Chapter 341: Little Stingy

"Disciple?" Xu Qingyang looked surprised. "Which sect's disciple is this extraordinary?"

The disciples who come to Sword Forest for advanced training are generally at around Foundation Establishment Layer 8 from various sects. However, that demon empress's daughter was far beyond that level. Even a Core Formation Layer 5 Elder would find it uncertain if they could stop her.

The Myriad Sword Sect Master somewhat reluctantly pointed to Jiang Fan. "It's this disciple." He felt an immense sense of regret. If only Ling Guihai had been the one to achieve this feat. What an invaluable opportunity it was to impress Xu Qingyang!

Xu Qingyang followed his finger, his gaze paused, then he couldn't help but smile wryly. Zhou Qidan also looked over curiously. Upon seeing him, she exclaimed in surprise, "It's you, young man?"

Grand Elder Sun, also present, was initially surprised by the two Grand Elders' reactions, then quickly understood. "This young man is..." He promptly retracted the mention of "trading the Cold Bone Demon Core." It was better not to publicize this matter.

This sudden revelation utterly took the Grand Elders present by surprise. How could the Myriad Sword Sect's Grand Elders know this person? The Myriad Sword Sect Master also froze. "Three Grand Elders, you know him?"

Xu Qingyang gave a half-smile. "We do more than just know him. Isn't that right, young friend?"

Jiang Fan also stared at Xu Qingyang in astonishment. It took him a while to recover, then he gave a wry smile. "Senior Xu, you've kept me in the dark quite a bit." It turned out that this old man before him was the renowned Grand Elder of the Myriad Sword Sect, Xu Qingyang. All this time, he had believed him to be merely an Elder from another sect.

Xu Qingyang chuckled. "You're not bad yourself. I was also kept in the dark by you. I thought you were just an ordinary divine physician. Who would have thought you possessed such great abilities? Not to mention collecting demon cores from so many great demons. Even the Demon Empress's daughter fell into his hands." Xu Qingyang prided himself on his accurate judgment of people. He never expected to have been so wrong.

Jiang Fan said awkwardly, "Senior, you flatter me. It was merely by chance that I captured that demoness."

Xu Qingyang laughed heartily, pointed at him, and said, "Grand Elder Zhou, look at this disciple. Then look at the ones in our sect."

Zhou Qidan wholeheartedly agreed, saying, "Young man, stop being so modest. Since that demoness dared to trap the elite prodigies of the nine sects by herself, she naturally possessed the formidable power to wipe out all of you on her own. How could you capture her just by chance?" As she spoke, she glanced at Ling Guihai and several Myriad Sword Sect disciples, sighing with a hint of envy: "If others had your abilities, they'd want to emblazon them on their foreheads for the whole world to see. Yet you haven't even let anyone know your appearance or name."

The expressions of the Grand Elders present were complex. Zhou Qidan's words didn't just apply to Myriad Sword Sect disciples; they also resonated with the prodigies within their own sects. Each one flaunted their abilities without restraint. They wished to become famous and have their names known throughout the world, completely oblivious to the saying that the tallest tree in the forest is always the first to be cut down.

Jiang Fan gave a wry smile. "Grand Elder Zhou, please don't overpraise this junior." He somewhat regretted not having left earlier.

Xu Qingyang patted his shoulder, his eyes full of admiration. "No matter what, you saved the disciples of the nine sects, and indirectly, you saved the Myriad Sword Sect. What kind of reward would you like?"

Jiang Fan quickly said, "Thanks to Senior Xu's consideration, your sect master has already given me a reward."

The Myriad Sword Sect Master secretly broke out in a cold sweat. This young man actually knew several Grand Elders, and they had a good relationship? Fortunately, he had backed off in time and not made things difficult for him. Otherwise, it would have been troublesome.

He cupped his hands and smiled. "Grand Elder Xu, as he said, I have bestowed upon his female companion a secret sword art from our sect."

Xu Qingyang followed his gaze and saw Xu Yining. Only then did he remember how Jiang Fan had shown exceptional care for this woman throughout their journey. Their relationship must be quite close. He slowly nodded and inquired, "Which sword manual was it?"

The Myriad Sword Sect Master replied without hesitation, "It's the Profound-tier, Mid-grade sword art, the 'Jade Maiden True Scripture,' which is most suitable for female disciples like her to cultivate." He had given much thought before bestowing this cultivation method. It perfectly matched Jiang Fan's contribution and was suitable for female cultivation. No one could find fault with it.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing it, Xu Qingyang's eyebrows raised. "Only Profound-tier, Mid-grade? How stingy! Give her the 'Illusory Destruction Sword Scripture' instead."

