Chapter 1690: Killing the City Lord

As the Lord of Sky Remnant City was filled with worry, he suddenly jolted. The other half of his ancient giant bloodline within him boiled like water. Immediately, he lost control of his body.

"Oh no, the ancient giants are controlling me now..." the Lord of Sky Remnant City cried out softly. With a quick glance, he realized that two of his clansmen had already been brought under control. They rose into the air without warning, teleporting towards Grand Exalt Xingyuan who was above them.

However, as soon as they made their move, a colossal palm, like a small mountain, smacked their bodies, causing them to explode. A twenty-zhang white tiger blocked their path, with Jiang Fan and Venerable Zhenyan standing on its head. Jiang Fan still held Venerable Zhenyan in his arms, but his gaze was cold as he stared at them. He said in a chilling voice, "I knew you backstabbing traitors wouldn't behave!"

He had never trusted the half-giants from the very beginning. Jiang Fan would never overlook these treacherous individuals, who not only cannibalized their own kind but also aided the giants on the battlefield, especially not at such a critical moment. He had always been wary of them.

Space shattered beside him; the Lord of Sky Remnant City had attacked! As a Grand Exalt, his attack would undoubtedly be world-shattering, leaving no one a chance to react. And his target was also Grand Exalt Xingyuan!

Jiang Fan's expression changed. Fortunately, a formation resembling the Big Dipper descended from the sky, blasting the Lord of Sky Remnant City back from his teleportation. A graceful figure with flowing silver hair flickered into appearance. It was none other than the Mountain Lord of the Myriad Stars! If anyone in Middle-earth harbored the deepest suspicions towards the half-giants, it was the Mountain Lord of the Myriad Stars, besides Jiang Fan. The cannibalism incidents in the Seven Cities of Heaven's Abyss had put her on high alert.

The other Grand Exalts reacted, all glaring furiously at the Lord of Sky Remnant City. Upon closer inspection, they noticed black veins bulging on the Lord of Sky Remnant City's skin, and his eyes were filled with a bestial madness.

"He's lost his mind!"

"No, is he being controlled?"

"The ancient giants are controlling him, trying to manipulate him to assassinate Grand Exalt Xingyuan and prevent the wish!"

"Damn it! The ancient giants can actually control half-giants?"

"How come no one ever discovered this?"

The Mountain Lord of the Myriad Stars' expression suddenly changed. "Then the half-giants in Guixu Province must also be controlled?"

Everyone suddenly realized the truth. They finally understood how the army of four hundred Giant Kings had arrived on the battlefield ahead of time! It was with the help of those half-giants from Sky Remnant City! Only they could have caused the Sky Watchers of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau to lower their guard, allowing them to seize the provincial-level teleportation array while they were unprepared!

Grand Exalt Jinlin was consumed by rage. "These bastards! I said early on that they couldn't be trusted, yet Sage Cixin repeatedly protected them! Now they've aided tyranny and caused immense disaster, Sage Cixin, you must take responsibility for this!!!"

Jiang Fan was also furious. If not for those beasts from Sky Remnant City helping the four hundred Giant Kings reach the battlefield, Old Man Wangqing wouldn't have had to sacrifice himself, carrying the stone tablet to provide aid.

Wait! He suddenly remembered the incident at the Seven Cities of Heaven's Abyss. Sage Cixin had gone so far as to deploy a time-reversal law to conceal the half-giants' cannibalism in the Seven Cities of Heaven's Abyss. He even erased all memories of the only survivor who witnessed the entire city, a female Venerable. When several Sages questioned him about what he was hiding, he remained silent!

Now, the answer was clear! It was that half-giants could be controlled by ancient giants! Once this matter was exposed, the half-giants would inevitably be massacred by Middle-earth. In that case, as the protector of the half-giants, he would lose his source of merit and be unable to advance further in the Sage realm! For the sake of a bit of his own cultivation, he didn't hesitate to conceal the truth, utterly disregarding the safety of all Middle-earth!

Jiang Fan couldn't bear it any longer. He roared towards the sky, "Old dog Cixin! Do you really deserve to be a Sage of Middle-earth?"

Everyone gradually recovered their senses. Their pupils constricted sharply, and expressions of disbelief appeared on their faces. Sage Cixin had known everything all along, but not only did he fail to warn everyone to be wary, he deliberately covered for the half-giants! As they thought of Old Man Wangqing's sacrifice, of the final battle that should never have happened, and of the countless lives tragically lost under the iron hooves of the four hundred Giant Kings, they all became enraged. Such an old dog did not deserve to be a Sage!

The Lord of Sky Remnant City attacked again. His actions completely enraged everyone. Grand Exalt Jinlin, Grand Exalt Bingxin, Grand Exalt Wanbing, the Master of Jiangshan Yipin Tower, and the Mountain Lord of the Myriad Stars all attacked in a rage.

From the firmament, Sage Cixin's furious roar echoed: "Stop! Who dares to kill someone of mine!"

Even at this point, he still wanted to protect the Lord of Sky Remnant City? Jiang Fan was beside himself with rage and charged forward on his white tiger! The other Grand Exalts were also consumed by anger, showing no intention of stopping, and attacked together!

The Lord of Sky Remnant City hastily activated his Dharma Realm. The Dharma Realm he had been reluctant to use against the giants, he ruthlessly unleashed against the people of Middle-earth! Unfortunately, he was facing a combined assault from all the Grand Exalts of Middle-earth. His Dharma form was instantly shattered, and his nine-zhang-tall body was blasted and embedded into the earth, with only his head exposed.

Under the violent impact, the Lord of Sky Remnant City finally broke free from the control. Looking at the murderous faces of the Grand Exalts, he said in horror, "Fellow Daoists, please show mercy! I was merely controlled by the ancient giants; this was not my intention!"

Several Grand Exalts temporarily stopped, frowning in thought. Only Jiang Fan, however, mercilessly thrust the Blade of Angels towards his head and said coldly, "Go explain yourself to your giant ancestors! Middle-earth has no place for you!"

The Lord of Sky Remnant City roared repeatedly, "Jiang Fan! You're utterly merciless! Are we half-giants not people of Middle-earth?"

Without another word, Jiang Fan plunged the Blade of Angels fiercely into him. Powerful holy light infused his body; possessing half of the ancient giant bloodline, he was subjected to a destructive attack from the holy light.

*Bang—*

Half of his body instantly turned into a mist of blood, with only the remaining half still buried in the earth. His massive head, half-destroyed, stared at Jiang Fan with venom. His mouth opened and closed, as if cursing Jiang Fan. Unfortunately, not a single word could be uttered. After several painful struggles, his head finally drooped powerlessly, and his life force extinguished, he died. Even his soul dissipated, as the half that was from an ancient giant was destroyed by the holy light. He even lost the chance to seize a new body and cultivate again.

Jiang Fan pulled out the Blade of Angels and said coldly, "Only now do you deserve to be one of Middle-earth's people. Don't worry, you won't be lonely. When I return from the Primordial Hunt, I will send all your clansmen down to join you! Not a single one will be left!"

*RUMBLE—*

The surrounding land began to sink amidst earth-shattering roars. The surrounding spatial barriers had all shattered. Hunyuan Province began to sink.

When the tide of tens of thousands of ancient giants surged to the front of the academy, they finally realized something was amiss. They ran back in horror, attempting to retreat through the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar. But how could it be so easy?