Chapter 996: Next Time Don't Hold It

The Hall Master frowned.

Everyone was there to participate; their goal was to make the Old Hall Master happy.

Why was this outsider joining in? What if, out of ignorance, he outran the Old Hall Master and caused him to lose face?

He began, "Old Hall Master, this is an internal sparring session for our sect. If this young friend wishes to spar, perhaps he can do so later."

The Old Hall Master waved his hand. "No need, no need. The more people, the livelier it is."

He patted Jiang Fan's shoulder with a smile. "Young friend, you must also give your best. If you win, I'll even grant you special permission to cultivate the Dark Heaven's Eye!"

He dared to make such a promise because he had a reason to be confident. His Cloud-Soaring Shadow had reached a new level of understanding during his three-month meditative slumber. Upon waking, he had successfully cultivated it to the grand mastery stage! Now was the moment for him to astonish everyone with his display.

Jiang Fan cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Old Hall Master, I will do my best!"

Seeing this, the Hall Master could only agree. He thought about how difficult it would be for Jiang Fan, an outsider, to even grasp the basics of the Cloud-Soaring Shadow, let alone win against the Old Hall Master. His mind relaxed.

"Alright, then you may all spar and try it out. Starting from here and ending at the end of the spiritual vein, whoever reaches it first wins."

Jiang Fan looked towards the end of the spiritual vein and realized it was well within sight. Wasn't this something achievable with the third level of Cloud-Soaring Shadow? He wouldn't even need to use his Void Current Thunderforce.

The Hall Master said, "I'll count to three, and then you can all activate your Cloud-Soaring Shadows! One! Two! Three!"

*Whoosh!*

Nine elders activated the first level of Cloud-Soaring Shadow, transforming into pale lightning and instantly shifting hundreds of feet. The few remaining elders who had cultivated to the second level also pretended to be unfamiliar with it, taking a long time to activate their technique.

Venerable Coldsword laughed heartily and said, "I'm off first!" He formed hand seals, summoned a bolt of purple lightning from the sky, and rode upon it. The entire crowd immediately burst into exclamations!

"The second level of Cloud-Soaring Shadow!""When did the Old Hall Master comprehend this level?""As expected of the Old Hall Master, his comprehension is outstanding! He has perfected the Dark Heaven's Eye and also cultivated the Cloud-Soaring Shadow to its second level."

The Hall Master was stunned. He now understood that the Old Hall Master simply wanted to show off today. That's why he had feigned interest in a Cloud-Soaring Shadow sparring session. He gave a wry smile. "The Old Hall Master is as fond of showing off as ever; he just can't hide his impressive skills." But in this way, the Old Hall Master was guaranteed to win. Today, he would undoubtedly make a grand display and laugh heartily.

The other elders who had 'failed' to activate the second level also stopped pretending and quickly used their movement techniques to catch up. This was to prevent the Old Hall Master's victory from seeming too contrived.

Seeing them all set off, Jiang Fan decided to wait a moment. He couldn't let them lose too embarrassingly. After all, he was a guest.

"Young friend, why aren't you moving?" The Hall Master was astonished to find Jiang Fan standing still.

Jiang Fan chuckled and replied, "Let them get a head start of ten *li*."

The onlookers all showed surprise. Ten *li*? That's almost at the end of the mountain range; how would he catch up?

Jiang Fan said nothing more, silently calculating the distance. Only when he realized that Venerable Coldsword was just two more flashes away from reaching the end of the spiritual vein did he cast his spell. He raised his hand and beckoned. A thunder dragon flew from the sky, and he leaped onto it, soaring away in an instant.

He left the crowd in disarray. "He summoned a thunder dragon?""Isn't that... isn't that the third level of Cloud-Soaring Shadow?""Only five people in our Myriad Tribulations Holy Temple have ever achieved that!""No way, is that guy really an outer sect disciple? Are you sure he's not a true disciple with a Nine-Aperture Nascent Soul?"

The Hall Master also stood dumbfounded. He then snapped back to reality, stomping his foot in a panic. "Don't you dare surpass our Old Hall Master! This sparring session is about social etiquette!"

Unfortunately, he hadn't briefed Jiang Fan beforehand. Jiang Fan had genuinely taken it as a serious spar. He rode the thunder dragon, roaring as he chased, astonishing a dozen elders along the way, making their eyes bulge.

