Chapter 801: Little Feng's Tomb

Jiang Fan prepared to leave.

Gong Caiyi, tears streaming down her face, clutched his arm. "You must come back. I've already lost too much. I don't want to lose you too."

Jiang Fan's heart ached. He wiped her tears, cupped her face, and leaned in to kiss her. This time, Gong Caiyi didn't resist. She lifted her head, bravely meeting his lips.

"You must come back," she said, reluctantly letting go.

Jiang Fan nodded, then swiftly headed towards the source of the sound.

Soon, on the mountainside, at the end of a muddy path covered in beast claw marks, a giant tunnel plunged deep underground. The tunnel's interior walls were smooth, worn by massive spirit beasts rubbing against them over a long period. Clearly, deep within the tunnel was where the spirit beasts collected Earth Phoenix Grass sap. It was also highly likely to be the tomb of the Great Earth Phoenix Sage.

Ren Guhong and Wu Manyue, seeing Jiang Fan arrive, eagerly affixed Dust-Free Talismans and entered the cave. Jiang Fan also decisively took one out and applied it. After a moment's thought, he drew his Purple Sword, riding it through the air to avoid leaving footprints.

About fifteen minutes later, having descended to an unknown depth, the underground area, instead of smelling of decay and dampness, had an increasingly strong, fresh herbal scent. This scent felt somewhat familiar to Jiang Fan. It must be the Earth Phoenix Grass sap he had once drunk. It seemed they were close.

"How unlucky!""Just as the tomb was about to open, they sent us to check the situation.""With five peak Core Formation Stage ferocious beasts present, how could that group of old, weak, and sick people possibly escape?""They clearly just think we aren't direct descendants and are worried we'd hide tomb artifacts, so they sent us away.""Damn it! When it's time for hard work, we're 'our own people,' but when it's time to share the spoils, we're outsiders!""Say less, words can cause trouble."

Two robed youths, with only their eyes visible, whispered as they approached. They moved using a special technique, lightly touching the hard stone walls on either side like small cats, leaping and dodging, leaving no human trace.

Suddenly, the more silent of the robed youths narrowed his eyes, spotting the muddy footprints left on the ground ahead. Outside, it was raining heavily, making everything muddy. It was difficult for Ren Guhong and Wu Manyue not to pick up mud.

"Someone's here!" the robed youth's eyes snapped open. At the same time, his body shot back.

The expressions of the invisible Ren Guhong and Wu Manyue changed. They immediately raised their swords, ready to pursue and kill.

*Pffft!*

As the robed youth retreated, a purple sword pierced through his throat from behind, preventing him from shouting.

The other complaining robed youth opened his mouth to scream. The space around his neck suddenly twisted, and his head fell off.

Wu Manyue's chilling voice spoke, "It seems our bet can continue."

Jiang Fan removed the Dust-Free Talisman, then cut off the head of the first youth. He said, "Both of you, reveal yourselves." He activated the Mind-Link Bead. Once they became visible, he made eye contact with them, instantly establishing a mental connection. "Don't speak aloud from now on, lest those inside hear us. I've activated a magic item that allows mental communication; whatever we think, we can hear each other..."

As soon as he finished thinking, a mental thought came back."This little brat, he has such a treasure?""Is it real?"

Soon, two more thoughts appeared consecutively in their minds."It's real.""It seems real."

"Ah? So I can't secretly curse Jiang Fan anymore?""Oh, oh, oh, I mean... teasing is a sign of affection.""This is Senior Sister's unique love for you."

Wu Manyue's expression was awkward and embarrassed.

Jiang Fan's face darkened: "I don't want that kind of love."

He reapplied the Dust-Free Talisman and continued descending. A faint stream of murmuring thoughts resumed."What's there to be so proud of? If I just take off my clothes, I guarantee you'll love it more than anyone...""Ahhh, th-this, who's saying nonsense in my mind? So annoying."

Jiang Fan stumbled. He turned back and glared fiercely at the empty air. He mentally shouted, "Be serious!"

Wu Manyue's face was utterly mortified."What is this awful thing? It's going to kill me!""Alright, alright, I won't think anymore, I won't think anything at all.""Amitābha, Amitābha, Amitābha..."

