Chapter 799: The Worst Guess

Both looked over, their faces showing surprise.

Jiang Fan shook his head. "I do have an impression of it," he said, "but I can't recall it right now. It shouldn't be anything particularly expensive or very impressive. At least, it has nothing to do with what they called the 'Great Sage Realm'. Otherwise, I wouldn't have forgotten."

Wu Manyue said, "Then let's not dwell on it. We should focus on how to report this to our superiors. What was supposed to be a Hellish Demonic Beast turned out to be a conspiracy by the Divine Movement Sect. And while we thoroughly enjoyed slaughtering those beasts, how can we explain it without taking responsibility?"

Jiang Fan wasn't worried. He calmly said, "There's no need to worry about that. The Pavilion Master is a wise and reasonable person. If he knew, he would only secretly praise us for a job well done. Even if people from the Divine Movement Sect come to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion to demand accountability, I believe the Pavilion Master would at most superficially reprimand us. He certainly wouldn't do anything to us."

Although he hadn't had much contact with him, Jiang Fan could still sense something about the Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master's character. He was definitely a trustworthy leader, unlike that Demon Emperor who drew the wrath of heaven and earth.

Rumble—Suddenly, the ground trembled slightly. Jiang Fan looked towards the source of the sound: a group of spirit beasts was approaching from the direction of the demon race. He initially thought it was the Green Cloud Sect, returning after having played their part. But as they drew closer, he realized they were all female disciples. Among the Nine Sects, the Spirit Beast Sect was the only one composed entirely of female disciples.

Gong Caiyi, her colorful robes fluttering, stood atop one of the spirit beasts. From afar, she gazed in Jiang Fan's direction. Seeing that he was safe and sound, a look of relief finally appeared on her gentle and serene face. Ever since Ji Ruyue reported that Jiang Fan was pursuing a group of people, Gong Caiyi had been consumed with worry. When she learned there was a fierce beast at the perfected ninth layer of the Core Formation realm among them, her face paled further. She decisively abandoned the search for the Hellish Demonic Beast and led her disciples back.

"Jiang Fan, are you alright?"Before the spirit beast had even fully stopped, Gong Caiyi impatiently leaped down and thoroughly checked Jiang Fan's body. Only after finding no traces of blood on him did she finally put her worried heart at ease.

Jiang Fan glanced at the many disciples behind her. With a half-smile, he said, "Sect Master, aren't you afraid your disciples will make fun of you?"

Gong Caiyi's pretty face flushed slightly with embarrassment. Upon hearing Jiang Fan was in trouble, how could she still care about such trivialities? "I was worried about you, and you're making fun of me!" she playfully chided. "You heartless little thing. I shouldn't have been so good to you in the first place."

Jiang Fan smiled. He reached out and took her soft, slender hand. Gong Caiyi was startled and quickly withdrew her hand, blushing with embarrassment. Then, she noticed something unusual in her palm. Opening it, she saw two lotus seeds, glowing with a faint, ethereal light."What are these?" Gong Caiyi asked, surprised.Jiang Fan said, "Moon Pearl got the Tianshan silkworm silk, so you should have these."Gong Caiyi's beautiful face flushed slightly again. She quickly returned the lotus seeds, saying, "What is Moon Pearl to you, and what am I to you? I can't possibly accept these."

Seeing her so hesitant, Jiang Fan felt helpless. There was nothing he could do; Gong Caiyi was naturally reserved. It would have been fine in private, but with so many people watching, she would never dare to act like Moon Pearl.

Wu Manyue's eyes lit up. With a quick grab, she said, "Then give them to me! I want them!"Gong Caiyi quickly pulled her hand back, looking at the beautiful, curvaceous, and extraordinarily charming girl. She asked warily, "Jiang Fan, who is she?"

Wu Manyue introduced herself with a beaming smile: "I am Junior Brother Jiang's beautiful senior sister. If you don't want these Blood Lotus Heart Seeds, I'll take them on your behalf. I don't mind being compared to any Moon Pearl."

