into it. Four drops of Heaven-Reaching Marrow were successfully produced. This time, all of them were cultivated from Nascent Soul Mid-stage souls, making the effect much better than before.

He gave three of the drops to the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion for distribution. The remaining drop, which glowed the brightest, he carefully sealed in a jade box and handed it to Yue Mingzhu: "There's something I need to trouble you with."

Yue Mingzhu was slightly startled. She had already broken through to the Nascent Soul realm, so what use would this item be to her? She immediately realized that this drop of Heaven-Reaching Marrow wasn't for her. It was for Gong Caiyi! At this time, Gong Caiyi should still be stuck at the ninth level of Core Formation perfection.

"He gave me the Heaven-Defying Pill, which offers a narrow escape from death. But for that hypocrite, it's Heaven-Reaching Marrow! It's truly as the saying goes: what you can't have always stirs your heart! Hmph!" Yue Mingzhu felt a pang of jealousy, pouting with displeasure.

Jiang Fan didn't offer any explanations, merely sighing slightly, "I owe her." Gong Caiyi was the second woman in his life, and the only woman with whom he had shared an intimate relationship, yet she asked for nothing and left him.

Yue Mingzhu vaguely sensed something, her clear eyes flickering. "You two have already..." She was both surprised and felt it was within expectation. On one hand, there was the sect that needed her care; on the other, the person in her heart who was leaving. Gong Caiyi chose her sect and let go of Jiang Fan. Therefore, out of guilt, she gave herself to Jiang Fan as compensation. "That's truly something that silly woman would do."

Yue Mingzhu sighed softly, a sudden wave of sadness rising in her heart. Back on the Great Wall, she had jokingly referred to them as two women serving one husband, making Gong Caiyi stomp her feet in embarrassment. That scene felt as if it happened just yesterday. But in a flash, only she remained by Jiang Fan's side. And... she wasn't happy. She wondered if it was because Jiang Fan was too busy, leading to them spending little time together, or because there were too many people around Jiang Fan who needed his attention. It felt as if something had been lost between her and Jiang Fan. All the anticipation, excitement, and joy she once felt when with Jiang Fan had vanished. Even this time, spending time alone with Jiang Fan, it was still the same. Despite facing many dangers, she couldn't find the initial feeling anymore. Something was wrong between them.

Of course, she couldn't say these things to Jiang Fan. She happened to be going to see Gong Caiyi, so she might as well talk to her and pour out her heart. She took the Heaven-Reaching Marrow and asked, "Is that all?"

Jiang Fan didn't notice her mood, smiling as he took out several spatial storage devices. "Inside are resources from the Heavenly Realm, as well as Foundation Establishment and Core Formation realm resources from the battlefield. This one is for the Spirit Beast Sect, this one for the Joyous Union Sect, and these three for the Azure Cloud Sect." Yue Mingzhu snatched the storage devices and playfully scolded him, "At least you have a conscience and remembered my Joyous Union Sect! Alright, I'm off!" She turned and departed.

After a few steps, she suddenly stopped and looked back at Jiang Fan from a distance. That youthful face felt both familiar and strange to her. "What's wrong?" Jiang Fan asked. Only then did Jiang Fan notice Yue Mingzhu's unusual behavior. Yue Mingzhu shook her head. "Nothing. Just wanted to look at you a bit longer." After gazing at Jiang Fan for three breaths, she waved and left.

Jiang Fan stood in a daze. Watching the receding figure of the girl who forever looked eighteen, his heart inexplicably twinged. It felt as if he was losing her.

Fairy Yunshang walked up, watching Yue Mingzhu's vanishing figure. She spoke softly, "My dear Jiang, I shouldn't meddle in your affairs with the other sisters. However, regarding Sect Master Yu, perhaps you truly should have a good talk with her."

Jiang Fan asked in surprise, "Why do you say that?" Fairy Yunshang countered, "Do you know what Sect Master Yu's Daoist title is?" Jiang Fan was stumped by the question. He really didn't know. He hadn't been present when Yue Mingzhu and Liu Qingxian underwent their tribulations, nor had he asked them about it afterward.

With a complex expression, Fairy Yunshang said, "It's 'Water Moon Fairy'. My dear Jiang should understand the meaning of 'moon in water,' right? Ancient sages chose their Daoist titles with deep meaning. Sect Master Yu's Daoist title is a reflection of her state of mind. She abandoned the Joyous Union Sect and left her homeland, all just to follow you. Yet, you haven't given her the future she hoped for, and even companionship has been scarce. And she is no longer a sect master, unable to assist you as she once did. One can imagine that her heart has never been at peace."

Jiang Fan's heart trembled. A profound sense of shame welled up within him. Indeed, Yue Mingzhu had given up everything and followed him to this continent without a single regret. Yet, he had barely shown her any concern. Even this current companionship was something Yue Mingzhu had actively requested. Looking at the sky where Yue Mingzhu had vanished, he was filled with remorse. "I was so preoccupied with owing Gong Caiyi that I forgot the person right in front of me."

Fairy Yunshang gently held his hand. "My dear Jiang, you don't need to feel this way. You carry too many burdens on your shoulders; first, you toiled for the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, then you were busy with Heavenly Realm reconnaissance, and now you're concerned about the ancient giant catastrophe. Sect Master Yu has never resented you. As long as you spend more time with her, the issues between you two will resolve themselves easily." Having said her piece, she spoke no further.

"My dear Jiang, we will return to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion first. Please take care on your trip to the Grand Yin Sect. They will surely not submit to you and will likely make things difficult for you. Take care." After speaking, she departed first with the people from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion. Jiang Fan was left alone, lost in thought for a long time.

Recalling all the moments with Yue Mingzhu, he felt increasingly guilty. How could he have neglected the woman who once tricked him into leaving, then faced the Blood Dragon and Sea Enchantress alone, nearly perishing? How could he have neglected her to such an extent? His heart felt pierced by needles. Looking in the direction Yue Mingzhu had left, he said, "Mingzhu, come back soon. I will give you the future you desire!"

Once the surroundings were empty, he returned to the Imperial Observatory, preparing to use the teleportation array there to go to the Grand Yin Sect. Coincidentally, he caught a glimpse of a graceful figure in silver-white soft armor, leading a few Observatory Guards who were also coming to use the teleportation array.

"Officer Bai, where are you going?" Bai Xin replied, "Two venerable cultivators are battling in the West Sea, and many sea demon tribes have been killed or injured. I'm going to investigate. You're back from the Heavenly Mountain battlefield? What did you gain?" Jiang Fan smiled. "It was alright."

With a thought, a moon-white longsword radiating holy light appeared in his palm. It was precisely the mid-grade spirit sword engraved with the characters "Ming Xin." "This sword was left behind by a senior a thousand years ago. It's for you."

On Bai Xin's calm face, a flicker of stagnation appeared. In her memory, it was the first time someone had given her a gift. Moreover, it was a valuable item like a mid-grade spiritual artifact. In an instant, she regained her composure. "The Imperial Observatory has rules against accepting gifts from outsiders."

Jiang Fan took her hand and placed the Ming Xin sword into it. "I'm not an outsider. I'm your subordinate and your friend. This sword suits you." Without allowing her to refuse, Jiang Fan activated the array and vanished amidst the spatial fluctuations, leaving Bai Xin standing there, utterly stunned.