Chapter 1728: Again Reap a Big Wave

The World Master’s clone blinked. “Where is my Register of Life and Death?” she asked. She quickly scanned her surroundings and immediately sensed residual energy from a World Instrument, which startled her. “Someone used a World Instrument to steal the Register of Life and Death?” she exclaimed. “Damn it! Who did this? Who was it?” she roared, a mix of shock and anger, and following the residual energy of the World Instrument, tore open the sky above her, revealing the void.

A black scripture was rapidly flying towards the Central Realm above. “It’s a Central Realm Sage!” she exclaimed furiously. In her opinion, only a Central Realm Sage could possibly wield a World Instrument. She made to give chase, but as soon as she burst out of the void, the clone dissipated, unable to sustain itself. This drove her frantic: “You Sages of the Central Realm, both old and young, are all ganging up on me, aren’t you? You just wait, you hear me!” With an unwilling cry, she dispersed into light and shadow.

Meanwhile, Jiang Fan, after a brief moment of confusion holding the two Registers of Life and Death, smiled. “One for You Ran, and one for Green Pearl, perfect,” he murmured. With a joyful expression, he tucked them into the Celestial Thunder Stone. “This Celestial Thunder Stone is incredibly useful. Tomorrow, I’ll try out the Soul Reaping Pen, the Underworld Soul Bell, and other items.”

Crack— Just then, a tremendous crashing sound echoed. It was the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar beside White Horse Temple, finally collapsing. It transformed into countless black shadowy energies, spreading in all directions and coalescing into a vast, sky-obscuring dark cloud.

Jiang Fan slowly stood up, a look of emotion in his eyes. “The millennium-long war has finally ended,” he mused. “The fighting in Tianzhou should be over by now, right? Grand Libationer and the others should be returning.” He was just muttering to himself when, suddenly, the sea ahead tore open, and the Grand Libationer, clutching a tattered whisk and looking somewhat disheveled, emerged from the void.

Seeing Jiang Fan safe and sound, he let out a sigh of relief. “I’m glad you’re alright.” Jiang Fan’s hanging heart finally settled. The Grand Libationer had always been his greatest source of security. Even if the world crumbled, as long as the Grand Libationer was present, he would be safe and worry-free.

“Grand Libationer, how is the situation in Tianzhou?” Jiang Fan quickly asked. The Grand Libationer replied, “Several Dark Asura Emperors have retreated, and the conflict in Tianzhou has been quelled.” “Dark Asura Emperors? Several?” Jiang Fan secretly clicked his tongue. For ten thousand years, the Central Realm had underestimated the power of the Dark Asura race. After millennia of development, their strength had grown to an incredible degree.

“By the way, where is the Asura Saint Child?” the Grand Libationer quickly asked. Jiang Fan shook his head. “I don’t know his current whereabouts, but I possess something he was willing to expose his identity to seize, so he’s likely still nearby.” The Grand Libationer’s gaze turned serious. “I didn’t realize an Asura Saint Child had infiltrated our Central Realm in time, almost putting you in danger. Let’s go. I’ll escort you to Tianzhou. According to custom, three days after the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar dissipates, the Sages will bestow merit and rewards in Tianzhou. This is also known as the Great Merit Assembly. You’ve achieved immense merit this time; I truly don’t know how much the Sages will bestow upon you.”

Jiang Fan nodded, then instantly teleported deep into the continent. That’s right, he had retreated! The Grand Libationer was stunned. “What’s wrong?” he asked. Jiang Fan’s expression had turned cold at some point. “You’re quite good at disguising yourself! I almost fell for it!”

The Grand Libationer chuckled wryly. “Jiang Fan, you’re being overly cautious. I just tore through the void to get back from Tianzhou.” He waved the whisk in his hand, a look of exasperation on his face. “Stop pretending!” Jiang Fan sneered. “Why would you rush back from the void?” The Grand Libationer chuckled, “Because you were in danger, of course—” He stopped mid-sentence. The true Grand Libationer, being in Tianzhou, couldn’t possibly have known Jiang Fan was in danger in Sky Legacy City.

