Supreme Emptiness

Huh?

The two of them looked over in unison, with astonished expressions.

Jiang Fan shook his head and said:

"I do have an impression."

"But I can't remember it for the moment."

"It shouldn't be particularly expensive or extremely impressive."

"At least it's definitely not related to what they mentioned about the 'Great Sage Realm'."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't forget it."

Wu Manyue said, "Then forget it."

"Let's focus on how to report this to the higher-ups."

"The Hell Beast we talked about turned out to be a scheme by the Divine Movement Sect."

"We might have enjoyed killing those beasts, but how do we explain it without taking responsibility?"

Jiang Fan was not worried.

Calmly he said, "No need to worry about that."

"The Pavilion Master is a wise and understanding person. If he finds out, he'd likely praise us secretly."

"Even if people from the Divine Movement Sect come to Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion to hold us accountable, the most the Pavilion Master would do is scold us on the surface."

"He definitely won't do anything to us."

Despite limited interaction,

Jiang Fan could sense some of the character of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion Master.

He is definitely a leader one can rely on.

Not like that Demon Emperor who infuriates others.

Boom-boom-boom—

Suddenly.

The ground lightly trembled.

Jiang Fan looked toward the source of the sound, and a group of spirit beasts was approaching from the direction of the Demon Race.

He initially thought it was the retreating Green Cloud Sect returning.

It wasn't until they got closer that he realized they were all female disciples.

Among the Nine-Sect,

The only sect with all female disciples is the Spirit Beast Sect.

Gong Caiyi, dressed in fluttering colorful skirts, stood atop a spirit beast.

She looked into the distance in Jiang Fan's direction.

Seeing him unharmed, a gentle and serene smile finally appeared on her face.

Since Ji Ruyue reported that Jiang Fan was chasing down a group of people, Gong Caiyi was very worried.

When she learned there was a ferocious beast with Ninth Layer Perfection of Core Formation among them,

She was even more shocked, decisively abandoned searching for the Hell Beast, and led her disciples to return.

"Jiang Fan, are you alright?"

Even before the spirit beasts had stabilized, Gong Caiyi eagerly jumped over to check Jiang Fan's body.

Seeing that there were no bloodstains on him, she finally relaxed completely.

Jiang Fan glanced at the many disciples behind her.

Semi-jokingly, he said, "Sect Master Gong, aren't you afraid of being laughed at by your disciples?"

Gong Caiyi's pretty face slightly blushed with embarrassment.

She said, "I'm worried about you, yet you make fun of me!"

Gong Caiyi lightly chided, saying, "You heartless little thing."

"I should never have taken such good care of you back then."

Jiang Fan chuckled.

He reached out and took her soft and slender hand.

Gong Caiyi was startled and shyly retracted her hand quickly.

Then, she noticed something foreign in her palm.

Unfolding it, she found two lotus seeds, glowing faintly.

"What is this?" Gong Caiyi asked in surprise.

Jiang Fan said, "Yue Mingzhu got the Heavenly Mountain Silk, so you can have this."

Gong Caiyi's face flushed slightly again. She hurriedly returned the lotus seed and said:

"What is Yue Mingzhu to you, and what am I to you?"

"I can't accept it."

Seeing her so bashful, Jiang Fan was helpless.

There was no way around it, as Gong Caiyi was inherently conservative.

In private, it might be alright.

But in front of so many people, she dared not be like Yue Mingzhu.

Wu Manyue's eyes lit up; she reached out her little hand and said: "Then, give it to me!"

"I want it!"

Gong Caiyi quickly retracted her hand and warily eyed the voluptuous and captivating pretty girl.

She asked vigilantly, "Jiang Fan, who is she?"

Wu Manyue cheerfully introduced herself:

"I am Junior Brother Jiang's beautiful senior sister."

"The lotus seed of the Dragon Blood Lotus, if you don't want it, I'll take it for you."

"I don't mind being compared to any Yue Mingzhu."

Gong Caiyi frowned.

