Chapter 421: Bitter Trick to Deceived Marriage

He leaned closer to examine it.

An astonishingly unique fragrance wafted towards him.

Just a slight sniff, and Jiang Fan, who was already at the perfected ninth level of Foundation Establishment, felt a subtle indication of an upward breakthrough.

He had cultivated the Foundation Establishment stage to perfection, yet it still had such an effect.

If someone were at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, wouldn't a single bite be enough to break through to the ninth level?

This was even more potent than the Sword Forest's efficacy at the Ten Thousand Swords Sect!

And the mass of flesh before him could yield thousands of portions!

If taken back to the Azure Cloud Sect, wouldn't it mean that overnight, eighth-level Foundation Establishment cultivators would be everywhere, and ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivators as common as dogs?

Furthermore, it would undoubtedly have extraordinary effects on those at the Core Formation stage.

Indeed.

Yue Mingzhu, now dressed, followed the scent and walked over, her eyes sparkling, "What powerful spirit meat!"

"Three bites would be enough to break through to the ninth level of Core Formation!"

"If there's enough of it, reaching the perfected ninth level of Core Formation in a short period might not be impossible!"

"This is a treasure! A massive treasure!"

"It's far more potent than any secret realm!"

The more she looked, the brighter her eyes shone, until she let out an excited shriek.

Jiang Fan said, "Let's split it half and half."

Even half of this much spirit meat would be more than enough for the Azure Cloud Sect.

Yue Mingzhu pondered for a moment, then said, "You take seven, I'll take three."

"Whether it was slaying the Blood Dragon or deceiving the Heaven-Incinerating Clam Pearl, the credit for this journey belongs to you."

"At most, I helped you tame the Sea Spirit."

"Giving me 30% still feels like I'm getting a good deal."

Jiang Fan nodded, not being too particular. "Alright, we'll divide it as you say."

Soon after.

Both of them filled a large satchel each.

The Sea Spirit watched from the side, filled with immense envy.

The reason she was willing to guard the Heaven-Incinerating Clam Pearl here, awaiting its emergence, was not only for the great merit but also because the spirit meat of this giant clam was extremely appealing to her.

As a demon, the spirit meat held even greater allure for her.

She was already at the ninth level of Core Formation; a few bites of the clam meat would easily enable her to break through to the perfected ninth level of Core Formation.

Noticing her unusual expression, Jiang Fan took out a piece of spirit meat, handed it to her, and asked, "Do you want to eat this?"

The Sea Spirit's heart pounded with excitement, but she suppressed her joy and humbly replied, "I've done nothing to earn it; I'm not worthy to eat it."

She thought that by being polite, Jiang Fan would be even more inclined to give it to her.

To her surprise, Jiang Fan took it back, saying indifferently, "Good that you know!"

"If you want to eat clam meat, earn it with merit!"

How could he possibly reward such precious clam meat to it? Not punishing it for its earlier little schemes was already an act of exceptional kindness!

The Sea Spirit's beautiful face flushed, and her eyes welled up with shame and annoyance.

This guy is truly merciless!

"Tell me," Jiang Fan asked again, "where is the human patrol team that came here a few days ago?"

The Sea Spirit reluctantly replied, "They are hiding deep within a glacier."

"The Blood Dragon can't get in, and they don't dare to come out."

Hearing this, Jiang Fan completely relaxed.

Just as he had anticipated, Liu Qingxian had not died but had shrewdly hidden herself beforehand.

"Lead the way!"

Several hundred miles away.

A massive glacier crevice stretched several miles deep underground.

However, the depths of the crevice were not completely dark.

A cluster of flames illuminated the dark underground, making it bright.

Liu Qingxian had grown much thinner, but her face still shone brightly against the backdrop of the firelight.

Beside her were Wang Chengjian and elite disciples from three other sects.

Their cultivation levels were either Core Formation or ninth-level Foundation Establishment.

It was a rare alliance of powerful individuals.

However, they were trapped at the bottom of the crevice and faced immense danger.

"Be careful, the ice wind is coming again!"

Strange gusts of wind occasionally swept through the narrow glacier crevice.

Not only were they bone-chilling and capable of freezing a martial artist's body, what was more terrifying was the bizarre cold poison they contained.

Once it entered the body, it would freeze one's blood vessels into ice, leading to swift death!

In just a few days, everyone had been afflicted.

It was entirely thanks to Liu Qingxian's bottle of Rejuvenation Pills that people were pulled back from the brink of death time and again.

However, Liu Qingxian had already used several pills during her frantic mission execution over the past month.

