Chapter 1698: Hell Wasteland Beast

The Manichaean Sect Master exclaimed in surprise, "Your Reverence, you know my true disciple?" He then called out, "Zhenyu, come and pay your respects to Revered Xinghuo!" Amidst the shouts, a young man, who had been standing behind the Manichaean followers, parted the crowd and approached Jiang Fan. He had an ordinary appearance, the kind that would blend into any crowd. His cultivation had reached the perfected ninth level of Core Formation, ready to attempt a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm with the right opportunity. He bowed respectfully, "This junior, Lin Zhenyu, greets Revered Xinghuo."

Jiang Fan scrutinized him; nothing stood out about his appearance. His human aura, cultivation, and nervous expression were flawless. The Manichaean Sect Master asked expectantly, "Senior, do you know my apprentice?" He wondered if Lin Zhenyu had somehow earned Jiang Fan's favor.

Jiang Fan's eyes showed contemplation. Had the Manichaean Sect Master, as his master, not noticed anything amiss with Lin Zhenyu? To be able to disguise himself to such an extent, Jiang Fan had so far only encountered one type of creature: a Hellish Behemoth, which acquires everything about its target after devouring them. Considering that the second sky-reaching black pillar was near the Manichaean Sect, it was highly probable that this Hellish Behemoth was hidden within the Manichaean Sect.

He concealed the strange look in his eyes, revealing a slight smile as he said, "Our Great Cang Province suffered heavy losses in this war, and the number of Nascent Soul cultivators has sharply decreased. I plan to focus on cultivating a group of juniors at the perfected ninth level of Core Formation, helping them break through to Nascent Soul as soon as possible. Since Lin Zhenyu is your true disciple, I will take him under my wing."

The Manichaean Sect Master was overjoyed. Who didn't know that Jiang Fan was known for his ability to nurture talent? The members of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, originally of mediocre aptitude, had all been propelled by him into the ranks of Nascent Soul cultivators. If Lin Zhenyu could receive Jiang Fan's focused guidance, his future would be boundless! He kicked the back of Lin Zhenyu's knee, sending him to his knees. "Why aren't you kneeling to thank the Senior?"

Lin Zhenyu hurriedly kowtowed, feigning excitement: "Many thanks for Senior Xinghuo's guidance. This junior is willing to go through fire and water for Senior." Jiang Fan smiled and patted his shoulder, "No need for such formality."

As he patted Lin Zhenyu's shoulder, a small jar containing the Heavenly Holy Fire appeared from Jiang Fan's sleeve. The moment it emerged, Lin Zhenyu's body jolted violently, and he instinctively recoiled as if electrocuted. A slight chill flickered in the depths of Jiang Fan's pupils. Such an item only had a restraining effect on creatures from the Hell Realm, meaning Lin Zhenyu's identity was practically confirmed: he was the second Hellish Behemoth!

He was secretly startled, relieved that he had prudently eliminated a hidden danger; otherwise, a Hellish Behemoth would have been lurking within the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. The thought alone sent shivers down his spine. However, Jiang Fan did not kill him, as activating the Bronze Hellish Behemoth required the blood of a living Hellish Behemoth.

He put away the Holy Fire and asked in feigned surprise, "What's wrong?" Lin Zhenyu, suspicious in his heart, pretended to be fine and replied, "I'm alright, thank you for your concern, Senior." Jiang Fan frowned and said, "To be startled by a mere touch from a Soul Transformation Venerable means your mental fortitude needs strengthening. Stay by my side for the next few days; I'll show you a thing or two."

Lin Zhenyu hesitated. Jiang Fan's fierce reputation preceded him; would staying by his side for a long time expose him? The Manichaean Sect Master, however, beamed with joy and scolded, "You ungrateful wretch, why aren't you quickly thanking Revered Xinghuo? To be personally tutored by the Senior and kept by his side is a stroke of ancestral luck!" To avoid exposure, Lin Zhenyu could only feign overwhelming gratitude. A cold glint flashed in Jiang Fan's eyes, but he smiled gently and said, "You may rise."

