10: The sacred artifact recognizes its master, and the remnant soul within the Pure Yang Jade awakens.

The Jiaolin Horse was indeed fast enough to leave the Flower Thief far behind.

The Flower Thief, having expended a lot of True Qi in his pursuit, had no choice but to give up. Looking at the two who had ridden far away, he smiled sinisterly, "Prey that I set my eyes on will never escape."

Seeing that the Flower Thief hadn't pursued them, Jiang Yunfan breathed a sigh of relief, finally having escaped a calamity.

"Let's return to Tianqi."

The two rode their horses back to Tianqi City.

On the way.

【Today's Intelligence (red): The Zhao Family has sent many assassins to kill you two. You two are in grave danger.】

Oh no!

I'm having such bad Luck today!

First, I encountered the Flower Thief, and now the Zhao Family has sent assassins to kill me.

"System, give me intelligence on the Cultivation Level and distribution of these assassins."

【Today's Intelligence (white): Three Acquired Realm assassins are to the southeast, four Acquired Realm assassins are to the northeast, one Innate Realm Expert is to the east, and one Innate Realm assassin is blocking the only path to Tianqi City. You two are hard-pressed to escape.】

We're surrounded!

There are people on every path.

The path back to Tianqi is even guarded by a Innate Realm Expert; going back would be walking into a trap.

If they suddenly changed direction now, Ji Yao would surely grow suspicious. They could only gamble on it; the Jiaolin Horse was fast, so perhaps they could break through the defense line.

Giddy up!

Jiang Yunfan slapped the horse's rump, making it speed up.

Half an hour later.

Jiang Yunfan was less than a hundred miles from Tianqi City.

Suddenly, a Innate Realm assassin descended from the sky, blocking their path. Jiang Yunfan didn't stop, riding his horse directly towards him.

The assassin pushed out a palm, and the terrifying palm force sent both rider and horse flying.

Jiang Yunfan shielded Ji Yao with his body, taking the brunt of the palm strike for her.

Pfft!

He was injured and spat blood.

The two fell to the ground.

The phoenix hairpin on Ji Yao's head fell off. She was injured by the impact and spat a mouthful of blood onto the phoenix hairpin.

"Yaoer, ride the horse and leave quickly."

Jiang Yunfan unhesitatingly took out the blood drinking sword from his Storage Pouch. He swung his sword, and waves of Sword Qi, like overturning rivers and seas, attacked the assassin.

The assassin used True Qi to protect his body against the Sword Qi. His protective True Qi was broken, and he was injured by the Sword Qi.

"How is this possible!"

"This is a Treasure Artifact."

The assassin stared at the blood drinking sword in Jiang Yunfan's hand in shock. Greed flickered in his eyes; he had to obtain this sword.

"If you want this sword, then let's see if you have the ability."

Jiang Yunfan attacked the assassin with his sword.

The phoenix hairpin absorbed Ji Yao's blood, and its sleeping artifact spirit awakened. The phoenix hairpin glowed with golden light. Ji Yao stared at the phoenix hairpin in shock, never expecting the hairpin her mother left her to be a treasure.

"You awakened me. You are a descendant of the Phoenix Clan."

Artifact spirit.

The phoenix hairpin transformed into a golden light and entered Ji Yao's body.

Only then did Ji Yao realize that the hairpin her mother left her was a Sacred Artifact, and that she was a descendant of the ancient Phoenix Clan.

A scripture appeared in her mind, the Nirvana Sutra, the Legacy of the Phoenix Clan, an unrivaled Emperor Sutra.

"Yaoer, leave quickly, I can't hold on much longer."

Jiang Yunfan's urgent voice came.

Jiang Yunfan, relying on the blood drinking sword, fought the assassin for dozens of moves. Most of his True Qi was depleted, and he could no longer sustain himself. The assassin, gathering his strength, sent him flying with a palm strike, and the blood drinking sword flew from his hand.

The assassin grabbed the blood drinking sword, "This sword belongs to me now."

Before he could rejoice, a golden light flashed, and his body was pierced by the golden light.

Bang!

His body instantly turned to dust.

The blood drinking sword fell to the ground.

This scene stunned Jiang Yunfan.

He saw the golden light return to Ji Yao's hand, and upon closer inspection, it was a phoenix hairpin.

Jiang Yunfan never expected Ji Yao to awaken the phoenix hairpin's artifact spirit in such a way. Truly, man proposes, God disposes!

"Ji Yao, this phoenix hairpin is actually a treasure."

"The phoenix hairpin was left to me by my mother. I've always worn it. I never expected it to be a treasure. My blood spilled on it, and now it has recognized me as its Master."

Ji Yao did not mention that the phoenix hairpin was a Sacred Artifact.

Sacred Artifacts were too precious; the fewer people who knew, the better.

"I obtained a Cultivation Technique. This Cultivation Technique can allow me to undergo Nirvana and Rebirth. It won't be long before I can reshape my Dantian."

