Chapter 1125: The Fragrant Asura

In his spatial storage device lay the reborn body of the Cold Mountain Giant King. Its primordial star was also in his hand. It wasn't impossible to mark everyone with a brand, but he didn't want to expose these two items unless absolutely necessary, so he said, "Let's reach the Black Sun Royal Court first."

The group immediately set off, leaving Black Cloud Stronghold. Jiang Fan walked at the back, thoughtfully asking, "Stronghold Master, how much time is left until your hundred-year deadline?"

Stronghold Master Ming Ye, who was leading the way, became somewhat cautious. "Why do you ask?"Jiang Fan replied, "Just answer the question."Ming Ye hesitated for a moment, then said, "One month from now."

"If time weren't so pressing, I wouldn't risk sending my grandson to take refuge in your Central Lands." He paused, then added worriedly, "Young friend, I am sincerely cooperating with you. I hope you won't make things difficult for us."

It turned out that he feared Jiang Fan would take advantage of Black Cloud Stronghold's predicament and extort them if he revealed their difficulties. However, Jiang Fan's thoughts weren't focused on such matters. He was thinking about using the rule that ancient giants could not enter the stronghold to avoid war. As long as the hundred-year deadline wasn't met, placing the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar inside the stronghold would prevent the ancient giants from descending. Unfortunately, his hopes were dashed. He sighed slightly and said, "Stronghold Master, you worry too much."

He then took out a small pagoda, infused it with spiritual power, and continuously activated it. The environments they passed through along the way were all recorded within it. Fa Yin Vajra looked puzzled. "Donor Jiang, are you mapping the Southern Heaven Realm? What's the point of this?"

Jiang Fan replied gravely, "When we return to the Central Lands, I plan to move the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar again. I want to find an entrance for the ancient giants that's even more troublesome than the Chaos Lake, hoping to alleviate the pressure on Taicang Great State."

Fa Yin Vajra realized, nodding. "Donor Jiang, you're always so thoughtful." He secretly wished Jiang Fan would immediately move the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar elsewhere once they returned, as that would greatly relieve the pressure on Baima Temple.

After a moment of thought, he took out a golden alms bowl, filled with a faint golden liquid imbued with Buddhist light. "The mirror reflects the dust before the seat, my heart follows the wind afar." The golden liquid rippled, and waves radiated from the bowl, projecting outward. Everywhere the waves passed, all scenes were captured within the golden bowl. This provided a bird's-eye view. Centered on the four of them, the view continuously expanded outwards, and their figures grew smaller and smaller as the perspective rose, until they resembled four tiny black specks of dust. The area reflected by the golden bowl now spanned at least ten thousand li, far wider than the range recorded by Wanxiang Kongjie Master's small pagoda. Fa Yin Vajra handed the golden bowl to Jiang Fan. "Donor Jiang, use this for mapping."

Jiang Fan couldn't help but marvel at Baima Temple's profound heritage. The golden alms bowl's capability was nearly on par with the Heaven-Monitoring Treasure Mirror."Thanks," he said, taking the bowl.Suddenly, a large group of small black dots appeared within the bowl. They were dense, numbering over a dozen! Jiang Fan spoke gravely, "Are those ancient giants or creatures from the Underworld? They've changed direction and are coming towards us."

Ming Ye identified their direction. "Don't be nervous. Judging by their direction, they must be the Asura clan from Wanxiang Stronghold. They are the 'Scent-Eating' lineage of Asura, with an extraordinary sense of smell. It must be one of you whose unique scent has attracted their attention."

They could smell them from ten thousand li away? Jiang Fan sniffed his sleeve and said, "Though I haven't bathed in a few months, I don't smell bad. Fa Yin, have *you* not bathed in a year?"Fa Yin Vajra calmly replied, "This humble monk cleanses himself with Buddhist teachings daily."Jiang Fan then looked at Bai Xin. "Officer Bai, how long has it been since you bathed?"Bai Xin looked back at him, gazing intently. "Do you really want to know?"Alright. Asking a young woman about her bathing habits was indeed a bit thoughtless.

Both groups maintained their speed, traveling onward. Eventually, they converged above an island. They encountered the other party's ominous cloud. From within the cloud, an Asura woman emerged. She was an old woman, over seventy years old, emanating a captivating fragrance. Her white hair was meticulously combed, and her face was clean and tidy, giving her an elegant and refined appearance.

Jiang Fan looked at her, then compared her to Ming Ye, who was simply dressed. He couldn't help but murmur, "Both are descendants of the Asura clan. How did your Black Cloud Stronghold end up living like Celestial Realm refugees?"

Ming Ye said, not without envy, "A hundred years ago, they discovered a hidden realm left behind by a Hellish expeditionary force. The resources available to their clan are far superior to what other strongholds possess." He looked at the elegant old woman and the ominous cloud behind her, which clearly concealed people, and asked, "Jiu Xiang, you rarely leave your stronghold. What brings you out today?"

Jiu Xiang dismissively waved her hand in front of her nose. "Don't speak. Your Black Cloud Stronghold's sour stench is as unpleasant as ever."A vein throbbed on Ming Ye's forehead.

Jiu Xiang's aged eyes turned, sweeping over Fa Yin Vajra. She once again waved her hand in front of her nose. "To be able to smell the aura of Buddhism in this lifetime is rare, though it is very unpleasant." For creatures of the Underworld, the sacred power of Buddhism was undoubtedly the most detested thing.

Then, Jiu Xiang looked at Jiang Fan, sniffing gently. "Not unpleasant, but I can't say I like it either."Jiang Fan rolled his eyes at her. Who wanted an old woman like her to like them anyway?

Jiu Xiang's gaze finally settled on Bai Xin, a look of delight in her eyes. "This young woman has an aura that our 'Scent-Eating' lineage cannot refuse. If only I could have a taste." She extended a finger and, using dark energy, crookedly wrote a few human characters. They seemed recently learned, appearing very childlike. "Young lady, this old woman can take you to the Black Sun Royal Court to gather intelligence. This old woman's abilities are far more useful than that old fellow Ming Ye's." Her ability to discern the scent of all things allowed her to detect the presence of ancient giants early on, making it effortless to locate them.

Jiang Fan looked thoughtful. As creatures of the Underworld, shouldn't the scents they preferred be dark or sinister? How could someone as upright as Bai Xin possess such an aura?

"No need," Bai Xin flatly refused.Ming Ye couldn't help but let out a hoarse chuckle. "It's a shame, but you can't poach our Black Cloud Stronghold's friend."

Jiu Xiang shot him a disdainful glare. "As if no one else has friends from the Central Lands." She waved her sleeve. The ominous cloud behind her dispersed, revealing the figures of over a dozen Central Lands cultivators. Leading them was none other than Zong Chaosheng. He looked at Jiang Fan with a surprised and questioning expression, frowning as he asked, "Why are you here? And how did you get involved with the Asura clan?"

The reason he was able to connect with Wanxiang Stronghold was his slight mastery of the Underworld language. For years, the Divine Movement Sect had been digging everywhere, often unearthing strange artifacts. Among them, they once acquired a translation of some Underworld script. Though it contained few words, it was enough for him to conduct simple conversations. Combining this with various gestures, he had struck a deal with Wanxiang Stronghold: Jiu Xiang would lead them to the Black Sun Royal Court to gather crucial intelligence, and in return, he promised to bring Wanxiang Stronghold back to the Central Lands. How had Jiang Fan managed this?