Chapter 437: The Origin Place of the Giant Sect

That won't do!

Liu Qingxian was anxious. The Giant Sect wouldn't listen to reason. If they found the Violet Sword, they would definitely apprehend Jiang Fan!

With a creak, the courtyard gate behind him opened.

Jiang Fan appeared calm, his hands clasped behind his back. "Senior Sister, it's fine," he said. "My conscience is clear, so what do I have to fear from an inspection? Your evasiveness will only make me look suspicious."

Liu Qingxian was stunned for a moment. Was it really alright? Or had Jiang Fan already hidden the sword? She said uncertainly, "Junior Brother, you don't have to be afraid of them."

Jiang Fan waved his hand, cutting her off. He turned his gaze to Kong Yuanba. "Regarding the death of your sect's Grand Elder, I am personally willing to cooperate with the investigation," he stated. "However, by extensively searching the residences of Qingyun Sect disciples like this, where do you place the dignity of the Qingyun Sect?"

Jin Zhongming said, seething with killing intent, "Who's wasting time talking to you? Go! Search inside! Anyone who resists will be killed!" The disciples behind him immediately responded, surging forward.

Jiang Fan, expressionless, blocked the center of the doorway, neither releasing spiritual energy nor offering any resistance. He allowed Jin Zhongming's bull-like body to charge straight at him.

Seeing this, Kong Yuanba immediately shouted, "Stop!" He only wanted to conduct a search, not cause Jiang Fan any serious harm! If it was truly confirmed that Jiang Fan was the real culprit behind Tie Bubai's death, then Jiang Fan would deserve to die, and the two Vice Pavilion Masters would have nothing to say. But if there was no evidence and Jiang Fan was killed, he would lose his own head.

"What do you want?" Kong Yuanba snorted. After returning from Taihu, he carefully recalled what Jiang Fan had said about the person holding the jade token dying under a mysterious fierce creature. He always felt something was off, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly where the flaw was. He learned that an extremely powerful masked young man had once wielded a Violet Sword. It was hard for him not to connect Jiang Fan, who was also very powerful, with the masked figure. What was even more coincidental was that Jiang Fan had been nearby when the jade token was activated. This was why he had mobilized such a large force when he learned Jiang Fan wasn't in the square. He had already grown suspicious of Jiang Fan. If it turned out to be Jiang Fan's doing, it would be perfect: first, he would get revenge; second, the two Vice Pavilion Masters would have no objections; and third, his worries would be completely resolved. It would be killing three birds with one stone.

"It's simple," Jiang Fan said calmly. "If you want to search us, you must offer a price that my sect considers reasonable."

Jin Zhongming, seeing the halberd stuck in the center of the courtyard, immediately fumed. "What right do you have to negotiate with us?" he said coldly. "Master, ignore him, he's definitely the culprit!"

However, after staring at Jiang Fan for several breaths, Kong Yuanba slowly nodded. "Alright! As compensation for offending the Qingyun Sect, I will offer some spirit stones to the two of you."

Jiang Fan casually took out a spirit stone card with a 100,000 credit limit and waved it in front of them. "I don't lack spirit stones, and there's no need to offer your Giant Sect's pills or cultivation techniques, as I'm not short on those either."

Kong Yuanba subtly ground his back teeth. He didn't want this, nor did he want that. Could it be that he wanted his Void Lotus? There was no way he would give that. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "Since you lack nothing, how about I give you a spot to explore a cave dwelling? Are you interested?"

"Explore a cave dwelling?" Jiang Fan showed a puzzled expression.

Jin Zhongming's expression changed. "Master, how can you do that?" he exclaimed. "That's a treasure ground of our Giant Sect. The sect's supreme secret scripture, the 'Iron Blood True Scripture,' was discovered there!"

"What?" Jiang Fan's heart pounded wildly. The immense help the 'Iron Blood True Scripture' had given him was self-evident. At least thirty percent of his current achievements could be attributed to this 'Iron Blood True Scripture.' Only now did he realize that the 'Iron Blood True Scripture' was not an ancestral heirloom of the Giant Sect. Instead, it had been excavated from a certain cave dwelling.

