This Is What a Villain Is Like

At this moment, she couldn’t even be bothered to maintain her previous charming facade.

"Still acting so tough, even now?"

Jiang Lan seemed to chuckle. With a casual grab, the cyan stone Jade Plate holding the Star Meteorite flew into his hand.

Fairy Miaoyin watched him with an icy expression, as if waiting to see what he would do next.

"This Star Meteorite appears to have Immortal Phoenix True Blood sealed within, but that’s not the whole story. Your little trick might fool others, but it won’t fool me..."

Jiang Lan reached out and held the fist-sized Star Meteorite in his hand. Wisps of a scorching aura, like True Solar Flame, began to emerge from his palm. They flickered and pulsed, threatening to burn even the Void into nothingness.

Around the True Flame, the phantom of an Immortal Phoenix materialized. It was vividly lifelike, its eyes proud as it looked down upon the world. It then opened its beak and spat out the searing flame, roasting the Star Meteorite.

"Immortal Phoenix True Flame?"

’That’s the legendary True Flame, a single wisp of which can create a boundless, scorched wasteland that won’t cool for ten thousand years. The reason not even a blade of grass grows in Fallen Phoenix Ridge in the Nine Provinces Land is because it was once touched by the Immortal Phoenix True Flame...’

Watching this scene, Fairy Miaoyin stopped struggling.

She was a connoisseur with a keen eye and could naturally tell that this astonishing skill of Jiang Lan’s was something only a pure-blooded member of the Phoenix Race could master. It was a unique, heaven-sent talent.

Not only was its destructive power astounding, but it also contained the life-giving, transformative meaning of Nirvana.

As Jiang Lan used the Immortal Phoenix True Flame to refine the Star Meteorite, its rocky surface, though incredibly tough and impervious to blades, was swiftly melted away. It turned into wisps of hot vapor and evaporated completely.

Soon, the drop of Immortal Phoenix True Blood broke free. It was crystal clear, suffused with a surging life force, and floated in the Void like a piece of blood-colored glass.

Vaguely, one could see phantoms of Immortal Phoenixes flashing within it, as if reflecting a magnificent and ancient Grand Thousand World.

Fairy Miaoyin had been glaring at Jiang Lan, but now, seeing the drop of Immortal Phoenix True Blood emerge, she could no longer maintain her expression. She looked stunned and incredulous.

As the Immortal Phoenix True Flame enveloped the drop of Immortal Phoenix True Blood, it showed no signs of being refined or absorbed. Instead, it produced a violent sizzling sound, like water hitting boiling oil.

Terrifying wisps of black smoke twisted and struggled as they rose from it. They carried a deep malice and a curse, making one feel as if they were being stared at by a pair of cold, sinister eyes, sending a shiver down their spine.

Not only that, but as it was being refined by the Immortal Phoenix True Flame, agonizing, hair-raising screams could be heard. The terrifying wisps of black smoke seemed to be resentful, malevolent souls that had existed for countless years.

"If I’m not mistaken, this is a type of curse-based Secret Skill. If I had unsuspectingly refined and absorbed this drop of Immortal Phoenix True Blood, I would have fallen under the control of whoever cast this skill..."

"Fairy Miaoyin, what do you have to say for yourself now?"

The Immortal Phoenix True Flame in Jiang Lan’s hand receded. All the strange phenomena around the drop of Immortal Phoenix True Blood vanished, and it settled quietly in his palm, glittering like a blood diamond and suffused with a five-colored divine light.

He looked at Fairy Miaoyin with a placid expression, as if waiting for her explanation.

At this moment, Fairy Miaoyin’s expression was one of confusion and bewilderment, as if she were completely unaware of the situation.

"I truly knew nothing about this. If you don’t believe me, Young Master Jiang, I can swear on my Dao Heart that I had no intention of scheming against you."

"Ever since I obtained this Star Meteorite, I have kept it in my Sumeru Ring and never touched it. This must be a trick left behind by its previous owner. It truly has nothing to do with me..."

She suppressed the shock and turmoil in her heart, trying her best to regain her composure as she analyzed the situation.

If Jiang Lan hadn’t refined it, she truly would have never known that this drop of Immortal Phoenix True Blood contained such a curse.

In a way, she had indeed been wrongly accused.

Jiang Lan looked at her with a wry smile. "Your words are full of holes."

"If it was a trick left by a previous owner, how did you acquire it at an auction? And after winning it, why didn’t you refine and absorb it yourself? This is Immortal Phoenix True Blood. You should know full well how astonishingly valuable it is."

"Miss Xie of the Xie Family, Xie Jianjia, was granted the title of Princess Xiahuang by Emperor Xia and became famous throughout the lands, all because of a single drop of Immortal Phoenix True Blood."

"And yet, you chose to use such a precious item to trade with me?"

"You woman, you’re full of lies. Not a single word you’ve said is true. Your oath on your Dao Heart is completely unconvincing."

As he spoke, Jiang Lan’s gaze turned cold. An overwhelmingly powerful aura pressed down on her, like a towering mountain hanging over her head, ready to crash down at any moment.

"Young Master Jiang, wait! I have absolutely no intention of scheming against you..."

"Listen to my explanation! I swear every word I say this time is the truth. If I dare to hide anything, I’ll become your slave, to do with as you please."

Fairy Miaoyin was growing anxious. She had indeed hidden quite a few things, including the origin of this Star Meteorite.

Seeing that Jiang Lan clearly didn’t believe her, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and explain.

In the Imperial Capital, she didn’t have the courage to offend Jiang Lan.

If they really came to blows, even if she used all her power to escape, she would likely be hunted down by the people of the Prime Minister’s Mansion soon after.

Hearing this, Jiang Lan retracted his aura and watched her quietly, as if waiting for her to continue.