Chapter 113

However Zhang Heng seemed utterly unaware, speaking leisurely: "Let's talk about this dragon origin purple qi! Anyone who enters the Dragon Tower secret realm will inevitably pick up some, more or less. As circumstances unfold, it will gradually increase; by the time one reaches the depths of the secret realm, before the Dragon Tower, one can rely on the dragon origin purple qi to unlock the Dragon Tower secret treasury inheritance, becoming a dragon in a morning and a phoenix in a breath."

Besides, within the Dragon Tower secret realm there are some special hidden places containing precious treasures and spirit medicines; if one could find them, it would be a tremendous opportunity. My Gentleman's Hall once had a senior who obtained a top-grade profound medicine, refined and absorbed it, and within the Dragon Tower he advanced to become a Martial King expert, suppressing all those strong ones!

Zhang Heng seemingly had no intention of hiding anything; all sorts of secrets spilled out. Although his words lacked vigor, they were nonetheless enticing; anyone who heard them would likely feel an unbearable itch of desire, unable to restrain their longing.

Lu Fan, however, remained expressionless, appearing to listen attentively without changing his expression in the slightest. This instead made Zhang Heng a bit disappointed; he trailed off, losing interest.

That's about all, Brother Lu—are you still satisfied?

He couldn't figure out Lu Fan's thoughts, and having no choice, he could only ask this.

Lu Fan glanced at him indifferently, then turned his gaze to the distant horizon and said coldly: 'You may leave; before the Dragon Tower, I will personally take that dragon-origin purple aura of yours.'

Zhang Heng's face turned cold, his eyes filling with intense fighting spirit. No one had ever dared to slight him so, but thinking of Lu Fan's astonishing methods, his fighting spirit waned by more than half.

Very well, I also greatly admire Brother Lu's skill; during the Dragon Tower melee, it would be a perfect chance to glimpse his divine abilities!

As his words fell, he leapt into the air, his form like a streak of flowing light, diving into a towering tree and vanishing from sight.

Lu Fan's eyes shifted, fixing on the direction Zhang Heng had disappeared; his gaze narrowed, slightly surprised: 'What exquisite movement technique—Zhang Heng's strength is no trifle. The Gentleman's Hall must be the power behind him; later, when we reach the Dragon Elephant Dynasty, we may well have to deal with them.'

The Bright Moon Empire is too small, its cultivation resources scarce to the point of being hair-raising; naturally it's not a place to settle. Moreover, the mastermind behind the abduction of the old matriarch and Qiuxiang is very likely a force of the Dragon Elephant Dynasty—that Wan Ling Hall—I will certainly have to visit it once.

His eyes suddenly deepened, a flash of killing intent bursting forth. At that very moment, from the left-side thicket came two strange sounds.

Swish—swish!

Sword qi swept and surged through the void; two figures, one chasing and one fleeing, darted forward at great speed.

'Demoness, quickly put down that Earth-Core Lotus, or else Yang will make you regret it!'

A familiar voice rang out—it was Yang Sheng. Lu Fan blinked slightly, instinctively releasing his mental power and sweeping it outward.

Yang Sheng's pursuit target was a black-clad woman, lithe and agile, with gray mist flickering over her garments and talisman seals faintly appearing and disappearing—quite strange.

'Xiulan!' Lu Fan's pupils widened, his expression changing. Though the black-clad woman showed only her back, she was unmistakably Xiulan, the covert talisman master of the Skull Society. That day at the Skull Society's underground altar, she had vanished together with the Ghost Infant; I never expected to see her now.

Without a thought, he leapt forth, turning into a streak of evasive light, chasing after Yang Sheng's direction.

Talisman seals whirled, forming Wind-Moving Talisman Seals around him that condensed into a vortex, wrapping his form with the swiftness of wind and lightning; in just a few breaths he caught up to Yang Sheng.

Yang Sheng's expression changed; upon seeing Lu Fan clearly, he breathed a sigh of relief, about to call for help, but the fleeing demoness ahead halted her escape.

'Demoness, why aren't you running?'

Yang Sheng also had no time for anything else, assuming she feared Lu Fan, and moved forward to seize her—only to be blocked by Lu Fan.

