Trying to Intercept

Li Mengning didn't get lost, but because the Domain Breaking Talismans ran out along the way, the two had to find the nearest city to rest for the night.

The next day, they were personally escorted by the local city lord, who dispatched a boat. They finally returned to Yuyi City by evening.

As for what Jiang Lan did after leaving, no one dared to ask.

The shocking changes that occurred on the Blood-Colored Plateau spread throughout Danzhou Prefecture that very day, and then became a hot topic of discussion and speculation in the surrounding prefectures.

Many sect forces dispatched powerful individuals to investigate that day.

Even the Sky Monitoring Department and the Immortal Suppressing Department sent many people, immediately sealing off the area around the Blood-Colored Plateau.

The beast tide caused by the rampaging Demonic Beasts was also quickly quelled and did not affect the surrounding towns.

The Great Xia Dynasty was a powerful empire with strict laws and order under its rule.

Even Immortal Sects dared not act recklessly, so a mere beast tide naturally couldn't cause any significant impact.

However, because the Blood-Colored Plateau was particularly special, it involved the Blood Immortal Sect, which had once brought disaster to the Nine Provinces Continent.

Therefore, all cultivators who had gone to the Blood-Colored Plateau that day were arrested for questioning and investigation without exception.

This included disciples from major sects who were on training missions.

Of course, there were bound to be a few who slipped through the net.

But the Immortal Suppressing Department had never been a mere decoration since its establishment, and it had its own methods for tracing and deducing the events of that time.

The Blood-Colored Plateau was located within the territory of Great Xia. The sudden appearance of such an astonishing phenomenon naturally caused shock and attention from all sides.

All cultivators who witnessed those blood-colored smoke columns piercing the sky that day were undoubtedly shaken.

When they discussed it with others afterward, they spoke with awe and disbelief, suspecting that a shocking treasure had appeared on the Blood-Colored Plateau, or that an extremely powerful being had broken through to a new realm there.

After the dense blood-colored mist on the Blood-Colored Plateau dissipated, the vast ruins within were completely exposed to the world.

Under the investigation of the Immortal Suppressing Department, a conclusion was quickly reached: the phenomenon on the Blood-Colored Plateau might be related to the remnants of the former Blood Immortal Sect.

In the subsequent investigation, the Immortal Suppressing Department narrowed its target to the Myriad Laws Sect in Danzhou Prefecture.

That day, many knights clad in golden armor, wielding Dao artifacts and Heavenly Sabers, descended upon the Myriad Laws Sect, riding fierce beasts through the clouds, conducting a thorough search.

Later, they personally killed several elders of the Myriad Laws Sect and took away some remnants of the Blood Immortal Sect who had been hiding there.

However, these matters had nothing to do with Jiang Lan anymore.

Song Youwei was intelligent and astute. As a demonic woman of the Blood Immortal Sect, her status was equivalent to that of the holy daughters and sons of the top major sects. She naturally wouldn't expose herself easily.

If she had been exposed, even if the Immortal Suppressing Department only suspected a connection, they would have secretly informed her father and completely erased all traces left by Jiang Lan.

"Young Master, there's still no news about Lin Fan. We've captured quite a few people who look similar to him, though."

"We also haven't seen anyone in the shops and pharmacies in the major cities looking to purchase herbs with the Solar Flame attribute..."

"However, Mr. Chu should arrive in Yuyi City tomorrow."

Uncle Ying was reporting the news when Jiang Lan was leisurely drinking tea in the courtyard. The aroma of the tea was rich and fragrant.

In front of him, several beautiful women were singing and dancing. They wore thin veils, revealing their fragrant shoulders, jade skin, and snow-white complexions, their beauty captivating. They were all renowned courtesans and refined ladies from various entertainment establishments in Yuyi City.

"It's fine. It seems the accomplice behind Lin Fan is much smarter than I imagined."

"Knowing that saving Lin Fan would expose themselves, they'd rather let Lin Fan endure the suffering of his cold affliction." Jiang Lan put down his teacup and smiled faintly.

He could wait for one more day.

After resolving Lin Fan's matters, he could fully attend to his "good sister's" issues.

He wondered if Lin Fan would still be able to hold back once he heard the news that he was going to take Su Qinghan as a concubine.

