Chapter 1080: The Turning of the Stars

Elder Tianji was visibly panicked. He had a premonition that Jiang Fan was extraordinary when he discovered two surges of heavenly secrets within him. He knew helping Venerable Xinnie intercept and kill Jiang Fan would surely bring divine retribution. But he hadn't expected the divine retribution to be so terrifying.

Staring at the small fragment of thunder essence in his hand, Elder Tianji regretted so deeply that he slapped his thigh. "This was a huge loss!" he exclaimed. "What kind of monstrous individual are the Young Emperor and Venerable Xinnie trying to deal with? This divine retribution is just too terrifying."

Meanwhile, the boils on his body were still proliferating, rapidly covering him in suppurating sores. The large green ox turned its head and felt as if it was looking at a humanoid toad. Goosebumps instantly spread across its hide. With a disdainful kick of its hoof, it flung him off.

Elder Tianji was also terrified. If this continued, he would die here. He quickly cupped his hands towards the heavens and said, "Wait, wait, allow me to atone for my mistakes."

The unseen presence seemed to sense something. The boils on Elder Tianji's body gradually disappeared, and he finally returned to his original appearance. Only then did Elder Tianji let out a long sigh of relief and plop down onto the ground.

"Phew! That was a close call. I almost lost my life. Just what is that kid's background?"

Elsewhere, at the gates of the Grand Yin Sect.

Venerable Six Paths was adorned in a red kasaya. He held a golden alms bowl in his left hand and a Zen staff in his right, his head shaved completely bald and properly marked with scarifications. A vein throbbed on his forehead.

"Kid, why do *I* have to pretend to be a monk?" He glanced sideways at Jiang Fan, who remained youthful, handsome, and refined in his black attire. He felt it was incredibly unfair.

Jiang Fan surveyed him and said, "Venerable Evil Crow has seen me and knows I am not a Buddhist disciple. But he hasn't seen you, which makes you suitable to impersonate a Buddhist."

Venerable Six Paths gritted his teeth and said, "Alright. So what do you want me to do? You don't seriously think that impersonating a Buddhist disciple will scare Venerable Evil Crow into submission, do you?"

Jiang Fan smiled like a sly fox and said, "Naturally, ordinary Buddhist disciples cannot deter Venerable Evil Crow."

Before Venerable Six Paths could fully comprehend, Jiang Fan walked up to the bounty board and ripped off the reward poster for the Ancient Giant. He then raised his head and declared, "Jiang Fan, registered disciple of Venerable Xinnie, and Six Paths, lay disciple of the Heavenly Listener Bodhisattva, have arrived! Having successfully captured the Ancient Giant, we have come specifically to pay our respects to Venerable Evil Crow."

Upon hearing the first identity, Venerable Six Paths had a sense of foreboding. Upon hearing the latter, he was so startled his three souls nearly flew out of his body! "Don't you know, boy, that the Heavenly Listener Bodhisattva hears all sounds in creation? Especially when the words 'Bodhisattva' or 'Heavenly Listener Bodhisattva' are spoken, they are heard instantly. How dare you impersonate a disciple of the Heavenly Listener Bodhisattva? Wait! This scoundrel won't dare impersonate him himself, so he makes *me* do it!"

Venerable Six Paths was so furious he wanted to strike Jiang Fan with his Zen staff and send him straight to the Western Pure Land. He was about to rip off his kasaya then and there. "A Bodhisattva's lay disciple – this is not something one can impersonate lightly. What if the Bodhisattva shows up and says, 'A Buddha values helping others achieve their aspirations, so I shall grant your wish'? And then instantly convert him? Where would he go to cry?"

But just then, the surrounding air suddenly solidified. He felt his vision darken, and when clarity returned, he found himself deep within the Grand Yin Sect, atop a mountain peak. The peak was dense with Yin energy, and strange formations were carved everywhere. Various corpses stood upright around them. Most were human, but there were also a few from the demon race, sea demon race, and other unfamiliar races he had never seen before.

At the center of the peak stood a massive cauldron, engulfed in raging flames and billowing thick black smoke. From within the cauldron came ghastly wails and the sound of something pounding against its walls. Living beings were actually trapped inside!

Beside the black cauldron, a middle-aged man in black robes, with a crow tattoo on his face, stood with his hands behind his back. He watched Venerable Six Paths and Jiang Fan with an expressionless face. He casually swept his gaze over Venerable Six Paths before settling on Jiang Fan.

"You're the guest of Venerable True Word, aren't you?"

Jiang Fan's heart pounded. He hadn't even perceived how he arrived, yet he had been instantly teleported here! The terrifying nature of the technique was utterly astounding. In comparison, the Giant King probably didn't possess even thirty percent of Venerable Evil Crow's true power! This was the true power of a Venerable!

*Thump, thump, thump!* At this moment, urgent pounding sounds once again echoed from the black cauldron. Jiang Fan, glancing suspiciously at the black cauldron, said, "That is correct, Senior."

Noticing Jiang Fan's gaze, Venerable Evil Crow did not shy away, saying, "It's a pity to simply kill some disobedient individuals, so I casually refine them into Yin corpses. If you want one, I'll give you one later, provided, of course, that you've truly brought back an Ancient Giant."

Jiang Fan's heart quivered. Venerable Evil Crow was indeed as ruthless as ever. Refining living people into Yin corpses! Unimaginably cruel!

He cupped his hands and said, "To Senior, we have indeed captured a living Ancient Giant." He took out a crystal shard and, after infusing it with spiritual power, an image projected into mid-air. It clearly showed an underground space where an Ancient Giant, bound hand and foot, was struggling fiercely.

Venerable Evil Crow's pupils constricted in surprise, and he revealed a look of delight. "You actually found a living Ancient Giant! Excellent, excellent! But why haven't you brought it with you?" He scanned the area around Jiang Fan and Venerable Six Paths, his voice deepening. "What, are you worried I won't uphold my end of the bargain?"

Both instantly felt a turmoil within their bodies. Jiang Fan withstood the pressure of his gaze and calmly cupped his hands, saying, "Senior, please quell your anger. We absolutely harbor no such intention. Currently, all major sects and countless powerful cultivators are searching for the Ancient Giant. How could we dare parade him through the streets to the Grand Yin Sect?"

Upon hearing this rather reasonable explanation, Venerable Evil Crow's voice softened slightly as he said flatly, "The fact that you were able to capture a living Ancient Giant indicates you are not ordinary yourselves. There's no need to be so overly cautious. Very well, take me to retrieve the Ancient Giant."

Jiang Fan cupped his hands and hesitated, "Senior, may we claim the reward first?"

Venerable Evil Crow frowned and said impatiently, "The reward I offered is a single intervention from me. Have you already decided what you want me to do so quickly?"

Jiang Fan quickly said, "Senior, I wish to exchange the reward."

Upon hearing this, Venerable Evil Crow pondered for a moment and said, "Tell me what you have in mind." A single intervention might seem like a simple request, but it could actually be incredibly troublesome. If the other party were to ask him to protect them when the Ancient Giant descended, would he not have to abandon the Grand Yin Sect? Therefore, if Jiang Fan proposed an easier request to fulfill, he would naturally be willing to make the exchange.

Jiang Fan said, "I have heard, Senior Venerable, that you are proficient in a cultivation technique called 'Star Shift.' I have long admired it and humbly dare to ask if I might witness a glimpse of it."

Venerable Evil Crow's eyes narrowed. An oppressive aura invisibly emanated from him. "So, you've set your sights on my cultivation technique? You've got some nerve!"