As suggested by Qian Ying, Xie Cheng Jun personally came to apologize to Yun Fan.
She stated that she was unaware of the circumstances that had transpired that day.
Yun Fan did not dwell on the past events. He was, however, perplexed as to why the mysterious senior would arrange his 'grand affairs'.
While he wouldn't have minded arrangements of other sorts, being arranged women made Yun Fan feel a complete lack of freedom.
However, at present, he had not been troubled by the mysterious individual, nor had he faced any disadvantage.
Therefore, Yun Fan decided it was unnecessary to offend such a powerful figure.
He would let things take their course.
After all, this seemed to be the most fitting approach.
"It's alright, I don't blame you!"
Yun Fan inquired with concern, "Is your body alright?"
Xie Cheng Jun had mentioned that she had to leave early that day due to her inner demons.
Thus, at this moment, Yun Fan naturally felt compelled to ask about her well-being.
Xie Cheng Jun quickly replied, "Thank you, young master, for your concern. My inner demons have been suppressed!"
"That's good to hear!"
Yun Fan nodded. Seeing that Xie Cheng Jun had no intention of leaving, he became quite puzzled.
"Young Master Yun, I have a little more Jade Dew here. I'll have you drink it!"
Xie Cheng Jun said considerately.
After all, this was a precious item. Of course, the Jade Dew had been tampered with, though Yun Fan was unaware of this.
Yun Fan did not suspect anything of that sort, still believing the Jade Dew to be perfectly fine.
He did, however, find Xie Cheng Jun's Jade Dew exceptionally delicious.
He had enjoyed it once before and had been craving it ever since.
So, he readily accepted the Jade Dew and drank it.
Xie Cheng Jun was incredibly excited, confident that she would win over Yun Fan today and that no issues would arise.
Thus, she tried hard to control her elation, knowing that any surge of excitement could lead to problems.
As it turned out, problems did indeed surface.
Because she could no longer suppress her excitement, her inner demons began to resurface.
"Damn it!"
Xie Cheng Jun was crestfallen. Such a perfect moment was now marred by an unexpected mishap.
It was impossible for her not to feel miserable.
With no other recourse, she had to retreat, for when inner demons could not be suppressed, their manifestation was terrifying.
Therefore, she quickly bid Yun Fan farewell.
Yun Fan nodded upon hearing this, as he truly didn't have much to say to Xie Cheng Jun at the moment.
Unexpectedly, not long after Xie Cheng Jun's departure, Yun Fan's body began to experience problems.
"Damn it, why that feeling again?"
At this point, it was Yun Fan's turn to feel miserable.
If he had previously thought the issue was his own doing, he now firmly believed the Jade Dew was problematic.
He cursed Xie Cheng Jun inwardly with all his might, wondering if she was the type to start something but not finish it.
Just as he was about to seek out Ning Tian Xue, who was closest to his location, Qin Wu Yang stormed in angrily.
"Wu Yang, what are you doing here?"
Yun Fan asked, bewildered.
Since arriving in the Final Era with Qin Wu Yang, he had rarely seen her. In fact, whenever he tried to find her, she would always evade him.
He hadn't expected Qin Wu Yang to visit him today, of all days.
Qin Wu Yang said indignantly, "I can't stand it anymore! Qin Ying has been constantly wary of me, keeping me away from you. But now, I refuse to be dictated by her!
"Why won't she let you see me?"
Yun Fan asked, confused.
"Because she's afraid I'll develop feelings for you, which would put her in a very awkward position. I absolutely cannot let her be so selfish any longer! So, I've gathered my courage today to ask you this: do you have feelings for me?"
At these words, Yun Fan froze. No matter how he looked at it, he hadn't anticipated Qin Wu Yang would ask him such a question right off the bat.
He had initially intended to counsel Qin Wu Yang to be rational.
But at this moment, the situation did not allow him any choice, as Qin Wu Yang's interruption had made him unable to hold on any longer.
Therefore, in that very instant, Yun Fan, losing his composure, pulled Qin Wu Yang into his embrace.
Qin Wu Yang was instantly shocked by this development, as she hadn't expected Yun Fan to make such a bold move.
She had been prepared for Yun Fan's rejection, but she never imagined he would be so proactive.
It had completely caught her off guard.
