Chapter 154: Fang Yuan's Envy, Jealousy, and Resentment
Chapter 154: Fang Yuan's Envy, Jealousy, and Resentment
In no time, he quickened his pace, persistently soaring towards the auspicious Purple Heaven Holy Land.
As time unceasingly flowed like a gentle stream, before he knew it, Jiang Chen reached the outer defensive formation of the Purple Heaven Holy Land.
Unobstructed, a subtle light flickered upon his robe, prompting the formation to grant him unimpeded access.
Without any delay, Jiang Chen made a beeline for Fang Yuan's secluded cave mansion.
The impending phase was even more critical securing the cooperation of Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning!
Having interacted previously, Jiang Chen had laid a foundation of trust with Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning.
Yet, he was fully aware; to approach them again, he couldn't come bearing empty hands!
'I must present them with some tangible advantages.'
This realization crossed Jiang Chen's mind as he activated the System Mall interface.
Presently, he had amassed 18,600 points of Villain Value.
Such an amount was already sufficient to procure any top-grade pill suitable for the Inquiring Journey realm.
And the object of Jiang Chen's pursuit was a unique pill capable of treating injuries of the soul.
Within a short span of time, Jiang Chen located a specific Inquiring Journey realm pill named the Heavenly Pearl Soul Nourishing Pill within the System Mall.
This pill boasted the ability to alleviate a wide range of soul-related afflictions, boasting impressive effectiveness.
It was nearly akin to a cure-all for such injuries.
'System! I wish to exchange for the Heavenly Pearl Soul Nourishing Pill!'
[Ding! You've expended 8000 points of Villain Value, successfully acquiring a top-grade Heavenly Pearl Soul Nourishing Pill*1!]
Upon the conclusion of the system prompt, a small vial materialized in Jiang Chen's hand.
Nestled within it was a pill, resembling a nocturnal pearl - the Heavenly Pearl Soul Nourishing Pill.
At this juncture, Fang Yuan's cave mansion came into Jiang Chen's sight.
Over the past twenty days, the majority of individuals seeking audience with Fang Yuan were turned away, leading to a decrease in the number of visitors.
Currently, not a soul could be seen outside Fang Yuan's cave mansion, providing an ideal setting for Jiang Chen's intentions.
Jiang Chen stepped forward, lightly touched the protective formation, and projected his voice, "Urgent matter, Junior Brother Fang Yuan, please open the door promptly!"
Within the Cave Mansion, Fang Yuan was engrossed in fervent cultivation.
He had already attained the Heavenly Origin realm once, and his vast experience was now proving beneficial.
Guided by Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning, he had chosen the swiftest path.
In the span of merely twenty days, even with the occasional interruptions from visitors, his cultivation base had swiftly rebounded to the Late-stage Mysterious Platform realm!
"What?"
"Is that Jiang Chen's voice?"
Upon hearing the voice that Jiang Chen had transmitted, Fang Yuan's brows knitted together in annoyance.
His animosity towards Jiang Chen was profound, an inexplicable disharmony marring their interactions.
The moment Jiang Chen appeared, he found himself enveloped in a wave of discomfort.
Yet, what struck Fang Yuan as peculiar was the fact that even when he stretched out his divine sense, he couldn't detect Jiang Chen's presence at all.
The voice was audible, but the speaker remained unseen!
Almost instantly, Fang Yuan's brow creased more intensely.
Could it be that Jiang Chen was playing a prank on him? Luring him out and then vanishing?
In the following moment, Jiang Chen's voice echoed once again, "Junior Brother Fang Yuan, open the door promptly! This is a matter of great importance, of absolute urgency!"
"He truly is present!"
"But why am I unable to locate him?"
Fang Yuan's pupils constricted, and a chill run down his spine.
Situations that overstepped his control were what he detested most in life.
Moreover, Fang Yuan had always considered Jiang Chen to be his adversary.
Now, when he couldn't even discern the silhouette of his foe, how could he not feel alarmed, how could he not be on high alert?
"Junior Brother Fang Yuan!"
"Quickly, deactivate the formation!"
"I have a matter to discuss with seniors Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning. To ensure my presence doesn't attract undue attention, I've cloaked my physical form!"
Jiang Chen's voice, imbued with a sense of urgency, resounded once more within the cave mansion.
