Chapter 58: The Hopeless Waste
Chapter 58: The Hopeless Waste
“Have I been exposed?”
If he hadn’t been exposed, why would the Three Saints Sect dispatch elders and even set up surveillance arrays?
But Jiang Wang reconsidered—this didn’t make sense.
If he were truly exposed, they would have come for him immediately.
Though the Three Saints Sect had lost Li Jianping, they still had three peak Star Realm grand elders.
Under such circumstances, there was no reason to merely surveil him.
After calmly analyzing the situation, Jiang Wang regained his composure and continued treating Chu Fan.
This Chu Fan was a Three Saints Sect disciple with a special physique.
He was also a lecturer at Jixia Academy and had come here with Liu Yueru, the academy’s headmistress.
With these two connections, the Three Saints Sect wouldn’t dare act against them.
Yet the elders outside Green Sun Peak thought differently.
“Have you sensed Ye Nantian?”
“No, it’s strange—Ye Nantian’s nowhere to be found in the entire Three Saints Sect. Where could such a living person have disappeared to?”
“Saint Su’s suspicions weren’t unfounded after all. Continue surveillance. At the slightest movement, apprehend those two immediately!”
“But one of them is a Jixia Academy elder. Won’t immediate apprehension cause problems?”
“What’s there to fear? With Saint Su’s orders, would that Liu Yueru dare utter half a complaint?”
With Su Ming and the Patriarch backing them, the Three Saints Sect had already become invincible across the Heaven Primordial Continent.
When strengths were comparable, they might exchange pleasantries—but now that the power balance had shifted, what was there to discuss?
Inside Green Sun Peak, Jiang Wang suddenly sensed something amiss while repairing Chu Fan’s body.
The already-cultivated Soul Devouring Body Tempering Technique had begun operating on its own.
“Damn it! Couldn’t you apply your talent where it’s actually needed?!”
Jiang Wang cursed inwardly while using spiritual energy to suppress it.
As one of the top demonic cultivation techniques, the Three Saints Sect would undoubtedly recognize the Soul Devouring Body Tempering Technique’s energy signature.
If discovered, wouldn’t all his previous efforts go to waste?
After scheming his way to this point, how could Jiang Wang allow Chu Fan—his meticulously cultivated investment—to be exposed now?
With a cold expression, Jiang Wang increased spiritual energy output, determined to eliminate any risk of exposure.
Yet the more he looked at the unconscious Chu Fan, the more absurd the situation felt.
“I’ve become like this? Getting trapped by overinvesting in a mere chess piece?”
No sooner had this thought emerged than Jiang Wang forcibly suppressed it.
Now wasn’t the time for such reflections.
Was he truly avoiding these thoughts due to circumstances?
Unlikely.
The Destiny Branch connected to his head told the real story.
His current relationship with Chu Fan mirrored Li Jianping’s past role.
Destiny had transformed this top-three demonic cultivator into Chu Fan’s guardian.
This subtle guidance and transformation occurred without the subject’s awareness.
From the moment Destiny selected Chu Fan as protagonist, everyone else was fated to become stepping stones for his ascent.
Whether orthodox or demonic, Destiny would always find ways to make Chu Fan’s actions appear perfectly justified.
Under Jiang Wang’s relentless suppression, Chu Fan’s Soul Devouring Body Tempering Technique finally stopped its autonomous operation.
His complexion normalized, and regaining consciousness was only a matter of time.
After another incense stick’s worth of time, Chu Fan finally awoke.
Recognizing the familiar room’s furnishings, he turned to Jiang Wang in confusion.
“Senior Qi? When did we return?”
“Your cultivation technique malfunctioned, allowing the Taotie Remnant Soul to possess you again. We’ll recuperate at Green Sun Peak and avoid going out for now.”
Yet Chu Fan seemed dissatisfied with Jiang Wang’s explanation.
During their travels, with dual enhancements from Soul Devouring Body Tempering Technique and the ‘Taotie Devouring Spirit’, his cultivation had nearly returned to the Longevity Realm.
Being told to rest now was unacceptable.
“I’m just one step from the Longevity Realm. Can’t we rest after breaking through…?”
Jiang Wang’s expression instantly turned stern at Chu Fan’s suggestion.
“Blindly pursuing strength now will only make you more vulnerable to the Taotie Remnant Soul’s corruption.”
“No, I can feel the remnant soul has completely dormant—it won’t resurface for a long time.” Chu Fan argued earnestly.
But Jiang Wang knew better—he’d personally suppressed the Taotie Remnant.
To prevent reawakening, he’d used extreme measures.
This gave Chu Fan misplaced confidence.
As long as the remnant soul remained dormant, he wanted to rapidly increase his strength.
“And then what? As you grow stronger, so will the Taotie Remnant Soul. What will you do when it possesses you next time?”
“Chu Fan, many have already sacrificed for you. When will you stop acting so childish?!”
Jiang Wang’s words froze Chu Fan in place. His lips quivered, but no rebuttal came.
Yet the seed of Longevity Realm ambition had been planted. Though temporarily restrained by guilt, the desire would resurface once remorse faded.
Moreover, Destiny wouldn’t allow Chu Fan peaceful recuperation.
It already sensed threats from Su Ming.
First severing Destiny’s connection with Luo Ningshuang, then mastering methods to completely destroy Destiny itself—how could it not panic?
If Chu Fan’s cultivation kept falling behind Su Ming’s, there’d be no chance of recovery.
Unfortunately, after Su Ming’s previous devastation, Destiny temporarily lost the capacity to assist Chu Fan.
Influencing Jiang Wang to keep helping Chu Fan was Destiny’s final gift before being damaged.
Chu Fan’s future progress now depended entirely on himself.
At least Destiny could no longer deliver opportunities to Chu Fan like handing out cabbages.
When night fell and all was quiet, Chu Fan made a decision that completely blindsided Jiang Wang.
He secretly slipped out of Green Sun Peak, heading beyond Three Saints Sect territory.
Normally, a peak Star Realm cultivator wouldn’t miss Chu Fan’s escape. But sealing the Taotie Remnant and healing Chu Fan had drained Jiang Wang’s energy.
Combined with Destiny’s interference, he overlooked Chu Fan’s nighttime movements.
By the time Jiang Wang realized, Chu Fan had already bypassed the elders’ surveillance arrays and was nearing the mountain gates.
Jiang Wang’s heart burned with anxiety.
“This bastard truly is a hopeless waste!”