Chapter 488: The Scapegoat Has Arrived

Jiang Fan was startled.

Could this black mirror also be a spatial storage device? Or perhaps a massive one?

"First, explain clearly!" the Evil Spirit said urgently.

"Within this Great Wall, there are war supplies left from ancient times! These include not only wood and fuel, but also large chevaux de frise, long-range powerful crossbows, Heaven-shaking Thunder, and more. These were all used to combat ancient giants back then. They would be perfectly suited for dealing with the army of corpses."

Jiang Fan raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Are you sure?"

The Evil Spirit smugly replied, "Do you think a Nascent Soul late-stage grand cultivator is useless? The fact that I've lived for over two hundred years is enough to make me a living history book. I know the history that your contemporary generation rarely understands!"

Jiang Fan was speechless. Give this guy an inch, and he'll take a mile!

"If you keep rambling, Lei Zhenhai will take back his promise."

The Evil Spirit quickly spoke, "When the great war ended back then, many of the war supplies hadn't been used up. The demon race suggested dividing them, but one of the sages proposed, 'What if the ancient giants return?' So, after deliberation, several sages worked together to create a colossal space within the Great Wall. All the supplies were sealed inside, and a time-stasis seal was also added. Those supplies should still be perfectly preserved, without any decay."

Such a deeply hidden piece of history existed? If the Evil Spirit hadn't revealed it, no one would have known.

"Do you know its location?" Jiang Fan asked hurriedly.

The Evil Spirit nodded. "Naturally, it's about fifty li west of here, along the Great Wall. It should be easy to find."

Jiang Fan no longer hesitated. He decisively said, "Sect Master Lei, I might be able to find enough war supplies. But I'll need a little time to confirm."

Lei Zhenhai, who had been filled with disappointment, suddenly perked up. But upon hearing it was Jiang Fan speaking, his hopes plummeted again.

"This is no time for your nonsense!" Lei Zhenhai lightly reprimanded.

Jiang Fan replied, "At such a critical moment of war, how could I act recklessly? It's just that I'm not entirely certain, so I need to go and try. If I truly find enough supplies, I ask that Sect Master Lei fulfill his promise."

Seeing his confident expression, Lei Zhenhai's eyes flickered slightly. "Alright!" he said. "You have two hours. If you find them, I'll lend you the Lei Yan Token on the spot! If you don't, I won't punish you, but you'll be the first to charge to the front line, to preserve your dignity!"

Jiang Fan frowned. He'd still be penalized if he couldn't find them? What kind of logic was that? If he didn't even try to look, wouldn't there be no consequences at all? He instantly understood. Lei Zhenhai was using this as an opportunity to settle scores with him. Jiang Fan's previous confrontations had often put Lei Zhenhai in an awkward position. This was a form of indirect retaliation.

After a brief thought, Jiang Fan nodded. "Alright, I accept." Besides, even if he truly couldn't find the supplies, he would still have to go to the front line. With the army of corpses vast and boundless like a beast tide, no disciple would be able to hide behind. Being first or last to go, it was all the same. No one could avoid it.

Li Qingfeng, Wen Hongyao, and Zhao Wuji all grew annoyed. Lei Zhenhai was clearly bullying him! But then they realized that if the supplies weren't found, all the disciples would have to confront the demonic beasts head-on. Whether one was first or not, it no longer mattered. So, they all offered him encouragement.

"Try to find them if you can, but it's okay if you can't. When the time comes, I'll charge out with you!" Li Qingfeng sighed deeply. He couldn't bear to see his two female disciples lose their husband before his very eyes!

"Elders, don't worry!" Jiang Fan cupped his hands, then secretly asked the Evil Spirit for detailed information about that space. After getting the specific location and entrance, just as he was about to set off, the Evil Spirit hesitated, then reminded him, "However, a space designed by sages might not be so easy to enter. There might even be some dangers."

Jiang Fan's heart sank slightly. He had also considered this point. If it could be opened so casually, someone would have already done so long ago. There was definitely some difficulty in opening it. And possibly, a certain degree of danger. Going alone might be somewhat unsafe. Getting injured or losing his life was one thing, but he might also end up damaging some of his personal magic treasures. If only he had a resourceful and exceptionally clever scapegoat... no, a like-minded companion would be perfect.

"Jiang Fan!!!"

Just then, a frantic scream echoed from far below Jie Mountain. The piercing sound, filled with deep hatred, made the ice and snow on Jie Mountain tremble slightly. Everyone looked strangely towards the source of the sound. It was a voluptuous woman in a wine-red dress, charging up with murderous intent. Her elegant long dress was covered in blood and mucus, her flowing black hair was matted and sticky, and her aura was chaotic. Her beautiful oval face was replaced by boundless fury. Her peach blossom eyes blazed with fire.

Xia Chaoge quietly walked over to Jiang Fan, clicking her tongue. "Uncle-master, what did you do to her?"

Liang Feiyan looked at Jiang Fan with a peculiar expression. "She looks like she wants to kill you. Junior Brother Jiang, did you perhaps lose control and... do something to her?"

Jiang Fan shot her a look. "If she let you touch her, would you dare?" he retorted.

Liang Feiyan remembered the woman's malicious cunning. She couldn't help but shiver. "Then what happened to her?"

Jiang Fan guiltily rubbed his nose. "It's nothing much," he said. "I just gave her a little gift. I didn't expect her to dislike it so much."

A gift?

Under the stunned gazes of everyone, Wu Manyue charged up Jie Mountain with murderous intent, showing no fear despite the mountain being filled with disciples from the Nine Sects. She frantically shrieked, "Jiang Fan!! Get out here! This old lady is going to kill you!"

The crowd automatically parted, revealing Jiang Fan. The moment Wu Manyue saw it was indeed Jiang Fan, it was like sworn enemies meeting, their eyes blazing with fury! Her Core Formation fifth-level spiritual energy erupted, and without a word, she drew a dagger and lunged.

*Swoosh—*

Before she could get close, Wen Hongyao, with a cold expression, blocked her path in front of Jiang Fan, and her powerful spiritual energy directly pushed Wu Manyue back. She scrutinized Wu Manyue, then lightly snorted, "A disciple of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion? Before an elder of the Nine Sects, you dare to shout threats of violence at a Nine Sect disciple? Who gave you such courage?"

Wu Manyue stumbled and landed on the ground. Her eyes welled up with tears from injustice, and she said hatefully, "Do you know what he did to me? He used me to lure away the demon race's priest! He almost got me killed by the demon race's priest! Tell me, should I not seek revenge?"

Uh—

Wen Hongyao turned her head in astonishment to look at Jiang Fan.

*Cough, cough!* Jiang Fan cleared his throat. "Elder Wen, all Nine Sect Elders," he began. "This is what happened. Senior Sister Wu accompanied me to capture the corpse puppets, but we were discovered by the demon race's priest. I voluntarily took the corpse puppets and tried to distract the demon race's priest, but unexpectedly, for some reason, that priest relentlessly pursued Senior Sister Wu instead. So when she says I used her to distract the demon race's priest, I'm truly wronged."

"Have you no shame?!" Hearing this, Wu Manyue frantically scrambled to her feet and angrily strode towards Jiang Fan. "You injured the demon race's priest from a distance, then, realizing he remembered the puppet's aura, you shoved the puppet at me! You caused me to be hunted down! And now you have the nerve to claim you're wronged?"

Upon hearing this, not just the elders, but even the disciples looked doubtful. They might believe Jiang Fan shifted the blame, but only somewhat. But to say Jiang Fan injured the demon race's priest? That seemed too far-fetched.