Chapter 1013: Hope's First Stroke

The Spirit Concealing Talisman allows one to enter a state of invisibility, undetectable even by Soul Transformation Realm cultivators.

Jiang Fan's eyes burned with eagerness.

The best invisibility talisman he had ever used was the High-grade Dustless Talisman, which even Nascent Soul Realm cultivators couldn't detect. Unfortunately, the energy within that talisman had already been depleted.

However, the Spirit Concealing Talisman before him could actually withstand searches from Soul Transformation Realm cultivators! If he were to encounter malicious Soul Transformation Realm cultivators again, this would undoubtedly provide him with an additional means of survival.

After a brief contemplation, he abandoned his plan to scrape off the True Spirit Blood to cultivate the Third Form. Even if the Third Form was cultivated to mastery, it wouldn't grant him the ability to protect himself against Soul Transformation Realm cultivators. However, the Spirit Concealing Talisman in front of him could. He joyfully and carefully put it away.

Since he couldn't refine his body for now, he decided to complete the soul secret techniques from Sanqing Mountain. He took out "Immortal's Drunkenness," a soul secret technique he had coveted since his time in the East Sea. Now, he could finally cultivate it as he wished. He immediately began to comprehend it.

Half a day later.

They finally arrived at the border of the Fire Worship Cult.

Looking out, the vast land, stretching for thousands of miles, was barren. Volcanic peaks, spewing black smoke, stretched across the landscape. Rolling heat waves assailed them, with no signs of life.

Jiang Fan, who was cultivating, was startled awake by bursts of scorching heat. Because he had a foundation in the "God Forgetting Incantation," cultivating "Immortal's Drunkenness" was much easier. He could now effortlessly unleash "Immortal's Drunkenness." Anyone with a weaker soul power than his would instantly fall into a coma. Those whose soul power did not exceed his by more than three levels would also be affected. This was also why he had fallen victim to the Hellish Wasteland Beast Path. The opponent was a Four-Aperture Nascent Soul, and when that entity unleashed the technique, Jiang Fan's Three-Aperture Nascent Soul's spiritual power couldn't withstand it at all.

He slowly opened his eyes, looking at the wild, desolate land before him with slight surprise.

"Why has the eastern part of Taicang Great State turned out like this?"

"Is it because of the Fire Worship Cult's flaming spring?"

The scene before them looked as if it had been caused by a great catastrophe.

Hua Wuying circulated her Nascent Soul power, resisting the heat waves, and frowned: "Not that. That flaming spring hasn't caused any disasters yet. My master told me that a great sage-level battle occurred here a thousand years ago. A Venerable self-destructed a realm artifact, leaving the land scarred and devastated."

"Realm artifact?" Jiang Fan's eyes showed surprise: "What kind of realm artifact?"

Hua Wuying recalled: "It was apparently called something like the Jade Paper Heavenly Scroll."

"Huh?" Jiang Fan was utterly astonished. He had heard Qin Wangchuan talk about the origins of the Jade Paper Heavenly Scroll. A powerful calligraphy artifact had self-destructed, scattering its pages across the world. He hadn't expected the Jade Paper Heavenly Scroll to have exploded precisely in this location. Furthermore, the consequences were quite astonishing.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he pulled out the Void Fishing Rod. Since this was the site where the Jade Paper Heavenly Scroll exploded, most of its pages should be scattered nearby. Conveniently, a day had passed, and the Void Fishing Rod could be cast three times. What if, by some stroke of luck, he hooked one? If his soul power could break through another level with the help of the Jade Paper Heavenly Scroll, then whether it was Immortal's Drunkenness, Soul-Stunning Stab, or Soul-Imprisoning Lock, their power would all be elevated to the next level!

He decided to act immediately. Filled with anticipation, he cast his first hopeful line.

Meanwhile.

In the land of the Fire Worship Cult.

Beneath a massive volcano, four figures all wore smiles. If Jiang Fan were here, he would surely recognize three of them. Two of them were none other than the Pavilion Master of Jiangshan First-Grade Pavilion and Deputy Pavilion Master Gu. The other two were surrounded by Yin Qi. One of them was the Sect Master of the Grand Yin Sect! The other was Feng Yuanzong, the Grand Yin Sect's prodigy whom Jiang Fan had met on the Ancient Path to Heaven. At this moment, he had also broken through to the One-Aperture Nascent Soul Realm and was very close to the Two-Aperture Nascent Soul. He could break through his shackles and enter the ranks of Two-Aperture at any time.

"Haha, truly worthy of being the Pavilion Master of Jiangshan First-Grade Pavilion; your information is indeed incredibly accurate." The Grand Yin Sect Master held a Jade Paper Heavenly Scroll, his face beaming with a smile. Although the Yin Qi around him was thin, and there were scorched marks from flames on his body, with several burnt Nascent Soul Realm Yin Corpses lying beside him, it still couldn't hide the joy on his face.

