Chapter 38: Crazed Liu Qingxian

She was drenched in sweat, desperately slashing at the air. It was clear that the projection of the Qi Cultivation Level 8 Completion was causing her significant trouble. It made sense; these projections were all prodigies from the Azure Cloud Sect. The cultivation techniques they practiced were certainly not as low-grade as the Xu family's Yellow-tier ones. Although Xu Yining's cultivation had reached Qi Cultivation Level 9, the gap in cultivation techniques became apparent when she faced an opponent at Qi Cultivation Level 8 Completion.

"Is Qi Cultivation Level 8 Completion really that difficult?" Jiang Fan pondered as he stepped forward.

Immediately, a tall, slender young woman appeared before him, her face incredibly beautiful. "Huh? Isn't this the purple-clad girl I met at the City Lord's Mansion? What was her name again? Liu something-Xian?" Jiang Fan remembered she had given him a purple token. To this day, he still didn't know what the token was for. However, the projection before him was clearly the purple-clad girl from several years younger.

"Liu Qingxian, Qi Cultivation Level 8 Completion. Please enlighten me." After speaking, she drew a purple sword and performed a dazzling sword technique.

Jiang Fan immediately drew his sword to counter. Although her sword technique was extraordinary, his own Seven-Star Sword Art was superior. In just three rounds, he sent her longsword flying. As the darkness before him receded, Jiang Fan succeeded. He glanced to the side and saw Xu Yining still gritting her teeth, struggling in a tough battle.

Immediately after, Jiang Fan stepped onto the ninth level. A handsome young man appeared. "Chen Zhengdao, Qi Cultivation Level 9. Please enlighten me."

Meanwhile, in the clouds above the Chen family estate, Liu Qingxian frowned. "Uncle Chen, are you sure she's really covering for that Three-Star Soul Master?" They had been monitoring him for four days. Apart from visiting various Chen family businesses, Chen Siling hadn't contacted any strangers at all. This made Chen Zhengdao doubt his own judgment. "Could it be that I'm just being overly suspicious?" He rubbed his nose.

Liu Qingxian sighed, "This Three-Star Soul Master is truly hard to find..."

"Oh!" Suddenly, Liu Qingxian abruptly stood up, looking surprised in the direction of the Soaring Dragon Path. "Someone defeated my projection in the Soaring Dragon Path."

Chen Zhengdao chuckled, "What's there to be surprised about? That was just your projection from when you were eighteen."

Liu Qingxian said in astonishment, "But this person defeated me in just three moves."

Chen Zhengdao looked surprised. Even Liu Qingxian at eighteen years old, her strength was not to be underestimated. After a brief thought, he said, "Could you have sensed it incorrectly? Even the Ninth-Grade Spiritual Root in the city seems to only be at Qi Cultivation Level 7. Defeating you in three moves is highly unrealistic." The Soaring Dragon Path was only open to young people. There was no reason for such a powerful young person to exist there.

Liu Qingxian thought for a moment, then said uncertainly, "Perhaps." After all, for someone of the same age group to defeat her, the Sect Master's daughter, in three moves seemed a bit too exaggerated. It was likely an illusion.

However, not long after, Chen Zhengdao, who was still monitoring, also abruptly stood up. His eyes wide with surprise, he looked towards the Soaring Dragon Path.

"What's wrong, Uncle Chen?" Such a strong reaction startled Liu Qingxian.

Chen Zhengdao's eyes showed shock and disbelief. "My projection has also been defeated," he said, "and the opponent only used ten moves!"

"What?" Liu Qingxian was even more surprised than him. "No way!" she exclaimed. "During that period, you were known as the foremost prodigy within the Azure Cloud Sect! Unrivaled in your generation!" Chen Zhengdao's Eighth-Grade Spiritual Root was no joke. Coupled with the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's allocation of resources, when he was eighteen, he was not just unrivaled within the entire Heavenly Secret Pavilion; at least within the Azure Cloud Sect, he was unrivaled. If his projection was defeated, didn't that mean a prodigy even more astonishing than him had been born?

"You stay here and continue monitoring," Chen Zhengdao said, leaving Liu Qingxian behind. "I'll go see who this extraordinary person is!" He rushed off immediately.

