Chapter 1456: Sworn Brothers

A destructive beam of lightning suddenly descended. The magnificent demon hall instantly collapsed.

Grandmaster Golden Scale's expression hardened, and a colossal shadow of a soaring serpent emerged behind him, enveloping Jiang Fan and the two others. However, with a mere puff, the giant serpent shadow was dispersed.

The lightning beam condensed into a human figure, radiating dazzling electric light. Throughout the Central Plains, only one person could effortlessly suppress Grandmaster Golden Scale's bloodline talent with lightning abilities. That person was the Young Emperor!

With his arms crossed, he indifferently gazed down. "The person I intend to kill, you cannot protect. Step aside. Otherwise, I will kill you too."

It was hard to imagine such words being spoken to a Grandmaster in the Five Declines of Heaven and Man stage. Yet, the Young Emperor was entitled to say them. He was a being capable of fighting even a Sage.

Grandmaster Golden Scale's eyes revealed deep apprehension. He had personally witnessed the Young Emperor and the Great Wine Priestess collaborate to slay a Sage-level hell creature formed from the lotus leaf of the Calamity-Averting Black Lotus! When his opponent acted, it meant the destruction of heaven and earth. He might not be able to protect Jiang Fan, and even Liuli and Lingshu could be affected. However, Jiang Fan had shown great kindness to his daughter. How could he abandon Jiang Fan?

"Jiang Fan, take Lingshu and Liuli and go!"

To his surprise, Jiang Fan did not leave. Instead, he stepped out from behind Grandmaster Golden Scale, his expression calm and devoid of any panic.

"We finally meet," Jiang Fan said calmly.

This day had, after all, arrived. He had been hiding since the fifth layer of the Core Formation realm, all the way until reaching the Eight-Orifice Nascent Soul stage. During this time, he hadn't dared to cultivate the Void Stream Thunder Force. He constantly guarded against any leakage of the Void Stream Thunder Force, fearing it would bring about his demise. It could be said that the Young Emperor was a sword hanging over his head since he began cultivating. He was the greatest threat Jiang Fan had faced in his cultivation journey. After countless days of hiding, there was nowhere left to run. Whether it was knowing his death was near or simply growing weary of constant evasion, he was unexpectedly calm.

The Young Emperor gazed indifferently at Jiang Fan: "A bit stronger than I anticipated. At least not a waste. It wasn't in vain that I sought you for so long." Even the Young Emperor had heard of Jiang Fan's reputation. For such a person to contend with him for the Void Stream Thunder Force was not entirely uninteresting.

"You flatter me," Jiang Fan replied.

"Will you die by your own hand, or mine?" the Young Emperor asked plainly. He unleashed no pressure, yet his words carried an oppressive aura.

Jiang Fan considered consuming the long boot and fleeing. But if he left, the Young Emperor would take his anger out on Grandmaster Golden Scale, Liuli, and Lingshu. Therefore, he had only one path. With a raise of his hand, four spirit swords transformed into brilliant streams of light, circling his body.

"I choose to fight to the death!" Even if he couldn't win, he would never surrender.

With a thought, the four spirit swords instantly assailed the Young Emperor.

"To strike at me, your courage is commendable." The Young Emperor did not dodge or even defend himself. He allowed the four spirit swords to strike him. However, when they struck the lightning glowing on his body, they were as if stuck in quicksand, unable to move at all.

Jiang Fan sighed inwardly; this was the Five Declines of Heaven and Man. A supreme level of existence, cultivated to its pinnacle. Nascent Soul techniques could not harm him in the slightest. With a shift in his thoughts, the last wish paper appeared in his left hand, and the Bone of Calamity in his right. He did not give up. Even if he died, he would die fighting.

However, just as he was about to make a wish, three spirit swords lost their power and fell, clattering onto the ground. Only one spirit sword remained, grasped by a young, slender hand.

"Why is the Earthfang Sword with you?"

Jiang Fan, however, wasn't surprised. He had long suspected the relationship between Venerable Compassionate Mirror and the Young Emperor.

"Your mother gave it to me!"

