Chapter 428: Purple Sword Exposed

Facing the aggressive Jin Zhongming, Jiang Fan remained calm and composed. "Let's not compete," he said. "Just focus on exchanging your resources. Don't go looking for trouble."

Although Jin Zhongming had consistently undertaken Tier 1 missions in Sunset City, Jiang Fan hadn't fallen behind. He had completed one Tier 3 mission, one Tier 1 mission with a fourfold bonus, one Tier 2 mission, and another Tier 1 mission. In terms of merit points, he was certainly no less accomplished than any of the elites in Sunset City.

"So, you're challenging me then?" Jin Zhongming said coldly. "Whoever loses cuts off a hand!"

A shiver ran through the crowd. Jin Zhongming was truly ruthless, immediately demanding one of Jiang Fan's hands.

Liu Qingxian stepped forward and retorted, "Jin Zhongming, how dare you bully my junior disciple? How long have you been in Sunset City, and how many days has he been here? You should be ashamed to challenge him!"

This wasn't a fair competition; it was clearly an opportunity for revenge, and the kind that sought to completely ruin him. A severed hand, even with a divine physician and miraculous elixirs, would take at least ten to fifteen days to recover. Such a long period of inactivity would cause someone to miss valuable mission opportunities, leading them to fall behind others, making it difficult to catch up.

Ye Cangyuan raised a hand, also feeling that Jin Zhongming had gone too far. However, he ultimately said nothing more and turned to enter his tent. As a guardian, it was inconvenient for him to interfere too much in conflicts between disciples. It was best for them to resolve their grudges themselves. As for Jiang Fan being at a severe disadvantage, there was nothing he could do.

Jin Zhongming glanced at Liu Qingxian dismissively. "He knows he's only been here a few days? Then why doesn't he know to be humble and keep a low profile? My business with him is none of yours! Otherwise, I might have to 'spar' with you again!"

Hearing the last sentence, Liu Qingxian's expression flickered. She bit her lip, her face flushed with humiliation. Jiang Fan's eyes narrowed slightly. This Jin Zhongming had indeed bullied Liu Qingxian before! If that was the case...

Jiang Fan smiled faintly. "I accept your challenge. However, I'm not interested in your hand; I'd rather have a bear paw to roast and eat."

Jin Zhongming chuckled. "Bold! Tell me, what do you want?"

Jiang Fan pointed to the halberd in Jin Zhongming's hand. "That!"

Jin Zhongming burst into laughter. He swung his halberd, leaving a solidified black line in the air, a sign that space itself had been cut. "You have good taste, knowing this is a high-grade magical artifact. This is a peerless divine weapon personally forged by Sect Master Qianlian at my master's request, weighing a thousand catties! If it doesn't cleave a demon beast to death, it will crush it to death!"

Jiang Fan said calmly, "What, reluctant to part with it?"

Jin Zhongming chuckled again. "Then what will you bet?"

"Anything! If you fancy something, take it." Jiang Fan pointed to the sword and zither on his person.

Jin Zhongming shook his head. "I'm not interested in your worthless junk. Here's a deal: if you win, the halberd is yours. If you lose, I'll use this halberd to slice off your hands, your feet, and that annoying tongue, piece by piece!"

Jiang Fan shrugged. "No problem!"

"Xiao Fan!" Liu Qingxian exclaimed anxiously. "Jin Zhongming has completed three Tier 1 missions! Are you crazy?" She couldn't understand it. How could Jiang Fan, who had been on logistical missions within the territory, challenge Jin Zhongming in terms of merit points? Wasn't he clearly at a disadvantage? Only three Tier 1 missions? That was even fewer than she had expected.

But Jin Zhongming was impatient. "Good! It's a done deal! All junior disciples of Sunset City, be my witnesses! If anyone reneges, may they be scorned by all!"

For the many disciples whose spirits were constantly tense, such a competition was undoubtedly a rare form of relaxation. They all eagerly agreed, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Back at Liu Qingxian's lodging, Jiang Fan looked at the dilapidated independent courtyard, a solitary thatched hut, and a crumbling woodshed and kitchen. He couldn't help but chuckle. "For a dignified Sect Master's daughter to come suffer like this, it's truly not easy."

