Chapter 811: Is It Really a Grip?

"Senior, hurry and leave!""The Infernal Beast will be here soon."Jiang Fan urged. "If you don't leave sooner, how can I hide?"

However, to Jiang Fan's surprise, Gu Xin'er gripped his arm again. With a resolute look, she declared, "I'll take you with me! Let bygones be bygones!" As she tapped her toes, she broke through the air, dashing towards the distance.

The whistling wind brushed past Jiang Fan's ears. He turned his head to look at the girl before him, who wore a strange mask and sounded quite young. A trace of shame welled up in his heart. This Vice-Master of the Jiangshan First-Class Pavilion wasn't as bad as he had imagined. She also had a simple and kind side to her.

Feeling her kindness, he felt the urge to repay her. She had even chosen to let go of the grievances caused by his past offenses. For him to use her so thoroughly and then try to transfer the danger to her now felt utterly unjustifiable.

He glanced at the mid-grade Dustless Talisman hidden in his sleeve. This talisman was only effective for one person. If he abandoned the Vice-Master now, he could still save his own life. If he stayed with her, there was a high probability they would be caught by the Infernal Beast. After some thought, he gritted his teeth and put away the invisibility talisman.

He asked, "Vice-Master, do you have a destination for our escape?"

The remnant soul in the hairpin quietly observed Jiang Fan's subtle actions. A look of relief appeared on her face. Observing coldly from the side, she naturally noticed all of Jiang Fan's small gestures. If Jiang Fan had abandoned Gu Xin'er to save himself, using Gu Xin'er to distract the Infernal Beast, then she would have had to reconsider whether to let Gu Xin'er remain with such a cold and ruthless person.

To her great relief, Jiang Fan did not do so. He had also been touched by Gu Xin'er's kindness, revealing a sincere and bright heart beneath his cunning facade.

"This person truly wasn't the wrong choice," she thought. "Good, very good. If you truly help Xin'er mature well, this old one will certainly not treat you poorly!"

Gu Xin'er shook her head. "I'm not familiar with this continent." A hint of anxiety appeared on her face. A distance of four hundred li was simply not enough to escape the pursuit of a Four-Aperture Nascent Soul.

Jiang Fan pondered, "Then listen to me. Head towards the Northern Territory; there's a Grand Lake there. If we're lucky, we might be saved."

If the Master of Jiangshan First-Class Pavilion was still there, they might just save their lives. If not... then they could only pray that the Masters of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion would arrive.

Thinking of this, he took out his identity token and sent a message: "Infernal Beast, Grand Lake."

Gu Xin'er's eyes lit up. She too had left the Heavenly Secret Pavilion after accepting a mission to track the Infernal Beast. Logically, if she sent a message back, she could also get a share of the credit. And with such a contribution, how could Jiang Fan refuse her request for the Moon Realm? But just as she was about to take it out, she froze. She was currently the Vice-Master of the Jiangshan First-Class Pavilion. If she revealed her Heavenly Secret Pavilion disciple token, wouldn't her identity be exposed?

"What's wrong?" Seeing her unusual behavior, Jiang Fan asked. Gu Xin'er hastily replied, "N-nothing." Thus, she could only watch longingly as Jiang Fan provided the information about the Infernal Beast.

Nascent Soul cultivators moved incredibly fast. The mountains, rivers, and land below them were mere retreating blurs, impossible to discern clearly. It was Jiang Fan's first time being pulled by a Nascent Soul expert and racing through the sky like this.

He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Senior, I still don't know your esteemed name."

Gu Xin'er's small face beneath the mask stiffened. How could she possibly reveal her name? Otherwise, wouldn't it expose her pretense of being a junior disciple to approach Jiang Fan? That would be far too embarrassing.

"Cough, cough, as for me... my Daoist title is Reverend Purple Flame," she said. "You can just call me that."

Reverend Purple Flame? Jiang Fan recalled the incredibly powerful and strange purple flames emanating from her. He nodded, saying, "That Daoist title certainly fits."