Ren Guhong almost burst out laughing. The Mind-Link Bead was a disaster for two-faced people.

Soon after, they reached the very bottom. This was a space a hundred zhang wide, its ground covered in fiery red blades of grass. Looking across, it resembled a layer of burning flame, very beautiful.

"This must be the Earth Phoenix Grass." Jiang Fan plucked a blade, put it in his mouth, and tasted it. The familiar flavor surged forth; it was indeed Earth Phoenix Grass.

"A section of the stone wall there has been broken through; it's newly opened," Ren Guhong's voice echoed.

The three looked. This space, which should have been the very end of the tunnel, had a section of its stone wall blasted open. Behind the wall, another space was hidden! Faint human voices and sounds of things being moved could be heard from within.

"It's the Earth Phoenix Tomb!""The Divine Movement Sect really found the right place.""The Earth Phoenix Tomb is only a wall away from the Spirit Beast Sect's Earth Phoenix Grass collection area!""What an opportunity, yet the Spirit Beast Sect missed it."Ren Guhong exclaimed repeatedly.

Jiang Fan, however, shook his head slightly: "Do you really think the Spirit Beast Sect's founder didn't discover this place?""Don't you find the origin of the name 'Earth Phoenix Grass Sap' thought-provoking?"

*Uh...*

Only then did the two remember. If the Spirit Beast Sect's founder hadn't known that the Great Earth Phoenix Sage was buried here, why would he have named the grass 'Earth Phoenix Grass'?

Jiang Fan said, "So I suspect that tomb must be extremely dangerous, impossible for ordinary people to acquire anything from."

Wu Manyue couldn't help but huff mentally:"Hmph! You're showing off again...""Uh, I mean, Junior Brother Jiang is indeed astute and wise, truly extraordinary.""My deepest admiration."

Jiang Fan glanced at her sideways. How much had this woman been grumbling about him behind his back? He shook his head, too lazy to bother with her.

Jiang Fan took out his Bronze Formation Plate, surveyed the surroundings, and said, "I'm going to set an ambush in this inevitable passage.""If they run out later, they'll fall into my trap."

He chose a spot in this space, slightly closer to the center.

Wu Manyue saw the soil being disturbed and couldn't help but frown: "Why are you setting it in such an open area?""The opened wall is a narrow passage.""If you buried it there, anyone coming out would surely step on it.""This open area is too easy to avoid."

Ren Guhong also felt that Jiang Fan's ambush location was ill-advised.

Jiang Fan thought, "How vigilant do you think these people are?"

Ren Guhong replied, "Extremely vigilant; they didn't even leave a single footprint.""After all, they're excavating this tomb with the entire sect's future at stake, so they naturally wouldn't be careless."

Jiang Fan nodded: "So, if you can think of a good ambush spot, wouldn't they?""You think a narrow passage is suitable for an ambush, and they'll think so too."

Ren Guhong and Wu Manyue were both stunned.

Ren Guhong said, "That actually makes a lot of sense!"

Wu Manyue couldn't help but murmur:"No wonder I always lose when this little brat is my opponent.""He's too cunning and sly, isn't he?""I was praising your intelligence, cough, cough."

Actually, it wasn't that Jiang Fan was inherently so cautious. It was because he had suffered a similar setback during his last ambush against the Two-Headed Hellhound. He had thought burying the Bronze Formation Plate in a narrow mountain path would ensure a strong ambush. Who knew the opponent would see through it instantly? He couldn't make the same mistake this time.

"Alright, I hope this formation plate gives them a big surprise!"

After burying the Bronze Formation Plate, Jiang Fan quietly passed through the secret chamber door. What greeted his eyes was a seemingly boundless mountain cavern. The distant areas were pitch black and indistinct. Only in the central area, illuminated by many torches, was there a small mound. In front of the mound stood a broken wooden sign that hadn't decayed. A few hastily carved words were on it: "Tomb of Little Phoenix."

*Uh...*

Jiang Fan froze on the spot.Little Phoenix?That Heaven and Earth True Spirit?Th-this is its tomb?And who erected the tombstone?Who dared to call it "Little Phoenix"?