"What are you trying to do?"
Qin Wu Yang's expression changed, but inwardly, she was overjoyed.
"You'll soon find out what I'm trying to do!"
Instantly, Yun Fan, disregarding everything, pushed Qin Wu Yang down.
...
"Why have you returned?"
Qian Ying looked at Xie Cheng Jun in astonishment.
According to her calculations, Xie Cheng Jun should still be with Yun Fan at this time, and the real 'show' should have just begun.
She had expected it to last at least a day and a night.
She hadn't anticipated Xie Cheng Jun's return so soon. Seeing Xie Cheng Jun's dejected expression, she knew the mission had failed.
"He didn't drink?"
Qian Ying asked again.
Xie Cheng Jun replied, "He did drink!"
"Then why did you come back early?"
Everything seemed different from what Qian Ying had described.
Xie Cheng Jun said speechlessly, "Because my inner demons acted up again!"
Upon hearing this, Qian Ying froze. It couldn't be such a coincidence that her inner demons chose this precise moment to resurface.
It was incredibly coincidental!
"So, you just left him there alone?"
Qian Ying asked, puzzled.
"Mhmm!"
Xie Cheng Jun said, "Otherwise, if my inner demons were to flare up, I feared I might scare him. So, I had no choice but to leave early!"
Qian Ying wasn't overly worried about this. She knew Yun Fan had many women around him.
Even if Xie Cheng Jun left, Yun Fan would surely find a way to help himself. She just hadn't expected Xie Cheng Jun to falter at such a crucial juncture.
And what a major falter it was!
"I want to prepare the next plan!"
Xie Cheng Jun said, unwilling to give up. She certainly didn't want her plan to fail entirely and thus decided to devise a new one. Next time, she would ensure her inner self was completely shielded to prevent any agitation.
But Qian Ying said, "There won't be a next time!"
"Why?"
Xie Cheng Jun asked, confused.
After all, she hadn't managed to secure Yun Fan in two attempts. How could she be content with this outcome?
Qian Ying explained, "Because the same mistake can only happen twice. If you approach him again, he will immediately know it's part of your plan!"
"Damn it!"
Xie Cheng Jun deflated. This time, she had indeed missed her opportunity.
"So, I'm just supposed to accept defeat?"
Xie Cheng Jun asked, unresigned.
"Of course not!"
Qian Ying said, "We can't use this kind of plan anymore, as you've failed twice. Therefore, I suggest you must create an opportunity for him to be alone with you!"
"I see!"
Xie Cheng Jun went off to ponder this. If she had any reservations before, they were now completely gone.
...
"I knew it!"
The next day, Yun Fan awoke feeling somewhat dismayed. He was fine, having been manipulated more than once.
But he felt immense sympathy for Qin Wu Yang.
She had suffered a completely undeserved misfortune, and seeing her so battered, he couldn't help but feel heartbroken. Indeed, what man wouldn't feel for her in such a state?
At this moment, Qin Wu Yang also woke up. Despite the brutal events of the previous night, she was satisfied with Yun Fan.
This was the outcome she had desired.
However, after waking up, she found herself unable to face Yun Fan, feeling too embarrassed.
"What happened last night, it was all my fault!"
Yun Fan said with concern.
"It's alright!"
Qin Wu Yang summoned the courage to face Yun Fan. "You won't leave me, will you?"
"How could I possibly?"
Yun Fan smiled. "Since this has happened, I can no longer consider you just a friend. You are mine!"
"Mhmm!"
Qin Wu Yang happily nestled in Yun Fan's arms. She had longed for this day for a long time, and her dream had finally come true.
After Yun Fan comforted her, they both finally let go of their inhibitions.
A few days passed, and Yun Fan found himself growing increasingly angry.
So, he decided to confront Xie Cheng Jun. Despite her apparent intelligence and kindness, Yun Fan felt her actions over the past two occasions were excessive.
He intended to seek an explanation from Xie Cheng Jun.
Upon seeing Yun Fan's arrival, Xie Cheng Jun showed no outward reaction. It seemed she had anticipated his visit.
Thus, she was waiting for him. Although she had prepared all her excuses, her heart raced upon actually seeing Yun Fan.
"Tell me! What's going on?"
Yun Fan asked, annoyed.
