Supreme Emptiness

"Senior, hurry and leave!"

"The Hell Beast will be chasing us soon."

Jiang Fan urged.

If you don't leave sooner, how can I use the Invisibility Talisman?

However—

What Jiang Fan didn't expect was that Gu Xin'er grabbed his arm again.

With a resolute look in her eyes, she said, "I'll take you with me to escape!"

"What's past is past—let's forget it!"

With a light touch of her toe—

She broke through the air, dashing swiftly toward the distance.

The whistling wind swept past Jiang Fan's ears.

He turned his head, gazing at the young girl in front of him, wearing a strange mask and sounding rather youthful.

A trace of guilt emerged in his heart.

This Deputy Owner of Jiangshan First-class Building wasn't as bad as he'd imagined.

She had a pure and kind side as well.

Receiving kindness from others, she'd naturally think of repaying it.

She even chose to set aside grudges for her earlier mistreatment.

Yet, he had taken advantage of her like this, even intending to shift the danger onto her—he found it hard to justify.

He glanced down at the Mid Grade Dustless Talisman in his sleeve.

This talisman only worked for one person.

If he left the Deputy Owner now, he might save his own life.

But to genuinely accompany her would most likely result in being overtaken by the Hell Beast.

After some thought—

He clenched his jaw and put away the Invisibility Talisman.

He asked, "Deputy Owner, do you have a destination for your escape?"

The Remnant Soul in the hairpin silently observed Jiang Fan's subtle actions.

A look of relief appeared on her face.

She watched coldly, naturally taking all of Jiang Fan's little maneuvers into account.

If Jiang Fan abandoned Gu Xin'er to save his own life—

Leaving Gu Xin'er to divert the Hell Beast—

Then she would have to reconsider whether Gu Xin'er should remain in the presence of such a cold-blooded, ruthless man.

But—she was very gratified to see.

Jiang Fan hadn't done that.

He, too, was moved by Gu Xin'er's kindness.

Underneath his cunning exterior, he revealed a sincere and noble heart.

"This person—I've truly made the right choice."

"Good, very good."

"If you truly temper Xinxin well, I won't treat you poorly!"

Gu Xin'er shook her head. "I'm unfamiliar with this continent."

She looked slightly anxious.

Four hundred miles of distance would hardly suffice to escape the pursuit of a Four Apertures Nascent Soul cultivator.

Jiang Fan pondered and said, "Then listen to me."

"Head toward the Northern Territory. There's a Tai Lake there."

"If we're lucky—we might survive."

If the Owner of Jiangshan First-class Building was still there—

They might manage to scrape by narrowly.

If not—

Then they'd have to hope the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion Masters could arrive in time.

As this thought crossed his mind—

He withdrew his Identity Token and sent out a message.

"Hell Beast. Tai Lake."

Gu Xin'er's eyes lit up.

She'd also left the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion after accepting the task of tracking the Hell Beast.

Logically, if she sent word back, she ought to earn some share of the merit.

With merit in hand—when Jiang Fan demanded access to the Moon Realm, could he refuse?

But just as she was about to take out her own token—

She paused, stunned.

She was, after all, currently the Deputy Owner of Jiangshan First-class Building.

If she used a Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion Disciple Token now, wouldn't her identity be revealed?

"What's wrong?"

Seeing her odd hesitation, Jiang Fan inquired.

Gu Xin'er stammered, "N-nothing."

She could only gaze helplessly as Jiang Fan provided information about the Hell Beast.

A Nascent Soul cultivator's speed was incredibly fast.

The mountains, rivers, and terrain below seemed like retreating shadows, blurred and unrecognizable.

This was Jiang Fan's first time being hauled through the skies at such speed by a Nascent Soul.

He couldn't help but curiously ask, "Senior, I don't yet know your name."

Gu Xin'er's small face behind the mask stiffened.

How could she have the nerve to reveal her name now?

Otherwise, wouldn't it expose her disguise as a mere disciple approaching Jiang Fan?

How embarrassing that would be.

"Ahem, well, I—uh, my title is Purple Flame Master."

"Just call me that."

Purple Flame Master?

Jiang Fan recalled the astonishing and uncanny purple flames emanating from this woman.

