Supreme Emptiness

Chapter 527: Chapter 527: Ruined a Good Thing Chapter 527: Chapter 527: Ruined a Good Thing Nangong Xiaoyun had just arrived at Boundary Mountain.

She had only heard that the battle was brutal but had no idea of the specifics.

Therefore, she was unaware of Jiang Fan’s achievements.

She simply instinctively felt that for a mere two hundred defenders to win a world-shaking battle, the disciples and elders of the sects must have displayed extraordinary combat prowess.

Otherwise, victory would have been highly unlikely.

Jiang Fan’s eyes lit up.

He had been coveting those three Nascent Soul One-Strike Jade Tokens for a long time.

If they had these three jade tokens in the fight at Boundary Mountain, victory would have been secured early on.

Their power was comparable to that world-changing Tribulation Thunder.

He made a quick calculation.

In the Giant Sect’s Holy Land, at Sky-Breaking Canyon and Boundary Mountain, Jiang Fan had obtained over a hundred Beast King Demon Cores.

From battling the demon beast forces, he captured another two hundred Beast King Demon Cores.

Altogether, there were a total of three hundred.

According to the conversion of five Beast King Demon Cores equaling one Level-One mission or one hundred merit points:

That would add up to a total of six thousand merit points.

Exchanging for three Nascent Soul One-Strike Jade Tokens was more than sufficient.

Moreover, the merit from the battle at Boundary Mountain was yet to be settled.

The items he could redeem this time were truly abundant.

“Alright, you go first, and I’ll come later,” Jiang Fan said.

After all, before the merit board was issued, it would take quite a while to gather all the disciples.

Nangong Xiaoyun nodded, “Then make sure to come quickly.”

“Many people weren’t convinced by your top rank last time, you know.”

“They’re all eagerly waiting to see you fall from grace this time, so they can comfortably say, ‘This guy finally showed his true colors.ʼ”

Snickering mischievously, she skipped away, her light steps bounding cheerfully.

Jiang Fan touched his nose, muttering, “Are there still people like that now?”

*Having fought so many battles one after another,*

*unless all Nine-Sect disciples were blind…*

*they should have some understanding of his true power by now.*

*Who would still dare to underestimate him so easily?*

Gazing at the person slumbering softly in his embrace,

Jiang Fan leaned against the city wall, careful not to disturb her.

He didn’t waste time either.

He secretly began cultivating the technique “Cloud Shadow” from the Thunder Extension Order.

Last time, he had practiced hastily and only cultivated halfway through.

Yet, he still managed to master the fifty-zhang instantaneous movement technique.

It had played a critical role in seizing the Demon Moon White Bone Hairpin.

How could he possibly leave out such a divine ability?

He closed his eyes and concentrated on cultivation.

Several two-hour periods passed.

Electric currents surged, and thunder snakes roamed within his body.

If he wished, within a hundred-zhang range, he could instantly transform into a thunderbolt and arrive in an instant.

Whether for killing enemies, snatching treasures, or making a swift escape, it was a skill that bordered on divine.

“The First Layer is perfected,” he murmured.

“If the Second Layer is perfected, it would enable instantaneous movement within a thousand-zhang range—a truly heaven-defying ability.”

“Alas, with my current level of thunder and lightning power, sustaining such a long-range leap is far beyond my capability.”

Jiang Fan felt a pang of regret.

Obtaining even a small portion of power from the Heavenly Thunder Stone and successfully cultivating the Second Layer of “Three Pure Thunder Shadow” to unleash the Five Thunder True Heaven Palm was already extremely lucky.

Wanting to acquire more thunder and lightning power again—could it really be so easily achievable?

“Mmm~”

Suddenly, Liu Qingxian awoke abruptly.

She had a nightmare.

In her dream, Jiang Fan’s face was half-ruined, his body drenched in blood, and he waved goodbye to her with a smile.

Fortunately, when she opened her eyes, what greeted her was Jiang Fan’s warm and affectionate expression.

This allowed her tightly wound heart to finally relax.

So, it was just a dream.

She sat up but remained nestled in Jiang Fan’s arms, unwilling to leave.

Recalling how she had lightly punched his chest before falling asleep, she reached out her snow-white fingers and gently massaged the area.

“Does it still hurt?” Liu Qingxian quietly asked near his ear.

