Chapter 964: Heart Sin Venerable's Doubt

Sensing an infusion of power, the Verdict Brush moved on its own again. It frantically drained Jiang Fan's power, meticulously outlining the character "死" (Death) stroke by stroke. First, his spiritual power, then his physical strength, followed by his Voidflow Thunderforce and Voidflow Fireforce. Every ounce of power he could draw from his body was completely drained!

Jiang Fan became so weak again that he couldn't even speak, and the Verdict Brush slipped from his grasp, falling heavily. Yet the character "死" (Death) was still incomplete! It was still missing the final sharp hook! This time, Jiang Fan's physique had reached the peak of the One-Orifice Nascent Soul stage, making it even slightly stronger than the Demon Emperor's physique. Despite his significant increase in power, he still couldn't complete the "死" (Death) character!

But this was enough.

Concubine Yunxia grasped Jiang Fan's hand and used the Verdict Brush to project the "死" (Death) character outwards. The "死" (Death) character immediately expanded in the wind, instantly becoming like a vast sky-curtain that pierced through the charging horde of giant beasts. A scene that shocked both women unfolded!

Any of these blood-colored giant beasts, which had reached the Heretical Nascent Soul level, immediately turned black all over upon being touched by the "死" (Death) character, then burst apart. Putrid, foul-smelling organs and brittle black bones scattered, as if a creature that had been dead for over a month had exploded. Yu Peiyuan was stunned by this sight. She looked at the brush in Jiang Fan's hand, revealing a fear that stemmed from the depths of her heart. "This brush is highly ominous!"

Some blood-colored giant beasts sensed danger and tried to turn and flee, but how could they outrun the "死" (Death) character, which had transformed into a sky-curtain? They were all mercilessly enveloped, bursting into foul-smelling decaying flesh.

As soon as the blood-colored giant beasts died, the space above them twisted again, enveloping the three. Jiang Fan painstakingly put away the brush. As he retracted it, he inadvertently noticed that the vermillion ink on the brush tip had significantly dulled. He wondered if the power of the Verdict Brush would also decrease significantly as a result. But there was no time to think further. The three immediately followed the spatial transmission and left the area, leaving only Feng Yuanzong behind.

"Don't go!" Feng Yuanzong cried anxiously. "I'm still in here!" Without them, Jiang Wuya would surely focus solely on him.

The group narrowly escaped, appearing on the Ten Thousand Steps. Concubine Yunxia and Yu Peiyuan quickly helped Jiang Fan off the steps and onto the land beyond. This was a land cast in bronze. The ground was pitted and scarred, with sword marks, knife engravings, hammer dents, and even massive, unknown beast claw marks. At the end of the bronze land, a colossal, sky-high alchemy cauldron, spewing colorful hues, was clearly visible. Around the cauldron, eerie corpses stood, with words carved into their bodies, resembling cultivation techniques. And beneath the cauldron, there was a throne floating above the ground. A figure was vaguely seated upon it. This was likely the God Transformation expert of Taicang Great State, who Reverend Seven-Tone had said once died.

Jiang Fan stared intently at him, a glimmer of hope rising in his eyes. "Is there really a technique to bring the dead back to life in this world?"

"Help me over there!" Jiang Fan exclaimed excitedly.

Concubine Yunxia and Yu Peiyuan recovered from their shock and helped Jiang Fan walk deeper into the bronze land. After walking a hundred steps, they were blocked by a blood-colored light curtain. Beyond the light curtain lay the secret to resurrection. Both women tried to reach out and touch it, but while Yu Peiyuan's hand passed through, Concubine Yunxia's did not. Undoubtedly, this was related to Concubine Yunxia not participating in the hunt and having no blood-colored pillar behind her.

"Yunxia, wait for me outside then."

With Yu Peiyuan's support, Jiang Fan stepped towards the blood-colored light curtain. They were completely unaware that an old man had silently appeared behind them. He was tall, and his black cloak flapped in the wind. His hands were clasped behind his back, and a divine halo floated behind his head, emitting a serene golden light.