The Pavilion Master of Jiangshan First-Grade Pavilion also held a Jade Paper Heavenly Scroll, smiling as he sighed: "It wasn't in vain that I previously halted all operations of Jiangshan First-Grade Pavilion to fully search for the Jade Paper Heavenly Scroll. Besides finding one complete page, I also obtained many clues about the Jade Paper Heavenly Scroll. One of those clues pointed directly to this location. Unexpectedly, we found two at once. It's perfect, one for each of us. Everyone is happy."

This place was extremely dangerous, especially with the terrifying magma erupting from time to time. Along the way, if not for the Grand Yin Sect Master's Yin Corpses scouting ahead, he would have found it very difficult to reach this place. Fortunately, the outcome was perfect. There were two Jade Paper Heavenly Scrolls, so there wouldn't be any conflict over unequal distribution.

The Grand Yin Sect Master's eyes darted, and he said: "Pavilion Master, how about we each memorize the contents, and then exchange the Jade Paper Heavenly Scrolls? That way, we would each effectively possess the contents of both scrolls. It would be greatly beneficial for both of us in cultivating our soul power."

The Pavilion Master of Jiangshan First-Grade Pavilion smiled faintly: "I was just thinking the same!" He handed over his Jade Paper Heavenly Scroll, and the Grand Yin Sect Master readily passed his over as well.

But just as they were exchanging them, a seemingly damaged Yin Corpse, lying near the Pavilion Master of Jiangshan First-Grade Pavilion, suddenly stood up without warning. Its sharp claws fiercely lunged towards the Pavilion Master's back. This strike was both sudden and swift. Gu Xin'er, standing behind him, only had time to cry out "Look out!" but no time to defend.

A hint of a sinister smile blossomed on the Grand Yin Sect Master's lips. Evidently, he intended to monopolize both Jade Paper Heavenly Scrolls! He had planned this ambush long in advance. He had secretly hidden a Nascent Soul Yin Corpse, disguised as damaged, among the other corpses. This allowed it to suddenly attack when the Pavilion Master of Jiangshan First-Grade Pavilion was completely unaware.

*Swoosh!*

Unexpectedly, a thousand-zhang lightning sword shot out from the Pavilion Master of Jiangshan First-Grade Pavilion's palm without any warning. Without turning his head, he struck backward. That Nascent Soul Realm Yin Corpse instantly had its Yin Qi severed, its body scorched as it was sent flying backward into the magma, where it was utterly incinerated.

The Pavilion Master of Jiangshan First-Grade Pavilion calmly retrieved the Jade Paper Heavenly Scroll from his hand and looked at the Grand Yin Sect Master, whose expression had slightly stiffened, saying: "Without any means to counter your Yin Corpses, how could I dare to seek profit with a tiger and invite you along?"

It turned out that the Pavilion Master of Jiangshan First-Grade Pavilion had long been wary of the Grand Yin Sect Master. As a merchant, his vigilance far surpassed that of ordinary people.

The Grand Yin Sect Master narrowed his eyes, a look of surprise in them: "You've actually cultivated the Undying Blade to mastery? The Myriad Tribulations Sacred Hall didn't detect it at all?" His heart was filled with shock and suspicion. The Pavilion Master of Jiangshan First-Grade Pavilion had hidden his strength too deeply, hadn't he? Cultivating this technique required an extremely long time, yet he had managed to conceal it flawlessly! The outside world had no idea that he was proficient in the Undying Blade.

The Pavilion Master of Jiangshan First-Grade Pavilion chuckled faintly: "Is that so strange? The cultivation methods of various Divine Sects have all been traded on the black market of my Jiangshan First-Grade Pavilion. Is it really that difficult for me, as the Pavilion Master, to acquire a cultivation technique? Believe it or not, I can also perform the cultivation techniques of your Grand Yin Sect?"

The Grand Yin Sect Master's expression flickered between shades of uncertainty. He glanced at the Jade Paper Heavenly Scroll in the Pavilion Master of Jiangshan First-Grade Pavilion's hand, his face revealing a covetous look. But looking at the boiling magma around them, he hesitated again. If they were to fight fiercely here, triggering the magma would be a minor concern; causing the entire volcano to collapse and burying them forever would be a far greater disaster. He quickly concealed the unusual look on his face and burst into laughter: "Just kidding, don't be so tense. Let's go, we can talk outside."

Gu Xin'er gritted her silver teeth and transmitted a message: "Pavilion Master, this guy has ill intentions. We shouldn't leave with them."

The Pavilion Master of Jiangshan First-Grade Pavilion's expression remained unchanged as he said: "Once we're outside, a fight is inevitable. Just be wary of Feng Yuanzong. I have my own ways to deal with the Grand Yin Sect Master."

Gu Xin'er nodded and scoffed: "It'd be best to snatch his Jade Paper Heavenly Scroll too, and let these untrustworthy fellows realize they've bitten off more than they can chew."

The Pavilion Master of Jiangshan First-Grade Pavilion shook his head slightly: "It's difficult. Few in Taicang Great State can snatch something that's already in the Grand Yin Sect Master's hands..."

He suddenly trailed off. His eyes were fixed on the Grand Yin Sect Master's back, a look of disbelief on his face.