Chapter 31: The Return of the Deputy Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion

Witnessing the miraculous effects of the Essence of Flora and Fauna, Chen Siling hardly dared to accept it. She quickly declined, saying, "I truly can't take this!"

Seeing her repeatedly refuse, Xu Youran impatiently stepped forward, pulled open Chen Siling's collar, and tucked the Essence of Flora and Fauna inside. "Stop being so polite. You don't treat Xiao Fan as an outsider, anyway."

The double meaning in Xu Youran's words startled Chen Siling. She quickly explained, "Youran, listen to me. Things aren't as you imagine."

"The reason I'm so polite to Jiang Fan is because... because..." She stammered, unable to continue. Without Jiang Fan's permission, how could she reveal his identity as a Soul Master?

"Alright, you're just stammering. What more is there to explain?" Xu Youran, with a complex expression, rolled her eyes at her. "We've known each other for so many years. Don't you think I know what's in your heart?"

"It's fine if you like Jiang Fan, but he's my fiancé. You need to control yourself. I don't want to lose our long-standing friendship over a man."

These pointed words made Chen Siling's face flush crimson like a steamed crab, and she was too nervous to speak properly. "You, you truly misunderstood! I really didn't!" She was on the verge of tears, yet no matter how she tried to explain, she couldn't make herself clear.

Xu Youran poked her forehead. "I told you, there's no need to quibble!" she said. "Let's go!" With that, she linked arms with Jiang Fan and gracefully left the auction house.

Rather than harboring certain feelings, allowing them to fester into a rift between two people, it's better to speak frankly and establish boundaries upfront. Given Chen Siling's character, now that Xu Youran had clearly stated she didn't want Jiang Fan to be disturbed, Chen Siling would know how to proceed.

Jiang Fan glanced back at Chen Siling, who wore a bitter smile, and asked doubtfully, "Could it be that you truly misunderstood?" Xu Youran emphatically replied, "No! She definitely likes you!"

Alright. But Jiang Fan's intuition told him there was definitely a misunderstanding.

Back home, Jiang Fan took out a quarter of the Essence of Flora and Fauna for himself. Sitting cross-legged, he immediately consumed one bottle.

The immense energy within the Essence of Flora and Fauna immediately surged through his body, making him feel a sense of internal bloating. He promptly activated the "True Scripture of Clear Wind," refining the pure energy into his own spiritual power.

Shortly after, his body pulsed. "As expected of the Essence of Flora and Fauna, I've successfully broken through to the eighth level of Qi Refinement!" Jiang Fan exclaimed, a joyful expression on his face.

Unfortunately, the Essence of Flora and Fauna was only effective upon the first consumption. Looking at the last remaining quarter, Jiang Fan tucked it into his pocket.

Seeing that it was still noon, Jiang Fan remembered that he hadn't yet delivered today's High-Grade Qi Refinement Liquid to the Chen family. Moreover, tomorrow was the day for presenting the betrothal gifts, so he might not have time to send it then.

With this in mind, he decided to refine enough High-Grade Qi Refinement Liquid for the next several days in one go. This busy period stretched late into the night.

Gazing at the more than three hundred bottles of High-Grade Qi Refinement Liquid in his arms, Jiang Fan, panting from exhaustion, dragged his weary body to the Chen family.

"So many?" Chen Siling exclaimed, stunned. Jiang Fan replied, "I'll be busy for the next few days, so I won't be coming. As for the payment, you can give it to me after you've sold this batch of High-Grade Qi Refinement Liquid." With that, he left.

Chen Siling was secretly grateful; she truly couldn't afford three million taels of silver at the moment. She appreciated Jiang Fan's trust. Watching him depart, Chen Siling began counting the High-Grade Qi Refinement Liquid.

Suddenly, she found herself enveloped by a shadow. Looking up, she was startled to see a colossal eagle circling down from the moonlight. On its back stood two figures, a man and a woman. They were Chen Zhengdao, the returning Vice Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, and Liu Qingxian, the daughter of the Azure Cloud Sect Master.

The two figures descended swiftly. Liu Qingxian hurriedly stepped forward, scrutinizing Chen Siling. "Are you the young mistress of the Chen family?" she asked. Chen Siling, her face wary, demanded, "Who are you? How dare you trespass on the vital grounds of my Chen family?" She vaguely sensed that both individuals possessed incredibly powerful cultivation. The man, in particular, made her feel a suffocating pressure.

