Chapter 42: Amazing Harvest

Jiang Fan received it with surprise. Feeling the warmth of its surface, he couldn't help but glance at Xu Yining's ample chest. He quickly averted his gaze and, feigning nonchalance, asked, "What is this?"

Xu Yining stared at the jade bead, her eyes full of reluctance. "When I was born, an enlightened master passed by the Xu family. He saw my unique bone structure and gave this to me. He said it contains a cultivation technique, but unfortunately, we've never been able to decipher it. Now, I'm giving it to you as collateral. When I pay you back, you must return it to me! Make sure you don't lose it!"

Jiang Fan had indeed heard the maids mention it. They said that eighteen years ago, when Xu Yining was born, a rainbow arched over the birthing room. The astonishing phenomenon attracted the attention of an enlightened master passing by. After investigating, he found Xu Yining's talent to be extraordinary. He felt it was destiny and presented a treasure as a welcoming gift. Jiang Fan never expected Xu Yining to use it as collateral with him.

After a moment's thought, Jiang Fan decided to return it. He wrote: "This item is too precious to you; I can't bear the responsibility if it gets lost. No need for collateral, please take it back."

However, Xu Yining stubbornly stated, "The poor do not accept charity! Don't think I'll owe you a favor! Hmph!" From a pile of banknotes, she picked out two million and said, "I'll definitely pay you back later!" With that, she huffily walked away.

Jiang Fan looked utterly bewildered. "How did I offend her?" Xu Youran watched her sister's retreating back and sighed softly. "You didn't offend her. It's that she... is starting to care about you." This was also Xu Youran's concern. As Jiang Fan's performance became more outstanding, would her sister still resent him as before? If, one day, she fell in love with Jiang Fan, what would Xu Youran do? After all, this engagement was actually meant for her sister.

"You're overthinking it! How could someone who only thinks of herself care about me?" Jiang Fan shook his head. Seizing the moment when no one was around, he gave her another batch of premium Qi Cultivation Elixir. "Use them quickly." This time, Xu Youran didn't refuse. The remnants of the Blood Bat Palace were like a mountain pressing down on all the Xu family members. Increasing their strength was something they desperately needed.

After seeing Xu Youran off, Jiang Fan returned to his room. Taking out the jade bead, he examined it curiously. After a close look, apart from its excellent quality, being carved from a piece of premium jadeite, there was nothing special about it.

"But if that enlightened master gifted it, there's no reason it would just be an ordinary jade bead," he mused. He took out a candle flame and heated it, then immersed it in water, and even tried soaking it in Qi Cultivation Elixir. He tried every deciphering method he had heard of from various strange tales and legends. Unfortunately, the jade bead showed no change.

"Is it really just an ordinary jade bead?" Jiang Fan, feeling disheartened, hung it close to his chest. If such a precious item were lost, Xu Yining would probably butcher him with a sword, wouldn't she? "Ugh! What's the point of having it? It's useless and a hot potato," Jiang Fan muttered as he lay on the bed, gently patting his chest.

However, as his palm gently patted, a faint force landed on the jade bead. To his surprise, a subtle trace of spiritual energy emanated from within the jade bead. Such a faint spiritual force would be undetectable to an ordinary person, but Jiang Fan instantly perked up.

He sprang up with a sudden burst of energy, pulled out the jade bead, his face full of astonishment. "Spiritual energy! Could it be like the Taiyi Soul Arts, requiring spiritual energy to unlock?" Jiang Fan's mouth immediately went dry. He swallowed hard and cautiously released a wisp of spiritual energy, probing it into the jade bead.

Instantly, the jade bead reacted. It released a strong emerald green beam of light. Projected into mid-air, it transformed into floating text. "Profound-grade High-level Movement Technique: Solitary Wild Goose Shadow!"

