Chapter 342: Black Mirror Spirit Artifact

The Sword Forest.

Xu Yining stopped, gazing for a long time. The mist in her eyes condensed into crystalline tears that silently streamed down her cheeks. What she truly wanted to ask was not where Shadow Guard Number One had gone, but when they would meet again. However, she ultimately couldn't bring herself to voice the question, as a faint, flickering shadow still lingered in her heart.

Ling Jinghu watched the scene, faintly understanding Xu Yining's feelings. She stepped forward and softly said, "From three thousand rivers, one takes but a single scoop to drink. You should let go of what needs to be released. Life's path is long; traveling light is the only way to endure."

Xu Yining wiped away her tears. A bitter expression crossed her face as she said, "Thank you for your valuable advice, Elder Ling. I will ponder your words deeply."

Ling Jinghu shook her head slightly. From Xu Yining's expression, Ling Jinghu knew that she wouldn't be able to let go anytime soon.

At this moment, a familiar Grand Elder approached. "Elder Ling, farewell for now," he said. "The next time we meet will likely be on the beast tide battlefield." Ling Jinghu cupped her hands in response. All the Grand Elders present were bidding farewell to the elders they knew.

Feng Guchan was also among them. Just as everyone finished their farewells and was about to disperse, he suddenly cupped his hands and spoke, "Everyone, I have an unusual request. If any of you encounter Jiang Fan, a disciple of my sect, please tell him to return to Qingyun Sect immediately."

Jiang Fan? Xu Yining's eyes lit up slightly. Since embarking on her travels, this was the first time she had heard news of Jiang Fan. She couldn't help but step forward and ask with concern, "What happened to Junior Brother Jiang?"

Ling Jinghu also wore a strange expression. She thought, 'Jiang Fan... wasn't he just in front of you? Why didn't you say something sooner? Now he's completely gone.' She was also curious why Qingyun Sect was suddenly recalling Jiang Fan, so she asked, "Elder Feng, why does Qingyun Sect want him back?"

Feng Guchan could ignore Xu Yining, but he couldn't disregard Ling Jinghu. After a slight hesitation, he spoke with a hint of schadenfreude, "This disciple apparently committed a grave error at the Grand Supreme Sect. It seems he even provoked the Grand Supreme Sect Master to personally write a complaint letter to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion. The Heavenly Secret Pavilion has sent a special investigator to our sect. Therefore, the sect is urgently recalling this disciple for questioning."

Xu Yining was a little bewildered. The venerable Grand Supreme Sect Master personally wrote a complaint letter? Normally, a sect master wouldn't bother with junior disciples. Even if a junior had committed an offense, disciples would handle it, and if they couldn't, an elder would intervene. It would never fall to a sect master to stoop so low as to personally deal with a junior. She couldn't help but feel a little deflated. Had Jiang Fan committed an unforgivable crime at the Grand Supreme Sect?

Ling Jinghu looked utterly baffled. "The Grand Supreme Sect Master wrote a complaint letter?" She looked around and spotted the Grand Supreme Sect's contingent. The leader should have been Grand Elder Shangguan Sheng, but since healing medicines were urgently needed on the front lines, he was unable to come. Instead, Second Elder Li Congyun was present, along with several elite disciples at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment.

"Elder Li, did Jiang Fan commit some error at your Grand Supreme Sect?" Ling Jinghu asked. Everyone else was also curious. The Grand Supreme Sect Master was known for his mild temperament. What major incident could have angered him enough to make him complain to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion?

Li Congyun's old face flushed, and he cleared his throat. "I have no knowledge of this," he said. "No comment." Ling Jinghu was momentarily stunned. What could possibly happen at the Grand Supreme Sect that could be hidden from a Second Elder like him? She then looked at the five Grand Supreme Sect disciples. Their expressions unnatural, they turned their faces away. They had personally witnessed how Jiang Fan, single-handedly, had defeated the Grand Supreme Sect's top experts: Wang Yunguo, Li Shiqian, and even Hua Xiangchen. How could they possibly mention such a humiliating incident? At Li Congyun's call, they hurriedly left the scene, leaving everyone with puzzled expressions.

