C2682
C2682
"Jiang Fann?"
Jiang Fann smiled, clearly confirming the guess.
Only then did Xian Hu walk over, a rare hint of joy on his face.
"It really is you, but this appearance..."
He left the sentence unfinished, understanding that Jiang Fann had his reasons for showing this face.
Jiang Fann communicated, "Let's talk once we're out of town."
With that, they left the city together. Jiang Fann planned to take Xian Hu elsewhere to chat, but soon realized that after leaving the outer city of the Heavenly Palace, invisible barriers had been set up on both sides, preventing outsiders from wandering around freely. It was clearly to keep people away, as this path only led to the Heavenly Palace.
With no other choice, Jiang Fann decided to talk with Xian Hu as they walked.
Just as Jiang Fann was about to speak, a figure quickly approached from the front.
It was an elderly man, looking at Xian Hu with a face full of joy.
"Finally, you're here. I've been waiting for you here for half a month. The Palace Master will be thrilled to know you've arrived."
This person was clearly here specifically for Xian Hu and didn't even glance at Jiang Fann, who had suppressed his power and disguised himself to look unremarkable. He paid no attention to him.
Xian Hu nodded at the newcomer. The old man had the eighth level of the Mortal Separating Stage. Jiang Fann found him unfamiliar, having never seen him before. From his tone, it seemed this man was an overseer in the Heavenly Palace. At his level, he was still considered a formidable figure in the Nine Desolations, as not everyone could reach the Reincarnation Stage, which remained a rarity even now.
"I got held up in a secluded place for a while, so I'm a bit late. You don't need to wait on me; I'll head to the Celestial Palace on my own."
"That wouldn't be right. I've been instructed to wait for you. Even if it meant staying here for half a month or even years, it wouldn't matter."
Xian Hu glanced at Jiang Fann beside him, then addressed the old man, "This is my companion. Can he come with me?"
"Of course, no problem. Your companion is welcome at the Celestial Palace. Please follow me; I'll take you both to meet the master."
With that, the old man turned and led the way, clearly in good spirits.
Jiang Fann sent a message to Xian Hu, "Are you planning to join the Celestial Palace?"
Xian Hu replied, "They've made me a good offer. They're well-informed and reached out to me first. I think their sincerity is genuine, and I don't have any better options right now. Joining them seems beneficial, especially since they're a major force in the region, and they have skilled herbalists. The prospects are promising, so I didn't refuse."
Jiang Fann didn't hold back, saying directly before they entered the Celestial Palace, "I'm here to stir things up, and it might get messy. You should go with him; I don't want you caught up in it."
Hearing this, Xian Hu was taken aback but quickly responded, "You have a grudge with the Celestial Palace? In that case, why should I join them? I'll help you instead. But be aware, the Celestial Palace has many powerful figures. Compared to the top experts, I'm still lacking. And why is your level so low? It seems you've been slacking off these past years."
Jiang Fann was taken aback by Xian Hu's decisiveness; he hadn't even paused to consider before speaking so plainly.
"You need to think this through. This isn't a joke—one wrong move, and you could lose your life here."
Xian Hu remained unwavering. "You helped me so much back then. If I can't even help you now, what's the point of continuing my cultivation? Go ahead and take risks; I can protect myself. Even though the Celestial Palace is heavily guarded, they can't hold us."
His confidence was evident, suggesting he had some valuable artifacts on him.
Meanwhile, the elderly guide leading them seemed oblivious to any underlying issues, enthusiastically explaining the current state of the Celestial Palace as they walked.
Jiang Fann discreetly observed his surroundings, quietly releasing his spiritual strength to gauge the power of the barriers around them, which would aid him in a swift exit if needed.
Xian Hu addressed the guide, "Could we postpone meeting the Palace Master? I'm a bit weary from the journey. I'd like to rest and gather my strength before paying my respects, to avoid any offense."
The old man nodded, not objecting. This gave him a chance to report to the Palace Master first. After all, Xian Hu was one of the most renowned young talents in the outside world, even younger than Wan Chengfeng, and a mysterious lone cultivator. Many sects were eager to recruit him, so bringing him into the Celestial Palace would be a significant achievement.
With a guide leading the way, Jiang Fann found entering the Celestial Palace smoother than expected. Reuniting with Xian Hu put him in a good mood. As he passed through the palace gates, Jiang Fann could clearly sense the formidable aura of the grand formation here, which was certainly on par with the one at Myriad Clouds Mountain.
Jiang Fann deliberately absorbed some of the spiritual energy released by the formation, allowing Xiao Ai and Lin Zhan to sense it. He then asked, "Lin Zhan, does this still resemble the formation you once modified?"