He quickly shifted his gaze. “Oh, I forgot to mention, it was Sage Tiangong who sent someone to Tianzhou to inform me.” Jiang Fan’s expression remained cold. “Sage Tiangong refers to the Red-faced Sage, doesn’t he?” he snorted. “Still trying to bluff your way out. I’ve already discussed the matter of the Asura Saint Child with the Grand Libationer. How could he possibly be surprised that an Asura Saint Child is in the Central Realm? Asura Saint Child, you’ve exposed yourself.”

Upon hearing this, the expression of the Grand Libationer of Taicang Great State finally changed. He dropped his amiable demeanor, his old eyes gradually sharpening. The face of the Grand Libationer of Taicang Great State reverted to the appearance of Sage Wanyun. This was the Bloodthirsty Asura Clan’s innate ability: disguise! He said grimly, “Boy, you’re hard to fool. But do you think hiding on the continent will keep you safe? I’ve investigated you. You’re very close with the disciples of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets, and there’s a woman named Yunshang among them who is your woman! I’ll give you three breaths to think about it. Come with me, or I’ll go to the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets and kill them all!”

Jiang Fan’s expression darkened slightly. The Asura Saint Child was absolutely capable of harming them, and with his cultivation, he could reach the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets in a single thought and level the entire Qingli Mountain in another. He struggled internally, then asked, “Where are you taking me?” He vaguely sensed a hidden meaning. It seemed the Asura Saint Child was capturing him not only for the Tome of Suppressing Prisons and Calming Souls but also to take him somewhere else.

“Don’t ask, just come with me!” the Asura Saint Child said unhurriedly. He had seized Jiang Fan’s weakness and wasn’t afraid of his resistance. Jiang Fan’s face was calm. He gritted his teeth and said, “Alright, I’ll go with you! But this journey will surely be perilous, with little chance of survival. This continent gave birth to me and raised me; it is my original homeland, yet I have never repaid it. Since you want to take my life, as a price, leave behind some legacy for this continent.”

The Asura Saint Child raised an eyebrow. “You’re not in a position to bargain with me!” Jiang Fan hardened his stance. “Then don’t expect my life!” The two stared at each other, in a stalemate for a moment. Ultimately, the Asura Saint Child, worried that the Grand Libationer and others would return, chose to compromise.

He took out a spatial storage item, holding it between two fingers, and said, “Fine. I’m about to leave the Central Realm, and I won’t be traveling as a human anymore. All the Central Realm resources inside this will be left behind.” With a flick of his finger, the spatial ring flew towards Jiang Fan. “The activation phrase is ‘Strategic Planning’. Give it to someone trustworthy on the continent, then come with me immediately.”

Jiang Fan used his power to stop it mid-air, then remotely activated the phrase to open it. Only after confirming there were no traps did he examine its contents. A quick glance left him utterly astonished. “These aren’t just ‘some’ resources!” he thought. All kinds of rare treasures, exotic herbs, spiritual elixirs, cultivation techniques, and other resources were piled up, forming rolling mountains. His consciousness swept over them, yet couldn’t reach their end. All the resources Jiang Fan had acquired since he began cultivating martial arts, combined, amounted to barely a tenth of what was before him! And this was what remained after the Asura Saint Child had taken the most important resources. It was unimaginable how terrifying the entire wealth of a Sage truly was.

He grasped the spatial storage item, tucked it into his embrace, and walked deeper into the continent. The Asura Saint Child’s voice deepened. “Where are you going?” Jiang Fan blinked. “To count my treasures, of course. Why would I go out and be killed by you?” Malice flickered in the Asura Saint Child’s eyes. “Are you playing games with me? Then I’ll pay a visit to the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets right now!”

He had thought he had Jiang Fan’s weakness, but to his surprise, Jiang Fan showed no fear and simply spread his hands. “Go if you want. Am I stopping you?” He understood the Asura Saint Child’s character: he always planned meticulously and never acted impulsively. If he could have captured the people from the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets, he would have done so already, killing them one by one in front of Jiang Fan to force him out. He certainly wouldn’t have first disguised himself as the Grand Libationer to deceive, only to resort to verbal threats after failing. There was only one reason for his unusual behavior: he had already been to the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets. But, he couldn’t find anyone!