Chapter 204: How Many Supreme Elders Does He Really Know?

Others might not have known, but Huang Zhantian was well aware of Jiang Fan's incredible comprehension.

The "Sword Heart Meteor Engraving" he had recently mastered was undoubtedly a Earth-tier cultivation method. How many disciples in the sect could withstand this sword technique? There was a good chance Jiang Fan would send them flying with a single strike!

Jiang Fan gave a wry smile and said, "I'm just an ordinary disciple; how could I be exempt from the disciple evaluation?" If he were a disciple like Liu Qingxian or Wang Chengjian, who were at Foundation Establishment Layer 8 or higher, they naturally wouldn't need to be evaluated and would be directly designated as outstanding disciples. But he wasn't. He was still one realm short.

Huang Zhantian moved his lips, considering granting Jiang Fan an exemption from the evaluation. But he considered that he was, after all, merely a Grand Elder, and it was inappropriate to interfere too much with the sect's internal affairs. So he cautioned, "Then you must be careful. Don't injure the disciples who are conducting the evaluation."

Jiang Fan could only offer a bitter smile. He watched as Huang Zhantian walked with his hands behind his back towards the viewing platform.

Around Jiang Fan, a profound silence had fallen.

Xu Youran's eyes widened. "Xiaofan, you... you know the Grand Elder of Free and Easy Peak?"

Jiang Fan nodded slightly. "I've met him once."

Chen Siling, however, shook her head, her eyes sparkling with delight. "I don't think it's just 'knowing' him. He seems very familiar with you."

Jiang Fan rubbed his nose and muttered, "We're really not that familiar. We just met once and exchanged a couple of words."

Just a couple of words? The surrounding disciples' eyes were practically red with envy.

"I don't believe a word he says!"

"If it was just a couple of words, why would a Grand Elder specifically come down and initiate a conversation?"

"Besides, what is the status of a Grand Elder? Is it someone you can just chat with whenever you feel like it?"

Tang Tianlong stared blankly at Jiang Fan. He never imagined that Jiang Fan would actually know a Grand Elder! He was jealous, intensely jealous! Because he hadn't even managed to curry favor with the Grand Elder of his own Reincarnation Peak. Yet Jiang Fan knew the Grand Elder of Free and Easy Peak.

"No wonder he dared to be so arrogant; he actually has some backing!" Tang Tianlong thought. "Too bad, there won't be just one Grand Elder here this time! Even if Grand Elder Huang wants to help you cheat, he'll have to see if the other Grand Elders agree!"

Just then, the disciples in the distance let out another gasp of surprise. They saw a tattered, scruffy old man gliding along the ground on a rusty iron sword. If he weren't flying so close to the ground, he might have been mistaken for someone performing the legendary sword flight.

"It's Grand Elder Shi Kaitian of Heavenly Sword Peak!"

"Didn't he leave for training decades ago?"

"When did he return?"

Tang Tianlong sneered faintly. "See that, Jiang Fan? I told you there wouldn't be just one Grand Elder here! Moreover, Grand Elder Shi Kaitian hates evil as much as he hates anything, and he can't stand disciples who cut corners or cheat! If Grand Elder Huang dares to help you cheat, he'll have to consider if Grand Elder Shi Kaitian's temper has grown over the years!"

However, the next moment, Tang Tianlong froze.

Shi Kaitian glided past the disciples on his iron sword, his expression impassive. Suddenly, his peripheral vision caught Jiang Fan. His mouth twitched, and he stopped, saying, "Boy, what are you doing here?"

Jiang Fan was speechless. Are these Grand Elders too idle? Why do they all come over and say something unnecessary?

He respectfully replied, "Disciple is here to participate in the evaluation."

Shi Kaitian's eyes widened. He had personally witnessed how Jiang Fan consecutively defeated the Nie siblings of Heavenly Sword Peak. One was at Foundation Establishment Layer 8, and the other at Foundation Establishment Layer 7. Both were disciples rated as outstanding by the sect. Jiang Fan defeated them with such ease; with his high cultivation, did he still need an evaluation?

