Chapter 994: The Consequences of Impersonating a Bodhisattva

They entered and immediately saw Jiang Fan and his two companions. They were slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting anyone to use a teleportation array to arrive at the Myriad Calamity Sacred Hall at this time. The head of the Madhouse Department, Venerable Sanqian, a Seven-Aperture Nascent Soul cultivator, recognized the Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master at a glance.

"Yun Tianzhou? Where did you come from?" Venerable Sanqian asked in surprise.

The Myriad Calamity Sacred Hall protected many minor forces. The Heavenly Secret Pavilion was one of them, which was why Yun Tianzhou was familiar to him. But could such a minor force actually use a teleportation array? Did the Heavenly Secret Pavilion wield that much influence?

Upon seeing Venerable Sanqian, the Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master's expression became unnatural. Venerable Sanqian had always opposed the Myriad Calamity Sacred Hall sheltering various minor and major forces. He believed these smaller forces offered little in tribute, created many problems, and frequently required the Hall to dispatch powerful cultivators to resolve their issues, hindering the cultivation of the Myriad Calamity Sacred Hall disciples. In the past, every encounter with Venerable Sanqian had been unpleasant. It seemed he hadn't checked his almanac today, encountering him again.

He respectfully but calmly said, "Greetings, Senior Sanqian. It was the White Horse Temple that granted us passage, allowing us to use the formation."

"The White Horse Temple? When did those bald donkeys become so generous?" Venerable Sanqian's face showed suspicion. "It's been a while since we met, and I must say, you've certainly impressed me. To be able to associate with the White Horse Temple..." His gaze fell upon Jiang Fan, who was standing nearby. Despite the lightning crackling around Jiang Fan, he immediately discerned his cultivation level. "A Two-Aperture Nascent Soul? Since when did your Heavenly Secret Pavilion have someone like this?"

For a moment, the Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master didn't know whether to answer truthfully. Jiang Fan had caused quite a stir across the continent, having stepped on the shoulders of the prodigies from the Three Divine Sects and Seven Great Cults to ascend the Ancient Road to Heaven. It was hard to guarantee they wouldn't have an opinion about him. Venerable Sanqian already had an unfavorable view of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion; if he knew this was Jiang Fan, he would likely be even more displeased, wouldn't he?

Jiang Fan's eyes flickered, and he said, "I am a guest elder of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, Tyrant."

"A guest elder?" Venerable Sanqian sneered, "What, Yun Tianzhou, has Venerable Baiyu also found it shameful to be a guest elder for your Heavenly Secret Pavilion and regretted it? You're going to find a Two-Aperture Nascent Soul as a guest elder?"

Noticing the man's dismissive attitude towards the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, Jiang Fan calmly said, "Senior Sanqian, don't you have an urgent matter to attend to? Will chatting with us here not delay it?" Although he hadn't clearly heard what they were saying earlier, their hurried expressions suggested they should be in a rush.

Venerable Sanqian chuckled, "Youngster, are you trying to tell this old man what to do?"

Jiang Fan replied indifferently, "Yes, Senior. You're not distinguishing between priorities, so I'm reminding you." Jiang Fan saw no need to show respect to someone with ill intentions.

Venerable Sanqian's face slightly chilled. "Yun Tianzhou, your guest elder seems quite impressive, doesn't he?" A thin sheen of cold sweat appeared on the Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master's forehead. Was Jiang Fan being too reckless? But then he remembered that Jiang Fan always acted with a plan; since he dared to confront Venerable Sanqian so directly, he must have a grasp on the situation. So, he calmly stated, "His words represent the Heavenly Secret Pavilion."

Venerable Sanqian's eyes narrowed, a trace of anger flickering within them. A tiny, insignificant force daring to humiliate him in front of a group of Myriad Calamity Sacred Hall elders? If he didn't assert himself, would they think the head of the Madhouse Department was just a decoration? He was a Seven-Aperture Nascent Soul cultivator; even Hall Masters of similar cultivation levels had to show him deference!

"Then I shall test this guest elder of yours, to see how capable he is, to earn your trust like this!" Venerable Sanqian's aged eyes fixed on Jiang Fan. With a wave of his hand, he prepared to unleash a divine art.

