Chapter 1006: The Most Dangerous Venerable

Jiang Fan said dismissively, "Dawdling a bit isn't a bad thing. It prevents her from calling me for every tiny little thing later and wasting my time."

Hua Wuying's scalp tingled. What kind of outrageous statement was that? What an honor it was to be summoned by a Venerable! Yet Jiang Fan found it troublesome?

She didn't know that Jiang Fan's negative attitude stemmed from the bad impression her disciple, Revered Chenjing, had left on him. Following the principle of "hating the house and its crow," Jiang Fan naturally lacked a good impression of this True Word Venerable.

Soon after, Jiang Fan arrived before the white pagoda. From a distance, he saw a woman in yellow robes with her back to him inside the pavilion, with Revered Chenjing standing respectfully beside her, hands lowered.

Jiang Fan was slightly surprised. Judging by her back, the True Word Venerable appeared no older than Revered Chenjing. Suppressing his surprise, he said, neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Jiang Fan, a disciple of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, greets Senior Venerable."

The True Word Venerable, still holding a book and with her back to Jiang Fan, asked faintly, "Are you very busy?"

Jiang Fan frowned, sensing that this Venerable had an issue with him. Unfazed, he said, "Yes, junior is entangled with many matters, and time is precious. In the future, if Senior has anything to ask, you can simply send someone to inquire. There's no need to summon me here, wasting both Senior's time and my own."

His words were quite impolite.

The True Word Venerable slammed the ancient book in her hand onto the stone table. Her willow-like eyebrows slightly furrowed.

This was preposterous! He actually talked back to her! This nominal disciple of the Heart Demon Venerable had quite a temper!

"Tell me, what are you so busy with?" She refused to believe that a junior could be busy with anything that important!

Jiang Fan calmly replied, "Senior, are you getting angry with me? What junior does, I am not obligated to report to Senior. Senior, please ask about the actual matter."

The True Word Venerable was so angry she laughed. No one had ever spoken to her like this before! "If you don't say it, I'll make you!"

Jiang Fan frowned. What did that mean? Did she intend to force a confession? Surely not?

The True Word Venerable gently waved her hand, and a layer of faint, ethereal light enveloped Jiang Fan. Jiang Fan, feeling a mix of surprise and suspicion, asked in a deep voice, "Senior, what are you doing?"

The True Word Venerable didn't answer. Instead, she asked, "You seem to bear a grudge against me?"

Jiang Fan naturally wouldn't be foolish enough to tell the truth and intended to subtly deny it. However, the words that came out of his mouth greatly surprised him.

"Yes, I have a grudge."

Jiang Fan quickly covered his mouth. *That's not right!* Those weren't the words he wanted to say!

The True Word Venerable asked again, "Why?"

Jiang Fan suppressed the surprise and doubt in his heart and considered the question. He wasn't interested in explaining anything further. He opened his mouth, intending to fob her off, but the words that came out startled him.

"I don't like your disciple, Revered Chenjing."

Revered Chenjing, who was beside them, immediately glared at him and snorted, "What a coincidence, I don't like you either!"

Jiang Fan blinked. Something wasn't right! Once could be a slip of the tongue, but twice? That couldn't be a coincidence. He then recalled the words "True Word" in the True Word Venerable's title. Could it be that she had the ability to make people speak the truth? This ability was truly terrifying! In front of her, no secrets could be kept.

"Chenjing, what did you do on the continent?" The True Word Venerable frowned, looking at Revered Chenjing. No wonder Jiang Fan had inexplicably talked back to her; the root cause was Revered Chenjing.

Revered Chenjing dared not lie and could only recount the matter of the Divine Opening Nail.

The True Word Venerable frowned and said, "Reflect for a hundred days!"

Revered Chenjing lowered her head. "Yes, Master."

The True Word Venerable continued, "Speak, what great matters are you busy with? Let me hear it!"

Jiang Fan's mind was slightly agitated, and he tried to change the subject again. But as soon as he opened his mouth, he surprisingly spoke the truth: "Being intimate with Immortal Yunshang for two days, traveling for one day, interrogating a woman at White Horse Temple for half a day, the Myriad Calamity Sacred Hall…"

"Enough!" The True Word Venerable slammed the table and said, flushed with anger, "Being intimate with someone for two days — *that* is your great matter?" It would have been better if he hadn't said it; uttering it only made her angrier. He ignored a Venerable's summons, only to go off and be intimate with a woman! This was preposterous!

