Chapter 1427: Reversion to Ancestral Traits

The Serpent-Tailed Great Venerable frowned. Even with amnesia, he still knew to ask for a reward? How cunning must this fellow have been before losing his memory?

After a brief thought, to avoid further complications, he opened his mouth, revealing two sharp snake fangs. He pressed a jade bottle against one of the fangs, and a drop of viscous purple liquid dripped into it.

"This is my serpent venom. Although it's only a single drop, it can poison and kill any powerful being below the Five Heavenly Decays." "Take it!"

Jiang Fan took it, his heart pounding. He had only intended to extort a small favor, but he never expected the other party to offer such a treasure! When it came to poisons, he was an expert!

The Demon Lord, who was standing nearby, watched with burning eyes. This was the Great Venerable's vital venom, truly a devastating weapon. He had never received such a reward, yet the Great Venerable gave it to Wang Chongxiao? While envious, the Demon Lord also found it illogical.

Just then, the Great Venerable's telepathic message reached his ear. "Your timely discovery of this person is a great merit; that drop of venom is your reward."

Only then did the Demon Lord realize. The venom was for him. However, he would need to find a way to obtain it from Jiang Fan. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. If that was the case, he would have to keep a close eye on Wang Chongxiao on their journey.

"Wang Chongxiao, follow me." Having received the reward, Jiang Fan naturally no longer hesitated and immediately followed the Demon Lord out of the cave.

On the way, Jiang Fan's eyes flickered, and he probed, "Senior, I've forgotten how to address the Great Venerable and yourself."

The Demon Lord glanced at the Sky Thunder Stone on Jiang Fan's chest and smiled gently, "Our Great Venerable is the master of Spirit Serpent Mountain, the Black Dragon Great Venerable." "As for me, you can call me Soul Shadow Venerable."

Jiang Fan nodded slightly and cupped his hands, saying, "Senior Soul Shadow, why is everyone going to the interlayer world, but the Great Venerable is not?" It made no sense that the Golden Scale Great Venerable and powerful figures from various states were fighting to the death in the interlayer world. Even the Great Wine Sacrifice was stationed there. Yet, this Black Dragon Great Venerable was contentedly resting in his cave. How could the strong cultivators from other states accept that?

Soul Shadow Venerable thought for a moment before replying, "Our Black Dragon Great Venerable is currently undergoing dragon transformation, so it's inconvenient for him to act."

Dragon transformation? Jiang Fan was bewildered.

Soul Shadow Venerable patiently explained, "Martial artists of different schools enter the Great Sage realm in different ways." "How much more so among various races? You humans emphasize entering the Sage realm through merit, while we demons focus on ancestral reversion."

Jiang Fan pondered. He recalled what Heavenly Hearing Bodhisattva had said: Buddhist cultivators entering the Buddha Venerable realm was not about accumulating merit, but about creating good fortune for all beings. For instance, calming vengeful spirits with the *Hell Suppressing Soul Rest Manual* was a form of creating good fortune. However, in Jiang Fan's view, this was still a type of merit. After all, when he personally performed the *Hell Suppressing Soul Rest Manual*, merit descended from the heavens. The difference was that accumulating merit gained the faith of the living, while the *Hell Suppressing Soul Rest Manual* gained the faith of the deceased. Both paths ultimately led to the same destination. But for demons, entering the Great Sage realm was truly a completely different path. It was ancestral reversion.

So-called ancestral reversion, he surmised, must involve continuously elevating the purity of one's bloodline, eventually reaching the level of an ancestral true spirit. Success in this reversion would transform one into a true spirit. The Black Dragon Great Venerable having half of his body revert to a serpent tail likely meant his reversion had reached a crucial stage. Once his upper body also reverted, he would become a true spirit at the Great Sage realm!

Jiang Fan nodded slowly. His trip to the Myriad Demon Great State had certainly broadened his horizons.

Soul Shadow Venerable said, "Once you're in the interlayer world, kill the enemies well." "After discussions among the demons of Spirit Serpent Mountain, we've decided to bring out the mountain's greatest treasure, the Myriad Spirit Ancestral Blood, as a reward." "Whoever accumulates the most merit will have a chance to obtain the Myriad Spirit Ancestral Blood." "This blood can enhance the bloodline power of all demons." "If our Great Venerable obtains enough Myriad Spirit Ancestral Blood, he will have the opportunity to complete his final ancestral reversion and fully transform into a dragon." "At that time, both you and I will rise to prominence." He painted a grand picture for Jiang Fan, ensuring Jiang Fan would be spurred on to recklessly charge into the infernal creatures and then perish appropriately.

