Chapter 1482: Cannot Stand Jiang Fan Doing Well

At this moment, several figures arrived.

The Master of Heavenly Secret Pavilion, leading the group, said with a refined smile, "You've been gone for quite a while this time."

Jiang Fan cupped his hands and replied, "I apologize for making the Master worry. How has the Pavilion been recently?"

The Master of Heavenly Secret Pavilion replied, "Overall, it's been peaceful. It's just that you're so elusive, making it difficult for some important guests to find you." He took a jade gourd from his robes. Through its translucent jade, one could faintly see numerous pills inside.

"These are pills from Vice Palace Master You," he explained, "a gift she left for you."

Jiang Fan took the jade gourd, opened it, and found numerous reddish-bronze spirit pills within. He couldn't help but beam with joy, exclaiming in surprise, "Spirit pills that restore Nascent Soul Realm power?"

During the battle with the Two-Star Giant King, Jiang Fan had depleted his Nascent Soul power using the Grand Evolution Sword Formation. When he was utterly depleted, Vice Palace Master You had given him one of these pills, instantly restoring 50% of his Nascent Soul power. The upcoming battle against the ancient giants would undoubtedly be a monumental war of attrition. The sustained availability of Nascent Soul power was crucial for survival.

However, there were only thirty spirit pills in the gourd. This was only enough for each member of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion to receive one, far from sufficient. Just then, he noticed a piece of paper tucked inside the gourd. Unfolding it, his face lit up with renewed delight. It was densely covered with writing, revealing the formulas for two Fifth-Grade spirit pills!

"The formula for the Anti-Void Spirit Pill, which replenishes Nascent Soul power?"

"The Heavenly Garment Divine Water Pill formula, a sacred healing medicine!"

"Vice Palace Master You has also left me the formulas for the two most valuable Fifth-Grade spirit pills from Pill State."

Jiang Fan was filled with gratitude. With a major battle imminent, the value of this gift was immeasurable.

Reverend Six Paths rubbed his hands, chuckling, "Congratulations, lad, another gourd of precious pills for you. Surely you won't leave me out?"

Jiang Fan shot him a look, just as he was about to toss him a pill. The Evil Sword, suspended before him, began to vibrate with clanging sounds once more.

Mo Dingqian was slightly bewildered. "The artifact spirit's resentment has grown stronger again," he observed. He looked at Jiang Fan with surprise, finally grasping the situation. "It seems this artifact spirit can't stand to see you do well. Every time you gain an advantage, it becomes agitated, and its resentment intensifies."

Jiang Fan nodded slightly. "That's true," he confirmed. He had suspected as much earlier. Now, with the acquisition of a gourd full of precious pills, the artifact spirit's resentment had shifted once more, confirming his suspicion.

Mo Dingqian's eyes lit up. "So, the better your life becomes in the future, the more this artifact spirit will grow?" he asked. "You... you possess a rare, growth-type artifact spirit! As long as you continue to thrive, this artifact spirit will grow alongside you, potentially elevating the Evil Sword into a quasi-world artifact!"

Jiang Fan's heart, too, swelled with delight. He had initially dismissed this artifact spirit as being too low-ranked, but now he was filled with pleasant surprises. "But why does this artifact spirit resent my prosperity? Logically, its soul's consciousness should have been wiped clean, leaving it without its own thoughts. Could it be that it harbored deep hatred for me in its former life?"

Mo Dingqian stroked his beard. "That's the only explanation," he stated. "Such intense, instinctive resentment could only stem from a hatred so profound it tore at its very being. Have you figured out who this artifact spirit is?"

Jiang Fan looked bewildered. "Who could it be?" he mused. "When did I become the object of such intense hatred?" Although his methods were ruthless, he was never cruel and never tortured anyone. He truly couldn't fathom how he had incurred such profound hatred from a soul.

Suddenly, it dawned on him. He remembered a vindictive, treacherous character!

"Chen Jing?"

"That fellow cultivated the Dao of Rebellion, defying heaven, earth, and all things. Anything that displeased him would provoke him to rebellious frenzy. My living well would defy his inner desires, thus increasing his resentment. Moreover, the artifact spirit's relentless drive, not stopping until the last wisp of sword energy was extinguished, also bore the hallmark of the Dao of Rebellion. Finally, Chen Jing did die that day, but his soul's whereabouts remained unknown."

