Chapter 1335: True Word Domain Shattered

Venerable Mantra’s expression was calm as he softly said, “Decaying, aren’t I? I didn’t expect the Heavenly Decay to come so quickly.”

Chen Jing anxiously asked, “When did your domain break? Was it my question just now that made you lie? No, you don’t need to lie to me; I’m not worthy of your deception. Was it Venerable Sin? You lied to him? But he only asked you one casual question!”

Chen Jing was extremely agitated. Once the Heavenly Decay descended, one would rapidly rot, just like Venerable Evil Raven. Within a year, at most, if one didn’t achieve a breakthrough, they would die from the Heavenly Decay. The Master had finally agreed to sever ties with Jiang Fan, yet she was about to perish! Why was this happening?

The Master had merely answered Venerable Sin, saying she hadn’t seen where the ashes went. What was there to lie about?

Wait! Chen Jing suddenly realized! The Master *had* seen where the ashes went! The Bodhisattva’s Buddhist chant had not distracted the Master, who possessed the Mantra Domain. She had witnessed the ashes’ trajectory the entire time. But why would she conceal it? Even if the Master didn’t want the person cultivating the Void Stream Lightning Force to die, it wasn’t necessary to lie, because merely indicating a direction wouldn’t make it easy for Venerable Sin to find the person. Unless, that person was within sight. The Master *had* to lie for him!

At that time, only four people were present: Venerable Sin, Venerable Mantra, and he, Chen Jing. And… Jiang Fan! It was Jiang Fan! He was the one who had cultivated the Void Stream Lightning Force and had been sought by Venerable Sin for over half a year! And the Master, for his sake, had lied without hesitation, so casually! Using her own life to secure a path to survival for Jiang Fan!

The Master had repeatedly claimed that he was more important than Jiang Fan. He wondered, if he were about to die, would the Master exchange her life for his? It was hard to say. But she had already done so for Jiang Fan!

“The Master lied to me!” Chen Jing roared in his heart. “In her heart, Jiang Fan is the more important one!”

Venerable Mantra turned her head to look at him. “What do you want to say?”

Chen Jing suppressed his rage. He pretended to be unaware, showing a look of concern: “Master, what should we do now? If you can’t endure the Heavenly Decay, won’t you…”

Venerable Mantra shook her head and calmly said: “It no longer matters. You should cultivate well. I hope you can successfully enter the Soul Transformation stage before the arrival of the Ancient Giants.”

She and Chen Jing arrived at White Horse Temple, intending to use its teleportation array to return directly to Washing Moon Lake.

“Venerable One, the Bodhisattva requests your presence.” Just as they reached the temple entrance, Abbot Puguang approached with his hands pressed together in a greeting.

Venerable Mantra’s gaze shifted slightly. “Does the Bodhisattva know something?” She gently nodded: “Chen Jing, wait for me in the temple. Do not leave. Your Master will be right back.”

Venerable Mantra followed Abbot Puguang to the rear courtyard of White Horse Temple. Chen Jing’s eyes glinted. After watching Venerable Mantra’s figure disappear, he quietly left White Horse Temple. He thought coldly, “Master, don’t blame me. You forced my hand!”

***

At the marketplace.

Venerable Sin was disheartened, gazing at the sky with a grim expression. “This must be karma. Your Master committed too many killings, incurring the wrath of heaven and resentment of men. That’s why the Bodhisattva interfered at the most crucial moment, cutting off my path to survival. Every turn of fate is predetermined.”

Jiang Fan secretly shook his head. The Bodhisattva might not have intervened specifically to harm Venerable Sin. It was highly probable that he was protecting Jiang Fan. As the Heavenly Listener Bodhisattva, no sound in the world could escape his ears. Jiang Fan had once plotted against Wang Chongxiao, and just now he had spoken with Venerable Mantra. It was likely the Bodhisattva had heard everything and already knew Jiang Fan was a cultivator of the Void Stream Lightning Force. That’s why he intervened. His purpose was to help Jiang Fan survive, so he could be enlightened by him.

However, Venerable Sin had killed so many people in his search for him; he fully deserved his fate. Jiang Fan felt no sympathy whatsoever. He cautiously asked, “Master, what are your plans now?”

Venerable Sin said hoarsely, “Waiting to die. Once the five days are up, the Young Emperor will project himself here to kill me. At that point, there will be no escape.”

Jiang Fan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This was for the best; once Venerable Sin died, he would be free. He could cultivate the "Five Void Stream Forces" without restraint, no longer having to live in fear.

“Do you have any troubles?” Venerable Sin looked at Jiang Fan and said, “I will use my remaining time to help you one more time.”

Jiang Fan took out Venerable Sin’s storage ring and returned it to him, saying: “Your disciple has no troubles. Next, I merely need to proceed with receiving the Asura clan. Master, why don’t you try to save yourself instead?”

Venerable Sin hesitated for a moment, then accepted the storage ring and said: “Escape? Under heaven, who can escape the Young Emperor’s grasp? If he wants to kill someone, hiding even at the ends of the earth is useless.”

Jiang Fan’s heart chilled. “Is the Young Emperor that powerful?”

Venerable Sin’s eyes showed reverence. “He is in the realm of the Five Heavenly Decays, already possessing half of his accumulated merit. He’s considered a Half-Sage.”

Jiang Fan’s scalp tingled slightly. It sounded even more terrifying than Grand Venerable Star Abyss. He then cautiously asked: “Master, was it the Young Emperor who ordered you to hunt down cultivators of the Void Stream Lightning Force? Why is he so concerned about the Void Stream Lightning Force?”

Jiang Fan couldn’t understand. He had only cultivated the Void Stream Lightning Force a little; how could he possibly threaten the Young Emperor? Even if he cultivated it to perfection, it surely wouldn’t be enough to cause even a sliver of harm to a Half-Sage, would it?

Knowing his death was near, Venerable Sin no longer concealed anything and slowly said: “Once one reaches the Five Heavenly Decays, all actions and plans revolve around one thing.”

Jiang Fan knew what it was. Merit!

Venerable Sin said, “That is, merit! And the Five Elements Divine Lord of old was also a Grand Venerable who had reached the Five Heavenly Decays and experienced the ancient giant battle a thousand years ago. He possessed an unimaginably vast amount of merit. However, his merit was very special; it was integrated into the small world he created using the 'Five Void Stream Forces'. Once his merit is released, it will disperse among those cultivating the 'Five Void Stream Forces' across the Nine Provinces. The Young Emperor cultivates the Void Stream Lightning Force, so he would receive twenty percent of the merit. But if someone else also cultivates the Void Stream Lightning Force, it will be divided. Furthermore, if this person’s Void Stream Lightning Force is stronger than the Young Emperor’s, they will, in turn, seize even more merit.”

Jiang Fan almost coughed up a mouthful of old blood. So, the Five Elements Divine Lord’s legacy also concealed the distribution of merit? Even when he was just a minor Core Formation cultivator, he had unknowingly become embroiled in a merit struggle among Grand Venerables of the Five Heavenly Decays. It truly wasn’t easy for him to have survived until now.

“So that’s it. No wonder the Young Emperor is hunting this person down,” Jiang Fan exclaimed.

Venerable Sin said resentfully, “Though I haven’t personally slain this little beast, the Young Emperor will come to finish him off himself. I’ll wait in the underworld to see what kind of extraordinary being he truly is!”

Just as the two were conversing, a figure swiftly swept over. He landed before Venerable Sin, bowed, and calmly said: “Junior Chen Jing respectfully wishes to report something important to Senior.”