Chapter 84: Violet Radiance

Jiang Fan's outburst was wholly unexpected for Yuan Kun. The terrifying speed left Yuan Kun unable to react in time.

A dull thud sounded as the sword tip pressed against his back. Vital energy surged inward, shattering Yuan Kun’s own energy flow and piercing straight to the depths of his core. Threads of sword energy wove through, sealing his dantian.

Jiang Fan withdrew his sword and seized Yuan Kun by the throat. Yuan Kun’s body stiffened, his face betraying defeat and unwillingness.

“I actually lost?” he murmured, the arrogance gone from his voice.

Jiang Fan strode atop the waves, reaching the shore in an instant. The immobilizing mirror he had struck away spun back and landed in Yuan Kun’s hand.

“Magical artifacts truly are wondrous,” Jiang Fan remarked coolly. “You’ve lost.”

“I am a core disciple of the Hidden Divine Sect, registered by the sect, watched over by the Grand Elder,” Yuan Kun took a deep breath, regaining some composure. “You wouldn’t dare kill me!”

“You threaten me?”

“This isn’t a threat, it’s fact! I admit defeat and am willing to ransom myself. You may name your terms.”

“I thought you would rely on your powerful backing to threaten me into releasing you at once.”

“I’m not that foolish. Everyone has moments of rage; when anger reaches a certain point, people act regardless of consequences. Even if I’m merely a disciple of the Hidden Divine Sect, or even the son of the Human Emperor, there’s always a chance of being killed.”

“No wonder you’re from a great sect! I don’t wish to kill you either; it would bring endless trouble. Yet letting you go easily is impossible. You challenged me at my doorstep, so you must face some punishment. Give me your immobilizing mirror.”

“The immobilizing mirror?” Yuan Kun’s body stiffened, his expression twisted, but finally he spoke coldly, “A wager is a wager. Trading a mirror for my life is a fair price.”

As he spoke, he brushed his hand over the mirror, which quivered. A drop of blood flew out. Yuan Kun’s face paled as he swallowed it.

The mirror’s radiance faded.

Jiang Fan took the mirror, forced a drop of his own blood onto its surface, and instantly the blood vanished within. He felt a strange connection form between himself and the mirror.

He infused it with his vital energy, sweeping through its every corner. With a thought, the mirror transformed into a beam of light, entered his body, settling in his dantian where his energy continued to refine it.

This was the simplest method of claiming a magical artifact: blood recognition, energy infusion, and nurturing within the dantian.

In truth, only upon reaching the Primordial Spirit realm could one fully command such an artifact.

Jiang Fan also released the seal on Yuan Kun.

“I’ll leave the immobilizing mirror with you for now,” Yuan Kun said, his heart bleeding. “Someday, I will reclaim it myself.” With that, he turned and walked away.

“Well handled!” Jiang Zheng’an approached. “Such figures, it’s unwise to kill them!”

“Ah!” Nangong Yue sighed. “What’s unwise about killing? It’s just that his background is too formidable. But in the city, despite Yuan Kun’s arrogant words, he wouldn’t dare openly commit murder.”

“He wouldn’t kill, but he could cripple or severely injure,” Nangong Rou approached gracefully. “Cousin, you should find yourself a powerful patron. That way, you’ll have nothing to fear in future matters!”

“I’m not as fortunate as you, cousin,” Jiang Fan replied.

They hurried home together.

Xiao Qing and Xiao Qian were naturally delighted, while Jiang Shan was utterly shaken.

“My cousin went out traveling, and in just half a year has reached this level? Even those ranked among the Dao Initiates aren’t his match? Perhaps I too should set out and forge my own path,” Jiang Shan mused.

Upon returning, they held a banquet.

But the battle had already spread throughout the city in an instant—a duel between Dao Initiates was news not only in the city, but across the nine provinces.

Night fell, in the study.

“Xiao Fan, did you really get taken away because you perfected the Profound Path Diagram?” Nangong Yue asked eagerly.

“Yes,” Jiang Fan answered honestly. “When our Jiang family faced disaster, Great-Grandfather sent me a message: if I perfected the Profound Path Diagram before twenty, I would be taken away. It was indeed a place of inheritance, where I underwent trials. Passing them granted me great fortune. Luckily, I succeeded and gained my current cultivation.”

“So the secrets within the Profound Path Diagram are real!” Jiang Zheng’an sighed, then asked, “Did you meet any of our Jiang ancestors?”

“Only I passed the trials among those who entered. The others—all perished.”

“Perished?” Jiang Zheng’an shuddered.

Nangong Yue’s expression changed, then she relaxed. “Luckily our Xiao Fan is so capable. Otherwise, we’d truly have to consider giving you a little brother!”

Jiang Fan rolled his eyes, then spoke seriously, “Father, Mother, the inheritance is of utmost importance, and because of me, it will not open again. Hereafter, I will claim to possess the inheritance of the Lifeless Sword Sect; you must remember, I am now its sole disciple in the world.”

“Even if I die, I won’t reveal the secret!”

“Don’t worry!”

Both nodded.

After more conversation, they departed.

In the courtyard, Jiang Fan sat in meditation.

This was formerly the East Peace Pavilion, now his alone.

Xiao Qian brought him tea, Xiao Qing washed a plate of fruit.

At that moment, a figure floated in—Nangong Rou.

“Greetings, Miss Cousin,” Xiao Qing and Xiao Qian hurried to pay their respects.

“How many times must I tell you, no need for formalities!” Nangong Rou’s voice was gentle as she sat on the other side.

Jiang Fan waved for Xiao Qing and Xiao Qian to leave, straightened, and gazed at her. “Cousin, my dear cousin, in today’s battle, you surely had the upper hand. Why did you pretend to be defeated and let me intervene?”

“The first moment I saw you, I knew you weren’t ordinary—you had gained great fortune,” Nangong Rou replied without pretense, taking a sip of tea. Setting the cup down, she continued, “Now the city is a gathering place of heroes. This is the perfect time for outstanding men to rise. I gave you the opportunity to make your name in battle. Cousin, you ought to thank me.”

“Thank you ten times, thank you for a lifetime!” Jiang Fan grumbled. “I prefer acting low-key, wanted to quietly cultivate, but now I’ll surely become a target for many. I’m certain someone will challenge me tomorrow. After all, I’m an unknown figure; even though I defeated Yuan Kun, many will think it was luck and try to step on me to gain fame.”

“Cousin, you’re young. You should shine, not act so world-weary,” Nangong Rou shook her head, though her eyes flashed with a hint of violet.

Jiang Fan’s body tensed. He raised his hand in a swift strike before him, retreating two meters before stopping, his face grim. “Cousin, after our battle today, you still can’t gauge my strength? You’re still probing me, trying to see through me completely?”

“Cousin, it’s a cultivation technique I practice. It’s not perfected, and sometimes my eyes show violet light,” Nangong Rou smiled gently. “It’s not worth such a reaction, is it?”

“Who are you kidding!” Jiang Fan sneered. “Your Violet Eyes technique—you think I can’t recognize it? Violet Eyes can see within the body, discern energy flow, and peer into the dantian. Legend says, when perfected, it can even glimpse a person’s fate, their future, and their past.”

Nangong Rou froze, her face filled with disbelief.