Chen Zhengdao, with his hands clasped behind his back, stated, "I am Chen Zhengdao, Vice Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, and this is the daughter of the Azure Cloud Sect Master." Chen Siling was utterly astonished. She quickly bowed and said, "This junior, Chen Siling, greets both esteemed seniors." Her heart pounded with anxiety, completely bewildered as to why these two prominent figures had graced the Chen family with their presence.

Liu Qingxian's tone was urgent. "I heard you hosted an auction today, and the grand finale item was a Rejuvenation Pill. Is that true?" she asked.

News of the Rejuvenation Pill spread rapidly. In just one day, it had reached all the surrounding cities. Upon hearing this, the two immediately hurried to the Chen family to investigate. The reason was that the Rejuvenation Pill was a third-grade spiritual elixir, a type of pill that only a three-star Soul Master could successfully refine. The appearance of a three-star Soul Master within the Azure Cloud Sect's territory was a matter of great significance.

Upon hearing this, Chen Siling actually felt a sense of relief. Ever since she began cooperating with Jiang Fan, she had anticipated that other powers would seek her out to inquire about the Soul Master. Thus, she was mentally prepared.

"Indeed, Senior Liu," she confirmed.

Hearing this, a flicker of surprise appeared on Liu Qingxian's peerless face. "Have you met the person who refined the pill?" she asked. Chen Siling answered without hesitation, "He has been cooperating with my Chen family recently to refine High-Grade Qi Refinement Liquid."

"However, this junior doesn't know his appearance, age, name, or even gender," she continued. "He concealed his figure with loose robes. Although I was curious, I dared not inquire."

Hearing this answer, Liu Qingxian's eyes filled with disappointment. She had hoped to get a clear description of the individual and then locate him. If a three-star Soul Master could be persuaded to join the Azure Cloud Sect, there was no doubt that the sect's power would surge in a short time!

Chen Zhengdao, meanwhile, noticed the High-Grade Qi Refinement Liquid on the table. He picked up a bottle, opened it, and brought it to his nose. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. "The quality is far superior to any High-Grade Qi Refinement Liquid on the market!" he declared. "This certainly wasn't refined by a two-star Soul Master. This person is indeed a three-star Soul Master!"

"Young lady, when will he return?"

Chen Siling calmly gestured to the table filled with Qi Refinement Liquid. "That senior mentioned he would be occupied for the next few days and wouldn't be coming, so he refined a large quantity in advance," she explained. "This junior cannot confirm when he will return next."

Hearing this, Chen Zhengdao nodded slightly. "Thank you for the information. This is for you," he said, casually handing her a powerful talisman worth tens of thousands of taels of silver.

Chen Siling delightedly accepted it. "Thank you, Senior. Thank you very much," she said.

"Qingxian, let's go." Chen Zhengdao leaped onto the colossal eagle, and Liu Qingxian, a reluctant expression on her face, quickly followed suit. The giant eagle let out a piercing shriek, then ascended rapidly into the sky, disappearing from view.

In reality, it hadn't flown far at all. Instead, it had merely concealed itself within a dark cloud.

"Uncle Chen, are we just going to leave it at that?" Liu Qingxian asked, her voice laced with urgency. "That's a three-star Soul Master! Even the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion is only a three-star Soul Master, isn't he? Such a figure, even if we can't recruit them, at least we should thoroughly investigate their identity. How can we just walk away like this?"

Chen Zhengdao, hands clasped behind his back, watched Chen Siling's every move, his eyes slightly narrowed. "Who said we're simply walking away?" he murmured. "Am I not looking for him right now?"

Liu Qingxian paused, bewildered. "Staying here, will that Soul Master just appear out of nowhere?" she asked.

Chen Zhengdao offered a knowing smile. "Didn't you notice how excessively smooth this little girl from the Chen family was when answering our questions?"

Liu Qingxian thought back and realized something was indeed amiss. "It was very smooth, yes," she conceded. "It was as if she had prepared her answers in advance."

Chen Zhengdao nodded. "I suspect she's deliberately providing cover for this three-star Soul Master," he said. "To find him, all we need to do is follow her. By observing who she interacts with over the next few days, everything will become clear."