Chapter 1499: Mysterious Stone Cone

Unresolvable Substitute Marriage: Jiang Fan and Xu Yining

Venerable Lianjing gazed at Jiang Fan, her expression exceedingly serious. “Life is long, but not all deficiencies can be remedied. The passing of loved ones, the missed opportunities with beloveds – these cannot be compensated for. If you have even one such deficiency, your Flawless Path cannot be perfected, and you won’t be able to achieve Divinity.”

Jiang Fan’s eyes held a faint smile. “I know. My journey has been to live a life without regrets. Towards the women by my side, I have been sincere and dedicated, doing everything in my power to keep them with me, so none have been missed. As for family, I never met my mother, so her absence isn’t a deficiency. When my father was alive, he suffered greatly and wasted away; his passing was, in fact, a release for him. Therefore, very few deficiencies remain, and all of them have a chance to be mended.”

Venerable Lianjing then nodded slightly and said, “It seems I was overthinking. You always plan meticulously before acting. However, I’m still very worried about you. If it were normal times, it wouldn’t be too late to slowly mend your deficiencies after you enter the Nine-Aperture Nascent Soul realm. But with the ancient giants looming and the world in chaos, you might not get the chance.”

Jiang Fan fell silent. This was also why he hesitated to use the Aperture-Opening Divine Nail. If he were to enter the Nine-Aperture Nascent Soul state and be unable to awaken for a long time, facing the ancient giants then would mean more peril than fortune.

Venerable Lianjing said, “The current plan is for you to make up for all your regrets before entering the Nine-Aperture Nascent Soul realm. That way, once you enter the Nine-Aperture Nascent Soul realm, you will awaken quickly. Do you have any deficiencies that require my assistance?”

A hint of self-reproach flickered in her eyes. If she had known earlier that Jiang Fan was pursuing the Flawless Path, she would have stopped him no matter what. But she had been busy preparing merits for the Young Emperor, neglecting Jiang Fan and failing to guide him.

Feeling her apology, a warmth rose in Jiang Fan’s heart, and he said, “Godmother, there’s no need to blame yourself. I only have one remaining regret to address. I can resolve this matter myself.”

Venerable Lianjing’s eyes lit up slightly. “That’s good! Then go make it up now, and I’ll take you back to Young Emperor Mountain. I will use the resources of Young Emperor Mountain to protect you all the way to the Divinity Transformation realm.” This was why she had come to Taicang Great State today.

Jiang Fan took out the Aperture-Opening Divine Nail and said, “My sect and friends have already paved the way for me. Everything is ready; all that’s left is for me to mend my deficiencies.”

Venerable Lianjing showed a relieved expression. Jiang Fan was very popular in Taicang Great State; even such an ancient Aperture-Opening Divine Nail from eight hundred years ago could be gathered for him in this era. This showed how much effort had been put in for Jiang Fan.

“You always think of me, your godmother, so much that I barely have a chance to help you.” She gave a bitter laugh and said, “What are your plans next? Only three days remain until the ancient giants descend.”

Jiang Fan said without hesitation, “I want to make a trip to the Myriad Tribulation Sacred Hall to see if I can gather enough lightning power again.”

Venerable Lianjing recalled Jiang Fan’s massacre in Heavenly Relic City, where he annihilated half of the Dharma Aspect realm half-giants. That must have been due to Jiang Fan using some powerful secret art. Could it be related to accumulating lightning power?

She immediately said, “I’ll accompany you on this trip. If there isn’t enough, I’ll return to Young Emperor Mountain and get you a lightning mountain.”

Jiang Fan was overjoyed. With this, his lightning power would no longer be a concern. He hurried back to the dungeon, retrieved the cannibalistic flower seeds that were still chewing on corpses, and then departed with Venerable Lianjing for the Myriad Tribulation Sacred Hall.

Soon after.

At the Myriad Tribulation Sacred Hall.

