C2532 Plan
C2532 Plan
The tiny creature, no larger than the palm of a hand, stood in Zhu Ying's hand, looking up at the sky with surprising presence, letting out a soft yet commanding roar. Upon hearing this, the two figures' intimidating aura diminished, and they quickly shrank back into the forest.
About a minute later, a group of beasts, each no bigger than a hand, emerged from the woods. If they hadn't been seen before, it would be hard to believe how dangerous they could be.
"What’s going on here?" Zhu Yan and the others hesitated, stepping aside to clear a path. Jiang Fann stood his ground, unfazed.
The fire qilin nuzzled against Zhu Ying's palm before leaping to the ground and approaching the group of beasts. They communicated in a language the others couldn't understand, but it was clear the fire qilin was a ruler to them. The beasts all lay down, bowing their heads, avoiding direct eye contact.
The Purple Jade Eagle, understanding their language, said directly, "This Fire Qilin is the embodiment of the bloodline power left by their master. All these beasts follow its command. Knowing this, it would have been better for you to tame it, as it would mean having so many allies."
The Martial God replied, "It's not as easy as you think. These beasts live in a dangerous place with special powers. Technically, they don't belong to this era. Once they leave their territory, there are likely restrictions, so they can't be considered true allies."
"The Fire Qilin, like you, uses the master's aura to hide from the heavens, allowing it to stay outside for long periods. Having a holy beast as a pet is significant and brings great fortune. It's definitely a good thing."
After communicating with the group of beasts for a while, the Fire Qilin turned to Zhu Ying and said in a childlike voice, "Master, I need to go back with them. Wait for me in the valley; I'll return in ten days."
Zhu Ying nodded, not refusing. The Fire Qilin didn't spare a glance at anyone else. It instructed one of the beasts to enlarge itself, climbed onto its back, and the group of beasts turned and disappeared into the forest.
Zhu Yan relaxed, placing a hand on Fang Xiang's shoulder.
"You really are my best buddy. If this gets out, your mentor might just kick you out!" Fang Xiang said, "As long as Zhu Ying is happy, nothing else matters. With so many beasts to protect her, I'm more than thrilled." Zhu Yan gave him a hearty slap on the shoulder, laughing non-stop, and even gave him a thumbs-up, clearly teasing him. Zhu Ying was still sensing the aura of the fire qilin. Since it had accepted her as its master, they could communicate through their bond even from a distance. Jiang Fann said, "You don't need to worry about it; it's safer than you are." Zhu Yan finally stopped laughing and turned to Jiang Fann, "Let's head back to the valley. Once Fang Xiang recovers, you can leave." Jiang Fann shook his head. "Everything's settled. There's no need for us to go back. We've got a lot to do. You take Zhu Ying back. Fang Xiang's injuries aren't serious. We'll catch up another time." Hearing this, Zhu Yan replied, "Come on, I haven't even had the chance to properly host you. The elder wants to chat with you some more. Stay with us a few more days." Fang Xiang stayed silent, not wanting to leave so soon. He and Zhu Ying were just starting to connect, and he wanted to see where it could go.
However, Jiang Fann had no intention of staying any longer.
"There will be plenty of opportunities to work together in the future. Just tell everyone I'm taking a break and don't let anything slip," he said firmly.
Zhu Yan looked at Jiang Fann, seeing his determination, and sighed, "I guess there's no convincing you. If you ever run into trouble, you're always welcome to seek refuge at our place. The elders will ensure your safety."
Jiang Fann chuckled, "Don't worry, if I need it, I won't hesitate."
With that, he took off into the sky, waiting for Fang Xiang. Fang Xiang quickly made up his mind. He turned to Zhu Ying, "I'm heading out. Let's go on an adventure together sometime. If you ever need me, I'll be there in a heartbeat. You're always welcome to visit me at the Nine Heavens Pavilion."
He handed Zhu Ying his token and, without waiting for a response, flew towards Jiang Fann.
Zhu Yan and Zhu Ying waved goodbye but didn't leave immediately. After flying a bit further, Jiang Fann glanced at Fang Xiang beside him and laughed, "Why the long face? Feeling a bit reluctant?"
"We've got all the time in the world. Time is the one thing we have plenty of. You must have your reasons for leaving in such a hurry. Got something in mind?"
Jiang Fann smirked, "Seems like you always know when something good is about to happen."
