Chapter 439: I Can Go Back and Ask for a Gift?

"You... weren't you at the perfected ninth level of Foundation Establishment?"

Lin Yuheng felt a sense of temporal disorientation, much like Liu Qingxian had earlier. Had she and Jiang Fan really only been apart for half a day?

Jiang Fan said, "Half a day ago, I was indeed at the perfected ninth level of Foundation Establishment. Haven't I broken through now?"

What kind of talk was that? For someone at the perfected ninth level of Foundation Establishment to break through to Core Formation with a single Qi Pill would already be an extraordinary feat. How could one directly break through to the second level of Core Formation? She hadn't just never seen such a bizarre thing; she had never even heard of it!

She dismounted and immediately grabbed Jiang Fan's wrist to check his meridians, sensing them carefully in disbelief. But that strong, powerful spiritual energy—what else could it be but the second level of Core Formation?

"He really broke through to the second level of Core Formation!" Lin Yuheng exclaimed in shock. If she hadn't seen Jiang Fan in action before, confirming he was indeed at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment just half a day ago, she would never have believed that someone could break through from the ninth level of Foundation Establishment directly to the second level of Core Formation!

Jiang Fan smiled, "Just luck. Let's not talk about it anymore; I'm delaying Senior Lin from her official duties." He placed a bundle into Lin Yuheng's hand and said, "It's a small token of my appreciation, Senior Lin, please accept it."

Lin Yuheng really wanted to grab Jiang Fan and question him thoroughly. However, Luo Dongcheng beside her impatiently urged her on, so she could only remount, saying meaningfully: "You truly surprise me every time we meet. I wonder to what extent you'll surprise me next time."

She spurred her horse forward. As they left Sunset City, she became preoccupied and sighed repeatedly. Jiang Fan was so outstanding; his reputation would only grow. When the Heavenly Secret Pavilion recruited disciples, many would likely be vying for him. It might not be easy for her to take Jiang Fan as her disciple.

"Special Envoy Lin, you're really generous with this Jiang Fan," Luo Dongcheng chuckled softly. "Not only did you give him the Qi Pill you had, but you also plan to find another for him. You've given so much, only to receive a few words of thanks and a small bundle of gifts."

Sensing the slight hint of unworthiness in his words on her behalf, Lin Yuheng found it awkward to mention her intention to take Jiang Fan as a disciple. She could only say a few good words for Jiang Fan, "This child is very polite. Whatever he gave, it was his genuine intention. Whether it's valuable or not is no longer important. He was going to give you a share just now, but you directly refused, which somewhat hurt his feelings."

Luo Dongcheng was unconcerned, making no attempt to hide his disdain: "I've traveled countless miles; even my own belongings feel like a burden. Why would I want some worthless trinket from a junior disciple?"

Lin Yuheng was a little angry. No matter what, Jiang Fan had good intentions. Slandering someone like that was truly undignified.

"Yes, yes, Special Envoy Luo, you're wealthy, alright? You don't care for it, but I do!" She stopped being polite. Picking up the bundle Jiang Fan had given her, it felt heavy, quite substantial. She wondered what was inside. Curious, she untied the bundle, wanting to see what thoughtful gift Jiang Fan had prepared for her.

Luo Dongcheng, standing by, curled his lip. He couldn't be bothered to look. He could tell with his toes that it was surely something junior disciples thought was precious, but in the eyes of powerful cultivators like them, it would be nothing but worthless trash.

"Huh? What is this?" Lin Yuheng let out a soft exclamation. Looking at the bundle full of glistening, translucent spiritual meat, she showed a puzzled expression. She took out a small piece. After confirming it was the spiritual meat of a demonic beast, not some random strange item, she cautiously put it into her mouth and tasted it.

Instantly, an incredibly pure spiritual energy surged into her Golden Core. Her seventh-level Core Formation realm, which had been stagnant for several years despite consuming many rare treasures, showed signs of loosening.

"Ah? This... what kind of spiritual meat is this? It's still useful for a late-stage Core Formation cultivator like me?" At her level, ordinary rare treasures had long lost their effect. To break through, she needed an extraordinary stroke of luck. Yet, just a taste of this unknown spiritual meat had a tremendous effect! This made her exclaim repeatedly in astonishment.

