Chapter 1623: Now Is Not Like the Past

Jiang Fan chuckled. "What a sweet, naive girl. She can't hide anything on her mind."

The young sage also chuckled. "Jiang Fan, don't mind her. She's just a child at heart."

Jiang Fan then composed himself, cupped his hands, and thanked him. "Thank you for your help just now, Senior."

The young sage waved his hand. "Sage Tianluo wouldn't dare do anything to you seriously. He was just trying to scare you."

"Make good use of the law he gave you. It's called the Law of Heavenly Net," he continued. "Tianluo, as the name suggests, is a fishing net in the sky. Once activated, it can successfully imprison a single person within a certain area, even among thousands. It can even temporarily imprison those in the Five Decrepitudes of Heaven and Man. Make good use of it."

Jiang Fan was overjoyed. Ordinary sage engravings had a negligible effect on those in the Five Decrepitudes of Heaven and Man. But this small, muddy lump from his armpit could directly influence them. This was like having an extra life-saving artifact on the battlefield!

"Yes, I'll keep that in mind, Junior."

The young sage nodded. "Take care on the battlefield. I have high hopes for you." With that, he turned and walked away.

Jiang Fan quickly asked, "May I ask which sage you are, Senior?"

"Wanyun," the other replied without looking back, waving a hand as his figure gradually blurred and vanished into the world.

"Is it Sage Wanyun?" Jiang Fan nodded gently.

This decisive battle would hinge on the clash between these sages and the Giant Emperors. He hoped they would win.

Jiang Fan inwardly assessed his condition. After half a day of cultivation, the final style of the *Three Soul-Slaying Forms* was perfected. His soul origin had also been successfully absorbed. At this moment, his soul had reached the realm of the Two Decrepitudes of Heaven and Man. His soul's strength was several times that of someone in the One Decrepitude of Heaven and Man! This exponential surge made his Soul Transformation body feel somewhat bloated.

"The gap between the Two Decrepitudes and the One Decrepitude of Heaven and Man is far too great, isn't it?" he wondered. "Previously, when I was in the Nascent Soul realm, my soul could surpass my physical body by two levels without any discomfort." He recalled their joint effort with Bodhisattva Tianting and Deputy Palace Master You to eliminate the Two-Star Giant King in Canghai, feeling a wave of relief. Without the Breath Earth, they might all have perished there.

Just then, Jiang Fan's heart stirred. He took out the dog basin from the Heavenly Thunder Stone. A day had passed. The dog basin could be activated once more. What should he use it to transform this time?

After some thought, he set up a barrier and threw an item inside. Then, he retrieved two identical items. He narrowed his eyes. "This can be replicated too? It seems Heaven truly favors my Central Plains."

Rumble—

The ground suddenly vibrated, as if mountains were crumbling and the earth splitting apart. This sensation was all too familiar to those who had experienced major battles. It was the giants galloping across the land. However, because the sound came from the direction of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, their identity was clear: Heavenly Legacy City, half-giants!

The Lord of Jiangshan Yipin Tower subtly approached Jiang Fan, narrowing his eyes. "Your trouble has arrived."

Jiang Fan's eyes gleamed coldly. "That's excellent! I was just looking for an excuse to eliminate the other Dharma Idol-realm giants! It'll prevent them from betraying us and causing trouble for the decisive battle!" He recalled the Battle of Heavenly Legacy City, where the half-giants of Heavenly Legacy City stood by, watching Mount Qunxing fight the enemy, and his heart filled with murderous intent. These fellows were completely unreliable! It would be best to eliminate them before the great war began!

Thump, thump, thump! Amid dull thuds, the nine-zhang-tall Heavenly Legacy City Lord led five Dharma Idol-realm half-giants in a charge. They were all half-giants of the Three-Phase and Two-Phase realms, as all the One-Phase realm half-giants had been slaughtered by Jiang Fan. Their target was clear: they headed straight for Jiang Fan!

The Heavenly Legacy City Lord made no attempt to conceal his killing intent. His massive body leaped into the air, stomping towards Jiang Fan. "You little beast, your end has come!" He had already sensed his son's demise. Without a doubt, he had died by Jiang Fan's hand. Killing five of his Dharma Idol-realm half-giants was already a capital crime, but killing his son too? Being torn to pieces would be the greatest mercy for Jiang Fan!

