Chapter 837: Send-off

Jiang Fan was settled in a spacious, independent courtyard.

His trip to the East Sea had been fruitful. Not only did his cultivation break through to the eighth level of Core Formation, but he also unexpectedly gained information about the remnants of an ancient giant. He remembered well how many powerful cultivators from Taicang Great State had flocked to the previous ancient giant. He also recalled what Jiu Yinzhu, the Silver Fox Patriarch, had said: a ninth-level Core Formation martial artist once found a half-dead ancient giant, and after bringing it back to the Imperial Astrology Bureau, that person became a Nascent Soul realm existence within a month!

If his Fate-Altering Jade Butterfly couldn't be filled quickly, this ancient giant would be his alternative. But before that, he should focus on improving his strength. His Undying Blade had reached the second layer. Next on his agenda was the *Brahma Saint True Spirit Art*, which he had been eagerly anticipating.

With a thought, he appeared beside the massive Thunderstone egg.

"Ah, you vampire... Big Brother, you're finally here."

The cheeky one was overjoyed. It had been waiting so long it felt like it was molding. Finally, Jiang Fan had come to see it.

Jiang Fan raised an eyebrow. "What did you just call me?"

"A vampire!" it thought. "What else could it be? You little vampire, dead vampire! When I break out of this shell, I'm definitely going to do this and that to you!" Of course, these thoughts were only in its mind. Out loud, its voice was sweet, soft, innocent, and pure.

"Big Brother!" it chirped. "What else would I call you? Could it be that Big Brother wants me to call you 'Dad,' like the ancients who considered an elder brother as a father?"

"Holy moly!" Jiang Fan swayed slightly. "Had he stumbled into a 'Dad' nest today?"

"Shut your mouth!" Jiang Fan's face darkened. This cheeky one was even older than the ancients themselves.

"Is the essence blood ready?"

The cheeky one nodded repeatedly. "Mhm mhm mhm, it's been ready for Big Brother for a long time." The eggshell cracked, and a trickle of essence blood and egg fluid flowed out.

Jiang Fan expertly collected it, then extended his palm. "The usual."

"A magical artifact."

The cheeky one hesitated. Only then did the eggshell crack open again, and a glittering, palm-sized mini hammer flew towards Jiang Fan.

"A hammer? For driving screws?" Jiang Fan was startled.

The cheeky one explained, "It's an array-breaking hammer. As long as you find the core of an array and smash it hard, you can break through the formation."

Jiang Fan rubbed it, asking, "How powerful is it? For example, I have a friend who has a bronze array disk that can set up formations capable of trapping a Nascent Soul realm cultivator for a short while. Can this hammer break it?"

"A friend?" the cheeky one muttered. "I also have a friend who was caught and extorted for treasures through blood-sucking." Seeing Jiang Fan glare at it again, it cleared its throat. "Yes, yes, it can. But if the array is higher level, for example, one that can trap a Spirit Transformation realm cultivator, it would be difficult for it to be effective."

Spirit Transformation? He wouldn't even dare to imagine such legendary figures. An array that could trap a Spirit Transformation cultivator trapping him? That would be like using a cannon to shoot a mosquito. If he were to be trapped and die in such an array, he'd accept it.

"Not bad, not bad, this item is very good." Jiang Fan nodded. Then, as the cheeky one eagerly watched, he took out a conch shell full of Water Source Essence again and threw it to it. "Squeeze out a bit more next time! So stingy." With that, he turned and left.

The cheeky one cracked open its eggshell, bit onto the Water Source Essence, and started gnawing on it, making excited sounds. It fiercely muttered, "Little vampire! Still hoping for a next time? You don't know, do you? Once I finish this last bit of Water Source Essence, I'll be able to break out of my shell! Then, you'll tremble with fear! Hahaha!"

