Chapter 374: Jiang Fan's Conditions

This is truly unbelievable! The Grand Elder Sect’s mining territory is almost gone, yet Lu Xiunian is still unwilling to part with the Rainbow Profound Ice, which is the source of all the trouble. He wants to send someone away with a mere 10,000 spirit stones? Is he treating people like idiots?

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look outside. Several people found the voice somewhat familiar. When a figure, hands behind his back, walked steadily into the room, Xie Liushu’s expression immediately soured. “It’s you?” he exclaimed. To this day, he still couldn't comprehend how Jiang Fan was suddenly wanted by the Sect Master, or how he managed to escape capture. What baffled him most was Jiang Fan’s audacity to claim a mission right under the Sect Master’s nose before fleeing. The Sect Master had been absolutely furious, and several elders were reprimanded because of it. Countless disciples were caught in the crossfire. Even Xie Liushu himself, the chief disciple, was accused of disrespecting the Sect Master and confined for three days, simply for stepping into the Sect Master's hall with his left foot first. During those days, the Joyful Union Sect was in a state of panic. Even the watchdogs, who usually roamed freely, hid in their kennels, fearing a slap from the Sect Master if they crossed her path.

To Xie Liushu’s surprise, Jiang Fan was standing before him, perfectly fine and lively.“Chief Xie, I trust you’ve been well,” Jiang Fan said with a faint smile.Xie Liushu gritted his teeth. “Thanks to you, I’ve been doing *very* well!” He refrained from teaching Jiang Fan a lesson, partly to prioritize the overall situation, but mainly because he knew he couldn't defeat him. He had, after all, personally witnessed Jiang Fan slay the second-stage Core Formation Red-Scaled Flood Dragon.

“It’s you!” Another figure shot up from his chair with a whoosh, shouting through gritted teeth.Jiang Fan turned his head and couldn't help but smile. “Brother Wang, you’re here too.”Wang Yunguo was incandescent with rage. “What are you doing here?” Jiang Fan’s easy victory over him in the Grand Elder Sect’s disciple competition still made him a laughingstock among the other disciples. He lived in constant humiliation, longing to get revenge on Jiang Fan. And now, Jiang Fan had actually shown up on his doorstep!

Jiang Fan calmly replied, “Can’t you tell? Naturally, I’m here to resolve the Grand Elder Sect’s troubles.”“You?” everyone in the room questioned, their faces filled with doubt.Lu Xiunian's expression was even grimmer. Jiang Fan had brutally beaten his favorite new disciple, Luo Tianjiao, and his most prized student, Wang Yunguo, causing his Green Bamboo Peak to lose considerable face. What's more, Jiang Fan hailed from the Azure Cloud Sect, a sect Lu Xiunian had always disdained. For him, this was nothing short of a profound humiliation. How could he possibly have a good impression of Jiang Fan?

“This is no place for your nonsense!” a displeased voice lightly reprimanded.Jiang Fan was unfazed. He calmly stated, “I may not be particularly talented, but I have a slight understanding of toxicology. I wish to help the Grand Elder Sect remove the hidden danger in your mine. Of course, if the Grand Elder Sect is confident in resolving the issue on its own, I will simply take my leave.”

Lu Xiunian frowned. *This guy, proficient in toxicology? I haven't heard of anyone in the Azure Cloud Sect being skilled in that field.*Wang Yunguo, who was exceptionally averse to Jiang Fan, interjected, “Master, does our Grand Elder Sect truly need to beg him? We have plenty of ways to resolve the poisonous miasma.” To him, Jiang Fan was a thorn in his side, and he didn’t want to see him for another moment.

Lu Xiunian narrowed his eyes in thought. He certainly disliked Jiang Fan and was even more reluctant to rely on him to salvage the rapidly deteriorating mining territory. However, he couldn't guarantee that Xie Liushu would successfully remove the Rainbow Profound Ice, which was emitting dangerous poisonous miasma. Since Jiang Fan had volunteered, he likely had some confidence. If Xie Liushu failed, Jiang Fan would be their backup. After all, if Jiang Fan couldn't do it, they wouldn't lose anything. *Why not?* With his brows relaxed, he tapped the table. “State your conditions,” he said.

