Chapter 1050: We Are a Peaceful Sect

Old Man Tianji?

Jiang Fan couldn't help but recall Ling Yin's instructions. She had told him to give a letter to Old Man Tianji when he met him.

Jiang Fan mused, "If Old Man Tianji is so powerful, why didn't the White Bone Alliance just have him locate me directly? That way, you wouldn't have endured so much torture."

Uncle Mu Ying said, "I don't know. There must be some limitations; certain elements are probably required. For instance, the White Bone Alliance likely provided Old Man Tianji with the names of everyone who entered the underground palace this time. They found us using those names. However, the White Bone Alliance doesn't know your name, Senior Jiang, so they couldn't provide that element."

Is that so? This Old Man Tianji is quite extraordinary!

Wait! Jiang Fan suddenly remembered something, a flicker of unease in his eyes. If that's the case, wouldn't it be incredibly easy for Venerable Xin Nie to ask Old Man Tianji to find him? By simply providing the element 'cultivator of Void Stream Lightning Energy,' Jiang Fan could be successfully pinpointed. Yet, Venerable Xin Nie hasn't found him to this day. He didn't know if Old Man Tianji couldn't find Jiang Fan, or if he simply refused to help Venerable Xin Nie. This old man truly is a significant hidden danger. If only he could meet him, perhaps he could discover Venerable Xin Nie's weaknesses or learn methods to counter him.

"Where is Old Man Tianji?" Jiang Fan asked, having thought this far.

Uncle Mu Ying shook his head. "I don't know. Old Man Tianji is elusive and unpredictable; he doesn't just appear for anyone who wishes to see him. Even the Venerables find it difficult to meet him."

Is that so? Jiang Fan felt a little relieved. This implied that Venerable Xin Nie might not have encountered Old Man Tianji.

"Thank you." Looking at their horrific injuries, he said with shame, "You two shouldn't go anywhere else from now on. Just stay here at my Heavenly Mystery Pavilion."

Mu Ying, with tears in his eyes, said, "Aren't you blaming us for betraying you?"

Jiang Fan sighed, "I was the one who implicated you. It's already good enough that you don't resent me. Besides, it's only human nature to be unable to withstand such cruel torture. Enough talk, I'm taking you away!"

Taicang Great State.

A sect in a remote region.

An elder, who had recently broken through to the Nascent Soul realm, knelt on the ground, trembling. Behind him, his Nascent Soul power materialized. Before him, Venerable Xin Nie held a long list densely populated with sect names. He took his brush and crossed off one before him. Frowning deeply, he looked at the hundreds of small sects remaining. "So many more sects to check, and only two months left. Will it be enough?"

Just then, the communication jade pendant at his waist chimed. He opened it to find a message from a deputy pavilion master of the Jiangshan First-Grade Pavilion. "Venerable, someone has found a lead on the whereabouts of Old Man Tianji, whom you offered a reward for."

Venerable Xin Nie's eyes glinted. "Old Man Tianji has finally appeared! If I can find him, locating the Void Stream Lightning Energy cultivator will be as easy as turning over my hand."

Heavenly Mystery Pavilion.

Nangong Xiaoyun, leading a small heifer, paced back and forth at the mountain gate.

Four presences approached from the distant horizon. Two of them were Bai Xin and her subordinate, Huang Ying. The others were Tong Fei and his subordinate, Yang Yuntao.

Huang Ying stared at the empty Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, momentarily stunned. "This is the right place, isn't it?"

Yang Yuntao also looked puzzled. "Yes, it is. I just asked a local rogue cultivator. This is definitely the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. Why are all the disciples gone on the sect's founding ceremony day?"

Tong Fei coldly snorted, "I truly don't understand why the Grand Wine Sacrifice would have two of us Centurions attend the founding ceremony of such a small sect like the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. My Imperial Astronomical Bureau oversees Taicang Great State and inspects hundreds of sects. When have we ever lowered ourselves to congratulate a minor sect?"

His subordinate, Yang Yuntao, chuckled, "Centurion, please calm down. Jiang Fan performed a great service by obtaining vital information about the Ancient Giant's arrival. As a temporary Celestial Guard of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, it's only right for us to offer our congratulations."

