Chapter 1002: True Spirit Blood Talisman

Among the many powers in Tai Cang State, Jiang Fan had the most dealings with the Three Pure Mountains. He had faced Reverend Xuan Yang before, and then Reverend Xie Tong. Their encounters, both overt and covert, had left an indescribable impression on him. Now, with Hua Wuying undergoing tribulation, it was difficult to say whether people from the Three Pure Mountains would cause trouble.

However, once he saw their situation clearly, Jiang Fan realized his concerns might be superfluous. Three individuals, dressed in robes of the Three Pure Mountains, were frantically fleeing on a cloud.

Among the three, there was an old man and a young one. The old man, in a faded robe and hunchbacked, was none other than the malicious Reverend Xuan Yang. Beside him, the young Taoist, with a solemn expression, occasionally glanced behind them. This was Qing De, who enjoyed reciting scriptures. However, he should now be called Reverend, as he had reached the Nascent Soul realm, and it was he who was controlling the cloud for their escape. Within the cloud, there was also a corpulent middle-aged man, severely injured and covered in blood. His face was pale, and a long gash on his chest almost traversed his torso, revealing his internal organs. Fortunately, his cultivation as a Four-Aperture Nascent Soul allowed him to cling to life.

Not far behind them, a wizened old man was leisurely pursuing them, a playful glint in his eyes.

Reverend Xuan Yang, his eyes filled with dread, urgently called out, "Elder Xiang, don't hesitate! Give him that talisman containing a trace of true spirit blood! Otherwise, we'll all die."

Elder Xiang's face was deathly pale, devoid of any color. He shook his head and solemnly replied, "It's useless. This person, disguised as Reverend Hei Yue of our Three Pure Mountains, surely desires more than just this one talisman. He wants to continue lurking within the Three Pure Mountains, so he won't allow us to return alive and expose him. Giving him the talisman won't help."

Hearing this, Reverend Xuan Yang's face filled with fury. "When was Reverend Hei Yue taken over?" he fumed. "We didn't notice anything unusual about him at all!" He was deeply annoyed.

They had been ordered to escort a precious talisman to Moon-Washing Lake to meet Reverend Zhen Yan. Unexpectedly, just as they were about to arrive, Reverend Hei Yue suddenly attacked, grievously wounding Elder Xiang before he could react. His sole objective was that talisman.

As Reverend Hei Yue's rapidly approaching aura became apparent, Reverend Xuan Yang's aged face contorted with terror. Just as he felt despair, a bolt of lightning suddenly flashed in the deep sky. Looking closely, a dark cloud rapidly spread across the horizon.

A gleam flashed in Reverend Xuan Yang's old eyes. "Someone is undergoing tribulation!" he exclaimed. "Why don't we lead Reverend Hei Yue there? If the other party has a protector, we can ask them to help."

Elder Xiang frowned. "Undergoing tribulation in such a desolate wilderness must mean it happened suddenly, an impromptu tribulation," he said. "They likely don't have many protectors nearby." Qing De also added, "Master, tribulation is already difficult. If we go there, we won't save ourselves, and we'll also implicate them. Let's not."

Tribulation was inherently a near-death experience. If they led Reverend Hei Yue there, the heavenly tribulation might very well be disrupted.

Reverend Xuan Yang scoffed, "Even so, we can use his lightning tribulation to block Reverend Hei Yue. As for whether he fails his tribulation, he can blame his bad luck." With that, he disregarded their objections and sped towards the tribulation on his cloud.

Jiang Fan watched from a distance, his gaze turning cold. This Reverend Xuan Yang was as selfish and malicious as ever. He recalled how, in the past, when they were at the entrance of the Tiger Demon Emperor's cave, Reverend Xuan Yang had found them an eyesore and tried to kill them! Now, he was leading danger toward someone undergoing tribulation!

He stood mid-air, coldly watching them approach on their cloud. Before Reverend Xuan Yang even arrived, his laughter reached Jiang Fan. "My good fellow, we are elders from the Three Pure Mountains," he called out. "We've encountered an evil person, and we implore you to lend us your generous assistance. We will offer you a substantial reward afterward."

Seeing a Nascent Soul cultivator present, Reverend Xuan Yang secretly rejoiced. If this person could just act and delay Reverend Hei Yue for a moment, they could seize the opportunity to escape. As for the fate of this person and the one undergoing tribulation, that was none of his concern.

Jiang Fan said with a half-smile, "Evil person? Are you referring to yourself?" He dissipated the lightning around him, allowing them to see him clearly.

Hearing a somewhat familiar voice and an unfriendly tone, Reverend Xuan Yang paused. He brought the cloud closer, fixed his gaze, and his old eyes widened in astonishment, as if he had seen a ghost. "You're that young man from the mainland?" he exclaimed. "You actually succeeded in your tribulation!"

Qing De also raised his eyebrows, a hint of joy appearing on his face, and cupped his hands. "Brother Jiang, you also succeeded in your tribulation? Congratulations!" Jiang Fan returned the gesture, smiling. "Congratulations to you too, Brother Qing De."

He then looked towards the person chasing them in the distance. "What's going on with you?" Qing De's face showed anxiety. "There's a traitor in our Three Pure Mountains," he explained. "That person called Reverend Hei Yue injured Elder Xiang, trying to seize the True Spirit Blood Talisman that was meant for Reverend Zhen Yan..."

Before he could finish, "No need for further words!" Elder Xiang quickly interrupted, casting a wary glance at Jiang Fan, then offered a benevolent smile. "Fellow Daoist, could we ask for your assistance in holding him off for a moment?"

Jiang Fan's heart stirred. A True Spirit Blood Talisman? Could it really contain true spirit blood? He was secretly thrilled. However, hearing Elder Xiang's words, he found them laughable. Without reason, they were leading Reverend Hei Yue here and asking him to fend off the pursuer? It was obvious they planned to seize the opportunity to escape, leaving the trouble to Jiang Fan. Their scheme was quite apparent!

Yet, he didn't immediately refuse. Instead, he asked, "What is the opponent's cultivation level?" At this, Reverend Xuan Yang and Elder Xiang fell silent. If they told the truth, how could a newly breakthrough Nascent Soul dare to resist a Four-Aperture Nascent Soul expert?

Reverend Xuan Yang's eyes darted about. "Not high," he said, "just a One-Aperture Nascent Soul. With your strength and ours combined, we can certainly kill him on the spot." Jiang Fan thought, 'A One-Aperture Nascent Soul is chasing three of you so intensely that you're fleeing for your lives?'

Without changing his expression, he took out the Heart-Illuminating Ancient Mirror and shone it on Qing De. He immediately got the answer from Qing De's mind. It was actually a Four-Aperture Nascent Soul? If the opponent was alone, it wouldn't be a major problem.

He pretended to consider, then said, "Are you expecting me to act for free?" Reverend Xuan Yang's eyes lit up. Had he fallen for it so easily? "Of course not. Tell us what you want."

Jiang Fan replied without hesitation, "How about this: Reverend Hei Yue is chasing you for the True Spirit Blood Talisman, right? I'll take a loss. You give me the True Spirit Blood Talisman, and let him chase me instead."

Reverend Xuan Yang's face instantly changed. "You want the True Spirit Blood Talisman too?" he shouted. Elder Xiang's eyes also flashed sharply as he flatly declared, "Impossible!"

Jiang Fan said no more. He drew his Purple Sword and stated indifferently, "Then get out of here immediately, or Reverend Hei Yue won't be the only one trying to kill you!" This was a good opportunity to kill Reverend Xuan Yang, avenging himself and the Fallen Pearl Demon Emperor.