Chapter 122: Thunderbolt Son: The Book of Life and Death (First Update)

Turning his head, Jiang Fan realized it was not an immortal resurrecting. Instead, a figure appeared beside him—frail in form, yet exuding a majestic presence, standing tall as if supporting the heavens, filling the vast sky.

This figure looked exceedingly strange: a face like indigo, hair like cinnabar, eyes fierce and bright, teeth protruding beyond the lips, and a pair of wings sprouting from his back.

“Who are you?” Jiang Fan asked cautiously.

Yet his heart trembled deeply.

“You may call me Senior Brother!”

“Senior Brother?”

“You inherited my Senior Uncle’s legacy, of course you must call me Senior Brother!” the man smiled. “Though you hid it well, you couldn't escape my sight. You should recognize me, right?”

“The legendary Lei Zhenzi?” Jiang Fan’s heart quivered.

“Someone actually remembers me!” Lei Zhenzi smiled, slightly lifting his head to gaze at the sky, his expression tinged with loneliness, then he sighed helplessly, “Senior Uncle Yuding is truly gone?”

“Even knowing it, I still cannot believe it!” Lei Zhenzi continued without waiting for an answer. “When you received the legacy, did you hear any news of Yang Jian?”

“No,” Jiang Fan shook his head with a bitter smile. “I’m only a registered disciple now.”

“The entire Yuquan Mansion is within your sea of consciousness, how is that different from the true transmission?” Lei Zhenzi said. “Back then, the Chan Sect flourished so magnificently. The Sage Patriarch presided, the Twelve Golden Immortals ruled the world, and even the Heavenly Emperor dared not defy the Jade Void Edict. Alas, a calamity struck, heaven and earth shifted, a great war swept through the myriad heavens and worlds, and for millions of years peace was elusive. Countless immortals and cultivators fell in battle; even the Heavenly Emperor bled across the sky, the Heavenly Court collapsed, Senior Uncle Yuding perished utterly, my Senior Brother Yang Jian’s whereabouts are unknown, and as for me…”

“My body shattered, my primordial spirit disintegrated, only a remnant soul remains to suppress the evil demons here,” Lei Zhenzi said with a sigh.

“You…” Jiang Fan grinned bitterly.

The information Lei Zhenzi revealed was overwhelming. Though Nangong Rou once spoke of it in a confused manner, hearing it from him was far more shocking.

The Heavenly Court collapsed? The Heavenly Emperor bled across the sky?

Lei Zhenzi was reduced to a mere remnant soul?

“I have endured a million years, barely finding a successor!” Lei Zhenzi waved his hand dismissively and changed the subject. “We can no longer continue. Fortunately, the legacy remains. With you appearing, there is little regret, but…”

He looked up. “Jiang Fan, if you ever have the chance to ascend Kunlun, bid farewell to my master for me. I can no longer serve by his side. However, I have found him a grand-disciple, so he may still be troubled in the future.”

Jiang Fan listened silently.

The master he referred to must be Yun Zhongzi.

“With your strength, since your will remains, why not reincarnate?” Jiang Fan asked in doubt.

“My primordial spirit has dissipated, only a remnant remains. Now that heaven and earth and reincarnation have collapsed, and the Underworld no longer exists, how can I reincarnate?” Lei Zhenzi shook his head. “Life or death, it no longer matters.”

“I know of someone who has been reincarnating for a million years—why is that?”

“Reincarnating for a million years?”

“Yes.”

“Impossible!” Lei Zhenzi shook his head but his expression shifted. “If one can reincarnate, it must be through that item!”

“That item?” Jiang Fan’s mind sparked as he recalled a torn page of black paper he received from Nangong Rou. He produced it. “Senior Brother, do you recognize this?”

“This?” Lei Zhenzi’s eyes widened. He reached out, snatched it, and examined it carefully, his gaze growing brighter. “This is a fragment of the Book of Life and Death. I never expected that the Book of Life and Death would also be broken.”

“Senior Brother, is it useful?” Jiang Fan asked.

Lei Zhenzi nodded. “This page can indeed protect a remnant soul’s reincarnation, allowing continuous cycles to restore the true spirit. Junior Brother, would you lend it to me for a while?”

“If it can help you, nothing would please me more. Senior Brother, it’s yours!”

“Ha! Excellent!” Lei Zhenzi laughed heartily. “I intended to utterly vanish after finding a successor this time, but you gave me a thread of hope. Luckily, I appeared; otherwise, this opportunity would have been lost completely.”

Jiang Fan’s heart stirred. “Senior Brother, the pills I received upon arrival—were they your guidance? And the Na Xu Bracelet?”

“Yes! Your cultivation is too weak now. It seems Senior Uncle Yuding’s gifts have not yet been fully passed down, so I guided you to obtain some, to save effort in the early stages,” Lei Zhenzi explained. “Later, I will give you some good things!”

Just as he spoke, he suddenly turned his head.

In the distance, a surge of demonic energy erupted, instantly swelling to a height of a thousand feet, forming a human figure.

“Demon Mother, you still won’t give up?” Lei Zhenzi roared.

“Unexpectedly, you found a fragment of the Book of Life and Death!” a sharp voice pierced the air. “You want to reincarnate? How can I let you succeed?”

“Eons of torment, I was close to erasing you completely. What can you oppose me with?”

“At least, I can consume your remnant soul and prevent your reincarnation!”

“Bold plan!” Lei Zhenzi frowned, turning to Jiang Fan. “This is one of the four great demon generals of the Blood Sea. I once severely wounded and suppressed her, but since I only have a remnant soul, I couldn’t kill her outright. I sealed her here, spending countless time to erode her. Over the ages, I’ve lost hope and no longer strive to live, so my remnant soul is weak. If she unleashes all her remaining power, she might pull me down with her. Junior Brother, if I cannot reincarnate, please bid farewell to my master for me. If there’s a chance, we will fight side by side against demons. We cannot linger here!”