Jiang Fan held up two fingers. “First, the Rainbow Profound Ice belongs to me.” Before Lu Xiunian could scoff, Jiang Fan continued, “Second, half of the Grand Elder Sect’s mining territory will be ceded to my Azure Cloud Sect.”As his words fell, all the Grand Elder Sect stewards and disciples in the room rose to their feet, glaring and rebuking him.“Presumptuous! Are those conditions you’re proposing?”“You might as well just ask for our entire Grand Elder Sect!”“How dare you even say that!”Even Xie Liushu couldn't help but draw a sharp breath. Even for bargaining, Jiang Fan was asking for an exorbitant price. Half a mining territory? How could he dare ask for such a thing? Back then, the Grand Elders of all sects had fought tooth and nail, bleeding profusely, to establish the current territorial divisions. And now, Jiang Fan wanted to claim half of their hard-won efforts with a casual remark? How could the Grand Elder Sect possibly agree?

Lu Xiunian burst out laughing in anger, banging the table. “Are you joking with me…?” As he was shouting, he suddenly noticed a petite girl’s figure emerging from behind Jiang Fan. She calmly settled into a nearby chair, eyes closed and utterly silent. Lu Xiunian’s pupils constricted dramatically, almost biting off his tongue in shock. *Qin Wangchuan? The Azure Cloud Sect’s most hot-tempered Grand Elder? She was the fiercest fighter when they were vying for mining territory back then. Several Grand Elders of the Grand Elder Sect tremble just at the mention of her. How did that old woman come with Jiang Fan?* Lu Xiunian’s face twitched for a moment. He had intended to greet her, but seeing Qin Wangchuan with her eyes closed, clearly unwilling to engage, he wisely chose not to disturb her. When he looked at Jiang Fan again, despite still feeling repulsed, he no longer dared to reprimand him as he had done moments before. “Your conditions are a bit too high; I find it difficult to agree,” Lu Xiunian said in a negotiating tone, his peripheral vision fixed on Qin Wangchuan.

Wang Yunguo was stunned. He gave his master a strange look. *At this point, shouldn’t he have just kicked Jiang Fan out? Why is he negotiating?*“Master, Jiang Fan is clearly here to cause trouble! I suggest we throw him out!” Wang Yunguo said fiercely.Lu Xiunian’s eyelids twitched. *Your suggestion is excellent; don’t suggest it again.* He said expressionlessly, “A guest is a guest; one more person isn’t a bad thing.” Then, he turned to Jiang Fan. “Jiang Fan, please sit. There’s one more person expected; let’s discuss this when everyone has arrived.”

Xie Liushu's eyes darted around. *Besides me, did the Grand Elder Sect invite anyone else? But among the Nine Sects, who else is skilled in toxicology?*

After an unknown period of waiting, Jiang Fan, holding his teacup, suddenly narrowed his eyes. The tea in his cup began to ripple in concentric waves, as if a massive vibration was approaching from a distance. Lu Xiunian’s solemn expression softened slightly, and with newfound confidence, he calmly announced, “They’re finally here!”

*Thump—*A dull, heavy sound, like the beating of a war drum, suddenly reached their ears.*Thump-thump—*The sound grew closer, like armored cavalry charging.*Thump-thump-thump—*It was even closer, like colossal elephants treading the ground, making it tremble incessantly. All the tables and chairs in the room began to shake. The large wooden house groaned and creaked under the strain of the vibrations.*CRASH—*The house door was blasted open by a tremendous force. An incredibly fierce surge of energy kicked up a powerful gust of wind, sending sand and stones flying, and plants swaying wildly. The entire house seemed about to be blown over!Immediately after, the light in the room suddenly dimmed. Everyone looked towards the doorway. Standing there, like a wall of bronze and iron, was a giant, too burly to be human.