This Is What a Villain Is Like

Chapter 202: Chapter 99: Why Is Lin Fan Already Dead? He Has Returned to Take Revenge on All His Enemies From His Previous Life

"Lan’Er has certainly given my wife and me a pleasant surprise."

"But what’s most gratifying for us is that he has finally emerged from his old heart’s knot. My wife and I tried everything we could, but we couldn’t help him resolve it. In the end, he managed to do it himself."

"According to the news from Jiang Ying, Lan’Er had an epiphany after facing several life-or-death crises. But knowing him as I do, I suspect there’s another reason."

Jiang Lintian put away the Communication Jade Scroll, chuckling. His words painted the picture of a doting father, completely devoid of the hawk-eyed, wolf-like gaze rumored by the outside world.

"A heart’s knot must be untied by oneself. No matter what others say, it’s useless."

"The Young Master’s fate is a noble one. How could a mere setback crush him?"

"However, judging from these reports, the Young Master’s recent actions likely have a deeper meaning. To be prudent, I believe it would be best for you, Prime Minister, to see the Young Master in person..." the black-robed elder said with a slight smile.

Jiang Lintian nodded slightly. "Lan’Er wears the Soul-Protecting Lock left by his mother. That lock was personally inscribed and forged by the Li Family’s old ancestor. In the ancestral hall of the Li Family’s Sui Ji branch, there is also a Seven-Star Soul Lamp. I am aware of your suspicions, Master Ji, but there is no need to worry on that account."

Hearing this, the black-robed elder nodded and said no more.

The Prime Minister and his wife had only one son. It was impossible that they hadn’t anticipated such a situation, so they must have made preparations for any number of unknown possibilities.

He had only heard rumors about the incident that had happened to Jiang Lan all those years ago. He didn’t know the details, but he could vaguely guess some of it.

For the Prime Minister’s Mansion, this was a taboo that no one dared mention. Even he avoided the topic when speaking with the Prime Minister.

And that incident from years ago was the root cause of Jiang Lan’s heart’s knot and his affliction.

Jiang Lintian knew what Master Ji was thinking, but he just smiled and didn’t elaborate.

He casually picked up his Jade Chopsticks and helped himself to the delicacies before him.

"Once Lan’Er finishes his business in Anyang City, he will return. Master Ji, which Celestial and Earthly Treasures do you think are most suitable for him to reforge the foundation of his Great Dao now?" he asked, as if in passing.

"The Immortal Embryo Creation Dew is one of the Heaven and Earth Wonders. It contains essence fragments of the ancient Immortal Phoenix Race and can reverse one’s Innate state to form an Immortal Embryo. Ordinary Celestial and Earthly Treasures will likely be of little use to the Young Master."

"I have heard, however, that the Royal Family’s Treasure Vault contains the remains of a young Immortal Phoenix. Although they are just remains and much of its divinity has dissipated, it would be the most suitable main ingredient for refining a Foundation Establishment Elixir. Furthermore, Prince Zhenbei is said to possess a Moon Phoenix Stone, Duke Zhongguo has a Feather suspected to be an Immortal Phoenix True Feather, and enshrined in the Qing Song Dao Manor is an Exotic Bird Egg that has lost its vitality. If it were refined, one could obtain a wisp of atavistic Phoenix Race True Blood..."

The black-robed elder spoke with eloquent confidence, seeming to know all the various Celestial and Earthly Treasures of the world like the back of his hand, including their locations.

Jiang Lintian showed an appreciative expression and nodded. "Then we shall do as Master Ji says. I will give the order to have them procured immediately."

The black-robed elder chuckled. "In that case, the Prime Minister must cover for me. Otherwise, if others come to settle the score with me, I won’t be able to bear it."

"Master Ji, you jest. As the Pavilion Master of the Celestial Secret Pavilion, who in Great Xia today would dare not show you some respect?" Jiang Lintian also laughed, his expression casual and at ease.

Although those Celestial and Earthly Treasures were all incomparably rare and precious, the way he spoke of them made it seem as if others would obediently hand them over at his mere word.

The Celestial Secret Pavilion he mentioned was a mysterious organization that had suddenly appeared within the borders of Great Xia over half a year ago.

Its Pavilion Master was said to be a mysterious expert extremely skilled in the arts of deduction and divination. His origins were unknown, and he claimed to have eyes and ears throughout the entire Celestial Central Province, with no secret hidden from him.

He first created the Peerless Beauties List, which claimed to encompass the entire Celestial Central Province, and later produced numerous other lists such as the Human Talents List, the Azure Cloud List, and the Soaring Dragon List.

Each list was divided into three parts: Heaven, Earth, and Man.

To date, the Heaven-rank part of the Peerless Beauties List had already been released. The Heaven List featured ten people, the Earth List thirty, and the Man List one hundred.

A list of beauties was nothing new; in some regions, busybodies had already taken it upon themselves to rank the appearances of many gorgeous women.

However, the Peerless Beauties List published by the Celestial Secret Pavilion included some peerless beauties whom the world believed had long since passed away from old age, and it even mentioned some ancient factions that had never been heard of before.

Only after the list was published did the world discover that those peerless beauties, who they thought had turned to dust, had not actually grown old but were living in seclusion under different identities in various places.

The list’s authenticity was thus confirmed.

The subsequent release of the Human Talents List, the Azure Cloud List, and the Soaring Dragon List caused an even greater uproar.

Numerous young Celestial Prides were ranked on them. Their origins, the fortuitous encounters they had, their strength, and their combat records were all analyzed in meticulous detail, and the accuracy of it all sent shockwaves through every faction.

Many of the young Celestial Prides, vying for a higher rank, began to fight amongst themselves, battling until they were battered and bloody just to move up a single spot.

Young and eager to prove themselves, and with the chance to bring glory to themselves and the Sects or factions behind them, the younger generation was naturally hooked.

The release of these lists attracted immense attention from all the major Immortal Sects.

Of course, only a very small number of factions knew that this so-called Celestial Secret Pavilion was most likely an organization supported by the Prime Minister’s Mansion.