Chapter 1625: Giant Emperor Has Arrived

His identity was already self-evident: the Sage of Divine Weapon Province! Due to injuries, he had remained in the Central Lands and had not even participated in the recent great battle there. He had conserved all his power to deal with the decisive battle currently unfolding.

Upon seeing Sage Cixin about to attack a junior, he couldn't help but reveal himself. He turned his head and shot Jiang Fan a glance, saying, "Isn't that right, kid?"

Jiang Fan knew that some Sages would not tolerate this. He cupped his hands and replied, "A Sage unworthy of their position naturally doesn't deserve respect from a junior. However, seniors like you and the other Sages are worthy of respect from both me and everyone in the Central Lands."

As soon as he said this, with Sage Tianluo and Sage Wanyun now mentioned, it was hard for them to remain bystanders.

Sage Tianluo said, "Cixin, why are you bickering with a junior at your age? Isn't it shameful?"

Sage Wanyun, less polite, snorted, "You should also rein in these half-giants! They devoured the inhabitants of three cities and then stood by idly while the Mountain of Stars fought the ancient giants alone! Are they still considered people of our Central Lands? It's no wonder Jiang Fan acted; I even feel like annihilating them myself!"

The red-faced elder said meaningfully, "Now that you mention it, I recall something. Cixin, I heard you used time-reversal laws on the three devoured cities and even captured the female venerable who guarded them, erasing her memories. What exactly are you trying to conceal?"

The God Transformation Realm cultivators on the ground also looked over, their eyes filled with coldness. The half-giants had consumed so many people, yet Sage Cixin not only failed to punish them but even covered up their heinous acts. What was even more infuriating was that the female venerable from the Mountain of Stars, who guarded the Seven Cities of Heavenly Abyss, had her memories erased by Sage Cixin. It was said she now lived like a walking dead, unaware and unconscious. Is this something a great Sage of the Central Lands should do?

Sage Cixin fell silent. What was supposed to be a confrontation between juniors had now shifted its fury onto him.

Sage Cixin's somber gaze pierced through the clear sky and landed on Jiang Fan. The hidden murderous intent in that cold stare sent shivers down one's spine. Jiang Fan remained unfazed. He had been fearless in Tianyi City back then, let alone with so many Sages present today.

"I'm asking you, old bastard!" Jiang Fan shouted. "What exactly are you covering up?"

At this moment, Sage Cixin's eyes seemed capable of tearing through the void. The entire scene fell into a deathly silence. All gazes directed at Jiang Fan were filled with awe. Who else in the world, besides Jiang Fan, would dare openly curse a Sage?

Just as the entire scene plunged into profound silence, an invisible, primal aura formed a tangible shockwave. It rolled in, pushing away the dark clouds and yellow sand across the sky. That aura carried an oppressive force that made all beings tremble and prostrate. It was similar to the divine might Sage Cixin had previously unleashed on his own people!

The red-faced Sage narrowed his eyes. "A Giant Emperor has descended upon the Central Lands. It seems they are nearly ready!" He then cast a sidelong glance at the clear sky and snorted, "I don't care what you're trying to hide, but if these half-giants do anything out of line again, you will be held responsible!"

The Sages hadn't executed the half-giants out of consideration for Sage Cixin. The Great War of a Thousand Years was imminent, and they needed Sage Cixin's power to fight the ancient giants; it wasn't a good time to fall out. That's why they had endured it until now.

Sage Cixin snorted, "This Sage knows his limits!"

Only then did the red-faced Sage relent, addressing Jiang Fan and the others: "We Sages will go ahead; you God Transformation Realm cultivators prepare yourselves and come quickly." The auras of the four Sages vanished simultaneously.

The God Transformation Realm cultivators from Taicang Province and the half-giants, who had been fighting, also ceased their combat. Calling them 'half-giants' was no longer accurate, as only the Lord of Tianyi City and two Three-Phase half-giants remained. Furthermore, one of the Three-Phase half-giants had been severely dealt with by Great Venerable Hongmo. One of its Dharma Idols had been shattered, reducing it to a Two-Phase half-giant.

