Chapter 1008: Ants Can Also Shake Big Trees

Revered True Word's gaze sharpened. "You really know how to pick your moment!" she exclaimed. "I'm about to ascend the Heavenly Black Pillar, and this fan is precisely what I need to rely on. Yet, you want it back?"

The Phoenix Feather Nine Flames Fan had been unearthed in Tianzhou. When the three Transformation God Realm cultivators from Taicang Great State learned of it, they joined forces to seek it out. During their search, they encountered Transformation God Realm cultivators from Tianzhou, and a fierce battle ensued. Although the fan temporarily fell into Revered True Word's possession, taking it was difficult. Fortunately, Revered Evil Crow was willing to cover her retreat. The condition was that at some point in the future, she would lend him the fan for a year.

Now, on the eve of their reconnaissance mission to the Heavenly Black Pillar, Revered Evil Crow was demanding the fan back. The timing was perfectly precise.

Revered Evil Crow gazed at Revered True Word's youthful and beautiful face, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Are you planning to break our agreement?" he asked.

Revered True Word said in a low voice, "Your Great Yin Sect's Yin Corpse Art is the perfect method for suppressing ancient giants. Its effectiveness is even greater than the complete Phoenix Feather Nine Flames Fan. You don't need this fan. Demanding it now, at such a crucial moment, is clearly a way to blackmail me, isn't it?"

She wanted to speak more subtly. However, as Revered True Word, she could only voice her true thoughts. Not a single false or hypocritical word could escape her lips.

Revered Evil Crow smiled. "It's easy to talk with Revered True Word; no need for circumlocution," he said. "Yes, I am here to threaten you. I don't necessarily need the fan back, but you will have to pay a price."

Revered True Word's crystal eyes flickered. "Speak," she said.

Revered Evil Crow remained silent, merely withdrawing the yin energy that enveloped him. Instantly, a foul odor assaulted their senses. Jiang Fan, standing outside the pavilion, noticed it too and was surprised. He had encountered this stench before, on the Transformation God Realm expert at the end of the Ancient Path to Ascension. It was as if a body was decaying, nauseatingly putrid. Although Revered Evil Crow quickly concealed it again with his yin energy, the stench lingered stubbornly in the air around them.

Revered True Word looked slightly startled. "The Five Heavenly Declines!"

Revered Evil Crow said with a sigh, "Ten months ago, I tracked a Heaven-Burning Pearl that came from a distant continent and found a dying demon lord in Tianzhou. I had intended to kill him and refine him into a yin corpse. Unexpectedly, that demon lord was extraordinarily powerful, shattering my yin corpse domain with his ice and fire domain. That's why the Five Heavenly Declines have begun for me. I've already entered the first decline. I don't need to tell you what that means, do I?"

Revered True Word was greatly astonished. The Five Heavenly Declines were an inescapable threshold for Transformation God Realm cultivators. Crossing it offered the chance to gain recognition from the Central Continent and become a great sage. Failing to cross it meant the body would gradually decay, eventually rotting away.

Revered Evil Crow's expression turned grave. "Once the Five Heavenly Declines begin, they cannot be stopped," he said. "In my case, I'll rot into dust under the first decline within six months at most. There are two ways to resolve this. One is to stabilize my body from decay with Time-Space Dust, forcibly prolonging my life. The other is to break through my cultivation barrier and reach the second Heavenly Decline, which would grant me another three years of reprieve."

Revered True Word's gaze became serious. The Five Heavenly Declines were an inevitable path for Transformation God cultivators. Whether due to domain damage or when advancing to the next cultivation stage, the Five Heavenly Declines would descend. They could not be bypassed! For years, she had cultivated the Female Essence Spirit Fish precisely to ensure that when the Five Heavenly Declines arrived, she could quickly break through to the next realm and avoid decaying in the first decline. The second decline offered three years, which was ample time for her to seek opportunities to break into the third decline.

Her eyebrows slightly raised. "So why do you seek my help?" she asked. "My Female Essence Spirit Fish isn't mature yet; it won't help you break through."

Revered Evil Crow gazed at her beautiful face and smiled. "I've found an ancient method," he said. "It allows me to use your domain to break through my own cultivation, quickly entering the second decline."

Revered True Word pondered. "Tell me about it first," she said. "If it's not too difficult, I can help you." Simply borrowing a domain wasn't out of the question, especially since she desperately needed the Phoenix Feather Nine Flames Fan. However, she had never heard of breaking through one's cultivation with the help of another's domain. Were ancient methods truly that miraculous?

Revered Evil Crow's gaze began to roam over her slender figure. "The method isn't difficult," he said. "All we need is dual cultivation. When our mental states reach their peak, our domains can merge, allowing us to break through..."

Revered True Word slammed her palm on the stone table, her pretty face flushed with anger. "Presumptuous!" she snapped. "Don't even think about such a thing! Go find someone else!"

Revered Evil Crow calmly smiled. "You are the only female Transformation God in Taicang Great State, so I have no choice but to come to you," he said. "I advise you not to refuse. Old Man Tianji cast a divination, and the hexagram indicated that this journey to the Heavenly Black Pillar is a highly inauspicious omen. One of us Transformation God Realm cultivators will perish."

"What?" Revered True Word's expression changed dramatically. Old Man Tianji's divinations were always incredibly accurate. If he predicted a Transformation God Realm cultivator would perish, it would certainly come to pass. Among the three Transformation Gods and one Bodhisattva, she was the youngest, had entered the Transformation God Realm most recently, and had the least accumulation. Furthermore, she belonged to no sect, and her cultivated domain was auxiliary, not offensive. Her overall strength was the weakest among the four. Was it even necessary to say who was most likely to perish?

If she then lost the Phoenix Feather Nine Flames Fan, her most effective weapon against enemies, her fate would be sealed. For a moment, she couldn't help but consider retreating.

Revered Evil Crow chuckled. "However," he said, "Old Man Tianji also mentioned a variable in the divination. I believe this variable is the agreement we have regarding the right to use the Phoenix Feather Nine Flames Fan. If I take it back, you will surely die." He paused. Then, with a half-smile, he added, "Furthermore, you can't back out now. Since you've already given your word to the Bodhisattva, it was a True Word. If you break your agreement, your True Word domain will be damaged, and the Five Heavenly Declines will descend upon you prematurely. The consequences would be equally severe."

Revered True Word's expression was composed. She truly hadn't expected this journey to be so perilous, nor had she anticipated that her chance of survival would depend on Revered Evil Crow.

Revered Evil Crow smiled slyly. "Although I am significantly older than you," he said, "I have always cherished beautiful women. You can confidently entrust yourself to me; I will treat you well." He wore an expression that suggested he had Revered True Word exactly where he wanted her.

The Five Heavenly Declines were no laughing matter. Once they began, the body would start to rot and stink. How could someone as beautiful as Revered True Word bear to let herself deteriorate into such a state? In comparison, wouldn't it be far more comfortable to give in to him?

Listening to his disgusting words, Revered True Word's eyes were filled with coldness. She stared at the teacup on the table, saying nothing.

Just then, light footsteps approached. "Revered One, your tea has gone cold. I'll get you a fresh cup," Jiang Fan said, placing a new cup of tea before Revered True Word. Revered True Word instinctively looked up, met Jiang Fan's gaze, and then, with a heavy heart, lowered her eyes again. But at that very moment, Jiang Fan's voice echoed in her mind: "Revered One, is it safe for me to communicate with you like this through divine sense?"