Chapter 1615: Comparable to the Giant Emperor

Jiang Fan frowned. "You arrived first. Why are you asking me?"

Bing Xin Dazun said faintly, "Isn't his daughter, Zhen Yan, one of your people? If not you, then who should I ask?"

Jiang Fan felt a bit awkward. Had the news that Venerable Zhen Yan was his person spread widely? Even Bing Xin Dazun, far away in Sheng Lingzhou, knew about it. Did Great Venerable Xing Yuan also know?

He cleared his throat lightly and asked, "Isn't he in the academy?" It was then that he looked towards Wen Hai Academy, veiled by a sea of bamboo. Strangely, an invisible barrier surrounded the academy, silently blocking Jiang Fan's God Transformation realm perception as he tried to probe deeper. He looked at Bing Xin Dazun in surprise. "You can't see through it either?"

Bing Xin Dazun nodded gently, a puzzled expression on her face. "A very sophisticated formation has been activated. The one who set it up must be at least in the Sage realm."

Jiang Fan was secretly astonished. Wen Hai Academy had a Sage-level powerful expert? That didn't seem right. If such an existence were present, they could have intervened during the collective invasion of the Giant Tribes from above, just like in Da Huangzhou, Danzhou, and Shen Bingzhou. Why would it become the first major state to be breached, leading to the full invasion of the Giant Army from the central tribe?

As he pondered, various factions stirred, and large numbers of people surged towards the location. They were precisely the experts from Tai Cang, Shen Bing, Da Huang, and Danzhou. The Jiang Shan Yi Pin Pavilion Master was covered in blood, and the group of demonic cultivators he led were also bathed in blood, with even some casualties. Clearly, they had been through many battles.

The Jiang Shan Yi Pin Pavilion Master said to Jiang Fan, "The southwestern region has been reclaimed." With his and Great Venerable Hong Mo's strength, their progress was naturally unstoppable wherever they went; no number of ancient giants could stand against them. The reclamation was understandable.

It was then that he noticed a twenty-year-old woman of captivating beauty standing beside Jiang Fan. She had an ethereal aura, a serene and natural demeanor, clear eyes, and a touch of youthful innocence. Even after the baptism of this great battle, she still retained a youthful naivety. He smiled indifferently and said, "Bing Xin Dazun, it's been a long time."

Bing Xin Dazun looked at the unfamiliar middle-aged man before her with confusion: "Where did a Great Venerable of the Five Declines of Heaven and Man from Tai Cang Dazhou come from? And we've met before?"

At this moment, the Jiang Shan Yi Pin Pavilion Master was wearing a new mask, so even if Bing Xin Dazun had seen him before, she wouldn't recognize him. Looking at Jiang Fan and Bing Xin Dazun standing together, the Jiang Shan Yi Pin Pavilion Master said with a half-smile: "You don't recognize me, but I recognize you. After all, in our Tai Cang Dazhou, you and our Venerable Xing Huo were wearing rings of mutual understanding. I once thought this was false news, especially since Venerable Xing Huo was only an Eight-Orifice Nascent Soul at the time."

Venerable Hong Chen's eyes widened. "Rings of mutual understanding? Aren't those only worn by Daoist partners from Starry Mountain?"

Deputy Palace Master You muttered in astonishment, "Am I getting some juicy gossip here?" The experts from various states also had their eyes darting between the two, immensely curious.

Bing Xin Dazun's cheeks flushed slightly. Only she, Jiang Fan, and Venerable Lian Jing knew about this matter. How did the news get out? It truly was as the saying went: there were no impenetrable walls in the world. But she had a clear conscience and simply replied calmly, "Misinterpret it however you wish."

Hearing this, Xu Youran couldn't pretend she hadn't heard! Either there was something or there wasn't; what did "misinterpret it however you wish" mean? Bing Xin Dazun might not care about her reputation, but Jiang Fan still needed his good name. She stepped forward and bowed lightly: "Great Venerable, I ask that you publicly clarify this misunderstanding."

