Chapter 1077: Sage Master

Jiang Fan understood. He initiated a silent meditation technique to establish a mental connection with her.

"You asked me once before, but I didn't answer you then," Biluo said. "Firstly, I didn't trust you enough at the time. Secondly, you were still in the Core Formation realm back then, and you probably wouldn't have understood even if I told you."

Jiang Fan nodded slightly. "If it's inconvenient, Sister Biluo, you don't have to say anything. Everyone has their secrets, it's fine."

Biluo replied, "You've shown immense kindness to my family, and I don't know how to repay you. By telling you this, I'm treating you as one of us. One day, I hope this might bring you a stroke of luck."

Hearing her speak with such solemnity, Jiang Fan listened attentively.

Biluo began: "Before our master left, he said that the God Transformation ruins were our family's sanctuary. He told us not to venture outside until he returned, lest we meet with misfortune. Therefore, he placed a domain on our family of three, causing our cultivation to be severely weakened if we left the God Transformation ruins."

Jiang Fan listened quietly. At first, he didn't think much of it, but gradually, a sense of dread began to creep in.

This ruin was once an ancient dynasty. The North Sea Demon Emperor once said that he never expected the current North Sea to have been a continent in the past! Fields had turned into oceans. This transformation occurred at least a millennium ago. Could the domain placed by the master of this place, Venerable Long Yan, still be effective after a thousand years? How was that possible? No matter how long a Venerable's lifespan was, it couldn't stretch for a thousand years! Unless...

He swallowed softly.

Biluo continued: "I asked our master, 'What if the ruins are destroyed?' He said the domain would automatically vanish then. And he would sense it."

At this point, Biluo paused. She said meaningfully, "Brother Fan, our domain has only just disappeared. You must understand what that means, right? Our master should have sensed our condition by now. If he comes looking for us out of consideration for our master-servant bond, Brother Fan, you must seize the opportunity."

Only then did Jiang Fan understand what Biluo meant by 'stroke of luck'. Her master was very likely a figure in the Sage realm now! If he still acknowledged their family of three, he would arrive soon.

He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Sister Biluo, for planning this for me."

Biluo sighed softly. "Just be aware of it, Brother Fan, but don't hold too many expectations. Our family of three passed through that time in a state of slumber. A millennium was merely a dream for us. But our master endured those thousand years day by day, year by year. To him, we are distant old acquaintances from when he was still a Venerable. He might not care for us as he did a thousand years ago."

Jiang Fan listened and nodded slightly. Time would dilute everything. After a millennium apart, even the deepest affections could fade into indifference or be forgotten. Moreover, Biluo's family were merely his spirit pets.

He comforted her, "Sister Biluo, rest assured and stay in the Heavenly Secret Pavilion. Regardless of whether your master comes for you, I will treat you well."

Sister Biluo nodded gently. "Thank you, Brother Fan."

"What are you two whispering about behind my back?" Venerable Six Paths eyed the two suspiciously, as they had suddenly gone silent. He immediately realized they were communicating through silent meditation.

Jiang Fan shrugged. "We were praising you, saying you're sly, cunning, and full of dark schemes."

Venerable Six Paths scoffed, "Pot, meet kettle! You even tricked a God Transformation realm expert to their death; who's more cunning than you?"

Jiang Fan didn't bother to bicker with him further. He looked around, confirmed nothing was overlooked, and prepared to leave with everyone.

Suddenly, an earth-shattering roar erupted from the seabed far in the distance. The eyes of the few present sharpened. After his gaze flickered, Jiang Fan swiftly rushed over. Was it the Grand Yin Sect Master? Or the Hellish Fiend Beast?

Before a trench, Elder Xiang, who was the Hellish Fiend Beast, stared with eyes full of shock and fury: "Lord of the One-Ranked Rivers and Mountains Pavilion! What's wrong with your body?"

The Lord of the One-Ranked Rivers and Mountains Pavilion tilted his head and glanced at his gnawed-off arm. There was no blood at the wound, only a gaping black hole. He didn't answer but looked at the Hellish Fiend Beast and the ancient giant standing beside him, whose heart was impaled by a stone sword.

"You're truly cunning!" Since Elder Xiang was intimately with the Giant King, his identity was not hard to guess: he must be the Hellish Fiend Beast. So after coming out, he had followed the Hellish Fiend Beast, wanting to see what other intentions he had. Who knew, his true goal was the body of the Lord of the One-Ranked Rivers and Mountains Pavilion. Since Elder Xiang's identity was exposed, that body could no longer be used. Thus, he needed a new body. And the Lord of the One-Ranked Rivers and Mountains Pavilion, with his Five-Orifice Nascent Soul, also controlled a major sect within a commercial alliance. He was the perfect candidate.

The Lord of the One-Ranked Rivers and Mountains Pavilion thought he had secretly followed the Hellish Fiend Beast. But little did he know, the Hellish Fiend Beast had deliberately led him there. And near this trench, in cooperation with the ancient giant hidden within, he launched a sneak attack on him. If not for his numerous methods, he would have almost fallen.

The Hellish Fiend Beast's expression changed, and he hissed, "Let's go, quickly!" Just now, the Lord of the One-Ranked Rivers and Mountains Pavilion had detonated a talisman, causing a huge commotion. It would be fine if Jiang Fan and his group had died in the God Transformation ruins. But if they hadn't, they would surely come here.

The Hellish Fiend Beast immediately got up to flee, and with a shift of his gaze, he instructed, "Let's split up! If you can't escape, remember what the Giant King said: smash your own head and don't leave a complete corpse for the Grand Yin Sect! Did you hear?"

The ancient giant nodded and fled in another direction.

Soon after, Jiang Fan and Venerable Six Paths arrived at the scene. Jiang Fan glanced at the Lord of the One-Ranked Rivers and Mountains Pavilion, who was clutching his arm and said: "The Hellish Fiend Beast ran that way, and the ancient giant ran this way."

Jiang Fan's spirit was greatly shaken. Both of these individuals were crucial figures! He narrowed his eyes and said, "Old man, go after the ancient giant. I want him alive! Don't let him die."

Venerable Six Paths chuckled, "He wants to smash his own head? Dream on!" He then, with a playful look, took out his Sky-Gazing Treasure Mirror and pursued him.

Jiang Fan, meanwhile, cupped his hands to the Lord of the One-Ranked Rivers and Mountains Pavilion and said, "Thank you, Pavilion Lord, for your guidance." He took out a particle of Space-Time Dust and a Rejuvenation Pill. "Your item for trade, and a healing pill."

The Lord of the One-Ranked Rivers and Mountains Pavilion took them with a joyful expression and said: "I told you, your Heavenly Secret Pavilion would be a major client of mine! This deal is very profitable!"

Jiang Fan took the opportunity to glance at his arm. He found it was a gaping black hole inside, which made him frown. This... was this a human body? Then he recalled that the Lord of the One-Ranked Rivers and Mountains Pavilion had just been with him in the East Sea's sea cave the previous moment. The next moment, he was already with the Grand Yin Sect Master in the God Transformation ruins. Moreover, the Lord of the One-Ranked Rivers and Mountains Pavilion had appeared at various past events. Meeting him once or twice might be a coincidence. But meeting him three or four times, could it still be a coincidence?

He asked meaningfully, "Pavilion Lord, do you possess the art of doppelgangers?"