Chapter 1747: Spiritual Shu Apprenticeship

Jiang Fan dared not delay.

Merit was secondary; what he couldn't bear was that the souls of the deceased, after falling in battle, were still being dispersed by the Asura Saint Son.

Putting away the two Void Feather Robes, Jiang Fan explained the situation to the two women.

Xu Youran immediately said, "Since my husband has something important to do, let's go back then."

The three reluctantly bid farewell to Xu Zhengyan and the others, then quickly made their way to the agreed location.

The Grand Libationer of Taicang Great State and the Heavenly Craftsman Sage were already waiting there.

To be cautious, Jiang Fan asked them to display their Merit Monuments, confirming that both were indeed Sages. After all, no matter how skilled the Asura Saint Son was at disguise, he was only one person and couldn't simultaneously impersonate two Sages.

Jiang Fan said to the Heavenly Craftsman Sage, "I'd appreciate it if Senior Heavenly Craftsman could escort my two wives to Tianzhou to rendezvous with the Heavenly Secret Pavilion. I'll go with the Grand Libationer."

The Heavenly Craftsman Sage laughed and chided, "You rascal, ordering Sages around now! You've got some nerve!"

Jiang Fan smiled faintly, took out ten drops of Law Wine, and said, "Of course, I wouldn't ask a Sage to help for free."

"That's more like it!" The Heavenly Craftsman Sage snatched it, then instantly brought Xu Youran and Gong Caiyi to his side, saying, "You two be careful. The Asura Saint Son is so cunning; he wouldn't engage in such meaningless acts of revenge. He might have something else planned."

Jiang Fan nodded, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Heavenly Craftsman." He had the same feeling. Such a petty act of revenge seemed too trivial and out of character for the Asura Saint Son. It felt more like a deliberate move to lure him.

The Grand Libationer, stroking his whisk, said, "He appeared in the Great Wilderness State not long ago and destroyed the battlefield there. Upon hearing the news, the Grand Libationers of all states have already stationed themselves at their respective battlefields, making it difficult for him to cause further destruction. But to avoid further complications, you must also quickly perform the rites for them. Let's go to the other states first; we must get ahead of him."

Jiang Fan thought for a moment and said, "Let's go to the Myriad Demon Great State first."

The Grand Libationer nodded.

Half an hour later.

Myriad Demon Great State, Spirit Serpent Mountain.

The battlefield of both sides was not far from Spirit Serpent Mountain. Jiang Fan, holding the "Soul-Soothing Scripture of the Prison Suppression," performed the rites for the deceased souls. Wisps of ethereal souls, after bidding farewell to Jiang Fan, vanished into a certain void. Finally, half a golden feather drifted down and merged into the body of the little Qilin.

Jiang Fan put away the "Soul-Soothing Scripture of the Prison Suppression" and cupped his hands to the people of Myriad Demon Great State who had come to mourn and pay their respects. "Please accept my condolences."

In fact, compared to Taicang Great State, the Myriad Demon Great State was in better shape. With assistance from the Nine Nether Demon Venerable, their casualties were not severe.

The Golden Scale Grand Venerable said, "Thank you for your trouble, Jiang Fan."

Jiang Fan replied, "It's what I should do."

At this moment, a graceful figure in an emerald green dress came jogging through the crowd. It was Lingshu. She held up her skirt and ran, like a green spring breeze moving through fields and over villages, as if soaring towards the sky.

Jiang Fan, with a smile in his eyes, silently opened his arms and embraced her as she ran into them. Feeling the slender and warm body in his arms, Jiang Fan felt an unusual sense of peace. He had come to the Myriad Demon Great State first precisely to see Lingshu.

"It's good that you're alive." Jiang Fan buried his head in her long hair, greedily inhaling the faint fragrance from her locks.

Lingshu nestled tightly into his embrace, her weary face, like the moon emerging from behind clouds, revealed a long-lost smile: "You too, Brother."

The Golden Scale Grand Venerable, standing nearby, sighed with relief and said helplessly, "This girl has finally come back to life. Every day she didn't see you with her own eyes, she was listless, like a walking corpse. If anything had happened to her because of this, I wouldn't know how to explain it to you."