Deep within the mountain range, a bolt of lightning connected heaven and earth, enduring for a long time without dissipating. Within the lightning, unfamiliar, mysterious characters faintly flickered. This was precisely the celestial phenomenon that occurred when Jiang Fan mastered the "Six Sections of Heavenly Lightning."

At the source of the lightning, on a rough, conical boulder stuck in the ground, dense, nine-colored lightning currents pulsed. They seemed to be protecting the boulder, forbidding anyone from approaching.

Venerable Ximo was panting, his robes scorched and his eyebrows and beard singed. His skin was also burned with patches of redness and swelling.

“As the foremost lightning cultivator in Taicang Great State, to be injured like this by a mere patch of lightning…” Venerable Ximo wiped his face, quite infuriated.

He had waited anxiously for Jiang Fan, and when he didn't arrive, he repeatedly tried to force his way closer to the boulder, hoping to unlock the secret of the artifact passed down by the Myriad Tribulation Sacred Hall's patriarch. He hoped to find a defensive magical artifact for the Myriad Tribulation Sacred Hall that could withstand the ancient giants. But his efforts were destined to be in vain.

If the secret could be unlocked so easily, how could the previous Venerables of the Myriad Tribulation Sacred Hall have done nothing? Ultimately, only someone who had fully mastered the "Six Sections of Heavenly Lightning" would have a chance to unlock it.

Thinking of this, he fumed, “Hasn’t that brat arrived yet?” It was embarrassing to admit. The "Six Sections of Heavenly Lightning" of the Myriad Tribulation Sacred Hall had actually been mastered by an outsider. Moreover, they now had to ask for his help.

Immortal Qionglou, who was not far away, gave a bitter smile. “Still no news…” Just then, the communication jade slip in his embrace vibrated. After receiving the message, a joyous expression appeared on his face, and he said, “He’s here! I just received word that Jiang Fan has arrived at our Myriad Tribulation Sacred Hall.”

Venerable Ximo was also suddenly pleased, but then his gaze shifted, and he snorted, “That scoundrel, an outsider fully mastered our Myriad Tribulation Sacred Hall’s secret cultivation art? You’ll have to give me an explanation.”

Immortal Qionglou understood that the Venerable wasn't truly making things difficult for Jiang Fan because of the cultivation art; otherwise, he would have personally gone to Heavenly Secret Pavilion long ago to kill him. He intended to give Jiang Fan a display of power. That way, getting Jiang Fan to cooperate in unraveling the mystery of the stone cone would be much smoother.

He hesitated for a moment, then said, “Venerable, Jiang Fan has a female companion with him; she also has a divine halo at the back of her head. She appears to be a Divinity Transformation Venerable.” The disciple who conveyed the message didn't dare to presumptuously gaze at Venerable Lianjing’s divine halo. They could only provide vague information.

Venerable Ximo was slightly surprised but didn’t pay much heed. This was the Myriad Tribulation Sacred Hall, his territory! Whoever comes here must play by his rules!

With a sweep of his sleeve, he instantly teleported away, saying, “Who cares who it is? I’m demanding an explanation from Jiang Fan; does she dare to stop me?”

Immortal Qionglou thought the same. Given Venerable Ximo’s fiery temper, he wouldn’t show much respect to those of the same cultivation level.

Soon after.

The two instantly appeared before the teleportation hall. No sooner had they landed than Venerable Ximo heard words that sent his blood pressure soaring.

“Vice-Pavilion Master Jiang, you’re finally here!”

“I also want to do a credit business with you. I’ve already prepared my precious female disciple as collateral; don’t worry, she’s guaranteed to be beautiful!”

“Department Head Zhao, you’re disgracing the integrity of our Myriad Tribulation Sacred Hall! How can you use your own female disciple as collateral? I’m different; I’ll use my wife!”

Venerable Ximo laughed in anger. “These guys!” Upon learning that Song Lingyu’s disciple, Hua Wuying, had served as collateral at Heavenly Secret Pavilion for three months, not only suffering no hardship but also gaining a heavenly fortune, everyone started wanting to use their female disciples as collateral. Even worse, some were using their wives as bait! “How absurd!”