Chapter 47: The Reward, Phoenix-Perching Jade Pendant

Upon hearing about a reward, Lin Fan’s eyes lit up.

"What reward does Master have in mind?" he asked with a hint of anticipation.

"What reward does Master have in mind?" he asked eagerly, his voice carrying a trace of thinly veiled excitement.

Ji Qingwan parted her crimson lips, her voice silky and smooth, dripping with boundless charm: "What do you think of your second and third senior sisters?"

"How about I bestow both of them upon you?"

As she spoke, she cast a sidelong glance to observe Lin Fan’s reaction.

While those two female disciples could not be considered peerless beauties, they were nonetheless rare stunners.

With graceful figures and alluring curves, every flutter of their eyelashes and every smile exuded a captivating allure.

Especially under Ji Qingwan’s tutelage, they were well-versed in the arts of intimacy, capable of driving a man to ecstasy and leaving him utterly intoxicated.

Surely, few men could resist such temptation.

Clearly, Ji Qingwan intended to use these two disciples to tether Lin Fan to her side.

However, those two women harbored questionable intentions.

On the very night Lin Fan arrived, both of them had sneaked into his room, employing seductive arts with malicious intent.

Therefore, Lin Fan held no favorable impression of the pair.

Lin Fan shook his head, bringing up Su Xingyue as a shield: "Many thanks for Master's immense kindness, but my bond with Xingyue runs deep. I must ask Master not to make things difficult for this humble disciple!"

Ji Qingwan froze slightly.

She had not expected Lin Fan to refuse.

And to refuse so decisively.

This brat, was he truly unmoved?

A trace of surprise flashed through Ji Qingwan's heart, immediately followed by an inexplicable surge of emotion.

Was it disappointment?

Or appreciation?

Even she herself could not tell.

"Very well, since you have no interest, this master will not force the matter."

"However, you have rendered a great service, and this master cannot let it go unrewarded."

"Take this treasure as your reward!"

With that, Ji Qingwan gave a gentle flick of her slender, snow-white hand.

An exquisite jade pendant flew through the air.

Lin Fan reached out and caught it, instantly feeling a warm and exceptionally smooth texture against his palm.

The pendant was a pure, vibrant green, resembling a pool of clear jade water, crystal-clear and utterly devoid of flaws.

Carved upon it was a lifelike phoenix, wings spread as if about to take flight, its expression remarkably vivid.

Along the edges of the pendant was inlaid a ring of tiny red gemstones, gleaming brilliantly like the flames of a phoenix.

The entire pendant radiated a faint spiritual aura, instantly revealing itself to be far from an ordinary item.

"This is..."

Lin Fan turned the pendant over in his hands, asking with a hint of confusion.

A flicker of reluctance crossed Ji Qingwan's face, though she concealed it almost instantly.

Parting her red lips, her voice carried a trace of lingering melancholy:

"This is a protective jade pendant I acquired in my early years, named 'Phoenix Perch.' It can withstand a full-strength attack from a Golden Core cultivator."

"Today, I bestow it upon you."

"May it keep you safe from harm."

Ji Qingwan’s beautiful eyes shifted as she gazed deeply at Lin Fan.

This jade pendant was precisely one of the items he desired most.

It was infinitely better than taking two senior sisters!

He solemnly and carefully put the pendant away.

"Many thanks, Master!"

Ji Qingwan waved her hand, signaling for Lin Fan to withdraw.

"Master is somewhat fatigued and requires rest."

"Understood, Master."

Lin Fan bowed in farewell, turned, and left the grand hall.

...

Within the Joyful Union Sect, in a secluded location.

The surroundings were shrouded in thick fog, so dense that one could not even see their own hand in front of their face. Only a few dim rays of light pierced through the mist, casting mottled shadows upon the ground and heightening the eerie atmosphere.

Li Jiu’s figure appeared here, having specially donned a black robe that completely enveloped her voluptuous figure, allowing her to blend seamlessly into the surrounding darkness.

She hurried toward a masked figure.

The mask obscured the person's face, revealing only a pair of deep eyes that shimmered with a cold, ghostly light.

Although her facial features were hidden, this person's fiery physique was exposed in full view. A tight-fitting black outfit outlined breathtaking curves, slender legs drifted in and out of sight beneath the robe's hem, her tiny waist could scarcely be spanned by a single grasp, and the fullness of her chest strained against the fabric, stirring wild and distracting thoughts in anyone who looked.

