Chapter 531 - 176: Shocking: Jiang Lan’s Ambition Was Far Underestimated, a Saint’s Appearance Decides the Outcome

However, this likely wasn’t the genuine article. The real God-Binding Rope had vanished long ago, during a great calamity in ancient times.

Li Ran handed the bound Huangfu Hao to him and turned to look toward the Demon Abyss.

Jiang Lan said, "Over at the Demon Abyss, it seems the Wushang Demon God can’t hold back any longer."

"However, the Helian and Tantai Families are currently focused on the decisive battle between Tantai Qing and Helian Wen. They’re too preoccupied to notice what’s happening in the Demon Abyss..."

Li Ran nodded. "I’m just waiting for his descent. As it happens, my Lifebound Sacred Artifact is still missing a Lifebound Essence Soul. If I can capture and refine it, my Sacred Artifact might just ascend to a new level."

With that, this wisp of his spiritual will dissipated and left the area.

Jiang Lan had no intention of getting involved in those affairs. He had plenty of his own matters to attend to.

Without their Commander, the Barbarians in the area were no longer a threat. Jiang Lan didn’t let them off. After dealing with the nuisance, he sealed Uganda’s remaining head and tossed it into a wooden box.

He was in no hurry to leave Jiyun Ridge.

The outskirts of Jiyun Ridge were still guarded by a considerable number of Barbarians, which provided him with the perfect cover.

"I’ll trouble you, Martial Uncle, to take me to the depths of the Demon Abyss," Jiang Lan said with a faint smile.

With this incarnation of Huangfu Hao in his possession, he could use the Great Destiny Skill to locate his true body.

However, Jiang Lan didn’t plan on dealing with Huangfu Hao just yet. He still had another use for him.

Though the depths of the Demon Abyss were currently in chaos, it was the resting place of the Free Ancient Talisman. The talisman, formed from the condensed essences of the Free Celestial Demon who had fallen in the Abyss, was now ready to emerge.

The Wushang Demon God and the Free Celestial Demon had been mortal enemies. The Free Celestial Demon was originally a Demon God himself, known as the Favored Obstructing Demon God. But due to a fortuitous opportunity, he accidentally came into contact with the legendary Liberated Heaven, comprehended a sliver of its Profound Truth, and condensed a trace of the True Essence of Freedom.

The Great Liberated Heaven was the realm where the Free Immortals of ancient times dwelled. It was rumored to exist above the Three Thousand Great Worlds, containing the profound mystery of universal freedom. Even the Celestial Court, which governed All Heavens, could not interfere with its order.

In a sense, the Freedom Profound Truth contained within Liberated Heaven could enable any living being to break free from the Three Realms and Six Paths, placing them beyond the jurisdiction of the Celestial Court.

After obtaining the Profound Truth, the Favored Obstructing Demon God renamed himself the Free Celestial Demon. He intended to achieve a state of absolute freedom, to roam as he pleased beyond the realm of the Three Realms and Six Paths. Unfortunately, he fell in the Demon Abyss before he could take that final step.

The Wushang Demon God had always coveted his Dao Fruit.

And in a way, the Free Ancient Talisman was the condensed form of the Free Celestial Demon’s Dao Fruit.

Seeing Huangfu Hao’s silence, Jiang Lan just smiled nonchalantly. "You’d best not get any funny ideas, Martial Uncle. I know you and that Wushang Demon God must have struck some kind of deal. However, I’m not that foolish disciple of yours, who to this very moment still doesn’t know he’s been deceived by his master all along, reduced to a perfect vessel for the Wushang Demon God’s descent."

"If I’m not mistaken, during his battle with Tantai Qing, the Demon Seed beacon in his body will activate. At that point, his death will be certain, and the Helian Family will be dragged down with him..."

Upon hearing this, Huangfu Hao’s expression changed drastically. A chill shot up his spine, and he stared at Jiang Lan in utter disbelief.

’How in the world did he know about this?’

Jiang Lan smiled. "The reason I dared to scheme against a Saint’s Noble Family is all thanks to this plan of yours, Martial Uncle. A ten-thousand-year foundation, destroyed because of a single descendant. Such a shame..."

Huangfu Hao’s mouth went dry. He was completely at a loss for words.