Chapter 147: The Intelligence Was Wrong

Upon hearing the words of Elder Yu, the faces of the crowd turned increasingly strange.

“This is going too far,” murmured Zong Hentian darkly, his face covered in frost, his eyes brimming with intense murderous intent.

Lin Fan felt puzzled. Although they were leading the charge, they would still be accompanied by two other sects. Even if they suffered some disadvantages, there was no need for such resentment.

“Tomorrow’s vanguard will be our Holy Sect alongside Xuan Yang Gate and Tai Yi Sect. These two sects are the weakest among the six in this expedition. Tomorrow’s vanguard won’t offer any advantage, and we might even be used as cannon fodder,” Elder Yu explained, as if seeing through Lin Fan’s confusion.

Lin Fan now understood. This expedition involved six sects, and with such an arrangement, the Holy Sect might indeed suffer greatly at the hands of the Snow King Lion.

“Elder Yu, how strong exactly is this Snow King Lion?” Lin Fan asked.

“It’s at the peak of Xiao Tianwei. Although its strength has dropped to less than half due to childbirth, it’s still a formidable opponent,” Elder Yu replied.

Upon hearing this, Lin Fan was stunned. Even at half strength, a peak Xiao Tianwei expert was still way beyond his capabilities.

Moreover, even at half strength, it was no ordinary foe. It seemed tomorrow might be perilous.

Could it be that Tianfeng Sect held a grudge against the Holy Sect? In the forbidden zone, their disciples had ruthlessly crippled a Holy Sect prodigy. Now, during this hunt for the Snow King Lion, they were being marginalized at every turn.

“Elder Yu, do you think Tianfeng Sect has a vendetta against the Holy Sect? It feels like this is intentional,” Lin Fan asked curiously. Being targeted was one thing, but surely there should be a reason.

“Hmph, it’s just that during a previous trial in the forbidden zone, a Holy Sect disciple killed several Tianfeng prodigies. Now Tianfeng has produced an extraordinary genius who dares to act so brazenly,” Elder Yu scoffed, his eyes filled with helplessness.

He never expected the retribution to come so swiftly. Previously, the Holy Sect had always been ahead of the other sects, but this generation, Tianfeng had surpassed them.

Two Holy Sect prodigies had ganged up on Tianfeng’s genius, only to be defeated, costing them one of their own. What a bitter irony.

…

At this moment, Lin Fan could only think of one thing.

What goes around comes around.

It seemed Tianfeng was determined to settle old scores with the Holy Sect. Yet, Elder Yu’s heart was also broad—he had once killed several Tianfeng prodigies, and now faced the consequences as Tianfeng rose to power, oppressing the Holy Sect relentlessly. The bitterness was known only to those who bore it.

Tianfeng’s overall strength matched the Holy Sect’s, but in terms of disciple cultivation, the Holy Sect had always been far superior. Now, with Tianfeng producing an extraordinary genius, it was truly disheartening.

In Lin Fan’s view, there was no absolute right or wrong in this world.

There were only different perspectives and interests. Now that he was part of the Holy Sect, naturally everything the Holy Sect did was justified, and those opposing them were enemies.

Therefore, Lin Fan did not dwell on who was right or wrong.

“Tomorrow, all of you must be extra cautious and avoid unnecessary losses,” Elder Yu warned gravely before retreating to his tent, his appetite completely gone.

Zong Hentian and the others exchanged glances, unsure of what to say. They now understood how the sects had been arranged.

Xuan Yang Gate and Tai Yi Sect were geographically close to the Holy Sect, naturally forming an alliance, while the other three sects were positioned to the north.

The tragedy was that these two sects were relatively weak.

…

“Enough, why think so much? Just do what needs to be done and focus on filling our stomachs first,” Lin Fan waved his hand, noticing the downcast expressions of his junior disciples and trying to lighten the mood.

…

The Tianfeng Sect disciples, having suffered from Lin Fan’s previous “Great Fan Brother” onslaught, were in low spirits. On their battle ship, they had furiously pounded its surface, and now lay resting in their tents. Yet, despite their weary appearances, a strange sense of satisfaction flickered across their faces.

Tianfeng’s genius, Ling Ao, had detected the intrusion in time, successfully evading most of it. Although he had absorbed a bit, the internal disturbance still left his blood roiling with no resistance. His juniors fared no better.

For Tianfeng Sect, the Snow King Lion was a minor matter; the real goal was to deal a crushing blow to the Holy Sect.

“Eldest son of the Chu family from Yon Tian City, Chu Chen, requests an audience with Master,” a voice interrupted Ling Ao’s thoughts about tomorrow’s plans.

Ling Ao frowned slightly. The Chu family from Yon Tian City had a tenuous connection with Tianfeng Sect, but it was negligible. Still, there was no harm in receiving them.

“Enter,” Ling Ao said coldly.

Chu Chen’s heart leaped with joy as he nodded to his younger sister, Chu Xue.

The radiant Chu Xue’s lips curled into a faint smile, her eyes filled with longing as she looked toward the tent before following her brother inside.

…

The next day.

At the entrance of the Snow King Lion’s cave atop the drifting snowy peaks.

Representatives from the six sects gathered.

Lin Fan felt as if countless eyes were secretly watching him. The meaning behind those gazes made him feel a chill down his spine. Every time he tried to locate the source, the eyes would vanish mysteriously.

This furtive surveillance made Lin Fan feel as if his most private parts were being peeped at.

Dangerous, extremely dangerous.

“Alright, the Snow King Lion is inside. The first vanguard will be the Holy Sect, Xuan Yang Sect, and Tai Yi Sect. We three sects will take the opportunity to enter the cave and search for the Snow King Lion’s cub. As for the distribution, we can discuss it after the battle,” the Tianfeng Sect leader said calmly, his gaze locked tightly on the cave entrance.

At this moment, several large warships approached from afar. The representatives from the six sects looked on calmly, showing no surprise.

“What are those warships?” Lin Fan asked, puzzled.

“Those are other sects’ warships. They’re just here to observe their disciples and won’t participate in this hunt,” Elder Yu said indifferently after a quick glance.

Clearly, this was not the first time such a thing had happened.

“This hunt won’t involve any sect elders. You’ll all fight on your own merits. Life or death depends on yourselves,” the Tianfeng Sect leader declared.

The purpose of this hunt was to test the disciples.

At this moment, the Tianfeng Sect leader suddenly unleashed his aura, his hair and beard flying as he let out a long roar, sending a shockwave straight toward the cave entrance.

Just then, a deep roar echoed from within the cave—the Snow King Lion’s roar.

Lin Fan’s heart trembled. A fierce aura surged from the cave, as if something terrifying was about to emerge.

“Roar…”

The Snow King Lion’s first roar was deep and muffled, but the second one was deafening. A powerful gust of wind swept out from the cave, shaking the entire snowy peak.

In that pitch-black cave, suddenly appeared a pair of blood-red giant eyes, filled with savage fury.

When Lin Fan finally saw the creature emerge, he was completely stunned.

This… this…

It was too massive.

Lin Fan looked up at the beast before him. It was snow-white, lion-like in shape, with a pair of towering horns on its forehead. A fierce aura surrounded it from all directions.

At this moment, Lin Fan quickly checked with his system and his face paled instantly.

This… the intelligence was wrong.