Luo Dongcheng scoffed, "Is there a need to exaggerate so much? If you want to praise him, just praise him. There's no need for this." He thought Lin Yuheng was trying to forcefully inflate the value of Jiang Fan's gift. Such exaggerated behavior, he felt, was very childish.

But after a long moment, he received no response from Lin Yuheng. He turned his head and saw Lin Yuheng hastily closing the bundle, as if afraid he would see it.

Luo Dongcheng laughed in exasperation, "A junior disciple's junk, would I really covet it?" Wasn't that underestimating him, Luo Dongcheng, too much?

However, when he caught a glimpse of a corner of the spiritual meat in the bundle, his expression drastically changed, and he exclaimed: "Millennium spiritual meat? It's millennium spiritual meat!!!"

"How is that possible?"

Lin Yuheng quickly closed the bundle and firmly tied it to herself, saying expressionlessly: "You saw wrong. They're just some worthless small gifts."

After a brief moment of confusion, Lin Yuheng also realized that this spiritual meat was extraordinary. So she quickly put it away, lest Luo Dongcheng see it. Unexpectedly, he still discovered it and recognized it.

"I couldn't be wrong!" Luo Dongcheng's face was full of shock: "When I was young, I once obtained spiritual meat from a two-hundred-year-old beast. It was the meat of a rare spirit turtle, and it allowed my cultivation to break through from the third level of Core Formation to the fourth! What's in your bundle, I absolutely won't mistake it! It's at least millennium-grade spiritual meat!" He clasped his head. With a look of disbelief, "That kid, he actually gave you an entire bundle of millennium spiritual meat? That much is enough for you to break through to the eighth level of Core Formation!"

It was only then that he realized what Jiang Fan had given wasn't a burden or trash. It was a great opportunity! An opportunity that late-stage Core Formation martial artists could only dream of!

What made his face stiffen was that Jiang Fan had also intended to give him a portion just now. He... he refused! Thinking of this, his face turned green. He gritted his teeth and, with a flushed old face, said, "Special Envoy Lin, could you accompany me back for a moment?" Jiang Fan had only given him a gift out of consideration for Lin Yuheng. If he went to Jiang Fan alone, the boy wouldn't even acknowledge him.

"No!" Lin Yuheng refused without hesitation. Jiang Fan had kindly offered you a gift just now, and you disdained it. Now that you've discovered it's a good thing, you want to run back and ask for it? And you want her to go with you? She, Lin Yuheng, couldn't bear such a humiliation, asking a junior for gifts.

Luo Dongcheng was so remorseful his intestines turned green, slapping his thigh, he said, "I was a bit arrogant just now. Special Envoy Lin, please be kind and accompany me back once more!"

Lin Yuheng gave him a disdainful look. She said unceremoniously, "If you want to go, go by yourself. Don't drag me along to make a fool of myself!"

Knowing he couldn't get another portion, Luo Dongcheng eyed the bundle on Lin Yuheng's body. "Then... could you share a little bit with me to taste? We've worked together for many years; surely we have at least this much consideration?"

Seeing him shamelessly beg for the spiritual meat, Lin Yuheng was both annoyed and amused. Weren't you disdainful of the gift just now? Weren't you complaining it was a burden? Now you're begging? She felt particularly satisfied; it served him right for looking down on Jiang Fan! Nevertheless, she still broke off a small strip about the size of an index finger: "This is all you get. Take it or leave it."

Luo Dongcheng held it in both hands, momentarily unsure whether to cry or to laugh. The chance to break through, which had been within his grasp, was just gone! Now, he only wanted to quickly complete his current mission, then properly mend his relationship with Jiang Fan. He hoped to gain his favor and get a portion of spiritual meat for himself too.

Speaking of Jiang Fan. After seeing Lin Yuheng off, he didn't idle. Instead, he returned to the thatched hut. He closed his eyes and entered a meditative state. He still had an extremely important task to do.

"Finally, I've reached Core Formation. It's time to visit the Grand Void Ancient Tree!" Jiang Fan murmured, his tone holding deep excitement. Because, upon reaching the Core Formation realm, he could once again pick a cultivation technique. A technique that had never existed on the lands of the Nine Sects... a soul attack method!