Chapter 1027: I, Jiang Fan

Jiao Huangyin smiled and produced several more bottles of Primordial Nine-Colored Marrow. Cupping his hands, he announced, "Esteemed ones, Venerable Sin-Demon would never allow you to suffer any injustice. Those who cooperate with the examination will receive a bottle of Primordial Nine-Colored Marrow as compensation."

He continued, "Since you have just broken through to the Nascent Soul realm, you are likely in the process of gathering this item. The Venerable One has thoughtfully considered your needs."

The nine martial artists who had successfully broken through to the Nascent Soul realm showed signs of delighted surprise. Primordial Nine-Colored Marrow was, after all, a rare commodity. The Three-God Sect and the Seven Great Teachings had limited stock, with only small quantities obtainable by completing numerous missions and accumulating merit. The amount of Primordial Nine-Colored Marrow in a single jade bottle before them was equivalent to a year's worth of merit for an ordinary elder, offering significant assistance in opening their second vital point. Instantly, the resentment on their faces vanished.

Feng Yuanzong's anger turned into a smile. He said, "The Venerable One is too generous. It is only right for us juniors to cooperate with him. Why would there be any compensation? I'll go first!"

Jiao Huangyin smiled. "Very well. You just need to hold this special orb, crafted by Venerable Sin-Demon. It will stimulate all the power within your body. If there is any Voidflow Thunderforce, the compass will react."

Feng Yuanzong immediately grasped the orb. Just as before, Venerable Sin-Demon had used his immense pressure to force out the various powers and bloodlines from Yu Peiyuan and Fairy Yunshang. Similarly, several types of power appeared behind Feng Yuanzong, including what seemed to be a strange bloodline. Before anyone could get a clear look, he quickly released the orb.

Jiao Huangyin stared intently at the compass in his hand. After confirming there was no reaction, he said, "My apologies for disturbing you, Fellow Daoist Feng. Here is a bottle of Primordial Nine-Colored Marrow as compensation."

He handed over a bottle of Primordial Nine-Colored Marrow, which Feng Yuanzong accepted with a beaming smile. Seeing that he truly gave the compensation, the remaining Nascent Soul prodigies eagerly stepped forward.

Jiao Huangyin smiled faintly. "Please, don't be impatient. I'll call you up one by one according to your number tags." Raising his gaze, he looked at Jiang Fan, a flicker of apprehension in his eyes. He cupped his hands and said, "Fellow Daoist Tyrant, my apologies for the intrusion. Please, hold this orb." He courteously offered the orb to Jiang Fan.

Jiang Fan immediately felt various powers boiling within him, almost impossible to suppress. This happened just from its proximity. What would happen if he actually held it? The Voidflow Thunderforce would certainly erupt on the spot!

This Venerable Sin-Demon! He was truly relentlessly pursuing this. Jiang Fan didn't know how the Venerable One had deduced that a practitioner of Voidflow Thunderforce had recently undergone tribulation, shrewdly exploiting this gathering of heavenly prodigies. This assembly was very likely orchestrated by Venerable Sin-Demon in secret, precisely to bring together those who had recently succeeded in their tribulations. Otherwise, Jiao Huangyin's uninvited presence made no sense. This gathering was a trap! And by sheer coincidence, Jiang Fan had walked right into it!

Staring at the orb offered before him, a myriad of thoughts flashed through his mind. Should he kill Jiao Huangyin? And if so, should the innocent people present also be silenced? Or should he turn and flee? But fleeing would irrevocably confirm his identity, leaving no room for denial. What awaited him would be endless pursuit, with no place for him to hide, neither in heaven nor on earth. What should he do?

Seeing that Jiang Fan hadn't taken the orb, a hint of suspicion flashed in Jiao Huangyin's eyes. "Esteemed one, why aren't you taking it? Are you afraid?"

Suddenly! His vision blurred, and then a slap landed on his face. The crisp sound of the slap echoed throughout the venue, causing the entire martial arts arena to fall into a deathly silence.

Jiao Huangyin clutched his stinging, handsome face, his eyes blazing with fury. "What is the meaning of this? You're already at the Nascent Soul realm, yet you're slapping people like common mortals? How undignified!"

