Chapter 1717: Life and Death Ledger

After much consideration, the Avatar of the Hell Realm Master raised a hand and commanded, "Come!"

The Hell Realm trembled. Immediately, a black scripture flew from the Hell Realm and settled into her palm.

At first glance, Jiang Fan mistook it for the "Soul-Soothing Scripture of Hell Suppression." But this black scripture was a tangible artifact, emanating an indescribable, overwhelming pressure. It was undeniably a Realm Artifact!

Clutching the scripture, the Avatar of the Hell Realm Master's eyes were filled with hesitation. Gritting her teeth, she reluctantly tossed it to Jiang Fan, saying, "Take it!"

Jiang Fan caught it, and a deathly cold sensation permeated him upon touch. He gazed at it, seeing the scripture bound with a purple rope, unsure of its contents.

Seeing Jiang Fan's curious expression, she scoffed, "This isn't something you can touch. This is one of the Hell Realm's Ten Great Realm Artifacts, the 'Book of Life and Death'! It can reveal a person's life, death, fortune, and misfortune, and can also rewrite their fate. If it decrees their death at this very moment, they will die instantly. However, only my Asura clan can activate this. Other races will suffer a backlash if they touch it. If you don't wish to die, keep it well-protected and never touch it."

While she had indeed handed over a Realm Artifact as collateral, it was one that humans couldn't use. This ensured that the potential harm of a lost Realm Artifact would be minimized.

Jiang Fan's heart fluttered. Could this Realm Artifact reveal his own fate? Could it even rewrite it? Could the fated deaths of both him and the Six Paths Venerable be rewritten as well? As for only the Asura clan being able to use it, that was hardly an issue. You Ran cultivated the Asura clan's Dao tradition. His beloved Green Pearl was a pure-blooded Asura, and she always listened to him. If she held this Realm Artifact, it was effectively in Jiang Fan's possession.

Naturally, Jiang Fan had to feign disappointment, sighing: "Senior, could you exchange this for another Realm Artifact? I promise I'll only look at it, not use it."

Seeing Jiang Fan's disappointed expression, much of the displeasure in the Avatar of the Hell Realm Master's heart subsided. This brat still tried to con her out of a Realm Artifact? *Heh heh*, let him stew with a useless Realm Artifact.

She extended her hand and said, "Hand over the Peace Monument."

Only then did Jiang Fan reluctantly retrieve the Peace Monument and toss it to her. The Avatar of the Hell Realm Master caught it. She cautiously glanced at the sky, and only relaxed slightly when she saw that the Saint had not intervened. She thought to herself, "This is indeed Central Earth, a land of civilization. In my Hell Realm, such honesty and trustworthiness would be impossible."

She examined the Peace Monument to confirm its authenticity. When she sensed the character "Scram," an unimaginable majesty surged from within the stele, making her feel an urge to prostrate herself in worship. This was truly the Peace Monument! Suppressing the joy in her heart, she put away the Peace Monument, swiftly tore open the world barrier, and cast a meaningful glance at Jiang Fan, saying: "You are forever a friend of my Hell Realm. I thank you on behalf of the billions of beings in the Hell Realm!"

The Peace Monument had actually been handed over to their Hell Realm just like that. *Hahahahaha.* It was truly Central Earth's misfortune to be stuck with someone as foolish and shortsighted as Jiang Fan.

With that, she flashed and vanished into the void rift, returning to the Hell Realm.

Jiang Fan watched her depart, saw the rift close, and the earth reclaim the fissure, before letting out a long sigh of relief. "Finally, she's gone!" He had almost become a sacrifice. Remembering this, Jiang Fan indignantly pulled out his Moon Mirror and typed a flurry of messages.

"GoodName: Hong Xiu! Get out here!"

Soon, the Moon Mirror replied.

"Glasses: ?"

"GoodName: Why didn't you tell me that summoning a Realm Master's avatar requires a sacrifice? You almost got me killed!"

It was Hong Xiu who had originally informed him of the true function of the Hellish Desolate Beast Bronze Artifact. However, she hadn't mentioned the need for a sacrifice.

"Glasses: The ancient texts only mentioned that much... Wait, you summoned a Realm Master's avatar?"

