Chapter 1333: Heart-to-Heart

Looking at the silent Jiang Fan, Venerable Zhenyan couldn't help but recall their shared past.

When she first met Jiang Fan, he was a young boy being bullied by Venerable Xieya.

The next time they met, he had brought her back to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

Afterward, she witnessed firsthand his journey to becoming a legend.

He ventured alone into the heart of the Celestial Realm, killed the Space Giant King, and contended with the Five-Star Giant King.

On the Tianshan battlefield, he risked his life to eliminate human traitors in front of the Giant Emperor.

Finally, he returned to the Celestial Realm, resolutely staying behind to save Grand Venerable Xingyuan, and battling the formidable Five-Star Giant King and Grand Venerable Wugou for a slim chance of victory.

Perhaps his strength wasn't top-tier.

However, the brilliance of his humanity shone like a dazzling sun, impossible to look at directly.

Even she felt inadequate in comparison.

If Jiang Fan were her disciple instead of Chenjing, she would undoubtedly be happy every day.

There isn't a master in the world who wouldn't be proud of him.

Unfortunately, Chenjing was her disciple.

Moreover, for Chenjing's sake, she had to cut ties with Jiang Fan.

At this moment, she felt a pang of reluctance.

All of Jiang Fan's past offenses, the moments that once left her seething with shame and indignation, now seemed unable to provoke even a hint of anger when recalled.

Instead, there was a sense of wistful regret, as if something precious was about to fade away.

She regretted it a little.

Perhaps such a drastic cutoff wasn't necessary; simply meeting less often might have sufficed.

"Perhaps..." she began, intending to change her mind.

"Alright, let's be strangers from now on," Jiang Fan replied.

But Jiang Fan agreed. "I regret causing trouble for you and your disciple," he said. "Thank you for protecting me from Venerable Xieya when I was weak. I will never forget that kindness. From today onward, we shall be as strangers."

Venerable Zhenyan felt as if a piece had been torn from her heart. There was a sense of loss and a dull ache. But the words were spoken, and what was said could not be unsaid.

"However..." Just as Venerable Zhenyan felt her sadness deepen, Jiang Fan changed the subject, and her heart inexplicably stirred to life.

"Before we become strangers, please help me with one more thing."

Venerable Zhenyan nodded repeatedly. "Tell me."

Jiang Fan looked towards Venerable Xinye outside and, without concealment, said, "Venerable Xinye is looking for the practitioner of Void-Flow Thunderforce. Do you know about this, senior?"

Venerable Zhenyan's expression turned strange. "I've heard about it, and the person's name is Wang Chongxiao," she said. "To find him, Venerable Xinye has caused a great deal of bloodshed recently." She was perplexed. Hadn't Jiang Fan said Wang Chongxiao was a fabricated name? Who then was this Wang Chongxiao that Venerable Xinye was so desperately searching for, even causing rivers of blood?

Then, Jiang Fan calmly stated, "That person is me."

"What?" Venerable Zhenyan was startled. "Ah? You're the one Venerable Xinye has been hunting for over half a year? But how did you also become his true disciple?"

Jiang Fan said helplessly, "It's a series of coincidences. Precisely because I am his true disciple, when he learns the truth, he will feel even more betrayed and retaliate furiously. So, I need your help, senior."

It took Venerable Zhenyan a long time to accept that Jiang Fan was the infamous practitioner of Void-Flow Thunderforce, who had caused so much uproar. She regained her composure and looked at Venerable Xinye with slight apprehension. "It would be very difficult for me to kill him," she said. "Venerable Xinye comes from Young Emperor Mountain; his strength is definitely not weak."

Jiang Fan replied, "How could I dare make such an excessive request? I only ask that when Venerable Xinye discovers I am the Void-Flow Thunderforce practitioner and tries to kill me, you speak on my behalf, senior."

