Chapter 1048: White Bone Alliance

Faster than words could describe, Jiang Fan instinctively activated his Nether Ghostflame, covering his entire body.

Almost simultaneously, a bloody hand appeared at Jiang Fan's neck. Just as its fingers were about to close, the Nether Ghostflame flared up, scorching the bloody hand and causing it to emit large amounts of black smoke. The bloody hand quickly vanished, teleporting through space. When it reappeared, it was a hundred zhang away from Jiang Fan. At that spot, space rippled, and three immensely powerful figures emerged. They wore cloaks, their faces were grim, and black energy emanated from their bodies. The figures on the left and right were at the Five-Aperture Nascent Soul and Six-Aperture Nascent Soul realms, respectively. The one in the center was a terrifying Seven-Aperture Nascent Soul cultivator.

From their attack, it was easy to deduce their identity: the White Bone Alliance! Including Jiao Huangyin, the burly middle-aged man, and these three in front of him, all five Nascent Soul realm cultivators of the White Bone Alliance had now appeared! What surprised Jiang Fan and made him feel particularly grim was that the leader of the White Bone Alliance was actually a Seven-Aperture Nascent Soul cultivator! He had already used all his means to defeat the Daoist Head of Mount Sanqing, ultimately relying on a clever trick with the Origin of Fire to kill him. These three White Bone Alliance powerhouses had probably been hidden in the shadows all along, witnessing everything. With them on guard, Jiang Fan wouldn't have the opportunity to use the same trick again.

"White Bone Alliance!" Jiang Fan said, his voice firm. "You truly are persistent!"

The White Bone Alliance leader's face was concealed by a black mist, making it indistinct. However, Jiang Fan could feel a pair of sharp, grim eyes fixed intensely on him. "You're quite bold yourself!" the leader stated. "Repeatedly killing our White Bone Alliance members!"

"Repeatedly?" Jiang Fan frowned slightly. He wasn't surprised that the White Bone Alliance knew he had killed the burly middle-aged man. But the last time was in the underground palace where Kui Xing slept. How could the White Bone Alliance know about that? Could it be... A hint of surprise appeared on his face. "What did you do to Mu Ying and her uncle?"

"They're as good as dead," the White Bone Alliance leader replied calmly. "We kept them alive to identify you. Now that you've appeared, they no longer have any value."

Are they still alive? Jiang Fan subtly exhaled in relief. If the two had died because of his involvement, his sin would have been immense. "Release them."

"You seem to be making a joke I don't understand," the White Bone Alliance leader said flatly. "Shouldn't you be struggling to protect yourself right now? Where do you get the confidence to demand I release them?"

While seizing the moment to recover his Nascent Soul power, Jiang Fan calmly stated, "My name is Jiang Fan. I am an unregistered disciple of Venerable Sin Heart. Is that enough confidence for you?"

The black mist on the White Bone Alliance leader's face wavered, and the powerful figures on either side also showed surprise. Clearly, they hadn't expected Jiang Fan to have such a status! "How can you prove it?" the White Bone Alliance leader asked in a deep voice.

"Ask Jiao Huangyin; he will tell you the answer," Jiang Fan replied. The three fell silent. Being able to accurately state Jiao Huangyin's name was enough to suggest Jiang Fan's claim was true. They had never revealed their true names. Only Jiao Huangyin, who had dealings with Venerable Sin Heart, had used his birth name. The fact that Jiang Fan could name him meant he must have met Jiao Huangyin in person. And since he showed no fear of verification, it was most likely true.

The White Bone Alliance leader glanced at his subordinate, now a headless corpse, and said gravely, "Since you are one of us, I won't make things difficult for you. You took that coffin, didn't you? Hand it over, and this matter will be considered closed."

The Blood Coffin? Jiang Fan pondered. This blood coffin held no particular use for him personally. He had taken it for two reasons: first, to disrupt the teleportation array and prevent the mastermind behind Kui Xing from descending upon Mount Qingli via the array; and second, to prevent Venerable Evil Raven from obtaining it and recovering. He considered, "Giving it to you is not out of the question. But I need to know what you intend to use it for."

The Six-Aperture Nascent Soul member of the alliance sharply rebuked him, "You're getting bold after gaining an advantage! Don't think for a second that just because you're an unregistered disciple of Venerable Sin Heart, we won't dare to do anything to you! Even if you were a true disciple, if you disrupt our plans, we would kill you without hesitation." His sudden outburst indicated how sensitive Jiang Fan's question was. It also subtly revealed that they had a powerful backer no less formidable than Venerable Sin Heart, to the extent that they dared to threaten a true disciple of Venerable Sin Heart with death. Who exactly were these people?

The White Bone Alliance leader's voice also darkened. "I will say this one last time. Hand over the Blood Coffin. Otherwise, even Venerable Sin Heart won't be able to protect you!" Jiang Fan fell into contemplation, unsure whether to hand it over.

Just then, Xu Youran ran over and exchanged a glance with Jiang Fan. Jiang Fan understood immediately. He activated his silent meditation technique and asked, "What is it?"

"I had intended to tell you when we were alone," Xu Youran began, "but while I was with the Young Master, I inadvertently overheard Ashura King A'Yu murmuring to herself. She said that Dongfang Canyue sent her son out of the Central Land, and he is now living among humans with a high status."

"What?" Jiang Fan gasped, a cold breath catching in his throat. Kui Xing was a figure from a thousand years ago. If the person who extended his life was still alive, wouldn't their lifespan be over a thousand years? Judging by longevity, this person wouldn't be in the Nascent Soul realm, nor the Soul Transformation realm, but rather... the Grand Sage realm! An Asura clan's Heaven Emperor-level powerhouse disguised as a human Grand Sage? This news was absolutely earth-shattering! It was too sensational!

A chill ran down Jiang Fan's spine. He couldn't imagine the terrifying consequences if such a being were to arrive in Taicang Province via the teleportation array. In a single thought, all living beings on Mount Qingli might be annihilated! So, could this Blood Coffin be returned to the White Bone Alliance? Absolutely not! Moreover, he could not let that Asura clan Heaven Emperor know that he had taken the Blood Coffin. Looking at the White Bone Alliance members before him, an endless killing intent rose within Jiang Fan. None of these people could be allowed to live!

"This is what I overheard, so it might not be true," Xu Youran added. "You should decide for yourself."

"You're overthinking it," Jiang Fan countered. "With Ashura King A'Yu's cultivation level, how could you possibly eavesdrop on her? She deliberately spoke for you to hear, intending for you to warn me to be on guard. Even if her master and Dongfang Canyue are at odds, that's an internal matter of the Underworld Realm. Why would she tell us, beings of the Central Land Realm? That's why she took a roundabout way to let me know."

Xu Youran suddenly understood, realizing Ashura King A'Yu's goodwill. As a being from the Underworld Realm, helping the Central Land Realm in this way was, in a sense, a betrayal of her own realm. Feeling grateful, she said, "I will take good care of her Young Master for her."

"Step back," Jiang Fan instructed. "There's going to be a battle to the death now." The Blood Coffin could not be handed over, no matter what.

After Xu Youran withdrew, Jiang Fan's eyes flashed. He then said, "Alright, I'll return what belongs to you. But I also hope you will keep your word and not make things difficult for our Heavenly Secret Pavilion anymore."