Chapter 295: Swordsmanship

That pill was no ordinary medicine. It was clearly a spiritual elixir, brimming with spiritual energy! And its grade was not low either.

If Jiang Fan could refine it on the spot, didn't that mean he was a Soul Master? How was that possible? In the land of the Nine Sects, every Soul Master was revered like an ancestor within their sect. Moreover, they were generally very old. How could there be a Soul Master his age?

Jiang Fan said nothing more. "Guard the surroundings. Don't let anyone disturb us."

"Miss Su, please sort the materials for me." He took out a large pile of materials for the Three Steps of Drunkenness elixir. He had leftover ingredients from his last refinement, so he decided to refine them all into more Three Steps of Drunkenness.

Su Qiuning was also stunned. She only knew that Jiang Fan could refine medicine. But refining medicine and refining elixirs were two different fields! Medicine refining merely required skill; the difference lay in experience and proficiency, which determined the quality of the refined medicine. However, elixir refining was the exclusive domain of Soul Masters. Jiang Fan was also a Soul Master? It couldn't be true, could it?

Yet, Jiang Fan's subsequent actions shocked Su Qiuning beyond measure. With her assistance, after quickly sorting the materials, Jiang Fan directly purified them using his powerful spiritual energy. He extracted impurities from the herbs, strand by strand. This was a unique ability of Soul Masters. Everyone present watched in astonishment.

"Young Master, this person is truly a Soul Master," an overjoyed disciple of the Thousand Refinements Sect exclaimed. For most people, Soul Masters were legendary beings, beyond reach. To witness one with their own eyes was considered lucky. And observing them refine elixirs was an unforgettable, marvelous spectacle.

Ouyang Jun was also somewhat agitated. "He's not just a Soul Master, he's a high-grade Soul Master!" He had seen the Rank One Soul Master of the Thousand Refinements Sect refine elixirs, but their purification techniques and proficiency were far inferior to Jiang Fan's. He felt as though their own Soul Master was only fit to be Jiang Fan's apprentice. And indeed, that was the case.

With Jiang Fan's practiced refining, a pile of red pills soon appeared in his palm. There were about a hundred of them. He separated twenty pills, placed them into a jade bottle, and tossed it to Ouyang Jun. "Here are ten extra for you and your men," he said. "Forget everything you saw today."

Ouyang Jun was overjoyed. The ten extra pills could be taken back to the Thousand Refinements Sect to lure more Black-backed Blood-eyed Apes! He repeatedly thanked him, "Thank you, Esteemed Sir! Thank you!" Then, he turned to his disciples and sternly ordered, "Today, you had the fortune of witnessing this esteemed sir personally refine elixirs. This is a blessing that comes once in a lifetime. Remember it well, but do not speak of it outside the sect. Otherwise, I, your Young Master, will expel you from the sect!"

The disciples of the Thousand Refinements Sect bowed their heads and affirmed. Only then was Ouyang Jun satisfied. He personally retrieved the wooden box containing the Sorrowfrost and presented it to Jiang Fan with both hands.

"Esteemed Sir, our Thousand Refinements Sect possesses many more excellent artifacts. You are welcome to visit us anytime."

Jiang Fan took the wooden box. "I'll go if I have the chance," he said. "You may leave now."

Though Ouyang Jun wished to converse more with Jiang Fan, the latter had dismissed them. Filled with regret, Ouyang Jun could only secure the sharp claws and lead his expansive team away. He regretted not having been able to further his acquaintance with Jiang Fan during the exchange convention. To miss such a powerful Soul Master was truly a pity!

Meanwhile, Jiang Fan also separated thirty pills of Three Steps of Drunkenness and handed them to Su Qiuning. "Your hush money."

Su Qiuning still stood frozen in place, unable to recover from the shock of Jiang Fan being a Soul Master. It wasn't until Jiang Fan gently pried open her palm and placed the Three Steps of Drunkenness pills inside that she awoke as if from a dream. She gasped, "Junior Brother Jiang, you... you're actually a Soul Master?"

"Does the Sect Master know?"

Jiang Fan replied, "For now, only you know. Keep it a secret for me."

Only she knew? Su Qiuning paused, and the curve of her lips couldn't be suppressed. This was a secret only she knew. Even Liu Qingxian was unaware.

"Aren't you afraid I'll let it slip?" Su Qiuning teased mischievously.

Jiang Fan stroked his chin. "Are you afraid of someone sneaking into your room on a dark and windy night? Doing this to you first, then that, and finally this?"