Jiang Fan calmly gazed at him and asked, "Do you know my name?"

Jiao Huangyin's face darkened. "Does your name matter?" A name like 'Tyrant' was clearly a nickname, not his true name. But did it make a difference? Regardless of his name, no one was exempt from Venerable Sin-Demon's scrutiny.

Jiang Fan said coolly, "Then, do you know the name of Venerable Sin-Demon's nominal disciple?"

Jiao Huangyin scoffed, "Of course I know. It's Jiang Fan, the top-ranked individual on the Ancient Path to Ascension. What are you trying to say?"

Knowledge of this matter was limited to the high-ranking officials of various sects. Everything on the Ancient Path to Ascension, including Venerable Sin-Demon taking Jiang Fan as his nominal disciple, had been suppressed by them. The disciples, of course, were unaware. But Jiao Huangyin did know.

Jiang Fan nodded, took out his Heavenly Secret Pavilion disciple token, and slapped it onto the table, displaying the side engraved with "Jiang Fan."

Jiao Huangyin's expression froze as he saw it. "Jiang Fan? You are Jiang Fan? Venerable Sin-Demon's nominal disciple? How is that possible?"

Jiang Fan unhurriedly looked at Yu Peiyuan. "Senior Sister Yu, tell him, who am I?"

Yu Peiyuan, having been promoted and supported by Jiang Fan all the way to the Ancient Path to Ascension, was widely known. She looked around at the astonished crowd and reluctantly said, "Everyone, the senior before you is Jiang Fan, the villain you were planning to condemn. Didn't anyone find it strange that Senior Feng remained silent? It's because he recognized Senior Jiang Fan and dared not condemn him."

The entire venue fell into complete silence. Only the sound of rapid breathing could be heard, especially from Hua Wuying. At this moment, her vision went black, and the world spun. Her world had collapsed.

Jiang Fan ignored them. He stood up, snatched the compass from Jiao Huangyin's hand, and said coolly, "You're holding my master's item to examine me? The nerve of you!"

Jiao Huangyin's face turned green, then pale. This was a huge misunderstanding, a case of attacking one's own. No wonder Jiang Fan was angry; he must have been upset that Jiao Huangyin failed to recognize his importance. But did he have to slap him? And in front of everyone?

He felt deeply humiliated. He said in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist Jiang, if you didn't reveal your identity, how was I to know you were the Venerable One's disciple?"

Jiang Fan said coolly, "My master acts based on results, not reasons. A Venerable One's disciple cannot be insulted! You, an outsider, dared to examine a Venerable One's disciple. A slap is letting you off lightly! Don't make this mistake again. Now, cooperate with me properly and root out this Voidflow Thunderforce practitioner! Give the orb to this Hua Wuying!"

Important matters took precedence. Jiao Huangyin suppressed the humiliation in his heart and followed Jiang Fan's instructions. With a disciple of Venerable Sin-Demon present, it was no longer his place, an outsider, to give orders. After all, everyone's goal was the same: to assist Venerable Sin-Demon.

Hua Wuying held the orb, revealing two types of power, but no Voidflow Thunderforce.

"Next!""And the next!"

Under Jiang Fan's direction, the nine Nascent Soul prodigies from the Great State of Taicang were quickly examined.

Jiao Huangyin was deeply disappointed. "It seems this person isn't here."

Jiang Fan scoffed, "Am I not here? Examine me too."

Jiao Huangyin, who had already been slapped once, twitched the corner of his mouth and waved his hand. "Fellow Daoist Jiang, you jest. I would suspect anyone but you." Could the disciple personally taken by Venerable Sin-Demon possibly be the Voidflow Thunderforce practitioner he was so eagerly searching for? There was simply no need to examine him at all. "My apologies for the intrusion. I'll take my leave!"

Leaving the martial arts arena, he turned his head and glared resentfully at Jiang Fan. Then he took out his communication jade pendant and truthfully wrote down a message.

"Reporting to the Venerable One. The newly promoted Nascent Soul disciples from the Great State of Taicang have all been examined. There are no traces of Voidflow Thunderforce."

He paused. He then added a sentence: "Additionally, the Venerable One's disciple is here. He has also successfully undergone tribulation. However, I did not examine him. Please be aware, Venerable One."