"GoodName: Yes, she's an unreasonable woman!"

"Glasses: She... killed Benevolent Heart Sage?"

Jiang Fan glanced at Benevolent Heart Sage's headless corpse, then looked up at the sky.

"GoodName: Not quite sure. Although his body and soul were destroyed, no spiritual rain fell from the sky."

He clearly remembered that when the Immaculate Grand Venerable perished, a spiritual rain beneficial to Nascent Soul cultivators had descended. Yet now that Benevolent Heart Sage had fallen, there was no spiritual rain whatsoever. Was it because he hadn't fully perished?

"Glasses: He must have left a wisp of his remnant soul elsewhere. Such sage-level old monsters always have multiple escape routes."

"Glasses: The Realm Master's avatar didn't do anything to you, did she?"

"GoodName: She took my Peace Monument."

"Glasses: Alas!"

"Death Diary: Alas!!"

"West Palace: Alas!!"

"Flower Bush: Alas!!!"

"NeverSpoilsTheView: Alas!!!"

"BloomingProsperity: Alas, what a pity!!!"

Everyone sighed deeply. The Peace Monument that Jiang Fan had painstakingly acquired was simply taken by the Hell Realm. All his hard work had ultimately benefited the Hell Realm.

Just then, the Moon Mirror chimed again.

"GoodName: That was a fake Peace Monument replicated by Memory Silver Sand."

The Moon Mirror began to emit a rapid series of beeps.

"Glasses: ???"

"Death Diary: ???"

"West Palace: ???"

"Flower Bush: ???"

"NeverSpoilsTheView: ???"

"BloomingProsperity: ???"

"Glasses: You dared to deceive even the Avatar of the Hell Realm Master?"

"GoodName: Who told her not to list her prices clearly? She waited until I was done with her services before demanding an exorbitant price. Isn't that outright fraud?"

The Moon Mirror was silent for a while. Just as Jiang Fan thought everyone had dispersed, it chimed again.

"Glasses: I don't even know how to describe your audacity anymore. Fortunately, that Realm Master didn't truly lose anything, so she'll probably just be angry for a bit and then let it go."

Jiang Fan gazed at all the valuable items on the ground, stroking his chin.

"GoodName: She's the Hell Realm Master. No matter how angry she gets, it won't affect my enjoyment in Central Earth, will it?"

Taicang Grand State, Qingli Mountain.

Hong Xiu, who should have returned to the Heavenly Realm, had not departed. Instead, she was lurking near the Heavenly Machine Pavilion. She pushed up her glasses, vaguely sensing that Jiang Fan's tone was amiss.

"Glasses: What did you take from her?"

"GoodName: I didn't take anything; she gave them to me. It wasn't much: just a Monument of Merit, a new Hellish Desolate Beast Bronze Artifact, and a portion of her karma."

After a pause, the Moon Mirror chimed again.

"GoodName: Oh, right, her Realm Artifact is also pledged to me."

Hong Xiu clapped a hand over her lips, her almond eyes wide with shock! Pledged what? A Realm Artifact? He used a fake Peace Monument to trick the Hell Realm Master out of her Realm Artifact?

The Moon Mirror once again emitted an incredibly rapid series of beeps.

"Death Diary: !!!"

"West Palace: !!!"

"Flower Bush: !!!"

"NeverSpoilsTheView: !!!"

"BloomingProsperity: !!!"

"Glasses: You're dead!"

"GoodName: If I don't go to the Hell Realm, what can she do to me?"

Jiang Fan shrugged, utterly fearless. The Hell Realm Master's avatar had just stated that her presence in Central Earth was permitted by an ancient sage. This meant she couldn't simply come and go from Central Earth as she pleased. Therefore, as long as he stayed out of the Hell Realm, he would be safe. Besides, why would he go to the Hell Realm for no reason? He wouldn't go there in this lifetime!

He put away the many ill-gotten Hell Realm treasures, and also retrieved his own artifacts, such as the Immortal King's Indestructible Bell. Finally, he looked at Benevolent Heart Sage's corpse, frowning slightly: "Where would this guy hide his remnant soul? If it's not eliminated, it will remain a hidden danger in the future."