Chapter Forty-One: Pessimism

An hour was enough to reach completion in the Qi Refining stage.

Jiang Fan was optimistic—extremely optimistic. He now had a direct understanding of the Golden Mist Technique: the true energy cultivated was not devoured by the Profound Dao Method. This meant that, even if they were not of the same level, the difference was not great.

But his joy was short-lived. The following cultivation plunged him into utter despair.

He spent an entire month to reach perfection in the Innate stage.

A month? The speed was astonishing, yet here it was far, far too slow.

An hour for Qi Refining, a month for Innate—then what about entering the Dao? Would a year suffice?

And there was the Profound Dao Method, and the Inch Fist!

"This kind of cultivation absolutely won't do!"

Jiang Fan halted his training, closed his eyes, and began to ponder how to complete the assessment within the allotted time.

Failure meant death.

"Inch Fist can be trained in the Devouring Starry Sky."

"As for the Profound Dao Method, it's entirely a physical refinement technique, so I can acquire resources from that realm. After all, the spiritual treasures there are mostly for bodily evolution, which can save much time!"

"But only the Golden Mist Technique...!"

"Can I truly cultivate the Golden Mist Technique to mastery in the Dao within the coming time? Moreover, to enter the Dao, one must comprehend the artistic conception. Without it, the shackles cannot be broken!"

"Artistic conception... that's a mysterious thing!"

"Ah!"

Jiang Fan still had no confidence.

He stood up and walked out of the stone courtyard.

Ahead, mist drifted over vast waters, the lake rippling gently. Beside it was a wooden boat, clearly prepared for him. Boating alone on the lake? He had no interest.

His gaze shifted westward—less than a kilometer away lay a heap of chaotic rocks, and beyond, several kilometers farther, were undulating hills.

"I'll go have a look over there," Jiang Fan decided and walked towards it.

Meanwhile, the Jiang family welcomed a guest.

"Aunt, I've come to visit you!" The visitor was a young woman whose gaze held a thousand charms, whose casual sweep of her dark hair could stir the heart of mortals. Who could rival her beauty—an immortal descending from the Ninth Heaven to the mortal world.

She held onto Nangong Yue's arm, her voice gentle. "After hearing what happened here, grandfather instructed me to hurry over, but the journey was delayed, so I only arrived today. Knowing that you and uncle are unharmed will put grandfather at ease!"

"The road isn't safe, and yet you made the trip, girl. If anything had happened, how could I explain to your grandfather?" Nangong Yue smiled warmly. "Rou'er, now that you're here, stay with us for a while!"

"Alright!" The maiden nodded. "I've taken leave from the sect and informed grandfather. Since I've come, I'll stay longer! By the way, Aunt, where's my cousin?"

"That boy? He's out wandering!" Nangong Yue’s expression remained unchanged. "This incident deeply affected him, so he decided to go out in search of opportunity. I couldn’t stop him! Ah, once a son grows, he’s no longer tied to his mother. I need to find him a wife, to bind his heart!"

Jiang Zheng’an, who had been sitting quietly, picked up his teacup and took a sip.

In fact, on the third day after Jiang Fan was transported away, he went to inspect the underground palace, but Jiang Fan was nowhere to be found. He was nearly scared to death, until he discovered Jiang Fan's note.

Jiang Zheng’an felt both joy and worry.

His son had unknowingly cultivated the Profound Dao Diagram to perfection, which brought him immense pride. He knew well that with the Profound Dao Diagram perfected, one could battle those who had entered the Dao.

His worry was that, despite the many ancestors of the Jiang family, none had uncovered the secrets hidden within the Profound Dao Diagram. Could his own son succeed?

He was deeply anxious yet helpless, and eventually confided in his wife.

Nangong Yue wept for three days before calming down under Jiang Zheng’an’s comfort.

"Yue’er, our son..." Jiang Zheng’an once sighed, "Since he chose this path, the odds are he won’t return. Perhaps, while we’re still young, we should have another child—or several, just to be safe!"

"Do you take me for a pig?" Nangong Yue rolled her eyes. "And all these years of heartfelt care, countless days and nights of nurturing—are they all for nothing?"

After the heartbreak, she had to consider the future.

Today, when her niece inquired, she followed Jiang Fan's instructions and dealt with it accordingly.

"If cousin is committed to cultivation, let him be. Entering the Dao brings two hundred years of lifespan, the soul can live for five centuries—there will be plenty of time ahead," Nangong Rou said.

"It all depends on his fortune!" Nangong Yue replied. "Rou’er, does your grandfather know the exact cause of this disaster?"

"This demon siege was too abrupt. There must have been an insider who cut off the flow of information—otherwise, even with a thousand guts, Eight-Legged Demon God and Three-Eyed Evil God wouldn't dare! As for the traitor, from the clues, it seems to be a powerful figure from Hidden God Sect, but there's no evidence, and the Hidden God Sect is influential—we can't do anything for now," Nangong Rou said.

"Hidden God Sect?" Nangong Yue gritted her teeth. "Were the Eight-Legged Demon God and Three-Eyed Evil God caught?"

"No," Nangong Rou shook her head with a bitter smile. "The two demons aren’t formidable on their own, but unfortunately, the Eight-Legged Demon God entered Dragon Palace, and Three-Eyed Evil God joined Blood Demon Abyss!"

"Blood Demon Abyss?" Nangong Yue drew a sharp breath. "Blood Demon Abyss alone is troublesome, but Dragon Palace dares to shelter the Eight-Legged Demon God?"

"Dragon Palace is friendly with the Imperial Dynasty, but this time, for some reason, they were extremely assertive."

"Ah, these are troubled times!"

"Aunt, the intrigues above are beyond us, but recently the county city will surely be peaceful!"

"If it’s not peaceful, what face does the Imperial Dynasty have left!"

The two chatted affectionately.

Nangong Rou also took up residence in the Jiang family.

Gradually, more talents appeared in Baihe County, along with many migrants, making the city lively again.

The Land of Legacy.

Jiang Fan arrived in the west, where heaps of rocks lay amid wild grass. Suddenly, he shifted his body and a leopard sprang past him.

Snap...!

He reached out and grabbed the leopard’s tail, pulling it toward him, but the leopard demon twisted, its paw swiping at his face.

Jiang Fan was startled. He shook the tail, flinging the leopard away, and retreated over ten meters.

The leopard demon landed, leaped onto a five or six meter high rock, and glared at him with murderous eyes.

"What a terrifying combat instinct! If I hadn’t been stronger and reacted quicker, I’d have fallen for it," Jiang Fan thought. He crouched and lunged.

His fist thundered, breaking the sound barrier.

The leopard demon snarled, meeting his attack head-on.

Snap...!

This time, Jiang Fan was unprecedentedly serious. His punch broke the leopard demon’s paw. Both retreated, but Jiang Fan instantly burst forth with his speed technique, appearing at the leopard demon’s side as if teleporting.

The leopard demon had no time to react before its skull was smashed by his fist.

Splatter...!

But before he could rejoice, a terrifying emotion rose in his heart. He was just about to leap aside when his lower body was suddenly seized, followed by intense pain.

He looked down—a black-furred paw gripped his lower half.

Despair crossed Jiang Fan’s face.