Chapter 990: Receiving Sky-dark Pillar Changes

After about half a day, the two crossed the vast ocean and arrived on the mainland.

The Hall of Myriad Tribulations was located in the northernmost part of Taicang Continent, so they needed to traverse the entire continent. Given their cultivation levels, it would take at least ten days, an exceedingly long journey!

“Cabinet Master, isn’t communication among the many sects in Taicang Great Province too inconvenient?”

“It often takes days, even more than ten days.”

“If the Ancient Giants descend, it would take more than half a month, or even longer, for messages to reach all the sects.”

“By then, it would be too late by the time the various sects united.”

The Heavenly Secret Cabinet Master chuckled softly, “There’s no need to worry.”

“Space teleportation arrays have been established among the Three Divine Sects and Seven Great Cults, allowing instantaneous arrival near any sect.”

“However, their use consumes a significant amount of high-grade spirit stones, so they are not easily opened.”

“Nor are they open to outsiders.”

Upon hearing the first half of the statement, Jiang Fan’s eyes lit up slightly. The latter half, however, made him frown slightly. Indeed, it was only natural that the teleportation arrays, built with such effort by the Three Divine Sects and Seven Great Cults themselves, would not be available for outsiders to use.

The young girl subtly pursed her lips. Still thinking about using a teleportation array? Even her master didn't have the chance to use the teleportation array, having to travel diligently to get here. The Tyrant had just arrived on the continent and was already fixated on the teleportation array; he was indeed thinking too much.

“Amitābha, Benefactor Jiang, this humble monk has been waiting for you for a long time.”

A distant Buddhist chant drifted melodiously, its ethereal voice inexplicably bringing a sense of calm and relaxation to the mind.

Jiang Fan's eyes narrowed. A seventh-grade golden lotus flew through the air towards them. A white-robed monk stood upon it, one hand raised. He had red lips and white teeth, and a smile on his face. Who else could it be but Dharma Seal Vajra?

Jiang Fan's gaze narrowed slightly. His intuition told him that Dharma Seal Vajra was significantly different from before. His Buddhist power seemed even more unfathomable. Could it be that his spiritual attainment had improved, making him a higher-ranked Vajra? The former Dharma Seal Vajra could protect the Sky Demon Emperor across the vast ocean with merely a phantom image. Now, he was even stronger.

Fortunately, Jiang Fan was no longer the mere Core Formation cultivator he once was. He no longer held the same apprehension towards him as before.

“How did you know I was here?” Jiang Fan asked, surprised.

Dharma Seal Vajra pressed his palms together and replied, “Buddha knows the future and has long foreseen Benefactor Jiang's arrival here.”

“Therefore, this humble monk waited here.”

Jiang Fan was unimpressed. Knowing the future, huh? Then how did he not know that Jiang Fan would arrive at White Horse Temple with the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar? It was likely that Abbot Puguang and the golden Buddha on Jiang Fan's person shared some kind of spiritual connection, and upon sensing Jiang Fan's arrival on Taicang Continent, Abbot Puguang ordered Dharma Seal Vajra to greet him. Of course, Jiang Fan couldn't be bothered to expose him.

He casually took out paper and a pen, wrote down two pieces of information, and handed one to him:

“The information I owed you from last month.”

Dharma Seal Vajra received it with both hands, a smile on his face, and murmured, “Within the demon territory.” He pressed his palms together, “Excellent, thank you, Martial Uncle Jiang, for clarifying.”

This way, the search area for the monks dispatched by White Horse Temple to the continent could be reduced by half.

Jiang Fan asked, “Why didn't you send someone to find me last month?”

Dharma Seal Vajra's smile faded, and he said solemnly, “Benefactor Jiang, please accept our condolences and do not dwell on the past.”

So these monks actually understood a bit of human etiquette. Knowing Jiang Fan was in mourning, they therefore did not disturb him.

Jiang Fan said, “Since you've shown consideration for me, I might as well give you a little more benefit.”

“I can give you this month's information in advance.”

Dharma Seal Vajra was overjoyed, “Excellent!”

Jiang Fan, however, did not immediately hand it over. He added, “I have one more request.”

“We would like to borrow your temple's teleportation array to travel to the Hall of Myriad Tribulations.”

