C11 Gains

The cultivator in the later period of the Innate Stage wore a look of confusion.

"It's bizarre. That kid somehow cast an illusion that ensnared us momentarily. I fell for it too, or else he wouldn't have gotten anywhere near the young prince."

"Never underestimate the Jiang Family, and certainly not Jiang Fann. He's got someone powerful backing him. Besides, the prince is still in the dark about this. He's always said we should avoid provoking the Jiangs. The young prince is headstrong; a setback might do him some good. I'll clear things up with the prince once we're back."

"Thank you, Housekeeper Liu, for handling this."

At Myriad Treasures Tavern.

A shadowy figure materialized beside Han Qianxue.

"Miss Han, Jiang Fann has made a breakthrough, his progress astonishingly swift. Even Guangnan King's butler, Liu Ye, was outwitted and compelled to apologize to the Jiangs. Regrettably, they held a private talk, and we didn't dare eavesdrop for fear of Liu Ye catching on."

Han Qianxue smiled, inquiring, "And what happened next?"

"Jiang Fann hastily departed Loongze County, heading eastward. The details are unclear. By the time I realized, it was too late, so I rushed to report to you."

"You may leave now."

Han Qianxue's lips curled into a smile as she gazed out the window.

"The Innate Stage! Such a rapid advancement is truly startling. It seems the Nine Stars Pill wasn't his only aid. Jiang Fann, what other secrets are you hiding?"

She drew out a spiritual talisman and inscribed a few characters.

"Jiang Fann of Loongze County, attention level: top priority!"

With the inscription complete, she channeled Spiritual Strength into the talisman. It then soared out the window, transforming into a streak of light that pierced the sky and vanished.

Deep within Nine Peaks Mountain, Jiang Fann was concealed in a hollow.

Not far from him, a standoff unfolded between two demonic beasts.

One resembled a water buffalo with a triangular horn, its body shimmering gold. The other, shrouded in black, bore the likeness of a leopard.

The tension between the two was palpable, their presences formidable.

Equally matched in strength, the two demonic beasts were riddled with wounds. Jiang Fann couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement, "A Broken Mountain Bull of the third level Profound Rank and a Nine Nether Leopard of the second level. Despite the bull's higher rank, its combat prowess falls short. Let's watch them clash."

He had been in hiding for half an hour when the beasts commenced their final, ferocious battle, their roars echoing with a chilling intensity.

Matching the power of a warrior in the mid-Innate Stage, the decisive moment of their fight would signal Jiang Fann's intervention.

Minutes later, a mournful cry signaled the end; the Broken Mountain Bull collapsed, its neck savagely torn open, its life force swiftly ebbing away.

Jiang Fann leapt into action, charging at the Nine Nether Leopard. Intent on its feast, the leopard sensed his approach and spun around, letting out a fierce roar. Its fur bristled, back arched, claws shining ominously, eyes glinting with malice.

With a sinister grin, Jiang Fann taunted, "At your last gasp and still baring your fangs at me?"

He advanced on the Nine Nether Leopard, a medicinal pill at the ready in his hand behind his back. A wounded beast was more dangerous than a healthy one; he proceeded with caution.

The leopard backed away, then turned to flee. Jiang Fann sped up, launching the pill like a projectile. It struck the leopard, which stumbled after a few paces and fell.

As the Nine Nether Leopard's cries filled the air, Jiang Fann moved in for the final blow. But suddenly, three black wildcats darted out from the nearby underbrush. On closer inspection, they were unmistakably the Nine Nether Leopard's offspring.

The cubs relentlessly tugged at Jiang Fann's pant leg, desperately trying to rescue their mother. Their actions unexpectedly stirred a sense of compassion within him.

Jiang Fann approached the Nine Nether Leopard, bent down, and channeled his Spiritual Strength to shield its vital heart meridian.

"You're in luck! Though I'm not sure if this medicinal pill will work on you."

After administering the pill to the Nine Nether Leopard, Jiang Fann sat patiently, waiting for any sign of improvement. The three cubs watched him warily, on high alert.

Gradually, the pill began to take effect. The leopard's breathing stabilized, and it writhed on the ground as it fought to recover.

Once the leopard seemed better, Jiang Fann rose and headed towards the golden bull's carcass. The bull was a rare find, and its body was a treasure trove of valuable materials.

After the Nine Nether Leopard got to its feet, it cast a brief glance at Jiang Fann before swiftly leading its cubs away.

Jiang Fann moved to the bull's side, where his Hundred Treasures Bag contained an array of tools, many custom-forged by a blacksmith.

True to the adage, 'practice makes perfect,' Jiang Fann's every cut was precise and effortless, quickly harvesting the bull's valuable materials.

He sliced off two large chunks of meat from the bull's leg, planning to prepare a meal for his mother. Such delicacies were not easily come by.

As Jiang Fann was packing up to leave, a dark shadow approached rapidly from behind, racing directly towards him with astonishing speed.

Jiang Fann spun around, only to find the Nine Nether Leopard at his heels. He braced for a counterattack but then noticed the creature had something in its mouth.

The leopard dropped the item on the ground and departed without a backward glance.

Examining the object, Jiang Fann recognized it as a withered, rust-covered vine. To his delight, it was the rare Crimson Blood Vine.

"This creature understands gratitude, showing a touch of humanity. It's a fair compensation for my troubles."

As Jiang Fann pocketed the Crimson Blood Vine, a sudden frown creased his brow.

A beastly roar echoed from the direction where the Nine Nether Leopard had just departed, not far from Jiang Fann's location. It sounded like the very same leopard he had just encountered.