In the past few days, the last few Rejuvenation Pills had run out.

Anyone who suffered from the cold poison again would only be able to wait for death.

Hearing the whistling wind, everyone's face changed dramatically.

They scrambled to find cover and dodge.

Liu Qingxian also quickly hid behind an ice pillar.

They heard the eerie ice wind scrape past the ice pillar, making gnawing sounds, as if thousands of insects were devouring it.

Liu Qingxian dared not breathe deeply.

Waiting for the ice wind to subside, she only dared to peek out after a long while.

"Senior Sister Liu, let's just make a break for it!"

A disciple, whose nerves were constantly frayed and who hadn't closed his eyes for several nights, had dark bags under his eyes and bloodshot eyes.

His mental state had reached its limit.

With the ice wind coming periodically, no one dared to sleep.

They could only remain alert and on guard at all times.

One day, two days, three days, they could endure.

But it had been over ten days!

Even people made of iron couldn't bear it.

Liu Qingxian shook her head; she was also very haggard, very tired, and her mind was even beginning to blur.

But she still retained a clear sense of reason.

"We can't go out; we must wait for rescue!"

"The creature that attacked us is very likely the Blood Dragon, a war general under the Demon Emperor!"

"Records show it is cunning and ferocious, bloodthirsty and tyrannical."

"If we hide here, it can't get in."

"But if we go out, we won't be able to escape."

Everyone was helpless and dejected.

Outside, the Blood Dragon; inside, the cold poison and ice wind.

Every day was torment.

*Whoosh*—

Suddenly, a gust of wind appeared without warning.

Everyone had just relaxed their guard; no one was prepared.

Before they could even dodge, they saw a gust of wind, making the ice wall creak, rush towards Liu Qingxian.

She was talking to that disciple.

Her attention was divided.

By the time she noticed, it was too late!

In that critical moment, Wang Chengjian, who was beside her, suddenly leaped out and stood in front of her.

As the fierce wind struck his face, Wang Chengjian's body instantly went limp as if poisoned, and he collapsed to the ground, unable to move.

"Ah! Senior Brother Wang has been hit!"

"To save Senior Sister Liu, he used his own body to block the ice wind!"

"It's over, without Rejuvenation Pills, Senior Brother Wang is about to... succumb to the cold poison."

Liu Qingxian was stunned for a moment.

Then her expression changed drastically, and she quickly knelt down, reproaching herself:

"Senior Brother Wang, w-what did you do?"

Wang Chengjian stared blankly at the sky and gave a bitter smile, "What is there to question about dying for the person I love?"

At these words, the three disciples from the other sects were moved.

So, Wang Chengjian had always been infatuated with Liu Qingxian.

Liu Qingxian quickly said, "Senior Brother Wang, don't speak, quickly circulate your cultivation."

"If the cold poison isn't too severe, you might still be able to force it out."

She was avoiding the topic.

After years of acquaintance, she naturally sensed Wang Chengjian's feelings for her.

However, he was not the person she liked.

Wang Chengjian snorted coldly in his heart, "You're only thinking of Jiang Fan, aren't you?"

How could he have been afflicted by any cold poison? That gust of wind just now was something he deliberately created!

Calculating the days, Sunset City should be sending powerful rescuers by now.

The day of their escape was not far off.

If he didn't seize this opportune moment to claim Liu Qingxian, he wouldn't have another chance in the future.

Although the method was dishonorable, he didn't care about that much when it came to getting his woman!

"Cough, cough..." He pretended to be very weak, coughing violently twice, then said:

"Junior Sister, my greatest wish is to marry you."

"Don't say anymore!" Liu Qingxian was burning with anxiety.

If Wang Chengjian were to die for her, she would feel guilty for a lifetime.

"If I don't say it now... I won't have another chance later..."

Wang Chengjian forced a faint smile, his words becoming halting, looking as if he didn't have long to live:

"Junior Sister... before I die... can you grant my wish?"

"Marry me... even if it's just for this moment..."

As long as Liu Qingxian agreed at this moment, it would be a marital promise.

And it would count in the outside world too!

The three disciples from other sects, unaware of Wang Chengjian's trickery, were deeply moved.

"What a devoted lover."

"Senior Sister Liu, please agree. Senior Brother Wang is fading."

"Do you want him to die with regrets?"

Liu Qingxian bit her red lip tightly.

She was deeply moved.

But agreeing to marry Wang Chengjian was a promise that had to be fulfilled.

Even if Wang Chengjian died, it would still mean they had an engagement.

Would she, in such a state, still be worthy of Jiang Fan?