Chapter 1196: Surprised or Not

Soon after, in front of Tianji Pavilion, the Refining Soul Venerable gazed at the three blood-red characters spelling "Tianji Pavilion," his voice cold.

"Heh heh," he sneered. "Staining it with the blood of my subordinates... how dare a mere sect be so bold?"

He turned his head to Jiang Fan, speaking indifferently. "Once Jiang Fan is dealt with, you two wouldn't mind if I handled the Tianji Pavilion, would you?"

Jiang Fan narrowed his eyes. "Venerable Senior, what do you intend?"

The Refining Soul Venerable said faintly, "Nothing much. Just make them pay a small price. At the very least, this Venerable must live up to my Daoist title."

Jiang Fan's heart jolted. Was this fellow actually planning to refine the souls of the Tianji Pavilion disciples?

He stated calmly, "I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Let's go inside and find Jiang Fan."

The Refining Soul Venerable followed them into the sect entrance. He lightly stroked the divine ring behind his head, and his aura immediately lowered, finally settling at the Nascent Soul fifth layer. However, the divine ring could not dissipate; it could only be concealed with demonic energy.

Jiang Fan secretly understood. So, a Venerable's divine ring could not be actively hidden. This meant that the red-faced old man from the Fire Worship Sect who had no divine ring was either like the True Word Venerable, having lost his Venerable realm and thus his divine ring disappeared, or there was some other reason.

"You two can go ahead and search for Jiang Fan; I'll stay by your side," the Refining Soul Venerable's voice appeared in their ears. "If you encounter anyone you can't handle, I will personally intervene."

Jiang Fan nodded slightly. "We appreciate your assistance, Refining Soul Venerable."

Since the Refining Soul Venerable had said so, what was there to hesitate about? The only question was how to trick him into entering the Ice-Fire Demonic Lord's secret chamber. If they went straight to the chamber, the Refining Soul Venerable would surely grow suspicious, wouldn't he? After all, how would agents of the Qintian Supervisor know Jiang Fan's exact hiding place?

Just as they were crossing the plaza, a bouncy figure passed by. It was Gu Xin'er. She was still wearing her orange-red short-sleeved jacket, looking lively and adorable, like a carefree little fairy. The difference from before was that she was no longer a mere handful. Her chest was noticeably fuller, almost the size of Jiang Fan's two fists combined, bouncing with every step. Jiang Fan almost didn't recognize her! That Heart-Earth Soil had actually allowed Gu Xin'er to defy fate and fulfill her wish! He had only been humoring her back then, never imagining that soil which nurtured plants could also be effective on living beings!

Gu Xin'er also saw Jiang Fan, and her face immediately lit up with joy. She excitedly ran over, wanting to show Jiang Fan.

"Jiang Fan..." she called out, waving from a distance.

Jiang Fan's heart sank. "Oh no! He's about to be exposed!"

Fortunately, he reacted quickly and cut her off, barking in a low voice, "Silence! You know we're agents of the Qintian Supervisor here to apprehend that bastard Jiang Fan, and you dare to tip him off! Beware, or we'll arrest you too."

Gu Xin'er stared blankly for a moment. Why was Jiang Fan suddenly scolding her? Her quick wit, however, allowed her to realize what was happening. Her gaze swept over the unfamiliar black-robed man behind them, and she vaguely guessed the situation. Immediately, her eyes darted, and she loudly shouted, "Jiang Fan, run! Someone's here to catch you!"

This shout not only reached everyone in Tianji Pavilion but also made the Ice-Fire Demonic Lord, who was cultivating in the secret chamber, stop his practice. His eyes narrowed, and he sank into the blood of the blood coffin, hiding within it.

Jiang Fan secretly praised her. Though Gu Xin'er was usually innocent, she never failed him at critical moments.

He feigned extreme urgency, using a Cloud Shadow movement technique to flash over and grab her. "Where is Jiang Fan hiding?" he demanded. "Speak quickly! Or I'll take you back to experience the Ten Great Tortures of the Qintian Supervisor!"

