Chapter 135: Resentment at Unfulfilled Potential

However, the White-Furred Jadebeast had several other valuable parts. It would be inconvenient for him to go back on his word and collect them himself, but he could let Nangong Xiaoyun do it.

Youyunzi's mouth twitched as he watched Nangong Xiaoyun still engrossed in plucking wolf fur. The most valuable parts had already been harvested, yet she was still plucking hair.

“Xiaoyun,” he said, “the White-Furred Jadebeast constantly devours spirit beasts. Its flesh contains immense spiritual energy, making it a rare and superior ingredient.”

Nangong Xiaoyun paused, realizing what she held wasn't valuable. “You should have said so earlier!” she exclaimed, pulling out her dagger. But then she looked at the enormous corpse, unsure where to begin.

This beast king was nothing but meat. There seemed to be no need to rush for it, right?

Youyunzi was about to give a reminder when he noticed something that made his mouth twitch violently. Jiang Fan, holding his black sword, jumped onto the White-Furred Jadebeast's back. He pried open the broken spine and dug out a strikingly bright red, tenderloin-like strip of meat hidden beneath the bones. It was incredibly firm and elastic, containing several times more spiritual energy than ordinary flesh. Jiang Fan took out a small bag and put it inside. This was one of the most valuable parts of the White-Furred Jadebeast: the essence meat!

As the name suggested, it was the most concentrated and vital part of its entire body. This single piece contained more spiritual energy than all the other meat combined! Nangong Xiaoyun was still searching, asking, “Deputy Pavilion Master, where should I dig?”

Youyunzi irritably replied, “There's no need to dig anymore.” Just then, he noticed where Nangong Xiaoyun was standing and recalled, “I remember the White-Furred Jadebeast's beast-whip is incredibly potent. There were martial artists who offered tens of thousands of spirit crystals for it but couldn't acquire one. Quickly, cut it off.” Nangong Xiaoyun, however, was bewildered. “Beast-whip? What's that?”

Youyunzi's old face flushed slightly; it felt a bit improper to explain what a 'beast-whip' was to a young girl. But then he remembered that if he didn't secure it quickly, all the valuable parts of the White-Furred Jadebeast would go to that brat. So he decisively pointed to the rear of the White-Furred Jadebeast's abdomen. Nangong Xiaoyun followed his gaze. Her delicate, rosy face instantly turned crimson. She quickly averted her eyes, not daring to look further, and mumbled, “I... I don't want it.”

“Whoever wants it, can cut it,” she said. Jiang Fan had already noticed the beast-whip; it was a treasure men dreamed of! It was highly coveted by many powerful but aging martial artists.

However, such an item was hard to find! Originally, Jiang Fan had given up on it after hearing Youyunzi's advice. But he never expected Nangong Xiaoyun to be too embarrassed to cut it herself! What else was there to say?

He decisively ran over, and with a swift cut, the whip was off. He gleefully put it into his bag. Seeing this, Youyunzi was utterly exasperated! If it weren't for his status, he would have personally intervened!

Exasperated, he said, “Xiaoyun, take out this beast king's stomach! It not only eats spirit beasts but also frequently devours rare treasures from the mountains. Its stomach contains the essence of many valuable items, and its worth is comparable to the essence meat!”

No matter what, they should at least get one thing, right? Jiang Fan also knew the White-Furred Jadebeast's stomach was very valuable. However, he had already acquired so much and should be content. He decided to let them have it!

Nangong Xiaoyun shrank her neck. She knew that if she didn't get some valuable materials soon, Youyunzi would get angry. However, when she cut out the enormous stomach, a pile of foul-smelling contents, taller than herself, spilled out.

She decisively recoiled. “Deputy Pavilion Master, I... I can't handle this!” she pleaded pitifully, pinching her nose. “Are there any other valuable parts? I'll definitely get those.”

Youyunzi waved his hand. “Go pluck fur,” he said, clearly tired. Jiang Fan's eyes lit up. He wrote, “Miss Nangong, are you really not taking this stomach?”

Nangong Xiaoyun glared at him fiercely. “My lady is giving it to you!” she snapped. Jiang Fan was overjoyed!

