Chapter 126 - Some People Just Wandered Around and Disappeared
Guo Fan shook his head. Xiahou Cenyi was definitely not Sun Fen.
A cultivator at the Tribulation Passing Stage could enter seclusion for a century at a time. They wouldn't easily emerge since any instability or failure during the tribulation could have catastrophic consequences. Breaking through was not taken lightly.
Additionally, Xiahou Cenyi's personality was, how should I put it… unpredictable. Before meeting her in person, it was difficult to gauge whether she would object to Guo Fan expanding his harem.
After roughly the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the female servant finally returned.
Li Huai An had waited for a while, ready to observe the situation unfold. However, instead of seeing guards accompanying her, he observed her respectfully bowing and returning a piece of paper. “Young Master Xia Shui, Elder Zhang requests your presence.”
Li Huai An was taken aback. He watched the departing man and realized that he had invited an elder to come out. What was that piece of paper?
Wait, could this person be Xia Shui?
Li Huai An's astonishment gave way to suspicion. This man had just arrived at the Sword Pavilion, and he had already departed from the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. He even visited the Oriental Lychee Tavern. Was he truly a sectless cultivator? Could he be using a prominent sect disciple's identity as a disguise? Could that paper be some sort of token…
Otherwise, how could there be such an ostentatious sectless cultivator? Li Huai An found it hard to believe that luck alone could explain it. Such good fortune was unheard of.
As a sectless cultivator, he bitterly chuckled. He was constantly anxious about limited resources every day. He had never encountered a sectless cultivator like this one. It strengthened his suspicion that his initial guess might be correct.
It seemed that he had to take a risk.
Li Huai An examined the treasures displayed around him. He had a vague sense that perhaps he could place a wager.
……
The Heavenly Treasure Pavilion remained true to its reputation for conducting its affairs meticulously and cleanly.
Nevertheless, the most crucial factor was that Elder Zhang Qishan, Guo Fan, had raised his favorability level to the maximum.
Friendship, camaraderie, companionship!
Guo Fan couldn't help but wonder if this type of ageless friendship would eventually evolve into something more romantic. He chuckled, thinking that if such a transformation were possible, he'd promptly terminate the game planner if he were ever to transmigrate back.
In reality, such a scenario was non-existent.
Thankfully, everything proceeded smoothly.
At the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's branch establishment, Guo Fan bartered all the extraneous items he possessed for Soul Jewels. In an instant, he acquired an additional ten thousand Soul Jewels, instantly becoming a newly wealthy individual.
With this, he would have the essential capital to establish his own influence in the future.
In any case, while he couldn't utilize most of the items from the Crocodile Demon Lagoon due to his weapon specialization and cultivation technique, they were more than sufficient to exchange for currency.
The inheritance from a lineage-based family was far from shabby.
As for how he had acquired the Crocodile Demon Lagoon, he would pass the responsibility onto City Lord Fang. After all, he was now a beneficiary.
In any event, he couldn't deny it. After all, Heavenly Treasure Pavilion had a rule that necessitated the identification of the origins of their acquisitions. Certain stolen goods were strictly off-limits to Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.
Their cultivation technique also possessed a unique advancement ability known as [Treasure Listening], designed to unveil the history and properties of items. The higher one's cultivation level, the more thorough the investigation.
Naturally, there were no low-ranking disciples. Each branch was required to employ an elder to oversee operations.
The elder entrusted with overseeing the Night's Fall Sword City branch was a slim, goateed man. He marveled at the generosity of the Night's Fall Sword City Lord and sighed once more, believing that this young man had squandered a considerable amount of resources.
Fortunately, he had chosen the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. If he had ventured to a place like the Soul Haunt Ship, he would have bitterly regretted it.
While the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion adhered to formality and rules, there was a wealth of regulations in place. In contrast, the Soul Haunt Ship rarely inquired about one's origins.
Being one of the world's three pavilions, the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion naturally had a solid reputation. There was no concern about information leakage.
If he chose to visit the Soul Haunt Ship, there was still a chance that he might be exposed.
His destination would ultimately depend on his own preferences.
