CHAPTER 727: 602 CLOSED CASE

Ji Fan had all the masters from the various factions within the Western Sect, except for the Xie Wang Sect, assemble at the Main Altar—a total of more than three thousand cultivators skilled in Spell casting—to join forces and protect the Sect.

The attackers were from the Qingcheng Sect and the Snow Mountain Sect.

Ling Hun was quite crafty. He had his disciples, led by Liu Quan, Zhao Guangdou, and the like, strike first.

He and Cui Wugu remained invisible in the high skies, watching the battlefield to seize the opportunity to strike.

Jiang Shu, on the other hand, was more direct and led the charge himself.

He still had the youthful appearance from the time he addressed Shi Feiyang as his elder brother, dressed in white undergarments with a green robe over them, wearing a Jade Crown, his body enveloped in a layer of green light, flying straight into the fray.

He too had attained the cultivation level of a Heavenly Immortal, having reached Perfection in both his Inner and Outer Skills.

That is to say, he was ready for Ascension anytime he wished.

He was now both very strong and very fragile. He could not afford any injury to body or mind; any significant physical damage or mental disturbance would affect his future Ascension, and any flaws in his "Moon" would mean he’d have to suffer another ordeal.

But he still led his disciples to the charge, not putting on any airs, first releasing his Broken Jade Hook followed by the Heavenly Escape Mirror, directly targeting the highest-standing faction leader to kill.

Behind him, Yang Xu, Chen Taizhen, Hu Yanxian, You Huang, Luo Lu, Zhuang Yi, Jiang Xiaotie, Han Guang, Red Flower, and other elite disciples drawn from various places were hastening to join the fight, launching thousands of swords simultaneously, an array of Treasure Lights and Thunder Fire exploding chaotically through the air, like a brilliant meteor shower pouring down beneath the blue sky.

A thousand people from the Qingcheng Sect and a thousand from the Snow Mountain Sect were there, all casting their Flying Sword Magical Treasures in attack.

The three thousand cultivators from the Western Sect virtually crumbled upon contact; everyone was petrified, with many being instantly annihilated and many others turning to flee.

Some of the faction leaders began praying to the Western gods, invoking the Cangxu God, but no matter how they chanted, there was no response...

If Elder Cangxu had been there to bless them from afar, they might actually have been able to battle against the two major sects for a while.

However, as the Western Sect over there was building the Elysian Ark, Elder Cangxu had found an opportunity to rebel, and the twelve Sect Hierarchs were now joining hands to suppress him.

The followers of the Western Sect in the Central Earth had no idea what was happening and continued to pray foolishly, many believing it was because their faith wasn’t devoted enough. Many were kneeling on the ground begging, and the outcome was as one might expect.

In truth, these three thousand leaders of the Western Sect were not weak; several of them had nearly reached the level of an Earth Immortal.

Of course, their cultivation technique was not at the Earth Immortal level, but their Mana could compare with that of an Earth Immortal. There were also many who had become Demon and mastered Yin Thunder, Evil Fire, and such like. Placed elsewhere, they would have the strength of a Sect Hierarch, and their numbers were substantial, with a force of three thousand being a formidable power anywhere.

But they faced the Orthodox Sect of the Mysterious Sect, the Qingcheng Sect, and the Snow Mountain Sect. With Ling Hun obtaining the complete Guang Chengzi’s Dan Book and later exchanging knowledge with Shi Feiyang to form his own sect, he had also converted to the Orthodox Way. Thus, when these two Immortal Sects joined forces to attack, the people of the Western Sect were utterly routed!

Jiang Shu broke through more than twenty Demon Banners with the Heavenly Escape Mirror, captured nearly a hundred Demon heads, and used the Taiyin Divine Thunder to destroy many Evil Skills.

Beneath the Broken Jade Hook, he swiftly beheaded six of the most formidable leaders and then retrieved both the hook and the mirror, hovering in mid-air to control the overall situation.

