Chapter 467: Exchange of Treasures

"Jiang Fan!"

Fu Chaojun instinctively leaped to his feet.

He stared intently at him.

His breathing became erratic!

He could never forget.

For a century, he had been the strongest sound-path prodigy in the Nine Sects region, yet he was effortlessly surpassed in sound-path cultivation by an unknown Qingyun Sect disciple.

He also couldn't forget.

By the Nu River, as the chief disciple of the Heavenly Sound Sect, he was beaten miserably and disgracefully by a waste known for having no spirit root. It was the Grand Elder who, enduring humiliation, used his own natal magic artifact to save Fu Chaojun's life!

Such humiliation felt like a nightmare to Fu Chaojun. For two months, every time he closed his eyes, he was haunted by scenes of unbearable shame. It was this humiliation that drove him to strive forward, gritting his teeth. He miraculously broke through to the third level of Core Formation one after another. His sound-path cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, and he successfully comprehended the first stance of the *Tiger Roar Dragon Chant Art*!

The entire sect was invigorated! Even the Grand Supreme Elders emerged from seclusion to offer their congratulations. That temporary setback had forged him into who he was today. He believed he could now contend with Liang Feiyan and even Jin Zhongming in terms of strength. As for Jiang Fan, he had likely been left far behind. Now, seeing Jiang Fan again, he was filled with mixed emotions.

Jiang Fan chuckled, "What, still holding a grudge?"

Fu Chaojun had once thought that when he met Jiang Fan again, he would definitely wash away his previous shame. But seeing him in person, he felt relieved instead. He was now a top prodigy of the Nine Sects, comparable to Liang Feiyan and Jin Zhongming. His achievements had already wiped away the humiliation. There was no need to challenge a weaker opponent to prove himself.

"It's all in the past," Fu Chaojun said calmly. "Besides, I have you to thank for where I am today."

"Today?" Jiang Fan examined Fu Chaojun, slightly surprised.

Xie Liushu had personally witnessed the animosity between the two. He kindly reminded, "Junior Brother Jiang, Senior Brother Fu's strength has advanced by leaps and bounds recently. His cultivation has reached the third level of Core Formation, and he has even mastered the Heavenly Sound Sect's unique technique, the *Tiger Roar Dragon Chant Art*. He displayed immense power when he ambushed the Ape-Monkey Beast King earlier." He paused, then added, "Senior Brother Fu has put aside past grievances. Junior Brother Jiang, please also let go of the past and help Senior Brother Fu in fighting the enemies. Cooperating will benefit both of you greatly."

Back then, Fu Chaojun was only at the first level of Core Formation. In just two months, he had broken through to the third level and had also comprehended the *Tiger Roar Dragon Chant Art*. This progress could be described as miraculous.

As for Xie Liushu's attempt to mediate, Jiang Fan smiled, "Senior Brother Xie, you exaggerate. What happened that day was settled that day; there's nothing to 'let go of.' Later, everyone will work together to resist the beast tide. The number of these beast kings isn't too large; if the few of us join forces, we should be able to eliminate all of them without much trouble."

Fu Chaojun slightly furrowed his brow. This guy wasn't surprised at all by his immense surge in strength? Although he claimed to have let go of the past, he still hoped to see some shock or apprehension on Jiang Fan's face. Could Jiang Fan have also made huge progress during this time? This thought was immediately dismissed by Fu Chaojun as soon as it arose. His progress was nothing short of explosive in the Nine Sects region; it was very difficult to replicate. At best, Jiang Fan would only be at the second level of Core Formation now.

Thinking this, he couldn't help but adopt the tone of a superior and educate Jiang Fan, saying: "Since you're new to the front lines, don't underestimate these beast kings. Although their strength is only at the first or second level of Core Formation and they don't seem particularly powerful, they are skilled at coordinated attacks! They are not comparable to a mere Red-scaled Flood Dragon." He intentionally referenced the Red-scaled Flood Dragon Jiang Fan had slain back then. The implication was, 'Don't be conceited just because of your past achievements.'

Xie Liushu rubbed his nose. He felt that Jiang Fan was also a bit blindly arrogant. The approaching beast tide had at least thirty beast kings. Relying solely on three chief disciples plus Jiang Fan, even eliminating twenty of them would be an astonishing achievement. To eliminate all of them, without missing a single one, was somewhat arrogant.

