Chapter 892: Doubting Life

Venerable Yunhuo gasped, his severely constricted pupils reflecting a brilliant azure flame. "Junior... Junior Sister," he stammered, "You always said the 'True Azure Flame Art' was incredibly difficult to cultivate. Were you perhaps misleading us all? How else could a junior, after merely glancing at the technique, immediately grasp its fundamentals?"

Pavilion Master Tianji also widened his eyes. Yes, he knew Jiang Fan was extraordinary, but he swore he had no idea Jiang Fan's comprehension was so terrifying! This was a high-grade Earth-tier cultivation technique! To understand the introductory secrets with just a glance? It would be considered a miracle even in the Taicang Great State.

Fairy Ganlan covered her face with her hands, her eyes wide, wondering if she was seeing things. That wisp of flame represented the first layer of mastery. She had spent a month alone, pondering, before finally successfully condensing a tiny flame. Yet, this young disciple in front of her succeeded instantly?

"Tell me honestly," Fairy Ganlan's lips trembled slightly, "has anyone ever taught you the 'True Azure Flame Art' before?" She clung to a final shred of hope. Clearly, she was entering a phase of self-doubt.

Jiang Fan shook his head. "This is actually my first time seeing a high-grade Earth-tier fire-attribute cultivation technique." Fairy Ganlan stumbled back, her face pale. She was actually inferior to a mere junior disciple? A disciple of Yun Tianzhou? Venerable Yunhuo quickly steadied her. "Junior Sister, be careful." Fairy Ganlan pushed him away and stumbled towards the distance. "Don't mind me," she said. "Just let me be alone and calm down."

Jiang Fan watched her retreating back, a puzzled expression on his face. He whispered, "Pavilion Master, what's wrong with Senior Fairy Ganlan? Did I upset her? I was already holding back quite a bit; I could have condensed a much larger flame." Hearing this from afar, Fairy Ganlan stumbled, nearly falling flat on the ground.

Pavilion Master Tianji rubbed his nose. "No, Fairy Ganlan is a Nascent Soul elder with great composure. This little matter didn't 'upset' her. It merely 'critically struck' her." At that moment, he secretly chuckled. His Senior Sister, who was as proud as a peacock, was actually made to question her existence by Jiang Fan? Ha ha ha!

Jiang Fan was speechless. She gave him something, yet she was so stingy about it. This aunt-master was truly petty. "Thank you, Pavilion Master, for getting me this cultivation technique. I'll go cultivate now."

"Wait a moment," Pavilion Master Tianji said, taking out a cluster of blood-colored flames enveloped in Buddhist light from his robe. Jiang Fan recognized it. It was the compensation left for the Pavilion Master after Vajra Dharma Seal captured the Two-Headed Hellhound and damaged the teleportation hall. It was said to have been acquired from the tenth level and was called Asura Karmic Fire.

"Just as cultivating the 'Six Heavenly Thunder Arts' requires the power of thunder, cultivating the 'True Azure Flame Art' requires unique elemental fire," he explained. "Take this Asura Karmic Fire. Be careful when cultivating; this karmic fire is extremely dangerous, even Nascent Soul cultivators find it hard to withstand." Jiang Fan was overjoyed. "Thank you, Pavilion Master!" Pavilion Master Tianji smiled faintly. "Go on."

Jiang Fan retrieved the flames and the cultivation technique, then returned to Steward Yunyang with a beaming smile. "Master..." "Don't call me Master!" Steward Yunyang interjected, her face flushed. "I'll be too embarrassed." Jiang Fan then realized that his battle with Luo Yingshuang had showcased his top-tier strength, capable of overpowering a Core Formation Ninth-Layer Perfection cultivator. Everyone understood that when Jiang Fan had sparred with Steward Yunyang earlier, he had been holding back.

"A master inferior to her disciple – I'm the only one in all of Tianji Pavilion!" As Steward Yunyang spoke, she grew increasingly embarrassed and aggrieved, her eyes quickly reddening. "Who could have imagined it? To break through from Core Formation Sixth Layer to Core Formation Ninth Layer in just one month? Isn't that just setting me up for failure? I... I can't face anyone!"

