Chapter 1146: The Origin of Baixin

Jiuxiang smiled and said, "Please, speak freely."

Jiang Fan said, "I'd like to ask Senior Jiuxiang to contact all the strongholds under the jurisdiction of the Black Sun Royal Court. For those willing to come to the Central Earth Realm, please mark their locations relative to Black Cloud Stronghold. If our Central Earth Realm's high-ranking officials agree to accept them, I will transport all their strongholds down before the Great Hunt."

He suddenly realized that these strongholds were all to be opened during the Ancient Giant Great Hunt, scheduled for one month later. Rather than their Nascent Soul mid-stage Asura cultivators becoming prey for the Ancient Giants, why not bring them to the Central Earth Realm to assist in fighting the Ancient Giants? They could participate in the war on the condition that their clansmen were sheltered.

In the short term, the benefits would far outweigh the drawbacks. As for later concerns—a large influx of Asura causing chaos, creating instability, and so on—in the face of a cataclysm that threatened to wipe out races, these were minor issues. They could be addressed gradually in the future.

Hearing this, Jiuxiang frowned and said, "I have no problem with it. I believe most strongholds would agree as well. The problem is, how will you bring them down? The area around the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar will soon be surrounded by a large army."

Jiang Fan did not hide anything, saying, "In the Central Earth Realm, we have a great individual capable of moving the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar. His name is Venerable Xin Nie. You can rest assured on that point."

Upon hearing this, Jiuxiang was astonished, but then recalled the rumors of the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar having previously moved. It all made sense to her. A sharp glint appeared in her aged eyes.

Excited, she said, "If that's the case, then there'll be no problem on my end! All that's left is to wait for Fellow Daoist Jiang's arrangements."

Jiang Fan nodded and said, "If the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar appears in Wanyou Stronghold one day, that will signify our Central Earth Realm's high-ranking officials have agreed. You should all descend as quickly as possible then."

Jiuxiang's aged body trembled, her heart filled with unspeakable excitement. The Asura, who had been confined like livestock for countless ages, would finally be able to escape this savage cage!

Excitedly, she said, "Fellow Daoist Jiang, the Asura will never forget your boundless kindness. I will go contact all the strongholds, large and small, right now!"

"Oh, and one more thing!" She suddenly recalled something. After a slight hesitation, she asked, "Fellow Daoist Jiang, there's something I'm not sure if I should mention."

Jiang Fan said in surprise, "Why so serious?"

Jiuxiang frowned and said, "It's about your female friend. What is your relationship with her?" She asked tentatively. What she was about to say wasn't pleasant. She was concerned that if they were close, her disparaging remarks about the girl might leave Jiang Fan with a bad impression.

Was it about Bai Xin? He was also curious about the unique scent Jiuxiang had detected on her. He replied seriously, "Please, speak freely."

Only after receiving his affirmation did Jiuxiang speak with solemnity: "Fellow Daoist Jiang, you must stay far away from her. If necessary, kill her to eliminate future troubles!"

Jiang Fan's expression hardened. Although he had mentally prepared himself, Jiuxiang's words still sent a shock through him. He asked in a deep voice, "Why do you say that?"

Jiuxiang said solemnly, "Before, we weren't familiar with each other, and I had no ties to the Central Earth Realm. Your lives, and the safety of the Central Earth Realm, were none of my concern. I didn't want to meddle, which is why I didn't tell you explicitly. Now, however, Fellow Daoist Jiang has shown great kindness to our Asura race, so this old woman feels obligated to inform you."

She gazed at Jiang Fan and said, "Fellow Daoist Jiang, have you ever heard of Fiends?"

Jiang Fan frowned and said, "The 'Fiends' you're referring to aren't simply people who've gone mad from cultivation deviation, or martial artists who cultivate fiendish energy, are they?"

Jiuxiang shook her head and said, "Of course not. The Fiends I speak of are... True Fiends."

True Fiends? This was the first time Jiang Fan had ever heard of such beings existing in the world. He asked tentatively, "Are True Fiends very dangerous?"

Jiuxiang countered, "Are Ancient Giants dangerous?"

Jiang Fan replied without hesitation, "They are dark entities that embody all negative emotions, and for every race, they represent extinction."

Jiuxiang stated solemnly, "Ancient Giants merely cause extinction of races. True Fiends, however, will destroy worlds. An entire world!"

Jiang Fan was bewildered. For a moment, he couldn't quite grasp the concept of world destruction. Would the entire Central Earth Realm simply become utterly silent and dead? Was that any different from what Ancient Giants sought to do? Didn't they also aim to devour all living beings in a realm?

Jiuxiang sensed his confusion. She conjured two clumps of soil with a few tender sprouts growing on them. Raising her left hand, she said, "This represents an Ancient Giant." With a gentle swipe of her finger, the sprouts withered and vanished, and the soil clump became lifeless, barren earth. But given time, new wild grass would eventually grow there. She then raised her right hand and said, "This represents a True Fiend." With a clench of her five fingers, the entire soil clump, along with its tender sprouts, was crushed into nothingness. Utterly erased from existence!

Jiang Fan drew a sharp breath. "Does 'world destruction' mean the entire Central Earth Realm will utterly vanish?"

Jiuxiang nodded gently. "While Ancient Giants are brutal, the worlds they ravage will eventually regenerate life. In fact, it's very difficult for Ancient Giants to completely eradicate a world. The Southern Heaven Realm has been ruled by Ancient Giants for so long, yet the Asura race hasn't been wiped out. True Fiends are different; they leave no hope for a world!"

The comparison made the truth clear. The horror of True Fiends became tangible.

Jiuxiang stated solemnly, "The unique aura emanating from that girl's body is the aura of a True Fiend! Although it's very faint, my sense of smell cannot be mistaken. She is, without a doubt, a True Fiend. She's just young, and far from capable of destroying a world yet."

She paused, then added, "Furthermore, her seven emotions and six desires have been sealed by a master. I believe this is a method to prevent her from further fiendification. Fiends embody extremity and obsession. By making her emotionless, she is prevented from descending into extremism and obsession, thus preventing her fiendification. I don't understand why that master, knowing she's a True Fiend, didn't kill her. Instead, he chose to nurture a Fiend. Doesn't he worry that one day the True Fiend might lose control and destroy the Central Earth Realm?"

Jiang Fan's mind was reeling from the revelation. No wonder Bai Xin was devoid of desires and, under the tutelage of the Grand Wine Sacrifice, wholeheartedly pursued the righteous path. So, it was all the Grand Wine Sacrifice's doing. Sealing her emotions and desires to prevent fiendification. Cultivating righteous qi to suppress the True Fiend energy within her. This was how Bai Xin was created.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, I advise you to kill her as soon as possible! Nurturing a Fiend is no different from playing with fire." Jiuxiang warned him solemnly. "If you decide to act, be sure to pierce her chest. The source of all her True Fiend energy is located in her chest. There must be a True Fiend's mark on it."

Her chest? Jiang Fan recalled that both times Bai Xin used her invisibility technique, dark qi indeed emanated from her chest. But a mark on her chest? This made Jiang Fan think of Six Paths Reverend's daughter.