At this, Xie Cheng Jun quickly said with deep apology, "Young Master Yun, I'm sorry. Everything..."
"Everything was the work of that mysterious senior, wasn't it?"
Yun Fan asked directly.
Clearly, he was already quite familiar with this tactic.
"Mhmm!"
Xie Cheng Jun nodded immediately.
This, however, only angered Yun Fan further.
"Although we haven't known each other long, why would you listen to an outsider and plot against me?"
This was the crux of Yun Fan's anger.
After all, Xie Cheng Jun was supposed to be his person, yet she had repeatedly colluded with an outsider to scheme against him without his knowledge.
This was simply too much.
Xie Cheng Jun immediately understood that her actions had been inappropriate. She quickly apologized to Yun Fan, "Young Master Yun, this is all my fault. Even if you wish to kill me, I will have no complaints!"
This was Xie Cheng Jun's sentiment.
At this point, she didn't expect forgiveness, as fabricating the existence of the mysterious senior was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.
"Get up! How could I possibly kill you?"
Yun Fan said to Xie Cheng Jun. "I just don't understand why that senior would want to scheme against me?"
This was precisely what puzzled Yun Fan.
Xie Cheng Jun knew her opportunity had arrived, and it was now up to her to play her hand.
She quickly said to Yun Fan, "It's like this, that mysterious senior wants to bestow three grand gifts upon you. Two have already been delivered, and only the last one remains!"
Yun Fan was utterly speechless at these words. If Qian Ying was considered a grand gift, he might accept it, but how could Qin Wu Yang be considered a grand gift?
After all, Qin Wu Yang was already his.
"Could this third grand gift be you?"
Yun Fan directly asked Xie Cheng Jun. From his perspective, Xie Cheng Jun herself didn't qualify as a grand gift.
This was because Xie Cheng Jun was already his.
This time, Xie Cheng Jun had become wiser. She replied, "Young Master, you misunderstand. I am already yours. You simply haven't taken possession of me yet, so I don't count as a grand gift! This third grand gift comes from the outside, and I will take you to retrieve it!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Fan finally grasped the critical point.
"The reason I didn't claim you before wasn't because I forgot, nor was it because I neglected you. It was because I had my own calculations!"
Yun Fan explained, "Mainly, your fusion with your shadow was still unstable, so I waited. Once your fusion is complete, I will make my move!"
"I see! I thought you had forgotten me."
Xie Cheng Jun said emotionally.
"How could that be?"
Yun Fan smiled. "You are so beautiful and so considerate, how could I possibly forget you! After all, the time is almost here, isn't it?"
"Mhmm!"
Xie Cheng Jun nodded excitedly.
This time, she had preemptively sealed her meridians, so there was no need to worry about qi deviation.
Therefore, at this moment, Yun Fan directly said, "Let's go retrieve the third grand gift. After we get it, I'll make you mine!"
Xie Cheng Jun had been eagerly awaiting this moment. She quickly said to Yun Fan, "Young Master Yun, I'll take you there right away!"
Then, the two of them left the Final Era.
To be honest, the world outside was far from peaceful.
For darkness had risen, and it rampaged across the land. Those who had previously mocked Yun Fan and wished for his swift demise were now praying for his return to shatter the encroaching darkness.
The Pangu Divine Palace had not intervened, allowing the darkness to spread unchecked.
But alas, their hopes would be dashed, for Yun Fan had no intention of meddling in their affairs.
If the martial artists of the Pangu Continent had shown him some kindness before, he might have considered helping.
But as it stood, Yun Fan was thoroughly disillusioned with them. Their survival or demise was of little consequence to him.
Therefore, at this moment, Yun Fan had no desire to concern himself with these trivial matters.
He only wished to obtain the grand gift left by the mysterious senior as soon as possible and return to the Final Era.
The greater the darkness and turmoil, the more opportunities there were to break through to the Upper Three Realms. Reaching the Upper Three Realms was his ultimate life's ambition.
Under Xie Cheng Jun's guidance, Yun Fan and she arrived at a mysterious ancient land.
Within this ancient land, Yun Fan could sense an intense Yin-Yang energy. Therefore, at first glance, he concluded that this place was far from ordinary.