'Yang Sheng, don't act rashly—you're no match for her!'

Lu Fan waved his hand, halting Yang Sheng's movement, then called out to Xiulan: 'It's been a few days, Miss Xiulan—you've actually broken through to the peak of Talisman Master! Truly cause for celebration!'

Lu Fan himself, in the Talisman Dao, has only reached mid-stage of the Transform Sinew Realm; yet Xiulan, since parting that day, has leapt two minor stages in one go to reach the late-stage peak of the Transform Sinew Realm, which is truly astonishing.

'Hmph! What's so great about being a Talisman Master peak? It can't compare to Master Lu's world-shaking means of suppressing all heroes.'

Xiulan turned slightly, her face grim; her formerly fair complexion was now deathly pale, exuding a lifeless aura. Yet her aura was extraordinarily strong, her mental power comparable to that of a grand talisman master just entering the Tempered Bone Realm, hardly lacking.

Lu Fan's eyes narrowed as he scanned her whole body, then exclaimed in shock: 'You've entered the Ghost Dao! That Ghost Infant's origins are obscure, and you blindly trusted his words—later you'll surely have no regret medicine to take!'

After all, we've had dealings, though not much affection. But seeing a good young woman embark on the irredeemable Ghost Dao cultivation, he could not stand idly by.

Xiulan let out a cold snort, gave a mocking smile, raised her hand, and a skull bone ring appeared, saying: 'Even if that Ghost Infant's origins are obscure, now reduced to dry bones, could it still harm me?' She fixed Lu Fan with a cold stare and added: 'Some people harbor ulterior motives, with corrupt intentions, bringing ruin upon others. I, Xiulan, am blind to pearls, having involved myself with such folk—there's nothing left to regret.'

This is her blaming Lu Fan for 'destroying' the Skull Society, her jealousy and resentment running deep. That Ghost Mister clearly intended to harm her, yet she calls the Skull Society 'home,' showing her deep feelings for it.

Lu Fan shook his head and warned: 'That Ghost Mister is a treacherous villain with wicked intent; recklessly moving that ancient desolate altar inevitably brings disaster. Even without me or the Holy Martial Hall's people, the Skull Society could not have endured.'

Upon that altar lie desolate inscriptions, strange beyond measure, plus a fifth-rank Ghost King secretly working mischief. Even if Lu Fan didn't go, disaster would inevitably arise—far worse than the Ghost Mister's death and the Holy Martial Hall's extermination campaign, which would be a hundredfold more dire.

Xiulan, unaware of any of this, glared fiercely at Lu Fan, locking eyes, and demanded: 'Let me ask you—what exactly is the origin of the inscriptions on that altar? And what are these desolate markings?'

Lu Fan glanced at Xiulan with slight surprise, not expecting her to still care about the desolate markings. He remained silent, but she would not let up.

'Even if you don't say it, I know—it must be an ancient legacy. You obtained a heaven-shaking opportunity in my Skull Society, while I've become neither human nor ghost; I blame everything on you!'

She said this with a mournful expression. Though her strength has risen quickly these days, her whole visage is listless, like a corpse. For a young woman, not breaking down is already difficult.

Lu Fan sighed, feeling a bit apologetic; she had originally asked him for help, but he had other thoughts. Although he never cooperated with the Ghost Mister, he can indeed be considered the chief culprit behind Xiulan's current state.

'Xiulan, though young, you've already achieved the rank of covert talisman master in the Transform Sinew Realm—your talent is not ordinary, and your future achievements are limitless. If you are willing to abandon Ghost Dao cultivation, I, Lu Fan, can help you renew your life!'

Yang Sheng, standing nearby, heard this and his expression shifted several times, wanting to speak but holding back. Since Lu Fan was acquainted with that demoness, he naturally felt it inappropriate to press further about her seizure of the Earth-Core Lotus; yet from their conversation, it seemed there were significant secrets.

That day, Wei Kuangdao arrived with a crowd and openly accused Lu Fan of colluding with evil demons and heretical cults. Hearing their conversation now, it's likely not mere slander. In the past, he would have hated evil like an enemy, reporting this to the academy or even the Holy Hall to gain merit.