Gu Xin'er cooperatively feigned fright, tearfully pointing at the Ice-Fire Demonic Lord's secret chamber. "Don't! He's right there!"

Jiang Fan nodded and immediately rushed towards the secret chamber. The Refining Soul Venerable didn't suspect anything and followed them inside. What met their eyes was a crystal coffin filled entirely with blood. At first glance, it looked just like a blood coffin!

"That's it! That's it!" The excitement in the Refining Soul Venerable's eyes couldn't be hidden. Compared to killing Jiang Fan, retrieving the blood coffin was undoubtedly the top priority!

Jiang Fan frowned. "Senior, do you have proof this blood coffin is yours? I'm here to apprehend someone; I don't want to be suspected of robbing the Tianji Pavilion."

The Refining Soul Venerable snorted. "Why should this Venerable prove anything to you?" The blood coffin was of great importance, and he couldn't say more. To prevent Jiang Fan and Bai Xin from obstructing him and to avoid any further complications, he stepped forward and lifted the blood coffin onto his shoulder. The moment the blood coffin was in his hands, his heart settled. The mission to Taicang was essentially complete. All that remained was dealing with Jiang Fan, that insignificant small fry. He said impatiently, "You two quickly find Jiang Fan and hand him over to me. As for anything else, don't meddle in it!"

They had already received benefits; shouldn't they do their job properly?

Gurgle!

Suddenly, a bubble rose within the blood coffin. The Refining Soul Venerable's eyebrow twitched, and he immediately realized something. Shaking his shoulder, he was about to throw the blood coffin away. However, it was already too late. The bloody water abruptly splashed, and an Ice-Fire Tai Chi Diagram flew out, unexpectedly engulfing the Refining Soul Venerable. The latter had only managed to unleash half of his domain, forming a grinding mill beneath his feet. Dense masses of souls were crushed within the mill, emitting wailing sounds like ghosts and wolves. Merely hearing it caused agonizing pain in the souls of everyone present, as if their spirits were tearing apart and about to be destroyed by the cries of vengeful spirits.

Fortunately, the Ice-Fire Tai Chi Diagram instantly shattered the grinding mill. The wailing stopped abruptly.

The Ice-Fire Demonic Lord, having recuperated, possessed an even stronger domain. With overwhelming force, he shattered the Refining Soul Venerable's domain beyond recognition! Mentally connected to his domain, the Refining Soul Venerable's face instantly turned ashen, his eyes bloodshot, and veins bulging on his neck. His features contorted in agony, looking utterly ferocious.

"There's a Venerable here..." He teleported away from the area.

The Ice-Fire Demonic Lord ascended amidst the blood, his aura mighty, and his previously dim divine ring brightened considerably. "Demonic cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Palace dare to be presumptuous in front of this Lord?"

The next moment, he too teleported away. Fluctuations of a Soul Transformation Venerable erupted once more in the sky. Unlike his previous battle with the Evil Crow Venerable, the Ice-Fire Demonic Lord's strength had greatly improved this time, while the Refining Soul Venerable was severely injured by a sneak attack. With one's decline being the other's rise, within ten breaths, the Refining Soul Venerable fell from the sky. His divine ring was dim, his body severely damaged, and his Soul Transformation aura fluctuated wildly, becoming extremely unstable.

A look of surprise appeared on his face. "Ice-Fire Demonic Lord? Didn't you fail to advance to Great Sage and die under the Five Decays of Heaven and Man? You're actually still alive!"

The Ice-Fire Demonic Lord said coldly, "I'm sorry to disappoint you. Will you choose self-dissolution, or shall I make the move?"

The Refining Soul Venerable snorted. "You would kill me in front of the Qintian Supervisor? The Qintian Supervisor will truthfully record the demise of every Venerable and share it with the Qintian Supervisors of the Nine Provinces. My Qintian Supervisor of the Great Barren Province will naturally inform the Heavenly Demon Palace of this news. Are you certain that your current state can face the pursuit from the Heavenly Demon Palace?"

The Ice-Fire Demonic Lord showed a look of amusement. He turned his head to Jiang Fan. "Will you transmit today's events to the Qintian Supervisor, Jiang Fan?"