Supreme Emptiness

"What's the matter? Do you want me to handle it personally?"

The Hell Beast looked at Jiang Fan indifferently.

Like looking at an insect.

If it wished, it could crush him effortlessly.

Jiang Fan coughed awkwardly and said, "Senior, my spirit beast has been captured."

The Hell Beast's eyes revealed a hint of mockery:

"No need to act in front of me."

"I know just how cunning you are."

"When you poisoned that Nascent Soul, I was watching the whole time."

"Honestly, I admire you—such a method to poison a Nascent Soul is the first I've ever seen."

Jiang Fan sighed helplessly.

He pulled open his clothes, showing the inside and out.

"If it were on me, Senior, you would surely sense it."

The Hell Beast furrowed its brow.

Closing its eyes to sense, indeed, it could not detect the little spirit beast's presence.

Instead, there seemed to be a faint signal emanating from the direction of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion.

"It's truly not on you."

"It appears to be in a very sealed location."

The Hell Beast lowered its gaze, lost in thought.

But Jiang Fan felt killing intent converge.

The killing intent directed at someone who had lost their usefulness.

He instinctively stepped back a few steps.

Carefully said, "Senior, grievances have their spiritual roots."

"If you're seeking vengeance, go after my spirit beast."

Ideally, when he reached the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, he'd encounter the Pavilion Master and the Canghai Demon Emperor right then, and they'd kill him on the spot.

The Hell Beast nodded lightly: "Grievances have their spiritual roots."

"What you said is quite true."

"Then, since you broke my finger, taking your life would be only fair and just?"

It suddenly raised its head, a cold smile flickering in its eyes.

Then it flicked its finger.

A terrifying blast of Qi Force shot toward Jiang Fan.

Given its temperament, how could it possibly let Jiang Fan off so easily?

Swish—

But what froze its smile was this:

Jiang Fan transformed into a bolt of lightning, soaring into the skies, and immediately stepping on a Thunder Dragon to vanish in an instant.

"Thunder Escape Technique?"

Its finger flick came up empty, and the Hell Beast chuckled wryly: "To think, killing an insect still lets it slip through."

"Now I'm curious to see—how far you can run."

At the edge of the horizon.

Gu Xin'er flew leisurely, humming a cheerful tune.

"Ding-a-lang da-dong, ding-a-lang dong, ding-a—"

Swish—

A Thunder Dragon suddenly streaked overhead, dispersing in front of her.

A figure hovered mid-air on top of the Purple Sword.

Her gaze sharpened with surprise.

Jiang Fan?

No, how… how did he suddenly appear before her?

The Remnant Soul in her hairpin also froze.

Not hiding, and instead darting right toward Gu Xin'er?

She had planned on orchestrating an unplanned, coincidental "encounter."

And now he's delivering himself straight to her?

Jiang Fan cupped his hands and said, "Senior, we meet again."

Gu Xin'er unconsciously returned the gesture, clasping her hands: "Oh, oh, it's been a while..."

"Wait a minute!"

She quickly dropped her hands.

Her brilliant eyes widened!

Why was she even politely greeting this scoundrel?

This damned pest, daring to show his face to her!

If she didn't break his wrist, it'd be a disgrace to heaven and earth!

"Senior, please calm your anger!" Jiang Fan spoke quickly before she could become enraged and said:

"To be frank, I've come to save you!"

"The Hell Beast has set its sights on you, and this junior risked life to warn you."

"Please take care, this junior must now make his leave!"

With those words, he summoned another Thunder Dragon to prepare his escape.

Gu Xin'er couldn't believe his nonsense.

No.

Calling it nonsense was an insult to nonsense.

Nonsense tends to mix truth and lies to deceive people.

This guy's mouth—there wasn't a single word of truth in it!

"Trying to run?"

"Stay here for me!"

Gu Xin'er was elated that Jiang Fan had delivered himself up for a beating!

This was like throwing dumplings to a dog...

Wait, no.

More accurately, it was like a lamb walking into the jaws of a tiger!

And she—the tiger—was a she-tiger!

Roar!

She unleashed her Nascent Soul Power, drawing the atmospheric pressure around her and solidifying it into a massive hand.

The hand swung fiercely toward Jiang Fan.

But from her hairpin came the Remnant Soul's somber warning.

"Be cautious!"

