Chapter 149: Heavenly Secret Pavilion Auction

Liu Qingxian was concerned that Jiang Fan might not pass his disciple evaluation. That’s why she gave him a coin, hoping it would help him improve his strength as much as possible. Remembering this, a warmth spread through his heart. She had always quietly cared for him. He decided to find an opportunity to appease her.

Su Qiuning was completely perplexed. "That shouldn't be!" she exclaimed. "Each elder only gets one Martial Soul Coin a year. Senior Sister Liu took on many dangerous missions from Medicine Peak just to get my master's coin. A few days ago, she went to Thorn Valley and was seriously injured. My master personally nursed her for several days to save her life. How could she just throw it away?"

"What?" Jiang Fan's pupils constricted. She was injured for it? But she didn't say a word? She just heavily threw the coin to the ground. A huge wave of guilt washed over him.

However, Su Qiuning's next words stirred countless ripples in Jiang Fan's heart. Frowning, she said, "I really don't understand. We all thought she was afraid of losing the sparring match against Nangong Xiaoyun. That's why she was desperately trying to improve herself. After all, she's such a proud person; she would never allow herself to lose. But why did she not want the coin anymore? Junior Brother Jiang, do you know why?"

*Thump*— Jiang Fan's heart felt as if a cold dagger had brutally plunged into it. The pain was excruciating! He knew how proud Liu Qingxian was; he had seen it on their first meeting. She would never allow herself to lose to anyone. This was her pride, a pride rooted deep in her bones! But for Jiang Fan to gain even a little strength, she had put aside that pride. And what had Jiang Fan done? He had not cherished her sacrifice in the slightest.

In that moment, Jiang Fan wanted to slap himself. "You fool! What have you done?" He no longer hesitated. He immediately activated his movement technique and chased after her.

He finally caught up to her in front of her cave dwelling. Liu Qingxian turned her head and saw Jiang Fan pursuing her, and a flicker of light appeared in her reddened eyes. But remembering Jiang Fan's previous attitude, her face hardened again, and she quickened her steps towards her dwelling.

Jiang Fan quickly blocked her path. Liu Qingxian, her face taut, said coldly, "Move aside!"

Jiang Fan, unsure how to appease a girl, scratched his head. "Senior Sister Su told me everything," he said. "Thank you, Senior Sister. In the sect, besides Youran and Siling, you're the kindest to me."

Hearing this, Liu Qingxian felt even more wronged. Tears welled up in her eyes, trembling on the verge of falling. Yet she became even more stubborn, biting her white teeth slightly. "Who's been kind to you?" she retorted. "I just didn't want a ninth-grade spirit root to leave Qingyun Sect, that's all! Don't flatter yourself!" Jiang Fan felt awkward.

After a moment's thought, he took out the green eye of a White-furred Jasper Beast and placed it in Liu Qingxian's hand. "Take this as compensation!"

"I don't want it!" Liu Qingxian resolutely shook her hand, tossing it away.

"This is a Beast King's eye, a natural high-grade magic artifact. Take it," Jiang Fan said, placing it in her hand again.

Liu Qingxian still resolutely shook her hand away. "I simply don't want it!"

"It's also called a Gale Bead. Wearing it significantly increases your speed," Jiang Fan tried, placing it in her hand one last time.

Liu Qingxian still shook her hand away, angrily declaring, "I told you! I don't want it!"

Jiang Fan's head ached. He muttered, "An angry woman is like a pig during the New Year; you just can't hold her down."

Hearing this, Liu Qingxian's eyes widened. She found it both amusing and infuriating! "You called me a pig?" she demanded, fiercely clenching her fists, wanting to punch his harmless-looking face.

Jiang Fan wiped his face, feeling utterly helpless. "Why are women so hard to appease?"

"Alright, if you don't want it, I'll..." Jiang Fan retracted the Gale Bead, wondering whether to sell it or give it to someone else.

Liu Qingxian, however, reached out and snatched it. "Who said I don't want it?" she huffed. Though still a bit annoyed, her heart was bursting with joy. This was a gift from Jiang Fan! She threaded it with a string and hung it around her neck. The bead was rather large and not very aesthetic, but it didn't stop her from smiling sweetly.

"Are you not angry anymore, Senior Sister?" Jiang Fan was completely bewildered. Just a moment ago, she seemed impossible to appease, and now she was fine. He simply couldn't understand.

