Reborn Medicine King

"Don't worry too much. Even when facing formidable opponents, I wasn't intimidated. A mere prince doesn't concern me—he's not the emperor, after all."    

"I'm just worried he might set a trap for us. It's unsettling to be on his radar."    

"At this point, overthinking won't help."    

With that, Jiang Fann flipped his hand, and a bead from the purple-furred rat appeared, instantly capturing Fang Xiang's attention.    

"Take a look at this. I got it from that rat. It uses this to amplify its lightning abilities and gather spiritual strength from other rats."    

Fang Xiang quickly took the bead, examining it closely, his eyes flashing as if he had an idea. He handed the bead back to Jiang Fann and said, "Hold on, let me check something."    

He picked up his Hundred Treasures Bag, and a few minutes later, he pulled out an ancient bamboo scroll. Though worn with age, the writing and illustrations were still clear.    

Fang Xiang unrolled the scroll completely, pointing to an illustration at the top. "Look, does this match?"    

Jiang Fann glanced at the image Fang Xiang indicated. It was indeed a depiction of a bead, vividly resembling the one in Jiang Fann's hand.    

The text above describes the origins of a precious gem, which surprised Jiang Fann.    

The Heavenly Thunder Pearl.    

"The ancient sect of the Thunder Sect had two treasured pearls, one yin and one yang. The Yang Thunder Pearl is purple and revered by the sect's followers. The Yin Thunder Pearl is black, providing protection to the sect."    

The two pearls look identical, and the one in their possession is the Yang Thunder Pearl.    

Upon seeing this, Fang Xiang was thrilled. "It really is the Yang Thunder Pearl! The Thunder Sect was a top-tier powerhouse before the dynasty, but it mysteriously vanished. Many sects disappeared back then without a trace, leaving no records. I found this book in some ruins, documenting famous treasures of the time. I never thought I'd actually encounter one today."    

Jiang Fann stared at the Yang Thunder Pearl in his hand and asked, "So what's the use of this thing in our hands?"    

Fang Xiang replied excitedly, "Of course it’s useful! This isn’t just a treasure; it’s the key to unlocking the Thunder Sect."    

"A key? Didn’t you say the Thunder Sect disappeared?"    

"The so-called disappearance just means it vanished from the sight of practitioners. The treasures recorded on this bamboo slip are keys to those ancient sects. Since it’s a key, there must be clues on it. If we can truly unlock and enter that ancient sect, the rewards would be immense, far beyond what any secret realm today can offer. I never expected such a treasure to end up in the hands of a mere mouse."    

Jiang Fann could sense that this Sun Thunder Pearl was extraordinary, but he couldn't quite grasp the power it held.    

"A sect's prized possession that doesn't even reach the level of an immortal treasure? This so-called Dry Thunder Sect doesn't seem all that impressive."    

"I'm not sure about that, but whether it's useful or not, just the fact that it can unlock the Dry Thunder Sect makes it invaluable. If this were auctioned, it would probably cause a frenzy among all the kingdoms. You could rise to the top overnight."    

Jiang Fann shrugged. "Why sell it? If there's any benefit, we should keep it for ourselves. If it really can unlock an ancient legacy or a secret realm they left behind, I'll take you with me."    

"You said it, so it's a deal. Hurry up and figure out how to use this thing. The coordinates might be inside, and we could find the entrance with it."    

Jiang Fann then focused his spiritual sense on the pearl, carefully perceiving its contents, and suddenly his eyes lit up. "I didn't expect you to be right."    

Inside the Sun Thunder Pearl, there was indeed a guide, like a compass, always pointing in one direction regardless of how it was turned.    

Fang Xiang was about to celebrate but then suddenly remembered something, furrowing his brow. "No, we can't."    

Jiang Fann looked at him, puzzled, not understanding what he meant.    

Fang Xiang explained, "Rushing to find the secret realm left by the Dry Thunder Sect is too risky. It might be a trial meant for experts at the reincarnation level. According to how other factions operate, they would prepare a large team and powerful experts to go together. That way, even if trouble arises after unlocking it, they won't be caught off guard."    

"Dangerous? Does a secret realm really warrant such caution?"    

Fang Xiang replied seriously, "You shouldn't underestimate these places. Years ago, when we at the Nine Heavens Pavilion opened an ancient relic, only two out of three hundred people returned. All five of our leading experts perished. The secret realm we accessed became a forbidden zone, and we've never dared to approach it again. So, don't be careless—one wrong move could cost you your life."    

Jiang Fann chuckled, "I don't plan on taking that many people. Being cautious should be enough to keep us safe. Are you scared?"    

"Scared? Are you kidding? With all your treasures, what do I have to fear? I'm just looking out for you."    

