Chapter 1172: True Word Venerable's Mysterious Disappearance of the Divine Ring

Jiang Fan chuckled, exasperated. This was truly unreasonable! She had made a foolish mistake but stubbornly refused to admit it, instead blaming him! If Jiang Fan hadn't brought the Revered Master of Truth back, she would have been lost long ago!

"You, a disciple who harms others, should stay far away from your master until she regains consciousness." Jiang Fan said coldly, completely abandoning the idea of returning the Revered Master of Truth to her. It was one thing for her strength to be ordinary, but she was also muddled. If the Revered Master of Truth was handed over to her, there was no telling who might abduct her right after!

Venerable Dust Mirror angrily retorted, "As if you can protect my master."

Jiang Fan sneered, "Then just watch!"

He put his arm around the Revered Master of Truth's waist, shielding her beside him, and coldly stared at Revered Master Evil Crow, saying, "Evil Crow, go back to where you came from." He was no longer the small fry who, in the past, had been so intimidated by Revered Master Evil Crow that he couldn't even move and could be killed at will.

Revered Master Evil Crow's face darkened. "Kid, you're quite arrogant. Calling me by name, not even addressing me as 'Revered Master'." He had originally not intended to do anything to Jiang Fan. An ant could be killed or spared. Feeling good today, he had chosen not to kill him. However, Jiang Fan's words made him change his mind.

Jiang Fan subtly took out a black stone carving, from which a faint yet powerful demonic aura emanated. He clutched it tightly in his palm, openly displaying it to Revered Master Evil Crow, and stated indifferently, "A 'Revered Master,' as the name implies, is a martial arts elder worthy of respect. You, however, are not worthy of my respect."

Revered Master Evil Crow noticed the stone carving, and his pupils constricted slightly. "A single strike from a Demonic Revered Master of the Great Barren State?" His expression finally changed. That small ant from before actually held a weapon capable of harming him. But it would only be a mere injury. Taking a direct hit wouldn't pose a life threat to him. Moreover, with his speed as a Revered Master, Jiang Fan wouldn't even be able to track him. He might not even get a chance to injure him!

Considering this, his gaze turned sinister, and his voice grew cold: "If you think you can challenge Revered Master Evil Crow with just that. Then, you can die!"

His figure flickered, transforming into an afterimage that cultivators of the Nascent Soul realm couldn't track, and he darted forward. At the same time, he pointed a finger at Jiang Fan from a distance. A colossal three-eyed crow's illusion swiftly enveloped Jiang Fan. This was his domain; once activated, it would cause people to be cursed! In mild cases, they would commit suicide; in severe cases, they would massacre their dearest ones!

Revered Master Evil Crow simultaneously used his speed to evade the demonic strike in Jiang Fan's hand while delivering a fatal blow. Ordinary people would be utterly helpless. However, Jiang Fan was an exception. Having cultivated a wisp of the Wind Origin, his perception of the world's airflow reached an unparalleled level. He immediately locked onto Revered Master Evil Crow's trajectory. Holding the stone carving, he raised it in his direction.

Revered Master Evil Crow was startled. "You can detect my trajectory? That's impossible!" He hardened his resolve; since he had attacked, there was no room for mercy. At worst, he would take the blow head-on. The crow illusion swiftly lunged forward! But just as it was about to envelop Jiang Fan, the crow illusion, like a mirror, suddenly developed dense cracks. Instead, a Tai Chi symbol, formed by the convergence of water and fire, appeared out of thin air and pressed down on the crow illusion. Both were domains, but there was a distinction in their power. The crow illusion shattered instantly, easily crushed by the water-fire Tai Chi symbol. Revered Master Evil Crow, whose domain had already been shattered once, suffered another domain collapse. As his mind and spirit were connected, it felt as if his soul had been viciously trampled. He groaned in pain, his eyes quickly becoming bloodshot. He stumbled backward in disarray.

"Water-fire domain... this, this isn't..." Before Jiang Fan, a majestic man radiating a monstrous aura appeared, his face cold. He stared at Revered Master Evil Crow, unable to suppress a cold laugh: "I really didn't expect this! You actually delivered yourself to me?" Not long ago, he had been asking Jiang Fan if he knew of Revered Master Evil Crow's whereabouts. Who would have thought this fellow would show up right before him!

Revered Master Evil Crow recognized the newcomer and shrieked as if he had seen a ghost, "Icefire Demon Lord! You, you've come to Taicang Great State?"

Icefire Demon Lord snorted, "Surprised? Unexpected? And there's more to be surprised about!" He took a step, transforming into an elusive afterimage.

Revered Master Evil Crow roared in frustration, "In terms of strength, you're no match for me!"

Immediately, both figures transformed into afterimages simultaneously. Aside from Jiang Fan, who could barely track their movements, no one else could see them. They could only vaguely sense extremely violent fluctuations erupting deep within the sky. Waves of residual divine might caused even those in the Nascent Soul realm to feel an uncontrollable dread. As for those in the Core Formation realm, it was like facing the vast might of heaven itself.

Ten breaths later, Revered Master Evil Crow stumbled, his figure reappearing with a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth and his face filled with horror: "Your strength has recovered even more?"

Icefire Demon Lord crossed his arms, his dark hair flowing wildly, and said, "Give me time, and I'll recover even more. By then, killing you will be like slaughtering pigs and dogs!"

Revered Master Evil Crow's heart trembled. He regretted provoking this ruthless individual. Who would have thought that he, on the verge of death, would have a day when he would regain his combat strength? What frustrated him even more was that some unknown master was helping him, elevating his strength to another level. If his own Soul Transformation Undead Corpse were still present, he wouldn't fear him. Unfortunately, it had fallen into the Heavenly Realm! He glanced at the Revered Master of Truth with reluctance, then glared angrily at Jiang Fan, saying, "Don't you fall into my hands!" With that, he decisively fled.

Jiang Fan breathed a slight sigh of relief. Icefire Demon Lord had only recently acquired the Origin of Cold, so his strength hadn't recovered much. Being able to drive Revered Master Evil Crow away was already enough. Once the Origin of Cold was fully digested, it wouldn't be too late to eliminate Revered Master Evil Crow. Icefire Demon Lord also didn't give chase, to avoid falling for a 'lure the tiger away from its mountain' scheme.

He flew back in front of Jiang Fan, observed the Revered Master of Truth, and looked surprised: "Your Heavenly Secret Pavilion actually hides an injured Revered Master. That truly exceeds my expectations." This small sect called Heavenly Secret Pavilion had repeatedly surprised him.

Jiang Fan's heart stirred, and he asked, "Senior, do you know what condition Revered Master of Truth is in?" Whether considering confronting the Giant King or for his own safety, it was necessary for the Revered Master of Truth to awaken as soon as possible.

Icefire Demon Lord asked, "Why is she like this?"

Jiang Fan replied, "She fought a great battle with an ancient giant on the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar. When she came down, she was like this, having lost her divine halo and her memories, even forgetting who she was." Thinking of memories, Jiang Fan couldn't help but worry, "Could her memories have been erased by someone?" His wife, Lü Zhu's bloodline talent, was precisely the ability to erase people's memories.

"No." Icefire Demon Lord, however, said with certainty: "A Revered Master's memories are not that easily erased. Nor is it possible for them to be completely wiped clean, like a blank slate, to the point of forgetting even who they are."

Jiang Fan looked puzzled. "Then what is she?"

Icefire Demon Lord's eyes flashed, and he said, "She herself sealed away her memories!"