Chapter 1272: Shouting for Mom Is Useless

"Dragon Marrow Orb!"

Revered Elder Lianjing looked surprised. "You actually possess such an ancient, long-lost item. I underestimated you."

She had been thinking of luring Jiang Fan to Mount Shaodi with resources, but it turned out he didn't need them at all. She had claimed she wanted to mentor Jiang Fan, but in the end, all she did was help him solidify his foundation.

She no longer insisted Jiang Fan return to Mount Shaodi. However, she still felt obliged to provide care. Sensing Jiang Fan's affinity for lightning, she said, "It's a pity that all the lightning power I had went to that little trickster! You continue your breakthrough here. I'll go find him and retrieve the lightning power for you."

After five or six days together, Revered Elder Lianjing still hadn't realized who he was, so Jiang Fan had long since relaxed. He subtly rolled his eyes and said, "Elder Sister, it's said that enemies are better reconciled than aggravated. Could you tell me more about how this person is so detestable?"

It was rare for Jiang Fan to ask for something proactively, so Revered Elder Lianjing thought for a moment and then disclosed the entire matter without reservation.

Jiang Fan asked, "Elder Sister, are you angry with him for ruining your plans?"

Revered Elder Lianjing shook her head. "A little, but it's not enough to make me resent him. He became my enemy to protect Revered Elder Wutong. To be honest, that's quite admirable. With such limited cultivation, he dared to block my sword with his own body. What if the Grand Sage's law had failed?"

Jiang Fan wondered, "Then what exactly are you angry about?"

Revered Elder Lianjing's expression turned slightly cold. "I'm angry at myself for being tricked by a junior and made to run in circles! He tricked me into believing he was Revered Elder Wutong's martial nephew, and I actually believed him, even giving him all my lightning power. I feel like my intelligence was insulted by him!"

Recalling how she had tested Jiang Fan, asking if he knew about news from the Celestial Realm, he had spoken so articulately. He had completely bluffed her. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became!

Jiang Fan rubbed his nose and said, "Well... I think he had no choice. As a junior with a five-aperture Nascent Soul, he was already cautious when going to the forbidden area as agreed. When an elder sister as beautiful and powerful as you suddenly appeared, how could he not be startled? To protect himself, he had no choice but to invent a false identity. He truly had no malicious intent."

Revered Elder Lianjing was amused by him and poked his forehead. "You little rascal, you're really glib-tongued! I'm in my forties, and you're praising me for being beautiful against your conscience. Those demonic cultivators weren't wrong to gossip about you and the girl in black!"

Despite her words, much of the sternness on her face dissipated. Even with her age, hearing the word "beautiful" still moved her deeply. "Fine, for your sake, I won't make things difficult for him. As long as he returns the lightning power, it's enough."

Jiang Fan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, having finally averted a major crisis for himself. He cupped his hands and said, "Elder Sister's generosity will surely make you grow younger and younger."

Revered Elder Lianjing couldn't stand Jiang Fan's flattery and said, "Don't call me 'elder sister' anymore; I could be your mother. Save your smooth talk for coaxing young girls. I'm leaving now to go find him."

Jiang Fan paused, confused, and asked, "Elder Sister, do you know where he is?"

Revered Elder Lianjing chuckled. "What's difficult about that? That little trickster took my lightning power; he can't escape even if he runs to the ends of the earth! Today, I'll teach him a lesson. I'll make him understand that an elder's possessions are not to be taken lightly!"

Jiang Fan's heart sank. He suddenly recalled Revered Elder Zhenyan falling from the Celestial Realm. She had been able to pinpoint his location precisely across immense distances. The reason was that Revered Elder Zhenyan had given Jiang Fan a life-saving lotus!

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Jiang Fan's forehead. He wanted to stop her, but it was too late. Revered Elder Lianjing slightly closed her eyes and began to sense.

The next moment, she quickly opened her eyes and slowly looked at Jiang Fan. Her eyes held a hint of confusion. When she noticed the swirling demonic liquid on Jiang Fan's face, her confusion turned to suspicion, then to shock, and finally to sudden, furious enlightenment. In the end, her extreme rage erupted into laughter.

Her teeth clenched together, grinding with a grating sound, as she hissed an icy voice from between them. "Heh! Heheheh! Heheheheheh!"

"No wonder, no wonder!" she growled. "No wonder that little trickster praised the one who moved the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar as handsome, brilliantly intelligent, refined, exceptionally strong, and universally beloved! No wonder you covered for that little trickster, spoke well of him, and asked me to spare his life. So, you are the little trickster!"

*Grind!* Her fists clenched, sparks practically flying from her eyes. "It wasn't enough that you played me for a fool in the forbidden area, making me run in circles. Here, you continue to deceive me, tricking me into helping you stabilize your foundation, tricking me into finding lightning power for you, tricking me into forgiving you! And I, like an idiot, actually fell for your tricks again! Jiang Fan!!! I'll kill you!!!"

Revered Elder Lianjing trembled with rage, screaming in uncontrollable fury!

Jiang Fan swallowed hard and hastily said, "Elder Sister, please calm down!"

Hearing this, Revered Elder Lianjing became even angrier! She had been swayed by Jiang Fan's repeated "Elder Sister" endearments, which allowed him to deceive her again! She couldn't help but shriek, "Calling me 'mother' won't help now!"

Jiang Fan quickly changed his address: "Oh! Mother! It's me, Jiang Fan!"

The single word "Mother" stunned Revered Elder Lianjing into silence for a moment. Then she became even angrier, snarling, "You utterly shameless scoundrel! Die!"

Jiang Fan's heart pounded. He hastily shouted, "Stop! I still have the Sage's inscription! Dare to attack, and we'll both go down!" This wasn't just a threat. Sage Tianmu had indeed left a permanent inscription on Jiang Fan's body. He just didn't know what the inscription said or if it could save his life. But for now, it was his only leverage.

The enraged Revered Elder Lianjing finally calmed down a little. That's right! This scoundrel in front of her wasn't an ordinary person. He had previously exhibited a life-saving law from a Sage. Who could say he didn't have a second one?

Seeing her calm down slightly, Jiang Fan struck while the iron was hot: "Revered Elder Lianjing, I stand by what I said. It's better to resolve conflicts than escalate them. If you're still too angry, I'll return the lightning power to you. How about that?"

Was this about the lightning power? It was about her being tricked twice by this scoundrel! Revered Elder Lianjing said coldly, "No deal!"

Jiang Fan gritted his teeth and said, "Then what if I compensate you with another magical artifact given by the Ginkgo Tree?"

Revered Elder Lianjing was moved. Could that dead tree have given all its merits to Jiang Fan? "What is it?" she demanded in a deep voice.

Jiang Fan took out a block of ice, within which a heart-shaped copper lock was frozen. Revered Elder Lianjing was greatly disappointed. But she wouldn't refuse it either. After all, it was a high-grade spirit artifact, and it had been used by Revered Elder Wutong, so it must be extraordinary! She decided to get her hands on it first. Her gaze shifted, and she said, "Alright, give it to me, and all grudges will be forgotten."