Chapter 1473: Return

Five days later, at the Qintian Monitorate in Manyao Great State. Jiang Fan escorted Yue Mingzhu to the state-level teleportation array island, from which she would travel to Guixu State.

"We'll meet again after the Ancient Giant War," he said. "Take care of yourself."

Reluctantly, Yue Mingzhu stepped out of Jiang Fan's embrace, looking back three times with each step as she entered the grand teleportation array. As the array activated, a white light enveloped her.

Jiang Fan waved and smiled faintly, "Live, Mingzhu."

Yue Mingzhu gazed at Jiang Fan, who was waving goodbye. For some reason, her heart stirred. She vaguely felt this was a farewell. But she only had time to utter "Take care" before the spatial energy swept her away.

Jiang Fan's smile faded, and he stood silently for a long time. Then he softly murmured, "Live well. Regardless of whether you can see me again."

He then leaped to the teleportation island leading to Taicang Great State. Just as he was about to enter, he heard a string of clear, bell-like laughter coming from the main island.

"Great Wine Sacrificer, Grand Venerable Black Dragon has left with his cave mansion, and our Manyao Great State has lost a Supreme to fight against the enemy," a commander, who had just returned from Ling Snake Mountain, reported with a grave expression from inside the great hall.

"Heh heh, it's fine. If the sky falls, taller people will hold it up!" The Great Wine Sacrificer laughed and waved her hand dismissively, acting very carefree.

Jiang Fan couldn't help but secretly admire the Great Wine Sacrificer's sense of responsibility. In the face of catastrophe, she stood alone, holding up the sky for all beings in Manyao Great State. Compared to the drunken Great Wine Sacrificer of Dah荒 State, the sentimental Great Wine Sacrificer of Hunyuan State, and the crybaby Great Wine Sacrificer of Guixu State, Manyao Great State's Great Wine Sacrificer seemed quite normal.

The commander was overjoyed, saying, "Does this mean, Great Wine Sacrificer, that you have a way to turn the tide?"

"Hahahaha!" The Great Wine Sacrificer burst into prolonged laughter, "There's no way! I no longer have the opportunity to intervene! You can only rely on yourselves to resist the arrival of the Ancient Giants!"

The commander was stunned, asking, "Then... if we only rely on Grand Venerable Golden Scale and the demon multitude, what's the probability of holding them off?"

The Great Wine Sacrificer laughed again, "Hahahaha, that's an excellent question! In my opinion, we have at least... a ten percent chance of victory."

Ten... ten percent? Doesn't that mean a ninety percent chance of death? The commander looked bewildered, "Then why are you still laughing, Great Wine Sacrificer?"

The Great Wine Sacrificer laughed uproariously, tears streaming from her eyes, "I want to cry too. But I can't, so I can only laugh. Hahahaha. Hahahahaha."

Jiang Fan's scalp tingled from listening. He quickly slipped into the teleportation array and activated it with lightning speed. A flash of white light enveloped him, and in the next instant, he was teleported away.

Only then did he let out a long sigh of relief. "I take back what I just said. The Great Wine Sacrificer of Manyao Great State is also abnormal!" Jiang Fan felt a surge of helplessness. It truly echoed what the commander of Dah荒 State had said: apart from the Great Wine Sacrificer of Taicang Great State being somewhat normal, the others were all a little off their rocker. The Great Wine Sacrificer of Manyao Great State was no exception. Considering the law of "ever-present smiles" she had given Jiang Fan, she was the opposite of Guixu State's Great Wine Sacrificer. One loved to cry, the other loved to laugh—even if it meant laughing until death.

"What's wrong with all the Great Wine Sacrificers?" Jiang Fan wondered, puzzled. "Perfectly normal people, yet they're all a bit strange. Also, the 'Laughing' Great Wine Sacrificer said she no longer has a chance to intervene. Why is that? Are Great Wine Sacrificers restricted by some rule during the Ancient Giant War, preventing them from acting freely? That can't be right, can it? The Laughing Great Wine Sacrificer fought fiercely when dealing with the creatures of Hell."

