Chapter 814: The Mighty Rooster Strikes

Gu Xin'er said in surprise, "Master, are you talking about this little scoundrel? Could he... could he possibly have some powerful background?"

The hairpin's remnant soul replied, "I don't know. But he definitely has something on him that scares the insects."

At this moment, Jiang Fan also stared in amazement at the faint reddish-yellow glow emanating from his chest. He secretly muttered, "You're actually a bit useful! Even such formidable insects are afraid of you."

The chicken feather became even more dazzling, as if gloating. Jiang Fan felt a surge of excitement. This chicken feather is no ordinary item! Could it possibly suppress all snakes, insects, and ants in the world?

"Jiang Fan, has the danger passed now?" Gu Xin'er spat out the Myriad Phenomenon Orb, revealing her true feelings. She suddenly asked.

Jiang Fan removed the Dust-Free Talisman. In just a short while, the talisman had lost nearly half of its power, causing him a pang of heartache. Hearing her, he subconsciously nodded, "I suppose so."

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Xin'er abruptly pushed him away from her embrace, even kicking him with disdain. "Then get lost!"

After saying that, she rushed towards the Snow Listening Sword, her eyes showing a look of surprise. Since the Nightmare Frost Worms had been lured away by the Hellish Desolate Beasts, how could she be polite with this sword?

Jiang Fan, however, slowly got up, brushing off the ice shards from his backside, and said, "Still trying to snatch the Snow Listening Sword? Do you really think the expert who has been hidden here for a long time is a pushover?"

Gu Xin'er suddenly realized. That's right! Where was the person who first arrived?

Whoosh—

Suddenly, a figure flashed before her. A tall figure appeared in front of the Snow Listening Sword. He smiled and gripped the hilt. He had handsome features and a gentle expression, embodying both the affable nature of a businessman and a deeply hidden coldness and wisdom.

"Pavilion Master?" Gu Xin'er was stunned. "You were here?"

She finally understood why the Pavilion Master hadn't searched for the spatial storage artifact himself, but had instead sent her. It turned out the Pavilion Master was here, waiting for an opportunity to take the Snow Listening Sword. And because of their arrival and that of the Hellish Desolate Beasts, he had actually succeeded. Thinking of this, Gu Xin'er stomped her foot in frustration, "You didn't show up when I was in danger! But as soon as there's a benefit, you immediately rush out to snatch it! Aren't you ashamed?"

The Pavilion Master of Jiangshan Yipin smiled faintly, "Saving people is not my obligation. Seizing opportunities is the nature of a merchant. Is there anything wrong with that?"

Gu Xin'er clenched her fists in anger. After a moment of thought, Jiang Fan said, "Senior Ziyan, come here. Stay away from that sword for now."

Gu Xin'er paused, but she subconsciously listened to Jiang Fan and walked back. Although this little scoundrel was vulgar, he was quite reliable otherwise.

The Pavilion Master of Jiangshan Yipin looked over upon hearing, revealing a surprised expression. "It's truly unexpected that the two of you know each other. But what's wrong with this sword?"

He decisively put the sword down and retreated a few steps. Before taking the sword, he had inspected it, making sure it was safe before touching it.

Jiang Fan said, "In the Lihuo Heavenly Palace, a Sky-Burning Clam Pearl once formed. It was extremely dangerous! Even the name 'Profound Ice Hell' is so perilous. Yet this sword is so docile?" After a pause, Jiang Fan added, "Of course, it's just my speculation. Perhaps the Nightmare Frost Worms *were* the danger, and the danger has passed."

The Pavilion Master frowned. "Is that so?"

Suddenly, the Pavilion Master noticed something unusual. The dragon pattern on the sword actually moved! Although it was very subtle, he still caught it. His expression instantly changed, and he shouted, "Quickly leave the main hall..."

Crack—

However, it was still a step too late. The dragon pattern actually came to life! It surged out of the Snow Listening Sword, transforming into a dragon shadow, and spewed countless terrifying cold qi from its mouth towards everyone. This cold qi was terrifyingly potent! Space itself was frozen! Half the main hall was instantly frozen into a block of ice!

The Pavilion Master paled in horror and swiftly darted outwards. Gu Xin'er was also terrified, her face drained of color, and she frantically ran outwards. But the speed of the ice freezing was too fast, too fast. Even the Pavilion Master of Jiangshan Yipin couldn't escape. He was still in mid-air when he was frozen solid. Gu Xin'er, maintaining her running posture, also solidified, unable to move.