Seeing that she had managed to bluff her way through, Gu Xin'er casually said, "Yes, this was given to me by the will of an ancient sage when I broke through to Nascent Soul."

Jiang Fan was curious. "The will of an ancient sage? Are you referring to the Nine Ancient Sages of Heaven and Earth, rumored to have created the continent?"

Gu Xin'er replied, "To be honest, I'm not sure what kind of will it is. But after everyone breaks through to Nascent Soul, a will appears to give you a name. It's usually based on some characteristic you possess. For example, since I have purple flames within me, I was named Reverend Purple Flame."

"Such a thing exists?" Jiang Fan found it incredibly strange. Talking with a Nascent Soul cultivator certainly brought forth some unusual new information.

"If one day I have the chance to break through to Nascent Soul, I wonder what name I'll be given."

Gu Xin'er pouted slightly and muttered, "Does it even need thinking about? The Daoist title 'Reverend Hooligan' would be perfectly suited for you and no one else."

"I..." Jiang Fan's old face stiffened. He secretly thought, "Ancient Sages, bear witness! I, Jiang Fan, am absolutely not that kind of person. When I break through to Nascent Soul in the future, please open your eyes wide and give me a fitting Daoist title."

Soon after, a chill assailed them. They had already delved deep into the Human Race's Northern Territory, and arrived before the Grand Lake.

Months had passed. The dried-up Grand Lake had now become a frozen, deep pit.

"This is the place you wanted to come to?" Gu Xin'er looked around. Aside from a lake, there was nothing special about this area. It was absolutely insufficient to block the Infernal Beast.

Jiang Fan, however, remained silent and stunned. The Master of Jiangshan First-Class Pavilion had already left. The Heavenly Secret Pavilion Masters and the Azure Sea Demon Emperors had not arrived either. Meanwhile, the monstrous malevolence of the Infernal Beast rolled in from the horizon.

"They say there's always a way out," Jiang Fan thought, "but now, it seems we've truly reached a dead end."

Jiang Fan took out the mid-grade Dustless Talisman. He took Gu Xin'er's hand, placed it into her palm, and said, "You go. I'll stay." This matter had nothing to do with her in the first place. She was innocently caught up in it. She deserved to live.

Gu Xin'er looked at it, surprised. "A mid-grade Dustless Talisman? Why aren't you using it yourself? This talisman can definitely block the Infernal Beast's detection."

Jiang Fan gave a bitter smile. When had he ever had a chance to use it before? As soon as he emerged, he was targeted by the Infernal Beast. He had originally planned to use Thunder Escape to create some distance, then have Reverend Purple Flame distract the Infernal Beast. Only then could he safely activate the talisman. Who knew things would turn out this way?

"It's for you. Hurry and leave, and don't leave any traces." Jiang Fan released her hand. He then began to ponder the various possibilities of confronting the Infernal Beast head-on. The talisman arrows had limited effect. The Yin Marrow Tiger Talisman would likely struggle to kill it. The only real chance lay with the Life-and-Death Judgment Brush. Now, his cultivation had reached the seventh layer of Core Formation. He should be able to write most of the character "Death." Even if he couldn't kill it, he could certainly injure it.

However, his hand was gripped again. Gu Xin'er calmly said, "Let me stay instead. The Infernal Beast is here for me. How can I let you die in my place? Find a place to hide and don't make a sound. I will lead him away."

Jiang Fan immediately felt ashamed. He opened his mouth, wanting to tell her the truth. But Gu Xin'er looked at him calmly and sighed softly. "I shouldn't have pretended to be Liu Qingxian to deceive you. I truly apologize."

Knowing she couldn't escape death, she intended to resolve their past grievances. Jiang Fan felt even more ashamed. "I also shouldn't have offended you."

Gu Xin'er's face flushed, and she hesitated several times, unable to speak. Feeling the Infernal Beast's aura drawing near, and thinking that she was going to die anyway, there was nothing she couldn't ask. She stared at Jiang Fan and asked, "Tell me honestly. Am I really that petite?"