Jiang Fan caught her hand gently and shook his head slightly, saying,

“It hurts, but not as much as my heart does.”

Knowing what Liu Qingxian had endured, his heart felt as though it had been pierced by a sword.

*Sharp blades were mighty, treasured swords were deadly—but none could wound the heart like love.*

Liu Qingxian’s eyes grew moist.

She felt her deep feelings had not been betrayed.

Meeting his deep, tender gaze, she slightly raised her snowy neck.

Her dry, pale lips pressed softly against Jiang Fan’s cheek.

Jiang Fan’s body slightly trembled.

This time, he did not resist.

Pulling her close, he surrendered to the moment.

As the two became increasingly lost in each other, their breaths quickening,

“Junior Brother Jiang~ Junior Brother Jiang~”

A frantic cry echoed from afar, growing closer.

The sudden interruption startled the pair, making both of them flinch.

Liu Qingxian hastily scrambled out of Jiang Fan’s arms, hurriedly adjusting her disheveled collar.

She wiped away the marks at the corner of her lips.

When they looked toward the source of the voice,

amid the winds and snow, Liang Feiyan came running anxiously toward them.

“Junior Brother Jiang, so you were hiding here!”

*Oh, him!*

*He really knows how to pick his moments!*

Jiang Fan instantly felt annoyed, his expression cold. “What do you need from me?”

Uh…

Liang Feiyan felt baffled by Jiang Fan’s icy demeanor.

*What did I do to offend him?*

Only then did he notice Liu Qingxian beside him, gazing at him with displeasure.

Moreover, her collar looked slightly messy, and her lips were still faintly moist.

That’s when Liang Feiyan understood he had interrupted their moment.

*”Damn it! No wonder no one else wanted to come—everyone shoved it onto me!”*

*”Son of a—!”*

Liang Feiyan cursed inwardly.

Everyone had been waiting for Jiang Fan, and Vice Pavilion Master Ye had asked Nangong Xiaoyun to invite him.

Nangong Xiaoyun delegated the task to Xia Chaoge.

Xia Chaoge passed it to Ouyang Jun.

Ouyang Jun pushed it to Xie Liushu.

Xie Liushu then dumped it on him.

*Turns out this bunch already guessed that Jiang Fan and Liu Qingxian were spending time together.*

*It was even possible they were wrapped up in some steamy affair.*

Suddenly barging in might disrupt the couple and earn their ire; hence, everyone opted out.

Only he, obliviously, had come running over.

*Naturally, he received the cold shoulder.*

“Ahem, Junior Brother Jiang, the merit board is about to be announced. Vice Pavilion Master Ye and the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion staff are asking for you,” Liang Feiyan said quickly, without meeting either gaze.

Jiang Fan nodded, grabbed Liu Qingxian by the hand, and moved to leave.

As he passed Liang Feiyan, he said with evident annoyance,

“Senior Brother Liang, don’t focus so much on cultivation.”

“Take some time to find yourself a senior or junior sister, share some love, exchange some feelings.”

“Always being alone—how pitiful.”

With that, he left, leaving the dumbfounded Liang Feiyan behind.

It took a long moment for Liang Feiyan to snap back to his senses.

Anger churned in his gut.

*Not only had I faced their chilly attitudes,*

*but I was also lectured!*

“Just women, huh?!”

“Do you think I, Liang Feiyan, couldn’t easily win over a Proud Daughter known across all Nine-Sects?!”

“The Nine-Sects’ number-one beauty, Liu Qingxian… Hmm, she doesn’t count.”

“Spirit Beast Sect’s senior sister Yi Lianxing… Eh, she doesn’t count either.”

“Supreme Sect’s top Proud Daughter, Xia Chaoge… Ugh, she definitely doesn’t count.”

“Desires Sect’s famous Ji Ruyue junior sister… Alright, she doesn’t count either.”

“Then surely our Myriad Swords Sect junior sister Qin Caihe will do—her looks are surely impressive…”

“Damn it!”

By the end of his mental tally, Liang Feiyan’s eyes bulged as he let out a curse.

*All the prominent Proud Daughters of the Nine-Sects…*

*It turned out every single one had some connection to Jiang Fan!*

“Jiang Fan! You son of a—!”

“I’m reporting you to the authorities!”