A Seven-Aperture Nascent Soul testing a Two-Aperture Nascent Soul? How shameless! Jiang Fan was naturally fearless. As he activated the golden Buddha in his possession, he inwardly roared, "Soul Prison Lock!" Instantly, an invisible chain constricted Venerable Sanqian's soul. Though it lasted only a brief moment before Venerable Sanqian's soul power broke free, his body temporarily lost control. Seizing this opportunity, Jiang Fan simultaneously manifested both the Divine Statue and the Human Emperor Statue, launching a combined attack towards Venerable Sanqian. This strike possessed the might of a Three-Aperture Nascent Soul. Even as a Seven-Aperture powerhouse, Venerable Sanqian could not withstand such a blow with his physical body alone. The surrounding elders' expressions changed dramatically; it was too late to intervene. Both attacks landed on him simultaneously. Fortunately, Venerable Sanqian regained control of his body just in time, hastily condensing his Seven-Aperture Nascent Soul power to cover his physical form. *Thump! Thump!* Two muffled thuds sounded in unison. His chest and shoulder were struck simultaneously, sending him stumbling backward. The area on his shoulder, previously wounded by the Emperor's Sword, throbbed with stinging pain.

In this clash, Venerable Sanqian was surprisingly at a disadvantage! The surrounding elders could hardly believe their eyes. A Two-Aperture versus a Seven-Aperture, and this was the result?

Venerable Sanqian felt utterly humiliated. Annoyed and angry, he shouted, "What bizarre secret technique did you just use?" He was utterly astonished. If that chain had lasted just a moment longer, he would have been struck without a doubt. At that point, it wouldn't have just been a little pain, but actual injury, and if this person possessed a killing weapon, there was even a possibility of him being slain! A trace of shock and doubt resonated within his chest. Where did the Heavenly Secret Pavilion find such an uncanny guest elder?

Jiang Fan calmly said, "Do you think I'll answer you?"

Venerable Sanqian snorted, "Then I'll just have another round with you!" His robes billowed as he prepared to get serious.

Jiang Fan said indifferently, "Apologies, but while you have time to waste, I don't! By the Bodhisattva's command, I have specifically come to inform the Myriad Calamity Sacred Hall about the anomaly of the Sky-Reaching Black Pillar."

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master's face changed drastically; it was too late to stop him. Venerable Sanqian's expression hardened. The anomaly of the Sky-Reaching Black Pillar had long been widely reported across the entire continent. Rumors said a woman had fallen from it! The entire Great Cang Prefecture was on high alert, awaiting news from the White Horse Temple. The Heavenly Secret Pavilion's guest elder before him was actually here to deliver a message? Connecting this with their ability to use the White Horse Temple's teleportation array, and Jiang Fan's statement, "By the Bodhisattva's command," he had no doubts. No one dared to impersonate a Bodhisattva's decree. Because the full name of that Bodhisattva was Heavenly Listener Bodhisattva. As the name literally suggested, he could hear all sounds in heaven and earth, especially words that concerned him. Within the Great Cang Prefecture, any mention of the word "Bodhisattva" in any corner would reach his ears. As a Two-Aperture Nascent Soul cultivator, the person before him should have already known this. If he dared to say this, it couldn't be false.

He immediately changed his previous demeanor, becoming solemn. "So you are here to convey a decree on behalf of the Bodhisattva. My apologies for the disrespect! Please follow me; I will take you to see the Hall Master immediately." Then, he instructed the surrounding elders, "All of you, depart immediately and go find Song Lingyu. If she's not mad, bring her back. If she is, I, along with the Hall Master and several other department heads, will go apprehend her. Furthermore, if Hua Wuying is found, administer one hundred lightning whips on the spot! Song Lingyu is half-mad and doesn't know better, but is a sane person like her also clueless? How dare she secretly take Song Lingyu out! She must be severely punished!"

"Understood!"

Hua Wuying was on the verge of tears. She couldn't return home now. Should she wait for her master to return, endure the hundred lightning whips, and then come back when things had calmed down? For now, it was best to just be Tyrant's collateral.

Venerable Sanqian's attitude towards Jiang Fan immediately became much more courteous. "Fellow Daoist, please."

Jiang Fan touched his nose. He had casually mentioned the Bodhisattva's name, and the other party had shown no suspicion at all? Then, seeing the Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master's solemn expression, he had a bad feeling. Could it be that the Bodhisattva's name shouldn't be casually uttered?