Chapter 85: Not Just a Ninth-Rank Spiritual Root

"No way?"Liu Qingxian blinked her beautiful eyes.How could a male disciple dare to come here? Even new disciples were told, the moment they arrived at Qingyun Sect, that this place was off-limits to men. Those who trespassed would be severely punished. As for older disciples, they wouldn't even dream of coming here.Could it be a female disciple with a masculine voice? She decided to speak up, "Junior Sister, which peak are you from?"

Suddenly, a reply came. Jiang Fan was stunned. He scratched his head and said, "I just arrived, and I'm not a Junior Sister.""Though, Senior Brother, your voice..."He wondered if the person had cultivated some strange technique that made them neither male nor female. He couldn't help but shiver.While he merely shivered, Liu Qingxian was struck with immense shock, her eyes widening.A man!It really was a man!A wave of immense shame and indignation washed over her. She used her spiritual power to pull her clothes from the shore, hastily putting them on. Then, her eyes blazing with fury, she snarled, "How dare you!"

"Uh—"Jiang Fan was somewhat bewildered. He touched his nose and asked, "Senior Brother, what's wrong?"Liu Qingxian was furious. "Who told you to come here? This spiritual pool is for female disciples only!"Jiang Fan was startled. He hastily stood up and backed towards the shore, saying, "Senior Sister, I was told this was the male disciples' spiritual pool. I truly didn't mean to offend you.""I'll leave right now!"He never would have imagined it. He, who had never once entered the wrong restroom in his life, had now, unexpectedly, walked into a women's bathing pool!

"Leave? Do you think you can just leave?" Liu Qingxian trembled with rage. She had just been scolded, feeling disgruntled, and wanted to soak in the pool to calm her mood.And now, a male disciple had intruded, and they had even bathed together. If word of this got out, how could Liu Qingxian ever show her face again?Jiang Fan helplessly said, "I was tricked too..."Liu Qingxian fumed, "I don't care how you got here!""Since you peeked at me bathing, you can forget about keeping your eyes!"With that, she slapped the spiritual pool with both hands. She launched herself into the air, swooping down towards Jiang Fan like a large bird spreading its wings.

Jiang Fan's expression shifted slightly. The moment she attacked, he felt an overwhelming force. It was much stronger than anyone he had ever encountered!But he also grew annoyed. He hadn't seen anything through the mist, and besides, he had been tricked into coming here. How could this woman be so unreasonable?He activated his movement technique, performing the "Lonely Swan's Shadow" steps. Though his movements were much slower due to being in the water, he remained agile. He easily dodged the powerful kick.

Liu Qingxian, whose kick missed, grew even angrier. "You dare to dodge?" She immediately followed up with a backhand punch, aiming for Jiang Fan's side.Her continuous attacks finally provoked Jiang Fan. "Do you think newcomers are easy to bully?" He instinctively unleashed the first move of the "Roaming Dragon Palm.""Startling Dragon!"His right fist shot out with a powerful current of air, emitting a series of dragon roars. The spiritual energy enveloping his fist also resembled a majestic dragon's head.The two attacks collided mid-air.Thud, thud, thud—Jiang Fan felt an insurmountable force surge towards him, sending him staggering back several steps. He was secretly astonished.Was this also an inner disciple of Qingyun Sect? Her strength was on a completely different level compared to Zhong Qizhen.

Liu Qingxian also stumbled, nearly falling into the water, her face filled with surprise. "You're a newcomer? You don't even bother to make your lies believable!"That last strike surpassed many inner disciples who had cultivated for years! How could a newcomer possess such strength?Undoubtedly, this was an older disciple attempting to violate her. After being exposed, they were now impersonating a newcomer to get away with it.Realizing this, she was beside herself with rage, her spiritual energy surging like a tsunami, sweeping through the surroundings. The mist on the spiritual pool was dispersed by her terrifying spiritual power."I initially just planned to gouge out your eyes, but now, I've changed my mind!""You can die..." Liu Qingxian declared, her eyes filled with cold fury.But just as she was about to strike, the mist dissipated. Both their figures became completely clear.They both froze simultaneously.

