88: One punch, the void shatters

“Is it not?”

In Jiang Lan's view, the Miao Fa Pavilion was a subordinate organization of the Demon Suppression Division.

The Demon Suppression Division belonged to Great Yan, so naturally, the Miao Fa Pavilion also belonged to Great Yan.

“It seems you have a deep misunderstanding about the Miao Fa Pavilion…” Yao Banxian shook his head slightly, “The Miao Fa Pavilion does not belong to any nation; it is an organization.”

“An organization?”

“Yes, an organization spread across the two hundred thirty-six nations of Chihong Province,” Yao Banxian said, “Otherwise, how do you think these nations survive?”

Jiang Lan was silent for a long time.

He understood the hidden meaning in Yao Banxian’s words.

One could say that Yao Banxian’s words completely overturned his previous understanding.

Jiang Lan had always believed that Great Yan could exist for so long purely by relying on its national Luck.

After all, according to Great Yan’s visible combat power, even a Mortal Shedding Middle Stage, or even an early-stage Mortal Shedding, could easily sweep through the entire Great Yan, turning the once prosperous nation into ashes.

Yet, miraculously, Great Yan’s national fortune had lasted for nearly two hundred years.

The current Shenwu was Great Yan’s fourth regnal era.

And now, it was the fifty-fifth year of Shenwu.

This was clearly not right.

Jiang Lan had not even been Transmigrated here for a full month, and he had already encountered many powerful demons.

Even the separated soul within Bao Ping Temple, purely in terms of Realm, could contend with the head of the Demon Suppression Division.

Jiang Lan was just one person.

It couldn't be that all the powerful demons in Great Yan had been encountered by him, could it?

So, there must be extremely terrifying demons hidden in the shadows, and even those in the Mortal Shedding Realm might be commonplace.

“So, it is because of the Miao Fa Pavilion that Great Yan has been able to continue its national fortune for over two hundred years?”

“Of course.” As he spoke, Yao Banxian made no secret of his disdain for Great Yan, “Without our Miao Fa Pavilion, let alone two hundred years, this remote small nation might not even last twenty days.”

Jiang Lan suddenly understood.

No wonder.

No wonder there was so little information about the Miao Fa Pavilion within the Demon Suppression Division; no wonder the Taoist Priests reacted the way they did when he first arrived at this three-story building.

No matter how strong he was, he was still just a native Martial Artist from a native nation.

In the eyes of the Miao Fa Pavilion’s Taoist Priests, he probably didn't even amount to a fart.

After all, the forces they belonged to were incomparable.

Even a greeting might just be those Taoist Priests giving him Face.

However, Jiang Lan didn't feel any imbalance.

He knew one truth well.

To gain the respect of others, one's own strength is the most important factor.

Therefore, he would not dwell on such matters.

Jiang Lan then asked with some curiosity:

“As far as I know, within Great Yan, isn’t there only one branch of the Miao Fa Pavilion? Although Great Yan isn't large, it's not small either. Can you manage it all?”

Yao Banxian’s expression was a little strange.

He asked, “By ‘manage it,’ do you mean going wherever demons cause trouble and killing them?”

“Ah.” Jiang Lan nodded with a matter-of-fact expression, “Otherwise?”

“You child… your murderous intent is too strong. Since demons are called demons, they aren’t fools; of course, they are restricted. The Miao Fa Pavilion only acts against those who cross the line.”

“For example…?”

“For example, that Lord of the Turbid World, he has the Realm of a Demon Infant. Why doesn't he directly establish a temple and force people to worship him, but instead goes to great lengths to replace the plum with a peach, to steal the original incense offerings of the temple?”

Jiang Lan’s initial thought was that the Lord of the Turbid World feared that the collected incense offerings would not be sincere, so he didn’t use them.

But now that Yao Banxian mentioned it, he understood that it was clearly not what he had thought.

“Because of the Miao Fa Pavilion?”

“My young friend is clever; it is precisely because of the Miao Fa Pavilion,” Yao Banxian said, “If he really dared to do that, hmph…”

Yao Banxian didn't finish the latter part, but Jiang Lan knew what he meant without him saying it.

If the Lord of the Turbid World truly dared to do something as big as destroying a nation, he would probably be killed by people sent by the Miao Fa Pavilion before the nation was even destroyed.

Jiang Lan asked again:

“Then did you know early on that there was something amiss in Bao Ping Temple?”

“I knew, but the Karma in that temple is not for me, Banxian, to manage…” Yao Banxian said with a detached expression, “I, this old Taoist, came for you.”

“Me?”

Jiang Lan was flattered.

Although Yao Banxian hadn't revealed much, he knew that Yao Banxian’s Realm was definitely far above his.

What virtue or ability did he possess to have Yao Banxian specifically wait for him at the entrance of Bao Ping Temple?

Yao Banxian still had an appearance that seemed to see through people’s hearts, and without waiting for Jiang Lan to ask, he began to answer:

“Young friend, don’t forget, you are blessed with great Luck. Bao Ping Temple and I, Banxian, have no Karma, but I, Banxian, still want to piggyback on your Karma.”

Great Luck… Jiang Lan’s eyes flickered.

He possessed a System, so wasn't that great Luck?

Thinking of this, Jiang Lan quickly stopped his thoughts.

This Yao Banxian’s methods were very mysterious, and it seemed he could even know what he was thinking.

But with thoughts, the more you try not to think of something, the more it appears.

Helpless, Jiang Lan had no choice but to divert his attention and say:

“Then I shall borrow your auspicious words.”

“Don’t rush to thank me.” Yao Banxian paused and said, “I, Banxian, have lived for over four hundred years and have seen many people with great Luck, but guess where all those people went?”

Jiang Lan asked with some confusion:

“Where did they go?”

“They all died. I’ve seen three in total before; although their Luck wasn't as great as yours, they all died.”

Yao Banxian said, “So, by telling you this now, I am actually harming you. But there’s no helping it; I, Banxian, am truly coveting your Karma.

“If you succeed someday, perhaps you can help me, Banxian, witness the legendary Heaven and Man Realm.”

Jiang Lan was stunned again.

He just told him where they went.

What kind of Realm was the Heaven and Man Realm?

In this short conversation with Yao Banxian, his worldview was shattered and reshaped again and again.

When he first reached the Spirit Gathering Realm, Jiang Lan was excited for quite a while, thinking he was finally about to make his mark.

As it turned out, this was just the starting line?

However, this was unavoidable, as he was previously just a native of Great Yan, and his vision and knowledge simply hadn't reached that level.

“Can you tell me about the specific divisions of the Martial Dao Realms?”

Yao Banxian nodded and readily replied:

“There’s nothing that can’t be said about that. You should know the earlier ones, so I’ll tell you about the later ones. After Core Formation, comes Nascent Soul, followed by the Realms of Soul Transformation, Void Realm, Dao Conjunction, and Heaven and Man.

“Of course, these are our Taoist Priests’ names for the Realms. For you Martial Artists, the earlier ones are the same, but the final Realm, if I, Banxian, remember correctly, should be called Void Shattering.”

“Void Shattering?”

Yao Banxian nodded, a look of longing appearing on his pupil-less Face.

“Void Shattering, it sounds mysterious, and it’s actually even more mysterious. Simply put, Void Shattering means shattering the Void Realm. It means that every punch and kick can cause the Void Realm to shatter.”