With the hidden danger of Lin Zhenyu dealt with, Jiang Fan glanced towards the direction of the underground palace. Finding that Yuemingzhu had not yet returned, he retrieved Tianqin from his spatial mirror. Bound by the Immortal Binding Vine, she was disheveled, and a large turtle had been drawn on her beautiful face. Her exposed wrists and neck were covered in bruises. It seemed the rebellious little fellow had truly been "taking good care" of her.

"Jiang Fan! You can kill me, but you cannot humiliate me! Kill me now!" Tianqin shrieked frantically. She had had enough of that little spirit beast, seemingly cute and innocent but truly malicious. "As you wish," Jiang Fan said, holding his Violet Lightning sword and placing it directly against her neck, his eyes utterly cold. This Dark Asura tribe, which funded the giants, was also a hidden danger. She ought to be killed as a sacrifice to the heavens.

"Husband, wait!" Luzhu stopped Jiang Fan, a hint of excitement on her face: "She is the Eldest Princess of the Dark Asura Royal Family and knows many secrets of the Dark Asura tribe. It would be a pity to kill her; it's better to keep her and slowly extract information." Jiang Fan began to ponder.

When he counterattacked the Celestial Realm, the Dark Asura tribe would certainly not sit idly by. Jiang Fan asked, "Is the Dark Asura tribe very strong?" If it were just an ordinary tribe, there would be no need for such trouble. "Extremely strong!" Luzhu said emphatically, "The bounty offered by the Dark Asura tribe for the second princess, Tian Ge, is to help a Five-Crowned Asura King break through to an Asura Emperor. This shows that their tribe has an Asura Emperor among them."

How could he have almost forgotten this bounty? Without an Asura Emperor among them, how could they offer a bounty of such a level? Thinking more carefully, the tribe Hongxiu belonged to, despite being suppressed by the Giant race, was still able to produce a Five-Crowned Asura King. The Dark Asura tribe, unharmed by the Giant race and protected by them for millennia, who knew how strong they had become! Jiang Fan's heart skipped a beat.

Only then did he realize that he had underestimated the strength of the Dark Asura tribe. The threats in the Southern Celestial Realm weren't limited to the Ancient Giants!

"Hehehe, you want to get information from me?" "Though I am a woman, don't underestimate my will..." A black divine staff struck her head. Tianqin froze for a moment, then the agonizing pain, like torment from hell, hit her, causing her to writhe on the ground. "Ah! It hurts so much!" "Wuwuwu... kill me... wuwuwu..." She rolled and cried in pain. Jiang Fan shrugged, "Clearly, your will isn't as hard as my staff."

Time was short, and he had no leisure to interrogate her. He first put her back into the spatial mirror. Fan Guzi poked its head out, looking eagerly at the staff, and asked, "Big brother, can I play with that staff?" Hearing this, Tianqin screamed in fright: "Jiang Fan, don't give it to him! I'll tell you anything you want to know! Don't give it to that little demon!" Jiang Fan pursed his lips. Still stubborn, but one strike made her obedient.

Just then, the white light on Jiang Fan, Luzhu, and Baihu suddenly trembled. It then transformed into a circular halo, radiating in all directions. It swept across the Great Cang Province and spread throughout the lands of the Middle Continent.

In the void where Hunyuan Province was located, the Giant Emperor and the Ten Sins of the Middle Continent were still making their last desperate counterattack. If they could kill a sage before Jiang Fan returned, they would still have a slim chance.

However, at this moment, the halo swept over them. When it passed over the Ten Sins of the Middle Continent, nothing happened, but when it swept over the Giant Emperor, the cursed sun disc on their forehead trembled violently. Their enormous golden bodies also trembled wildly, and the tremors intensified. The Sleeping Giant Emperor spat out blood and said in terror, "Emperor, it's time to go! The Ancient Hunt is over!"

The Six-Sun Giant Emperor's eyes were bloodshot as he roared towards the sky, "I am not reconciled!"