As he spoke, chaos erupted in the distance, the earth shook, mountains trembled, and the void collapsed.

Lei Zhenzi waved his hand, shifting the stars and moving the heavens. Jiang Fan’s vision darkened then suddenly brightened. They appeared at the mouth of the Red River as it met the sea.

With him came Ji Changkong, Lei Chen, Gongsun Wujian, and Jiang Shan. As for the other four demons, two had been slain by Jiang Fan; the remaining two were evidently trapped forever within.

The black hole that had existed before had vanished without a trace.

“You’re all safe, that’s wonderful!” Ji Changkong scanned the group with joy, then frowned. “How did you come out suddenly?”

“After entering, I was battered and bleeding, then fainted. But now…” Jiang Shan was baffled. “Not only have my wounds healed, but I’ve also entered the Dao Realm. My physique has grown immensely strong, and an inexplicable power surges within me, constantly enhancing my body. Strange indeed.”

Lei Chen frowned. “I entered a palace, received some legacy, then emerged.”

Jiang Fan glanced at him thoughtfully.

Perhaps Lei Zhenzi’s chosen successor was this Lei Chen.

“I inadvertently absorbed a powerful sword intent. I thought I would explode, but it fused into my body,” Gongsun Wujian said.

“Jiang Fan, what about you? Did you benefit as well?” Ji Changkong asked.

Jiang Fan nodded. “It seems we all did. There must have been a great elder watching over us on that battlefield. This is fate—true immortal fate!”

“Only immortal fate can explain it!” Ji Changkong said. “It’s a pity the black hole connecting there has disappeared, or else…”

He shook his head and added, “We gained immortal fate, but those four fell trapped inside. It feels like heaven’s aid.”

After searching for a while longer without result, they flew together toward Baihe County City, discussing what they had witnessed inside.

Outside the city, they parted ways.

Lei Chen returned to his mountain gate to digest the legacy and vowed to descend once his cultivation matured to slay demons.

Gongsun Wujian wished to stay by Jiang Fan’s side but was refused. Jiang Fan reminded him of his previous words: if he could comprehend it, his sword path would advance further.

After some thought, Gongsun Wujian departed.

“That youth’s talent is astonishing, but his immersion in the ruthless sword path makes his nature too indifferent. If he cannot break free, his future achievements will be limited—a variable,” Ji Changkong said, watching Gongsun Wujian’s retreating figure. “Jiang Fan, what about you? What are your plans?”

“To cultivate in seclusion.”

“Seclusion?” Ji Changkong laughed and shook his head. “Do you think you can still retreat? You have become the Eye of the Storm, the focus of attention. Quiet living is impossible. There will be a great event ahead; want to join? There might be great benefits and fame.”

“The Hidden God Sect?”

“Yes!”

“Notify me. If I’m free, I might go watch the excitement.”

“Good! When we return, I’ll upgrade your patrol official rank to Silver Seal. The Silver Seal is a magical artifact; with the Silver Seal token, we can communicate easily!”

“Excellent!”

Returning to the Jiang family, Jiang Fan eased his parents’ worries.

He gifted the Mortal Realm Garden to his father, Jiang Zheng’an, placing it within the Jiang Mansion for safekeeping. This top-grade treasure could both attack and defend, more than capable of guarding the Jiang family.

Jiang Shan secluded himself deep in the palace, safe and sound.

After a leisurely day, Ji Changkong personally delivered the Silver Seal token.

“The Silver Seal tokens for patrol officials across the realm are all produced by the same source as the Xuantian Mirror. They are interconnected, and we have already exchanged simple communications through them. They hold many subtle uses; make good use of them!” Ji Changkong explained.

“Could they have been forged by the Human Emperor?” Jiang Fan was astonished.

The Xuantian Mirror alone was enough to oversee the world.

Now the patrol officials’ Silver Seal tokens were likewise extraordinary.

Such artifacts revealed the astonishing methods of the Human Emperor.

Ji Changkong nodded. “The Human Emperor is the acknowledged strongest in the realm. For centuries, no one has shaken his reign. He restrains heaven and earth, which is why our Great Song Empire’s people live relatively peacefully. The Blood Demon Abyss dares not emerge, the Demonic Sect shrinks away, the Heavenly Demon Mountain roams only in the wilderness, even the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan bows in submission—all because of the Human Emperor.”

“The might of the Human Emperor is truly unfathomable!” Jiang Fan sighed. “I will close myself off for a time. If you cannot reach me, I won’t partake in the Hidden God Sect’s affairs.”

“Good!” Ji Changkong said. “For us, cultivation is fundamental. Strive to reach the peak of the primordial spirit as soon as possible!”

After Ji Changkong left, Jiang Fan informed his parents, then retreated again.

Within Yuquan Mansion, he did not rush to leave but continued quiet cultivation.

With the aid of pills, his Profound Dao skill swiftly reached perfection at the third level. He adapted to the gravity environment north of the True Illusion Stone House, trained in the western mountains fighting, and explored the eastern forest’s mysteries.

However, the top-grade spiritual spring remained elusive.

“Profound Dao skill perfected at the third level!”

“Primordial spirit at the pinnacle of the second step!”

Having paused his cultivation, Jiang Fan prepared to enter another world for further refinement. Upon returning, he expected to break through and step into the peak of the primordial spirit.

“Before leaving, I should review what I gained last time!” he thought as objects appeared before him one by one.