Chapter 639 - 176: The Third Level of the Vajra Undying Body, Attaining the True Essence of "Undying

Chapter 639: Chapter 176: The Third Level of the Vajra Undying Body, Attaining the True Essence of "Undying

"Don’t provoke the Zhang Family or the Moon Worship Sect any further."

Her gaze drifted meaningfully out the window. "The time to close the net is near. Don’t let anything go wrong at this critical juncture."

"Understood," Chu Fan replied, nodding gravely.

He released Tang Yu, the Zhang Family Shadow Guard he had subdued long ago, from the All-Seeing Mirror.

"From now on, stay in the Demon Suppression Bureau and await my orders from the shadows," Chu Fan instructed in a low voice.

Then, he held out his hand to Tang Yu. "Give me your Sumeru Ring."

"Yes!" Tang Yu obediently removed her Sumeru Ring and handed it to Chu Fan.

"..." Leng Qingqiu and Nangong Yue stared at Chu Fan.

Chu Fan casually remarked, "Why are you two looking at me like that? What’s hers is mine, and what’s mine... is still mine."

Leng Qingqiu and Nangong Yue: "..."

"However..." Chu Fan glanced at Tang Yu, whose head was bowed low. "Since you’ve sworn fealty to me, I should naturally help you achieve a breakthrough."

"I’ll look for an Elixir or Treasure Plant to help you break through to the Bright Heart Realm and bring it to you later."

"Thank you, Young Master!" Tang Yu’s face brightened with delight.

After getting Tang Yu settled, Chu Fan felt the warm Jade Box inside his robes and turned to leave.

He had just stepped out of Leng Qingqiu’s study when Nangong Yue caught up to him.

"Chu Fan, hold on! I have a case that needs your help."

"Yue, let someone else handle the case," Chu Fan said, waving a hand dismissively as he turned to leave. "I need to go into seclusion for the next few days to cultivate. I don’t have time for other matters."

"No time for other matters?" Nangong Yue repeated, her tone flat.

"I was thinking that if you handled this, I could pull some strings for you... maybe help you get a Flower of the Melting Core from a certain family."

"But since you’re so busy..."

SWOOSH! Chu Fan’s figure flashed, reappearing right in front of Nangong Yue.

He beamed with an air of profound righteousness. "Rewards? I’ve never cared for them!"

"What truly matters is that this is a task from you, Yue. That shows your trust in me."

"I am duty-bound to give my all and spare no effort, until my very last breath!"

Nangong Yue rolled her eyes, annoyed, and slapped the case file in her hand against his chest. "Alright, enough with the smooth talk."

"This case started with Shi Hao. Come with me and you’ll see."

"Something happened to Hao?" Chu Fan asked, slightly alarmed.

He hurried after Nangong Yue, and they soon arrived at the Martial Arts Arena.

Dust filled the air of the Martial Arts Arena.

A wretched howl echoed across the grounds.

Chu Fan focused his gaze and saw Demon Suppression Captain Xiao Ziye, dressed in martial arts attire, chasing Shi Hao around the arena while brandishing that "Fire Stick" of hers.

"Doesn’t this seem pretty normal?" Chu Fan asked, chuckling in spite of himself.

Xiao Ziye was Shi Hao’s maternal aunt. He’d witnessed this brand of "tough love" before when his Divine Sense had its breakthrough—he’d "spied" on them. It was a common sight.

"Take a closer look," Nangong Yue said, her expression grave.

A thought struck Chu Fan, and he instantly scanned the area with his vast Divine Sense.

The moment he did, the smile on his face froze.

At first glance, Shi Hao seemed no different from his usual self.

But in truth, his steps were unsteady, and he was panting like an ox.

Most critically, his vitality—which should have been blazing like a furnace—was now like a candle guttering in the wind, on the verge of being extinguished!

A Martial Artist in the Acupoint Realm, and in the prime of his life at that, could never look so completely drained unless he had suffered some sort of insidious, hidden injury!

"How could this be?" Chu Fan frowned deeply.

"That’s what’s so strange about it," Nangong Yue said in a somber tone.

"Shi Hao’s body is failing. Xiao Ziye only discovered it today."

"After some intense questioning, she found out the kid has been frequenting Yihong Courtyard lately."

"..." Chu Fan’s face darkened.

He recalled running into Shi Hao the other day, just as he was leaving Yihong Courtyard.

’But isn’t this a bit of an exaggeration?’

Shi Hao was an Acupoint Realm Martial Artist, after all. Even if he went to a place like that every single day, how could he possibly end up in such a state?

Nangong Yue continued, "It’s not just Shi Hao. There have been several other cases of Martial Artists suffering from depleted vitality in Qing Province City recently."

"The trail always leads back to the brothels."

"The Profound Origin Secret Realm tournament is just around the corner, and the city is filled with people from all factions. I suspect a demon has infiltrated the city and is using this opportunity to cultivate by draining people’s essence."

"But... I’ve never been to a place like that," Chu Fan said, instinctively reluctant.

"That’s exactly why I’m asking you," said Nangong Yue. "Because you’ve never been."

"All the old-timers at the Demon Suppression Bureau are regulars there; the girls know every one of them. They’d be exposed the second they walked in."

"You’re the only one. You just transferred from Cyan Yang Ancient City, so you’re a fresh face."

She patted Chu Fan’s shoulder, her tone earnest and meaningful.

"Besides, you’re a Body Cultivator. Your Yang Qi is exceptionally potent."

"To those malevolent entities, you’re like a walking tonic. The perfect bait to draw the snake from its hole."

The corner of Chu Fan’s mouth twitched.

’So I’m just the fragrant bait on the hook?’

’Was I just born to be bait?’

But in the end, tempted by the Flower of the Melting Core, Chu Fan relented.

...

As the ornate lanterns lit up the evening, the nightlife of Qing Province City began to unfold.

The entrance to Yihong Courtyard was a flurry of activity, with carriages and people coming and going.

A bevy of beauties leaned against the doorway, waving their handkerchiefs. The cloying scent of their perfume and powder wafted halfway down the street.

Chu Fan took a deep breath. Just as he was about to adopt the swagger of a rich playboy, his body abruptly froze.

There, under a lantern to the left of Yihong Courtyard’s entrance, three figures were staring intently at him.

Li Qingxue was dressed in robes as white as snow, her expression frigid.

Cyan Snake stood with her arms crossed, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

White Snake looked utterly aghast, as if her entire worldview had just shattered.

’Well, this is just perfect,’ Chu Fan wailed internally. ’This is like getting mud in your crotch. Even if it’s not shit, everyone’s going to say it is. I’m screwed.’

He steeled himself and walked over, attempting an explanation. "Um... fancy seeing you here."

White Snake pointed at him, her expression one of deep anguish. "You scoundrel!"

"I never imagined you could be so depraved!"

"My lady is a peerless beauty, yet you don’t cherish her."

"Your Senior Sister is as elegant as a celestial fairy, yet you pay her no mind..."

"And instead, you come to this den of vice to cavort with common streetwalkers? I was so wrong about you!"

SMACK!

Cyan Snake smacked White Snake on the back of the head. "Shut up," she said coldly.

Then, three pairs of eyes—all six of them—snapped in unison to look at Chu Fan.

Chu Fan glanced around and lowered his voice. "Do you believe me?"

White Snake rolled her eyes. "’Believe’... as in ’make-believe’?"