Soon, as the teleportation intensified, he began to feel dizzy and disoriented, making further thought impossible.

Meanwhile, at Ling Snake Mountain. Grand Venerable Golden Scale looked upon the riddled mountains and the countless casualties among the demon race, an uncontrollable rage etched on his face. "If the Ancient Giants can't kill Grand Venerable Black Dragon, I will personally destroy him!" he declared. "Even if I have to chase him to the ends of the earth, I will take his head to honor the innocent departed souls!"

It turned out that while Grand Venerable Golden Scale and Grand Venerable Ice Heart were repairing the Void Rifts, Grand Venerable Black Dragon had escaped back to Ling Snake Mountain and moved his cave mansion. Before leaving, out of revenge, he massacred the demon multitude of Ling Snake Mountain. Although the two returned in time, it still resulted in significant casualties. They spent several days trying to rescue survivors but couldn't save many. At this crucial juncture, with the Ancient Giants' arrival imminent, Grand Venerable Black Dragon had repeatedly caused major casualties to the demon race; his sin was nothing short of treason against the demon race!

Grand Venerable Ice Heart sighed softly, "It's a good thing your daughter and Ling Shu luckily escaped unharmed. Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to explain it to Jiang Fan's departed soul."

Hearing this, Grand Venerable Golden Scale was filled with shame. Calculating the time, five days had passed, and Jiang Fan must have drifted to the deepest parts of the Void. He had most likely perished in the spatial turbulence there. Not only had he failed to protect Jiang Fan, but he had also almost failed to protect Ling Shu.

He cupped his hands towards Grand Venerable Ice Heart and said, "Please, Grand Venerable Ice Heart, keep the news of Jiang Fan's demise a secret. At least, they shouldn't know before the Ancient Giant War concludes."

Grand Venerable Ice Heart looked with some pity at the two fragile girls on the ground, especially Ling Shu. After finally overcoming obstacles to find happiness with Jiang Fan, they were now separated by life and death. She nodded gently, "How could I bear to tell them the truth?"

Shaking her head, she said, "Since Grand Venerable Black Dragon has already escaped Manyao Great State, I will take my leave."

Grand Venerable Golden Scale asked, "Are you going to Taicang Great State?"

Grand Venerable Ice Heart did not hide it. "Yes," she said. "I need to find the holder of the Desolate Ancient Token and assess whether they are qualified to possess it. If not, I must ensure the Desolate Ancient Token finds a new owner."

Grand Venerable Golden Scale nodded. "That is only proper," he said. "The Desolate Ancient Token is our last retreat in the Central Lands. Should the Central Lands fall completely, all hope will rest on it. Its holder cannot fail. Do you require my assistance?"

Grand Venerable Ice Heart shook her head. "I have a way to find him. However, there's another matter I need to consult Grand Venerable Golden Scale about." As she brought this up, Grand Venerable Ice Heart, known for her gentle and innocent nature, immediately darkened her expression.

"You frequently travel through various states; have you ever seen a peculiar magical artifact?" she asked. "It's a fishing line with a golden fishhook attached."

Grand Venerable Golden Scale pondered. "A fishing line and hook? It must be some kind of fishing artifact," he mused. "I haven't actually seen anything like that. Why do you ask?"

Grand Venerable Ice Heart involuntarily clutched her chest. These past few days, the more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and the angrier she became, the more she thought. "Who is so shameless and perverted?" she thought. Stealing her undergarments? No, he must be sick! Unless she exposed this pervert and utterly obliterated him, her deep hatred would not subside.

Grand Venerable Ice Heart secretly clenched her small fists. "It's nothing," she said. "I just hate those fishermen who can catch anything *but* fish!" "I'll take my leave." She cupped her hand in farewell and instantly teleported away.

Grand Venerable Golden Scale was left with a stunned expression. "Who angered her that much?"

Taicang Great State. Ugh, ugh, ugh. Jiang Fan held onto a wall and threw up yet again. "This damn state-level teleportation array, not even a dog would ride it!"

At the entrance, the long-waiting Great Wine Sacrificer's husky laughter was heard. "You said that already when you came back from Hunyuan State."