Jiang Fan sat cross-legged. He gazed at the wisp of True Spirit Blood in his hand, lost in thought. "After one more extraction of essence blood, the first form will be fully condensed, and the cheeky one's essence blood will become useless to me. How should I handle it then? It has at least eight hundred tricks up its sleeve; if I let it out, will it bite me? Perhaps I should find an excuse to slaughter it. Or, sell it to the Jiangshan First-Class Pavilion?"

He shook his head. Jiang Fan murmured, "I'll decide after the last extraction of essence blood." He followed the same method, diluting this wisp of True Spirit Blood into a hundred bottles and consuming them one by one. With the previous two rounds of tempering, his body's resistance to the True Spirit Blood had greatly increased. Although it was still very painful, he didn't faint outright as he had the first time.

The next day.

As Jiang Fan formed hand seals, golden lines gathered behind him. They coalesced into a golden divine statue. Jiang Fan gently waved his palms, and all three pairs of the statue's arms moved in unison. He nodded with satisfaction, then immediately dispersed the cultivation.

"Four palms can rival a ninth-level Core Formation cultivator, and six palms can undoubtedly rival a peak ninth-level Core Formation cultivator. Furthermore, my cultivation has increased by two levels since then. The power of this strike should be comparable to that of the Undying Blade. Only someone like Consort Yunxia, who has transcended a tribulation and possesses a wisp of tribulation aura, might be able to withstand it."

He glanced at the sky outside. Jiang Fan stood up, preparing to bid farewell to the Imperial Demon Sovereign of the Lost Pearl.

Not long after leaving the guest hall, as he passed a row of secret chambers, he spotted the Imperial Demon Sovereign of the Lost Pearl, now wearing a fresh and vibrant daffodil-blue long dress. Compared to yesterday's pink attire, today's outfit made her appear even more youthful and beautiful, like a true maiden.

Jiang Fan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Dressed like this every day, who could tell if you were a young maiden or a mother?

Just as he was about to step forward and bid farewell, the Imperial Demon Sovereign of the Lost Pearl, as if she hadn't noticed him, turned and entered a secret chamber. She then activated a seclusion array, preventing any external disturbances.

Jiang Fan was slightly speechless. "She knew I was leaving, and she still went into seclusion? Isn't she going to see me off or anything?"

Shaking his head, Jiang Fan headed towards the palace exit. He didn't dwell on it. The Imperial Demon Sovereign of the Lost Pearl was busy with countless matters, constantly attending to important affairs. And Jiang Fan himself didn't like the feeling of parting. If it weren't for politeness, he wouldn't even want to say goodbye. Leaving quietly on his own was also a good thing.

However, as soon as he exited the palace, he saw a graceful figure standing at the main gate. She wore a pink long dress, and her dark hair cascaded like a waterfall. Her figure was tall and graceful, and her hands were gently clasped in front of her abdomen. She appeared elegant and noble, with a radiant aura. She stood quietly before the palace gate, a faint smile playing on her lips, watching Jiang Fan approach.

Jiang Fan was momentarily stunned. "Wasn't... hadn't the Imperial Demon Sovereign of the Lost Pearl just entered a secret chamber for seclusion? How could there be another one right in front of him? And her attire was different too."

"Could it be the Second Prince again?" he thought. "Smiling but not daring to speak—it must be him!"

Jiang Fan's face darkened. "This scoundrel, he'd really gone too far. Last time, he had disguised himself as the Imperial Demon Sovereign of the Lost Pearl to tease him, scaring him half to death. Was he doing it again? He wouldn't give up. Was he still trying to use tricks to facilitate a relationship between him and the Imperial Demon Sovereign of the Lost Pearl?"

Thinking this, he walked over with a stern face and said, "What exactly goes on in your mind?"

The Imperial Demon Sovereign of the Lost Pearl's smile stiffened. A hint of confusion appeared in her eyes. She was just seeing Jiang Fan off; why was she being scolded? Had the family banquet last night been unsatisfactory? Or was something about her today improper?

"Still playing dumb!" Seeing her feign ignorance, Jiang Fan irritably pinched her chest. "Take this off, don't you find it embarrassing..."

"Huh?"

"How..."

"It wasn't hard?"