Jiang Fan coughed dryly and took out a piece of spiritual meat wrapped in a lotus leaf. "Master, don't cry, please." He cajoled, "Your disciple will give you some spiritual meat. As long as your Core Formation Ninth-Layer realm is sufficiently consolidated, consuming this will make breaking through to perfection effortless."

Steward Yunyang sniffed, then realized the extraordinary nature of the spiritual meat. "A hundred-year... no, a thousand-year spiritual meat!" she exclaimed. "But how can I accept something from you?" Steward Yunyang was torn between desire and hesitation. This spiritual meat could indeed help her advance further. Yet, she hadn't given Jiang Fan anything and was instead receiving a gift from him?

After some thought, her eyes lit up. She solemnly took out a portable, extremely precious jade box from her robe. Inside lay a damaged talisman emitting a powerful spiritual aura. At first glance, it resembled a Mid-grade Dustless Talisman, but its spiritual pressure was far stronger than a mid-grade one. Jiang Fan's heart pounded. "This... could it be a High-grade Dustless Talisman?"

Seeing no one around, Steward Yunyang quickly slipped it into Jiang Fan's sleeve and whispered, "I obtained this during my early explorations in the underground world. It's a slightly damaged High-grade Dustless Talisman. A true high-grade talisman can evade detection even by Soul Transformation stage cultivators. Although this one is slightly damaged, it shouldn't be difficult to evade detection by late Nascent Soul stage cultivators." Late Nascent Soul stage? Jiang Fan's eyes gleamed with delight. This was definitely a treasure! "Master, why aren't you keeping it for yourself? This item is too valuable!"

Steward Yunyang raised her hand to stop him from returning it. "There aren't many dangers on the ninth level that would require me to use this talisman anymore. But you are different; I heard you've been targeted by the Hellish Desolate Beasts. So, consider this talisman a gift for your protection. It's also a small reward for you calling me 'Master' so many times." She patted Jiang Fan's shoulder, then regretfully added, "It's all my fault for having such low strength. I have a disciple I like, but I'm not worthy of being called Master. I'll go into seclusion now. If you encounter Jian Linyuan and the others in the underground world, please, for the sake of your fellow disciples, lend them a hand if they're in trouble." Jiang Fan was touched. He nodded and said, "Yes... Steward Yunyang." Continuing to call her Master would only embarrass her. He watched her depart.

A fragrant breeze wafted from behind him. Xu Youran's eyes sparkled, filled with joy. "Xiao Fan, you've become so incredibly powerful!" Chen Siling gave a wry smile. "My sister and I have both broken through to Core Formation Second Layer. We thought we had significantly closed the gap with you, being at Core Formation Sixth Layer. Who knew the difference would still be so vast!" Before coming to Tianji Pavilion, neither of the two girls had even formed a core. A month later, they were already at Core Formation Second Layer! Jiang Fan, back then, had spent so much effort just to find a spiritual pill to break through to Core Formation Second Layer. Yet, in Tianji Pavilion, they only needed two Deputy Pavilion Masters as masters. One truly had to marvel at the importance of resources!

Jiang Fan put his arms around the two girls, a helpless smile on his face. "Why are you comparing yourselves to me?" Xu Youran hesitated, as if wanting to speak but holding back. Chen Siling also paused for a moment before saying, "We don't want to hold you back or cause you trouble." Jiang Fan's eyes narrowed, catching the unspoken implication. "What happened during the month I was gone?" A flicker of panic crossed Xu Youran's eyes. "Nothing, nothing..." But Chen Siling gritted her teeth and said, "Husband, that Yu Tiandu harassed Elder Sister again! When you were out of contact for a month, he thought you were dead. So he came to flatter Elder Sister, and when he was rejected, he started saying vulgar things. Thankfully, Deputy Pavilion Master You appeared and drove him away in time, otherwise, who knows if he would have laid a hand on her." A cold glint appeared in Jiang Fan's eyes! The first time this person harassed his three women, Jiang Fan had taught him a lesson. Seeing he was outmatched, the man immediately dropped his arrogance and became submissive. At the time, Jiang Fan already felt that a person skilled at feigning submission should not be allowed to remain. Now, his suspicions were confirmed! He had only been missing for a month, and the man's old habits had resurfaced; he was making overtures towards Xu Youran again!