She tucked the lotus seed into her sleeve, glancing at Jiang Fan lightly:

"You've only been to the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion for a few days."

"A new woman already."

Jiang Fan curled his lips, "Her?"

"Spare me!"

"This woman would eat me alive and leave no bones."

Wu Manyue pursed her lips and glared at him: "Is this how you talk about girls?"

"Besides, you never let me eat you."

It was only then that Gong Caiyi's frown relaxed.

As long as it's not true.

But, realizing the lotus seed was quite valuable, she felt a weight in her heart.

"Previously you gave me Bodhi Seeds, and now lotus seeds."

"I don't even know how to thank you."

Jiang Fan stepped forward, smiled softly, and said:

"When you took care of me back then, did you ever think of wanting something in return?"

"You didn't, right?"

Gong Caiyi brushed back the hair by her ear.

The afternoon of that day surfaced in her mind.

By the roadside of Green Cloud City, a young boy loudly hawking, offering free trials of Beauty Cream.

And that, half a year has passed since then.

A feeling of tenderness welled up in her heart, and she said:

"All I gave you were two bottles of Earth Phoenix Grass Juice."

"Not worth much."

"How can it compare to what you've given me?"

Jiang Fan smiled fondly.

Fragments of their initial encounters involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

During his life's lowest point, Gong Caiyi was the kindest and most gentle elder to him.

Those moments he could remember for a lifetime.

Wait a minute.

Jiang Fan's smile suddenly faded.

"Earth Phoenix Grass Juice?"

He finally remembered why "Earth Phoenix" sounded so familiar.

The liquid Gong Caiyi gave him to enhance his Early-stage Foundation Establishment was called Earth Phoenix Grass Juice, wasn't it?

He remembered that this juice was unique to the Spirit Beast Sect.

It required special spirit beasts to burrow underground to extract it.

He hadn't recalled it before.

Because the reputation of the Earth Phoenix True Spirit was too grand.

Earth Phoenix Grass Juice seemed entirely unrelated.

That's why he couldn't subconsciously connect Earth Phoenix True Spirit with Earth Phoenix Grass Juice.

Now that Gong Caiyi brought it up, he suddenly understood.

A troubling thought emerged in his mind.

Could it be...

That the so-called Earth Phoenix's tomb is underneath Spirit Beast Sect?

The Earth Phoenix Grass Juice is spiritual liquid nurtured by the influences of Earth Phoenix's tomb?

This could explain why, in all of the Nine-Sect Land, only Spirit Beast Sect has Earth Phoenix Grass Juice.

And no other sect has heard or seen it.

If that's the case.

Then could it be Kang Lin was referring to them when he was dying...

He looked at the elite disciples behind Gong Caiyi.

His heart sank as he said, "Sect Master Gong."

"Is everyone else in the sect?"

Gong Caiyi awkwardly explained in a low voice:

"Helping you find the Hell Beast was my personal matter."

"I couldn't possibly invite the Supreme Elder and other elders."

"Mobilizing these elite disciples was already mixing personal interests with public matters."

Jiang Fan's heart sank even further.

He asked gravely, "May I ask how the name Earth Phoenix Grass Juice came about?"

Gong Caiyi was puzzled.

She found it strange that Jiang Fan would ask this question.

At his current realm, he shouldn't need such low-tier spiritual liquid as Earth Phoenix Grass Juice.

But after thinking for a while, she vaguely said:

"I remember, it was during a certain generation when a sect master inadvertently entered the underground."

"Later, they brought back a bottle of spiritual liquid and named it Earth Phoenix Grass Juice."

"Since then, Earth Phoenix Grass Juice has been a unique spiritual liquid of our Spirit Beast Sect."

"Strangely enough."

"For hundreds of years, there's always been ample supply, like it's inexhaustible."

"Why do you suddenly ask about it?"

Jiang Fan felt as if his heart sank to the ocean floor.

He urgently and hastily said, "Quick!"

"Back to Spirit Beast Sect!"

"I hope my guess is wrong!"