He quickly dragged the enormous stomach, which was larger than himself, to a nearby lake. He emptied its contents, then cleaned it thoroughly, securing a priceless stomach. The White-Furred Jadebeast's stomach was a high-grade medicinal ingredient! Even for Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, it was incredibly hard to find, let alone one from a Core Formation Realm beast! Jiang Fan had no doubt that if he sold it to Wen Hongyao, she would treat him like a living Bodhisattva. He joyfully folded the enormous stomach.

But then, he unexpectedly discovered something hard inside the stomach. “Didn't clean it properly?” Jiang Fan's face darkened slightly. He opened the stomach to look and gasped in surprise, “Huh? What's this?” Embedded within the stomach wall was a palm-sized iron scroll.

He took it out and saw strange characters carved on it. Youyunzi also sensed the anomaly and rushed over. Upon seeing it, his expression changed. “A Pill Scripture Silver Scroll! It's actually a Pill Scripture Silver Scroll! This is a Pill Scripture Silver Scroll detailing the Demon Emperor's Secret Realm! Within the Demon Emperor's Secret Realm, there are heaven-defying opportunities. Legend has it that if a Demon King enters, they might break through to the Demon Emperor realm. Human Core Formation martial artists also have a chance to break through and become Nascent Soul stage cultivators! And this beast king actually had one hidden inside its body!” Youyunzi's gaze became fervent.

As a late-stage Core Formation cultivator, reaching the Nascent Soul stage was his lifelong dream. The Demon Emperor's Secret Realm was undoubtedly one potential path. However, after clearly seeing the runes on it, he quickly calmed down and sighed deeply. “Unfortunately, the characters inscribed are demon script. Only direct descendants of the Demon Emperor's bloodline can decipher them! Though you've gained a great opportunity, it's one of no use to you.” By the end, a smile played on his lips.

There was a hint of schadenfreude in his expression. Jiang Fan's heart, however, stirred.

Wasn't the little spirit beast he was raising a bloodline descendant of a Demon Emperor, or even a higher existence? Couldn't it decipher it? He calmly put away the Pill Scripture Silver Scroll, ensuring Youyunzi noticed nothing unusual.

He picked up his pen and wrote, “Thank you, Senior, for the gift. This junior has gained much today.” Youyunzi's smile vanished! He suddenly remembered that Jiang Fan had taken all the valuable parts of the White-Furred Jadebeast!!!

That brat! He stretched his old face, then jumped onto a flying beast and said, “Xiaoyun, let's go!” Nangong Xiaoyun's small hands were sore from plucking fur. She glared angrily at Jiang Fan, then followed Youyunzi away. Jiang Fan rubbed his nose and muttered, “Why did Deputy Pavilion Master You suddenly stop smiling? Is it because he doesn't like to smile?”

Soon after.

Upon returning to Yunyang City, as he arrived at the entrance of the Ding family residence, he heard Chen Siling's tearful plea: “Senior Brother Ding, please send someone to save Jiang Fan. He went alone to distract the beast king to protect Yunyang City!”

Ding Wanping's upturned lips revealed his inner joy. Jiang Fan's death not only meant he was the true standout of Yunyang City's hunt, but also that this wretched person, who had annoyed him repeatedly, had finally paid the price! Seeing Chen Siling's plea, his lips curled even more. “Junior Sister, you're overthinking it. Jiang Fan was just scared and fled without thinking. I'm already not blaming him for attracting the beast king and damaging Yunyang City; why would I send someone to save him? Besides, Junior Sister, do you really think he could still be alive now? He's probably already in the beast king's belly. Maybe by now, he's even... been excreted, hahaha!”

Hearing this, Chen Siling wept, sinking into deep grief. At the same time, she glared fiercely at Ding Wanping and angrily declared, “This is the only time you'll ever be able to gloat! If Jiang Fan were still alive, you wouldn't even be fit to tie his shoes!”

This stung Ding Wanping. Angrily, he raised his palm to slap Chen Siling hard, snarling, “You wretch, Jiang Fan is dead, and you're still defending him! If you're so capable, bring him back to life and let him fight me!”

CRASH—

Just then, the main gate was suddenly kicked open. Simultaneously, a flash of black light appeared. Jiang Fan appeared before Ding Wanping as if he had shrunk the distance into an inch.