Chapter 654

Chapter 654: Lavish Gift

In the end, Xu Fan agreed to let his beloved disciple travel.

After all, keeping her cooped up in the sect wasn’t doing her any good.

“Go ahead, but take someone at the Great Ascension stage with you. Otherwise, I won’t feel at ease,” Xu Fan said after some thought.

“Thank you, Master! I promise to develop the most perfect spells for the Grand Feast at the Celestial Palace series,” Zhou Kailing vowed.

“I’m not too concerned about that. Just make sure you come back alive,” Xu Fan replied calmly.

Zhou Kailing bowed to Xu Fan and then departed.

Wang Yulun watched the light of Zhou Kailing’s retreating figure and couldn’t help but ask, “Big Brother Xu, are you really going to let her go out alone?”

"Children grow up and need to explore the world," Xu Fan remarked.

"Luckily, the main adversaries in the cultivation world are the beast race now. In the past, even a small rumor could have tarnished our Hidden Spirit Sect’s reputation," Wang Yulun added.

At that moment, the Little Girl wrinkled her nose and said, "A voice just warned me not to mess with that person from earlier."

Xu Fan was surprised; his disciple had quite the knack.

After a moment’s thought, it made sense—no one likes to stir up trouble unless they have to.

"Haha, that person is indeed not to be messed with. Little Girl, keep your distance from him in the future," Wang Yulun chuckled.

The Little Girl, nibbling on fish food, nodded in agreement.

Xu Fan spent the day fishing with Wang Yulun and the Little Girl. As they were about to wrap up, Number Two approached with a communication artifact.

"Here, your bargain spider disciple needs you," Number Two said.

"You handled her before; just keep managing her," Xu Fan replied.

During his absence, the Earth Crystal Spider had learned all her skills through Number Two’s guidance.

"Your spider disciple learns too fast. I’ve already taught her all the spells you gave me."

"Now, she wants to learn new beast race spells," Number Two explained.

Xu Fan suddenly remembered that his spider disciple had already reached the Invincible Beast King level.

"At this point, what’s left to teach?" Xu Fan said, taking the communication artifact.

"She wants to trade for a celestial tool that works with her spells."

Xu Fan paused, pondering a question: Could this bargain spider disciple become his enemy someday?

"Spells can be traded for celestial tools—fair exchange," Xu Fan thought and responded.

Currently, her main foes were the top clans of the beast race. Once she grew stronger, those opposing clans would likely be the first to fall.

As for her relationship with the human race, that was a concern for later.

Xu Fan didn’t wait long before receiving a reply from the Earth Spirit Spider.

"Alright, I’ll send a puppet to deliver the spirit ore to you."

Reading the response, Xu Fan couldn’t help but admire how polite she remained after all these years.

At that moment, he glanced at his good friend’s adopted daughter and suddenly thought of Following Shadows.

"By the way, how are Linger and Following Shadows doing?" Xu Fan asked.

"What do you expect? It’s been a thousand years, and Linger still hasn’t warmed Following Shadows’ heart," Wang Yulun grumbled.

"Good things take time; just be patient," Xu Fan said with a smile.

In the Nine Phoenix Dynasty, within the imperial city,

Feng Chang Ning was reading a message, her expression slightly tense.

“National Master seeks an audience,” a respectful maid at the Core Formation stage said.

“Please invite the National Master in,” Feng Chang Ning gently replied as she set down the jade slip in her hand.

A young man entered the grand hall.

“Your Majesty, the Grand Elder of the Hidden Spirit Sect has awakened,” the young man said.

“I know. I am considering whether to prepare a generous gift to send over,” Feng Chang Ning replied calmly.

“I want to deliver this generous gift to the Hidden Spirit Sect on behalf of Your Majesty,” the young National Master stated.

Feng Chang Ning’s pupils constricted upon hearing this.

“Why?”

“I wish to meet the Grand Elder,” the National Master said calmly.

“Going to see the Grand Elder at this moment would mean you are bowing down willingly!” Feng Chang Ning narrowed her eyes at the young National Master.

From her understanding of him, the National Master was not someone who would easily concede.

“Whether I bow or concede, after so many years of planning, it all amounts to nothing.”

“So I want to see what kind of extraordinary figure the Grand Elder of the Hidden Spirit Sect truly is.”

“Perhaps in the past, it was I who…”

Though the young National Master was reluctant to admit it, this was the truth.

Hearing his words, Feng Chang Ning smiled.

“It is a great fortune for our Nine Phoenix Dynasty to have a National Master with such determination.”

Feng Chang Ning stood up and walked to face the young National Master, expressing gratitude on behalf of the Nine Phoenix Dynasty.

“There is no need for such formality, Your Majesty,” the young National Master said.

“The grievances between you and the Grand Elder weigh heavily on my heart. Now that you are willing to visit the Hidden Spirit Sect, I am happier than if the Nine Phoenix Dynasty were to expand into a new territory.”

“I will have someone prepare a generous gift immediately!”

A day later, a massive Star Ship fleet ascended from the capital of the Nine Phoenix Dynasty and soared toward the Extreme Void Domain.

At this moment, Xu Fan was teaching 12 spirit turtles of various colors.

After 1,000 years, the 12 young turtles, originally birthed by the Transformation God-level giant turtle, had all advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage.

“Over these 1,000 years, you’ve had everything you wanted, so why is your advancement so slow?” Xu Fan asked the twelve spirit turtles he had named.

“Grand Elder, these rare spirit turtles grow very slowly, no matter how many spirit pills or spirit herbs we give them,” Lei Wenxi said from the side.

“However, trying so many spirit pills and spirit herbs isn’t without benefits; at the very least, their bodies are becoming stronger.”

“Perhaps once they reach the Great Ascension stage, even the Invincible Beast King won’t break through their defenses.”

Xu Fan said as he tapped on one of the crystal turtle shells.

“Master, the National Master of the Nine Phoenix Dynasty has come with a generous gift,” the voice of Grape announced.

Xu Fan, who had been studying the 12 spirit turtles, paused and a slight smile appeared on his face.

“Interesting, I wonder what he’s come here for,” Xu Fan said with interest.

Recently, he had reviewed Grape’s records of the National Master’s previous invasion attempts against the Hidden Spirit Sect and couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for him.

If it had been an ordinary sect, it would have already been shattered into pieces under his invasion.

But he happened to encounter Xu Fan.

“Master, should we prepare some defensive measures?” Grape asked.

“Prepared for what? Whatever comes, comes; I can’t possibly lose to the National Master in a direct confrontation,” Xu Fan laughed, his expression showing a hint of expectation.

“Is he coming to concede? Or is he coming to concede? Or is he coming to concede?”

Xu Fan hoped for a scenario where the National Master, like an overly zealous youth, would passionately shout in front of him, “Give me 3,000 more years, and I will make you look up at my back!”