Now that he had strength and confidence, Jiang Lan was also contemplating whether to play the long game.

Before he had strength, his top priority was to kill Lin Fan.

And now, his strength to kill Lin Fan was, to be honest, no different from crushing an ant.

In the original plot, at this time, the person who provided Lin Fan with the greatest help and benefit was the mysterious woman he unexpectedly met, Xiao Yingyue.

After Xiao Yingyue recovered her strength, she was at least at the Dharma Aspect Realm of the Seventh Realm.

As a Supreme Elder of Medicine King Valley, her beauty was eternal, and there were almost no signs of aging on her. No one knew how many years she had cultivated.

In the later plot, she could even contend against the extremely powerful beings of the Tribulation Bridge Realm of the Eighth Realm.

The Tribulation Bridge Realm was different from the previous realms. It was divided into nine steps, and each step represented a monumental change.

But even someone who had just entered the Tribulation Bridge Realm was by no means comparable to someone in the Dharma Aspect Realm.

Of course, compared to her strength, Xiao Yingyue's most formidable skill was her mastery of medicine and poison.

"This is a very dangerous woman, but if I can make her serve me, it would be of great benefit and help..."

"But I can try to intercept her."

Jiangling Commandery, Qingshui Village.

Majestic mountains stood tall, with verdant peaks and deep valleys. Steep cliffs lined both banks, and a thin mist coiled around the mountains. A wide, gentle river flowed downstream along the mountain's terrain, with fishing boats drifting on its surface.

The villages on both banks were orderly, with blue brick houses and tiled roofs lined up in neat rows. Wisps of cooking smoke curled upwards, filling the air with the scent of life.

In a clean blue brick house with a tiled roof, Lin Fan lay on the bed, his face pale and his lips tightly pressed together. Due to hypothermia and excessive blood loss, his face had a sickly pallor.

If one looked closely, they would find a thin layer of frost forming around his body, which had already spread to the corners of the bed.

Even the window lattice beside him was covered with dew-like icicles.

Although there was a stove in the house burning charcoal, it couldn't bring him even a shred of warmth. He shivered uncontrollably from the cold.

"Jiang Lan..."

Lin Fan muttered the name in his heart. Although his expression was extremely calm, his eyes were filled with an icy, fierce killing intent. His fists clenched and unclenched repeatedly.

He had never hated anyone so much before.

Even the disciples who betrayed him in his previous life didn't seem as detestable as Jiang Lan.

He was a thoroughly despicable and shameless scoundrel.

His current embarrassing and humiliating predicament was entirely his doing.

In his past life, when had he ever been so disheveled and humble, needing a fisherwoman to save and care for him?

Suddenly, the door of the house was pushed open, and a small, thin figure entered carrying a bowl of steaming fish soup. The figure glanced at Lin Fan, who was lying on the bed, then pointed to their mouth, gesturing for Lin Fan to drink the soup.

It was a young girl with a somewhat sallow complexion. Her hair, due to malnutrition, appeared dry and yellow. She wore a patched hemp garment, but her eyes were large and bright.

Unfortunately, she couldn't speak and could only make "iya-a-a" sounds.

"Thank you."

Lin Fan struggled to sit up in bed and thanked her. He took the bowl of pale, boiled fish soup from the girl. It contained some floating vegetable leaves and a few pieces of tofu.

After a few mouthfuls, he finally felt a bit warmer all over. However, this warmth only lasted for a short while before the biting cold pain quickly returned, making his face turn pale again. He almost groaned out loud.

During this period, even circulating his energy was difficult. His meridians felt as if they were blocked by countless ice shards.

Not only could he not use his cultivation, but even sensing the Eternal Calamity Sword was incredibly difficult.

The mute girl looked at Lin Fan with some concern, not understanding why he was like this.

She had found Lin Fan on the evening of the day before yesterday while fishing by the river.

He had been unconscious then, his clothes covered in blood, and was washed ashore by the river's current. The surrounding river water had frozen, and the cold was extreme.

Although she didn't know Lin Fan's origins, being kind since childhood, she didn't hesitate and dragged Lin Fan back to her home.

It was already dusk, and she lived in a secluded corner of the village, so no one noticed.

Lin Fan woke up that night but couldn't move. So, for the past few days, she had been personally cooking fish soup and taking care of him.