Not only was the Myriad Sword Sect Master stunned, but even the Grand Elders from other sects were greatly surprised. The renowned "Illusory Destruction Sword Scripture" was one of the two most supreme Earth-tier, Low-grade sword arts of the Myriad Sword Sect. Only Grand Elders, the Sect Master, and Elders were permitted to cultivate it. Other elders didn't even have the qualification to read it. How could it be bestowed upon a young girl from the Azure Cloud Sect?

Xu Yining's delicate body trembled, and she quickly bowed, saying, "Senior Xu, please retract your order. This sword scripture, this junior dares not covet." What kind of joke was this? How could she be worthy of cultivating an Earth-tier cultivation method from the Myriad Sword Sect?

The Myriad Sword Sect Master also said anxiously, "Grand Elder Xu, this simply won't do! The elders within the sect will have objections." Giving an Earth-tier sword art to an outsider? What kind of joke is that?

Zhou Qidan's gaze was calm as she composedly said, "Any elder who has an objection can come find me." The Earth-tier, Mid-grade "Nine Poisons True Scripture" had already been given away. Why would they care about one Earth-tier, Low-grade "Illusory Destruction Sword Scripture"?

Grand Elder Sun glanced at Jiang Fan and also said, "Proceed as Grand Elder Xu wishes." He understood Xu Qingyang's intention: to repay Jiang Fan's life-saving kindness through this young girl. Without Jiang Fan, the Myriad Sword Sect would have lost a top-tier combatant. Such a loss could not be compensated for by ten "Illusory Destruction Sword Scriptures." Rewarding the other party with this cultivation method was not excessive.

The Myriad Sword Sect Master was dumbfounded. He naturally understood that this had far exceeded the scope of a mere reward. It was Xu Qingyang showing exceptional care for Xu Yining, purely on Jiang Fan's account. But why? Who exactly was this masked disciple, to be worthy of such special attention from three Grand Elders?

Reluctantly, he grudgingly took out a perfectly sealed jade slip and handed it to Xu Yining. He repeatedly cautioned her, "Remember, you can only cultivate this yourself. You must never pass it on!"

Xu Yining was overwhelmed and dared not accept it. She looked at Jiang Fan with a helpless expression.

"Grand Elder Xu means well; please accept it quickly," Jiang Fan said softly.

Only then did Xu Yining tremblingly take the jade slip, holding it tightly in her arms, fearing it might fall and break.

Seeing her accept it, Xu Qingyang was genuinely pleased, saying, "Young friend, then we shall meet again. I hope to see you shine brightly on the beast tide battlefield."

Jiang Fan quickly cupped his hands. "I bid farewell to Senior Xu, Senior Zhou, and Senior Sun."

Xu Qingyang nodded, and leading the Grand Elders, they transformed into afterimages and departed, leaving everyone behind in awe. The Grand Elders from various sects looked at Jiang Fan with a hint of reverence. They all wanted to know the true face beneath the mask, and even more so, which sect had nurtured such an extraordinary disciple.

Jiang Fan dared not stay any longer. He cupped his hands to Xu Yining, saying, "Junior Sister Xu, we part ways here."

Xu Yining, who had been immersed in the shock of the Earth-tier cultivation method, suddenly snapped back to reality. Her beautiful face instantly paled slightly. Her heart, which had just been filled with excitement, immediately felt empty, filled with an indescribable sense of loss. Although she had long expected to part ways after the Sword Forest, she still felt it was too sudden, too sudden.

"Then... where will you go?" After a long silence, Xu Yining finally asked, her voice trembling slightly. She did not try to hold him back. They both had their own paths, destined to diverge.

A purple figure flashed in Jiang Fan's mind, and he said, "I want to go see the Titan Sect. Junior Sister Xu, we will meet again if fate allows."

Xu Yining waved her hand, forcing a smile. "Goodbye."

Jiang Fan nodded and turned to leave. After walking a good distance, he suddenly heard Xu Yining's faint, almost imperceptible voice. He looked back, but her figure was no longer there. Only a faint, tearful cry echoed: "Please take care."

Jiang Fan's face showed a trace of melancholy. A moment later, he tapped his toe and vanished like a fleeting streak of light. Only a long sigh remained.

"You too," he whispered. "Xu Yining."