The Young Emperor's fingers traced the Earthfang Sword, and he fell silent for a long time. "This sword was given to her by an old friend. It is her most cherished possession. What is your relationship with her?"

"She is my godmother," Jiang Fan replied calmly.

The Young Emperor frowned, "Why has she never mentioned it?"

"I asked her not to," Jiang Fan said placidly. "One is her biological son, and the other is her godson. It would put her in a difficult position!"

After speaking, he retrieved a black lotus seed from the Skythunder Stone and tossed it to the Young Emperor. "Take it, this is for her. Don't tell her it was from me! Lest she knows I died by your hand."

Ever since he learned of the Calamity-Averting Black Lotus seed's effects, he had wanted to acquire it for Venerable Compassionate Mirror. Venerable Compassionate Mirror had traveled countless miles across vast regions to aid him after receiving his distress signal, angrily slaying a half-giant in the Three Declines of Heaven and Man stage for him, and confronting the Heavenly Relic City Lord who was in the Five Declines of Heaven and Man stage. All this made it worthwhile for Jiang Fan to obtain this lotus seed for her, no matter the cost. Now, he had repaid his godmother's kindness.

With resolute eyes, he once again raised the wish paper and declared, "Let's continue!"

The Young Emperor snatched the Calamity-Averting Black Lotus seed. He stared at the lotus seed, remaining silent for a long time. After a while, he closed his hand, pocketing the lotus seed. The Earthfang Sword was then hurled, flying towards Jiang Fan. Just as Jiang Fan thought it was a killing blow, the Earthfang Sword embedded itself three feet into the ground directly in front of his foot. Only its hilt remained visible.

"My mother never takes adopted sons. For her sake, I will spare your life." He slowly turned around, took a step without looking back, and vanished on the spot, transforming into lightning. Only his indifferent words echoed across the sky: "Within ten days, cripple your Void Stream Thunder Force. I will only spare you this once!"

In the collapsed hall, dust billowed. All was silent around them.

After a long time, Grandmaster Golden Scale finally sighed, "I never imagined you would cultivate the Void Stream Thunder Force. If you had an elder by your side, you probably wouldn't have walked this path. Many years ago, the Young Emperor issued a decree to the Nine Provinces: 'Cultivate the Void Stream Thunder Force, and die!' Since then, all who had cultivated it crippled their Void Stream Thunder Force, and those who hadn't considered it a forbidden art."

Jiang Fan let out a slight sigh of relief. He had originally believed the Young Emperor to be a heartless and cold individual. He had not expected the Young Emperor to spare him merely because he was his godbrother. Yet, he had been spared. He forced a wry smile and said, "My cultivation of the Void Stream Thunder Force was also a twist of fate. It has indeed brought me much trouble. But none of that matters anymore." He was already a dying man; whether he cultivated the Void Stream Thunder Force or not was meaningless.

"I hope my godmother successfully breaks through the Five Declines of Heaven and Man and becomes a new generation Grandmaster." This was his final wish for Venerable Compassionate Mirror. As for whether he would cripple the Void Stream Thunder Force after ten days, he would think about it then.

At that moment, a powerful aura swept over. It was Grandmaster Icy Heart. She wore a light-colored gown, her appearance stunning and gentle, exuding an aura of infinite tenderness. Gazing at the collapsed ruins before her, she couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "The Young Emperor was here?"

Grandmaster Golden Scale offered no explanation, simply saying, "A minor misunderstanding, he has already left."

Grandmaster Icy Heart nodded slightly, then paused, noticing Jiang Fan. Her crystal eyes immediately brightened, and she said, "You are Jiang Fan?" She had already seen the footage of Jiang Fan capturing the Princess alive and cleverly battling Grandmaster Immaculacy and the Five-Star Giant King in the Heavenly Realm above Hunyuan Province. She naturally recognized him at a glance. However, that wasn't the most important thing. More importantly, "Choose a Good Name" in the Moon Realm had mentioned being entangled with the Princess in the Heavenly Realm. She deduced that "Choose a Good Name" was Jiang Fan! She had finally met her Moon Realm friend in reality!