Chapter 1442: Evil Ways

The gray lotus root before them actually had a human outline! It had a protruding head and faintly visible limbs. Although still clumped together like a swollen mass, it already possessed the rudimentary form of a human. At first glance, Jiang Fan even mistook it for a person!

Yue Mingzhu also leaned in, and upon a closer look, her heart thumped wildly. She gasped, "W-what is this thing? Has the lotus root become a spirit?"

Jiang Fan stared at the human-shaped lotus root, an inexplicable chill running down his spine. It felt as if it were alive. Recalling Golden Scale Great Venerable's apprehension towards it, Jiang Fan had already made up his mind. He had never intended to take this item out of the interdimensional world. Now that he had the lotus seeds, it was time to get rid of it.

Glancing at the continuously churning ground, Jiang Fan didn't hesitate and threw it down.

"Huh? Why did you throw it away?" Yue Mingzhu abruptly stopped the spatial scroll, her voice full of disbelief. The Calamity-Crossing Black Lotus, which they had acquired with such difficulty, was just discarded like that?

Even the Divine Transformation Venerable's spirit widened its eyes. "Are you insane?" Besides the lotus seeds, the other parts of the Calamity-Crossing Black Lotus were all priceless treasures.

Jiang Fan said calmly, "This item seems rather sinister; it's better not to bring it into the Central Lands."

Under his gaze, the Calamity-Crossing Black Lotus dropped onto the ground. The ground, surging like monstrous waves, instantly submerged the Calamity-Crossing Black Lotus, burying it deep beneath the surface. Seeing this, Jiang Fan finally felt a slight sense of relief. Such an evil object should remain buried underground forever.

"Let's go," Jiang Fan said, withdrawing his gaze.

Yue Mingzhu reluctantly pulled her gaze away, glaring at Jiang Fan. "A full man doesn't know the hunger of an empty stomach!" she scoffed. She wanted to retrieve it, but the turbulent earth had probably already crushed the Calamity-Crossing Black Lotus. Helplessly, she dejectedly maneuvered the spatial scroll to depart.

However, just as they were about to leave, the rumbling sound throughout the world abruptly ceased! The turbulent ground suddenly settled. The trembling spatial barrier also immediately returned to its original state. The entire world fell silent in an instant!

And the Calamity-Crossing Black Lotus, which should have been buried deep underground, actually broke through the earth, revealing a lotus pod!

At this sight, Jiang Fan, Yue Mingzhu, and the Divine Transformation Venerable's spirit were all utterly terrified! Staring at the dark, quietly glowing lotus pod, Yue Mingzhu felt goosebumps erupt all over her body.

"This lotus flower... it's so sinister!" She completely abandoned the idea of taking it with them.

The Divine Transformation Venerable's spirit also showed traces of unease. "Something is wrong with this Calamity-Crossing Black Lotus," it murmured. "It's best to get away from it quickly."

The two of them now somewhat understood why Jiang Fan had thrown it away. This lotus indeed exuded an unsettling strangeness.

Just then, several powerful auras approached from the horizon. Focusing their gaze, they saw three Divine Transformation Realm hell creatures pursuing a group of people who were fleeing in a panic. Upon spotting them, the creatures immediately headed in their direction.

Yue Mingzhu's expression changed. She decisively activated the spatial scroll, preparing to escape. However, Jiang Fan suppressed the teleportation using the essence of space, saying, "Wait!"

Jiang Fan noticed streaks of nine-colored sword shadows constantly striking behind that group of people. This was Jiang Wuya's sword intent! He had also been swept into this place and was being pursued by three Divine Transformation Realm hell creatures. Without hesitation, he summoned the Hell Soul Bell. Without waiting to see who they were, he decisively shook the Hell Soul Bell. Piercing bell sounds radiated outwards.

The three Divine Transformation Realm hell creatures pursuing Jiang Wuya and his companions abruptly halted. After glancing at Jiang Fan's direction with surprise and suspicion, they decisively retreated.