"Which sect are you from?"

The sudden voice startled everyone. The three simultaneously turned their heads to look; realizing an old man had appeared silently behind them was surprising enough. This place was only open to disciples, and the old man before them didn't look like one. But when they clearly saw the golden halo behind his head, a roar simultaneously echoed in all three of their minds!

The God Transformation realm!!! The divine halo was a unique mark of the God Transformation realm! How could the three dare to be negligent? Even Jiang Fan, supported by the two women, cupped his hands in a respectful bow. "We pay our respects to the Venerable One!"

Jiang Fan's heart jolted violently. To think that in this manner, he had met a God Transformation Venerable One from Taicang Great State! He wondered which sect this God Transformation powerful expert belonged to.

Yu Peiyuan quickly bowed and said, "Disciple Yu Peiyuan of Sky Horizon Sea Pavilion greets Venerable One Xin Nie." She naturally knew that a Venerable One was waiting up here. The haloed old man before them must be him.

Concubine Yunxia also quickly bowed, saying, "Yunxia of the Continent's Demon Race greets the Venerable One."

Jiang Fan also quickly said, "Disciple Jiang Fan of the Continent's Heavenly Mystery Pavilion greets the Venerable One."

Feng Xinnie's gaze swept over Concubine Yunxia and Jiang Fan, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He had not expected that the first to ascend the Ancient Path to Heaven would not be a disciple from Taicang Great State, but a junior from that continent. But what he cared about was clearly not this.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he took out a compass and said calmly, "Which of you cultivates Voidflow Thunderforce?"

Yu Peiyuan looked bewildered. Concubine Yunxia immediately thought of Jiang Fan; under his Five-Magnetic Divine Light, all forces were suppressed, yet Jiang Fan alone could use a type of lightning-attribute power. Could that be Voidflow Thunderforce? But she didn't believe that the person before them had any good intentions in seeking the master of Voidflow Thunderforce. Her face and eyes remained unperturbed; she simply shook her head slightly.

Jiang Fan, however, felt a massive surge in his heart! Xi Feijue had once said that someone was offering an Exalted Heaven Pill, which could help one break through to the Nascent Soul realm, as a reward for anyone who cultivated Voidflow Thunderforce! That person was a God Transformation grandmaster! And that person was none other than Venerable One Xin Nie before him!

Fortunately, Jiang Fan had experienced so many trials and tribulations; though he was utterly shocked internally, he remained outwardly calm, even forcibly controlling the rhythm of his heartbeat. He hadn't forgotten that back then, merely a slight acceleration of his heartbeat was detected by the Lord of Rivers and Mountains First-Grade Tower, who was at the Five-Orifice Nascent Soul stage. To say nothing of facing a God Transformation Venerable One. Any subtle anomaly would not escape his eyes.

"It doesn't matter if you don't admit it," Xin Nie said. "This old man will investigate it himself."

He looked at Yu Peiyuan, his gaze calm, yet carrying an aggressive pressure. A hint of pain appeared on Yu Peiyuan's face as all her spiritual power was forced out. At the same time, her invisible divination talent materialized into several divination copper coins, suspended above her head.

"Nascent Soul Ninth Layer Perfected, divination talent, no Voidflow Five Energies."

Jiang Fan was horrified. Is this the method of the God Transformation realm? A single glance could force out all of a person's secrets!

Venerable One Xin Nie then looked at Concubine Yunxia, and with just one glance, Concubine Yunxia let out a pained groan. Demonic energy surged forth, her nine fox tails behind her involuntarily unfurled, and a beautiful silver fox phantom floated out.

Venerable One Xin Nie showed a hint of surprise. "Heavenly Fox bloodline, what a pity it's too thin. If it were a bit purer, I might consider taking you back to present to the Young Emperor."

His gaze shifted away, finally resting on Jiang Fan. "Let me see yours. Originating from the continent, yet suppressing the Three Divine Sects and Seven Great Cults. You are very suspicious."