He nodded. "That title is quite fitting."

Seeing her bluff go unnoticed, Gu Xin'er casually added:

"Yes, it was bestowed upon me by the will of an Ancient Saint when I achieved Nascent Soul."

Oh?

Jiang Fan grew curious. "The will of an Ancient Saint?"

"The nine great Ancient Saints said to have created the continent?"

Gu Xin'er replied, "Truthfully, I don't understand much about such wills.

But every person who breaks through to Nascent Soul receives a will that bestows a name."

"It's usually based on some characteristic unique to you."

"For instance, my body contains purple flames—hence I was named Purple Flame Master."

There's such a thing?

Jiang Fan found it highly intriguing.

Conversing with a Nascent Soul expert allowed him to learn some novel insights.

"If one day I have the chance to break through to Nascent Soul, I wonder what name I'd be given."

Gu Xin'er pursed her lips in a pout and muttered softly:

"Do you even need to wonder?"

"The title Rascal Master—it fits you perfectly."

I—

Jiang Fan's face froze.

Silently, he thought to himself: "Ancient Saints bear witness!"

"I, Jiang Fan, am absolutely not such a person."

"When I break through to Nascent Soul in the future, please grant me a fitting title."

Soon—

A chilling air descended upon them.

They had entered the Northern Territory of the Human Clan.

They arrived at the location of Tai Lake.

After several months—

The once-dried Tai Lake had now turned into a completely frozen pit.

"Is this the place you meant to come to?" Gu Xin'er surveyed the surroundings.

Apart from the lake, there was nothing particularly remarkable about it here.

It would hardly serve to stop the Hell Beast.

Jiang Fan remained silent, appearing lost in thought.

The Owner of Jiangshan First-class Building had already left.

The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion Masters and the Canghai Demon Emperor had not arrived.

Meanwhile, the ferocious aura of the Hell Beast surged from the horizon.

"They say heaven never seals off all paths."

"But now—it truly feels like the end of the road."

Jiang Fan took out the Mid Grade Dustless Talisman.

Grasping Gu Xin'er's hand, he pressed it into her palm and said:

"You go."

"I'll stay."

This matter was unrelated to her.

She had been innocently dragged into it.

She deserved to live.

Gu Xin'er looked at the talisman in shock. "A Mid Grade Dustless Talisman?"

"Why don't you use it for yourself?"

"This talisman can definitely shield you from the Hell Beast's detection."

Jiang Fan gave a bitter smile.

When had he ever had the chance to use it?

As soon as he exited, he was targeted by the Hell Beast.

He'd planned to use the Thunder Escape to gain some distance and then have Purple Flame Master divert the Hell Beast.

Only then could he safely use this talisman.

But who could have foreseen things unfolding like this?

"I'm giving it to you. Leave quickly, and don't leave any traces."

Jiang Fan released her hand.

In his mind, he began contemplating the various possibilities of confronting the Hell Beast head-on.

The effect of the talisman arrows would be limited.

The Yin Marrow Talisman likely wouldn't kill it.

The Execution Pen seemed to be his only chance.

At his current cultivation of the Seventh Layer of Core Formation—

He should be able to write most of the "Death" character with it.

Even if he couldn't kill it, he could certainly wound it.

But—

His hand was suddenly grabbed again.

Gu Xin'er spoke calmly: "I'll stay instead."

"The Hell Beast is after me. How can I let you take the hit for me?"

"Find a place to hide. Don't make a sound."

"I'll lure it away."

Jiang Fan was immediately overcome with guilt.

Opening his mouth to spill the truth—

Gu Xin'er, however, calmly looked at him and let out a soft sigh.

"I shouldn't have disguised myself as Liu Qingxian to deceive you."

"I owe you an apology."

Having resigned herself to the likelihood of death, she wanted to resolve their grudge.

Jiang Fan felt even more remorseful. "I shouldn't have offended you either."

Gu Xin'er's face flushed crimson. She opened her mouth several times only to stop herself—unable to speak.

But as the Hell Beast's aura grew nearer—

And realizing she'd likely die anyway, there was no reason to hold back.

Staring intently at Jiang Fan, she asked: "Be honest."

"Was that really just a simple grab?"