Chapter 961: Vast Righteousness, Eternal Heaven and Earth

Jiang Fan's expression instantly turned serious. The male tiger they had encountered in the Soul Transformation Realm ruins had tried to devour them alive. Was the danger before them even greater than that?

"Junior Brother Jiang, don't worry too much," Yu Peiyuan suggested. "I'll go with you again. My ability to sense good and bad fortune can completely help you avoid danger."

Jiang Fan thought for a moment and nodded gently. The fact that the four of them had previously gone down without incident showed that the underground space was large enough to easily avoid danger.

He waved to Consort Yunxia in the distance. Consort Yunxia floated gracefully over and stood beside Jiang Fan.

Yu Peiyuan looked at Consort Yunxia and was instantly amazed. "Is this Junior Brother Jiang's companion? So beautiful!" She honestly believed she had seen many fairies in Taicang Great State, but none like Consort Yunxia.

"Thank you for the compliment. My little sister is also very pure and lovely," Consort Yunxia said with a faint smile.

Yu Peiyuan gave an awkward smile. "Sister, you're so good at giving compliments." When someone's first impression of you involves adjectives like "cute," "innocent," or "cheerful," you should pay close attention. They almost certainly don't think you're beautiful; they're resorting to complimenting your personality or character because they genuinely can't compliment your appearance.

Fortunately, the space began to distort, easing Yu Peiyuan's awkwardness. They appeared in a devastated world. The sky and earth were dim, spiritual energy was scarce, and damaged sect buildings were overgrown with weeds. Skeletons lay scattered along the roadside, disregarded. Desolation was everywhere, like a scene from the apocalypse. Jiang Fan had traveled through countless worlds, and many places like this had been thoroughly devastated by the bloody beasts, turned into apocalyptic landscapes.

"How is it?" Jiang Fan asked.

Yu Peiyuan closed her eyes to sense. After a moment, she looked slightly surprised. "Strange, that sense of extreme misfortune has disappeared. Did I sense it wrong before? Could something extremely dangerous simply vanish into thin air?"

"It's better if it's gone. Let's first eliminate the bloody beasts here," Jiang Fan said.

Jiang Fan looked around and quickly spotted several bloody beasts roaming through the ruins, searching for any remaining life. The bloody beasts here were already at the demonic Nascent Soul level, hundreds of feet long, making them very conspicuous. He leaped forward and began killing without hesitation.

"Asura Karmic Fire!""Five Magnetic Yuan Mountain!"

He effortlessly struck down two of them, while the remaining two frantically fled. Jiang Fan caught up to one of them, sending it crashing to the ground with his 'Vast God Lord' move. He was about to finish it off and quickly pursue the other. He had figured out the rules of this space: killing any bloody beast within sight would cause them to be teleported out.

Just as he was about to deliver the killing blow, his body suddenly froze. A terrifying, bone-chilling aura emanated from the rooftop of a large hall in a distant abandoned sect. It was a middle-aged man. He had starry eyes and sword-like eyebrows, with a sharp, spirited gaze. His facial features were well-defined, and he wore a moon-white robe, his black hair tied back with a jade crown. He stood atop the hall, his hand resting on a sword box.

Just then, he saw a fleeing bloody beast inadvertently charge towards a dilapidated temple. From inside the temple, several small human heads peeked out. Seeing the giant beast approach, they all looked desperate. Jiang Fan noticed this as well, and his expression changed. This wasn't an illusion; these were real humans! He was just about to act.

The white-robed middle-aged man casually raised his hand, and a mysterious sword light shot out from his sword box, striking the bloody beast's body. A scene that shocked Jiang Fan unfolded. The bloody beast crashed to the ground. Its body astonishingly turned into tens of thousands of small pieces of meat. Each piece was of the same size, a perfectly square lump of flesh! To what pinnacle of swordsmanship must one have ascended to be able to cut a body into such precise, identical pieces with a single strike?

The middle-aged swordsman flew down and landed in front of the ruined temple. He showed a gentle expression to the humans inside. "Quickly, find somewhere else. It's not safe here anymore." The few humans were extremely grateful, bowed in thanks, and then, gathering their belongings, headed towards a more distant city for refuge.

The middle-aged swordsman watched them leave, a look of deep pity in his eyes. "With demons rising together, what crime have the common people committed?" He turned and glided through the air, landing in front of Jiang Fan, a look of appreciation on his face. "Young man, are you also here to save the common people?"

Jiang Fan was inwardly shocked. How could there be such a powerful human expert in the current stone-step space? However, this person suppressed evil, protected the innocent, and cared for the common people, radiating a profound sense of righteous dignity. He was clearly not an evil person. Therefore, Jiang Fan quickly cupped his hands and said, "Not really. I merely act when I encounter injustice." The rules of this space prevented him from staying in one area to kill all the bloody beasts. He could only do his best, saving one whenever he saw the chance.

The middle-aged swordsman smiled faintly. "I saw that just now. When that bloody beast was about to trample the ruined temple, you were also ready to act. You also possess a righteous heart."

Jiang Fan said, "With an elder like you present, why would a junior like me need to act?"

The middle-aged swordsman patted Jiang Fan's shoulder and said earnestly, "You shouldn't say that. Vast righteousness endures forever between heaven and earth! How could just one person like me be enough? It takes countless people like you and me to ensure this righteousness never dies."

Jiang Fan felt ashamed. He truly couldn't call himself a righteous person, yet the man before him radiated a profound sense of righteousness from every aspect. He was like the proud sun in the sky, whose light dispelled all darkness from heaven and earth. Jiang Fan couldn't help but feel inferior, saying, "I have learned a valuable lesson, Senior."

The middle-aged swordsman nodded slightly. "It's rare to meet a kindred spirit. Let me give you a small gift. I hope you can go even further on the path of preserving righteousness." He opened his sword box, ran his finger through it, and drew out a mysterious nine-colored sword light, which he grasped with his five fingers. This point of sword light transformed into a radiant nine-colored light sword. It was filled with boundless righteousness. "This is a fragment of the Sword Intent I practice. It's for you. Contemplate it well; it will help your swordsmanship."

Sword Intent? Although Jiang Fan didn't know what Sword Intent truly was, this person's mastery of the sword had reached a height Jiang Fan couldn't comprehend. A gift from such a person surely couldn't be anything less than extraordinary. He immediately received it with both hands, respectfully. The nine-colored light sword felt as light as a feather in his hands and seemed to merge into the flesh of his palms. With a single thought, it reappeared instantly, truly miraculous.

"Farewell then, young man. My path is not solitary! Righteousness will endure forever! Hahaha!" He slung his sword box onto his back and stepped towards the distance.

Jiang Fan bowed and said, "Farewell, Senior." He hadn't expected to encounter such a chivalrous man, filled with profound righteousness, in this desperate, apocalyptic world, and who had also bestowed upon him a great fortune.

Consort Yunxia and Yu Peiyuan rushed over. Consort Yunxia's eyes showed admiration. "He truly is an unparalleled hero."

Yu Peiyuan, however, said nothing. She merely tugged on Jiang Fan's sleeve, her voice trembling with a hint of fear. "Quick! Kill this beast! We need to get out of this space, fast!"

Jiang Fan looked at her, puzzled. He saw Yu Peiyuan's face filled with terror, her eyes fixed on the retreating middle-aged swordsman, her body trembling. She whispered in a low voice, "He... he is that great harbinger of misfortune!"