【Today's Intelligence (gold): Ji Yao has obtained the Legacy of the unrivaled Emperor Sutra, the Nirvana Sutra. She will undergo Nirvana and Rebirth, soaring through the Nine Heavens.】

"Congratulations, you'll recover very soon."

Jiang Yunfan was genuinely happy for Ji Yao, but also felt a sense of loss.

Once Ji Yao recovered, she would leave him, and their fate together would end.

He was, after all, not the male lead, not the Child of Destiny. Even if he knew of the Opportunity beforehand, he couldn't keep it. However, he had to find a way to obtain the Nirvana Sutra. With the Nirvana Sutra, he would be able to rise rapidly.

The two rode away on horseback.

Soon after.

Jiang Yunfan and Ji Yao returned to the Ji Family.

As soon as they returned, Ji Yao went into seclusion to Cultivate the Nirvana Sutra. She was eager to repair her Dantian and undergo Nirvana and Rebirth.

The news of their return quickly reached Ji Qiang's ears.

"The Zhao Family members are truly useless; they actually let them return alive."

Ji Qiang's expression was grim. He had planned to use the Zhao Family to kill Jiang Yunfan and Ji Yao to vent his hatred, but he never expected them to return alive.

"Jiang Yunfan, do you think that with the Sixth Prince and the family head backing you, I can't do anything to you? Those who offend me will not have a good end."

Ever since Ji Qiang and his sister-in-law's affair was discovered by his eldest brother, his personality had become increasingly twisted.

Several days later.

Under Jiang Yunfan's True Qi's continuous nourishment day and night, the remnant soul within the pure yang treasure jade finally awakened from its slumber.

This boy obtained the pure yang treasure jade, and his True Qi nourished my Primordial Spirit. It's a pity his Aptitude is a bit poor; he's just a mortal body.

The remnant soul transmitted a message to Jiang Yunfan, "Boy, we are fated. Are you willing to be my disciple?"

"Who's speaking?"

Jiang Yunfan was startled and immediately looked around.

"Don't look, I'm right here in the pure yang treasure jade on your body."

It was the remnant soul in the pure yang treasure jade; he had awakened.

Jiang Yunfan said, "Senior, are you an Immortal?"

"In your eyes, I should be an Immortal."

"I am willing to become your disciple, Senior."

How could Jiang Yunfan let this Opportunity slip away? This was Lu Yun, the Child of Destiny's first Opportunity, so it surely wouldn't be bad.

Generally, these 'old grandpa' types are powerful experts who can guide the protagonist.

"Your blood Qi has been nourished by the pure yang treasure jade, making it extremely strong and pure yang. I shall impart to you the Nine Suns Burning Heaven Art. This is a Heaven Rank High Grade Cultivation Technique. How far you can Cultivate depends entirely on your fortune."

Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique.

What a great Opportunity!

Jiang Yunfan was ecstatic.

"The Nine Suns Burning Heaven Art requires absorbing the essence of the sun to Cultivate. Upon initiation, you must endure the suffering of being burned by intense flames."

"I can endure any suffering!"

Jiang Yunfan left.

He arrived at the Ji Family's back mountain, where hardly anyone came.

It was high noon, with the sun blazing.

Jiang Yunfan sat cross-legged on a rock, enduring the scorching sun as he Cultivated the Nine Suns Burning Heaven Art.

Yang Dingtian greatly admired Jiang Yunfan's perseverance. Although he had a mortal body, with perseverance, his future achievements would still be extraordinary. He personally guided Jiang Yunfan in Cultivating the Nine Suns Burning Heaven Art.

Under his Master's guidance, Jiang Yunfan quickly grasped the essentials. He began to breathe in and absorb the essence of the sun. A burning Qi instantly spread throughout his body. He felt as if he were being consumed by raging flames, in immense pain. He knew he had to endure it, gritting his teeth and holding on.

While Jiang Yunfan was Cultivating, his maid, Qingyi, was summoned by Ji Qiang's men to Fuyao Pavilion.

Arriving at Fuyao Pavilion, she felt anxious.

Ji Qiang walked out from the inner hall. Qingyi quickly said, "Greetings, third young master."

Ji Qiang scrutinized Qingyi for a moment, "Not bad, a little beauty."

Qingyi was terrified. She knew third young master was extremely lustful, and many Ji Family maids had been defiled by him. Seeing third young master walk towards her, she instinctively took a few steps back.

"What! Are you afraid of me?"

"No, no."

"I need you to do something for me."

"Please command, third young master."

Ji Qiang smiled sinisterly, his smile chilling to the bone, "You are Jiang Yunfan's maid. I want you to frame Jiang Yunfan for me, say that he defiled you. I want to completely ruin him."

"No."

Qingyi refused outright.

Ji Qiang grabbed her by the neck, threatening, "Don't forget, you are a Ji Family Member. You must obey me, otherwise I will kill your entire family, and you will not escape death either."

"I, I agree."

Qingyi, forced into a corner, could only agree.

Only then did Ji Qiang release her.

"You are a virgin; you can't fool anyone like that."

"third young master, no!"