But now he harbors no such thoughts; he only wants to keep these matters buried in his belly.

'President, this maiden has fallen deep into demonry; what you say, she will absolutely not listen to.'

Yang Sheng saw Lu Fan's pitying intent toward Xiulan, shook his head, and spoke to remind him.

Upon hearing this, Xiulan's face changed drastically, deathly aura entwining her, ghostly qi spreading in all directions.

'Hahaha, Lu Fan, cut the hypocritical benevolence here. I, Jiang Xiulan, need none of your pity; the Ghost Dao—what of it? It grants me power, you lot of false gentlemen can no longer harm me.'

She lifted her head to the sky and let out a mournful long howl; her formerly delicate jade hands turned into sharp ghost claws, reaching out from afar to strike at Lu Fan.

Ghostly shadows flickered, killing intent rampant; two illusory shadow claws tore through the void, seeming about to seize Lu Fan's head.

Lu Fan's eyes narrowed, his expression helpless; he bent his legs slightly, pushed off the ground, leapt into the air, and easily dodged those two illusory shadow claws.

Xiulan gave a fierce laugh, lightly waved her ghost claw, and the illusory shadow claws shifted direction, lunging toward Yang Sheng.

'Demoness, you're courting death!'

Yang Sheng exploded in anger, not yielding an inch, brandishing his long sword in a head‑on clash and shattering those illusory shadow claws in a single blow.

The Ghostly Killing Qi dissipated, about to scatter on the wind into nothingness; at that instant, Xiulan's pair of ghost claws shuddered violently and shattered apart.

At the same moment, the Ghostly Killing Qi instantly condensed, transforming into a multitude of talisman seals that formed an array in mid‑air and blasted Yang Sheng in an instant.

Ah!

Yang Sheng let out a miserable scream, his body instantly losing control as he collapsed to the ground, rolling about in agony.

Lu Fan stood stunned, his face full of disbelief, fixed on Xiulan's direction and frowned: 'You—'

Not bad! It's exactly the Formless Dharma Seal you passed to Wang Wu!

Xiulan gave a grim laugh, biting down especially hard on the word "you".

Lu Fan lightly inhaled, closed his eyes, then slowly opened them; his gaze flashed like lightning, the look of surprise on his face vanished, and he returned to his usual calm, smiling lightly and saying:

"That ghost infant is quite extraordinary; I misjudged you. Though the ghostly path is ruthless, with your talent you may yet carve out a new realm."

He sighed a little; that evil ghost spirit fetus had no great power back then, yet in just a short time it caused Xiulan to make rapid progress. Not only did she learn his Formless Dharma Seal, but she could even glimpse a bit of his reality and illusion—truly not simple.

Seeing Lu Fan like this, Xiulan felt a bit disappointed and snorted coldly: "No matter how extraordinary, it can't beat your pretended godly tricks? That statue is divine indeed, able to manifest itself—I really can't fathom how you managed it."

Lu Fan wouldn't bother arguing with her about this; he glanced at her casually, then pointed at Xiulan's hand wearing the ghost ring and said: "This ring truly is the ghost infant transformed, but this time it's been absorbing your vital energy—contrary to what you said, it hasn't turned you into dry bones and can no longer harm you!"

Xiulan's body trembled slightly; she slowly raised her hand, gazing at the bone ring, her eyes both lost and enamored, she murmured: "What difference does it make? It protects me and aids my cultivation—it's a supreme treasure of heaven and earth; what's a little drained vital energy?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Fan found himself speechless. Not long after, that lovely girl had clearly undergone a major change in character—no few words could win her back.

"Whoosh—"

Yang Sheng struggled for a long time before regaining clarity, he stumbled to his feet, face twisted with pain and shock, staring fixedly at Xiulan, wondering what he was thinking.

Xiulan curled her lip in disdain, sneering at Lu Fan: "Lu Fan, your divine powers are vast, but your so‑called Heavenly Dragon disciple strength is nothing much. Before the Dragon Pagoda, I will seize all your academy disciples' dragon essence purple qi, making you taste the agony of 'family destroyed, people dead'!"