Chapter 1171: Bringing Trouble Upon Oneself

Everyone sensed the arrival of Nascent Soul experts.

Jiang Fan was the first to fly out. He fixed his gaze and slightly raised an eyebrow.

He had already guessed their purpose: to retrieve Venerable Zhenyan.

"Jiang Fan, where is my Master?!" Reverend Chenjing demanded upon seeing him.

Jiang Fan frowned.

A disciple taking back their master was something Jiang Fan had no reason to refuse.

But what kind of attitude was this?

It sounded as if he had kidnapped Venerable Zhenyan.

"Are you here to take someone, or to display your might at the Heavenly Secret Pavilion?" Jiang Fan asked indifferently.

The last time, right after his tribulation, he had fought Reverend Chenjing to a draw with a single move, the Immortal Blade.

Now, he was no longer the same as before; why would he fear the other party?

Several Nascent Soul cultivators from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion flew out.

He was a Three-Aperture Nascent Soul, and Fairy Yunshang had also reached the Three-Aperture realm. Demon Emperor Nuxin, Yue Mingzhu, Liu Qingxian, and even Hua Wuying, who was a debt repayment, had all reached the Two-Aperture realm.

In addition, several other martial artists, including Xia Chaoge, Liang Feiyan, and Chuyue, had reached the One-Aperture Nascent Soul realm.

Standing behind Jiang Fan, they coalesced into a force that could not be underestimated.

Reverend Chenjing's expression changed slightly.

He was a little surprised.

Was this still the Heavenly Secret Pavilion he knew?

Didn't the Heavenly Secret Pavilion only have one Pavilion Master who had reached the One-Aperture Nascent Soul realm?

What was happening now?

Nascent Soul experts were appearing like mushrooms after a rain shower.

Moreover, his sister Nangong Xiaoyun, who had refused to return with him, even carried a hint of tribulation aura.

This indicated she had at least undergone a tribulation, even if she hadn't succeeded.

How long had the Heavenly Secret Pavilion been in Taicang Great State? It was as if the entire sect had been replaced.

What he didn't know was that Jiang Fan had imprisoned Reverend Xuanxing and obtained his spatial storage artifact.

Inside was a bottle containing ten Lingtian Pills.

Several individuals had thus gained the opportunity to undergo tribulation.

However, not many had succeeded.

Seeing this, Reverend Chenjing’s imposing aura receded slightly. He asked:

"Is my Master within your sect?"

Jiang Fan cast a sidelong glance at him, then turned back and instructed, "Yunshang, bring Venerable Zhenyan out."

Fairy Yunshang gracefully departed.

Not long after, she returned, arm-in-arm with a woman whose white robes were as pristine as snow and whose posture was equally ethereal.

Both women possessed exceptional beauty, and as they moved, they appeared like a pair of celestial beings gracing the mortal realm.

"Master!" A look of joy appeared on Reverend Chenjing's face, but his expression quickly froze.

"Master, where is your divine halo?"

Why was the divine halo, unique to a Venerable, missing?

Furthermore, Venerable Zhenyan looked at him with confusion, as if she found him vaguely familiar.

Her mental state was clearly not right.

He grew anxious and angrily demanded, "Jiang Fan, what have you done to my Master?"

Jiang Fan frowned. "Use your head. Given my cultivation and strength, how could I turn a Venerable into this state?"

He genuinely couldn't understand why Venerable Zhenyan had such poor judgment when taking disciples.

It was one thing if their talent wasn't top-tier, but their character was simply dreadful.

They weren't even as good as Zong Chaosheng!

Fairy Yunshang knew the two were at odds and didn't want them to start a conflict.

She spoke up to explain, "Reverend Chenjing, Venerable Zhenyan encountered misfortune in the Celestial Realm, transforming into a fireball that struck Jiang Fan."

"Not only was she burnt beyond recognition, but her divine halo also vanished, and she lost her memory."

"Jiang Fan unknowingly brought her back to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion."

"Since you are here, please take your Master back."

To be honest, she was a little reluctant to see her go.

After all, Venerable Zhenyan was a powerful Spirit Transformation realm expert.

If she could remain at the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, she would be a great asset when the ancient giants descended.

However, since her disciple had come for her, there was no reason not to return her.

