Chapter 1116: Giant King Attacks

In its loud laughter, its body turned to ashes. Even the physique of the Cold Mountain Giant King couldn't withstand the magma; how could he possibly resist it? However, the words he left before dying made Jiang Fan's heart pound. His expression was exceptionally grave.

"Hee hee hee, you were so fierce, and now you're cannon fodder, aren't you?" Gu Xin'er, who had been hiding at the back, picked up her fifteen-meter-long spiked club and threw her head back, laughing loudly.

Dharma Seal Vajra put away his demon-subduing pestle, clasped his palms together, and said, "Amitabha, how kind." He then looked at Jiang Fan and added, "Thank you, Benefactor Jiang, for your timely rescue."

Bai Xin also nodded to Jiang Fan. "Thank you," she said. "You are very powerful." If not for the Boundless Ring's intervention at the last moment, they all would have died tragically on the spot.

Jiang Fan collected his thoughts. He glanced at the Heaven-Slayer Furnace in his hand, which was still twitching slightly, as if some magma embers hadn't been completely ejected. He reinserted the Snow-Listening Sword into it, and the Heaven-Slayer Furnace shivered, then fell completely silent.

Next, Jiang Fan looked at Song Lingyu. Her hair was disheveled, and she stared at her hands, sinking into boundless depression. Even from a considerable distance, Jiang Fan once again felt the suffocating sensation of being controlled by depression. He couldn't help but feel a lingering fear.

He quickly activated the control artifact. His eyes filled with curiosity as he gazed at the numerous shackles on her hands, feet, and back. He wondered how these shackles ultimately controlled berserk martial artists.

As the artifact was activated, the chains on Song Lingyu's hands and feet suddenly tightened, immobilizing her feet and preventing her from releasing her hands. Jiang Fan remained expressionless. "Is that all? Nothing special."

The next moment, several steel plate-like metal pieces on Song Lingyu's back rose into the air, formed a hammer, and slammed hard onto her forehead. The hammer contained a stunning soul attack. *Clang!* Song Lingyu's eyes rolled back, and she fainted on the spot.

Jiang Fan's eyes widened. "Wait, was this really such a simple and unadorned way to subdue berserk martial artists?"

Seeing Song Lingyu falling straight down, Jiang Fan flew over, caught her, and mumbled, "Exploring is tough, and you even get hit with a hammer for working."

Gu Xin'er flew back, carrying her spiked club, which was much taller than her, and scoffed, "You're still sympathizing with others. You're already a Four-Aperture Nascent Soul; you're not far from an Eight-Aperture Nascent Soul. When that happens, if you go berserk, you'll be knocked out too."

"My goodness!" Jiang Fan was speechless. After hearing that, he almost didn't want to break through to the Eight-Aperture Nascent Soul anymore. It was truly a miserable fate!

Dharma Seal Vajra smiled faintly and said, "If Benefactor Jiang is afraid, you are welcome to come to my White Horse Temple. Our First-Rank and Second-Rank Vajras do not suffer such a fate."

Jiang Fan asked, surprised, "Then how do you handle your First-Rank and Second-Rank Vajras if they go berserk?"

Dharma Seal Vajra replied, "The Buddha beads bestowed by the Bodhisattva erase their memories, bringing them peace."

Jiang Fan recalled how, with just one word from the Bodhisattva previously, everyone present except himself and Abbot Puguang had forgotten about the Bodhi tree. He felt a lingering fear. "What's the difference between that and being a walking corpse? I'd rather be hammered."

Gripping her spirit sword, Bai Xin said, "Let's deal with the remaining ancient giants first." She looked at the island, where some giants were trying to hide while others attempted to flee into the distance.

Seeing them, Jiang Fan immediately said, "If you can keep them alive, do so. They'll be useful if I take them back." With that, he took the lead and pursued them.

Adult ancient giants only possessed the combat power of a Five-Aperture Nascent Soul. Jiang Fan naturally had no difficulty dealing with them. He quickly captured two of them alive. Bai Xin also captured two. Dharma Seal Vajra only brought back two.

One more was caught by the group of Asuras who had fled into the distance and brought before Jiang Fan. "Thank you, esteemed sirs, for your help." They had all sustained injuries, to varying degrees, while capturing the ancient giant.

Bai Xin and the others were indifferent, as they couldn't understand what the Asuras were saying. Only Jiang Fan, after a brief glance at them, replied, "You're welcome."

The six Asuras looked surprised. One of them, an Asura youth who appeared to be only eighteen, immediately stepped forward and said, "You are beings from the Central Earth Realm, aren't you? It seems the rumors are true. Last time, your people infiltrated the Royal Court, fought a great battle there, and killed many ancient giants."

Jiang Fan's heart stirred slightly. This was undoubtedly referring to True Word Venerable and his companions. The four had teamed up and entered a place called the Royal Court, which sounded like a deep, central area.

"Unfortunately, they went to the wrong place," the Asura youth sighed regretfully. "The place they truly should have gone to is the Ancient Abyss. That is the source of all evil."

Jiang Fan narrowed his eyes. This fellow was subtly guiding him toward some 'Ancient Abyss.' He spoke bluntly, "I'll decide where to go myself. I don't need your guidance." It was hard to tell if the Asuras before him were friends or foes; how could he casually trust them? As he spoke, he put some distance between them, remaining vigilant.

Dharma Seal Vajra summoned his Eight-Grade Lotus, shrinking it to palm size. He subtly glanced at the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar behind Jiang Fan. Under the cover of the lotus's Buddhist light, it hadn't been exposed yet. He decided to send the lotus into the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar, completely hiding it. This was their very lifeline, and he had no choice but to protect it.

Both sides looked at each other from a distance. The Asura youth, resigned, cupped his hands and said, "It's understandable that you don't trust me. Just as it will be difficult for me to trust the people below when I go to the Central Earth Realm. Take care."

Only then did Jiang Fan realize that this group was hastily preparing to head for the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar. They wanted to go to the Central Earth Realm, just like the Dark Asura woman named Tiange, who was trapped in White Horse Temple.

His eyes flickered, and Jiang Fan said, "There's no need to go. The Sky-Connecting Black Pillar is already sealed. It would be useless for you to go."

"What?" The Asura youth's already pale, bloodless cheeks became even whiter. "How can that be? Then we won't be able to avoid becoming ancient giants?"

Jiang Fan's heart jolted. Had he just heard something shocking? These Asuras in front of him could become ancient giants? How exactly did ancient giants come into being? He was about to press for more information.

The sea of clouds beneath their feet suddenly began to churn violently, sending ripples spreading out in layers. The floating rubble above also began to pulsate rhythmically. Jiang Fan and the others, suspended in mid-air, also felt the atmosphere vibrating.

This feeling... It was as if a colossal being was approaching, striding across the heavens and earth, each step shaking the surroundings. Jiang Fan, Bai Xin, and Dharma Seal Vajra's expressions changed simultaneously. They recalled their earlier concern during the battle with the Nine-Aperture Giant. This giant had indeed called for reinforcements from its companions! If he, with his strength, needed to call for aid, how could the reinforcement be weaker than him? Given the astounding celestial phenomena before them, the nature of the incoming entity was obvious: a Giant King!