Chapter 1733: Grant Me Old Age

The Grand Elders, Sect Master, and Peak Masters of the Azure Cloud Sect were all startled. The sudden appearance of a person, for those who had never witnessed a Soul Transformation Realm expert and were completely unprepared, was quite unexpected.

However, once they recognized the person before them as Jiang Fan, their shock turned into delight.

"Jiang Fan!" Liu Wenchen exclaimed excitedly.

But no sooner had he shouted than he was kicked by Zhuang Yuanyin, and he quickly bowed, saying, "We respectfully greet Senior Jiang."

Liu Wenchen then realized that calling Jiang Fan by his given name was truly disrespectful. The latest news indicated that Jiang Fan was already a mighty expert of the Eight Orifice Nascent Soul realm, a cultivation level they could only look up to. He immediately corrected himself, saying, "Liu Wenchen, Sect Master of Azure Cloud Sect, greets Senior Jiang."

The Grand Elders and various Peak Masters, with mixed feelings, also paid their respects: "We greet Senior Jiang."

Jiang Fan smiled helplessly. "Master, Grand Elders, and Peak Masters, there's no need for such formality."

"No matter how far I've come, I am still a member of the Azure Cloud Sect."

It was understandable for Xu Qingyang and his group to be so reverent, but seeing the Azure Cloud Sect members act the same way made him feel too distant.

Upon hearing this, Feng Guchan remembered his most proud disciple, Nangong Liuyun. After becoming Venerable Dust Mirror, Nangong Liuyun severed ties with the Azure Cloud Sect and even felt ashamed of his origins. In contrast, Jiang Fan, now a renowned senior expert across the Great Cang State, still acknowledged their Azure Cloud Sect.

He cupped his hands and said, "Senior Jiang, in the martial arts world, seniority is determined by strength. It is only right for us to address you as 'Senior'."

"We cannot let outsiders say that us old-timers in the Azure Cloud Sect disrespect martial arts masters by relying on our age."

Jiang Fan felt helpless inwardly. In any path, the most accomplished are considered teachers. However, he was too unique; born from the Azure Cloud Sect, he had surpassed it, causing a conflict between his strength-based seniority and his nominal seniority.

He no longer dwelled on this, smiling as he looked at everyone. "I'm relieved to see you are all well." Having experienced the ancient giant war and witnessed so much separation and death, looking back to see his old acquaintances still alive brought an indescribable sense of peace to his heart.

Liu Wenchen said, "We owe it all to Senior Jiang for inviting a Soul Transformation Venerable to eliminate the enemy. Otherwise, some of us would surely have perished."

"Invited a Soul Transformation Venerable?"

Jiang Fan's expression grew strange. Xu Youran and Gong Caiyi also couldn't help but curve their lips slightly, a deep sense of pride swelling in their hearts. Their own husband was now an existence unimaginable to ordinary people.

Noticing their unusual expressions, Liu Wenchen asked, "Did I guess wrong?"

"That Soul Transformation Venerable wasn't invited by Senior Jiang?"

His heart skipped a beat. He had misspoken, wasn't this embarrassing for Jiang Fan? He quickly apologized, "My apologies, Senior Jiang, I misunderstood."

"But it's alright. With Senior Jiang's abilities, you will certainly gain the appreciation of a Soul Transformation Venerable sooner or later."

The other Grand Elders quickly chimed in, trying to alleviate the awkwardness. "Yes, Senior Jiang, reaching the late Nascent Soul stage at such a young age, you will definitely catch the attention of those Soul Transformation Venerables."

"Gold fears no fire. We believe Senior Jiang will soon receive the appreciation of a Soul Transformation Venerable."

Gong Caiyi pursed her lips in a smile. She couldn't let them continue misunderstanding, so she quickly said:

"Sect Master Liu, you've misunderstood."

"Jiang Fan *is* a Soul Transformation Venerable. The Sage himself bestowed upon him the Daoist title 'Venerable Starlight'."