Dharma Seal Vajra looked at the note in Jiang Fan's hand and readily nodded, “If Benefactor Jiang provides your own high-grade spirit stones, this humble monk can grant permission.”

Jiang Fan smiled faintly. “No problem!”

Dharma Seal Vajra waved his sleeve, and tiny golden lotuses formed a staircase, extending towards Jiang Fan. “Benefactor Jiang, please proceed.”

Jiang Fan nodded and stepped onto it. Knowing that White Horse Temple had a favor to ask of Jiang Fan, the Heavenly Secret Cabinet Master wasn't worried about Dharma Seal Vajra playing tricks and easily jumped onto the lotus. The young girl blinked, her face filled with surprise. Just what was the Tyrant's identity? White Horse Temple, known for being the most difficult to deal with, was actually so courteous to Jiang Fan? Welcomed with a seventh-grade golden lotus, free passage through the teleportation array? Even her own master didn't have such influence, did he? She realized she couldn't quite see through this mysterious Tyrant.

Soon after, in front of White Horse Temple.

Jiang Fan looked at the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar, which stood perfectly still, and asked, “Has the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar been motionless these past few months?”

Dharma Seal Vajra looked up, and after a moment of silence, said, “It has.”

“What?” Jiang Fan's heart pounded like a muffled drum. He felt a jolt. An anomaly with the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar, didn't that mean the Ancient Giants were likely making a move?

“What kind of movement?”

Dharma Seal Vajra looked at Jiang Fan and said solemnly, “A woman fell from it.”

Jiang Fan's eyes widened! It wasn't long ago that he had mused about everything falling from the sky. Umbrellas, God-Deceiving Divine Orbs, Divine Aperture Nails — everything had fallen except a woman. And now one actually did!

“Only Ancient Giants are supposed to descend from the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar, right?”

“What about this woman? Did you manage to find out anything?”

Dharma Seal Vajra shook his head slightly, “No.”

“She doesn't speak.”

Jiang Fan frowned and said, “Your White Horse Temple's demonic arts... *cough cough*, boundless Buddhist dharma, yet you can't handle one woman?” That Bodhisattva could erase everyone's memories with a single word, yet they couldn't force this woman to speak. If all else failed, they could convert her, making her gentle and obedient; that should also work.

Dharma Seal Vajra shook his head slightly, “She possesses Asura power from hell, making it difficult for Buddhist dharma to approach her.”

Jiang Fan then asked, “Why didn't you invite those Daoists from Mount Sanqing?”

“They primarily cultivate the primordial spirit, so they should have unique methods for dealing with those who refuse to speak.”

Dharma Seal Vajra looked at the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar and remained silent. Jiang Fan was startled for a moment before he understood. There had been rivalry between the Daoist and Buddhist schools since their inception. If the Daoists succeeded where the Buddhists failed, wouldn't the Buddhist sect lose significant face? Therefore, they would never invite anyone from Mount Sanqing, regardless of who else they might call upon.

Jiang Fan frowned, “This concerns the Ancient Giants' descent; can you not set aside your sectarian differences?”

Dharma Seal Vajra said, “We have invited people from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.”

“They should have results soon.”

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau? Right, this was the institution established by the Great Sages after the great war a thousand years ago, specifically to monitor the movements of the Ancient Giants. If someone fell from the Heaven-Connecting Black Pillar, how could they not dispatch personnel?

“Alright, I hope for good news then.” Jiang Fan nodded slightly and handed the note to Dharma Seal Vajra, “Take me to the teleportation array.”

Dharma Seal Vajra looked at the note again, his face showing joy. The note read: “Not in the southern part of the demon territory.” This way, the search area was significantly narrowed down once more. Within a year, White Horse Temple would be able to locate the place where the Bodhi tree grew.

“Please follow me!”

Dharma Seal Vajra led them inside White Horse Temple, to the front of a rather sacred hall. Inside, a complex, gigantic array was faintly visible, quite similar to the underground array of the Heavenly Secret Cabinet. It was undoubtedly a space array.

“Please make yourselves at home, everyone. I still need to check on that woman’s situation…”

No sooner had he spoken, a powerful explosion occurred in an underground palace beneath a temple in the distance. A black pillar of light shot into the sky. Several figures emerged from it in disarray. Among them was Bai Xin, the Centurion who had gifted Jiang Fan the Seven Star treasured sword!