Gong Caiyi frowned. She tucked the lotus seeds into her sleeve and subtly glanced at Jiang Fan. "You've only been at the Heavenly Secret Pavilion for a few days," she muttered, "and you already have another woman."

Jiang Fan pursed his lips. "Her? Spare me! This woman devours people without spitting out the bones."Wu Manyue pursed her lips and glared at him. "Is that how you talk about a girl? Besides, you've never let me devour you."

Only then did Gong Caiyi's brows relax. It was good that it wasn't the case. However, realizing how precious the lotus seeds were, her heart felt heavy. "You previously gave me Bodhi seeds, and now you've given me lotus seeds," she said. "I don't know how to repay you."

Jiang Fan stepped forward, smiling gently. "When you took such good care of me back then, did you ever think of asking me to repay you?" he asked. "No, you didn't, right?"

Gong Caiyi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her mind drifted back to that afternoon: the image of a young man on the roadside in Green Cloud City, diligently hawking free samples of beauty cream. And that had already been more than half a year ago. A warmth spread through her heart, and she said, "All I gave you were two bottles of Earth Phoenix Grass Juice. They weren't worth much. How can that compare to what you've given me?"

Jiang Fan smiled. Memories of their first encounter also involuntarily surfaced in his mind. During a low point in his life, Gong Caiyi had been the kindest and most benevolent elder to him. He would remember those moments for a lifetime.

Wait.Jiang Fan's smile suddenly faded. "Earth Phoenix Grass Juice?" He finally remembered why "Earth Phoenix" sounded familiar. The spiritual liquid Gong Caiyi gave him, which helped him advance to the early Foundation Establishment realm—wasn't that called Earth Phoenix Grass Juice? He remembered that this grass juice was unique to the Spirit Beast Sect and required special demonic beasts to drill deep underground to extract it. He hadn't thought of it before because the True Spirit Earth Phoenix was far too renowned, and the Earth Phoenix Grass Juice seemed entirely unrelated to it. So, subconsciously, he couldn't connect the two. Only now, with Gong Caiyi mentioning it, did he have a sudden realization. A deeply unsettling thought began to form in his mind. Could it be... that the so-called Earth Phoenix Tomb was located beneath the Spirit Beast Sect? Was Earth Phoenix Grass Juice a mysterious spiritual liquid nurtured by the influence of the Earth Phoenix Tomb? This would also explain why, across the entire Nine Sects' territory, only the Spirit Beast Sect had Earth Phoenix Grass Juice, while other sects had never heard of it or seen it. If that were the case, then "they" whom Kang Lin mentioned before his death would refer to...

He looked at the array of contemporary elite disciples behind Gong Caiyi. His heart sank. "Sect Master Gong," he said, "are the others all back at the sect?"

Gong Caiyi awkwardly explained in a low voice, "Helping you search for the Hellish Demonic Beast was my personal matter. How could I possibly invite the Grand Elders and other Elders to come along? Bringing these elite disciples along was already using public resources for personal gain."

Jiang Fan's heart sank further. He asked in a low voice, "May I ask, how did the name Earth Phoenix Grass Juice come about?"

Gong Caiyi looked surprised. She found it odd that Jiang Fan would ask this. With his current cultivation, he surely wouldn't need such low-grade spiritual liquid as Earth Phoenix Grass Juice anymore? Nevertheless, after recalling for a moment, she vaguely said, "I remember, it was said that a certain Sect Master from a previous generation mistakenly entered an underground area. Later, they brought back a bottle of spiritual liquid and named it Earth Phoenix Grass Juice. From then on, Earth Phoenix Grass Juice became a spiritual liquid exclusive to our Spirit Beast Sect. It's strange, too. It's been hundreds of years, and we've been able to extract it every time, as if it's inexhaustible. Why are you suddenly asking about it?"

Jiang Fan's heart felt as if it had plunged to the bottom of the sea. He spoke in a low, urgent tone: "Quick! Return to the Spirit Beast Sect! I hope my guess is wrong!"