Seeing that the other party wasn't making things difficult, Reverend Chenjing reined in his anger.

He snorted at Jiang Fan, then flew to Venerable Zhenyan and said, "Master, your disciple has come to take you home."

"Come back with me."

He reached out to grasp Venerable Zhenyan's wrist, intending to lead her away.

However, Venerable Zhenyan evaded his grasp, cautiously stating, "I'm not going anywhere."

She swiftly moved to Jiang Fan's side, grabbed his arm, and pressed herself tightly against him.

"I only want to be with my Jiang Lang."

Reverend Chenjing's expression froze as he watched the scene with disbelief.

His Master, whom he had always regarded as pure, beautiful, and beyond defilement...

...was actually hugging Jiang Fan's arm?

And using a term of endearment typically reserved for lovers?

His mind reeled. Unspeakable emotions surged within him as he roared,

"Jiang Fan, let go of my Master!"

Jiang Fan, feeling helpless, turned his head to Venerable Zhenyan. "Senior, please let go of me."

"Go home with your disciple."

Venerable Zhenyan hugged Jiang Fan's arm even tighter, mimicking Fairy Yunshang by resting her head on his shoulder.

"I won't."

"I only want my Jiang Lang."

Jiang Fan tried to shake her off, but she clung to him so tightly he couldn't get free.

He couldn't shake her off at all.

Jiang Fan said, rubbing his temple, "Reverend Chenjing, you've seen it yourself."

"Your Master insists on clinging to me; there's nothing I can do."

"If you can take her, I'd be absolutely delighted."

It would be better to send this petty Venerable away sooner rather than later.

If she continued to stay with him like this, and if something unexpected happened between them before she recovered, she would surely kill him once her memories returned.

Reverend Chenjing was utterly enraged. He stepped forward and tried to grab Venerable Zhenyan's hand, saying in a low voice,

"Master, wake up!"

"Don't you remember me? I am your disciple, Nangong Liuyun!"

Venerable Zhenyan evaded his hand, frowning. "Go away!"

With that single word, Reverend Chenjing was sent staggering backward, nearly falling to the ground.

Not only could he not take Venerable Zhenyan away, but he also found it difficult to even touch her.

Reverend Chenjing was overwhelmed by a mix of shame and fury.

For a moment, he stood frozen, unsure of what to do.

Now, it wasn't Jiang Fan stopping him; Jiang Fan was practically begging him to take her away, yet he was utterly powerless!

Just then,

A hoarse laugh echoed.

"It appears Venerable Zhenyan is severely injured. This old man shall take her back to heal."

In the sky, the figure of Venerable Xie Ya suddenly appeared.

Half of his face, covered in crow tattoos, revealed an undisguised fervent desire.

He had anticipated Venerable Zhenyan being in a poor state, but he never imagined she would have lost her memory entirely!

This was even better!

He could forcibly take her and wouldn't have to worry about her seeking trouble later!

Reverend Chenjing's pupils constricted. He immediately realized he had unwittingly led Venerable Xie Ya here, and exclaimed in shock and anger,

"Senior Xie Ya, you followed me?!"

Venerable Xie Ya chuckled. "Don't put it so harshly. I merely wish to take good care of your Master."

"Besides, your Master is right in front of you, and you can't even take her away."

"Isn't it fortunate that I arrived?"

He looked down at Jiang Fan, whose arm was tightly held by Venerable Zhenyan.

His eyes narrowed. "It's you again!"

"Is Venerable Zhenyan someone a piece of trash like you is worthy of touching?"

"Get lost."

Jiang Fan cast a cold glance at Reverend Chenjing. "Look what you've done!"

Reverend Chenjing gritted his teeth. "I didn't do it on purpose. Is it wrong for me to care about my Master's safety?"

"Who knew he would secretly follow me?"

Jiang Fan retorted angrily, "Why didn't you consider that the more unknown your Master's whereabouts were, the less likely Venerable Xie Ya would find her, making her safer?"

"Instead, you directly helped Venerable Xie Ya find your Master!"

"Now, how do you plan to resolve this?"

How could Reverend Chenjing admit he was wrong?

And be reprimanded by Jiang Fan in public?

He angrily retorted, "This is all your fault!"

"If you had sent my Master back sooner, would any of this have happened?"