Chapter 1720: Is It You

Jiang Fan had three names on his list of suspects: Venerable Wanyun, Venerable Tianluo, and the Ancient Zen Buddha.

He felt that the Ancient Zen Buddha was the most suspicious. The Icefire Demon Lord had said that the current Asura Saint Son had astonishing prestige, with followers everywhere, even among his old subordinates. This was why he had been betrayed when he investigated the Asura Saint Son. And the phrase "astonishing prestige" best fit the Ancient Zen Buddha, whose followers were spread across the Nine Provinces!

However, the witch’s jade slip had reminded him that the Asura Saint Son had arrived. But among those currently present, the Ancient Zen Buddha was not there. Therefore, he could be ruled out. Among the three, only Venerable Wanyun and Venerable Tianluo remained as suspects. Given Venerable Tianluo’s eager search for the *Soul-Resting Scripture of Suppressing Hell*, his suspicion was undoubtedly the greatest!

Venerable Tianluo chuckled angrily, "You brat, aren't I just asking you for the *Soul-Resting Scripture of Suppressing Hell*? Why are you slandering this old man now? Saying I'm the Asura Saint Son—do you have any proof? This old man cannot bear such an accusation!"

"Of course I do!" Jiang Fan retorted coldly.

He took out a blood-red orb and said, "You haven't forgotten this, have you?"

The Red-faced Venerable and Venerable Wanyun looked over, their brows furrowing immediately.

The Red-faced Venerable said, "This kind of primordial slaughter energy is not found in our Central Land!"

Jiang Fan nodded deeply. "Exactly! Back then, I had shown this primordial slaughter energy to Heavenly Listener Bodhisattva, who had said the same thing."

Jiang Fan continued, "To be frank with you two seniors, the Asura Saint Son gave the Jian family many treacherous slaughter techniques to persuade them to help him find the *Soul-Resting Scripture of Suppressing Hell*. Those who cultivate these techniques will eventually fall into a state of slaughter, requiring the legendary *Soul-Resting Scripture of Suppressing Hell* to quell their inner killing intent. And this primordial orb was obtained by this junior from a stone tablet inscribed with slaughter techniques. The giver must have been a wisp of the Asura Saint Son's separated soul left within."

At this point, both Venerable Wanyun and the Red-faced Venerable understood. This primordial orb should contain the Asura Saint Son's aura. A comparison would confirm it!

The Red-faced Venerable raised a finger and tapped, drawing out a wisp of black energy, invisible to the naked eye, from the primordial orb. He narrowed his eyes, a chill appearing in them. "It contains a trace of the Asura Emperor's karmic aura! Jiang Fan's judgment is correct, there really is an Asura Emperor from the Underworld who has infiltrated our Central Land!"

Venerable Wanyun's expression also turned cold. He stared intently at Venerable Tianluo and said, "You'd better pray this wisp of aura has nothing to do with you!"

As he spoke, the Red-faced Venerable also released the wisp of aura in his hand. It hovered in place for a moment, searching for its master. It swept past the Red-faced Venerable, Venerable Wanyun, and Jiang Fan in succession. Finally, when it paused at Venerable Tianluo, it darted over to him.

Jiang Fan's gaze sharpened—it truly was Venerable Tianluo! The Red-faced Venerable and Venerable Wanyun's expressions changed simultaneously, their spiritual energies surged, and Monuments of Merit appeared behind each of them!

Jiang Fan couldn't help but glance at the Monument of Merit behind Venerable Wanyun. That Monument of Merit was gleaming golden, completely unlike the dark and gloomy monuments of the Lesser Sages. Venerable Wanyun was also a Venerable who had achieved his status through merit! The Lesser Sage who had seized the fate of Taicang Great Province back then was not him!

And when Jiang Fan looked at Venerable Tianluo, a monument also appeared behind him. A monument as black as ink! A Lesser Sage! The one who had stolen the fate of Taicang Great Province to become a Venerable back then was Venerable Tianluo! The truth was completely revealed!