Liu Qingxian, however, glared at him. "Don't change the subject! What exactly were you thinking? Do you no longer want to stay in Sunset City, or do you not want to see me, so you're finding an excuse to leave?" As she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears. It wasn't surprising that she was overthinking; she and Jiang Fan weren't official, and she felt incredibly insecure, making it hard not to think the worst.

Jiang Fan laughed in surprise, openly wrapping an arm around her slender, fragrant shoulders. "What are you thinking? Since I dared to accept, I naturally have confidence. How could I not want to see you? If that were the case, I wouldn't have come all this way to save you."

Liu Qingxian was deeply moved. Only just now, in the plaza, did she realize that the mission to rescue her had been elevated to elder level. This showed the danger involved, yet Jiang Fan had gone without hesitation. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let my mind wander." Liu Qingxian apologized, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Relax, I don't fight battles I'm not confident about. As for you, go eat that clam meat now and raise your strength as quickly as possible. I don't want you to be bullied again," he said tenderly.

Meanwhile, Kong Yuanba listened grimly to a report from a subordinate. "Are you saying there was a young disciple wearing a mask who used a purple sword?"

The subordinate's face was excited. "Yes! According to the description, it's exactly as Sun Chaozong described. It glowed purple, with remarkable spiritual pressure and extremely high grade. This person used it near the Ten Thousand Swords Sect and was discovered by a disciple who happened to pass by."

*Bang!* Kong Yuanba slammed his palm on the table. He was already extremely unwilling to accept the death of the person who had used the Nascent Soul jade token. Because possessing the jade token didn't necessarily mean Tie Bubai was killed by that person. It was also possible the killer transferred the jade token to them. However, the one holding the purple sword was undoubtedly the true culprit.

"You said he was a disciple? And an exceptionally powerful elite disciple?"

"Yes, Sect Master! That disciple said this person's strength is absolutely top-tier among the Nine Sects."

Kong Yuanba's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Then how coincidental! All the elite disciples are currently in Sunset City! And, tonight, the merit point ranking will be announced for the first time, so he's bound to be there! If I inspect their swords one by one, won't I be able to find the real culprit?" He clenched his five fingers. "I'll finally find you!" he vowed fiercely. "No matter who you are, no matter the cost, you will die!"

The grand elder of the Giant Sect had been assassinated. This was an unprecedented provocation to the Giant Sect, and the greatest humiliation the Giant Sect had ever suffered. Covertly and overtly, the Giant Sect had endured countless sneers! Now, they could finally expose the killer, punish him publicly, and announce it to the world!

At the dilapidated courtyard, Jiang Fan was practicing the second form of "Three Pure Thunder Shadow," "Five Thunder Righteous Heaven Palm," alone in the yard. But he had made no progress because the requirements for the second form were much stricter than for the first form, "Thunder Dragon Lightning Leg." It required ten times the amount of lightning power. Previously, he had only managed to cultivate the first form with the lightning power of a Silverwing Thunderbird. Now, where could he find so much lightning? Was he to catch ten Silverwing Thunderbirds? Not only was it difficult, but it was also questionable whether the demon race even had that many Silverwing Thunderbirds.

*Creak!* Liu Qingxian emerged, her face beaming with joy. "Xiao Fan, Xiao Fan! I've broken through to Core Formation Stage 2! The clam meat you gave me is even more effective than Dragon Saliva Pills for increasing Core Formation realm cultivation!" She couldn't believe that she had advanced another level just one month after breaking through to the Core Formation stage. Such rapid progress was unheard of; normally, it would take at least half a year to have a chance at breaking through to the next level.

Jiang Fan nodded, as expected. This clam meat was a rare divine item capable of nurturing a Heaven-Burning Clam Pearl. Such an effect was not surprising. "Once your cultivation stabilizes, I'll give you another piece. Let's aim to break through to Core Formation Stage 3 within a month!"

Looking at the sky, Jiang Fan ended his cultivation. "Let's go to the plaza. The merit point ranking is about to be announced." He looked expectant. He wondered if his merit points would be enough to exchange for a spatial storage artifact from the Heaven's Secret Pavilion's treasury.