Hearing this, Fang Xiang was intrigued and asked directly, "What are you planning?"
"You went to that dangerous place where the holy beast once lived, right? You know the general situation there, don't you?"
"Don't even mention the holy beast. How was I supposed to know that egg contained a fire qilin..."
Feeling frustrated was inevitable. As a cultivator and a manager at the Heaven Pavilion, Fang Xiang understood the significance of the holy beast. Giving it to his beloved was his only way to console himself.
Jiang Fann chuckled, "Among those demonic beasts, the ones with strong cultivation are now with the fire qilin. So, do you think that dangerous place is now..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the anticipation in his eyes was clear.
Fang Xiang was suddenly enlightened and slapped his forehead. "You're actually planning to go there! But it's probably not dangerous now."
"The demonic beasts will take some time to return. I'm in a hurry to leave so I can take advantage of the time gap. I definitely don't want to face those beasts head-on."
Fang Xiang nodded repeatedly, then produced a flying treasure to prepare for the journey.
However, Jiang Fann took out the Galaxy Cauldron and brought Fang Xiang inside.
Fang Xiang looked around in amazement. "What kind of treasure is this? It's inscribed with such complex formations."
Jiang Fann handed him a map.
Jiang Fann said, "It's just an ordinary treasure. Mark the exact location of that dangerous spot on my map."
"You use ordinary treasures? You're kidding, right?" Despite the skepticism, he quickly marked the location. Jiang Fann communicated with the spirit of the Star River Cauldron, confirmed the position, and activated it.
Watching the flickering scenes around them, Fang Xiang was stunned. "Are we moving?"
Before he could fully process it, Jiang Fann whisked him away from that space, and he retrieved the Star River Cauldron so swiftly that Fang Xiang didn't even get a good look at it.
Looking around, Fang Xiang was amazed to find they had already reached the marked point. The speed was unbelievable. "We're here already?"
As Jiang Fann walked toward the entrance of the dangerous area, he explained, "I wouldn't have used that treasure if it weren't to save time. But this works out; at least when I'm out with you, I can use it without worry."
Fang Xiang realized Jiang Fann considered him a trusted ally. He quickly followed and asked, "Do you want me to take you to where I found that monster egg?"
Jiang Fann nodded. "That's exactly where I want to go! But I'm curious, with so many guardian beasts, how did you manage to get the egg?"
"Maybe I just got lucky. Before reaching the core area, not many beasts noticed me. After grabbing the egg, I didn't stick around. I escaped immediately, and they probably hadn't realized what happened before I was out of there."
Fang Xiang's analysis made a lot of sense, and it was indeed a stroke of luck that he managed to leave alive. With him leading the way, they saved quite a bit of time. As expected, the stronger beasts were all outside, leaving only those with lesser abilities. Once Jiang Fann and his companion suppressed their presence, these creatures couldn't detect them.
Jiang Fann kept his Spiritual Sense active and opened his Divine Eye, carefully observing the surroundings. He was convinced that the area where the holy beast resided would undoubtedly hold some valuable opportunities.
As they ventured deeper into this perilous land, Jiang Fann noticed the environment constantly changing, with the Spiritual Strength growing more intense. Unlike the Fire Valley, the Strength of Five Elements was abundant here, allowing various beasts to cultivate to high levels.
Half an hour later, Fang Xiang spoke up. "We're almost there. About three hundred yards ahead is a stone forest. In the center, there's a large nest where I found the beast egg."
Soon, the stone forest Fang Xiang mentioned came into view. Jiang Fann and his companion walked right in. The area was expansive, filled with jagged rocks and quite impressive. Fang Xiang, with his excellent memory, guided Jiang Fann through it swiftly, leading them to the nest. It was woven from a unique type of vine, radiating a strong fire energy.
Fang Xiang brushed the vine and explained to Jiang Fann, "It was this spiritual energy that caught my attention. With the vine's energy, I was sure the creature inside the egg would have the same attribute, making it a perfect gift for Zhu Ying. Turns out, I misjudged."
Jiang Fann leaped up, landing above to sense the vine's aura with his own spiritual strength, then analyzed it using his unique abilities. To his surprise, the vine's aura had a divine quality. Considering the surroundings, he quickly formed an opinion.
"If I'm not mistaken, this vine was probably nurtured with the true blood of a holy beast. That old beast must have valued its lineage greatly."