Jiang Wuya and the others seized the opportunity to break free and approached Jiang Fan.

"Prince of the West Sea? Were you also swept into this interdimensional world by the spatial tremor?" Jiang Wuya was greatly surprised.

Jiang Fan nodded, then shook his head. "It was a bit different for me," he replied. During the first tremor, he had been teleported to a safe zone. But then another spatial force seemed to target him, forcibly pulling him into the interdimensional world. He wondered if it was a coincidence.

Seeing that Jiang Fan was safe and sound, Jiang Wuya breathed a slight sigh of relief and said, "It seems you were fortunate and didn't encounter any danger. Of all the people swept in here with us, only three of us are still alive. The others must have died."

Yue Mingzhu rolled her eyes. The most dangerous things in the interdimensional world weren't the hell creatures, but those two Demon Race Great Venerables! They had almost met their end there. If it hadn't been for this Prince of the West Sea timely subduing the Divine Transformation Venerable's spirit from Divine Weapon Province...

Wait! Yue Mingzhu looked at Jiang Fan with suspicion. Prince of the West Sea? Others might not recognize him, but how could she not recognize the Prince of the West Sea? The person in front of her absolutely could not be the Prince of the West Sea! If his name was false, then was his appearance false as well? Staring at Jiang Fan's back, Yue Mingzhu fell into deep thought.

"All dead?" Jiang Fan's heart sank. This was what he least wanted to hear. All those who participated in today's battle were late-stage Nascent Soul Realm experts. The demise of any one of them would mean that many weaker beings in the Central Lands would perish at the hands of the ancient giants.

Jiang Wuya nodded grimly, carefully setting Song Lingyu down from his shoulder before stating in a low voice, "There were ten of us swept in together; now only three of us are left. As for the others who were swept in, their situation could only be worse."

At this moment, Song Lingyu's right elbow had been bitten off, and she had fallen into a coma. Traces of madness still lingered around her. It was clear without a doubt that they must have faced an enormous desperate situation, forcing Song Lingyu into a state of madness. Without hesitation, he took out the severed rabbit tail, plucked a single strand of fur from it, and sprinkled it onto her severed arm. Immediately, the wound regenerated bone and flesh.

Jiang Wuya was both surprised and grateful. "Thank you for your generosity, Prince of the West Sea!" he said. Such a divine item was invaluable.

Jiang Fan nodded, then looked at the third person who had escaped back with them. He hadn't known until he looked, and when he did, his eyes narrowed. The third person was none other than the Soul Shadow Demon Monarch! His face was pale, and he had multiple penetrating wounds across his body, the most severe being a shoulder that had been torn open. No wonder Jiang Wuya had claimed that everyone else had died. If two Divine Transformation Venerables had ended up in such a state, what about the other individuals who had been swept in?

Seeing Song Lingyu's injuries being healed, the Soul Shadow Demon Monarch immediately shouted, "What are you staring at? Aren't you going to heal me?"

Jiang Fan's eyes narrowed. Why should he use the rabbit fur he had acquired on the Soul Shadow Venerable? Since he had already decided to turn against the Black Dragon Great Venerable, there was no longer any need to pretend to be controlled. He immediately put away the rabbit fur.

The Soul Shadow Demon Monarch's eyes flickered with uncertainty, and he said in a low voice, "What? Have you forgotten who you are?"

Jiang Fan said nothing, merely discreetly mobilizing three top-grade spirit swords. If he teamed up with Jiang Wuya, they might not be unable to defeat the Soul Shadow Demon Monarch.

However, the Soul Shadow Demon Monarch's gaze flickered, suddenly drawn to the Calamity-Crossing Black Lotus at his feet. His pupils contracted in shock. "The Calamity-Crossing Black Lotus?" he exclaimed. Intense greed immediately flashed in his eyes.