Bing Xin Dazun glanced at Xu Youran, feeling annoyed. She hadn't even felt wronged, yet this woman was complaining on Jiang Fan's behalf. She said expressionlessly, "Who are you? Why should I clarify anything for you?"

Xu Youran replied neither obsequiously nor arrogantly, "I am Jiang Fan's wife, Xu Youran."

Bing Xin Dazun's delicate body trembled, and a panicked look flashed in her beautiful eyes. This... this was actually the legitimate wife coming to demand an explanation! How could she dare let Xu Youran misunderstand? She quickly waved her hand, saying, "Fairy Xu, this is truly a misunderstanding. I and this dog... your husband, have absolutely no impropriety... I did it to beat him..."

Xu Youran frowned slightly. "Do you have to wear those Daoist partner items just to beat him?"

Bing Xin Dazun hastily explained, "I wore it to prevent him from escaping, and I made him wear one too."

Xu Youran pondered, "It's fine if you wear it yourself, but you forced my husband to wear it too? Is it really just a misunderstanding?"

Bing Xin Dazun wrung her small hands together. What was happening? The more she explained, the more confusing it got? She simply said, "In short, Jiang Fan and I only have enmity, absolutely no affection. Fairy Xu can rest assured."

Xu Youran asked confusedly, "What enmity do you have with my husband? At that time, my husband was only an Eight-Orifice Nascent Soul. How could he possibly have provoked you?"

Had Jiang Fan provoked fewer powerful figures?

Bing Xin Dazun said irritably, "Of course, it was because he stole my *du*..." She stopped halfway through her sentence. Was this something she could say aloud?

Xu Youran frowned and asked, "Stole your *du* what? It couldn't be your belly protector, could it?" She looked suspiciously at Bing Xin Dazun's perky, rounded chest.

Bing Xin Dazun's face quickly flushed red, her small mouth trembling nervously as she stammered for a long time without uttering a single word. Jiang Fan, seeing her distress, cleared his throat and said, "It was a pig's stomach."

Xu Youran gave him a puzzled look.

Jiang Fan, without batting an eye, said, "Bing Xin Dazun caught a rare pig demon, and I took its stomach. She's been chasing me for it. Isn't that right, Bing Xin Dazun?" The matter of the belly protector would be impossible to explain even with a hundred mouths; it absolutely couldn't be exposed.

Bing Xin Dazun nodded repeatedly, her eyes evasive. "Yes, yes, it was the pig's stomach."

Xu Youran muttered to herself, "She looks like such a gentle girl, why would she like to eat pig's stomach?" Since it was clarified, she didn't press further and said, "Thank you, Great Venerable, for clarifying the misunderstanding."

Bing Xin Dazun replied guiltily, "You're welcome." After Xu Youran turned and walked away, she gently patted her chest, calming her wildly thumping heart. "Xu Youran is even more terrifying than the Giant Emperor!" She quickly moved away from Jiang Fan. Before leaving, she secretly glanced at him and quietly huffed in her heart, "You made me lose face in front of everyone. Just you wait! Sooner or later, I'll transform into an old hag and mess with you, making you feel embarrassed too!"

With the matter settled, Jiang Fan breathed a sigh of relief. He gave the Jiang Shan Yi Pin Pavilion Master a speechless side-eye. What poor judgment, saying all that in front of Xu Youran?

The Jiang Shan Yi Pin Pavilion Master's mouth twitched. He truly didn't know that Xu Youran had already married Jiang Fan, so he immediately smiled awkwardly and changed the subject. "Ahem, where is Great Venerable Xing Yuan? Why isn't he here? Could it be that he has already perished?"

Everyone's hearts tightened. As the leader of Hunyuanzhou, if even he had perished, wouldn't all the other Confucian cultivators be wiped out? What exactly was the situation in Hunyuanzhou now?

Just then, a gentle, resonant voice suddenly came from underground.

"I am still here."