Lin Zhan quickly responded, "This isn't a power I'm familiar with; it feels completely foreign. It seems like someone else has reconfigured the formation here. Given the current state of the Nine Desolations, having such a formation expert isn't surprising. Should we enter the formation ahead of time to probe if there's a Formation Spirit present?"
Jiang Fann immediately dismissed the idea. "There's no need for that now. This formation shouldn't be able to stop me, especially since I've advanced beyond my previous state. Besides, I don't plan on staying in the Celestial Palace for long. If it weren't for the certainty that the Divine Spell is here, I wouldn't venture this deep."
The Celestial Palace is a complex nestled atop a range of mountains, originally a blessed land. With the support of the grand formation, it continuously gathers spiritual energy from the surroundings, making it an excellent place for cultivation.
The elder showed great respect for Xian Hu. After entering the gates, he didn't rush up the mountain but instead headed towards a nearby cluster of buildings. According to the elder, this was the guest accommodation area, and he intended to settle Jiang Fann and his companion there.
In this area, there are some disciples from the Heavenly Palace, most of whom aren't particularly advanced in their skills. These are mostly the disciples of this generation, and they all seem quite busy, though it doesn't affect much around here.
The elder instructed a few disciples, who quickly followed orders and left in a hurry. Once they were gone, Jiang Fann reverted to his true appearance, which greatly surprised Xian Hu.
"What a brilliant disguise technique," Xian Hu remarked. "But knowing you, I wouldn't expect you to be so low-key. It seems the changes in the world have had a significant impact on you."
Jiang Fann chuckled, "I'm here searching for a treasure I need, though I still don't know where it is. Besides, if I dared to come here, my abilities are certainly more than what you see. Let me explain my situation: I once seized the fortune of the Heavenly Palace and took many treasures during that period. Because of this, they've always seen me as a thorn in their side, eager to eliminate me. Unfortunately for them, my power is on par with theirs, and due to an external invasion, our conflict has been on hold."
Xian Hu nodded, "I've heard a bit about the external invasion, though I haven't heard of any recent invasions. I'm curious to meet these outsiders myself."
Jiang Fann continued, "After the world advanced, I reached the Mortal Separating Stage, but my unstable state forced me into seclusion. I only woke up recently to find the Heavenly Palace planning against my forces. Over the years, they've grown in secret, bolstered by fortune, and have indeed improved significantly. I originally intended to probe their situation, but I sensed the treasure I need, so I disguised myself to blend in here. I never expected to run into you."
After learning the backstory, Xian Hu briefly shared his own situation. "I was initially drawn into a unique space by Qing Teng, likely connected to my origins. Once inside, I was in a constant state of enlightenment and training. I lost track of time, and when I finally awoke, the world was in chaos. I leveraged the world's advancements to step directly into the Reincarnation Stage. I've been honing my skills outside for years, and with my current level, few peers pose a threat to me. The Celestial Palace has approached me several times with increasing sincerity. I'm planning to retreat for a while, and this place seems like a good choice."
With that, he took a large gourd from behind him and placed it on the table. The gourd emitted a gentle aura, continuously enhancing Xian Hu, clearly extraordinary. Jiang Fann noticed that the aura from the gourd was almost identical to Xian Hu's. If he closed his eyes, he couldn't tell them apart, a testament to its unique vitality.
"This gourd must be your life-bound treasure, right?" Jiang Fann asked.
Xian Hu was forthcoming, explaining, "This isn't a crafted treasure but an innate one that grew beside me during my retreat. It's been nourished by my spiritual strength, absorbing my essence. Its power rivals what cultivators call immortal treasures."
Jiang Fann replied, "There's really no need for training in the Nine Desolations. With your current potential, you should seek stronger realms for true growth. Since my plans disrupted your entry into the Celestial Palace, as a brother, I can't leave you hanging. As compensation, I can take you to the highest world for training. There, you'll find many geniuses far stronger than you, and competing with them will be much more exciting."
"Can you really break free from the Nine Realms?" Jiang Fann asked.
"Of course, and it's not that difficult for me. But right now, the priority is to find the treasure here," he replied confidently.
Xian Hu was quite intrigued by Jiang Fann's claim. Given his current power, the Nine Realms were indeed no longer a match for him.
When Jiang Fann unleashed the aura of the third level of the Mortal Separating Stage, Xian Hu remarked, "Among our group, I've encountered a few others during my years of training outside, and you're definitely one of the standouts. But isn't it a bit risky to venture here with just the Mortal Separating Stage as your backing? Why not just tell me what you're after? I might be able to help you get it. Even if something goes wrong, I can handle it."