"Who said I'm not angry?" Liu Qingxian deliberately put on a stern face.

Jiang Fan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Knowing she was in a better mood, Jiang Fan still felt the heavy weight of the Martial Soul Coin's favor, especially with Liu Qingxian's upcoming sparring match against Nangong Xiaoyun. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Senior Sister, what are your chances against Nangong Xiaoyun?"

At the mention of her, Liu Qingxian frowned deeply. "That pesky girl! I only humbled her once, and she's been resentful for a year. Now she's even provoked me by coming to my door; there's no escaping it!"

Uh-oh. The fact that Liu Qingxian wanted to avoid her showed she had no chance of winning! Considering Liu Qingxian was already at the peak of the Ninth Layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm, an idea sparked in Jiang Fan's mind. The demon core of the White-furred Jasper Beast was one of the main ingredients for refining elixirs for the Core Formation Realm. If he could gather the other main ingredient, Yellow Spring Purified Water, he could refine a Core Formation Realm spiritual elixir called "Unorthodox Powder." As the name suggests, it was a shortcut to breakthrough, different from typical Core Formation elixirs. Few tried it, but the probability of success was even higher than with traditional elixirs!

Jiang Fan mused, "Senior Sister, try to postpone your sparring match a little. Give me some time to see if I can help you break through to the Core Formation Realm." Yellow Spring Purified Water was hard to find, especially in a short time, so he couldn't give a definitive answer.

"Help me break through to the Core Formation Realm?" A glimmer of satisfaction appeared in Liu Qingxian's beautiful, snow-like eyes. It seemed Jiang Fan cared about her too. "I'll figure something out myself. Just focus on your own strength and make sure Tang Tianlong doesn't seize an opportunity to declare you unqualified," she said. She appreciated his sentiment, but Jiang Fan was only at a low layer of Foundation Establishment himself. How could he help her break through to Core Formation?

Just then, a figure in green robes gracefully approached, calling out from afar, "Junior Sister, let's go."

It was Wang Chengjian. Suddenly, he noticed Jiang Fan there and frowned slightly. "Jiang Fan? What are you doing here? Are you ready for the disciple evaluation?"

Jiang Fan replied expressionlessly, "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother. I have my own plans."

Wang Chengjian, unable to find fault with his words, ignored him and turned to Liu Qingxian. "The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's traveling auction has arrived in Qingyun City. I'm acquainted with their vice president. Come, I'll take you to ask if there are any Core Formation Realm elixirs at this auction."

It turned out Jiang Fan wasn't the only one; Wang Chengjian also wanted to help Liu Qingxian win her upcoming match. Liu Qingxian immediately became interested. "Should we bring some gifts to show respect?"

Wang Chengjian waved his hand, smiling. "No need to be so polite. Instead of gifts, it's better to prepare some rare treasures for him to see. If he finds anything appealing enough to be put up for auction, he'll be even happier, and naturally, he'll divulge the information we want."

Is that so? Liu Qingxian found it difficult. The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's traveling auctions were exclusive events organized by the pavilion, held throughout the year within the territories of the nine sects under their jurisdiction. The auctioned items were all of high quality. Where would she find supreme treasures?

Wang Chengjian patted his chest and assured her, "Don't worry, I've prepared a demon beast core from a Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment beast, infinitely close to Core Formation. The vice president will definitely be impressed."

Hearing this, Liu Qingxian felt relieved and nodded cheerfully, "Alright, let's go then!"

Jiang Fan's eyes also lit up. A Heavenly Secrets Pavilion auction? The chances of finding Yellow Spring Purified Water had greatly increased! He happened to have many materials from the White-furred Jasper Beast that he could sell.

"Senior Sister, I'll go with you too."

Wang Chengjian frowned deeply. He had finally found an opportunity to be alone with Liu Qingxian, but Jiang Fan intervened. He couldn't just send him away, so he said, "You can come with us, but the vice president doesn't like strangers. I can't bring you to meet him."

Jiang Fan was speechless. As if he wanted to piggyback on Wang Chengjian's influence! If a demon core from a peak Foundation Establishment beast could impress the vice president, there was no way his own Beast King materials, with the bloodline of a Demon Emperor, would leave him unmoved.