Chapter 859: Flower Bloom Retains Fragrance

Jiang Fan thought for a moment and said, "Sister Jiumeng, why are you so fixated on the Old Demon Emperor's bloodline? Don't the other imperial families also originate from the same ancestor as the Old Demon Emperor? If you were to choose a capable and shrewd junior from their descendants to cultivate, would the South Sea truly decline because of that? As long as the South Sea thrives, does it really matter which bloodline's descendant rules as the Demon Emperor?"

Jiumeng, the Demon Empress, shook her head. "I promised the Old Demon Emperor—"

Before she could finish, Jiang Fan interrupted her. "The Old Demon Emperor, the Old Demon Emperor! You revere and adore him, but he only saw you as a tool. He even left the True Emperor Talisman, which could trap and kill you, to his son. He could have you killed at any time if necessary. What he feared was you seizing power from his son!"

These words made the Demon Empress Jiumeng press her lips together. She involuntarily clutched her dress. This fact had indeed chilled her to the core.

"That father and son were heartless toward you, so why do you still care about their promise?" Jiang Fan continued. "What you should care about are the countless demon clans of the South Sea. You should be thinking about who will succeed you in the South Sea after your time, not still trying to ensure the continuation of that selfish father and son's bloodline! Do you understand, you foolish woman!" Jiang Fan gave her a sharp tap on the forehead.

The Demon Empress Jiumeng winced and covered her forehead, then raised her fist as if to strike back. But when her fist reached Jiang Fan's chest, she changed it to a gentle poke. "You little rascal, now you're lecturing me!" she scolded him with a laugh.

Jiang Fan's face darkened as he said, "So you still want to seek out Zhuo Yin, please him, and bear his children?"

The Demon Empress Jiumeng's face flushed. She quickly glanced around and whispered, "You... what indecent things are you saying?"

Seeing Jiang Fan stare at her without a word, she reluctantly made her decision and sighed in relief: "Alright, I won't look for him anymore. Let him die for all I care! Between the Old Demon Emperor's will and the South Sea, the latter is more important. I'll just consider myself breaking my promise. As long as the South Sea thrives, a little more guilt on my conscience is worth it."

Jiang Fan let out a long breath. He had finally managed to convince this woman. It wasn't easy at all. "Then quickly inform the West Sea Demon Emperor; don't waste any more time. From now on, just let Zhuo Yin be."

Soon after, the West Sea returned to tranquility. Jiang Fan and the Demon Empress Jiumeng stood before a coral reef, bidding each other farewell.

"Jiang Fan, thank you," she said. "You've helped me immensely in so many ways."

Jiang Fan replied, "It was nothing, Sister Jiumeng, please don't think anything of it."

A faint trace of reluctance appeared in the Demon Empress Jiumeng's eyes as she said, "Well then, this is where we part ways. Take care."

Jiang Fan nodded, "You too. Try to live more easily from now on, don't be so burdened."

The Demon Empress Jiumeng waved her hand, remaining rooted to the spot, silently watching Jiang Fan turn away. Suddenly, she noticed that the air bubble around Jiang Fan's body was gone. How was Jiang Fan breathing underwater then? Did he possess a forbidden item of the Sea Demon Clan, a Water-Repelling Pearl? Why had he suddenly switched from the bubble to a Water-Repelling Pearl? Was there any difference? Their functions were the same.

In that instant, she understood: using a Water-Repelling Pearl allowed him to better disguise himself as her. The air bubble, on the other hand, clearly wasn't something a Sea Demon would use. Recalling how Zhuo Yin had been tricked away, she knew where Zhuo Yin had gone. Jiang Fan had tricked him out and killed him! As for the reason, Zhuo Yin posed no threat to Jiang Fan, so there was no need for him to go through such trouble to kill him. It could only be to help her resolve her troubles.

So, that day, after she confided her worries about bringing Zhuo Yin back to the South Sea, Jiang Fan had already decided to help her. But she had mistakenly thought Jiang Fan didn't understand her pain and was merely placating her with vague assurances that things would work out. In reality, Jiang Fan had been quietly helping her. He had freed her completely from Zhuo Yin, allowing her to govern the South Sea with peace of mind. He had been silently illuminating a moonlit path for her, ensuring her future would no longer be dark and desolate.

Deep emotion welled up, forming a tear that rolled in her eye. "Jiang Fan," she called out.

Jiang Fan turned around in surprise, asking, "What's wrong... Mph!" Before he could react, a figure in pale green filled his vision. Then, his face was cupped. A soft, slightly cool sensation bloomed on his lips.

Jiang Fan was stunned!

After a while, the Demon Empress Jiumeng pulled away, a smile on her face, tears in her eyes, and a deep regret in her heart: "How wonderful it would have been if I had met you twenty years ago instead?"

Jiang Fan was speechless. The lingering dampness on his lips brought him back to his senses, and he stammered, "Sister Jiumeng, you..."

The Demon Empress Jiumeng smiled tearfully, "Just consider it me being willful for once. My young man, thank you. Thank you for lighting a candle by my window, illuminating the world outside for me."

She released Jiang Fan and slowly stepped back. "Thank you, Jiang Fan. Thank you, little brother."

With that, her graceful figure vanished into the distant sea. Her call of "Jiang Fan" was filled with the regret of meeting too late. Her "little brother" was laden with the helplessness that comes with life's unpredictable turns.

Jiang Fan stood stunned for a long time. After a long pause, he sighed faintly and began walking north. Not all flowers bloom to bear fruit. Some blooms only release a subtle fragrance, a moment to be treasured in the heart, leaving behind beautiful, lingering thoughts of life.

Several days later, Jiang Fan left the West Sea territory. He surfaced, his head emerging from the water, and looked around the sea. Only after confirming there were no strange things like rainbows did he fully emerge. He stood on his flying sword in mid-air, drying his clothes with spiritual energy. Feeling the moist sea breeze and breathing the long-missed air, he couldn't help but sigh contentedly, "The world outside is truly wonderful."

No sooner had he spoken than, *Crack!* A deafening bolt of lightning struck the vast sea before him without any warning. The thunder was so violent it felt like firecrackers exploding right next to his ears. His ears immediately lost all sound, filled with a ringing noise. His internal energy was churned violently by the shock. His body was instantly thrown back and plunged into the ocean. Traces of blood oozed from his ears and nose.

In the distance, where the lightning struck, colossal waves surged. Countless fish and shrimp were tossed to the surface. In an instant, there was widespread death and injury among them!

Jiang Fan was dazed by the blast. "What kind of lightning was that?" he muttered. He himself cultivated lightning-based divine abilities and had once controlled numerous heavenly lightning strikes at Boundary Mountain. Yet, no lightning he had ever encountered was as terrifying as this. Just being a little close had caused him internal injuries.

After a while, he finally recovered. It was only then that he noticed the sky had, at some point, become covered with rolling dark clouds, filled with flashing lightning. Suddenly, astonished voices drifted down from the sky. They belonged to two Nascent Soul human cultivators hovering in the air! Their attire differed, indicating they were powerful figures from Taicang Great Province.

"Strange," one said. "Someone is undergoing tribulation here! The demonic energy is immense; it must be a demon."

"Let's go take a look quickly; this person's heavenly tribulation is quite powerful," the other said. "I think it's looking grim for them."

Tribulation? Demonic energy? North Sea? Jiang Fan's heart sank. Could it be Haimai, or Concubine Yunxia?