Chapter 1056: Daughter

Six Paths Immortal was puzzled. "Even if Venerable Evil Crow disagrees, can you still force him to talk?"

Jiang Fan's eyes flickered slightly. "That's right. I'll force him to talk!"

Six Paths Immortal was astonished. Could Jiang Fan really contend with a Venerable now? He re-examined Jiang Fan with an unfamiliar gaze. After a long pause, he let out a sigh of admiration. "That little Foundation Establishment cultivator from back then has now grown into a towering figure I can't even see through."

Jiang Fan also looked him over. "What cultivation level have you recovered to?"

Six Paths Immortal chuckled. "That's a secret."

Jiang Fan rolled his eyes, took out the Sky-Monitoring Treasure Mirror, and tossed it to him. "It's yours again."

The two had once made an agreement: Jiang Fan would help him find the Sky-Monitoring Treasure Mirror, and Six Paths Immortal would keep half of Immortal Azure Crane's resources. Now, Jiang Fan no longer cared for Immortal Azure Crane's resources. However, he still intended to return the Sky-Monitoring Treasure Mirror to Six Paths Immortal as promised.

As Jiang Fan encountered increasingly powerful cultivators, the reflective attacks of the Sky-Monitoring Treasure Mirror were no longer enough to save his life. For example, even if it could reflect seventy percent of a Nascent Divinity strike, the remaining thirty percent would still be enough to turn him to dust. Moreover, Six Paths Immortal had been good to him. Therefore, it was time to return the item to its rightful owner.

Six Paths Immortal's eyes lit up, and he quickly caught it. Yet, a strange look crossed his face. "You brat, you actually didn't corrupt it? Could it be that after undergoing tribulation, the power of the lightning washed away your dark intentions? In that case, I have another favor to ask. Would you be able to grant it?"

Jiang Fan replied curtly, "Go on."

Six Paths Immortal gave an embarrassed smile. "Could you also return the Heart-Illuminating Ancient Mirror to me?"

Jiang Fan pondered for a moment. "Repeat the previous question."

"Return the Heart-Illuminating Ancient Mirror."

"The one before that."

"Could you grant my favor?"

"No!" Jiang Fan refused decisively, his face darkening. "Are you getting greedy?"

Six Paths Immortal said helplessly, "Alright, how about this? If you have any enemies, I'll take care of them for you. Just return the Heart-Illuminating Ancient Mirror to me. What do you say?"

Jiang Fan looked puzzled. He couldn't remember the last time he had used the Heart-Illuminating Ancient Mirror, as it was of little use at the Nascent Soul level. "What do you want it for?" he asked, taking out the mirror.

Six Paths Immortal was silent for a moment before saying, "To find my daughter."

Jiang Fan was surprised. He had heard Six Paths Immortal mention that his remnant soul persisted because he still had something to accomplish, but he never expected it was to find his daughter. "Did your daughter get lost?" Jiang Fan asked tentatively.

Six Paths Immortal looked at Jiang Fan, and after a moment, spoke in a low voice, "She was taken. I brought her to the Great State of Taicang for treatment, but someone attacked me when I was unprepared, injuring me and taking her away."

"After that, I searched like a madman. I looked in every sect, every faction, every corner. During that time, I killed many people and committed numerous atrocities. Among them were some good people, but most were evil individuals who cloaked themselves in the guise of renowned orthodox sects, engaging in the trafficking and abuse of women. But which renowned orthodox sect would admit to harboring such filth? Gradually, I became the 'devil' that everyone in the Great State of Taicang condemned. Finally, I perished beneath the Ancient Capital of the Nine Demon Dynasties."

Jiang Fan was stunned. Who would have thought that the 'devil,' Six Paths Immortal, committed such killings solely to find his daughter?