Tong Fei glanced at him, saying, "He saved your life, so now you speak well of him?" Yang Yuntao could only shut his mouth. He had voluntarily asked to come along, naturally with the intention of repaying a kindness. Last time, when he used soul manipulation to inspect that woman's soul, he suffered a backlash from a restriction. As he was on the verge of death and spiritual dissipation, it was Jiang Fan who saved him with a spiritual pill. Now that it was the founding ceremony of Jiang Fan's Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, how could he not come to show his support?

Huang Ying pouted, saying, "Centurion Bai, you should have advised the Grand Wine Sacrifice not to let Centurion Tong come. He's unwilling and wearing a sour face, spoiling Jiang Fan's mood."

Bai Xin looked at Tong Fei with an expressionless face and said, "Centurion Tong, today is a joyous occasion for him. Please mind your words and actions." With that, she approached the mountain gate. Looking at the girl leading the heifer, she asked, "Is today the founding ceremony of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion?"

Nangong Xiaoyun's expression tightened, and she quickly replied, "Yes, welcome, esteemed guests, to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion's founding ceremony." She secretly muttered to herself: 'Besides the Pavilion Master's two Zoroastrian senior brothers and sisters, how do we have other guests at the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion?' The four were dressed in uniform attire, clearly not disciples of the Zoroastrian religion.

Huang Ying curiously looked around, perplexed. "Since it's a founding ceremony, where are your people?"

Nangong Xiaoyun hesitated for a moment. She sheepishly replied, "To answer you, four esteemed guests... Our Heavenly Mystery Pavilion disciples went out to fight."

The four were instantly dumbfounded. On the day of their founding ceremony, everyone ran off to fight? Leaving just a little girl to guard the gate?

A line of sweat appeared on Huang Ying's forehead. "Your Heavenly Mystery Pavilion seems quite fond of fighting."

Nangong Xiaoyun quickly said, "No, no, our Heavenly Mystery Pavilion disciples are very friendly. We are a peace-loving sect."

Bai Xin suddenly sniffed. She smelled blood, human blood. Following the scent, she walked to a nearby pile of weeds, where two grotesque headless bodies lay. Nangong Xiaoyun stuck out her tongue and quickly said, "Let me explain. It's not what you think. These two were yelling and fighting, and we just acted in self-defense."

Huang Ying looked up at the gate tower, at the blood-red characters for "Heavenly Mystery Pavilion." She murmured, "This isn't human blood, is it?"

Nangong Xiaoyun panicked, clearing her throat. "We couldn't find any paint at the moment. This was just using materials at hand, being thrifty and resourceful."

Yang Yuntao frowned, picking up a suspicious clump of ash from the ground. He sniffed it, then said in surprise, "This is human cremated remains. Completely burned to ashes, leaving no trace."

Nangong Xiaoyun, her face covered in sweat, explained, "Th-that... those were enemies too. They accidentally burned themselves away. It has nothing to do with us."

Oh dear. The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion hadn't even officially opened, and it was already gaining a reputation for being murderous and fierce? Fortunately, she looked innocent and explained with such earnestness. And the "crime scene" was right at the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion's mountain gate, which fit the scenario of someone coming to seek revenge. Thus, the four briefly exchanged glances. And chose to believe her.

Huang Ying couldn't help but laugh. "You could at least clean up a bit better. Anyone who didn't know would think this was the founding ceremony of a demonic sect."

Nangong Xiaoyun chuckled awkwardly, secretly feeling relieved. It was a good thing she had used her eloquent tongue to successfully save the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion's reputation. She really had it tough. She'd definitely demand a hefty sum from Jiang Fan later.

Just then, the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion disciples returned. Everyone was excitedly discussing. Liang Feiyan's loud voice echoed through the entire mountain. "Hahaha, what a thrill! Our Heavenly Mystery Pavilion is invincible! On the very day of our founding, we annihilated another sect! Who would dare to be so reckless in the future? Hahaha!"