Jiang Qinian? Jiang Xinglan?

Guardian Alliance, highest building, a room on the twelfth floor.

A middle-aged man with blond hair and blue eyes sat behind a desk, flipping through documents.

'Buzz!'

A ripple passed through the room.

As if sensing something, he looked up.

There, at some unknown moment, a young man with black hair and black eyes had appeared in the room.

The middle-aged man's heart tightened, but his expression remained calm and composed.

"May I ask how to address you, sir?"

"May I know why you have paid this sudden visit?"

Jiang Fan was slightly surprised.

This man was probably one of the few people who could remain so calm after witnessing his Spatial Flash.

It seemed that anyone capable of becoming the Vice Leader of the Guardian Alliance was indeed no ordinary person.

"You are the Vice Leader of this Guardian Alliance?"

The middle-aged man rose to his feet.

"That would be me!"

"My name is Sharp!"

"And you are...?"

He spoke in a refined, old-fashioned manner, and his self-possession was excellent.

Jiang Fan looked him over and discovered that apart from his physical features, everything else—from his clothes to his manner of dress—was exactly like that of a Huaxia person. He could not help feeling surprised.

"I came to ask you about something!"

"I'll leave after I get my answers!"

Sharp made a welcoming gesture.

"Please, have a seat over here. We can talk."

Jiang Fan waved a hand.

"No need!"

"We'll talk here!"

"Tell me, who is the leader of your Guardian Alliance? What is his name?"

Sharp froze.

"It is not that I intend to conceal it from you, sir, but the identity of our Guardian Alliance's leader is extremely secretive. From top to bottom in the alliance, no one has truly seen his real appearance..."

Jiang Fan glanced at him. Seeing how courteous Sharp was, however, he did not make things difficult for him.

"Then let me ask another way!"

"As the Vice Leader of the Guardian Alliance, have you ever heard the name Jiang Qinian?"

As Jiang Fan spoke, he stared intently at Sharp's expression.

Sharp's pupils contracted, then immediately returned to normal.

"I have not!"

Jiang Fan immediately understood, so he stopped beating around the bush.

"Leader Sharp, right?"

"I'll speak plainly!"

"I came here only to find this person. I have no interest whatsoever in your Guardian Alliance!"

"So I hope you'll answer truthfully!"

"Otherwise... you wouldn't want me to take things too far, would you?"

Having been threatened so directly, Sharp's imposing aura as one in authority erupted at once.

"Sir, do you truly think my Guardian Alliance is a place you can come and go from as you please?"

"You are the first person who has dared threaten me at the core of my alliance!"

He narrowed his eyes and stared at Jiang Fan.

Jiang Fan's sudden appearance had indeed left him doubtful and uneasy.

But to be threatened on his own turf was more than Sharp could endure.

Jiang Fan chuckled. He made no movement at all.

Yet an incomparably powerful pressure suddenly descended upon the room.

'Boom!'

Sharp felt as though his body were bearing the weight of ten thousand jun, utterly impossible to resist.

Then he looked at Jiang Fan, at that relaxed expression.

He quickly realized that there was likely a vast gap between himself and this young man.

"I have never felt such tyrannical pressure, not even from the leader!"

"Who exactly is this young man?"

"Why does he possess such terrifying strength?"

While these thoughts raced through his mind,

Jiang Fan flicked a finger, and a faint, almost intangible strand of Spiritual Energy coiled around his palm.

"As the Vice Leader of the Guardian Alliance, Leader Sharp, you should be well-informed, shouldn't you?"

"Then have you ever heard of a Spiritual Illusion?"

"Do you truly think I cannot obtain the answer from your mouth?"

Heard this, Sharp's expression changed drastically.

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His expression flickered uncertainly for a long while before he let out a dejected sigh.

"I'll talk!"

Jiang Fan waved a hand, and the pressure vanished. He made a gesture for Sharp to continue.

After hesitating for a moment, Sharp spoke.

"Our Guardian Alliance's leader is named Jiang Xinglan!"

"He is not that Jiang Qinian you mentioned!"

Jiang Fan raised his hand, about to press down with his pressure again.

Sharp hurriedly cried out for him to stop.

"Wait, wait!"

"I'm not finished!"

"Although it is indeed not the name you mentioned, the instant you asked it just now, I guessed that the person you are looking for might be the leader!"

Jiang Fan's expression shifted.

"Oh? How so?"

Sharp paused.

"There are many tribes on the Yadan Plains. The Guardian Alliance has gathered nearly all the talents of the Yadan Plains. People with black hair and black eyes like the leader are not unheard of!"

"But I have seen the surname Jiang for the first time, and he is also the only one!"

"So the moment you mentioned the name Jiang Qinian, I immediately thought of the leader!"

"After all, it is far too rare. It would be difficult not to connect the two!"

Jiang Fan nodded slightly. It seemed his direction had not been wrong.

But whether they were the same person still required one final confirmation.

"Where is he now?"

"Take me to see him!"

Sharp said with difficulty, "I'm very sorry. The leader left some time ago to handle some matters and has not returned yet!"

"If you wish to see him, I'm afraid you will have to wait for a while!"

Jiang Fan had secretly used Spiritual Power just now and knew that Sharp was not lying. He frowned.

"Left to handle matters? Where did he go?"

"The Yadan Plains may be vast, but given his strength, it should not take him too much time!"

"Could he have gone... outside?"

Sharp shook his head.

"I do not know!"

"However, before leaving, he said he would return within half a month!"

"More than a week has already passed. I fear the day of his return is not far off!"

After saying that, he asked tentatively,

"If you do not mind, I can give the order right away and arrange temporary lodging for you in the city!"

"The moment the leader returns, I will immediately notify you!"

"What do you think?"

Jiang Fan thought for a moment, then waved his hand.

"There's no need to arrange anything. I'll find a place to stay myself!"

"I'll come find you again in a few days!"

After taking several steps, Jiang Fan seemed to remember something.

"By the way, is there anywhere in this city to test Blood Energy and combat power?"

Sharp was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly said,

"Yes. There are quite a few martial arts schools in the city that can test Blood Energy values and combat power!"

"But our alliance has the highest-grade cultivation rooms. The Blood Energy Testers inside have no level restrictions..."

"How about I arrange a room for you?"

Jiang Fan nodded.

"Fine!"

"Thank you!"

After Jiang Fan left,

Sharp collapsed into his seat.

He picked up his cup and drank several large mouthfuls of water in succession.

After setting it down, he knitted his brows tightly.

"What exactly is this youth's relationship with the leader?"

"Judging from his appearance—black hair and black eyes—he and the leader should come from the same ethnic group!"

"And from their conversation just now, it seemed he bore no ill will toward the leader!"

"Then what is his purpose in seeking the leader?"

Sharp struggled with the thought for a moment, then his brows relaxed.

"Forget it!"

"The leader has been gone for over a week, and Fred's forces have begun to stir restlessly!"

"The pressing matter is to stabilize the situation first and wait for the leader to return as soon as possible!"

"As for this youth, we'll observe him for now!"