Why was it not ordinary? Because he had only ever felt such pure Yang energy from the Jade Plate of the Pure Yang Heavenly Venerable.
Could it be that the mysterious senior was related to the Pure Yang Heavenly Venerable?
Otherwise, why would he have brought him to such a place?
Of course, what surprised him even more was the presence of pure Yin energy, which was truly terrifying.
Pure Yin and pure Yang were diametrically opposed forces. Now, both were present here.
One could only imagine how potent these two forces were.
Therefore, Yun Fan could not help but feel excited. If he could fuse these two forces into his being, he might directly ascend to the strength of the First Palace Master and that senior.
He would be merely a step away from the Upper Three Realms.
For Yun Fan, this day had been a long time coming. He hadn't expected this grand gift to be such a magnificent package.
He now fully forgave the mysterious senior, as the individual had provided him with so much assistance.
He didn't even need to worry about the mysterious senior's disapproval if he were to attempt to break through to the Upper Three Realms. All his anxieties were unfounded.
For the mysterious senior's arrangement of such matters clearly indicated his intention to help Yun Fan achieve the Upper Three Realms.
Such an obvious hint filled Yun Fan with immense goodwill towards the mysterious senior.
Generally speaking, only one individual per era could attain the status of an Upper Three Realm expert. This position was highly coveted.
While Yun Fan lacked absolute confidence, he would never give up as long as there was even a sliver of opportunity.
"The mysterious senior's intention is for Young Master Yun to comprehend and study this Yin-Yang energy. It would be even better if it could be integrated into your body. However, these are two extreme forces. Even the Pure Yang Heavenly Venerable in his time failed! He eventually chose only the pure Yang energy, abandoning the pure Yin energy!"
This was Xie Cheng Jun's explanation.
Yun Fan stated, "Even someone as great as him failed, so my chances are not high! However, I can try!"
After all, this was a risk-free endeavor. Thus, Yun Fan saw no reason to give up at this point.
He had to admit, he held Xie Cheng Jun in high regard. Ever since she had joined him, he had encountered continuous opportunities.
Such benefits made him inwardly exclaim that he had truly struck gold.
Therefore, Yun Fan initiated his fusion process. However, as these were inherently opposing forces, his first attempt at fusion resulted in failure.
Not only did he fail, but he also suffered a backlash from both forces, leaving him severely injured.
"Young Master Yun!"
Xie Cheng Jun rushed to Yun Fan's side, concerned.
"I'm fine!"
Yun Fan declared. "The more difficult this is, the more it ignites my competitive spirit! I must succeed! I absolutely will not fail!"
This was Yun Fan's unwavering resolve. He refused to believe he couldn't master these two extreme forces, and he was determined to do so.
The current circumstances demanded it. If he couldn't achieve the strength of the First Palace Master, he would likely fail in the ensuing competition, as this was indeed a brutal path.
Despite his continuous efforts and attempts, Yun Fan made no significant progress.
Instead, he only sustained more injuries.
Xie Cheng Jun's heart ached, and she almost urged Yun Fan to give up. Yet, at this moment, Yun Fan remained resolute.
This tenacity was commendable, so she dared not disturb him further.
She allowed Yun Fan to work through his issues alone.
Later, Yun Fan unleashed his ultimate move: using his Heaven-Battling Bloodline as a catalyst to attempt the fusion of the two forces.
However, even his Heaven-Battling power could not fully subdue these two forces.
Ultimately, Yun Fan deployed his ultimate trump card.
He used his Devouring Eye to absorb both forces, then break them down and reconstruct them. Although he emerged battered and bruised, he had, at least, succeeded.
Seeing Yun Fan's success, Xie Cheng Jun breathed a sigh of relief.
Once the two forces were fully integrated into his body, Yun Fan, though weakened, had achieved his goal. Now, he only needed to recover from his injuries.
This grand gift was truly immense, as he was now on par with the First Palace Master.
He was infinitely close to the Upper Three Realms and possessed the capital to contend for them in the future.
However, at this very moment, darkness descended, and two forces of darkness appeared.
The arrivals were none other than King Zhen Yu and King A Yu, who had once joined forces to kill the First Palace Master.
"You've come after all!"
Yun Fan coldly regarded the two figures. He knew that he had previously reached an agreement with the forces of darkness, predicated on the condition that darkness had not fully emerged and he posed no threat to them.
