Chapter 1081: Bodhisattva's Great Aspiration

Jiang Fan's expression darkened. As expected, Venerable Evil Crow was unwilling to easily part with his ultimate technique.

"Senior, I have offended a Venerable and need this cultivation method to save my life," Jiang Fan said. "If Senior is unwilling to let this ultimate technique be leaked, you could also just help me kill him."

Venerable Evil Crow stared coldly at Jiang Fan, his eyes flickering. He said, "There shouldn't be many people who know you captured the ancient giant, right?" He could force the two of them to reveal the ancient giant's location without paying any price.

Sensing his intention, Jiang Fan's heart sank. This guy indeed planned to double-cross them. Fortunately, he was prepared. He cupped his hands and said, "If Senior finds both matters difficult, then that's fine. We'll just take this ancient giant back to White Horse Temple and hand it over to Heavenly Listening Bodhisattva for disposal."

As he spoke, he subtly nudged Six Paths Elder. *You old geezer, say something! I told you to impersonate Heavenly Listening Bodhisattva's disciple, not a wooden dummy!*

Six Paths Elder felt like cursing. *So you're not the one impersonating Heavenly Listening Bodhisattva's disciple, are you?* However, Venerable Evil Crow truly proved them right; he had no intention of upholding the agreement and wanted to silence them to claim the ancient giant for free. He could only bite the bullet, putting his palms together, and said, "My Bodhisattva Master also wishes to study the ancient giant. If Venerable doesn't want it, I will take it back to White Horse Temple."

Venerable Evil Crow frowned. Heavenly Listening Bodhisattva must have heard those two sentences just now. In other words, if he were to act to silence them now, it would be considered seizing treasure and killing in front of Heavenly Listening Bodhisattva. Among those he intended to kill was also his lay disciple.

He recalled the immense power Heavenly Listening Bodhisattva had displayed on the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar. A hint of apprehension flashed in his eyes. That day on the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar, they had encountered the Five-Star Giant King. Three Deities Transformation cultivators and one Bodhisattva were present. Only the Bodhisattva had directly withstood an attack from the Five-Star Giant King, showcasing immense power. Offending a Bodhisattva for one cultivation method was not worthwhile.

After his gaze flickered repeatedly, he reined in his killing intent and said, "Alright, I can give you 'Star Shift.' However, I must warn you, this technique is not easy to cultivate. If you fail to master it, don't blame me for not warning you."

So far, the only cultivation method Jiang Fan hadn't been able to grasp was "Emperor's Qi Observation Technique." He refused to believe "Star Shift" would be the same. He immediately cupped his hands and said, "I am already immensely grateful that Senior is willing to bestow this upon me. How could I possibly blame you?"

Venerable Evil Crow reluctantly took out a black bone and threw it to him. On it, Yin energy condensed into a series of characters. The first thing visible was the title "Star Shift." Jiang Fan took it, his face filled with joy. "Thank you, Venerable Senior!" he said.

He then handed the jade pendant containing the ancient giant's location to Venerable Evil Crow. "I won't disturb Senior's refining of the Yin Corpse. I'll take my leave!"

Under Venerable Evil Crow's watchful gaze, he and Six Paths Elder slowly withdrew. Just as they were about to leave, he stopped and began to say, "Senior, regarding this giant..." He remembered the Giant King's method of rebirth from a single drop of blood. A single drop of blood, with a star, could lead to instant rebirth. If he recalled correctly, the Giant King's shattered body seemed to show signs of being gnawed on. Needless to say, it must have been consumed by the ordinary ancient giant. In other words, this ancient giant's body should contain a lot of the Giant King's blood, right? Could they also experience rebirth from a single drop of blood?

He felt it was necessary to remind Venerable Evil Crow, lest in the future these blood drops encounter a source star and suddenly revive. But as his gaze swept over the black cauldron, which was now silent, his eyes trembled slightly. He instantly abandoned the thought of giving a warning. It was better not to overcomplicate things. What if Venerable Evil Crow learned about the existence of the source stars and coveted them?

"What were you going to say?" Venerable Evil Crow asked.