Only Jiang Fan. Upon noticing the dragon pattern moving, he immediately activated his lightning power and flashed out of the main hall. But when he looked back, both Gu Xin'er and the Pavilion Master were frozen. Seeing the cold qi behind him threatening to completely solidify them, freezing them forever in the main hall, he gritted his teeth and decisively activated Cloud Shadow. He instantly teleported in front of the two. Without thinking, he picked up their ice-encased forms and ran.

However, this cold qi was too terrifying. When Jiang Fan's hands touched them, they too became frozen to him. Fortunately, his lightning path itself was something of extremely high temperature, preventing him from being frozen as well. Before the main hall was completely frozen, he decisively activated Cloud Shadow and escaped.

Roar—

The dragon pattern roared in anger. It actually chased out of the main hall, spewing world-freezing cold qi towards Jiang Fan. Why are chickens and dragons these days more vengeful than the last? He had already fled, yet it was still relentlessly pursuing him?

At this moment, his chest felt a sudden burning sensation. The chicken feather detached from Jiang Fan, transforming into a beautiful, green-eyed, splendid-feathered rooster. It spread its wings high, proudly raised its neck, and actually flew towards the pursuing ice dragon.

Jiang Fan was startled and said, "Come back quickly! That's a dragon, not an insect! It's not within your scope of business!" However, the rooster crowed and charged straight for the kill. Immediately, powerful arcs of light erupted above. How could Jiang Fan dare to linger? Using his scarce lightning power, he carried the two ice sculptures and soared into the sky. On the way, he encountered many Nightmare Frost Worms, but they seemed eager to go back and help the ice dragon fight, having no time to bother with Jiang Fan. Thus, he narrowly made it back to the ground.

However, the ground was no longer safe either. In the distance, the roars of Hellish Desolate Beasts erupted, along with destructive fluctuations. Jiang Fan's heart rejoiced. The Pavilion Master and the Canghai Demon Emperor had arrived!

He didn't dare to rush to the surface. Instead, he hid in this ice valley. Looking at the frozen figures before him, Jiang Fan immediately used his spiritual power to dispel the ice on their bodies. He didn't know if they were still alive. If the Pavilion Master of Jiangshan Yipin died, so be it. But Senior Ziyan was harmed because of him; if she died, his guilt would be immense.

Fortunately, as the cold qi left both of them, their breathing gradually returned to normal. A moment later, had they remained ice sculptures, they would have certainly died.

The Pavilion Master quickly regained consciousness. He abruptly sat up, checked his internal condition, and his face instantly darkened. Then he checked Gu Xin'er, and his expression grew even graver. "What a huge loss! Not only did we not get the Snow Listening Sword, but both our Nascent Souls are damaged. I'm alright, my Nascent Soul is strong. I can recover in half a year at most if I go back and heal quickly. But Vice Pavilion Master Gu is in trouble."

Jiang Fan's heart sank. He asked, "What happened to Senior Ziyan?"

The Pavilion Master looked at Jiang Fan and said in a deep voice, "Her Nascent Soul was frozen and destroyed. She only retained her Core Formation cultivation."

What? Jiang Fan's face darkened. He said, "Is there a way to remedy it?" Senior Ziyan had lost her Nascent Soul Realm because of him. This would be a grave sin.

The Pavilion Master looked at Jiang Fan strangely. "Are your relations with her that good? Do you care about her that much?"

Jiang Fan said seriously, "To be honest, she came here because of me. If anything were to happen to her, I wouldn't be able to rest easy."

The Pavilion Master realized, "So that's how it is." Then, he shook his head slightly, "Then... you might be uneasy for the rest of your life."

Jiang Fan's heart sank to rock bottom: "Is a Nascent Soul injury truly so incurable?" He didn't even know how to explain it to Gu Xin'er when she woke up.

"There is a solution," the Pavilion Master suddenly added. "It's just too difficult for you. And while I could do it, I'm currently unable to help myself."

Jiang Fan's eyes lit up, and he said, "Please enlighten me, Senior."

The Pavilion Master sighed softly, "If you don't have strong connections among the East Sea Demon Clan, then what I say will be useless."

"East Sea Demon Clan?" Jiang Fan's face showed a strange expression, and he muttered, "I've seen the East Sea Demon Emperor's body—is that connection strong enough?"

The Pavilion Master tilted his head back, his eyes wide in disbelief.