Chapter 273: The Heavenwatch Pavilion’s Open Gambit (1)

Beneath the full moon, Feng Jiuxuan stood in robes whiter than snow. A shadowy blur swept past him, gently stirring the long strands of hair at his temples. As his eyes slid sideways, a trace of surprise flickered across them.

Xu Yuan stared at the scene before him. It was an afterimage… No, compared to an afterimage, the intent that had just brushed past Feng Jiuxuan’s hair was more like some indescribable, intangible thing.

A spark of excitement rose within him..

“Old Luo, I felt it just now—”

The Sage's remnant soul snorted coldly. “I used your body to wield that intent. Of course you could perceive it.”

“What do you mean?” Xu Yuan frowned.

“Stop talking. We nearly died just now.”

Xu Yuan was still puzzled by what the old man meant, but he obediently fell silent. He watched as, under the control of Luo Daofan-brand AI autopilot, his body fought his uncle from across the empty courtyard.

Moonlight poured down like a silver waterfall, and everything around them was deathly still.

Before long, Xu Yuan understood what Luo Daofan had meant. He could only perceive the intent that the Luo Daofan released through his body. As for the intent Feng Jiuxuan was using, he had not sensed it even once from beginning to end. He had not truly perceived anything himself. He could only see it because Luo Daofan was acting as a medium.

Xu Yuan let out a faint sigh of disappointment. Once Luo Daofan launched his counterattack, however, the battle quickly became one-sided.

Feng Jiuxuan remained exactly where he stood, not taking so much as a single step. He merely watched the Luo Daofan opposite him, contemplation flickering in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Luo Daofan controlled Xu Yuan’s body, desperately twisting and dodging in an increasingly sorry state.

Luo Daofan was about to fold.

As Xu Yuan watched, he could not resist mocking him inwardly. “Hey, Old Luo, how can you be this embarrassing?”

“Embarrassing?” Luo Daofan shot back irritably. “Why don’t you try it yourself?”

Xu Yuan was not bothered in the slightest. “I’m only a Soul Condensation cultivator propped up by a mountain of pills. You really have the face to compare yourself to me?”

Luo Daofan fell silent for a moment, then gave a light cough. “Ahem. If this old man were still at his peak, things naturally wouldn’t be like this. But in my current state, I truly am no match for your uncle.”

Seeing that defeat was already inevitable, Xu Yuan continued teasing him. “You knew you couldn’t beat him, yet you still acted so grand earlier?”

Luo Daofan drew a breath. “Brat, when did I act grand? This old man would also like to see how powerful the youngsters of this age have become.That’s right. I only said I wanted to see how powerful he was. Now I’ve seen it.”

Xu Yuan fell silent.

“That’s enough.” Luo Daofan chuckled. “This old man can’t hold him off any longer. You enjoy the rest yourself.”

Xu Yuan remained silent.

The moment control of his body returned, he immediately went on full alert. He gripped Clear Whisper tightly, preparing to face the enemy. Then his vision went completely black.

As it turned out, Xu Yuan was not some once-in-a-generation genius after all.

Once again, he awoke from the utter despair of death. He sighed, then prepared to continue training.

The world was unfair in countless ways, but when it came to growing stronger, there was still a certain measure of fairness. If you wanted to become stronger in a short time, you had to endure pain that ordinary people could never bear. Just as he had when he first sought to cultivate the Blood Origin Heartfall Art.

Xu Yuan rose up and picked up Clear Whisper from where it had fallen.

However, Feng Jiuxuan suddenly said, “Luo Daofan, come out. I have questions for you.”

Xu Yuan froze.

After a brief silence, the middle-aged scholar obediently floated out of the soul ring. From the look of things, he had long expected Feng Jiuxuan to summon him. “Ask whatever you wish, Sword Saint.”

Feng Jiuxuan studied him closely. “How were you able to use my nephew’s body to release your own intent?”

