Chapter 1509: The Final Barrier of Transformation into Spirit

Jiang Fan decisively drew out Zi Dian.

At this moment, the hurried voice of the Heart Devil Venerable came from within the spatial power: "Fellow Daoist Jiang, wait!"

It was the Heart Devil Venerable? Jiang Fan let out a sigh of relief, but then anger flared up, and he cleaved his sword next to the Heart Devil Venerable.

The powerful sword qi dispersed the spatial power. The Heart Devil Venerable, who was in the middle of teleportation, stumbled, fell out of space, and landed heavily on the ground. And, face down.

"Hiss!" The Heart Devil Venerable let out a dry wail. He wanted to throw a tantrum, but when he looked up and met Jiang Fan's furious eyes, he instantly felt guilty.

"Cough, cough, Fellow Daoist Jiang, regarding the stone hammer, I didn't know it was so dangerous. If I had known, I wouldn't have invited you to the Myriad Calamities Sacred Hall for anything. Your current combat power is comparable to someone in the Soul Transformation Realm, a valuable force in resisting the ancient giant's catastrophe. If I harmed you, wouldn't I be destroying my own Great Wall?"

Only then did Jiang Fan, with a dark expression, sheathe his sword. He snorted, "You almost got me killed! We're done after this!"

The Heart Devil Venerable gave a bitter smile: "Whether we're done or not, that's for later. I came to congratulate you on your escape. Also, to hand over the treasure entrusted by Grand Venerable Lianjing."

He took out the jade talisman inscribed with Grand Venerable Lianjing's domain. He couldn't help but feel emotional. Even the Young Emperor had declared Jiang Fan's certain death, yet unexpectedly, Jiang Fan managed to emerge alive. It was truly a miracle of miracles!

Jiang Fan took the jade talisman and asked with concern, "My godmother isn't hurt, is she?" He could imagine that if he were dragged into the stone cone, Grand Venerable Lianjing, given her character, would definitely feel guilty and try to break into the stone cone to rescue him.

The Heart Devil Venerable said with reverence, "Grand Venerable Lianjing risked her life to save you and almost perished on the spot." He briefly explained the whole story.

A hint of emotion flickered in Jiang Fan's eyes, and he murmured: "A godson adopted not long ago, with no blood relation, was it really necessary?"

Immediately, he also felt a bit fortunate. "I didn't expect the Young Emperor to have arrived so early. If I hadn't been accidentally drawn into the stone cone, I would have had to face him. At that time, I would have at best had my Void Stream Thunder Energy crippled, or at worst, been slain on the spot, right?"

The Young Emperor's danger was not at all weaker than that of the White-Robed Skeleton. Jiang Fan vividly remembered the scene where the Young Emperor fought two opponents by himself that day. If he wanted to kill Jiang Fan, no one in Taicang Great Province could save him. Not even the Grand Wine Sacrifice might be able to protect him. Staying inside the stone cone for a day, he had unexpectedly avoided this deadly calamity. However, it was only a temporary avoidance.

A cold glint appeared in his eyes: "For the sake of the Void Stream Thunder Energy, he's been hounding me from the continent until now! Just pray that I don't cultivate to the Five Decays of Heaven and Man before I die. Otherwise, I'll definitely settle this score with you!"

At this moment, the Heart Devil Venerable took out some more items. They were a ball of thunder energy and a few jade talismans. He said apologetically, "This is my personal compensation to you. Although the thunder energy isn't much, it's all I have on me. The jade talismans contain my domain. While it's not as strong as Grand Venerable Lianjing's, it can still be useful when needed."

Jiang Fan recalled the Heart Devil Venerable's domain. It took him a while to remember. That day, when he first stepped into the Celestial Realm and encountered a Nine-Orifice Giant, Song Lingyu had used the Heart Devil Venerable's domain to protect everyone. Its effect was to stir up inner demons in people, causing them to become emotionally agitated. For an Eight-Orifice Nascent Soul, intense emotional fluctuations often led to one result: Entering madness!

Jiang Fan grasped the jade talismans and said, "Thanks." These were good things. Once an Eight-Orifice Nascent Soul entered madness, their combat power would greatly increase! This was also the essence of the Central Earth martial arts system. In the Tianshan battlefield, Jiang Fan had once witnessed a scene: A human with a Nine-Orifice Nascent Soul, by himself, killed nine ancient giants of the same level! This was the power of entering madness. If the Celestial Mechanism Pavilion ever reached its end, it could activate the Heart Devil Venerable's domain, letting all Eight-Orifice Nascent Souls enter madness for a desperate fight.

Besides that, although that ball of thunder energy wasn't much, combined with the two times he absorbed the thunder giant's power, plus the ball of thunder energy the Heart Devil Venerable initially gave him, it was just enough to fill the Abyssal Heart! He could once again activate the Six Arts Unification, temporarily elevating to the Soul Transformation Realm for five breaths of time!

The Heart Devil Venerable said with shame, "No need for thanks. Just don't blame our Myriad Calamities Sacred Hall."

Jiang Fan waved his hand and said, "Forget it. Your Myriad Calamities Sacred Hall are the true victims. Several of your predecessors perished because of this."

The Heart Devil Venerable frowned, puzzled, "Several predecessors?"

Jiang Fan secretly felt a chill. It seemed that the memories of the Myriad Calamities Sacred Hall's people, and their historical records, had been permanently altered! What kind of method was this? He shook his head and said, "Nothing."

"Heart Devil Venerable, we'll meet on the battlefield!"

The Heart Devil Venerable cupped his hands: "Only two days left. Farewell."

Only two days left? Jiang Fan picked up his identity token and saw that during his contemplation of the control scriptures, the Imperial Astrological Bureau had not released any new messages. Until the ancient giants descended, there were two days left! His heart sank. After sending off the Heart Devil Venerable, he left the main hall and gazed towards the beautiful White Pagoda. A beautiful figure in a light yellow long robe appeared in his mind. Just as he was about to approach, he noticed that the restrictions around the White Pagoda were active, prohibiting entry.

"Is Zhenyan cultivating? But didn't I poison all the spirit fish? Where did she get a chance for Soul Transformation?" After a brief thought, he didn't disturb her. He turned and looked towards the vast southern sea. It was as if his gaze transcended space, reaching the continent. He silently took out the Acupoint Opening Divine Nail, a complex expression on his face: "Yaoyue! You are my final obstacle to Soul Transformation!"

If there was anything else he regretted, it was the nine sect brethren who died unjustly in the Battle of Boundary Mountain, especially the death of Fu Chaojun, who entrusted his guqin to him on his deathbed. They died at Yaoyue's hands. He had once sworn in his heart to avenge them. But things didn't go as planned. Not only had he formed a Heart-Linking Divine Worm with Yaoyue, where they would prosper and suffer together, but he had also received favors from Yaoyue's mother, Lingyin, multiple times. Killing Yaoyue to avenge them had become an inextricable knot. If he killed Yaoyue, the Heart-Linking Divine Worm would cause Jiang Fan's soul to be destroyed as well, leading to his death. Even without the threat of the Heart-Linking Divine Worm, if he killed Yaoyue, how could he face Lingyin?

"This final hurdle to Soul Transformation is the real challenge." Jiang Fan sighed and silently put away the Acupoint Opening Divine Nail. Shaking his head, he turned and stepped into the teleportation array, heading back to the Celestial Mechanism Pavilion first.

Almost at the same time, on the continent, in Hundred Flowers Valley. Lingyin sat under a peach blossom tree, feeding the small fish gathering in the stream. As if sensing something, she raised her eyes, looked towards Taicang Great Province, and said calmly: "Has he resolved his other regrets so quickly? Then I'll give you a hand."

She raised her hand and plucked a peach blossom petal from the tree above her head. Her red lips parted slightly, and she gently blew on the peach blossom petal. The next moment, the peach blossom rapidly swelled like a skin. Soon, it miraculously transformed into a human figure! With picturesque eyebrows and eyes, its eighteen-year-old face was dazzling. It was none other than Yaoyue's appearance! However, its eyes were dull, with no signs of life; it was merely an empty husk.