Chapter 1346: The Final Madness

He heard the question.

Venerable Sinister Mind slowly raised his head, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. When could he ever move the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar? Wasn't Jiang Fan the one who could truly move it?

When he noticed Jiang Fan's nervous expression, he suddenly understood. It seemed his 'good' disciple had been preparing to kill him since their time in the Celestial Realm. Realizing this, he felt his impending death was not unjust at all. He couldn't help but shrug and let out a light chuckle.

Green Pearl frowned. "No answer means you've conceded!" She turned her head towards Jiang Fan. "I won't kill you, nor will I kill those two female Venerables. I'll only kill this Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar mover so I can report back to the Five-Star Giant King. You won't try to stop me, will you?"

Jiang Fan said nothing, simply closing his eyes in silence. A silent thought crossed his mind: "Perhaps this is for the best. After all, Venerable Sinister Mind is my master. It would be improper for him to die by my hand. It might even be a good thing for Green Pearl to end his life."

Venerable True Word and the Demoness also breathed a quiet sigh of relief. They remained silent. Seeing their reactions, Green Pearl nodded with satisfaction. "We've both taken a step back. This is for the best!"

She stepped forward to Venerable Sinister Mind and said indifferently: "Killing you is not my true intention. In the Celestial Realm, I have no choice. I'll give you a swift end." She formed her hand into a blade and struck towards Venerable Sinister Mind's neck. This single strike would end everything.

But then! A voice, laced with a cold sneer, came from not far away. "Senior Asura King, that's not the one who moves the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar. The true mover of the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar is someone else entirely!"

Everyone's gaze swiveled in unison. A figure was seen hurtling through the air. Dressed in a blue robe, with disheveled hair, his face held a hint of rebellious madness. When his gaze swept over Jiang Fan, a malicious glint immediately appeared in his eyes. It was none other than Chen Jing.

Venerable True Word's pretty eyes flashed with fury as she snapped, "Chen Jing! What do you want? Get out!" She genuinely hadn't expected Chen Jing to dare follow them! And to betray them again!

The Demoness's peach-blossom eyes narrowed, murderous intent flickering within them, and she immediately attacked Chen Jing. The seven rings in her palm shot out instantly. A massive demonic claw, coalesced from shadowy energy, blocked the rings.

Green Pearl's face darkened. "It's not too late to kill him after he's finished speaking!" She emanated a powerful aura, intimidating Venerable True Word and the Demoness, before her expression turned slightly cold as she examined Chen Jing: "You say the one who moves the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar is not this person?"

Chen Jing landed, his hands clasped behind his back, a sly smile on his face. "This person's name is Venerable Sinister Mind, and he's from Tianzhou. He's not the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar mover at all."

Green Pearl's gaze sharpened, and she glared fiercely at Jiang Fan. "You lied to me again!" Then, she questioned Chen Jing in a deep voice, "Who is the person capable of moving the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar?"

Chen Jing smiled. He smiled triumphantly, as if he were the ultimate victor. The corners of his mouth curled slightly. "He is the one known to everyone throughout Taicang Great State..." He grinned maliciously, raising a finger and slowly pointing at Jiang Fan: "The Chief Deputy Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, Jiang Fan!"

Green Pearl's head felt as if it had been struck by a hammer, causing a buzzing sensation in her ears. Jiang Fan was the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar mover! The person she was ordered to kill was Jiang Fan?

She slowly turned her head, her gaze fixed on Jiang Fan before her, unable to accept the truth. Her voice trembled faintly: "Is it really you?" She had been ordered to kill the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar mover. If she failed the mission, she couldn't go back and report. But how could she bring herself to kill Jiang Fan? If she couldn't kill Jiang Fan, how would she explain it? Would the Five-Star Giant King spare her?

When Jiang Fan met Green Pearl's trembling eyes, his heart grew incredibly heavy. "Did the Five-Star Giant King issue you a military pledge?"

At this question, Green Pearl's last shred of hope shattered. The person she was ordered to kill was indeed Jiang Fan. She nodded blankly. "Either I return with your head, or I send my own head back."

Jiang Fan gently closed his eyes. Even the thought of facing Venerable Sinister Mind in battle had saddened him. How much more so with Green Pearl? He gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with hatred, as he glared at Chen Jing. "You truly deserve to die!"

With a whoosh, he shot forward, slashing his sword towards Chen Jing's neck, and said without looking back: "Green Pearl, our business will have to wait. Allow me to kill him first!"

Chen Jing didn't dodge or flinch, instead throwing his head back and laughing loudly. "Go on, kill me! Kill me in front of my master! Kill me, and there will forever be a barrier between you two, hehehe!"

The purple sword grazed the skin of his neck, cutting past it. Jiang Fan stared at him coldly, but didn't follow through. No matter how despicable Chen Jing was, he was still Venerable True Word's disciple. Killing her disciple in front of her would create an insurmountable chasm between them, even if all other grudges were gone.

The Demoness's eyes darted, and she covered her mouth, chuckling, "My young lord, hurry and kill him. Kill him, and there will be no possibility between you and Venerable True Word, and I'll have one less competitor."

Venerable True Word glared at Chen Jing with the utmost disgust. "Utterly shameless!"

Chen Jing burst into laughter. "I should have been shameless a long time ago! I was too much of a gentleman; that's why I didn't take advantage of your vulnerability and possess you, which allowed Jiang Fan to reap the benefits. Fortunately, heaven has eyes. You damaged your own domain for Jiang Fan, and your life won't last much longer. You two can forget about growing old together. Hahahahaha..."

Jiang Fan's body trembled violently, and he stared at Venerable True Word in disbelief. He saw that the divine halo behind Venerable True Word's head indeed had a noticeable defect. He was startled: "You damaged your own domain for me? When did this happen?"

Venerable True Word glared at Chen Jing with the utmost disgust. Her disgust deepened, especially when she saw Jiang Fan's concerned and guilty gaze. She avoided Jiang Fan's gaze and whispered, "It's all in the past."

Jiang Fan left Chen Jing and flew to Venerable True Word's side. At close range, he finally detected a faint, decaying scent. His heart was profoundly shaken, and he quickly understood when it must have happened.

"You saw Venerable Sinister Mind's wish paper pointing at me, but you concealed it for me?" Jiang Fan asked blankly.

At that time, he and Venerable True Word had only just reconciled, with no debts between them. Yet she was willing to damage her own domain to help him conceal the truth from Venerable Sinister Mind.

"It's nothing. I might not even survive the Ancient Giant Calamity anyway. I'll die before the Celestial Decay Tribulation."

Chen Jing burst into laughter. "Jiang Fan, how does it feel? My master is about to die because of you, yet you're powerless to save her. Don't you hate yourself? I suggest you slap yourself a few times. Perhaps that will make you feel a little better."

Venerable True Word, utterly enraged, exclaimed, "You despicable, shameless wretch!"

Chen Jing's laughter grew even more unrestrained. "Master, I can't have you, but that's fine. Jiang Fan won't have you either! You and I will continue our master-disciple bond in the afterlife. Let Jiang Fan live a lifetime of regret on earth."

Unable to bear it any longer, Venerable True Word raised her folding fan and swung it at him. But Jiang Fan suddenly grasped her cool, snow-white wrist.

"Who said your master is beyond saving?" Jiang Fan stared at Chen Jing with a half-smile on his face. He suddenly felt that killing Chen Jing with a single sword would be letting him off too easily.