Chapter 1379: Heavenly Secret Old Man

But just then, a loud bellow from a green ox swept across the heavens and earth! The sound was incredibly penetrating, making the surrounding space violently tremble.

The black-clad youth also shivered, and his palm, which was about to strike Jiang Fan, paused. As he recovered, a ruthless look appeared in his eyes, and he disregarded everything to attack Jiang Fan again.

With a smack, a huge ox hoof suddenly appeared beside him, kicking him directly on the shoulder.

Despite being a cultivator at the Heavenly-Human Second Decline stage, he was sent flying like a paper doll by that single kick!

The black-clad youth flew back several miles, a metallic taste in his throat. He looked back with a hint of shock in his eyes. He saw a large green ox standing beside Jiang Fan! It was indeed its hind hoof that had sent him flying!

On the back of the large green ox sat a slovenly old Taoist, his clothes tattered and his appearance unkempt. His face was covered in dense pustules, making it look like a toad's skin.

At this moment, as Jiang Fan was rescued, the pustules miraculously vanished one by one.

The slovenly old Taoist touched his face, relieved, and revealed a mouthful of yellow teeth as he smiled. "Finally made it!" Had he arrived any later and Jiang Fan died, he would have suffered a heavenly retribution and perished.

The black-clad youth, who had tumbled far away, recognized the old man and was startled. He asked in a hushed tone, "Old Man Tianji? Why are you in Taicang Great State?" This was a mysterious figure, rarely seen and almost impossible to track down.

Old Man Tianji grumbled, "If I hadn't come, your Young Emperor Mountain would have gotten me killed. Go back and tell your Young Emperor not to trouble Jiang Fan again. If you want to court death, don't drag me into it!"

The black-clad youth was stunned. He looked at Jiang Fan, who was also dressed in black, just like himself, his eyes filled with disbelief. What was this young man's background? How did he gain the protection of Old Man Tianji?

Moreover, the Old Man's words implied considerable apprehension towards Jiang Fan, as if Jiang Fan carried some deadly karmic entanglement. After a few moments of contemplation, he nodded slightly. "Since Old Man Tianji is protecting him, I will return and report my mission. Farewell."

With Old Man Tianji's personal intervention, his mission failure was excusable, and the Young Emperor would not punish him. With that, he flashed away, preparing to leave.

"Hold on!" Old Man Tianji snorted. "Leave all the thunder power on you behind. Consider it compensation for Jiang Fan."

"What?" The black-clad youth's face darkened. "Please don't be unreasonable." He had already given Old Man Tianji considerable face by sparing Jiang Fan. Now he was being asked to leave his thunder power? This was simply too much!

Old Man Tianji scoffed, "I'm saving you! Do you still think you're at a disadvantage?" Others might not know, but how could he be unaware of the two terrifying karmic destinies hidden within Jiang Fan?

If the black-clad youth failed to kill Jiang Fan today, he would surely face Jiang Fan's retaliation in the future. The calamity of the ancient giants was approaching, and two Divine Transformation Venerables had already been killed by Jiang Fan, which was a loss to Middle-earth. A third could not be lost. Making the black-clad youth leave his thunder power was a way to resolve the impending deadly tribulation for him.

The black-clad youth's expression subtly changed. If anyone else had said such mysterious words, he would have scoffed. But coming from Old Man Tianji, it sent shivers down his spine. Recalling that even Initial Venerable had died at Jiang Fan's hands, it was not impossible for Jiang Fan to kill him in the future, given the opportunity.

Therefore, after a pang of heartache, he reluctantly produced a Thunder Mountain. Its surface shimmered with five colors, and lightning arcs crackled from it. It was about eight zhang tall, not much smaller than the Thunder Mountain left to Jiang Fan by Venerable Xinyie.

He set down the Thunder Mountain, gazed deeply at Jiang Fan, and then flashed away without a word.