Now that he had become a threat, they had finally acted, and they had specifically chosen this day.
The pressure on Yun Fan was considerable.
If he were at his peak, he would not fear these two. However, the crucial point was that he had not yet recovered his full strength.
King A Yu sneered, "You shouldn't have become this strong. If you hadn't, we would have waited until the overall situation stabilized before making a move. You could have lingered for a while longer. But by suddenly becoming so powerful, you have severely impacted our darkness, so you must die now!"
This was the unforeseen complication.
The overall situation of darkness was not yet stable, and they had no desire to act at this juncture.
But if they didn't act, and Yun Fan were to somehow miraculously reach the Upper Three Realms in the future, then the end of darkness would be imminent.
Therefore, they had specifically come to kill Yun Fan. They hadn't expected their luck to be so good, as Yun Fan's current condition seemed less than ideal.
At this, Yun Fan stated, "Sirs, since you have come, there is no need for further pleasantries. Although you killed the First Palace Master together, you may not be able to kill me!"
"Is that so?"
King Zhen Yu struck first, seizing Yun Fan's moment of greatest weakness to launch a full-scale assault.
"Not good!"
Yun Fan was still trying to buy time, but unexpectedly, his opponents gave him no such opportunity.
Just as he anticipated a bloody battle, Xie Cheng Jun suddenly intervened, charging directly at King Zhen Yu.
"Come back, you are no match for him!"
Yun Fan shouted urgently, never having expected Xie Cheng Jun to be so reckless as to engage King Zhen Yu directly.
But in the next moment, he was stunned.
Not for any other reason than Xie Cheng Jun, while defending against King Zhen Yu, was not instantly killed. Instead, she was fighting him on equal footing!
Let alone Yun Fan, even King Zhen Yu was astonished.
"I didn't expect you, little girl, to be so strong!"
King Zhen Yu exclaimed in disbelief.
"So, that mysterious senior was her!"
Yun Fan was truly speechless. He had been deceived as well. No wonder Xie Cheng Jun had been listening to that mysterious senior's commands.
And she had deliberately kept it from him. It turned out the mysterious senior was Xie Cheng Jun herself. This revelation was somewhat beyond Yun Fan's expectations.
"Young Master, I apologize. It wasn't my intention to conceal this from you. I will explain everything later. For now, I will hold them off. You should recover your strength!"
This was Xie Cheng Jun's declaration, for at this moment, she felt a pang of guilt.
Seeing this, Yun Fan immediately said, "Do not have any distracting thoughts. Focus on the fight. Whatever your purpose for hiding this from me, I will not hold it against you!"
This was Yun Fan's promise to Xie Cheng Jun. Even though she had kept secrets from him, her repeated rescues were undeniable.
He saw no reason to hold a grudge against her.
"Mhmm!"
Xie Cheng Jun nodded. With Yun Fan's words, she felt nothing left to desire. Now, she focused on the battle.
She unleashed her pure Yin energy, constructing a defensive line. While this defense posed no immediate threat to the two attackers, it would at least delay them temporarily.
If Yun Fan could be given enough time to recover, Xie Cheng Jun felt her mission would be complete.
"Overconfident!"
King Zhen Yu and King A Yu attacked in unison. How strong could Xie Cheng Jun truly be? At best, she was on par with the First Palace Master.
While she was in the same tier, let's not forget that there were two of them, and they were operating under the shroud of darkness.
Xie Cheng Jun's defeat was only a matter of time. The next step would be to eliminate Yun Fan.
The two powerful beings launched a full-force assault, and Xie Cheng Jun felt immense pressure.
However, at this moment, Yun Fan behind her did not give up. He could sense his strength rapidly recovering.
Whether Xie Cheng Jun could hold them off or not was irrelevant. What mattered was that with a little more time, he would decisively defeat these two dark powerhouses today.
The two powerful beings were gradually dismantling Xie Cheng Jun's defense. Once the line broke, with their combined efforts, Xie Cheng Jun would perish within a hundred moves at most.
This was their strength and their confidence.
"Cheng Jun, can you hold on for another half an hour?"
Yun Fan asked Xie Cheng Jun with concern.
