Chapter 398: Surprising Encounter with the Moonlight Pearl

Yu Yunzi's mouth twitched. "That old woman really spared no expense! She even brought out this treasure!"

Jiang Fan blinked.

He looked around, even using the Qi-sensing technique from his medical practice, trying to locate Gu Huaxi, who had vanished into thin air. But the surroundings were empty; he couldn't sense any aura.

It wasn't until someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind that Jiang Fan suddenly realized Gu Huaxi had appeared behind him without a sound or trace.

This greatly astonished Jiang Fan. If one wore this cloak, it would be like an invisible assassin, impossible to guard against!

Gu Huaxi took off the cloak, revealing herself, and said kindly, "As you can see, this is a cloak of invisibility. It can conceal scent, spiritual energy fluctuations, and your physical form. When you encounter an unmatchable formidable enemy, wear it. As long as you don't make a sound, your opponent will find it very difficult to locate you. Of course, its drawback is that it consumes a lot of spiritual energy, so it's best to use it only at critical moments."

After speaking, she tucked it into Jiang Fan's arms.

Jiang Fan was deeply grateful. This was definitely a valuable item!

He bowed repeatedly to the two Vice Pavilion Masters. "Seniors, I am incredibly grateful for your generous gifts!"

Yu Yunzi stroked his beard and smiled. "If you make good use of it and safely survive the beast tide, that will be gratitude enough."

Gu Huaxi also said kindly, "Be careful. We hope to see you again at the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion!"

The two reiterated their advice, then departed together.

The intelligence about the Demon Empress's concubine sending Nascent Soul essence blood couldn't be delayed even for a moment. The Pavilion Master had to make a decision as soon as possible.

Jiang Fan carefully put away the items. However, he didn't rush impulsively towards Taihu Lake.

"My senior sister and her group, all exceptionally strong, still encountered danger and their fate is unknown," he thought. "If I rush in recklessly, not only might I lose my own life, but I might also implicate Senior Sister."

If Liu Qingxian was still alive and discovered Jiang Fan was in danger, it was obvious she would step forward to help. At that point, he wouldn't be able to save her and might even harm her.

So he had to make thorough preparations.

He reviewed his own condition. His cultivation techniques, weapons, and physical state were all fine. The only thing he lacked were spiritual pills.

He only had four Rejuvenation Pills left. The journey ahead was dangerous, and he didn't know if any of the five others were severely injured, so he had to refine another batch.

In addition to that, he could also refine more Three-Step Drunk pills, which were highly effective in combat. Also, there were very few spiritual pills available on the market for restoring spiritual energy, so he could try refining a few bottles of those as well.

Having thought about the spiritual pills he needed, he decisively went to the Giant Sect's market.

Thanks to the convergence of disciples from various sects, they had, to varying degrees, brought rare spiritual items from different regions. This meant that many mysterious natural treasures and rare materials could occasionally be found in the Giant Sect's market.

Therefore, Jiang Fan quickly gathered all three main ingredients for refining Rejuvenation Pills: dragon's beard grass, three-patterned spirit fruit, and century-old ancient mulberry wood shavings.

Next, he easily found the ingredients for Three-Step Drunk.

However, he couldn't find the main ingredient for the spiritual pills that restore spiritual energy, the Moon-gazing Ganoderma, for a long time.

This item wasn't considered an exceptionally valuable natural treasure. It was just very rare, and its use was obscure, so few people needed it. Therefore, it was rarely sold.

Just as Jiang Fan was about to give up, he suddenly noticed a female disciple dressed in Supreme Sect attire at a corner, setting up a stall and selling various miscellaneous items, including materials, weapons, pills, and more.

Among them was a moon-white ganoderma as large as a washbasin.

"Moon-gazing Ganoderma?" Jiang Fan's heart stirred with excitement, and he quickly stepped forward.