"That dreadful presence is truly the Hell Beast!"

What?

Gu Xin'er jolted with shock.

She decisively turned around, channeling her condensed air-hand to attack behind her.

Though separated by dozens of meters.

The air-hand still exploded with considerable force.

But the Hell Beast casually waved, splitting the attack apart, slicing through the atmosphere and rushing forth.

The Remnant Soul's pupils contracted: "Four Apertures Nascent Soul Realm!"

"You're no match—run quickly!"

Gu Xin'er's scalp tingled.

Four Apertures Nascent Soul?

Even many Outer Realm Divine Sect leaders might not reach the Four Apertures Nascent Soul Realm.

Even the Jiangshan First-class Building Owner was only a Five Apertures Nascent Soul!

With her fledgling Nascent Soul, she couldn't even begin to contend.

Terrified, she turned and fled.

At that moment.

A hand stretched out: "Senior, let me take you away!"

Gu Xin'er turned to look and found it was Jiang Fan.

Momentarily stunned.

This guy had truly come to save her.

Warned her about the Hell Beast's pursuit, and now was braving death to help her escape.

For a brief moment, she felt dazed.

The righteous Jiang Fan before her seemed nothing like the rogue she detested. Could they really be the same person?

Considering Jiang Fan's incredible Thunder Dragon speed,

Her lips twitched slightly, and she took his extended hand, whispering, "Thank you."

The Remnant Soul in her hairpin wiped its face.

Sighed deeply: "My poor foolish girl!"

"You actually believe his lies!"

"Clearly the Hell Beast was chasing him, and now he's just using you as cover to escape."

"And yet you thank him?"

She saw it all play out and felt both frustration and resignation.

She initially wanted to warn her.

But on second thought, wasn't this just another lesson for Xin'er?

The more setbacks one experiences, the wiser one becomes.

So, she pretended ignorance.

"Senior, you're too kind."

Jiang Fan responded, polite as ever.

Gu Xin'er glanced up at him with mild suspicion: "Don't you fear my revenge?"

Jiang Fan replied frankly: "Of course, I fear it."

"I know the Deputy Pavilion Master despises me deeply."

"However, the enmity between us amounts to personal grievances at best."

"Now, facing the devastation of the Hell Beast, such matters are trivial compared to it being a common enemy of the Human Clan."

"In the face of external threats, I ask Senior to set aside our disputes for now. Once the crisis is over, you can seek me out for retribution at any time."

His words of nobility left Gu Xin'er momentarily speechless.

For the sake of humanity, Jiang Fan was willing to risk his life to save her, his enemy.

How could she continue screaming for his death?

She nodded slightly in agreement: "Alright, we'll settle our accounts later."

The Remnant Soul in her hairpin shook its head endlessly.

It worried that one day, Jiang Fan could sell Gu Xin'er off, and she'd cheerfully help tally the profits.

Jiang Fan remarked, "Alright, then hold tight."

Grasping her hand, Jiang Fan controlled the Thunder Dragon and sped away.

After his most recent cultivation in Thunder Path Power, Cloud Shadow Technique could now be used up to twelve times.

He could escape nearly four hundred miles.

After twelve uses.

The Thunder Dragon dissipated, and Jiang Fan sighed: "Senior, this junior's Thunder Path Power has limits."

"This is as far as I can Instantaneous Move."

"From here, you must rely on yourself."

Gu Xin'er asked, "What about you?"

Jiang Fan paused briefly and said, "I'll distract the Hell Beast."

"To give Senior a chance at survival."

"Regardless of whether I survive afterward, I ask Senior to consider letting go of our grudges for today's deed."

Truthfully.

Jiang Fan already had a mid-tier Dustless Talisman hidden in his sleeve.

This talisman could block the gaze of Nascent Soul experts.

All he needed was to conceal himself.

Once the Hell Beast tracked his Thunder Path route, it would naturally pursue Gu Xin'er next.

And that way, he'd be free.

You...

Gu Xin'er pressed her lips tightly together.

Her emotions were a tangled mess.

Though she deeply wanted to pummel him, she couldn't deny being moved by him now.

For once, he didn't seem so loathsome.

She even began to reflect—perhaps she was partly at fault too.

If she hadn't pretended to be Liu Qingxian...

Maybe the misunderstanding wouldn't have happened.