Hearing this, Jiang Fan felt even more endeared. Cupping Lingshu's gaunt little face, he couldn't bear for her to stay alone in the Myriad Demon Great State anymore, so he said, "Come back to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion with me." Things were different now. He had acquired quite a few demonic clan resources from the spatial storage device he took from the Asura Saint Son. Staying at the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, Lingshu would still be able to grow sufficiently.

However, to Jiang Fan's surprise, after a brief moment of surprise, Lingshu shook her head and said, "I'm not going back. Senior Nine Nether Demon Venerable wants to take me as a disciple and bring me into the Void to cultivate in a place more suitable for me."

"What?" Jiang Fan was surprised and looked at the Golden Scale Grand Venerable.

The latter nodded, showing genuine envy: "Isn't Lingshu exceptionally gifted, able to absorb anomalous energy? After the Nine Nether Demon Venerable discovered this, he felt she could forge an entirely new path and wanted to nurture her into a unique demonic clan powerhouse." After speaking, he sighed inwardly. Back then, Green Pearl and Liuli were also sealed by black profound ice. After they unfroze later, Liuli returned to normal, but Lingshu was able to absorb the strange anomalous energy from it. Now, by coincidence, she was favored by the Nine Nether Demon Venerable, who constantly traveled in the Void. Should one say she was fortunate, or that Liuli was unlucky?

Jiang Fan unconsciously tightened his grip on Lingshu's arm and asked, "You agreed?"

Lingshu shook her head, gazing at Jiang Fan's travel-worn, slightly gaunt face, her bright eyes misting over: "No. I hadn't decided yet. But now, I've made up my mind. I want to become a disciple of the Nine Nether Demon Venerable and go into the Void with him." The moment she saw Jiang Fan's exhaustion, she finally understood her life's goal.

Jiang Fan felt a hollowness in his heart, and that emotional scar, which should have long vanished, suddenly throbbed with pain: "Can you not go?"

Lingshu's eyes welled up with tears, but she shook her head and said, "I don't want Brother to be so tired anymore. I also want to be like Sister Yunshang and Sister Zhenyan, able to help you and share your burdens. I can't always be the girl you pamper and protect. It's time for me to grow up."

Having experienced the life-and-death perils of the ancient giants' war, heard of Jiang Fan's many narrow escapes, and witnessed his exhaustion, Lingshu matured in an instant. She could no longer be just the little girl who only knew how to call for her brother. Now that a great senior of the demonic clan like the Nine Nether Demon Venerable offered her such an opportunity, how could she miss it?

The Golden Scale Grand Venerable advised, "Jiang Fan, you can rest assured about the Nine Nether Demon Venerable's power and character. He is aiming to cultivate a second Sage for the demonic clan. If you truly care for Lingshu's well-being, let her become his disciple. Besides, the Nine Nether Demon Venerable isn't leaving immediately. He will only step back into the Void after the Central Land is completely free of hidden dangers. During this period, you will still be able to meet often."

Of course, Jiang Fan understood this reasoning. He just found it incredibly hard to let go when he looked at Lingshu's slender figure.

Taking a deep breath, he used reason to suppress his emotions and gently said, "Alright. Before you leave, come back to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion often so I can see you."

Tears streamed down Lingshu's face as she buried herself in his embrace, sobbing softly, "Brother..."

Jiang Fan patted her back, then took out an Enlightenment Divine Nail and many demonic clan resources, saying, "Take these, and cultivate well during this time. When you come to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, if I don't see any improvement, I'll punish you."

Lingshu wiped away her tears, laughing and crying at the same time: "Then I won't cultivate. Let's see how Brother punishes me, hmph."

The onlookers were speechless.

Liuli, even more so, rolled her eyes: "I miss out on opportunities, but I'm always here to witness your public displays of affection!"

"You two are really something!"

Hearing this, everyone burst into laughter.

Jiang Fan couldn't help but smile, taking out an Enlightenment Divine Nail and a portion of demonic clan resources, saying, "These are for you too."

Only then did Liuli beam with joy, grinning as she snatched them: "Now that's more like it. I forgive you two!"

The Golden Scale Grand Venerable looked grateful. Other demonic clan resources were easy to acquire, but an Enlightenment Divine Nail was an extremely rare item in the world.

After thinking for a moment, he took out a spherical object condensed from demonic power. Inside were sealed many drops of Spirit Rain. It was precisely the Spirit Rain that fell when the Benevolent Heart Sage perished.