“Ah, the next time you have something to exchange for Soul jewels, make sure to seek me out. Don't allow the Soul Haunt Ship to deceive you,” the elder advised him, sounding like a concerned but somewhat powerless guardian.
Guo Fan expressed his gratitude with a subtle gesture and prepared to take his leave.
He emptied his backpack and felt a sense of lightness. He left behind only some equipment and Medicine Pills that he had prepared for Gu Chao.
Elder Zhang shook his head and suddenly had a realization. He hastily exclaimed, “Wait!”
“Yes?” Guo Fan turned his head.
Elder Zhang wore an unusual expression. “I couldn't figure out why something felt off to me. It turns out the Pavilion Master was searching for you.”
Guo Fan's expression shifted. Elder Zhang continued, “A few days ago, the Pavilion Master instructed us to hand over the items to him personally. You are using an alias, aren't you? My memory has failed me.”
He entered a secret chamber and retrieved a sword case.
Guo Fan was momentarily taken aback but then accepted the case.
The sandalwood sword case was plain and long, devoid of any ornamentation.
Inside the case lay a pitch-black longsword with a plain design. The sword's edge was sharp and bore faint dark red markings. At first glance, it didn't appear to be anything extraordinary.
Nevertheless, this sword bore the name [Heart-killing Evil Gall].
“… Guo Fan delved into deep contemplation.”
It was evident who had requested Xiahou Su to present him with the sword.
However, he did not employ this sword in the battle strategy. Except for Sun Fen, who employed the battle strategy, the others utilized a more conventional approach.
A formidable practitioner at the Tribulation Passing Stage comprehended the laws of the world, grasped karma and destiny.
Equally vital were the distinctive features of the cultivation technique within the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.
Guo Fan couldn't ascertain whether he had glimpsed the future or observed the past. Nevertheless, since the sword had been bestowed upon him, it indicated that the favorable impression still remained. This suggested that Xiahou Cenyi, at the very least, did not intend to view him as ungrateful.
He had assumed that they hadn't taken any actions, but in the end, they had laid an ambush and were waiting for him here.
Nonetheless, this obviated the need to request weapons from Fang Xiang.
As Guo Fan returned to the inn, he sensed Sun Fen tailing him. Xun Yimu's investigation was no longer a concern…
“Phew… It must be a misconception. If that were the case, they would have rushed over to apprehend us. Xiahou Cenyi likely sensed my location due to the connection between the cultivation technique and the heart-and-guts-killing sword.”
Guo Fan consoled himself and then withdrew the sword. He gazed at the familiar blade and temporarily found solace.
“At least the weapon is in my possession.”
Guo Fan sighed and ran his hand over the sword. Suddenly, he detected something amiss.
He carefully rotated the sword and noticed an inscription upon it.
“Give me a treasure, Xiaobo.”
“…”
“What did he say? Everyone within the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion was a dedicated collector.”
Guo Fan gently ran his finger over the sword's inscription and carefully placed the sword on his lap. He reactivated the card and employed his Divine Sense to seek out the sword spirit.
The moment his awareness entered, he found himself in an endless expanse of pitch-black darkness.
For an average person, this approach would be ineffective, but he had already attempted it once. It was essentially a game within the game—a high-speed, bullet-shooting game.
Within this realm, there were numerous remnants of sword qi and souls beneath the sword's constant assault.
Guo Fan continued to meditate, but he remained uncertain about what was happening.
Something felt off. The profound darkness was oddly tranquil, devoid of any disturbances.
Nevertheless, after advancing for a significant duration, he finally glimpsed a source of light.
Guo Fan felt a rush of joy, but then his smile froze. “Huh?”
Within the enigmatic consciousness space of the sword, he beheld a black-haired woman, her expression bored as she rested her chin on her hand. Suddenly, she opened her eyes, revealing pitch-black pupils tinged with a crimson glint, and a hint of a wicked smile graced her lips.
Even though it appeared that something was amiss, this woman bore an uncanny resemblance to Xiahou Cenyi from his memories.
“What the hell!”
Guo Fan's expression swiftly shifted, and he was so startled that he promptly retracted his divine sense. With a swift motion, he opened his eyes and dropped the sword he had been holding onto the ground with a loud clang.
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