The two stared at one another across several dozen yards.

Luo Daofan let out an exaggerated sigh. “My former disciples were all the sort who loved stirring up trouble. Whenever they caused a mess, this old man had no choice but to find ways to improve my ability to keep them alive. 10,000 years is enough time to comprehend quite a few things.”

A glimmer flashed through Feng Jiuxuan’s eyes, as though he had understood something. “Your intent felt sluggish just now. Was that because you could not adapt to Changtian’s body?”

Luo Daofan lowered his eyes and chuckled softly before answering without hesitation. “This precious little treasure of your family has never cultivated my skills. Naturally, he cannot bring out the full extent of my abilities.”

Feng Jiuxuan narrowed his pitch-black eyes, his voice turning indifferent. “No wonder you are so desperate to find someone to inherit your legacy.”

After a moment’s pause, he rested his fingers upon Deep Verdant. Dense killing intent seeped into his voice. “I seem to recall Changge mentioning that you originally wanted to take Changtian as your disciple.”

Feng Jiuxuan’s killing intent seemed almost tangible. Even though it was not directed at Xu Yuan, the pressure still left him struggling to breathe.

Luo Daofan appeared to have prepared his answer long ago. “It was merely for my own protection. I would never dare possess him.”

At that point, Xu Yuan finally understood what the conversation between Luo Daofan and Feng Jiuxuan meant and what their exchange from across the courtyard had truly been about.

The Sage's remnant soul had accompanied him for more than half a year, and Xu Yuan had nearly forgotten this little detail.

Luo Daofan was using this opportunity to demand payment from the Chancellor's Manor.

Although their original agreement had carried a hint of coercion, in the end, the relationship between Luo Daofan and the Chancellor's Manor was one of cooperation, not master and servant.

Luo Daofan had already fulfilled his end of the bargain and escorted the Third Young Master safely back to the capital. He had even handed over the resources from the secret realm. Yet there had not been so much as a peep from Xu Yuan’s father. Even capitalists did not exploit people this shamelessly.

At that thought, Xu Yuan chuckled inwardly. Well, perhaps capitalists couldn’t. But a feudal dynasty certainly could.

Still, for Luo Daofan to bring this up now probably meant he had sensed trouble brewing and was preparing to pack his bags and flee.

Feng Jiuxuan suddenly glanced toward the inner residence.

A moment later, a middle-aged man in a black dragon robe trimmed with gold descended through the moonlight and landed in the open space before the Sword Pavilion.

Xu Yinhe swept his gaze across the courtyard. His eyes first settled on Xu Yuan, whose fingers were still trembling slightly after his latest taste of death.

A trace of concern flashed through his eyes, so faint it was almost imperceptible.

He offered no words of comfort. Instead, Xu Yinhe turned toward Luo Daofan’s translucent spirit form and spoke in his usual low, steady voice. “I heard what was said just now. Rest assured, Senior. I have already found a suitable candidate to become your disciple.”

Luo Daofan’s gaze sharpened. A smile soon crept onto his lips, and he cupped his hands. “I knew the Chancellor would not forget our agreement. May I ask when this old man will be able to meet his future disciple?”

Xu Yinhe did not answer immediately. “The Heavenwatch Pavilion has reemerged. They have already announced their return to the realm through communication crystal orbs, and the delegation they dispatched is currently on its way to the capital to accept imperial investiture. From what the Chancellor's Manor has learned, their strength and scale are considerable.”

Luo Daofan’s expression changed. He cautiously pretended not to understand. “What do you mean by telling me this?”

“Luo Daofan, surely even you can figure out something this simple.” Xu Yuan cut in at precisely the right moment, cheerfully feeding him the next line. “You are one of the Heavenwatch Pavilion’s Sage Venerables, after all. Tian Yan knows you’re with me. When their delegation comes to the capital to receive its investiture, don’t you think there’s a chance they might also want to escort you home while they’re here?”