"What a shame; it would have been better if that fellow Cixin had arrived a bit later," Great Venerable Hongmo said, her sharp gaze fixed on the Lord of Tianyi City and the two Three-Phase half-giants, her eyes still filled with undiminished coldness.

The Lord of Tianyi City glared fiercely at her but no longer dared to act as arrogant as before. Now, not only was their reputation ruined, and they were unwelcome among the God Transformation Realm cultivators of various provinces, but even several Sages harbored animosity towards them. They could only behave themselves and keep a low profile.

Jiang Fan was responsible for all of this. If he hadn't exposed the cover-up of the Seven Cities of Heavenly Abyss and then dragged a whole city to cause chaos in Tianyi City, how would this scandal have spread? Looking at the two fresh Two-Phase half-giant corpses on the ground, his murderous intent deepened. He cast a chilling gaze at Jiang Fan and commanded in a low voice, "Let's go!" The three half-giants stomped across the ground, rumbling away.

Shortly after they left, from the direction of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, two astonishing energy fields erupted in succession. One was enveloped in pure energy, while the other surged with demonic aura.

The group surrounded by pure energy was, naturally, the God Transformation Realm cultivators from the Mountain of Stars. A woman, appearing to be in her thirties, wearing a long ice-white dress and with flowing silver hair, arrived, leading a group of female God Transformation Venerables. Her skin was fair, and a flame mark adorned her brow. Her features were as if meticulously sketched by a painter, exuding a mature beauty that was unparalleled and timeless. However, her beautiful face was cold, and her eyes conveyed an aloofness that warned strangers to keep their distance. She was none other than the Mountain Master of Stars, a Great Venerable nearing the Five Declines of Heaven and Man!

Nine Venerables descended behind her in succession. Including her, there were exactly ten God Transformation Realm cultivators. If the three from Tianyi City were also counted, they currently had fifty-seven God Transformation Realm cultivators.

"Still far from enough," Jiang Fan thought, his brow deeply furrowed.

"What's with that expression?" The Mountain Master of Stars coldly eyed Jiang Fan, her gaze containing a hint of displeasure. She was clearly still bothered by Jiang Fan's escape from his marriage to Xu Yining.

Jiang Fan said, speechless, "It's not directed at you."

Just as the Mountain Master of Stars was about to speak, she suddenly caught sight of two massive bodies. With a quick glance, her eyes widened in surprise. "Two-Phase half-giants? Which Great Venerable did this?" A look of unbidden delight appeared on her face. Someone actually dared to kill Two-Phase half-giants right in front of Sage Cixin? This was incredibly satisfying! Their Mountain of Stars had fought the enemy alone, while Tianyi City stood by idly, which had genuinely infuriated them. Seeing two Two-Phase half-giants dead made her feel more relieved than if two actual Giant Kings had been killed.

"It was me," Jiang Fan said. "I avenged your Mountain of Stars; shouldn't there be a reward?"

The Mountain Master of Stars eyed Jiang Fan askance, suspicion in her gaze. "You? A Spark Venerable who just ascended to the God Transformation Realm killed two Two-Phase half-giants?" She gave a small, sarcastic "Heh heh." Her tone was undeniably mocking.

Great Venerable Bingxin pouted slightly and said, "Besides him, who else would be so reckless as to not fear Sage Cixin?"

The Mountain Master of Stars' eyes trembled slightly. It was really Jiang Fan who did it? He had only just become a Spark Venerable, yet he killed Two-Phase half-giants? Her gaze towards Jiang Fan became somewhat complex. Back then, she shouldn't have let Xu Yining have her way and allowed Jiang Fan to escape. She should have forced them into the wedding chamber!

However, what made her want to slap her thigh was Great Venerable Bingxin's soft snort: "Sister Qunxing, don't be fooled by his gentle, gentlemanly appearance. When he gets fierce, he's incredibly ruthless; he doesn't hold back, even against me... Cough cough, I mean, he shows no mercy when killing Giant Kings either. He single-handedly killed over twenty Giant Kings in Taicang Province."