Jiang Fan's eyes showed surprise. Enhance the bloodline power of all demons? Could it truly boost the Heavenly Fox bloodline of Fairy Yunshang, the Soaring Serpent bloodline within Liuli, the unknown bloodline of Ice-Fire Demon Lord, as well as the bloodlines of Little Qilin, Rebel, Little Tiger, Azure Springs, Slave Heart Demon Emperor, Fairy Chuyue, West Sea Prince, and others? This Myriad Spirit Ancestral Blood was indeed a remarkable treasure! He immediately became highly motivated, declaring, "Senior, rest assured, your subordinate will spare no effort and serve the Great Venerable until death!"

Soul Shadow Venerable rubbed his nose. Was the picture he painted really that appealing?

Not long after, they arrived at the center of the Spirit Serpent mountain range. A massive fissure almost split the mountain in two. Rushing Yin energy erupted from within the mountain, shrouding the area in darkness as if it were night. As soon as he stepped inside, the Yin energy tried to penetrate his pores and burrow into his dantian, attempting to envelop his Nascent Soul and obstruct the flow of power. Jiang Fan had to circulate his Nascent Soul power to barely push it away. He was secretly surprised by the intense density of the Yin energy here, which was even stronger than that in the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's underground world. Without a Nascent Soul cultivation, it would be difficult to stay for long.

Just then, three gigantic, jet-black creatures burst forth from the fissure. Two of them were at the Nine-Aperture Nascent Soul level. The one in the middle was actually at the Divine Transformation realm! Not only Jiang Fan, but even Soul Shadow Venerable was startled, exclaiming, "A Divine Transformation realm infernal creature? How is that possible?"

Ten days ago, even the combined efforts of Golden Scale Great Venerable and Ice Heart Great Venerable couldn't stop the surging infernal creatures from breaking out. That incident resulted in immense casualties. Spirit Serpent Mountain paid a heavy price in lives to wipe out all the infernal creatures that had poured forth. Yet, even then, no Divine Transformation realm infernal creatures had emerged. Now, one had actually appeared! Could it be that the dangers in the interlayer world were worsening, despite reinforcements from various states?

Soul Shadow Venerable instinctively wanted to retreat, but then he reconsidered and said, "Wang Chongxiao, I'll take responsibility for stopping this Divine Transformation realm infernal creature." "The two Nine-Aperture Nascent Soul ones are up to you; don't disappoint the Great Venerable."

Jiang Fan secretly sneered. For a human martial artist with an Eight-Aperture Nascent Soul cultivation, facing even one Nine-Aperture Nascent Soul infernal creature was a near-fatal endeavor. Facing two meant certain death. Soul Shadow Venerable was trying to use the infernal creatures to kill him! Presumably, he intended to seize the venom from his Sky Thunder Stone after he died?

He feigned panic, saying, "But I've forgotten my techniques! With just the venom, it'll be a life-and-death struggle." Soul Shadow Venerable pretended not to hear, charged forward, intercepted the tiger-like Divine Transformation realm infernal creature, and entangled it in battle elsewhere, giving Jiang Fan no chance to call for help.

Jiang Fan couldn't have wished for more. It was the perfect opportunity to shake off Soul Shadow Venerable.

A monstrous, worm-like infernal creature, a thousand feet long, howled as it rushed towards Jiang Fan. Without thinking, Jiang Fan directly launched a Soul Shocker. Instantly, the infernal creature's soul was pierced, causing it to writhe in agony on the spot. "Go!" Jiang Fan formed a sword with two fingers, and the Purple Lightning Blade unsheathed. Purple electric light gathered around the blade, transforming into a dazzling sword shadow that sliced through its head.

The other infernal creature, seeing Jiang Fan's ferocity, was terrified and quickly fled. "Cloud Shadow!" Jiang Fan instantly caught up, soaring onto its back. A speck of thunder essence gathered in his palm, and he slapped it onto the creature. With a *thud*, the infernal creature's head was instantly blasted into a bloody mist by the thunder essence. *Boom*—The infernal creature's colossal body crashed to the ground. Jiang Fan impassively recalled the Purple Lightning Blade.

Just as he was about to flash into the fissure, an ethereal voice, laced with a hint of surprise, reached his ears. "What domineering methods."

Jiang Fan's heart jolted. Someone was nearby, and he hadn't detected them at all? He turned his head and saw, standing beside him, a peerless beauty. Her ink-wash long dress flowed gracefully, her dark hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her fair face bore exquisitely sculpted features of unparalleled beauty. Although the women around him were all considered beauties, the woman before him still gave him a breathtaking sense of awe. What shocked Jiang Fan the most was that this woman had a divine halo behind her head. And on it, there were no less than five flame marks!