Su Qiuning's face flushed. She stomped her delicate foot and chided, "Junior Brother Jiang! You... how did you become so naughty?"

Jiang Fan laughed heartily and cupped his hands. "Then Senior Sister should keep her distance from me. I'll be taking my leave now."

Su Qiuning was taken aback. "You're leaving?"

Jiang Fan nodded. "If I don't leave now, the Joyful Union Sect will find me. We'll meet again if fate allows."

Su Qiuning's heart immediately felt incredibly heavy. They had just met, and now they had to part again. Holding the Three Steps of Drunkenness pills Jiang Fan had given her, she felt an indescribable bitterness. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to urge him to stay. Jiang Fan truly couldn't remain in the Joyful Union Sect's territory, and as her mission was incomplete, she couldn't leave with him. Forcing herself to suppress her sorrow, she asked, "Are you returning to the Azure Cloud Sect?"

Jiang Fan thought for a moment. "I want to visit the Giant Sect."

Su Qiuning immediately understood that Jiang Fan was worried about Liu Qingxian, which made her feel even more uneasy. Still, she gently reminded him, "That's good. Senior Brother Tang said they've already detected a beast tide approaching from the west. I believe a battle will soon break out in the western part of the Joyful Union Sect's territory. It would be much safer for you to head east soon."

Jiang Fan's expression turned serious. Had the situation already become this grave? Remembering that the Silver-winged Thunder Roc dared to openly scout within the Joyful Union Sect's territory, Jiang Fan was convinced that the intelligence gathered by Tang Tianlong was accurate.

"Thank you for the warning, Senior Sister Su. I'll take my leave now!" He didn't want to linger for another moment. He was currently at the west city gate, and ahead lay the western battlefield where a conflict was highly probable. He would have to go around the city walls to the east.

But just as he was about to depart, a sharp cry pierced the sky. At the far end of the sky, a silvery-white ball of lightning was approaching Joyful Union City at an incredibly high speed. Just as it was about to arrive, it suddenly changed direction, fleeing north. And on the ground behind it, the figure of an old man in a green robe was rapidly pursuing, his hands clasped behind his back.

What made Jiang Fan's pupils constrict was this: The green-robed elder simply raised a finger and waved, and a green rainbow shot up from behind him, piercing straight through the ball of thunderclouds. With a mournful shriek, the thundercloud plummeted straight down. As it vaguely appeared, Jiang Fan saw its form clearly and was startled. "A Silver-winged Thunder Roc?" He recalled that his cultivation technique required a Silver-winged Thunder Roc, and coincidentally, the Thunder Roc fell precisely not far from him. How could he hesitate any longer?

"Junior Sister Su, quickly return to the city. It's not safe outside." He immediately activated his movement technique and swiftly headed towards the Silver-winged Thunder Roc's landing spot.

Shortly after, he stopped before a patch of bushes, gazing at the charred ground ahead, scorched by the Silver-winged Thunder Roc's lightning. The Silver-winged Thunder Roc was sprawled on the ground, shrieking in pain. A glaring crimson wound was clearly visible on its abdomen.

Jiang Fan was secretly alarmed: "Who is that esteemed elder? With a casual wave, he could injure a Silver-winged Thunder Roc with a sword from a distance?" It was his first time witnessing such astounding swordsmanship. He couldn't help but make a few guesses about the elder's identity.

A moment later, the green-robed elder arrived. Only then did Jiang Fan notice that this was an elder with an ethereal, immortal demeanor. He wore a hair ornament, and his long hair flowed freely. Three strands of beard cascaded over his chest. His countenance was unusual and distinctive. Faint, almost imperceptible clear energy swirled around his body.

Seeing the clear energy, Jiang Fan was secretly astonished. He had heard that cultivators who could condense clear energy without it dispersing had already reached the Perfection stage of the Core Formation Realm. They were just one step away from entering the Nascent Soul Realm. The elder before him was undoubtedly a peak existence in the land of the Nine Sects! Combined with his unfathomable sword-controlling technique, his identity was almost screamingly obvious! The Grand Elder of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect! He had, inadvertently, encountered such a formidable figure!

He didn't dare to breathe. He quietly watched as the elder walked towards the Silver-winged Thunder Roc. Suddenly, he noticed a fierce glint flash in the Silver-winged Thunder Roc's eyes. He remembered how the bird had once feigned departure to ambush them. His expression involuntarily changed!