Chapter 233: Hidden Power of the Black Lotus

Jiang Fan had never been more innocent. He was minding his own business when trouble unexpectedly found him.

He sighed helplessly and said, "I wasn't exaggerating. I'm on a level-three mission. How can that compare to your level-two mission, Senior Sister?"

"Level three?" Zhang Xuemou was stunned.

The female disciples behind her also looked incredulous.

"Huh? Someone the Master praised so highly should at least be on a level-two or even a level-one mission, right?"

"Could it be that we were right, and the Master just likes his handsome appearance?"

"I can't believe such a formidable genius, as described by the Master, only received a level-three mission."

Zhang Xuemou, who had intended to properly compare herself with Jiang Fan, was utterly bewildered. It took her a while to recover, and she stared at Jiang Fan from head to toe in surprise.

She was also perplexed, muttering, "I really don't know what the Master sees in you."

Since Qingyun Sect assigned Jiang Fan a level-three mission, it naturally took his limited strength into account. This indirectly implied he wasn't exceptional. And Qingyun Sect surely understood its disciples better than the Master, right? She strongly suspected that Gong Caiyi had a significant misunderstanding about Jiang Fan.

At this thought, her desire to compare herself vanished completely, and she said indifferently, "They say no one gains fame without merit. But it seems that's not always the case. Alright, you go ahead and complete your level-three mission. Farewell!"

She patted her spirit beast's head, urging the team to follow the mountain path deeper into the range.

Jiang Fan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He then noticed that they were escorting a group of demon wolf spirit beasts, destined for front-line combat. His heart suddenly skipped a beat. He recalled Black Lotus's earlier words. She had seemed somewhat surprised to encounter Jiang Fan and his companions. This meant their ambush target wasn't Jiang Fan and his group. Then, seeing the incredibly valuable demon wolf spirit beasts, he suddenly understood. Black Lotus was waiting for the Spirit Beast Sect's escort team. Jiang Fan and his group had simply been unlucky enough to stumble into the ambush.

"Senior Sister, wait!" Jiang Fan quickly called out to her, saying, "Have you ensured the secrecy of your mission on this trip?"

Zhang Xuemou reined in her spirit beast, turned, and eyed Jiang Fan warily. "What do you mean?"

Jiang Fan said with a serious tone, "When we passed through this mountain range, we encountered bandits known as Black Lotus, who are entrenched near the border of the two sects. They were ambushing on the unavoidable path on the other side of the mountain range. I suspect their target might be the demon wolves you're escorting."

These demon wolves are all tamed. Not only can they follow human commands, but their combat power is also very strong. If they seize them, the Black Lotus bandits' strength will increase significantly.

"Black Lotus?" The disciples of the Spirit Beast Sect had naturally heard of the bandits lurking nearby. They immediately grew uneasy.

"The Black Lotus leader is a Foundation Establishment ninth-level cultivator, who used to be a disciple of the Supreme Sect and learned many of their ultimate techniques. She's very powerful. And she has four Foundation Establishment seventh-level guardians under her command. Only Senior Sister Zhang can fight them. If we encounter them, we'll be like lambs to the slaughter."

"Quiet!" Zhang Xuemou reprimanded, then fixed her gaze on Jiang Fan: "Junior Brother Jiang, are you sure you're not mistaken?" If Black Lotus was indeed ambushing in the forest, she would have to consider taking a detour. Otherwise, she alone couldn't resist these bandits.

Chu Xingmeng felt a bit indignant for Jiang Fan. They had targeted him from the moment they met, as if he owed the Spirit Beast Sect something. She immediately cupped her hands and said, "Senior Sister Zhang, our Senior Brother Jiang didn't just *see* the Black Lotus bandits. He even killed all the bandits except for the Black Lotus leader."

"What?" The female disciples of the Spirit Beast Sect behind them were all dumbfounded. "Jiang Fan alone?"

Zhang Xuemou also took a moment to process this incredible news after a brief moment of being stunned. The Black Lotus bandits were elusive and powerful; the Spirit Beast Sect had attempted to suppress them several times without success. Now, to say that Jiang Fan, by himself, had killed all the Black Lotus bandits, leaving only their leader... Was that even possible? Even she couldn't possibly achieve that.

She said with a hint of sarcasm, "So, female disciples of the Supreme Sect are also learning to lie for others now? How surprising! Let's go!"

Evidently, she believed Jiang Fan was merely provoked by her words and was deliberately lying to scare her. The other female disciples also harbored deep doubts. Thus, they unhesitatingly followed Zhang Xuemou onto the mountain path.

Jiang Fan opened his mouth. Qin Caihe, standing nearby, felt it wasn't worth Jiang Fan's effort and said, "Junior Brother Jiang, you've done all you can. If they want to seek death, let them. We'll just focus on completing our own mission." If someone else had treated her so rudely, she would have been eager to see them suffer misfortune. But Jiang Fan's kind warning was perceived as deceit. They were truly asking for trouble.

Knowing he couldn't convince them, Jiang Fan didn't bother trying further and promptly urged his horse forward.

Hearing Qin Caihe's words, Zhang Xuemou's face fell, and she scoffed: "The female disciples of Ten Thousand Swords Sect aren't good either! Both of them act as if they've taken some mind-altering drug, helping Jiang Fan regain face like this. If there are Black Lotus bandits in this mountain range, I'll stand on my head..."

Her words were still on her lips. She suddenly shivered, and her pupils contracted sharply! She saw it on the distant mountain path. A woman in tight leather, her face radiating murderous intent, was sprinting towards them, dragging a blood-soaked young man. Zhang Xuemou didn't recognize the young man. But she had seen the woman's portrait countless times. It was precisely the leader of the Black Lotus bandits, jointly wanted by the Spirit Beast Sect and the Supreme Sect!

"Black Lotus!" She gasped sharply. She hastily drew her long sword and, facing the murderous Black Lotus, shouted, "Black Lotus! How dare you! You dare to rob something belonging to the Spirit Beast Sect?"

To her surprise, Black Lotus completely ignored her. Upon seeing Jiang Fan's beast carriage not far away, she immediately exuded overwhelming murderous intent. With a casual flick, she hurled Lu Xinghe violently towards Zhang Xuemou. Then she quickly resumed her chase.

Zhang Xuemou quickly caught the thrown Lu Xinghe, but upon contact, she felt an immense force she couldn't withstand. It sent her tumbling to the ground, sprawling on her back. Her face showed utter shock. "Core Formation Realm! Black Lotus... she has already broken through to the Core Formation Realm!"

The outside world always knew her as being at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. But in reality, she had long since broken through the Foundation Establishment realm's limitations and reached the Core Formation Realm! Only now, in her furious rage, did she expose her hidden cultivation!

Jiang Fan also sensed a murderous aura rapidly approaching. He immediately dismounted and, sword in hand, looked behind him. He saw Black Lotus charging forward, her face full of killing intent.

"Who killed my brothers? Let him come out! If you keep hiding, I'll kill all three of you!!!"

Seeing Black Lotus, who had lost all reason and resembled a demoness, Qin Caihe and Chu Xingmeng trembled. She had actually caught up so quickly? Moreover, her cultivation had reached the Core Formation Realm!

Black Lotus's gaze swept past Jiang Fan and the two women, landing directly on the three carriages, which were tightly covered with canvas. She roared, "Come out! You had the guts to kill my people, but you don't dare show your face?"

Jiang Fan twirled his sword. He said calmly, "Is there a possibility... that I killed all your brothers?"