Chapter 1109: Prying at the Corner of the Wall

At this moment, several shouts erupted from the crowd.

"Jiang Fan.""It's Jiang Fan! He's here."

Upon hearing this, Zong Chaosheng turned his head to look. Jiang Fan's figure came into view, and he couldn't help but frown.

A few companions beside him looked surprised.

"Is that Jiang Fan from the Ancient Road to Heaven?""I didn't realize he was so popular; so many people know him.""Heh, it's just the title of first place on the Ancient Road to Heaven, that's all.""If the Ancient Road to Heaven hadn't limited participation to only Core Formation Realm cultivators, he wouldn't have stood a chance. Our Senior Brother Zong would have won it long ago.""Senior Brother Zong, weren't you curious about what happened on the Ancient Road to Heaven?""Should we call him over and ask him?"

From their perspective, for the Eighteen Disciples of Taicang to take the initiative to question Jiang Fan would be considered a gesture of humility towards a worthy individual.

Zong Chaosheng replied coolly: "If I want to know, must I ask him? If I let it be known, someone will naturally come and tell me."

He cast a sidelong glance at Jiang Fan, a hint of displeasure in his eyes. Evidently, he was still bothered by the fact that he, a dignified member of the Eighteen Disciples of Taicang, had been caught up to by a youth from the mainland at the Killing Stele.

Jiang Fan was completely unaware of this. Moments after he landed, Master Sanqian approached him. He took out a sealed ball of lightning energy and said, "You are about to ascend the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar, so we can discuss the martial arts exchange another time. This ball of lightning energy is for you."

Jiang Fan clasped his fists in gratitude. He had acquired the Abyss Heart some time ago but had been unable to cultivate it, precisely because it required new lightning energy. This ball of energy was truly a godsend.

The function of the Abyss Heart is to infinitely store lightning energy. This would prevent him from facing the awkward situation he once had, where a single Immortal Blade attack would leave him utterly drained. No, that's "lightning-deficient." In short, with the Abyss Heart, he would truly become formidable. No more 'one-second wonders'!

"Thanks." Jiang Fan asked, "Who is your Ten Thousand Tribulations Holy Temple sending up? Do you want to come with me?" His current strength was comparable to a Seven-Aperture Nascent Soul. He was considered a quite powerful combat force.

"It's me," a weak voice came from behind Master Sanqian.

The voice sounded familiar! He walked around Master Sanqian and looked intently; it was a woman in a white palace dress. She avoided his gaze, feeling guilty and not daring to look at Jiang Fan.

"Heh heh, it's you!" Jiang Fan chuckled in exasperation, "If you didn't come out soon, I would have gone to the Ten Thousand Tribulations Holy Temple to collect my debt!"

Master Sanqian froze, looking at Song Lingyu with a bewildered expression.

*Collect a debt?**What does that mean?*

Song Lingyu looked embarrassed and said, "Ahaha, don't misunderstand; I just owe him a small favor." After speaking, she quickly pulled Jiang Fan aside. Her face was burning as she whispered, "Kid, give me some face! If I had known Jiang Fan was coming, I wouldn't have taken the mission even if it killed me. Exposing me as a deadbeat in front of so many fellow disciples? I might as well just bash my head in and die."

Jiang Fan retorted in a low, annoyed voice, "A dignified Eight-Aperture Nascent Soul from the Ten Thousand Tribulations Holy Temple acting as a deadbeat, and not letting anyone talk about it?"

Song Lingyu pleaded, "Aren't I risking my life to earn Spirit Heaven Pills to pay off my debt? The Temple Lord promised me that if I took the mission, I would get one Spirit Heaven Pill. If I perform meritorious service, I'll get two Spirit Heaven Pills. If I can secure a top three position, I'll be rewarded with four more Spirit Heaven Pills. Give me a little more time. Please." She clasped her hands together and continuously bowed.

Jiang Fan's expression softened slightly. "Seeing that you're working hard to pay off your debt, I'll give you a few more days." Looking at Song Lingyu, who was still wearing her shackles, he frowned and said, "The Ten Thousand Tribulations Holy Temple is letting you go up; aren't they afraid you'll suddenly go mad and kill your own people?"

