Chapter 664: Qinghe Shangren

The two had agreed to rescue each other whenever either of them was in danger.

However, Consort Yunxia had played a little trick here. A danger that Jiang Fan faced might not necessarily be dangerous for Consort Yunxia, but a danger that Consort Yunxia encountered would be even more perilous for Jiang Fan.

After a brief thought, he decisively used 'Shadow in the Clouds,' tearing through the vast sky for thousands of feet, and appeared where Consort Yunxia was.

This location was on the back side of the mountain range. She stood on a rugged, rocky mountainside, looking at something before her with a mix of shock and delight.

It was a finger. A giant finger, taller than a human. Its skin was pale bluish-white, and its fingernail was like a steel blade. If not from an ancient giant, then whose could it be?

Jiang Fan exhaled slightly, then swept over and said, speechless: "What's all the fuss about? I thought something serious had happened to you."

Consort Yunxia shot him an annoyed look. "I was just testing if you'd really come to rescue me. You passed. If you encounter danger later, I'll save you too."

This woman! Jiang Fan was left exasperated.

He glanced at the ancient giant's severed finger in front of them, then looked around and asked: "Why haven't you put it away? Are you worried there's danger? So you called me to share the risk?"

Consort Yunxia nodded. "Exactly. Why would good fortune fall to you for free?"

Jiang Fan's mouth twitched. Some things are better left unsaid, rather than stated so bluntly.

He surveyed the surroundings; there was nothing unusual. His gaze finally settled on the severed finger. After careful examination, Jiang Fan narrowed his eyes. "It seems to be hollow underneath this severed finger?" He faintly glimpsed a dark crevice. No wonder Consort Yunxia hadn't taken the item yet. Of all places, why did the severed finger land right on top of a cave entrance? It looked like a man-made trace in every way.

"Step back a bit; we'll know once we try." Jiang Fan retreated behind a large rock some distance away. He released a Yin Corpse at the ninth level of Core Formation.

Consort Yunxia's eyebrows rose. She couldn't help but murmur, "This guy has new tricks again! How many techniques does he need to be satisfied?" She recalled the endless methods Jiang Fan had used against her in the past. It made her scalp tingle. Fortunately, they were allies now, so these methods wouldn't be used against her.

Seeing the Yin Corpse make its move, she also found a hiding spot and observed secretly. The Yin Corpse moved quickly. In no time, it reached the severed finger. With both hands, it lifted the human-sized severed finger. Behind the severed finger, a ten-foot-deep cave entrance was indeed revealed. It was clearly man-made! Someone was hiding here!

Just as the Yin Corpse, holding the severed finger, was about to retreat, suddenly, a patch of snow-white silk threads flew out of the cave without any warning. They instantly coiled around the Yin Corpse and dragged it into the cave.

Jiang Fan's pupils contracted. Weren't those snow-white threads the Tranquil Lotus Silk? And this silk... belonged to Venerable Qinghe!

"A Yin Corpse?""Venerable Thousand Corpses? Is that you?" Venerable Qinghe's aged voice came from within the cave. "No, who is outside the cave?" Venerable Qinghe immediately realized that the one who attacked was not Venerable Thousand Corpses himself. He immediately let out a majestic shout.

Jiang Fan's pupils trembled, and he saw Consort Yunxia's face also change color, looking distraught. There really was a Nascent Soul expert left here! Moreover, he was most likely severely injured. Otherwise, he wouldn't be hiding in this place. The two exchanged glances. They wisely prepared to retreat.

Jianyin Zhu had said that encountering such a Nascent Soul expert was a great opportunity. But the prerequisite was that the opportunity could only be seized after he died. Otherwise, a severely injured Nascent Soul expert was still a Nascent Soul expert. Provoking the might of a Nascent Soul would lead to a terrible outcome.

"It's you, Consort Yunxia?" For some unknown reason, Venerable Qinghe had detected Consort Yunxia's presence! Consort Yunxia's pretty face changed. She took out the Tranquil Lotus Silk from her bosom. At this moment, the thread seemed to come alive, twisting continuously in her palm. Venerable Qinghe had recognized Consort Yunxia by this. Consort Yunxia's gaze flickered for a moment. She gave Jiang Fan a look, signaling him to stay put, then revealed herself and said, "Yunxia greets Venerable Qinghe. I did not know you were here, Venerable One, and apologize for the disturbance. This junior will take her leave now."