"It was he who annihilated the Asura clan on the continent."

"What?"

The previously warm and harmonious atmosphere instantly froze, as if solidified by ice. Everyone's expressions solidified, their eyes wide and unblinking, staring at Jiang Fan, even forgetting to breathe.

Jiang Fan is in the Soul Transformation Realm? The amount of information was too vast for their minds to process.

It was a long time later that Zhuang Yuanyin's cough broke the silence. Jiang Fan looked at him, then remembered that this old Grand Elder of the Sovereign Peak had an old ailment. When he bought the beast whip back then, it must have been for healing, right?

He flicked his finger, and a drop of Heavenly Garment Divine Water appeared before Zhuang Yuanyin. With a playful tone, he said, "Grand Elder, take this healing elixir."

Zhuang Yuanyin trembled, then fell to his knees in fright. "This junior dares not! This junior greets the Venerable!"

The others also snapped out of their stupor and, filled with awe, knelt down in worship.

What kind of existence was a Soul Transformation Realm expert? They were "gods" who had transcended the very level of life, viewing all living beings as mere ants.

Jiang Fan waved his hand, and a wave of pure energy gently lifted them. He said:

"It was thanks to the generosity of the Grand Elders, who gave me the half-broken Divine Enlightenment Nail of the sect founder, that I had the opportunity to enter the Soul Transformation Realm."

"It should be me thanking you. Why would you be kneeling before me?"

Everyone quickly rose, both surprised and delighted. Zhuang Yuanyin was so emotional that tears streamed down his face. "Our Azure Cloud Sect has actually produced a Soul Transformation Venerable!"

"When I go to the Yellow Springs and tell our founder, he will surely praise us, his descendants."

Jiang Fan smiled faintly, pointing to the Heavenly Garment Divine Water suspended before Zhuang Yuanyin. "Grand Elder, please accept this pill."

"It can cure your old ailments; its effect is better than the beast whip."

Zhuang Yuanyin's old face immediately flushed, feeling both awkward and emotional. The cheeky boy who sold him the beast whip for ten times its price back then was now an existence like a celestial immortal. Only a year had passed, yet it felt like an eternity.

He gratefully accepted it. "Thank you, Venerable, for the medicine."

Jiang Fan's gaze swept over the others and landed on Qin Wangchuan, who was braided and lost in the crowd. She was still the same, with her petite six-year-old body, easily overlooked or pushed aside in a crowd.

"Grand Elder Qin, long time no see," Jiang Fan said with a faint smile. Back in the Azure Cloud Sect, Chuan Chuan was the Grand Elder who took care of him the most. Later, the guest elder token for the Jiangshan Yipin Tower that she gave him also greatly benefited him.

Qin Wangchuan, no longer appearing short-tempered, politely performed a curtsy and said, "May the Venerable be well."

Jiang Fan chuckled, "So, she can be this docile sometimes." He recalled his promise to Chuan Chuan, that he would help her find a way to resolve her body being stuck at six years old, and said:

"Grand Elder Qin, do you still wish to restore your body?"

Qin Wangchuan excitedly asked, "Does the Venerable have a method?"

Jiang Fan nodded. His Flawless Domain was sufficient to restore Chuan Chuan's body to its normal state. However, he didn't immediately act, but instead cautioned, "Once you return to normal, your body will reveal its true age."

"Are you sure you want this?"

Qin Wangchuan was already eighty years old; upon returning to normal, she would be a white-haired old woman. In fact, it might be better to remain in her childlike appearance.

Yet, Qin Wangchuan excitedly declared, "I want to recover! I'm willing to become an old woman."

"The blooming and wilting of flowers, the ebb and flow of tides – that is the proper course for a life."

"I missed out on girlhood, youth, and maturity; I missed love, marriage, and having children and grandchildren. My life is incomplete, not even truly human."

"Now, with not much life left, to be able to depart in my true form would be Heaven's final grace upon me."

"Please, Venerable, grant me the gift of aging."