"Is your master too idle?" Shi Kaitian asked. "With this level of power, he still sends you to participate in a disciple evaluation?"

Jiang Fan couldn't possibly respond to that. A Grand Elder might dare to criticize Liu Wenchen, but how could a mere disciple?

Shi Kaitian rolled his eyes and said, "Take it easy! The disciple conducting this evaluation is only at Foundation Establishment Layer 8; don't be too heavy-handed and cripple them!"

Jiang Fan, quite speechless, watched him also head to the viewing stands.

The disciples around him now looked at Jiang Fan completely differently. Before this, everyone thought he was just a lucky fellow with no spiritual root who had managed to become Liu Wenchen's disciple. But now, no one dared to see him that way. Two Grand Elders were very familiar with him. Who would dare to underestimate such connections?

Even Tang Tianlong was dumbfounded; he couldn't even curry favor with one Grand Elder. Yet Jiang Fan, on the other hand, was on good terms with two Grand Elders simultaneously. The more this happened, the more indignant he became, saying, "So what if it's just two Grand Elders? Several Grand Elders are coming this time! If you want to rely on them to sneak past the evaluation, you'll have to see if the other Grand Elders agree!"

At that moment, amidst the disciples' gasps, another Grand Elder arrived. It was none other than Zheng Qiushuang of Flat Cloud Peak. As he passed a group of disciples, he spotted Jiang Fan from afar and also showed a peculiar expression. He muttered, "Why are you here for the evaluation, kid? Don't you have anything better to do?"

Jiang Fan was utterly speechless. He replied, "Reporting to Grand Elder, this disciple's strength is insufficient, so I must participate in the evaluation."

Zheng Qiushuang rolled his eyes and retorted irritably, "Your strength is insufficient? You're quite good at bragging in reverse!" He said that and then left, leaving behind a crowd of numb faces.

Yes, they were already numb. It seemed as if every Grand Elder knew Jiang Fan, and they all held his strength in very high regard. How did he manage to gain the favor of so many Grand Elders?

Tang Tianlong was driven mad with jealousy. Why him? He was so outstanding, yet the Grand Elders didn't even give him a second glance. Jiang Fan, a good-for-nothing with no spiritual root, was instead attracting the attention of Grand Elders, who seemed to be vying for his favor!

He gritted his teeth and snapped, "What are you so smug about? They aren't the only Grand Elders coming this time..."

A disciple quickly interrupted him, "Senior Brother Tang, please stop talking. If you keep talking, another Grand Elder will come over to greet him."

Tang Tianlong sullenly shut his mouth. He glared at Jiang Fan with resentment, secretly making a vow. Jiang Fan wants to pass *his* evaluation? Dream on!

"Sigh!" Jiang Fan sighed helplessly, his face showing resignation. "I just want to quietly finish the disciple evaluation. But one after another, they come out and cause trouble for me."

Xu Youran gave him a playful eye-roll. "You're getting a bargain and still acting humble. Do you know how envious they are that you know three Grand Elders at the same time?"

Chen Siling happily hugged his arm, smiling sweetly. "My husband is just amazing, hee hee." She thought to herself, it's fortunate these Grand Elders don't know Jiang Fan is also a three-star soul master. Otherwise, even more Grand Elders would favor him.

Just then, Liu Wenchen arrived, riding a flying crane. Behind him followed Wang Chengjian and a group of disciples from the Sect Master's Peak. Seeing Jiang Fan from afar, Wang Chengjian frowned. "Why are you running around alone? Hurry up and come over so we can discuss our countermeasures together."

Chen Siling frowned. She said, "Husband, this guy is so annoying! You perform well later, and make sure he never dares to look down on you again!"

Jiang Fan nodded slightly. Wang Chengjian had been targeting him everywhere, relying on his status as the senior disciple. All his previous actions could be overlooked; they were just minor skirmishes. However, during the last disciple evaluation by the Grand Elder of the Sect Master's Peak, Wang Chengjian had deliberately framed Jiang Fan, almost causing him to be expelled from the sect! This score could not be settled easily.