Considering all of this, a peculiar expression settled on Jiang Fan's face. "This is truly unbelievable; the Evil Sword's artifact spirit is actually Chen Jing! This fellow hated me to death, and now he's forced to serve as my artifact spirit. Of course he'd go mad seeing me live well!"

With this thought, Jiang Fan patted the Evil Sword and said, "From now on, just diligently serve as my artifact spirit. Whether this sword can become a quasi-sacred artifact rests entirely on your growth."

As if understanding Jiang Fan's words, the Evil Sword vibrated once more. Its resentment surged continuously. Jiang Fan smiled. If he were to display affection with Reverend True Word right in front of the Evil Sword, Chen Jing would surely be furious, wouldn't he? Could its resentment skyrocket to its limit overnight, then transform the Evil Sword into a quasi-sacred artifact?

A hint of anticipation flickered in his eyes. He took out the Bodhisattva's Kasaya and wrapped it around the sword. Then, he enveloped it in Nascent Soul power and kept it suspended behind him, carrying it everywhere. From now on, Chen Jing had to be privy to every moment of his flourishing life.

"But how could this fellow's soul have hidden in the Heavenly Secret Pavilion for so long?" Jiang Fan's eyes widened in surprise. Logically, Chen Jing had been dead for over a month; how could his soul have been hidden in the Heavenly Secret Pavilion without anyone noticing?

"After all, he was a disciple of a Soul Transformation Reverend; he might have possessed some unique methods. His lingering here was likely an attempt at revenge against me. He must have tried to seize my Evil Sword while I was away, only to have his consciousness wiped by the alkaline water inside and become its artifact spirit instead. Yes, that must be it."

Among the gathered crowd, Nangong Xiaoyun broke out in a cold sweat, her small head nodding incessantly as she secretly thought, "Yes, yes, yes, exactly! That's exactly what happened! Absolutely no one secretly harbored Chen Jing's soul!" She subtly exhaled a breath of relief. She had finally escaped a precarious situation. From now on, she would never again presume to act on her own, nor dispense kindness so recklessly.

The Master of Heavenly Secret Pavilion gazed at the Evil Sword, stating indifferently, "Chen Jing brought this upon himself; it is his deserved retribution." He then added, "Also, the Ten Thousand Tribulations Sacred Palace has sent people to invite you several times."

"The Ten Thousand Tribulations Sacred Palace?" Jiang Fan's heart stirred. Even if he hadn't been invited, he had planned to visit the Ten Thousand Tribulations Sacred Palace. He wanted to see if they had any surplus lightning energy to fully recharge the Heart of Heavenly Abyss. The power of the Six Paths converging, and temporarily achieving Soul Transformation, was something he still savored immensely.

"Lastly, Green Pearl returned to the Heavenly Realm half a month after you departed," the Master of Heavenly Secret Pavilion concluded.

"Green Pearl?" Jiang Fan inwardly cursed. "How will she report back?" he asked aloud. Green Pearl had descended to the lower realm to retrieve the head of Reverend Xin Nie, the one who moved the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar. She returned empty-handed, and the Two-Star Giant King who had secretly accompanied her had also perished. Upon her return, how could the Five-Star Giant King possibly spare her?

The Master of Heavenly Secret Pavilion said, "Green Pearl stated that you should properly bury Reverend Xin Nie's remains. She went to ask Grand Priest Wine for help in finding a Soul Transformation Realm head to pass off as his."

Jiang Fan's expression remained calm, but a problem arose. Next, he intended to move the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar to the most perilous forbidden zone in Taicang Grand State. As soon as the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar moved, wouldn't her lie be exposed? He could only hope Green Pearl was clever enough not to return to the Black Sun Royal Court immediately, but to wait until Jiang Fan had finished moving the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar before returning to report.

A hint of worry crossed his mind. "You must take care, my dear Green Pearl."

Afterward, Jiang Fan looked up and met everyone's gaze. All the familiar faces were present, and after just a month, everyone's cultivation had once again made a qualitative leap.