Upon returning to Qingyun Sect, Jiang Fan first visited the medicine garden. Given his contributions to the sect, the high-grade medicinal herbs that were once forbidden to pick were now entirely at his disposal. After gathering enough herbs, he decisively entered seclusion to refine elixirs.
Three days later, he handed a hundred Rejuvenation Pills and over twenty pieces of cut spirit meat to Liu Wenchen, instructing him to distribute them. The Rejuvenation Pills could save lives, while the spirit meat would enable the elders and grand elders to advance their strength by another level. In the near future, Qingyun Sect should be able to produce cultivators at the perfected Core Formation Ninth Level. This was Jiang Fan's small gift to the sect before his departure.
Next, he went to Xu Youran's room, where she was still caring for the unconscious Xu Yining. "Still not awake after all this time?" Jiang Fan wondered. He had checked her; it was only a minor impact injury. It shouldn't have caused her to remain unconscious until now.
Xu Youran sighed softly, "Perhaps my sister has been through too much and doesn't want to wake up?"
Jiang Fan fell silent. First, she had been humiliated in front of all Nine Sects. Then, she had witnessed her master die protecting her. Within a single day, her mental state had suffered a tremendous blow. With a slight sigh, he silently took out three Pure Void Pills. These were the same pills he had used when he broke through to the Core Formation realm, capable of directly advancing one to the second level of Core Formation. It was only after acquiring the Void Lotus from Kong Yuanba that Jiang Fan had been able to refine these.
"You and Siling each take one; it'll be enough for both of you to break through to the second level of Core Formation," he said. "Keep the remaining one for her future use."
Xu Youran, moved, replied, "Thank you, husband. Yining will be very happy when she wakes up."
Jiang Fan nodded. "We'll be departing tomorrow morning. I'll cultivate for one more night. You take care of Yining." He returned to his secret chamber and began tallying the gains from his return from the Tiger Demon Emperor's cave. He had been rushing all the way and had no time for a detailed inventory.
He first took out a bottle of pills. They were crimson, the Fragrant Corpse Pills. "These are good items," he muttered. After a series of practical combat tests, it had to be said that the Fragrant Corpse Pills proved to be an excellent tool for surprise attacks. Unfortunately, only five remained.
Next, Jiang Fan took out an iron figurine. It also belonged to Wang Chongxiao and was engraved with the Great Yin Sect's Yin Corpse Art. "This item contains the Great Yin Sect's secret cultivation method; its value is no less than the Lightning Origin Token of the Myriad Tribulation Holy Palace," he mused. "I'll find an opportunity to sell it for a high price."
Subsequently, he took out a bronze cauldron engraved with mountain and river patterns. It was also looted from Wang Chongxiao. "My brother certainly has a lot of good stuff," Jiang Fan chuckled, smiling faintly as he carefully examined the Mountain River Cauldron. This was a spirit artifact. He wondered what its power was. He tried to inject a bit of spiritual energy into it, but the Mountain River Cauldron showed no reaction. It looked like an ordinary small cauldron.
"That's not right," he thought. "If it were truly ordinary, Wang Chongxiao wouldn't have been so furious about losing it." Jiang Fan stroked his chin, pondering: "This cauldron shouldn't be an offensive spirit artifact. Otherwise, he would have used it when we fought. It's most likely an auxiliary type. In that case..." He looked into the Mountain River Cauldron. After a thought, he casually picked up a leftover medicinal herb from beside him and tossed it into the cauldron. Then he injected spiritual energy again.
*Whoosh* — A scene that astonished Jiang Fan occurred. The herb disappeared instantly.
"Gone?" he exclaimed. "No, wait." Jiang Fan gazed intently and found a drop of viscous liquid inside the cauldron. It emitted the rich fragrance of the medicinal herb.
"Oh?" Jiang Fan exclaimed in surprise, "A single herb condensed into one drop? Could this small cauldron's purpose be to condense the essence of objects? But what use is that?" He thought carefully. For a moment, he couldn't think of any practical use for it. He sighed with some disappointment, "It seems not all spirit artifacts are treasures. The Mountain River Cauldron is an exception, a mere trifle." Shaking his head, he disdainfully tossed it into the Sky Thunder Stone.
Next, he took out a scripture. On its cover were the three characters: "Oblivion Charm." It was clearly the Daoist scripture he had obtained from Qingde. Back then, Qingde had cast a single spell that caused everyone, including Consort Yunxia, to fall unconscious. Jiang Fan had been extremely envious of this. Now, he finally had time to study it. He eagerly opened the scripture and meticulously read it.