"It's you?" Jiang Fan asked, puzzled. "Aren't you that Liu-something-Xian from the City Lord's Mansion?"After a moment's thought, he even took out a purple jade pendant.Liu Qingxian was also stunned. She stared intently at Jiang Fan, wondering if she was so angry that she was hallucinating.The one whose cultivation speed was so heaven-defying it made her cry...The one she had searched for countless times, yet never found...She had despaired of ever finding him, having given up hope...And yet, he was now right in front of her?She rubbed her eyes, but Jiang Fan was still there, along with the jade pendant in his hand.That's right!It was him!It was the Ninth-Grade Spirit Root!He had delivered himself right to her!Her beautiful eyes widened, and her delicate body trembled continuously. Her gaze at Jiang Fan seemed to spark with intensity.

"You, what's wrong with you?"Jiang Fan felt uneasy under her gaze and instinctively hugged himself. He had once heard someone say: boys must learn to protect themselves when out and about.No sooner had he spoken than Liu Qingxian pounced. Her hands gripped his shoulders, and her exquisite eyes fixated on him, as if she wanted to devour him. She also spoke words that left Jiang Fan utterly confused."Found him! I finally found him!""Heavens, you've finally opened your eyes!"

Jiang Fan was beginning to fear this woman. He remembered that the last time he encountered her as Shadow Guard One, she had been just as agitated. He quickly pushed her away and turned to run towards the shore.Liu Qingxian snapped back to reality, her eyes brimming with intense excitement. With a loud laugh, she grabbed him.Looking at the person who had caused her so much trouble and who she both loved and hated, she gritted her teeth. "You certainly made me search for you!""Do you know how much trouble I went through because of you? Huh?""Now you've delivered yourself to me, and you think you can run?""Get back here!"She forcefully threw Jiang Fan back into the center of the pool.

Jiang Fan felt like crying but had no tears. What had he possibly done to incur the wrath of this incredibly powerful young lady?"Miss Liu, please speak calmly; you look a bit scary."Liu Qingxian huffed, "Tell me! Where have you been all this time? Why couldn't I find you anywhere?"Jiang Fan replied, speechless, "I've been in Guzhou City!""In Guzhou City all this time?"Liu Qingxian swayed, feeling an urge to spit blood. She had searched almost every household, checking every family with some background in Guzhou City, every martial arts clan that might produce a Ninth-Grade Spirit Root. She had practically turned Guzhou City upside down. Yet, there had been no trace of a Ninth-Grade Spirit Root.

"Where in Guzhou City? Be specific!" Liu Qingxian demanded, incredulous. After such an extensive search, there was still one that slipped through her grasp."The Xu family. Xu Yining and Xu Youran's Xu family," Jiang Fan answered truthfully."The Xu family?"Liu Qingxian slapped her forehead. "How could I have overlooked the Xu family?"Because her junior sister Xu Youran was from the Xu family, she had naturally assumed that if the Xu family had a Ninth-Grade Spirit Root, Xu Yining would surely know and inform her.But what was the result? The Ninth-Grade Spirit Root was precisely in the Xu family, the only one she had neglected to check.She wanted to slap herself.A single major oversight. Indeed, a single major oversight!"Wait a minute!"Liu Qingxian suddenly remembered something and asked suspiciously, "You... wouldn't happen to be Jiang Fan, would you?"She recalled that when she was investigating the peerless genius of the Soaring Dragon Path, a particular individual had entered her field of vision. That was Xu Youran's fiancé, Jiang Fan. However, Xu Yining's assessment of him as 'mediocre' had caused her to dismiss him.Could it be that the person before her was indeed Jiang Fan? And he wasn't just the Ninth-Grade Spirit Root, but also the peerless genius she had been so desperately searching for?