"Wait!" Venerable Qinghe called out, stopping Consort Yunxia, and said: "My disciple is injured. Do you have any healing pills on you? Heavenly materials and earthly treasures would also suffice."

"Disciple? That's yourself, isn't it?" Consort Yunxia's mind was clear as a mirror, but she dared not expose him. She humbly replied, "To answer you, Venerable One, our demon race does not usually carry human elixirs. And as for heavenly materials and earthly treasures, most are for cultivation, not for healing."

Jiang Fan finally understood. This was why Venerable Qinghe was hiding here and had deliberately used a severed finger from an ancient giant as bait. He was trying to lure disciples of the Outer Realm Divine Sect to seize their healing elixirs. But then, why was he hiding? Even if severely injured, with his Nascent Soul realm cultivation, capturing a few Outer Realm Divine Sect disciples should still be effortless. Who was he hiding from? Jiang Fan's eyes flickered slightly.

A disappointed voice came from inside the cave. "If you don't have them, would you trouble yourself to find some? Once the task is complete, I will certainly bestow upon you the Tranquil Lotus Silk. It will guarantee the removal of all your karmic impurities." Consort Yunxia's face lit up with joy, and she said, "Alright! Yunxia will go find them for you immediately, Venerable One. Please be patient, Venerable One!" Venerable Qinghe slowly said, "Go quickly and return quickly." Consort Yunxia immediately turned and soared into the distance.

The moment she turned, a patch of snow-white silk threads shot out from the cave without warning, coiling towards Consort Yunxia. "How could I allow you to reveal my hiding place?" Venerable Qinghe let out a ruthless cold snort.

However, Consort Yunxia suddenly turned around, as if she had already anticipated this. Her nine tails behind her all unfurled. A surging aura of a Nascent Soul realm expert blasted forth. The attacking whisk threads were completely forced back.

"It seems senior is not lightly injured," Consort Yunxia said, her beautiful face chilling. "So much so that you have to resort to a sneak attack against a mere junior."

She had been wary of Venerable Qinghe all along. Having interacted with him for some time, Consort Yunxia naturally knew Venerable Qinghe's character. He appeared benevolent and kind-hearted, but in reality, he was deeply cunning.

A hint of murderous intent emanated from the cave. Venerable Qinghe said coldly, "Since you know so much, you must die! A small demon who failed her tribulation. Do you think you can turn the tables on this Venerable One?!"

*Rip* — A cold light flashed! The retreating whisk threads gathered into a blade, slashing instantly. Consort Yunxia's expression changed drastically. Her nine tails shielded her front, attempting to block the attack. *Thud* — However, in an instant, all nine tails were severed, and blood spurted skyward. Consort Yunxia let out a pained groan, and her condensed Nascent Soul aura was immediately shattered. Among those at the peak of the ninth level of Core Formation, she was undoubtedly a top-tier cultivator, having survived a tribulation. But in front of a true Nascent Soul expert, she was only slightly stronger than an ant. Core Formation and Nascent Soul – they were almost beings of entirely different levels!

What was even more terrifying was that the giant blade formed by the whisk threads did not lose momentum. It was about to cleave Consort Yunxia in two! In this critical moment, a colossal mountain descended from the sky and slammed onto the giant blade. The giant blade's momentum was momentarily halted. Jiang Fan seized the opportunity, swept out, embraced Consort Yunxia by the waist, and rapidly retreated.

"There's someone else?" Venerable Qinghe's voice suddenly turned grim. He was truly injured, and it was a severe injury. So much so that he hadn't detected someone hiding nearby. His murderous intent grew even stronger. With a shake, the giant blade sent the small-mountain-like Five Magnetic Origin Mountain flying. It then slashed towards the two figures in the distance!

Jiang Fan's pupils constricted. This was a true Nascent Soul strike! He roared, "Stop! Unless you want to perish together!"