Kong Yuanba cast a sidelong glance at Jin Zhongming. "When I, your master, make a decision, when is it your turn to interrupt?" he said. He then turned back to Jiang Fan. "As you've heard," he continued, "this cave dwelling can be considered the origin place for my Giant Sect. Hundreds of years ago, the Giant Sect's founding patriarch discovered this place and learned many body techniques from it, using them to establish the Giant Sect. This secret realm has never allowed outsiders to enter. You and Liu Qingxian will be the first. Is this sincerity enough to compensate your Qingyun Sect?"

Jiang Fan was greatly tempted. This was the source of a great opportunity that had founded a sect. One could imagine how many incredible treasures had once appeared inside. However, he remained calm. "This secret realm has already been explored by you for hundreds of years. Even broken tiles buried ten zhang underground should have been found by now. What new opportunities could there possibly be?"

Kong Yuanba replied, "That's hard to say. Our sect's 'Iron Blood True Scripture' was only discovered a few decades ago. What if, by chance, you discover something extraordinary? At that time, I might even be willing to trade the Void Lotus for it."

Jiang Fan feigned contemplation. In truth, he genuinely wanted to go and see. The person who left behind the 'Iron Blood True Scripture' might have also left even more astonishing things. Since it was a free opportunity, why not try it?

"Where is this place? And will it delay us from carrying out our mission?" Jiang Fan asked again.

Kong Yuanba replied, "It's in the Northern Region, not far from the front lines of combat. As long as you accept a frontline combat mission, you can go there conveniently."

Jiang Fan no longer had any doubts. "Alright!" he said. "I agree! You can search!"

He had Little Qilin with him. With Little Qilin's perception of spiritual objects, things the Giant Sect couldn't find might not escape Little Qilin's senses. If something truly was found then, the Giant Sect shouldn't regret it!

Kong Yuanba's eyes flashed. "Search!" he commanded. Jin Zhongming immediately led his men excitedly into the courtyard and began searching everywhere. Inside and outside the house, every possible hiding place for a sword was thoroughly searched.

"Impossible!" he declared, convinced that the mysterious masked youth was Jiang Fan. How could they not find it? "Dig three feet deep!"

*Grunting and clanking sounds* They indeed dug up the ground and searched downwards. Naturally, they found nothing. It took them a full half day. The ground inside and outside the small courtyard was completely torn up, but no sword was found hidden.

Jin Zhongming stared at Jiang Fan, a bit unwilling. "Where did you hide the sword?" he demanded.

Jiang Fan drew Aishuang from his back. "This is the only sword I have," he said. "If you insist on convicting me, then take this and just dye it purple. Or, you can search my person yourself. Perhaps that Violet Sword can fold into a ball and fit into my embrace?"

Jin Zhongming snorted, "Do you think I wouldn't dare search you?" With that, he charged forward.

"Enough!" Kong Yuanba frowned. This had been a surprise operation. Jiang Fan couldn't have hidden the Violet Sword beforehand. Moreover, they had dug three feet deep. If the sword truly existed, it would have been found by now. It seemed they had truly mistaken their target.

"Let's go!" Kong Yuanba turned to leave.

Jiang Fan, however, stopped him. "Sect Master Kong, have you forgotten something?" he asked.

Kong Yuanba's face fell. He unhappily took out a bronze token. "Take it!" he snapped. "With this token, you can enter the cave dwelling at any time, but only for one day!"

Jiang Fan caught it and smiled. "Safe travels, Sect Master Kong!" He watched as they grandly departed.

Jiang Fan let out a slight sigh of relief. Fortunately, he had timely put all his things into the Sky Thunder Stone space. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

"Xiao Fan, you scared me to death just now!" Liu Qingxian patted her full, rounded chest. She let out a long breath, reproaching him, "I thought you were a goner!"

Jiang Fan quickly made a shushing gesture. "Let's not mention this matter again," he said. "Guard me, I need to break through to Core Formation."

Liu Qingxian nodded instinctively. "En, alright... wait! What did you say? Break through to Core Formation?"