What? Jiang Fan was utterly shocked. It was actually a Profound-grade High-level cultivation technique, and a movement technique at that, which was incredibly rare among cultivation methods! Compared to other techniques, movement techniques were the most scarce! Throughout Lone Boat City, there wasn't a single movement technique to be found, not even an unranked one! But the "Solitary Wild Goose Shadow" before him was not only a movement technique but also Profound-grade High-level! That enlightened master truly hadn't deceived the Xu family; he had indeed left Xu Yining a cultivation technique, and an extremely advanced one at that!

He immediately, with renewed vigor, memorized the contents of the technique. Only when he reached the end did he discover a message left by the enlightened master: "Mount Tianxiang, Floating Cloud Cave. There are some things left there. I hope they will be useful to you."

Jiang Fan paused. Was this another fortuitous encounter left by the enlightened master for Xu Yining? However, if he remembered correctly, wasn't that address the Blood Bat Palace's branch altar? A hint of surprise and doubt appeared on his face.

"Never mind that for now; let's try cultivating this movement technique!" Jiang Fan couldn't wait. "Solitary Wild Goose Shadow" was divided into three levels: upper, middle, and lower. Achieving mastery of the first level allowed one to walk on waves, traverse boats, and scale walls as easily as walking on flat ground. Achieving mastery of the second level allowed one to move through dense foliage, gliding a hundred zhang with a single step. Achieving mastery of the third level allowed one to form wings of spiritual energy and fly through the air.

Just reading the description made Jiang Fan's blood boil with excitement. Of course, the technique also clearly stated that this was a Profound-grade High-level technique, and the most difficult movement technique to cultivate. Achieving mastery of the first level would take a full year of diligent practice, requiring patience and humility.

"Is that so?" Jiang Fan immediately began to carefully comprehend it. A moment later, he couldn't help but be surprised: "The first level doesn't seem too difficult at all." Thanks to the baptism of that green spiritual light, so far, all cultivation techniques claimed to be difficult posed no challenge for him.

The next day, at dawn. Inside his cramped room, Jiang Fan moved and jumped with incredible speed, running back and forth on the walls, ceiling, and floor. A casual step could cover several zhang. If he exerted full force, he might crash into the wall on the other side of the room.

He was drenched in sweat from exhaustion, yet his eyes were full of excitement. "Even at minor mastery, I have this speed. If I achieve great mastery, wouldn't I be as light as a feather and as swift as the wind?" Feeling the new experience brought by the movement technique, Jiang Fan was extremely satisfied.

He wanted to continue practicing, but unfortunately, it was time to meet at the City Lord's Mansion. Leaving the Xu residence, he made his way to the front of the City Lord's Mansion, found a secluded alley, and put on Mask Number One. Using his movement technique, he easily scaled the ten-zhang-high wall.

In the right courtyard of the City Lord's Mansion, nine shadow guards stood. Ye Qingxue frowned slightly, staring towards the courtyard gate. Shadow Guards Number Two to Nine had all arrived; only Jiang Fan, Shadow Guard Number One, had not. Xu Yining was already full of displeasure. "What a grand display! Making so many of us wait for just him! Does he really think he's some peerless prodigy or king?" At her words, the other eight shadow guards also grumbled in dissatisfaction. All of them were chosen by Ye Qingxue as the cream of the crop from Lone Boat City; who would be willing to be inferior to another? Ye Qingxue could only appease them, saying, "Calm down. I've already ordered someone to wait at the mansion gate. If he arrives, the servants will notify me immediately."

As she spoke, Ye Qingxue's gaze unconsciously swept past Xu Yining, and her pupils sharply contracted! Because, at some unknown point, a person had silently appeared next to Xu Yining! The shadow guards also noticed the unusual look in Ye Qingxue's eyes and looked over. What they saw gave them all a serious fright. Especially Xu Yining, who was right there. When she turned her head and saw someone suddenly appear beside her like a ghost, her heart skipped a beat. Only when she clearly saw the other person's mask and the number '1' engraved on it did she calm down. But her heart was still pounding. If this person were an enemy, she might already be a corpse, right? When did he arrive? And how did he move so silently that even she, so close, couldn't detect him? Could it be that he had cultivated some mysterious secret technique?