Jiang Fan changed his words and said, "I wanted to say that I hope Senior successfully refines the ancient giant into a Yin Corpse. May it become a formidable weapon on the battlefield in the future."

Venerable Evil Crow impatiently waved his hand. Jiang Fan said no more and quickly left with Six Paths Elder. He hoped that in the future, this Yin Corpse, refined from the ancient giant, would not obtain a source star. If it did, and revived, he hoped it would only harm Venerable Evil Crow, and not innocent beings.

After Venerable Evil Crow watched them leave, he was not in a hurry to seek out the ancient giant. Instead, he turned to face the grand hall behind him, frowned, and said, "What are you sneaking around for?"

The Grand Yin Sect Master quickly ran out, looking in the direction Jiang Fan had left, and said regretfully, "Venerable, you should have killed both of them just now." When he learned Jiang Fan had arrived at the Grand Yin Sect, he was scared out of his wits. He feared Jiang Fan had come to report his defection to the Giant King. Fortunately, Jiang Fan didn't say anything. But this also made him murderous. Jiang Fan, knowing this secret, would sooner or later become a great threat. What a pity that Venerable Evil Crow had already harbored murderous thoughts but was ultimately forced to abandon them.

Venerable Evil Crow said indifferently, "What difference does it make whether two ants are killed or not?"

The Grand Yin Sect Master instigated, "But Jiang Fan took your 'Star Shift'. This is your unrevealed ultimate technique; how can an outsider be allowed to learn it?"

Venerable Evil Crow chuckled. "You also cultivated 'Star Shift', didn't you? Did you succeed?"

The Grand Yin Sect Master replied shamefully, "No."

"Why?"

The Grand Yin Sect Master explained, "Besides being a high-grade Earth-tier cultivation method that is difficult to comprehend, it also requires an immense amount of Yin energy. My Grand Yin Sect no longer possesses enough Yin energy to sustain its cultivation."

Venerable Evil Crow said plainly, "So, what use is this cultivation method to him if I give it to him?"

Hearing this, the Grand Yin Sect Master's brows immediately relaxed. That's true. If the Grand Yin Sect currently couldn't gather so much Yin energy, where would Jiang Fan get it?

A thousand miles away, Six Paths Elder quickly tore off the kasaya from his body and threw it, along with the golden alms bowl and monk's staff, all to Jiang Fan.

"You brat, we're breaking off our friendship," he declared. "Don't come looking for me again."

Jiang Fan rubbed his nose and said, "Don't be so nervous. I've impersonated the Bodhisattva's envoy more than once or twice, and nothing happened, right?"

Six Paths Elder's beard bristled and he glared, saying, "You know nothing about Bodh... the Bodhisattva! The wishes of all sentient beings will surely be answered! This was one of the three great vows he made to heaven and earth when he achieved the Bodhisattva fruit position. As long as any sentient being makes a wish to him, he will respond to some extent. Nothing has happened *yet* because he's too lazy to bother with you, but sooner or later, he *will* respond to you!"

*Will surely respond?* Jiang Fan's eyes widened. That meant his several instances of impersonating the Bodhisattva's envoy weren't without consequences. Instead, the Bodhisattva was keeping a tally. Waiting to settle the score?

Six Paths Elder said with a darkened face, "You impersonated his lay disciple, and you impersonated his envoy. Neither of us can escape now! One day, you and I will meet at White Horse Temple and call each other fellow disciples! I've gotten the cultivation method for you. You're on your own now. I'm going to find my daughter. Farewell!"

Jiang Fan watched him leave. He cupped his hands gratefully and said, "I hope you find your daughter soon."

With that, he took out the black bone and examined it carefully. "A high-grade Earth-tier cultivation method. Comprehending it shouldn't be difficult. Requires a large amount of Yin energy? That doesn't seem difficult either, does it?" Asura King A'Yu had, after all, sent a storage artifact full of Yin energy vegetables via Xu Youran. The Yin energy within was far purer than that of the Grand Yin Sect. He truly wondered where Venerable Evil Crow's so-called difficulty lay.