He stopped fighting; the rest was left for his disciples to handle.

The battle was going exceedingly well, a walkover that was both easy and pleasant.

Of the three thousand Western Sect cultivators, the majority were killed, and the rest were captured, their Mana bound, to be sent to the Capital for trial.

Ling Hun and Cui Wugu came to discuss follow-up matters with Jiang Shu.

"There’s still Ji Fan, a key Sect Hierarch. We must capture him as well."

They left Cui Wugu in charge of cleaning up the battlefield and each took five disciples to find Ji Fan.

At that time, Ji Fan was in the largest Xie Wang Temple in Fujian, atop a high Dharma Platform, surrounded by thirty-six Dharma Protection God Banners and seventy-two Anzhu Lotus Lamps.

He was seated on a nine-tiered Lotus Platform dressed in a Vestment robe and Dharma Crown, preaching the "Xie Wang Mother-saving Scripture."

Many believers were below the platform, all bowing down on their knees, devoutly listening.

He was speaking with great enthusiasm when a sword light flew through the sky and hovered in the air. Jiang Shu declared loudly, "Ji Fan, do you still dare to sit here waiting for us to come?"

"How am I not daring?" Ji Fan let out a chuckle, "The court says my Western Sect’s Xie Wang Sect is the orthodox faith! What’s wrong with me spreading the ’Xie Wang Scripture’ here?"

Jiang Shu retorted, "Do not try to argue any further. Those dozen or so subordinates of yours have all fallen to our swords. Now it’s your turn!" With that, he was about to strike.

Seeing the situation turning bad, Ji Fan hastily exclaimed, "My Xie Wang Sect is recognized as the legitimate Buddhist Orthodoxy by the court! I am the Sect Hierarch of the Xie Wang Sect, what are you trying to do? Are you going to defy the court’s edict and the decree of Master Yuan Yang?"

Jiang Shu completely ignored what he was saying and directly released the Broken Jade Hooks, sending out a dazzling brilliance as they descended from the sky to strike at Ji Fan.

Ji Fan, having cultivated the ’Heavenly Secret Demon Technique’ and the techniques of the Western Sect over the years, had made significant progress. Seeing the ferocity of the incoming Double Hooks and unable to defend himself, he hurriedly used the Blood Dripping Transformation to leave a fake body in his place, while his true body escaped through the Earth Escape underneath the platform.

"Where do you think you’re going!" Jiang Shu saw through the ruse and pursued from behind.

Scared for his life, Ji Fan fled desperately. Soon, he left the city for the wilderness. While he was frantically escaping, a flash of golden light appeared ahead and Ling Hun had already cut him off, raising his hand and casting a spell of golden light that hit the ground, instantly turning it as hard as diamond. He then forced Ji Fan to emerge from the ground.

Seeing Ji Fan appear, Jiang Shu immediately controlled the Broken Jade Hook to strike.

Ji Fan quickly knelt on the ground, pleading for mercy, "I have something to say! Let me reveal a secret!"

Knowing that Ji Fan’s mana was also extraordinary and that he possessed the power surpassing that of an Earth Immortal, as well as many Demon Path Techniques, Jiang Shu drew the Heavenly Escape Mirror and emitted a column of light from the sky to trap him inside. He then spread the Broken Jade Hooks apart, sealing off all of Ji Fan’s escape routes, "What do you have to say? Speak quickly, then meet your end!"

Ji Fan replied, "Actually, I became the Sect Hierarch under the orders of Master Yuan Yang!"

"Nonsense!" Jiang Shu, hearing his blatant lies, was about to shred him to pieces.

Ji Fan urgently made an oath, "Everything I am saying is true! If a single word is false, let me be turned to dust, and may I never attain salvation!"

Jiang Shu then paused retracting the hooks, "Aren’t you a disciple of the Western Sect’s Zong Duo? Speak clearly, what’s the truth?"