Venerable Coldsword, meanwhile, was laughing heartily. Despite his age, he still felt like a spirited youth, relishing the feeling of making a grand debut and stealing the spotlight. "Apologies, young ones. Once this is over, I'll reward you with a small gift." He stroked his chin, chuckling.

*Whoosh!*

Suddenly, a fierce thunderous roar sounded in his ears. He turned his head to look and was instantly petrified. The outsider, riding a massive thunder dragon, brushed past him, overtaking him in a single breath and reaching the end of the spiritual vein.

The competition was over.

Venerable Coldsword stood rigidly rooted to the spot, his old face burning hot. He had actually lost! Losing to junior disciples within his own sect would only earn him a laugh from the old fellows. But losing to an outer sect junior meant losing face across the entire Great Cangzhou! Talk of the Myriad Tribulations Holy Temple's Old Hall Master playing the pig to eat the tiger, only to become the pig himself, or failing to make a grand debut and getting slapped in the face instead, would surely spread. Just thinking about it, he couldn't help but vigorously wipe his face. This time, he had truly lost big!

The Hall Master and several elders rushed over nervously. "Old Hall Master, are you... are you alright?"

Venerable Coldsword was too embarrassed to stay. He took out the Thunder Derivation Token for the Dark Heaven's Eye and tossed it into the Hall Master's hand. "Give this to that young one later! And also!" He glared fiercely at the Hall Master. "The activity you arranged was excellent. Don't arrange any more like it in the future!"

"Hmph!" Without waiting for Jiang Fan to return, he vanished in a flash.

The Hall Master looked wronged. He had already said not to let Jiang Fan participate, but the Old Hall Master himself insisted. Now he loses and blames me?

Not long after, Jiang Fan returned and asked, "Where is the Old Hall Master?"

The Hall Master's face was dark. If not for Jiang Fan coming by the Bodhisattva's command, he would have already reprimanded him. He could only suppress his anger and say, "The Old Hall Master is feeling unwell and has gone back to rest. This Thunder Derivation Token is your reward, but it is for your cultivation only; you must not impart it to anyone else."

Jiang Fan was overjoyed. A complete Thunder Derivation Token, and one he was permitted to cultivate by the Myriad Tribulations Holy Temple. This trip to the Myriad Tribulations Holy Temple wasn't in vain!

The Hall Master ungraciously said, "Go on, what did the Bodhisattva ask you to inform us of?"

Jiang Fan replied, "It's about the woman who fell from the sky. She revealed information about the ancient giants."

The Hall Master's expression suddenly turned grave. He stopped him and said, "Wait! I'll summon the Masters of the Five Divisions and all the Grand Elders! Also, send someone to check if the Venerable One has woken up."

The Myriad Tribulations Holy Temple, the Great Yin Sect, and White Horse Temple are the Three Divine Sects, each with a Deity Transformation realm expert presiding over them. In addition, there is the True Word Venerable One, who belongs to no sect or faction. They are the three Deity Transformation experts and one Bodhisattva known in Great Cangzhou.

Inside the Myriad Tribulations Holy Temple's Council Hall, the five Division Masters, each in charge of a Heavenly Thunder Division, along with numerous core elders, arrived one after another.

Jiang Fan looked at the five Division Masters, slightly surprised, and asked the Pavilion Master through Silent Meditation, "Pavilion Master, why are there only five divisions? Isn't it the 'Six Heavenly Thunder Divisions'?"

The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion Master replied in his mind, "Because one of the six divisions, the Yin-Yang Heaven, went missing hundreds of years ago."

"What?" Jiang Fan was startled. The reason he cultivated the 'Six Heavenly Thunder Divisions' was that it would become a Heaven-tier cultivation method when all six divisions were combined. Now he was being told one was missing? That's quite a letdown, isn't it?

"Is it truly missing?" Jiang Fan asked blankly.

The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion Master pondered. "Venerable Baiyu once said that the aura of the Yin-Yang Heaven had appeared on our continent. It's suspected someone is cultivating it."

Jiang Fan suddenly remembered something and asked, "When the Yin-Yang Heaven is manifested, does it appear as a black and white Taiji thunder diagram?"

Now it was the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion Master's turn to be surprised. "How do you know?"

Jiang Fan's expression turned odd. "I've seen it."

"Where?" The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion Master asked in astonishment. "The Yin-Yang Heaven vanished a thousand years ago during the war with the ancient giants."

Jiang Fan then named a location that made the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion Master disbelieving: "The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, the place where you once underwent tribulation."