"I'm going too! Solitary Boat City is too strange!" Liu Qingxian gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with defiance. It was clearly a remote small place; a Ninth-Grade Spiritual Root popping up was one thing—one could consider that an immense stroke of luck for Solitary Boat City. But what was going on with a Three-Star Soul Master appearing as well? The Soul Master hadn't been found, and now an unrivaled monstrous prodigy had emerged? What was Solitary Boat City trying to do? Was it aiming for the heavens? She quickly mounted her blue giant eagle and soared away.

At this moment, Jiang Fan had already stepped onto the tenth level. "Yun Tianzhou, Qi Cultivation Level 9 Completion. Please enlighten me!"

The moment they engaged in battle, Jiang Fan immediately felt immense pressure. But this was even better. He gave his all, even utilizing the lightning attribute of his wooden sword. Even so, they exchanged hundreds of blows before he barely managed to pass the trial. Looking at the eleventh level above, the exhausted Jiang Fan simply returned the way he came. Any further up was the Foundation Establishment realm. He already felt strained facing a Qi Cultivation Level 9 Completion opponent, let alone the Foundation Establishment realm. There was no need to force it. He should now return and cultivate diligently, consolidating his spiritual energy to break through to Qi Cultivation Level 9 in one go. He could try again when he had the chance.

Upon returning, he found Xu Yining still locked in a fierce, inseparable battle with the Qi Cultivation Level 8 Completion projection. As for Xu Youran, she had actually successfully defeated the Qi Cultivation Level 5 and Qi Cultivation Level 5 Completion projections, and was currently battling a Qi Cultivation Level 6 one. Jiang Fan was greatly pleased. Without disturbing her, he left the Soaring Dragon Path.

He then made his way to the Chen family estate. Tonight he would be able to break through to Qi Cultivation Level 9, and it was time to prepare for Foundation Establishment. For any cultivator undergoing Foundation Establishment, there was one pill they couldn't do without: the Foundation Establishment Pill! This was a second-grade spiritual pill, and currently, only the Soul Master of the Azure Cloud Sect could refine it. It was almost never sold on the market; if available, it circulated in the black market.

"Oh? Why are you here?" Seeing Jiang Fan, who was heavily disguised, Chen Siling was startled and quickly pulled him into her boudoir. Gazing at the delicate woman's room, Jiang Fan felt a surge of awkwardness; this was his first time entering a woman's boudoir. However, he was quickly alerted by Chen Siling's words.

"Someone is looking for me?" Jiang Fan was alarmed. Whether the other party was good or bad, he could not expose his identity. Because he was still too weak, had no background, yet possessed abilities coveted by all. Once discovered, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"In that case," Jiang Fan mused, "the supply of high-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid will likely have to stop for a while. But that would affect your Chen family's business." He had promised to continuously supply high-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid.

Chen Siling was burning with anxiety. "Why are you still worrying about my family's business?" she exclaimed. "It's important that you protect yourself. Please don't come back here again in the future."

Seeing her concern for him, Jiang Fan felt bad. "How about this?" he said. "Does your family have the materials for Foundation Establishment Pills? I'll refine more now, and your Chen family can rely on them to continue attracting customers. Once this blows over," he added, "I'll resume refining high-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid."

"Foundation Establishment Pills?" Chen Siling was startled. "But this pill formula only exists in the Azure Cloud Sect," she said.

Jiang Fan smiled slightly. "What's difficult about that?" he said.

Not long after, the Chen family's alchemy room was filled with the rolling scent of pills, rising to the sky.

Chen Zhengdao and Liu Qingxian, who had rushed to the Soaring Dragon Path, found it empty. "We're a step too late!" Chen Zhengdao exclaimed. "This person even managed to defeat Yun Tianzhou—that's our Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master in his youth!" Chen Zhengdao clicked his tongue in amazement. Liu Qingxian was also astonished. It was one thing to defeat her and Chen Zhengdao, but he had actually defeated Yun Tianzhou as well. Yun Tianzhou was a super powerhouse, ranked among the continent's top ten masters! He had been defeated. Who was this challenger? They inquired in many places but ultimately found nothing.

Suddenly, Liu Qingxian unexpectedly noticed a strange cloud gathering above the Chen family estate. "Uncle Chen, what's that?" she asked.

Chen Zhengdao looked up, his face revealing shock. "It's the scent of pills!" he exclaimed. "High-quality pill scent! Someone is refining pills in the Chen family estate!" A single person came to both their minds simultaneously: The Three-Star Soul Master! They decisively mounted their giant eagles and sped off.