Suddenly, she froze slightly. "Interrogating a woman at White Horse Temple? Are you that extraordinary person proficient in local languages?"

At this moment, Jiang Fan had no way to hide it. "Yes," he replied.

The True Word Venerable fell silent. This indeed was an important matter. Jiang Fan hadn't been entirely lying after all. She cleared her throat and quickly brought the conversation back to the main topic: "Why were you able to move the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar?"

*Oh my!* Jiang Fan finally understood why the True Word Venerable had summoned him. Because by asking him face-to-face, the True Word Venerable could make him reveal the truth! But that matter concerned the Ancient Void Tree, Jiang Fan's ultimate secret. Could it possibly be revealed? What should he do?

Beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. Indeed, no Venerable was simple. In fact, this seemingly unremarkable True Word Venerable before him, in Jiang Fan's eyes, was the most dangerous! Jiang Fan's thoughts raced as he desperately tried to find an excuse. No, it wouldn't work! Any reason he came up with would turn into the truth as it left his mouth. How could such a dangerous ability exist? It was simply cheating!

Just as he was burning with anxiety, a sudden flash of inspiration struck him. *That's not right!* If the True Word Venerable's ability was so potent, why hadn't White Horse Temple invited her to interrogate that woman? All they needed to do was activate her ability, and wouldn't they get any information they wanted?

Soon, Jiang Fan had a sudden realization! The reason that woman hadn't been successfully interrogated was because she refused to speak! The True Word Venerable's ability only made people speak the truth and unable to lie! It couldn't, however, force people to speak!

Jiang Fan understood instantly and immediately shut his mouth. Sure enough, the secret in his heart did not blurt out. He had finally found a way to counter this ability!

The True Word Venerable waited for a moment, then lightly snorted, "You are quite clever, finding the flaw in my domain so quickly."

Jiang Fan replied, "Whose fault is it that Venerable kept asking irrelevant questions at first, instead of the actual matter? If you had asked earlier, wouldn't I have told the truth? Villains die from talking too much; serves you right." After saying that, Jiang Fan covered his mouth and said in a muffled voice, "Venerable, these are not the words I intended to say. Then I won't speak anymore, lest I make you angry."

The True Word Venerable clenched her fists, then released them after taking a deep breath, and said: "Within the True Word Domain, everything you say, I will treat as your true thoughts. If the words are unpleasant, I will pretend not to hear them and won't pursue the matter. I'll ask you again. You placed the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar at White Horse Temple. Why did they let you go? What agreement did you reach between you?"

Jiang Fan was secretly surprised at how astute this woman was. But as it concerned his safety, he certainly wouldn't speak.

Hearing Jiang Fan fall silent again, the True Word Venerable rolled her eyes. This brat thinks she can't handle him, doesn't he? She subtly waved her sleeve, withdrew the True Word Domain, and said meaningfully: "What's your opinion of me?"

Jiang Fan immediately became energized. After all, the True Word Venerable herself had said that any words spoken within the True Word Domain would be treated as true thoughts and wouldn't be pursued. So why be polite? He immediately picked the most unpleasant things to say: "Bad at teaching disciples, a troublemaker, fussy, a bully who preys on the weak, a gossipy woman, petty, self-righteous, rude for turning your back on people, definitely ugly and unsightly, and good for nothing except your Deva Transformation cultivation."

The True Word Venerable's delicate body trembled, and she pulled a fan from her sleeve. With a frosty expression, she said, "Hold out your hand!"

Jiang Fan shrugged. "Senior, you yourself said you wouldn't mind words spoken within the True Word Domain. You, a dignified Venerable, wouldn't go back on your word, would you?"

The True Word Venerable smiled, a cold laugh escaping her lips as she gritted her teeth: "I forgot to tell you, I just withdrew the True Word Domain! You certainly enjoyed scolding me, didn't you? Hold out your hand. One strike for every word!"

Jiang Fan's eyes widened! No, you can't play like this, can you?!