Chapter 879: Being Caught in the Act

"What's wrong, Little Tiger?"

Huang Quan looked suspiciously at the dragon throne.

Biluo was startled. She quickly picked up the little tiger and, before it could expose Jiang Fan, covered its mouth. She then patted its rear. "You're being naughty again! That's master's dragon throne; I told you not to play with it. Did you fall off again this time?"

The little tiger tried to complain, but with its mouth covered, it could only make muffled sounds, looking utterly pathetic.

Huang Quan, helpless, rubbed the little tiger's head. "Little Tiger, don't make your mother worry anymore."

The little tiger was on the verge of tears. It thought, 'Dad, Mom isn't worried about me; she's worried about that big bad guy!'

Biluo quickly tried to send him away. "Huang Quan, I don't know how many people came in. Perhaps there are still more hidden in the ruins. For our family's safety, you should go look for them quickly."

Upon hearing this, Huang Quan's eyes immediately glinted with a grim light. He snorted, "Watch Little Tiger closely," and then rushed out of the main hall.

Biluo's heart, which had been racing, finally settled. She looked sternly at the little tiger and gave its rear a hard pinch. "You ungrateful little wretch! Jiang Fan has been kind to us, and you want to harm him? You're just like your stubborn old dad!"

She then turned to the dragon throne and said, "Jiang Fan, my husband isn't here, so leave quickly. Absolutely make sure he doesn't find you."

Jiang Fan immediately pulled Yu Peiyuan out. He thanked Biluo again. "Thank you, Sister Bi, for protecting us." That Huang Quan was certainly not someone to trifle with. If Biluo hadn't desperately covered for him, he would have been in serious trouble.

He then rubbed the little tiger's round head, chuckling, "Little guy, did you get spanked again?"

The little tiger was furious, struggling to break free and bite Jiang Fan.

Jiang Fan found it amusing. "Sister Bi, I'll take my leave then." He cast a reluctant glance at the Frost Listener Sword in the pond. For now, the sword was impossible to retrieve.

Biluo urged him, "Still thinking about that sword? Once the furnace cools down completely, I'll find a way to return it to you."

Jiang Fan's eyes lit up. "Good, then we'll be going." He hurried to the main hall's entrance. Biluo helped open the hall door. "If you can become invisible, do so, and leave as quickly as possible—"

Her words abruptly cut off. At the hall's entrance, Huang Quan stood with his arms crossed, coldly staring at them.

"I knew there was an unfamiliar blood aura," he said. "So, it was you two!"

Biluo's heart sank, and her expression changed drastically. "Huang Quan, listen to me," she said. "This Young Master Jiang means us no harm. He used that sword to seal the furnace. Please, spare his life."

Huang Quan's eyes showed a brutal glint. "Spare him? Hmph! Womanly kindness! If you dare to enter the ruins, you must die! No one is an exception!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than he suddenly struck out at Jiang Fan. The overwhelming power of a peak Demon Emperor made Jiang Fan feel suffocated, like a mortal facing a landslide, completely powerless.

Biluo gritted her teeth, once again tossing aside the little tiger, and blocked the attack. "Run!" she urged. "I'll hold him off first!"

"Are you crazy?" Huang Quan raged. "Helping an outsider!"

Jiang Fan was deeply shocked. Biluo was willing to defy her husband for his sake. Filled with gratitude, he immediately grabbed Yu Peiyuan and fled without another word.

Seeing this, how could Venerable Qiyin and the other two miss their chance to escape? They quickly rushed out of the main hall.

Jiang Fan didn't hesitate, repeatedly using Cloud Shadow, and in a few breaths, he had flickered to the flame gate. Without a second thought, he slipped through.

Only then did he finally breathe a complete sigh of relief.

Not long after, Venerable Qiyin, Venerable Xietong, and Wei Chaoran also emerged, looking disheveled. From inside the ruins, angry roars echoed—the male tiger's unwilling shouts. Jiang Fan presumed he was arguing with Biluo at that moment. He looked worried, wondering if Biluo would be hurt. Fortunately, they were husband and wife, so it probably wouldn't escalate too severely.