After a long while, he couldn't help but murmur: "Rather than a charm, it's more like a soul secret art. The power of this charm depends on the strength of one's soul; the stronger the soul, the greater the power of the released charm. Qingde was only at the perfected Core Formation Ninth Level, yet he managed to stun Consort Yunxia, who had already undergone tribulation. With my soul approaching the Nascent Soul realm, my execution of it should only be stronger, not weaker." A trace of anticipation appeared in his eyes, and he immediately began cultivating.
The next day, Jiang Fan's eyes shone brightly. He recited softly, clearly:"Nine stars in heaven, nine palaces on earth.I have a hundred knots, myriad spirits follow.Three corpses concealed, five organs flowing.Three dantians, four limbs, movement and rest within.Dragon, tiger, Eight Trigrams, await my beautiful face.Ghosts, demons, myriad spirits, do not hinder the true official."
Wisps of profound soul fluctuations radiated in all directions as the chant was uttered. The little Qilin had just woken up, fully rested. It wanted to get up to find some food to fill its belly. Suddenly, it heard a strange chanting sound. It perked up its ears and listened. Before it heard two full sentences, its eyes rolled back, and it collapsed limply to the ground. It then continued to sleep.
Jiang Fan smiled faintly. "It's essentially mastered," he thought. "As long as the enemy doesn't preemptively seal their five senses, a sudden strike will affect even a perfected Core Formation Ninth Level cultivator."
*Knock, knock, knock* — Just then, a knocking sound echoed from outside the secret chamber. Opening the door, he saw Liu Wenchen, leading the entire sect, who had come to send the three of them off on their journey.
"Jiang Fan," Liu Wenchen adjusted his collar, advising earnestly, "the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion is filled with geniuses. If you encounter setbacks, remember not to be disheartened."
Wen Hongyao wiped the moisture from her eyes and said, "Child, don't feel any psychological pressure once you're there. If it truly doesn't work out, just come back. This will always be your home."
Jiang Fan, who hadn't felt much farewell emotion initially, was touched deep down. A hint of mist welled up in his eyes. He formally clasped his fists: "Master, Grand Elders, Elders, and Senior Brothers and Sisters. Though lands may differ, our skies and winds are one. We shall meet again in the martial world."
Bidding farewell to everyone, Jiang Fan, accompanied by Xu Youran and Xu Yining, mounted spirit beasts and floated away into the distance. The people of Qingyun Sect watched their receding figures, slowly dispersing only after a long time.
At the summit of Qitian Peak, a slender figure, facing the cool mountain breeze, silently watched them depart. Until they vanished beyond the horizon, no longer visible, only then did she dejectedly lower her head. After a long time, she picked up her travel bag from the ground. She slung her precious sword onto her back. She, too, was leaving. In Qingyun Sect, there was no one left for her to care about. Not a single one.
As if remembering something, she took out a jade bottle containing a Pure Void Pill from her bosom. Caressing the bottle, she felt the last trace of warmth Jiang Fan had left her. Tears silently rolled down her cheeks. "Jiang Fan," she whispered, "why can't time flow backward just once? Just once would be enough." Her only response was the ancient silence of heaven and earth.
After a long while, she wiped away her tears. She placed the jade bottle on the stone table in the pavilion. "I don't need your sympathy," she murmured. "Stay well with your sister. I wish you both a lifetime... of growing old together."
She turned and descended the mountain. But after a few steps, she couldn't help but turn back, gazing at the lonely jade bottle in the wind. Suddenly, tears streamed down like rain. "Jiang Fan," she cried, "we will never meet again..."
Several days later, at the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, Gu Xin'er said, visibly relieved, "Our deal is done." After six to seven days of negotiations, both parties finally reached an agreement on the sale of top-grade spirit stones. The Pavilion Master of Heavenly Mystery was very satisfied with the transaction. He smiled, "Deputy Pavilion Master Gu, is there anything else you require? If our Heavenly Mystery Pavilion possesses it, we would be willing to trade with you." Gu Xin'er had an excellent reputation, making transactions with her reliable.
"Nothing..." Gu Xin'er suddenly remembered something and said, "Actually, there's a small matter I'd like to trade for. I'm looking for a scoundrel. I've shown his portrait to many people, but without any results. If the Pavilion Master can mobilize the power of the Nine Sects to help me find this person, there will be a significant reward." Although a long time had passed, Gu Xin'er still harbored resentment whenever she thought of it.
"A scoundrel?" The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion Master's expression turned odd. Who could possibly have acted like a scoundrel towards Gu Xin'er and gotten away unscathed? He asked, somewhat curious, "Do you have a portrait?"
Gu Xin'er immediately handed the previously drawn portrait to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion Master and said: "It's this hateful bastard. Don't be fooled by his decent appearance; he's utterly despicable!"
The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion Master took the portrait and looked at it. His expression immediately froze.