Song Lingyu said, "That won't happen. When I go mad, it's just depression; I won't hurt anyone. Also, don't I still have shackles on? The magical artifact is given to someone trustworthy. If I go mad, they can control me and bring me back."

*Depression?**That truly causes no harm.*

He rubbed his chin, his gaze shifting as he asked, "Have you found someone trustworthy?" If there were an Eight-Aperture Nascent Soul accompanying them on this trip, it would undoubtedly be much safer. He just didn't know if the magical artifact had already been given to someone else.

Song Lingyu pouted towards Zong Chaosheng in the distance.

"Who is that?" Jiang Fan asked, puzzled.

Song Lingyu said, "You don't even know Zong Chaosheng? The foremost talent of the younger generation of the Divine Movement Sect."

*The Divine Movement Sect?*

Jiang Fan's eyes instantly turned cold. He hadn't forgotten the massacres the Divine Movement Sect had caused on the continent in their search for the Tomb of the Great Sage of Earth Phoenix. Many tribes of the demon race were brutally annihilated. More than half of the Spirit Beast Sect's disciples perished. It was precisely because of this that Gong Caiyi chose to stay behind and care for the Spirit Beast Sect; otherwise, she could have stayed by his side like Yue Mingzhu. Upon seeing someone from the Divine Movement Sect again, how could he possibly have a good impression?

If someone else had already received Song Lingyu's magical artifact, he wouldn't have vied for it. But the Divine Movement Sect, that's different!

"Why does your Ten Thousand Tribulations Holy Temple trust the Divine Movement Sect so much?" Jiang Fan asked.

Song Lingyu shook her head. "It's not that we trust the Divine Movement Sect; we trust the identity of the Eighteen Disciples of Taicang. The Eighteen Disciples of Taicang are the symbol of the elite leaders of Taicang Great State. With such honor attached to them, their every word and action is closely watched; they wouldn't easily do anything disgraceful. Among those executing this mission, he is a good choice."

It was clear that Song Lingyu couldn't fully vouch for Zong Chaosheng's character. She just trusted his status.

Jiang Fan crossed his arms and said, "With everyone watching, he naturally wouldn't do anything to you. But what if you get separated? What if only you two happen to encounter unforeseen danger? I've seen disciples from a certain major sect who, to save their own lives, locked away an Eight-Aperture Nascent Soul from their own sect alive, leaving him to be a scapegoat."

Song Lingyu's delicate brows furrowed. She had clearly considered this possibility as well, but had thought the probability was too low to encounter it.

Jiang Fan patted her shoulder and said with an amused smile, "Instead of trusting him, you'd be better off trusting me."

"You?" Song Lingyu said with a scornful look. "You little black-hearted merchant, you extorted several times the amount of Spirit Heaven Pills from me! If I dared to give you the controller, you'd turn right around and sell me to an ancient giant."

Jiang Fan laughed, "Have you forgotten my identity? I'm your creditor! In this world, I'm the one most afraid of you dying!"

Song Lingyu's eyes lit up. You know, that's actually true! If she died, Jiang Fan could forget about the debt she owed. Not even her own parents worried about her safety as much as Jiang Fan did. Entrusting herself to Jiang Fan would definitely be no problem!

But she hesitated again. "However, the magical artifact has already been given to the other party. It wouldn't be appropriate to ask for it back, would it?"

Jiang Fan shrugged, "Then it's your choice. Is face more important, or your life? Besides, you're already a deadbeat, so why care about a little bit of face?"

Song Lingyu glared at him. Though his words were harsh, the logic was sound. If she could be a deadbeat, what was losing a bit of face?

"You wait a moment. I'll think of a better reason before I speak." She returned to Master Sanqian's side and began discussing with a few disciples of the Ten Thousand Tribulations Holy Temple.

Jiang Fan waited patiently. He was determined to poach her from the Divine Movement Sect.