"Jiang Fan! It's good that you're alright!" The North Sea Demon Emperor, who had been waiting outside, looked relieved. "That fierce creature that was disturbing my North Sea just now escaped into the ruins when I wasn't looking. Thankfully, you're safe."

Jiang Fan's mouth twitched. The danger inside the ruins was far more complex than the "fierce creature" the North Sea Demon Emperor had faced. Those were two tiger demons in the late Nascent Soul stage, plus a fiercely adorable little tiger! A family of three guarding this ruin. The North Sea demon race was truly lucky; last time, the two tiger demons only woke up when they were leaving. Otherwise, everyone who entered would have perished inside.

"This time, we gained nothing and almost lost our lives!" Venerable Xietong's face was as dark as water. He had worked hard to acquire the flame imprint, only to almost die. In contrast, Jiang Fan's cultivation had skyrocketed, and he had even obtained two blue seeds.

Thinking of this, his expression turned unfriendly. "Jiang Fan," he said, "do you really have the nerve to take two seeds for yourself? Hand one over!"

In truth, what he coveted more was Jiang Fan's spatial storage artifact. How could this young man produce a spirit sword of such high quality? His collection was unexpectedly vast. Moreover, he still didn't believe that Jiang Fan had only acquired half a demon infant fruit in the ruins.

Jiang Fan's eyes grew cold. "In front of those two tigers, you were as meek as a grandson! You didn't dare to utter a sound! Now that you're out, you're suddenly acting tough!"

Yu Peiyuan was also annoyed. Venerable Xietong was truly shameless, openly demanding Jiang Fan's gains? She turned to Venerable Qiyin. "Master, if not for Junior Brother Jiang suppressing that fire pool and earning the gratitude of the female tiger, thereby blocking the male tiger, we would all have surely died in there. Not only is Senior Xietong ungrateful, but he's also threatening Junior Brother Jiang like this. Surely you can't stand idly by?"

Venerable Qiyin originally didn't want to interfere in their dispute. However, upon reflection, although Jiang Fan hadn't seemed concerned with his or Wei Chaoran's lives, he had been exceptionally good to his female disciple, saving her and helping her acquire a valuable blue seed. It would indeed be inexcusable for him to simply stand by.

"Xietong," he said, "aren't your disciples also participating in the Ancient Ascent Path? Go back and prepare them. That path is full of dangers."

Hearing the dismissal in his words, Venerable Xietong cast a deep gaze at Jiang Fan, then smiled faintly at Venerable Qiyin. "Thank you for your protection this time, Senior Qiyin. I will surely call upon you another day to express my gratitude. I'll take my leave now." With that, he dashed out of the vast sea, disappearing like a phantom.

Only then did Venerable Qiyin take out a healing pill and swallow it, a bitter expression on his face. "Venerable Xietong merely gained nothing. As for me, not only did I gain nothing, but our sect's divine artifact, the Golden Dragon Scissors, also fell into the female tiger's hands. Alas! I don't know how I'll report back. And what a pity about that furnace. I actually recognized that furnace; it's a top-grade spiritual artifact that made it onto the Hundred Spirits List. It's a shame we can't enter these ruins again!" he said, heartbroken.

Jiang Fan was surprised. A top-grade spiritual artifact? No wonder the Frost Listener Sword, belonging to Sword Venerable Beixuan, couldn't suppress it in one go. That furnace actually had such an impressive origin?

The North Sea Demon Emperor gave a wry smile. How could he not understand that these words were meant for him? As the host, how could he let his friends from Tianya Haige, who had traveled so far, leave empty-handed?

He immediately took out some resources and said, "Senior Qiyin, these are some items our clan once discovered. A small token of appreciation for your two beloved disciples. I hope you won't despise them."

Venerable Qiyin's expression improved slightly. "Chaoran, Peiyuan, why aren't you thanking the Demon Emperor?"

The two joyfully accepted the gifts, thanking him profusely.

"The Demon Emperor is very thoughtful," Venerable Qiyin said, cupping his hands. "We have troubled you on this journey. We shall take our leave now." He brought out his Golden Cloud Spirit Boat and beckoned his two disciples to board.

Yu Peiyuan looked reluctant, her red lips pressed together slightly. "Master," she said, "could you perhaps take Junior Brother Jiang as your disciple? Let's take him back to Tianya Haige with us."