Chapter 673: Agreement

Jiang Fan was taken aback and said gravely, "As a captive, who would inform me about this? I've unintentionally overheard your demon race talking about Priestess Lingyin, and everyone says she's very mysterious."

Jiuyin Zhu's mood seemed a bit troubled. She seemed to want to say something but held back. Ultimately, she dropped the topic, unwilling to say more, to avoid bringing trouble upon herself.

"This spiritual pill..." Jiuyin Zhu looked at the Soul Nourishing Pill, her face filled with hidden worry. Clearly, she was concerned there was an issue.

Jiang Fan mused, "The pill itself should be fine overall. If Priestess Lingyin truly wanted to harm Concubine Yunxia, she could simply let her remain in a coma. There's no need for her to specifically send a pill, expending effort only to gain a bad reputation."

Jiuyin Zhu sighed softly, "I know. It's just that her actions have always been unpredictable. If this pill is taken, I worry about potential hidden dangers."

But looking at Concubine Yunxia's unconscious state, she had no other choice. She could only give the spiritual pill to Concubine Yunxia.

The pill's effects were excellent; Concubine Yunxia immediately showed a faint glimmer of consciousness. Jiang Fan breathed a sigh of relief. A huge burden was finally lifted from his chest. If Concubine Yunxia had died because of him, he would have felt guilty for a lifetime.

"Young Master Jiang," Jiuyin Zhu said, "allow Concubine Yunxia to rest for a while. It won't be too late for you to depart for the Demon Emperor's Cave once her soul has fully recovered."

Jiang Fan nodded, "No problem, let her rest and recover well. It just so happens that I also need to cultivate in seclusion for a few days."

Returning to his cave dwelling, he saw a graceful figure bending over, tidying up his bed. Her slender waist was too narrow to grasp, and her shapely buttocks created a peach-like outline beneath her light green dress.

Sensing someone behind her, the graceful figure turned her head to look.

"Brother, are you alright? You've been gone so long, Lingshu was worried sick about you." Lingshu's delicate face lit up with joy as she rushed over, examining Jiang Fan from head to toe. She asked with concern, "Brother, are you injured?"

Jiang Fan smiled gently. He took her soft, warm hand. "Don't ever risk your life for me like that again. It's not worth it."

Lingshu's fair cheeks visibly reddened, and she shyly withdrew her hand. But she noticed there was something extra in her palm. She opened her hand to look. It was a small jade box.

Inside, it contained a clear, viscous spiritual liquid. Even through the jade box, she could feel her heart's longing for the liquid within.

"Brother, what is this?" Lingshu asked, puzzled.

Jiang Fan said, "It's the secret to Liuli breaking through two levels overnight. For you, reaching the eighth level of the Core Formation realm shouldn't be a problem."

Lingshu's face showed surprise and delight. Was this the mysterious opportunity she had been yearning for? She cradled it in her hands, turning it over and over, reluctant to let go.

Jiang Fan said, "You saved me; consider this a small token of my gratitude." Hearing this, Lingshu's smile faded.

Holding the small jade box, she pondered for a moment, then took Jiang Fan's hand and returned the box to him. "Then I don't want it."

"Why not?" Jiang Fan was taken aback. Hadn't Lingshu been approaching him precisely for the liquid? Now that she had it, she didn't want it? Could she be playing a psychological game of 'to catch, first release'?

Lingshu brushed her hair back, and a hint of apology appeared in her clear eyes: "When you risked your life to seal the Blood Skirt for me and the Sea Demon King, I felt utterly ashamed. Because I approached you with an ulterior motive. With your keen senses, you must have felt that I wasn't sincere towards you. Yet, you still did that for me. I treated you with insincerity, but you repaid me with sincerity. I feel unworthy of this spiritual liquid."

So that's how it was. Jiang Fan smiled faintly. Holding her small hand, he placed the liquid back into her palm. "Actions speak louder than intentions; judging by intentions alone, no one would be considered a saint. Regardless of your initial thoughts, what you ultimately did was sacrifice yourself to save me. This kindness must be repaid."

Upon hearing this, Lingshu's red lips slightly pursed, and her gaze trembled. A warmth spread through her heart, as if something within her had melted.

However, after thinking for a moment, she still said, "I don't want the spiritual liquid. Can I exchange it for something else?"

Jiang Fan nodded, "Tell me."

Lingshu's small face flushed slightly, but her eyes sparkled with irrepressible light: "Do you remember that grassland? The one where the wind sweeps the grass low, revealing cattle and sheep? I'd like it if, after the war between humans and demons ends, after peace returns, you could stay with me on the grassland for a while. A year... no, a month would be fine. Would that be alright?"

She still remembered that grassland. It was truly unforgettable to her.

Jiang Fan said without hesitation, "Okay."

Lingshu's eyes suddenly lit up, and she gasped, covering her mouth, "Thank you, Brother! Thank you, Brother!" She hadn't expected Jiang Fan to agree.

Jiang Fan smiled, placing the liquid into her palm: "I'll be with you on the grassland, watching the clouds drift by and listening to the stars whisper. I'll chop wood with you, read books, and herd sheep and horses. But first, you must raise your cultivation level. You must reach the ninth level of Core Formation!"

Lingshu nodded repeatedly in surprise and delight, "It's a deal! I will definitely break through to the ninth level of Core Formation! I'll go cultivate right now!" She put away the liquid and ran back to her own cave dwelling, full of anticipation.

A warm expression appeared on Jiang Fan's face. He closed the stone door, then sat cross-legged in meditation.

Several days later, he was awakened by a knock on the door. After several days of recuperation, he had continuously broken through to the fourth and fifth levels of the Core Formation realm, and his cultivation had stabilized somewhat. But it was still far from enough. He needed practical combat experience to truly solidify it. His unstable cultivation had led to the leakage of Void Current Thunder Energy, causing immense trouble. He definitely didn't want to experience such a situation a second time.

Hearing the knock, he got up and opened the door, his eyes met by an exquisitely beautiful, ethereal figure. Her beauty was enough to captivate a nation, like an exiled immortal walking among mortals.

"Your soul injury is healed?" Seeing her fully awake, a hint of joy appeared in Jiang Fan's eyes.

Concubine Yunxia froze for a moment. Before, Jiang Fan had treated her harshly, ruthlessly. His sudden concern for her made her feel a bit unaccustomed.

"I'm fine," Concubine Yunxia said, "but I feel like there's something extra in my body." Could Jiuyin Zhu have been right? Did Priestess Lingyin have another motive for sending the pill?

"Let me take your pulse." Jiang Fan gravely took her hand and immediately began to check.

Concubine Yunxia's face flushed, and she quickly withdrew her hand, saying, "It's nothing serious, you don't need to be anxious."

It was strange. In the past, if Jiang Fan had touched her hand like that, she would have absolutely rebuked him. But now, her temper wasn't so severe.

Jiang Fan didn't notice any of this. He frowned, lost in thought. Although he had only checked once, he confirmed that there was indeed an indescribable, mysterious power within Concubine Yunxia's body. It tightly coiled around Concubine Yunxia's Core. It was extremely tenacious.

"What exactly does Lingyin want?" Jiang Fan was completely bewildered.

"Alright, don't overthink it," Concubine Yunxia said. "Hurry up and get ready. We need to go to the Tiger Demon Emperor's Cave dwelling. Its opening isn't far off. Also, I have good news and bad news for you. Which one do you want to hear first?"

Jiang Fan said, "Let's hear the good news first."

Concubine Yunxia nodded gently, saying, "You can leave the demon lands and return to the human realm."