At this moment, Venerable Tianluo's expression was grim, and a chilling aura emanated from him. He stared coldly at Jiang Fan, no longer bothering to conceal himself. "Brat, you've ruined a major undertaking for my Underworld!"

Venerable Tianluo's eyes glinted with killing intent, and the Venerable's oppressive aura radiated outwards with a roar. The Red-faced Venerable and Venerable Wanyun were enraged, striking out together. Venerable Wanyun laughed furiously, "Impersonating a Venerable of our Central Land, and daring to harm a hero of our Central Land right in front of us!" The Red-faced Venerable directly brought out his quasi-sacred iron hammer: "Since I didn't get to smash that old fogey, Venerable Cixin, I'll smash you instead!"

The terrifying fluctuations of the Venerables spread out, shaking heaven and earth. The Red-faced Venerable said, "Wanyun, you take Jiang Fan back to Taicang Great Province. I'll have some fun with the Asura Saint Son first!" Venerable Wanyun waved his hand, shielding Jiang Fan from the terrifying Venerable fluctuations, and grumbled, "You always get to do the good stuff first. Just don't die by his hand. Wait for me to come back!" Immediately, he grabbed Jiang Fan's shoulder and said, "Come with me!"

In an instant, the world spun, as if traveling by a provincial-level teleportation array. Within a few breaths, Jiang Fan appeared before the Imperial Astronomy Bureau. Of the eight floating islands, seven were still in a damaged state. Only the island leading to Taicang Great Province had been successfully repaired, its array radiating powerful fluctuations. It seemed that Venerable Zhenyan and the others were still rational; they hadn't rushed back with Jiang Wuya and Grand Venerable Red Demon. Instead, they chose to repair the provincial-level teleportation array, preparing a retreat for Jiang Fan and the others.

"We're here," Venerable Wanyun said, setting Jiang Fan down.

"Thank you, senior," Jiang Fan said calmly. He cast a side glance at Venerable Wanyun's hand, which was still on his shoulder. He said blandly, "Senior, you may go now."

Venerable Wanyun's shoulders twitched, and a gradually clearer chuckle emerged from his nostrils: "Heh heh. Heh heh heh heh heh... Jiang Fan, this Saint Son has had such a hard time finding you!"

He turned his head, his formerly gentle eyes now filled with mockery and victorious amusement: "Didn't expect it, did you? That I am the Asura Saint Son you've been searching for all along?"

Suddenly, thunder rumbled in the sky, clap after clap of deafening thunder. The flickering lightning illuminated the world, making it alternately bright and dark. It was as if the end of the world had come. Who could have imagined that the true Asura Saint Son was not Venerable Tianluo! But rather Venerable Wanyun, who had once bravely led the charge, single-handedly facing the Giant Emperor, sacrificing himself for righteousness! And who could have thought that the Asura Saint Son had not seized the fate of Taicang Great Province to become a Venerable back then, but had successfully attained Sagehood through merit! Venerable Wanyun—no, the Asura Saint Son—his face seemed to shift ominously in the lightning. His face was filled with the self-satisfied look of someone who had manipulated everything from behind the scenes and ultimately triumphed: "Although you were very vigilant, vigilant enough to make me angry several times. But in the end, you still fell into my hands! Are you very surprised?"

However, what made the Asura Saint Son's expression slightly stiffen was this: He saw no surprise on Jiang Fan's face; instead, there was only calmness: "You've finally revealed your true colors, Asura Saint Son!"

Unbeknownst to the Asura Saint Son, Jiang Fan was holding the Nine-Dragon Demonic Cauldron in his hands, its mouth aimed at the Saint Son. Inside it was a cluster of primordial spatial energy, ready to be activated at any moment.

The Asura Saint Son narrowed his eyes: "You already guessed it was me?"

Jiang Fan said faintly, "Was it hard to guess?"