Senior Disciple Jin led Meng Fan out of the Scripture Pavilion and sat down on a stone bench under an old tree outside.
"What's wrong, Senior Disciple Jin?" Meng Fan also sat down on the stone bench, asking curiously.
"The clan has assigned another elder to take over the Scripture Pavilion. From now on, don't mention Elder Lin in the Scripture Pavilion to avoid unnecessary trouble," Senior Disciple Jin said expressionlessly.
This guy, as always, had a poker face. His lack of expression wasn't directed at Meng Fan specifically.
Meng Fan sighed upon hearing this.
But it was quite normal. The Scripture Pavilion needed an elder to guard it. Since Elder Wang had left, the clan would naturally send a new elder.
Judging by Senior Disciple Jin's reaction, it seemed that the new elder of the Scripture Pavilion didn't have a good relationship with Elder Wang.
When a wall falls, everyone pushes. That's reality.
If everyone suddenly claimed to have a good relationship with Elder Wang, that would be suspicious!
Meng Fan nodded and said, "I understand. But Senior Disciple Jin, do you have any news about Elder Wang?"
Senior Disciple Jin's expression remained unchanged as he said, "The Shu Mountain Sword Sect has already sent people from the Enforcement Hall to capture Elder Wang. But don't worry, those from the Enforcement Hall won't be able to find him. Even if they do, they won't be a match for him!"
In fact, Meng Fan didn't know that among the elders of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, Elder Wang was considered one of the strongest.
Ordinary elders were no match for him at all.
"That's good to hear." Meng Fan breathed a sigh of relief.
Senior Disciple Jin looked at Meng Fan and, surprisingly, took the initiative to speak to him, "Have you broken through again?"
Under normal circumstances, it was always Meng Fan who initiated conversations, and Senior Disciple Jin would answer.
He rarely asked Meng Fan anything proactively.
There was a hint of surprise in his tone.
Because Meng Fan's progress was astonishingly fast. Anyone who paid attention would be amazed.
"Just a bit of luck," Meng Fan said casually.
Senior Disciple Jin glanced at Meng Fan, feeling a bit speechless.
Luck?
When he first met Meng Fan, Meng Fan had just entered the True Martial Realm.
In just a few short months, he had already reached the Heavenly Origin Realm.
This cultivation speed was simply outrageous.
Even cultivators with excellent spiritual roots would find this speed surprising.
Not to mention, Senior Disciple Jin knew very well that Meng Fan had mixed spiritual roots!
But everyone had their own secrets, and Senior Disciple Jin, having seen much of the world, naturally wouldn't press for answers.
Senior Disciple Jin said to Meng Fan, "From now on, don't come to the Scripture Pavilion to ask me about Elder Wang. If there's any news, I'll inform you at the Sword Pavilion."
At the Sword Pavilion, there was less need for caution, as Senior Disciple Jin knew that Elder Lin and Elder Wang had a good relationship.
"Alright, thank you, Senior Disciple Jin.
By the way, every time I come to see you, I hear some very exciting news.
Last time you said the Sect Master of the Ghost King Sect would come to Shu Mountain to draw a sword from the Demon Locking Tower, and he actually did.
Do you have any gossip to share recently?"
To Meng Fan, Senior Disciple Jin was like an all-knowing sage, a "Mr. Know-it-all."
Since he was here, his curiosity was piqued.
Senior Disciple Jin smiled wryly, "Gossip? Recently, the biggest gossip happened right here in Shu Mountain. You probably already know, so there's not much to say."
Happened in Shu Mountain?
Meng Fan was taken aback. He had been in seclusion for ten days and nights and had no idea what had happened in Shu Mountain.
Senior Disciple Jin's words only fueled his curiosity.
Meng Fan quickly asked, "Senior Disciple Jin, I've been in seclusion for ten days and nights. What happened in Shu Mountain?"
Senior Disciple Jin gave Meng Fan a surprised look and said, "Seclusion for ten days and nights? Then you really missed a big show. But this time, Shu Mountain suffered a loss!"
"What happened?" Meng Fan asked eagerly.
"Ten days ago, the Sect Master of the Ghost King Sect, Li Fanchen, came to Shu Mountain to break into the Demon Locking Tower. The Sect Master personally stopped him. You mentioned this earlier, so you should know about it, right?"
Meng Fan nodded, "I know about that. After it happened, I went into seclusion. What happened next?"
"The Sect Master of the Ghost King Sect, Li Fanchen, was defeated by our Sect Master. This caused quite a stir. But after retreating from Shu Mountain, Li Fanchen didn't give up!"
"What do you mean? Did Li Fanchen come back to Shu Mountain while I was in seclusion?"
Meng Fan was extremely surprised. Since Li Fanchen wasn't a match for the Sect Master, coming back to Shu Mountain would be asking for humiliation. He wouldn't be that foolish, would he?
But Senior Disciple Jin just said that Shu Mountain suffered a loss this time?
Did Li Fanchen come back and defeat the Sect Master?
In just a few days, how could he have such a drastic change?
Meng Fan's mind was filled with questions, and he couldn't figure it out!
Senior Disciple Jin shook his head, "Three days ago, someone did come to Shu Mountain, but it wasn't Li Fanchen."
"Then who was it?" Meng Fan asked.
"The world's number one thief, known as the Saint of Thieves, Ximen Zhaixing. This guy entered the Shu Mountain Sword Sect as if it were an unguarded place and stole the Blood Soul Sword from the Demon Locking Tower!" Senior Disciple Jin said with a complex and helpless tone.
Meng Fan was shocked upon hearing this.
The Blood Soul Sword was stolen?
This… it sounded absurd!
Senior Disciple Jin continued, "If Ximen Zhaixing hadn't announced it himself, our Shu Mountain Sword Sect wouldn't have known he had been here, let alone that the Blood Soul Sword in the Demon Locking Tower had been stolen!"
After hearing Senior Disciple Jin's words, Meng Fan frowned deeply.
The Blood Soul Sword was stolen, and Shu Mountain didn't even know.
It was only discovered because Ximen Zhaixing announced it himself.
Truly, he came and went without a trace!
"Is Ximen Zhaixing really that terrifying?" Meng Fan asked incredulously.
With Sect Master Lin Jinghong guarding Shu Mountain, Ximen Zhaixing could come and go freely, stealing the Blood Soul Sword without being noticed. It was unbelievable!
"Ximen Zhaixing is known as the Saint of Thieves for a reason. He truly lives up to his title as the world's number one thief. If he sets his sights on something, there's nothing he can't steal!" Senior Disciple Jin said helplessly.
Meng Fan had seen Sect Master Lin Jinghong in action and knew how powerful he was.
For Ximen Zhaixing to steal the Blood Soul Sword right under the Sect Master's nose without being detected was truly astonishing.
It seemed there was nothing in the world that Ximen Zhaixing couldn't steal!
Meng Fan sighed.
"With such skills, he could have made a name for himself in the world. Why choose to be a thief?"
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan