Chapter 1555: Flames of War Reignite

At this moment, the battle situation in various states dramatically shifted again. The great victory in Taicang ignited a full-scale war across Middle-earth.

Following the intervention of the Great Wine Sacrifice of the Great Barren State, the Great Wine Sacrifices of Dan State, Divine Arms State, Guixu State, and Sacred Spirit State successively made their moves.

With the arrival of the Sages, order was restored. In the four major battlefields, most of the ancient giants were annihilated, directly turning the tide of battle.

Meanwhile, the crimson spears arrived unexpectedly, causing destruction identical to what was seen in the Great Barren State. Fortunately, the four Great Wine Sacrifices were well-prepared; each employed astonishing techniques to evade the strike.

Subsequently, they surged into the Celestial Realm through the rifts.

Jiang Fan noticed that only the Smiling Great Wine Sacrifice of the Myriad Demon State and the Tomb-Weeping Great Wine Sacrifice of the Primal Chaos State were nowhere to be found. However, judging from the lingering traces of destruction on the ground, it seemed they had been targeted by the Nine-Sun Giant Emperor even before the war began.

The reason was simple: both Great Wine Sacrifices from the Myriad Demon State and the Primal Chaos State had previously intervened.

Previously, when the interlayer world of the Myriad Demon State opened, it faced an apocalyptic crisis from Hellish beings, forcing the Smiling Great Wine Sacrifice to act. As for the Great Wine Sacrifice of the Primal Chaos State, he had to intervene and destroy the Immaculate Grand Venerable when the latter attempted to kill Jiang Fan with a lingering thought.

It was these interventions that led to them being targeted in advance. Consequently, as soon as the war started, they were directly attacked by the Nine-Sun Giant Emperor.

Jiang Fan's eyes showed concern, especially for the Tomb-Weeping Great Wine Sacrifice. At the time, Jiang Fan had thought his assistance was merely a casual strike and had only offered a quick thank you. He hadn't realized that the Tomb-Weeping Great Wine Sacrifice had expended such a precious blow, a strike that could have, like in the Great Barren State, annihilated countless giants. Yet, to save him, it had only slain the lingering soul of the Immaculate Grand Venerable.

A deep sense of guilt washed over him. He quickly looked towards the battlefield in the Primal Chaos State.

Without the aid of a Great Wine Sacrifice, the Primal Chaos State was locked in a grueling battle. The presence of the blood pool was causing the Primal Chaos State to gradually follow in the footsteps of the Great Barren State: the more they fought, the more enemies appeared!

As for the Myriad Demon State, the situation was somewhat better because the blood pool's conversion rate for demon races was not 100% successful, unlike for humans. This significantly weakened the blood pool's effectiveness. Currently, both sides were still evenly matched.

Therefore, it was clear where Taicang State should send aid: the Primal Chaos State!

"Everyone, recover quickly; a new battle is imminent," the Great Wine Sacrifice said, holding his whisk, his gaze fixed on the battle situation in the various states, his brow furrowed.

It was the first time Jiang Fan had seen the Great Wine Sacrifice frown, and his heart sank. Had the Great Wine Sacrifice discovered something very bad? Regardless, they had to prepare themselves as quickly as possible.

Having consumed so many Anti-Void Elixirs and Celestial Garment Divine Waters, he had nothing much to adjust. Most of the people from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion had exhausted their spiritual elixirs. Jiang Fan distributed his remaining few elixirs among them. Then, he requested materials for Anti-Void Elixirs and Celestial Garment Divine Waters from all sects, including Mount Sanqing, to refine elixirs on the spot. After the baptism of the giant war, the various sects were surprisingly united. They all handed over their materials for Jiang Fan to refine elixirs.

Even the Bodhisattva produced many materials, saying, "This battle owes much to Benefactor Jiang."

As Jiang Fan purified the materials, he spared a glance at the Bodhisattva. Noticing the Sand Giant King behind him, he couldn't help but worry, "He won't risk breaking free, will he?"

The Bodhisattva smiled gently, "This is due to my second great vow, 'Salvation.' My great vows originate from the ancient sages of Middle-earth. As long as the ancient sages endure, even if I die, the vows will remain."

Jiang Fan mused, "Your second great vow has a usage limit, right?" The Bodhisattva did not hide it, "It can be used once every three years."

No wonder! If it could be used infinitely, this battle wouldn't have been so difficult. The thought that the Bodhisattva had previously intended to use his second great vow on him gave him goosebumps. Fortunately, the two-star Giant King and the God-Transformation Realm cultivators from Young Emperor Mountain had caused a disruption back then. Otherwise, he might have truly been forcibly converted. This Bodhisattva was truly inscrutable.

After a moment's thought, Jiang Fan curiously asked, "What is your third great vow?" If the second great vow was so heaven-defying, wouldn't the third be even more powerful?

The Bodhisattva smiled calmly, "Those who are destined will know." Jiang Fan rolled his eyes, "Go on, don't disturb me while I'm refining elixirs."

The Bodhisattva smiled silently and departed.

While he was refining elixirs, across the continent...

A graceful figure, riding a cloud, flew towards Taicang State. Her appearance was exquisite, her expression gentle, and her dress flowed like that of a celestial being. It was Xu Youran, the very person who made the women of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion turn pale at the mention of her name. Urgently guiding her white cloud, her eyes showed worry: "You must wait for me, Xiao Fan."

Above Mount Qingli, a sinister-looking young man stood with his arms crossed, silently gazing in the direction of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion. Behind him, a faint, illusory figure was visible. He was none other than the Young Master of Heavenly Relic City, sent to rescue Imperial Daughter Zijiang and kill Jiang Fan. After traveling through several state-level teleportation arrays, he had finally secretly arrived in Taicang State. Now, all he needed was to find Jiang Fan and kill him with a single strike.

"Jiang Fan, your doom has arrived!" He pulled a bone from his bosom. Engraved on it were five illusory human figures—the Dharma manifestations of the Heavenly Relic City Lord! It might be difficult to kill a Heavenly Human Five Declines stage cultivator, but anyone below that stage could be slain!

Gazing intently at the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, his eyes sharpened, and he was about to advance when he suddenly sensed something and looked towards a nearby space. With a flash of spatial fluctuation, a fist-sized soul, pale-faced, tumbled out. It was none other than the soul of Venerable Evil Raven!

The Calamity-Crossing Black Lotus had only absorbed his flesh and blood, having no interest in his soul, which was how he managed to cling to life. He took a deep breath, a smile spreading across his face. "Hahaha, there's always a way out! I thought I'd be banished into the void forever. Heh, who knew Jiang Fan's things were so useful?" He looked at the jade box he clutched to his chest as if it were a treasure. Inside was a piece of tattered cloth. It was by using this very cloth that he had pressed a crack into the world barrier, allowing him to escape back to Taicang State.

"Jiang Fan, oh Jiang Fan, I will take everything from you!" He glanced around. When he realized he was at Mount Qingli, his face immediately twisted into a ferocious grin. "Excellent! It's fate! To think I was teleported so close to your lair! It's a shame I don't have a suitable body for possession. Otherwise, I'd possess one now and wipe out your sect!" Given his soul's strength, only a God-Transformation Realm body would be suitable for possession. But there were only a few God-Transformation Realm cultivators in Taicang State; where could he find one?

Suddenly, Venerable Evil Raven sensed something and sharply looked to his side. When he noticed the Young Master of Heavenly Relic City, he was startled. "Dharma Manifestation Realm? Are you from Heavenly Relic City?" Realizing this was Jiang Fan's territory, and that Jiang Fan had once massacred Heavenly Relic City, he immediately understood the other party's intentions: to get revenge on Jiang Fan!

At this thought, he couldn't help but smile. "Jiang Fan, oh Jiang Fan, you've committed too many sins; everyone wants to see your whole lineage destroyed!" Adhering to the principle that an enemy's enemy is a friend, he smiled, "I am Venerable Evil Raven, and I have a long-standing feud with Jiang Fan. I presume you're also here to seek revenge on him? How about we work together?"

The Young Master chuckled, his eyes narrowing to slits as he stared at the jade box in Venerable Evil Raven's hand, greedy light glinting from his eyes. "Very well. However, I am lacking something. I wonder if you would be willing to lend it to me?"