After he had departed, Old Man Tianji finally smiled, showing his mouthful of large yellow teeth, and with a wave of his hand, sent the Thunder Mountain to Jiang Fan.

"Little friend Jiang, I apologize for startling you."

Jiang Fan glanced at the Thunder Mountain before him, then curiously sized up Old Man Tianji. He had heard of this man long ago. It was he who spread the rumor that the continent possessed Earth Qi Dragon Pearls, which only ancient saints could control, leading to the incident at the Tiger Demon Emperor's cave where many powerful cultivators from Taicang Great State vied for them.

He hadn't expected Old Man Tianji to be such a high-ranking figure! With just a few words, he made a Heavenly-Human Second Decline Venerable, who was attempting to assassinate him, retreat.

Suppressing his thoughts, he cupped his fists and thanked him. "Thank you for saving me, Senior Tianji." As he spoke, he couldn't help but glance at the large green ox. Was this ox a demon beast? The power of one hoof kick had sent a Heavenly-Human Second Decline cultivator flying. Its strength must be at least that of a Heavenly-Human Second Decline, right?

Old Man Tianji stepped forward and said, "No need to thank me; I owe you."

Jiang Fan was puzzled. "Senior, what do you mean by that?"

Old Man Tianji's old face looked awkward. How could he possibly say that he was the one who helped Venerable Xinyie deduce that Jiang Fan was the practitioner of Void Flow Thunder Energy? He played it vague, saying, "Everything has its karma; no need to ask further. Take this Thunder Mountain. Our accounts will be settled. After this, we owe each other nothing."

Jiang Fan's expression grew wary. Where in the world was there goodwill without reason? Old Man Tianji claimed to owe him, but they had never even met before. Now, saving his life and giving him a Thunder Mountain made it hard for him not to be cautious.

Bodhisattva Tianting smiled with understanding, his voice magnetic and slow. "Take it. The grievances between you and Venerable Xinyie, and the various dangers that arose today, all stemmed from Old Man Tianji's divination. He suffered heavenly retribution because of it, and his arrival today is to atone for his mistake."

Jiang Fan instantly recalled that Venerable Xinyie had suddenly arrived at Tianji Pavilion, convinced that he was highly suspicious. So, Old Man Tianji had divined the secrets and helped Venerable Xinyie find him! At this thought, he was furious! If not for Old Man Tianji, Venerable Xinyie would never have found him. Venerable Xinyie would have returned to Young Emperor Mountain after failing his mission. There would have been no reason for him to die at Jiang Fan's hands, nor would the Young Emperor have dispatched two even more terrifying Venerables because of his death.

"So it was your doing!" Jiang Fan exclaimed, angered.

Old Man Tianji glared at the Bodhisattva, stroking his beard. "You bald donkey, not only are your ears sharp, but your mouth is also too big! How did Middle-earth ever agree to your grand vow of listening to the sounds of all living beings?"

Others might not know about the transaction between Old Man Tianji and Venerable Xinyie. But how could Bodhisattva Tianting not hear it? Then, somewhat sheepishly, he met Jiang Fan's fiery gaze and coughed. "Didn't I rush over to save you and end the karma? Alright then, I'll give you something else as compensation."

He took out a thumb-sized thunder imprint, filled with incredibly potent primal thunder energy. "I acquired this when Venerable Xinyie asked me for a divination. Now it's yours; it should help you cultivate your Void Flow Thunder Energy to mastery."

Jiang Fan's eyes lit up. Primal Thunder Energy? Such a thing actually existed! Only then did he suppress the anger in his eyes and say, "Alright, then we're even." He decided to take advantage of the situation. Besides, what else could he do to Old Man Tianji?

Old Man Tianji breathed a sigh of relief, then reluctantly tossed the primal thunder energy to Jiang Fan, saying, "You got off easy! Let's not meet again in the future, you little freak!" With that, he squeezed the ox's back with his legs. "Let's go!"

But just then, Jiang Fan called out to him. "Senior, wait! Someone asked me to deliver a letter to you."