Jiang Fann laughed, "Come with me. We can watch each other's backs. Besides, the second prince of the Sui Dynasty is already looking to cause us trouble. We might as well stay out of sight and frustrate him. Who knows, you might even rise to new heights there. When we return to the Nine Heavens Pavilion, you could get promoted three levels, and maybe then you can look out for me."    

Despite his apprehension, Fang Xiang saw no reason to hold back. If anything went wrong, Jiang Fann stood to lose much more than he did. Plus, this was a rare opportunity for advancement—most cultivators might never encounter such a secret realm in their lifetime.    

As for Jiang Fann, he was in high spirits. He stayed in the upper realms to train and enhance his skills. There were still many unresolved matters in the Nine Desolations, and he had to return eventually. He also aimed to use Fang Xiang's connection to the Nine Heavens Pavilion to gather information about Ling'er and the others. Although the pavilion didn't hold much sway in the higher realms, it was still far more influential than he was, unless he resorted to the Holy Academy, which was a last resort.    

However, the most pressing matter is to quickly find a way to enhance my abilities. Only by truly becoming stronger will I have the chance to bring all those old friends back to my side.    

Jiang Fann handed the Sun Thunder Pearl to Fang Xiang, letting him sense the direction it indicated. After all, Fang Xiang was more familiar with the Upper Nine Heavens, so it was better for him to plan the route, allowing Jiang Fann some peace of mind.    

Fang Xiang opened the map and placed the Sun Thunder Pearl on it, using his spiritual strength to draw a line across the map.    

"If the direction is correct, it should be along this line. From where we are now, it almost spans the entire Upper Nine Heavens, though we don't know the exact location."    

"We have plenty of time, so let's first determine the general area."    

"Time isn't the issue, but we'll be passing through many cities, including the Sui Dynasty and the Central Dynasty. Should we disguise ourselves and travel under different identities? That way, we won't attract attention halfway through."    

Jiang Fann laughed, "Once we reach the capital of the Central Dynasty, we'll stay for a while and cause a bit of a stir. At least we can't let that second prince think we're afraid of him."    

Fang Xiang looked at Jiang Fann in surprise, "Aren't you essentially provoking him directly? Most people would avoid him, yet you're heading straight into the storm. Isn't that a bit reckless?"    

"Don't worry, I have a plan. Just lead the way."    

By now, Fang Xiang understood that once Jiang Fann made up his mind about something, he would see it through to the end, so he didn't try to persuade him further.    

Heaven Pavilion.    

Tao Zhen returned from his trip and noticed a scruffy young man sitting cross-legged outside the mountain gate, silent and still. Approaching the entrance, he directly asked the gatekeeper.    

"What's the story with that young man?"    

The disciple quickly replied, "He's here to become a disciple of our Heaven Pavilion."    

"A disciple? Has no one on the mountain agreed to take him in?"    

"Sir, he wants to be the master's disciple. He's been sitting here for months, waiting for the master to return. We've tried to persuade him to leave, but he won't listen."    

Hearing this, Tao Zhen was a bit surprised. "Months? That's interesting."    

With that, he walked straight up to the young man and said, "Stand up and talk."    

The young man snapped out of his meditation, and upon seeing Tao Zhen, his face lit up with joy, clearly recognizing him.    

"Junior Jia Yi, greetings to Master Tao Zhen."    

"I know you're here to become a disciple, but the master isn't on the mountain. You must have heard this over the past few months, right?"    

Jia Yi nodded and then said, "I want to wait until the master returns to take me as a disciple. Even if it takes ten years, I'll wait."    

"You don't need to wait any longer. I understand your sincerity. Come with me into the Heaven Pavilion and start your training. Without the right level, you can't become a good alchemist. On behalf of the master, I agree to take you as a disciple. However, whether the master values you in the future depends on your own efforts."    

If anyone else had made such a request, Jia Yi would have outright refused. But Tao Zhen was different. While he wasn't the most powerful in the Heaven Pavilion, his status was among the highest, and he had always managed the sect on Jiang Fann's behalf. Since Tao Zhen had spoken, there was no doubt Jiang Fann would agree upon his return.    

"Thank you, sir! Thank you! I will dedicate myself to my training."    

Tao Zhen nodded at him and led him into the Heaven Pavilion. Jia Yi felt the energy around him, filled with excitement and reflection. He had waited so long for this day.    

Following Tao Zhen to the entrance, he first went to register his identity. Tao Zhen would then find someone to teach him the training methods. To Tao Zhen, a determined young man like Jia Yi had a promising future, and he was eager to see how Jia Yi would grow.    

...    

The Vast World.    

The Golden Eye Clan.    

The Golden Eye Clan had transformed significantly. Since Jin Xian awakened his bloodline, he secured his place within the clan. The clan's geniuses and masters were granted ancestral blood, rapidly boosting their overall strength. After the last invasion of the Nine Desolations, the entire Vast World seemed to have fallen into an eerie silence.    

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