Suppressing his presence, Jiang Fann sprinted toward the source of the noise. In no time, he spotted the Nine Nether Leopard, now encircled by a group of humans. Despite having ingested Jiang Fann's medicinal pill, the leopard's fighting prowess had dwindled to less than half its original strength. Surrounded by these cultivators, it was in grave danger.

Surveying the scene, Jiang Fann counted six people hemming in the leopard, including two at the Innate Stage. Their mismatched attire suggested they were adventurers who had ventured into this territory.

"To think we'd stumble upon a severely wounded Nine Nether Leopard. We're going to strike it rich," one of them exclaimed.

"Everyone, stay sharp. An injured demonic beast is even more dangerous. Don't give it a chance to flee," another warned.

The group remained vigilant, not allowing any distractions, for fear their captured quarry might slip away.

Jiang Fann resolved internally, "Since I've already granted you a chance at life, I'll save you once more."

With the Soul Anchor Powder now in his grasp, he tossed it into the midst of the crowd. He then sent a telepathic message to the Nine Nether Leopard: "Make your escape, now."

Renowned for its swiftness, the Nine Nether Leopard seized the moment. Four of the six pursuers collapsed instantly. The remaining two, caught off-guard, could only watch as the leopard bolted, transforming into a black blur that vanished into the thick forest in an instant.

The two Innate Stage cultivators, snapping out of their shock, erupted in anger. "Who's there? Who's the scoundrel that dares to mock us?"

By then, Jiang Fann was already a considerable distance away, unconcerned with whom he might have offended. With the immediate situation handled, there was no reason for him to linger.

This foray into the Nine Peaks Mountain had been fruitful: he had pinpointed the location of the immortal root, gathered a bounty of herbs, secured all components of the Mountain Broken Bull, and acquired the precious Crimson Blood Vine. His gains were substantial.

His initial journey to the mountain had been a day-long dash, but the return trip took a leisurely four days.

His month-long plan to venture into the Nine Peaks Mountain had been unexpectedly cut short. Upon his return to Loongze County in high spirits, Jiang Fann was eager to peruse the market. With a bit of luck, he might stumble upon some treasures.

But no sooner had he set foot in the market than he overheard chatter about the Jiang Family. Several distinguished young men from the capital had come bearing gifts, seeking to court the Jiang Family with proposals of marriage.

The journey from the capital to Purple Sun Town was no short trek, requiring at least a month of travel.

Through inquiries, Jiang Fann learned that these suitors were all vying for the attention of Jiang Yueyao. Her rising status within the Jiang Mansion, coupled with her striking beauty, had clearly drawn a crowd.

Yet, Jiang Fann was puzzled. At just sixteen, how could Jiang Yueyao be entertaining marriage proposals? Surely, the Jiang Mansion wouldn't consent to such a thing.

As he approached the Jiang Family estate, he was halted before he could pass through the gates by a guard.

"Young Master Jiang Fann," the guard began, "the Patriarch has instructed me to tell you to lay low for a bit and return after some time."

Jiang Fann's brow furrowed in confusion. "What's the reason?"

"It's those noblemen's sons. They claim they're here for marriage, but what they're really after is to..."

The guard trailed off, gauging Jiang Fann's reaction.

"Just speak plainly," Jiang Fann urged.

"They're likely here to pick a fight with you, young master."

It didn't take long for Jiang Fann to piece together the situation. Having embarrassed Jiang Yueyao previously, she hadn't had the chance to retaliate. This must have been her countermove.

His father's warning was well-intentioned, no doubt. Offending the scions of influential families, especially those with considerable strength, was no trivial matter.

But Jiang Fann was undeterred. He had already crossed swords with the Guangnan King's son and lived to tell the tale.

Ignoring the guard's caution, Jiang Fann strode confidently into the Jiang estate and made a beeline for the reception hall.

The scene outside the hall was bustling. A mountain of gifts lay heaped on the ground, while the Jiang servants bustled about, tending to the esteemed guests.

Jiang Fann strode into the reception hall and quickly took stock of three unfamiliar youths.

All in their mid-teens, they carried themselves with an air of confidence, clad in lavish attire, their attention fixed on Jiang Tianhai, oblivious to the new arrival.

Their cultivation levels were impressive; each had reached the Innate Stage, clearly the product of nurturing from prominent families. The scent of medicinal pills clung to them, suggesting a reliance on such aids for their training. Their outfits, however, gave no clue as to their affiliations.

Jiang Tianhai was in the midst of entertaining them, his face a mask of congeniality. Yet, the sight of Jiang Fann sparked a flicker of astonishment in his eyes—he hadn't anticipated such a swift return.

Unperturbed, Jiang Fann greeted him, "Father!"

At the sound of his voice, two of the youths snapped their gazes onto Jiang Fann, appraising him with eyes that were less than friendly.

Without missing a beat, Jiang Tianhai introduced, "This is Jiang Fann."

He then turned to his son, "These gentlemen are from the Chen, Zhang, and Qin families of the capital. They've come because..."

Jiang Fann cut in, "I'm already aware. They're here for Jiang Yueyao."

He appraised the trio with a smile. "So, all three of you are vying for Jiang Yueyao's favor? I'm curious—who does she prefer?"

Zhang Bo from the Zhang family spoke up, "Let's set our concerns aside for a moment. Are you the one who's been troubling Yueyao repeatedly? You don't seem like much. To me, you're nothing but an immature kid."

Another youth snickered, his gaze challenging.