"Senior Uncle."

Li Jiu walked up to the figure and bowed respectfully.

"For the sake of caution, didn't I tell you not to come running over casually when there is no pressing matter?"

The masked person spoke, her voice low and magnetic, resembling the haunting notes of a clay ocarina echoing through the dark night, tinged with a slight huskiness and an enchanting, exquisite quality.

"Senior Uncle, just a short while ago, my Senior Sister Bai Jie sought me out and told me she had discovered a heaven-shaking secret!"

Li Jiu lowered her voice.

"Oh? What secret?"

A hint of curiosity leaked into the masked person's tone.

"Master's newly accepted junior brother seems to possess a certain unique constitution that can help people break through bottlenecks."

Li Jiu enunciated each word clearly, excitement flickering in her eyes.

"Are you certain?"

"Absolutely certain!" Li Jiu declared with absolute conviction.

"You can verify it yourself. Senior Uncle Qinran of the Hundred Flower Valley, as well as my Senior Sister Su Xingyue..."

She described Bai Jie's discovery in meticulous detail!

The masked person fell silent for a moment.

"It seems Ji Qingwan's smooth breakthrough to the Core Formation realm must be related to this brat!"

"Splendid, splendid! This is your reward."

The masked person retrieved a storage pouch from her bosom and tossed it to Li Jiu.

"Thank you, Senior Uncle!"

Li Jiu caught it hurriedly, joy blooming across her face.

"Find a way to verify your junior brother's ability. Do not forget, you still bear the Soul-Locking Art I planted within you..."

The masked person said indifferently, her voice carrying a trace of warning.

"Understood, Senior Uncle. I will undoubtedly complete the mission!"

Li Jiu's expression shifted slightly as she hastily offered her guarantee.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Early that morning, Lin Fan woke leisurely from his slumber.

He stretched lazily, feeling refreshed and invigorated from head to toe.

An enticing aroma lingered at the tip of his nose, instantly awakening the appetite in his stomach.

"Xiyue, what's for breakfast this morning? Why does it smell so good?"

As he dressed, he called out toward the outer room.

"Young Master, the spiritual vegetables I planted in the spirit field have matured, and the two phoenix-tailed chickens I raised have started laying eggs too!"

"This morning, we not only have eggs laid by the phoenix-tailed chickens, but also spiritual rice porridge paired with spiritual vegetables!"

Bai Xiyue's voice drifted in from the main hall, carrying an uncontainable excitement and joy.

These were the spiritual plants she had meticulously cultivated for her young master, bearing magnificent results.

Knowing that Lin Fan was extremely particular about his food, she had poured a tremendous amount of effort into growing spiritual vegetables and fruits.

Every day, she tended to them with utmost care—watering, fertilizing, and weeding without missing a single task.

Now that these spiritual vegetables and fruits had finally matured, she was naturally overjoyed.

After a simple wash, Lin Fan walked into the main hall and sat down at the bamboo table.

A steaming hot breakfast was already laid out before him.

A bowl of spiritual rice porridge had been simmered until thick and tender, every grain plump and exuding a faint fragrance of rice.

Several small dishes of side items were even more eye-catching.

Stir-fried spiritual vegetables shimmered with a vibrant green hue.

Most enticing of all was the plate of golden fried eggs.

The eggs laid by the phoenix-tailed chickens possessed exceptionally plump yolks, fried to absolute perfection with slightly charred, crispy edges, emitting a rich, savory aroma.

"Not bad at all!"

Lin Fan couldn't help praising.

He picked up his chopsticks, plucked a piece of spiritual vegetable, and popped it into his mouth.

"Mhm?"

The taste... fresh, sweet, crisp, and refreshing, carrying the faint, distinct fragrance of spiritual greens!

Lin Fan's eyes lit up instantly.

"Xiyue, you've grown these spiritual vegetables wonderfully!"

"Right, you grew these with your own hands, you should have some too!"

He motioned for Bai Xiyue to join him.

"As long as Young Master likes them!" Bai Xiyue smiled sweetly and took a seat.

Master and servant ate with great relish, though as Lin Fan continued eating, he began to feel something was amiss.

Waves of dizziness washed over his mind, followed by utter blackness as Bai Xiyue's anxious cries echoed in his ears.

"Young Master... Young Master, what's wrong with you..."