"You can rest assured, young master. Not to mention half an hour, I can hold on for an entire hour!"
This was Xie Cheng Jun's assurance.
Upon hearing this, Yun Fan felt even more confident. Under the circulation of his Heaven-Battling Bloodline, his strength was recovering at an accelerated pace.
Half an hour later, King A Yu and King Zhen Yu found the weakest point in the pure Yin energy.
Thus, they broke through Xie Cheng Jun's defense.
"Not good!"
Xie Cheng Jun's expression changed. Now, she would have to face these two dark powerhouses directly.
With her strength, she had no advantage against even one of them, let alone two. This was a situation of almost certain death.
Her promise to Yun Fan was shattered at this moment, and Xie Cheng Jun felt intensely self-reproachful.
The two dark powerhouses sneered, "Incapable of even the slightest resistance. No different from the so-called First Palace Master!"
Just as the two dark powerhouses were about to launch their full-force assault,
"Wait a moment!"
At this point, Yun Fan slowly rose. His strength had fully recovered, and he was ready to emerge.
"Young Master Yun, I will fight to the death to buy you time!"
Xie Cheng Jun quickly guaranteed.
But Yun Fan shook his head. "There's no need for you to risk your life. You are mine, and I would never let you perish. Step back, dealing with these old foxes is a job for me!"
Yun Fan exuded an air of supreme confidence. Even facing two opponents at once, what of it? He had the ability to counter darkness.
Therefore, facing the notoriously powerful and remarkably successful King Zhen Yu and King A Yu, he held them in contempt.
"Kid, are you giving up?"
The two looked at Yun Fan playfully.
"Giving up? You are too naive!"
Yun Fan said, "Previously, I killed a dark powerhouse named King Hei Yu. You must have heard of him!"
At these words, the two were instantly enraged.
For King Hei Yu was their junior brother. In the previous era, King Hei Yu had emerged first, preparing the way for the full emergence of darkness.
Unexpectedly, he never returned, and there was no further trace of King Hei Yu. Even after they emerged in this era, they had not given up their search for him.
They knew that King Hei Yu was powerful and, even with unforeseen circumstances, could not have been annihilated.
Even an expert like the First Palace Master could not have killed King Hei Yu, let alone fought him to a standstill.
Perhaps if there were more than two First Palace Master-level experts, they might have defeated King Hei Yu, but killing him would have been a pipe dream.
Yet, they were now informed that King Hei Yu had been killed by the Yun Fan before them. Their anger was understandable.
At this, Yun Fan added fuel to the fire. "Not only did I kill him, but I also absorbed all his power. Aren't you infuriated?"
"You..."
The two were so enraged that they almost died. This fellow was completely attacking their very souls!
"Kid, for this alone, we will tear you limb from limb!"
The fury of the two dark powerhouses had reached its peak. They no longer possessed the arrogance, dominance, or even playful demeanor they had displayed against the First Palace Master.
There was only an overwhelming wave of anger.
But Yun Fan remained unmoved.
He said, "Don't be in a hurry. I know you are eager to see him, but I will send you on your way soon enough!"
"You court death!"
In the next moment, the two dark powerhouses could no longer contain their fury and charged at Yun Fan.
Xie Cheng Jun intended to join Yun Fan in the fight, but Yun Fan told her not to interfere.
Therefore, Xie Cheng Jun could only stand as an observer.
In that instant, two streams of dark energy surged towards Yun Fan.
However, they were quickly neutralized by Yun Fan, who effortlessly repelled the darkness.
The two powerhouses were instantly shocked. As expected, Yun Fan had indeed discovered a method to completely counter darkness.
Even facing a two-on-one situation, they could not suppress Yun Fan at this moment.
One could only say that Yun Fan's growth rate was truly monstrous.
At this, Yun Fan stated, "You may be powerful in the eyes of others, but in my eyes, you are nothing!"
"Insolent!"
After being repeatedly taunted by Yun Fan, the two were truly enraged. They enveloped Yun Fan in darkness,
attempting to crush him.
However, the moment Yun Fan unleashed his Heaven-Battling power, the darkness was completely shattered.
While the two dark powerhouses were momentarily stunned, Yun Fan directly activated his Heaven-Battling Domain, dragging them both inside.
"Gentlemen, it's my turn to perform!"