Chapter 298

Chapter 298: Recruiting a Sidekick

Cangyuan Sect.

A disciple hurried over and said to Yan Fan with a fawning look: “First Senior Brother, Li Shuang of the Sword Sect has arrived.”

Yan Fan’s eyes flashed with a subtle smile as he replied: “She finally came? Good. I’ll go find her.”

The disciple’s expression turned strange.

Yan Fan glanced at him and asked, “What is that look supposed to mean?”

The disciple cleared his throat and said, “It just feels like you care a lot about Li Shuang, First Senior Brother.”

Yan Fan nodded without hiding it and said, “I do care.”

The disciple’s eyes lit up like he had fresh gossip to eat.

But a sharp fighting spirit flashed in Yan Fan’s gaze as he said, “Among our peers, she’s the only one who has ever defeated me. This time, I must fight her again. Back then, I lost to her. This time, I won’t lose.”

The disciple’s gossip glow faded. He pumped his small fist and said, “First Senior Brother will win for sure.”

Yan Fan nodded and walked straight out.

He could win. That was certain. But he didn’t want the win to be dull.

There were two days left before the grand sect competition. He hoped the thing he had prepared would help Li Shuang climb another step. Only then would his victory not feel too easy.

Lin Qing Ling led Li Shuang toward the Sword Sect quarters. Outside the residence, a tall figure stood waiting like a pine.

The man turned, revealing the Cangyuan Sect disciple whose name had been on everyone’s lips: Yan Fan.

Yan Fan bowed honestly and said, “Greetings, Senior Lin.”

Lin Qing Ling looked surprised and asked, “Yan Fan? Why are you here?”

Yan Fan looked at Li Shuang and said, “I have something to discuss with Sword Sect disciple Li Shuang. Senior, please allow it.”

Lin Qing Ling glanced at Yan Fan, then at Li Shuang, and smiled. She turned and said, “Little Shuang, the Sword Sect disciples are on the peak. When you’re done, come up on your own.”

Li Shuang answered, “Yes.”

Lin Qing Ling rose into the air and left.

Li Shuang looked at Yan Fan and asked calmly, “What is it?”

She didn’t like him or dislike him. In short: [We aren’t familiar.]

She truly couldn’t guess what he wanted to talk about.

Yan Fan arched a brow and said, “Walk with me a bit.”

Li Shuang nodded.

They found a quiet spot off the path.

Yan Fan smiled and took out a Memory Stone as he said, “I’m giving you this. Study it when you get back.”

Li Shuang paused and asked, “What is it?”

Standing with his hands behind his back, Yan Fan wore a confident smile as he said, “I don’t know if Senior Lin told you. Recently, I got lucky. Li Shuang, the old you still had a chance to catch up with me. But after I got this fortune, you’re fated to be left far behind.”

Li Shuang fell silent and then asked, “You came just to tell me that?”

[Did he spread all those stories on purpose so they’d reach Master’s ears? Because he once lost to me, he came here to show off?] She almost laughed. It felt a bit childish.

Yan Fan coughed lightly and said in a serious tone, “I wouldn’t do something so boring. By chance I bonded with a Wanfa Eye and entered the Myriad Arts City. That city gathers the top geniuses of the Central Continent. It’s truly a place where heroes meet.”

Li Shuang’s face stayed blank.

Yan Fan added, “Maybe you don’t know the Wanfa Eye or the Myriad Arts City. Let me explain.” He spoke evenly as he said, “The Wanfa Eye starts as a Bronze Eye. When the soul fuses and you reach the Integration Realm, the Wanfa Eye evolves into a Silver Phantom Eye. With further growth, it finally becomes a Gleaming Gold Eye.”

He raised his hand, and a small Bronze Eye appeared in his palm as he said, “This is the first form of the Wanfa Eye: the Bronze Eye.”

He looked at Li Shuang, eager to see envy.

Li Shuang kept quiet. She wanted to play along, but she wasn’t good at acting.

Yan Fan frowned, then smoothed his expression and said, “You may not realize how terrifying the top geniuses of the Central Continent are compared to us. I got lucky and happened to be there watching a top-tier opportunity made for geniuses.”

His eyes filled with longing as he said, “That’s the real battlefield of prodigies. I don’t dare dream about the Genius Ranking. My biggest goal is to take part in that kind of trial once. Even if I get knocked out on the first floor, I’ll still have experienced it.”

Li Shuang said, “You’ve got this.”

Yan Fan glanced at her and said, “I know it’s hard to picture what I mean.” He then played the Memory Stone’s contents.

The projection showed Li Shuang herself braving the Golden Soul Altar.

“See? This is the number one genius of the Human Race today, Li,” Yan Fan said with longing in his eyes. “She was personally taught by the master of the Myriad Arts City and is one of the only two from the Human Race to clear the Golden Soul Altar. In the future, she’ll lead our people.”

He added, “Your name is Li Shuang, and hers is Li. Your names even sound similar. She’s also a Sword Cultivator, and she also has the Ice Spiritual Root, so I think—”

Li Shuang blinked. [Is he guessing I’m Li? Did he come to test me today?] She thought it over.

Yan Fan went on as if answering himself: “So I think watching her battle footage will benefit you a lot.”

In the image, Li Shuang endured the pounding of the Thousand Mechanisms Hammer Array.

Yan Fan said with open admiration, “See that? To hold out against that kind of soul hammering, her soul strength is beyond anything we can imagine.”

He fast-forwarded to the moment Li Shuang severed the source lines with a single slash.

His eyes sparkled as he said, “See it? The former top genius could only cut those lines one by one. But Li used the cycle of the five elements and, with a realm beyond normal, swung a terrifying sword.”

He pressed on, excited: “Did you catch that sword? We call ourselves geniuses, but we can’t even reach her shoulders. And look at her calm stance, that spirit that never gives up…”

Yan Fan went on and on, praising Li with no end in sight.

Li Shuang lowered her head and dug at the ground with her toe. [This is so awkward.]

“Alright. Take this Memory Stone,” Yan Fan said, handing it over. “Li’s sword work is enough for you to study for eight to ten years.”

Li Shuang accepted it with a complicated look and said, “Thank you.”

“No need,” Yan Fan said gently. “Li Shuang, with the resources I have now, you’re bound to be left far behind. But if I reach the top and look back to find no one there, wouldn’t that be too lonely? I hope you advance faster, at least enough to make me feel a bit of danger as you chase me. If one day we’re both fortunate enough to reach the Tribulation Realm, I believe you can help me make the Nanlan Continent a better world for cultivators.”

The corner of Li Shuang’s mouth twitched. [Alright, alright. So this jerk is trying to recruit me as his sidekick!]