Ji Fan quickly explained, "Initially I was indeed a disciple of the Western Sect’s Zong Duo, but after I came to Central Earth, I surrendered to Master Yuan Yang and obeyed his decree to continue promoting the Xie Wang Sect in the name of the Western Sect. Moreover, Master Yuan Yang holds a Demon Scripture with another world inside it. He has instructed me to lead the believers to vow to ascend to that world in the future. True Master Jiang, if you don’t believe me, you can ask Master Yuan Yang! Besides, I have Wei Fengniang who can testify for me."

He then formed a gesture to summon Wei Fengniang, and she appeared.

With the body of a Divine Demon, upon encountering Jiang Shu, who had already cultivated a Pure Yang Body, she felt an inexplicable fear and quickly knelt to the ground, recounting all that had happened in the past.

Jiang Shu quietly made some calculations, and it indeed seemed to be the case, "Even so, as the instigator of the Western Sect, you have committed many evil acts over the years. Moreover, my brother gave me no specific instructions when I came. I must still capture you and take you back to my brother for judgment!"

Having said that, he took out his Mixed Element Qi bag, scooped downwards, and captured both Ji Fan and Wei Fengniang, one human and one demon, into the bag.

With the leaders of the Western Sect either captured or executed, although their followers were numerous, the remaining cleanup work became even more tedious. Jiang Shu and Ling Hun left their disciples to deal with the aftermath while they hurried back to the Capital.

Upon reaching Yuan Yang Palace in the Capital, and having seen Shi Feiyang, Jiang Shu recounted Ji Fan’s story, to which Shi Feiyang nodded, "Indeed, there was such an affair."

He took Ji Fan and Wei Fengniang from Jiang Shu’s hands, made the human and the demon kneel side by side, with Ji Fan being most exaggerated, declaring melodramatically how he had always hoped to return to Shi Feiyang’s side these years, but had a mission to complete, longing day and night, and finally, to this day, he could return to the right path!

Shi Feiyang took out the ’Demon God Scripture,’ and told the two, "I asked you to revise the teachings and integrate Buddhist law, to properly manage the Xie Wang Sect. Instead, you have created so many sub-sects and factions outside the Xie Wang Sect. Did you think I was not aware? And over the years, you’ve also committed no small number of misdeeds, causing many to be ruined. Although you have merit, you also have faults. Your achievements and wrongdoings cancel each other out. From now on, you will cultivate in this Demon Scripture as per your sworn vows!" After he spoke, he unfolded the scripture and tossed it into the air.

Seeing his situation was dire, Ji Fan again used his Blood Dripping Clone technique to leave a replica of himself in place while his real body turned to flee.

Shi Feiyang had anticipated this, raising his hand and sending out five streams of Purple and Blue Sword Qi, which swiftly minced the person into dust, burned to ashes; and while the Primordial Spirit attempted to change and flee, it was already captured by the Divine Light of the Heavenly Secret Demon emitted by the scripture, and along with Wei Fengniang, both were absorbed into the Demon Scripture.

Shi Feiyang initially intended to cultivate the Secret Demon Great Technique with Esheng Fan, using Ji Fan to replace Esheng Fan. But after obtaining the two treasures of the Holy Mausoleum, he no longer needed that path and had since stopped paying attention to Ji Fan. Now, placing him into the scripture also served as a resolution to the case.

In less than half a month, all the evil sects in Central Earth were eradicated, leaving only the Xie Wang Sect, which absorbed a large number of followers from other Western Sect factions, truly leaderless and in disarray.

These devotees had no other option, their faith nearly on the brink of collapse, their only hope clinging to the manifestation of Xie Wang Bodhisattva to lead and teach them.

Thus, in the regions of Fujian, Zhejiang, and the Liangguang Region, over a million followers prayed night and day to Xie Wang.

Some cried endlessly, even wailing loudly, "Oh, Xie Wang, please manifest your presence! Our Sect Hierarch is gone! Xie Wang Bodhisattva, please come and save your suffering children in the Human World!"