*Swish*—

Just then, two figures arrived one after another. They were Xia Chaoge and Liang Feiyan. The two scanned their surroundings and said, "We didn't see any sign of those guys." The three of them had searched separately, but found nothing.

Jiang Fan wasn't surprised. "They've likely hidden themselves," he said. "They want to replicate the situation on the mountaintop. When we are locked in a stalemate with the beast kings, they will strike from behind."

Liang Feiyan nodded. "We'll follow Junior Brother Jiang's plan! If they don't come, fine. But if they dare to, we'll make sure they never return!"

"Junior Sister Xia? Senior Brother Liang?" Fu Chaojun was immediately filled with pleasant surprise. Although he didn't understand what the three of them were whispering about, their arrival greatly boosted his morale. He glanced at Jiang Fan, finally understanding where this guy's confidence came from. It wasn't because Jiang Fan's strength had improved significantly, but because Xia Chaoge and Liang Feiyan had joined them! Especially Xia Chaoge! As the pinnacle of combat prowess among her peers in the Nine Sects region, her participation alone was enough to eliminate the entire beast tide before them!

Upon hearing this, Xia Chaoge and Liang Feiyan nodded to each of the three chief disciples present. They then positioned themselves on either side of Jiang Fan, subtly indicating that he was their leader. This scene was noticed by the sharp-witted Ouyang Jun. He asked, puzzled, "Junior Brother Jiang, which sect are you from? Why have I never seen you before?" In his mind, he should have encountered such a formidable elite disciple before. Why was he so unfamiliar?

Jiang Fan also noticed Ouyang Jun. He had a deep impression of this forging prodigy from the Thousand Forging Sect. He slightly turned his body, revealing the Mourning Frost Sword on his back. Jiang Fan said with a half-smile, "Young Master Ouyang, have you forgotten me so quickly?"

Only then did Ouyang Jun spot the Mourning Frost Sword. He immediately recalled the mysterious masked youth from the small disciple trade fair in Hehuan City! This was the person who, with just a few punches, had crippled Sun Chaozong using only his physical body! Later, he had even traded the sharp claws of a Silver-winged Thunder Roc for the high-grade magic artifact, the Mourning Frost Sword, which Ouyang Jun had personally forged.

"So it was you!" "Your name is Jiang Fan?" Ouyang Jun slapped his thigh. "I've been looking for you everywhere! Do you have any more Silver-winged Thunder Roc claws? That material is incredibly useful! However many you have, I want them all."

The Silver-winged Thunder Roc's claws contained a trace of lightning attribute. This had allowed him to successfully forge a rare high-grade lightning-attributed magic artifact. The elders of the Thousand Forging Sect had fiercely contended for it. Even several Grand Supreme Elders had emerged to try and claim it.

Jiang Fan laughed helplessly, "Where would I find so many Silver-winged Thunder Rocs?"

Ouyang Jun looked greatly disappointed. "Oh, I prepared quite a few good things," he said.

Jiang Fan was quite satisfied with Ouyang Jun's artifacts. Moreover, he didn't believe that Ouyang Jun only possessed high-grade magic artifacts. He pondered, "I don't have any Silver-winged Thunder Roc claws left. However, I have a much higher-grade claw. I just don't know if you have anything of equivalent value to trade for it."

While cultivating in the Sword Forest, the Sky-devouring Tiger failed to attack Jiang Fan and even had a section of its claw severed. As one of the four great demon kings of the Demon Emperor, its claw was extraordinarily valuable.

Ouyang Jun shook his head and sighed, "I only want the Silver-winged Thunder Roc's claws. Other materials are all available in Sunset City; if I wanted them, I would have traded for them long ago." Things weren't like before. As the war intensified, previously scarce demon beast materials were becoming increasingly common in Sunset City. With diligent searching, one could even find materials from beast kings at the fifth level of Core Formation. At best, Jiang Fan would only have beast king materials from the first or second level of Core Formation, right? Their usefulness was negligible.

Jiang Fan chuckled meaningfully, "Not interested in this either?" He reached into his embrace, pretending to take something from his pocket, and retrieved the tiger claw from the Heavenly Thunder Stone.

Before Ouyang Jun's gaze could even sweep over it, he was already politely declining. "I apologize," he said. "This item, I... My heavens! A demon beast material from the complete ninth level of Core Formation?"