Ling Jinghu couldn't help but feel a little worried. "What on earth did that fellow do?" she wondered. "Why do the Grand Supreme Sect people look so terrified, as if they've seen a tiger?"

Meanwhile, Jiang Fan. He moved like a shadow, swiftly navigating the endless Sword Forest. He saw the edge of the Sword Forest not far away. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed a fleeting black afterimage to his diagonal right. "Who's there?" Jiang Fan abruptly stopped, his gaze sharp as he looked towards it. But the area was empty, with only rows of broken swords standing alone. There was nothing there. "Did I see wrong?" Jiang Fan shook his head in doubt and continued his journey. With a few swift movements, he vanished from sight.

After an unknown period, an ancient sword suddenly toppled. The ground arched, and an ink-black mirror emerged from beneath. "How can I be so unlucky? I almost ran into that kid again!" This was none other than the evil spirit that had narrowly escaped. It was fortunate that that fool, Lu Shiyi, had inadvertently given it a chance to escape. Along the way, it cautiously made its way out of the Sword Forest. With the experts of the Myriad Sword Sect drawn away by the Sky-Devouring Tiger, it had a high chance of slipping out of the sect. As long as it could leave safely, it would be like a fish returning to the sea or a bird soaring into the sky. From then on, no one would be able to touch it.

Thinking of the countless low-level cultivators in the outside world, it couldn't help but drool. As long as it wasn't too unlucky and didn't encounter an extremely powerful cultivator, ordinary cultivators would be mere meat on a chopping block, ready for it to devour! But Jiang Fan's recent passing had nearly scared the soul out of it. "Of all people to encounter, it had to be that brute!" "Good thing I reacted quickly and tricked him." The black mirror muttered to itself. It looked around and then continued to move along the ground, trying to find its way out of the Sword Forest.

Seeing the Sword Forest exit not far away, it brimmed with eagerness. "Almost there!" it thought. "I'll be able to escape soon." However, after moving for a while, it froze. Looking at a mound of arched earth in front of it, it couldn't help but feel confused. "This... isn't this where I was just hiding?" It turned its head and made a horrifying discovery. At some point, a faint mist had appeared all around, trapping it in this spot. This realization made its heart skip a beat. It had a very bad premonition.

The next moment, a mocking voice sounded in its ear without warning. "Are you lost? Do you need help?"

The black mirror trembled violently, appearing extremely shocked. It twisted its body to look. Jiang Fan, who had clearly been tricked into leaving, had returned at some unknown time and was standing behind it with his hands clasped behind his back. Lightning crackled around his legs, clearly poised for action!

The black mirror gasped, crying out in terror, "You... didn't you leave?" Jiang Fan's eyes were cold. "If I hadn't made a feint, how would you have revealed yourself?"

It turned out that when Jiang Fan sensed the black afterimage, he had guessed it was likely the escaped evil spirit. He had beaten this spirit to near death, forging a deep enmity between them. If it escaped, it would certainly become a future menace. However, if it hid underground, he might not be able to find it. That's why he feigned departure, then made a swift return. He also used the Illusionary Mirage Demonic Core to trap it, giving it no further chance to escape.

Realizing it had been thoroughly tricked, the black mirror was frantic. It couldn't win in a fight, nor could it escape. 'Where did this monster come from?' it thought. 'So troublesome!'

"Kid, can't you let me go?" the black mirror said in a low voice. Jiang Fan's expression was cold. "Yes, I can," he replied. "I'll let you report to King Yama!" Before the words were even out of his mouth, he charged forward, giving the black mirror no chance to trick him again.

"Wait!" "Don't you want this spirit artifact?"