He was slightly moved and asked, "Are you certain your daughter is still alive?" Six Paths Immortal himself was already seventy years old and had been ambushed by the Tiger Demon Emperor, perishing with his remnant soul hidden within the Heart-Illuminating Ancient Mirror for over fifty years. It had already been over 120 years. Unless his daughter had undergone tribulation and achieved the Nascent Soul stage, she would have died of old age long ago.

Six Paths Immortal shook his head. "She wouldn't have. My daughter had already reached the Nascent Soul realm. Unless she perished midway, she would still have several decades of lifespan left."

Jiang Fan calculated mentally. Even if found, she would likely be over a hundred years old. He no longer hesitated and tossed the Heart-Illuminating Ancient Mirror to him, saying, "A century has passed; her appearance must have changed drastically. Even if you meet, you might not recognize her."

Six Paths Immortal clutched the Heart-Illuminating Ancient Mirror and the Sky-Monitoring Treasure Mirror. He said, "That's why I exhausted all my efforts to find these two artifacts. The Sky-Monitoring Treasure Mirror allows me to survey thousands of miles, searching for suspicious individuals among the vast populace. The Heart-Illuminating Ancient Mirror allows me to glimpse into her heart and confirm her identity. If I can find her and know she's doing well, I'll have no regrets in this life."

Jiang Fan now understood why Six Paths Immortal had committed crimes everywhere. A hint of sympathy appeared on his face. "Does your daughter have any distinguishing features?" he asked. "I can help you keep an eye out."

Six Paths Immortal felt a warmth in his heart. He had intended to refuse, as the world was vast, and where would Jiang Fan ever encounter her? But feeling Jiang Fan's sincerity, he recalled, "She has a birthmark on her chest, a black feather. It can't be removed or erased. If you..."

A row of black lines appeared on Jiang Fan's forehead, and he cut him off. "Forget I asked! How am I supposed to look for such a feature? If I encountered a suspicious woman, would I approach her, stop her, and ask, 'Immortal, could you help me with something? I'd like to see your chest.' The other party would politely but forcefully slap me."

Six Paths Immortal touched his nose. "That's true. If you actually found her using that feature, I'd have to beat you up."

Jiang Fan rolled his eyes. "You're overthinking it. I wouldn't be interested in the chest of an immortal over a hundred years old. Go heal your injuries. I need to cultivate now."

He immediately took out the Five Magnetic Origin Mountain, numerous fragmented stones, and the bucket of five-colored spiritual liquid. Six Paths Immortal already knew all these secrets anyway, so there was no need to hide anything from him.

In the inner regions of the Great State of Taicang, a thousand-year-old ancient capital, now razed to the ground, loomed faintly within a vast, sea-like expanse of black mist. Inside, several bone-white skeletons, smooth and clean as jade, were visible to the naked eye.

"Centuries have passed, and still no one can move those Nascent Divinity realm remains," an ancient voice drifted from the edge of the black mist. It was an old man riding a large green ox. His clothes were tattered, his hair disheveled, and his face was dirty and covered in sores. A foul odor emanated from him; he looked like an old beggar.

He picked up a pebble and threw it into the mist. Instantly, the black mist eerily came alive, savagely lunging at the pebble and melting it away in an instant. Those seemingly lifeless Nascent Divinity realm remains also moved eerily.

The old man stroked his beard and said, "The Calamity Sage from back then was truly powerful. Even a thousand years after his death, his demise site has become the Great State of Taicang's most perilous place. No one can do anything about it to this day. It's a pity about his Calamity Divine Stele; no one can retrieve it."

Just as he was sighing, he suddenly sensed something and turned his head to look behind him. He said with a half-smile, "A certain flustered Venerable has arrived."

No sooner had he spoken than a gaunt old man in a black robe with a divine halo behind his head flashed into existence. He gave a bitter smile. "I'm afraid I've made the Heavenly Secret Elder laugh. Venerable Heart Demon humbly requests your assistance."

The newcomer was none other than Venerable Heart Demon himself!