But someone arrived before him: a woman with an extremely slender back, a wasp waist that could be encompassed by one hand, and shoulders as delicate as if carved. She wore a light green dress, giving off a fresh and lively aura.

She squatted in front of the stall, curiously examining the Moon-gazing Ganoderma repeatedly. After a round of inquiries, she lost interest and stood up, ready to leave.

Jiang Fan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It was a good thing she didn't want it, otherwise he would have to go through more trouble.

However, the moment the woman in the light green dress turned around, Jiang Fan froze.

It was an exquisite face, equally beautiful whether in anger or joy, with naturally upturned corners of her lips. Her large, gem-like eyes seemed to speak, and her aquiline nose was delicate and well-defined. Her rosy, vermilion lips were as alluring as cherries. At eighteen, her bare face radiated the best skin condition a woman could have; she was, surprisingly, an extremely beautiful and vibrant young woman.

And she was someone Jiang Fan knew intimately. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Yue Mingzhu? How are you here?"

His face showed joy, and he quickly approached her. His eyes held the delight of meeting an old acquaintance, as well as an unspoken gratitude. It was the jade pendant, capable of defending against a Core Formation Ninth Layer attack, that Yue Mingzhu had given him, which had saved his life from Leng Gu's fatal blow. He had always kept this kindness in his heart.

Yue Mingzhu was a bit dazed. She almost didn't realize he was calling her, as she had only used that name once or twice, and very few people knew it.

As she looked towards the voice, a handsome, otherworldly face with an air of refined composure entered her sight.

She froze for a moment, wondering if she was dreaming.

For over a month, she couldn't count how many times she had been woken by nightmares, the source of which was this abominable face!

In her dreams, Jiang Fan would make faces at her, taunting, "Come and catch me if you dare? A dignified Sect Master can't even catch a small disciple like me, how embarrassing! Thanks for the mission, Sect Master, you're a good person!"

Each time, he would infuriate her awake.

Once, unable to bear it any longer, she stormed out of Joyful Union City in the middle of the night, intending to go to the Azure Cloud Sect to settle accounts with Jiang Fan. She was eventually persuaded back by several elders, preventing a terrible outcome.

Now, suddenly seeing Jiang Fan, she had the illusion that she was dreaming.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Fan reached out and waved his hand in front of her. "Why did you suddenly zone out?"

Not until this moment did Yue Mingzhu react. This wasn't a nightmare! She had really encountered Jiang Fan, encountered this abominable scoundrel!

"Jiang Fan!" Yue Mingzhu gritted her teeth.

The nameless rage in her chest was about to erupt like a volcano, especially recalling everything from the past.

She had kindly and genuinely persuaded Jiang Fan to join the Joyful Union Sect, but he had refused without giving her any face and even slipped away from her grasp. That alone would have been fine; at most, she would have lost a little face.

But how dared he take a mission right under her nose after being widely wanted? And succeeded at it? This was what infuriated her the most!

Now that Jiang Fan had delivered himself to her, she absolutely had to teach him a lesson! Absolutely!!!

"I thought you'd forgotten me." Jiang Fan hadn't yet caught on to her unusual mood, his eyes showing nostalgia. "It's been a long time since we last met; I've missed you greatly. How have you been lately?"

"He missed me?" Yue Mingzhu froze, and the rage that was about to erupt subsided slightly. But she was still very angry. She had to deal with him today! Absolutely! No one could stop her!

She huffed heavily, "I'm not doing well! Very, very, very unwell!"

Jiang Fan chuckled. She still had that unpredictable personality.

"Hold out your hand; I'm giving you something," Jiang Fan said.

"He's giving me a gift?" Yue Mingzhu's eyes brightened slightly. The rage in her heart that was about to erupt subsided another notch, but she stubbornly said, "Who cares about your things? I don't want it!"

Jiang Fan smiled and took her small hand.

"How dare you!" Yue Mingzhu lightly exclaimed, hastily pulling her hand back. Yet, there was already something in her palm.