Venerable Zhenyan shook her head. "He won't listen to reason," she said. "To kill you, he has caused rivers of blood in Taicang Prefecture. I've heard that entire sects were annihilated, leaving no one alive. His resolve to kill you is as iron-clad; he won't give up simply because I try to persuade him..."

Jiang Fan raised a hand, interrupting her.

"Senior, you misunderstand," he clarified. "I'm not asking him to spare me. I'm asking him to allow me to complete one task first. After it's done, he can kill me; it won't be too late."

Venerable Zhenyan was moved. "You... want to see the people from Heavenly Secret Pavilion again to make your final arrangements?"

Jiang Fan shook his head. "I've faced countless life-and-death situations; they are already mentally prepared for my death. There's no need for me to make final arrangements. I want to..."

He looked towards the northwest of White Horse Temple. "Before I die, I want to bring down the Asura tribes from above. In four or five days, it will be the Great Hunt of the ancient giants in the Celestial Realm. The Asura tribes in those villages will face their darkest moment in a century. I made a promise to them: those willing to come to the Central Land would be brought down by moving the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar. The Nascent Soul cultivators among them, especially those in the mid to late stage, would be a tremendous help for our Taicang Prefecture in resisting the ancient giants. Therefore, I must first complete this last task for Taicang Prefecture. After that, I will face Venerable Xinye in a battle to the death. If I die then, I will have fewer regrets."

Venerable Zhenyan was stunned. The turmoil in her heart was slow to subside. Facing death, Jiang Fan's concern was astonishingly for the safety of Taicang Prefecture. Previously, Jiang Fan had resolutely remained in the Celestial Realm to save Grand Venerable Xingyuan. The emotional impact of that, viewed through a projection, couldn't be fully experienced as if she were there. Now, feeling his profound compassion for all beings firsthand and at close range, she was deeply shaken. She began to understand why Venerable Lianjing had returned despite such immense danger, almost perishing in the process. It was because she had been moved by Jiang Fan.

"So, senior, can you help?" Jiang Fan asked. "Just try to persuade him. If he agrees, that's best. If not, you can leave. This is my last request before we become strangers."

A ripple of emotion flickered in Venerable Zhenyan's eyes. No wonder Jiang Fan had agreed to become strangers later. There would be no "later." This was his dying request.

"Very well, I agree," Venerable Zhenyan said, her voice low.

Jiang Fan bowed deeply. "Thank you, senior. Now I can rest easy. Please lift the barrier. I've been hiding from Venerable Xinye for over half a year; it's time for a resolution!"

As the barrier dissolved, Jiang Fan returned to Venerable Xinye's side.

"Do you need your master to support you?" Venerable Xinye glanced at Venerable Zhenyan, who stood some distance away, not having left.

"Thank you, Master, I'm fine," Jiang Fan replied. "Please activate the Wishing Paper to find the Void-Flow Thunderforce."

Venerable Xinye nodded gently. "Alright." He raised the Wishing Paper. Suddenly, he noticed the spatial storage device on his index finger and paused.

He removed the spatial storage device and handed it to Jiang Fan. "Take this."

Jiang Fan was startled. "Master, what are you doing?" He had been preparing to make a preemptive move in secret. Yet, Venerable Xinye was giving him his own spatial storage device!

Venerable Xinye said, "Haven't you wondered why I brought you here?"

Jiang Fan was slightly taken aback. Only then did he realize that since Venerable Xinye had the Wishing Paper and a suspected target, he had no need to carry along a burden like him. "Your disciple does not understand your profound intention, Master."

Venerable Xinye said, "My lifespan is nearly exhausted. After making a wish, my vitality will greatly diminish. It's even possible I could die on the spot, which is why I've been reluctant to use the Wishing Paper. The price is too great."

He pressed the spatial storage ring into Jiang Fan's hand. "If your master is still alive after making the wish, return the storage ring," he said. "But if I perish..." He gave a hoarse chuckle. "Then it's yours, my boy. The incantation is carved on the back of the ring; memorize it and then erase it, so no one else can steal it."