"Fang Yuan, grant him entry."
Nangong Wan's voice emanated from the Soul Embodying Ring.
In spite of the previous incident where Jiang Chen had questioned them about the world's structure and appearance, they were still somewhat indebted to him.
Therefore, Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning weren't inclined to refuse a meeting with Jiang Chen.
"Very well..."
With a slight hint of discontentment, Fang Yuan nodded internally before activating the formation.
Whoosh.
A mild breeze blew over, halting before Fang Yuan.
Following this, Jiang Chen's voice rang out again: "Seal the formation promptly."
Fang Yuan felt a surge of annoyance, as though he were being ordered around by Jiang Chen!
Nevertheless, he couldn't afford to quarrel with Jiang Chen, thus he had to comply and seal the formation.
Directly afterward, Jiang Chen deactivated the invisibility function of the Heavenly Demon Hidden Heart Ring, causing his form to reappear.
"Jiang Chen, commendable indeed, to have access to such methods."
A slightly surprised voice from Shangguan Ning echoed, "Were you to remain silent, even I would find it difficult to discern your presence."
"It's merely a minor technique, hardly worth mentioning in your esteemed presence."
Jiang Chen humbly shook his head before proceeding, "The matter at hand is urgent, so I'll cut to the chase. Twenty days ago, Ji Ruxue, Xie Xiaojing, and I embarked on a joint training expedition..."
Upon hearing this, Fang Yuan was instantly taken aback, his attention wavering from Jiang Chen's subsequent words!
'What!'
'Jiang Chen actually ventured out to train alongside Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing!?'
'How is this possible? Why would Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing consent to embark on a training journey with him!?'
'...'
Fang Yuan's mind seemed to momentarily stall, his heart awash with a surge of disbelief and resentment.
What had prompted him to choose the Purple Heaven Holy Land in the first place?
It was a chance encounter with Ji Ruxue that sparked it all!
It could be said that the instant he laid eyes on Ji Ruxue, he was captivated, ensnared at first sight.
Later on, within the Holy Land, murmurs of him and Ji Ruxue being an ideal pair, a golden boy and jade girl, circulated, causing him a mix of restlessness and immense satisfaction.
In his heart, Fang Yuan had already claimed Ji Ruxue as his own.
Subconsciously, he also held the belief that only he was deserving of Ji Ruxue, and no other individual even had the right to converse with her.
And then there was Xie Xiaojing.
As the gifted female disciple who was closest to Ji Ruxue, she was virtually Ji Ruxue's best friend.
Xie Xiaojing, too, was exceedingly beautiful and captivating.
Fang Yuan harbored intentions of courting both Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing simultaneously.
This aspiration solidified even further upon receiving assistance from the two formidable figures, Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning.
But now, Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing had actually embarked on a training journey with Jiang Chen!
And they had been together, training, for an unbroken stretch of twenty full days and nights!
'Damn it!'
'Jiang Chen, you vile creature, how dare you lay hands on my Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing!'
Fang Yuan's heart seethed with rage, a burning desire to obliterate Jiang Chen consuming him!
Simultaneously, a wave of regret swelled within him.
Jiang Chen had once proposed they embark on a training journey together, a proposition he had rejected outright.
Had he known that Ji Ruxue was also partaking in the expedition, he would undoubtedly have agreed to join.
But life didn't offer many chances for do-overs.
Once an opportunity was lost, it remained lost.
Just as Fang Yuan found himself tangled in a whirl of resentment, jealousy, regret, and near hysteria...
"Fang Yuan, what are you pondering over?"
Nangong Wan's voice echoed in Fang Yuan's mind, a hint of displeasure in her inquiry.
Evidently, Nangong Wan had sensed the potent negative emotions stirring within Fang Yuan, and probably deciphered the reasons behind his internal turmoil.
Suddenly, her perception of Fang Yuan seemed to slightly decline.
[Ding! You have successfully instigated a decrease in the unpursued heroine Nangong Wan's impression of Fang Yuan, thereby reducing protagonist Fang Yuan's Heavenly Fate Value by 200 points!]
[Ding! You have gained 400 points of Villain Value!]
A note from AlphaWIA:
Get early access to (+75) more chapters by joining my Patreon.
Can't join Patreon? No worries! Help spread the word about my work instead. Every share makes a big difference. Thanks for your support!