The Lord of Jiangshan Yipin Tower calmly said, "Do you think Taicang Great State has no one?" The divine halo behind him activated, and the domain of the Five Decrepitudes of Heaven and Man suddenly radiated outwards.

The Heavenly Legacy City Lord was caught off guard. He quickly retreated back into the sky, asking in surprise, "Who are you?"

The Lord of Jiangshan Yipin Tower calmly replied, "I advise you not to court death, or you'll regret it when it's too late." He wasn't afraid of the Heavenly Legacy City Lord, but rather the Benevolent Sage who protected them. That old man was not a good person.

Having arrived so aggressively in front of all the Soul Transformation realm cultivators of the Central Plains, how could the Heavenly Legacy City Lord be deterred by this? He coldly snorted, "You can't interfere with the affairs of my Heavenly Legacy City! I'll deal with him. You kill Jiang Fan! If any Soul Transformation realm cultivators from Taicang Great State dare to meddle, kill them all!"

The Lord of Jiangshan Yipin Tower shook his head. The Heavenly Legacy City Lord seemed to have some misunderstanding about the current Soul Transformation realm cultivators of Taicang Great State. "You brought this upon yourself." He transformed into an afterimage, streaking into the sky to battle the Heavenly Legacy City Lord. Deep in the world, terrifying ripples of power immediately erupted. The surrounding Soul Transformation realm cultivators quickly scattered.

Meanwhile, four Dharma Idol-realm half-giants charged at the solitary Jiang Fan with ferocious expressions. Especially the Three-Phase realm half-giant, whose eyes were filled with venom. It was Jiang Fan's godmother, Venerable Mirror of Pity, who had shattered his physical body, nearly killing his soul. Thanks to the protection of the Benevolent Sage, he had managed to survive. Now seeing Jiang Fan again, how could he not seek revenge?

"Little brat, no one can save you now!" With a single stomp, he leaped forward at teleportation speed. His powerful body was enough to smash Jiang Fan into a bloody mist. As for the Soul Transformation realm cultivators of Taicang Great State, he didn't even acknowledge their presence. They were just a group of Soul Transformation cultivators in the One Decrepitude of Heaven and Man. Anyone who stood in his way would die…

Before he could finish the thought, a black stone tablet appeared out of thin air in front of Jiang Fan. His seemingly invincible body crashed into the tablet but failed to move it. Instead, he was repelled backward.

"This… this is the Misfortune Sage's Divine Tablet?" he asked, his face filled with surprise.

From within the Divine Tablet, Jiang Wuya's calm voice resounded: "You stood idly by against the ancient giants, yet you are so vicious and merciless towards your own kind. Don't tell me you intend to follow in the footsteps of Venerable Xieya?" Venerable Xieya alone had caused countless deaths, and Taicang Great State had learned its lesson the hard way.

The Three-Phase realm half-giant's gaze turned grim. "Just a divine tablet. Do you think it can protect Jiang Fan?" He teleported, circling around the divine tablet to attack Jiang Fan. But mid-teleportation, a palm suddenly struck him, sending him flying from mid-air.

Venerable Red Devil radiated immense spiritual power, his eyes sharp and cold. "A bunch of half-breeds, are you really this arrogant? You dare openly kill a Soul Transformation realm cultivator from my Taicang Great State?"

The Three-Phase realm half-giant's pupils contracted. "Two… two in the Three Decrepitudes of Heaven and Man?" he said in alarm.

Venerable Red Devil snorted. "Jiang Wuya, go assist Jiang Fan and the others. I'll have some fun with this one!"

Jiang Wuya replied, "Alright." With a roar, he then suppressed a Two-Phase realm half-giant.

Jiang Fan's eyes showed a smile as he looked at the remaining two Two-Phase realm half-giants, calmly saying, "Everyone from Taicang Great State, let's warm up before the big battle."

Venerable Heart Devil stepped forward, his divine halo of the Two Decrepitudes of Heaven and Man remarkably bright. King Mingye Asura, Bodhisattva Pingtian, and Princess Zijiang also stepped forward.

Jiang Fan said playfully, "Five against two. It looks like our Taicang Great State is fighting a rich man's war."