The Linglong Sword Pavilion, a sacred hall of sword cultivation, stood amidst the northern mountains. Countless individuals aspired to become disciples of Linglong, but due to the Pavilion’s perilous location, only those with great perseverance and extraordinary fortune could reach it.
“Boom… boom… boom…”
A deep and muffled bell tolled from within Linglong Sword Pavilion, causing countless disciples to look up in confusion, unsure of what had occurred.
“Master, quickly come out! Senior apprentice sister is in critical condition!” At that moment, a group of disciples, panic evident on their faces, landed hastily before the grand hall, shouting toward the interior.
As a sect with strict discipline, Linglong Sword Pavilion would normally never tolerate such rudeness from its disciples, but given the severity of the situation, they could no longer concern themselves with formalities.
They had traveled day and night without rest, driven by urgency. Senior apprentice sister Ni’s life force had grown increasingly weak; if not for the continuous use of medicinal pills to sustain her, she likely would have perished already.
At this moment, the space within the grand hall trembled slightly, and a figure materialized inside.
Had it not been for the person’s clothing, it would have been difficult to discern whether they were male or female, for their face appeared blurred, like a pool of murky water.
“Master, Senior apprentice sister Ni…”
“Supreme Sword Intent… What exactly has occurred? Go summon the elders from each peak immediately.” Linglong Sect Leader spoke little, but his expression shifted dramatically, clearly sensing the gravity of the situation. He then drew Ni Mantian into the void and vanished from the scene.
The disciples exchanged glances, dared not linger, and immediately dispersed to inform the elders of each peak.
…
Meanwhile, Lin Fan was completely unaware that he had already caused trouble. As usual, he cheerfully continued his journey northward, as if on vacation.
Along the way, Lin Fan marveled at the wonders of nature, observing many strange plants.
However, what left the deepest impression on him was the large number of fierce beasts in this area.
“Huh!”
Someone ahead.
Lin Fan’s expression changed instantly, halting his steps. Just now, he had detected human voices in the distance. Earlier on the road, he had noticed many human-like footprints, meaning the Yan Imperial Court must be near.
Hiding in the shadows, Lin Fan watched as a group of people cooperated to kill a fierce beast. Lin Fan had once encountered a similar beast; its strength was decent. Even so, this beast was now defeated by this group, whom Lin Fan considered somewhat powerful.
Five men and three women, all at the Second Stage of Innate cultivation. In a one-on-one fight, this Golden-Horned Beast at the Second Stage of Innate cultivation could easily slaughter them all.
Afterward, the group rested at the site, disemboweling the beast and cutting off its golden horn, placing it into a bag. They set up camp, lit a fire, and began roasting meat, planning to eat the fierce beast.
“Hey, hello there!” Seeing that all of them were at the Second Stage of Innate cultivation, Lin Fan felt no fear. Besides, he was getting hungry and wanted to share their meal. He also wanted to travel with them. Judging from their uniform attire, they must be from the same place. Blending in with a group would make it less likely for him to draw attention.
Getting food and reaching his destination at the same time—this was a two-birds-with-one-stone plan, definitely feasible.
“Who’s there?” The eight people had just begun resting when they heard someone approaching, startling them. They immediately drew their weapons, warily eyeing the newcomer.
Seeing that the person was alone, they relaxed slightly, but still remained cautious. In Sunset Forest, all sorts of people roamed; when traveling, there were too many ill-intentioned individuals.
Seeing their tension, Lin Fan smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m not a bad person.”
“Hmph, of course a bad person wouldn’t admit to being one,” a girl in a red robe retorted sharply, holding her sword in a defensive stance.
“Sir, we don’t welcome you here. Please leave,” a male disciple spoke up.
Lin Fan looked at this man, then at the other seven who had remained silent. Clearly, this man held authority among them.
Lin Fan’s lips curled into a smile. “May I ask, is the Yan Imperial Court ahead?”
“Thirty miles forward, and you’ll reach the Yan Imperial Court,” Zang Tianhao replied cautiously. He was wary of Lin Fan, who had appeared in Sunset Forest without clear origins. Without any weapon yet able to appear so calmly here, this person was clearly no ordinary individual.
They had come as a team to hunt a Flame Beast. Originally planning to leave immediately after the kill, they decided to enjoy the delicious meat before departing.
“Thank you. But I’m quite hungry. Seeing your preparations, you seem to be making something tasty. I won’t stand on ceremony—I’ll join you all,” Lin Fan said casually as he stepped forward.
“Stop there, or don’t blame me for being rude!” Seeing that the person refused to leave, Zang Tianhao raised his voice threateningly.
“How selfish can you be? When we’re all out traveling, we should help each other,” Lin Fan said.
“Zang Ge, why bother talking to him? He looks suspicious—clearly no good person. Let’s subdue him first!” Han Mengmeng, dressed in red, spoke sharply, her sword already slashing toward Lin Fan’s arm with several dazzling arcs.
The sacred land of swordsmanship, the Linglong Sword Pavilion, stands amidst the northern mountains. Countless people aspire to join the Linglong Sword Pavilion, but due to its perilous location, only those with great perseverance and fortune can reach it.
“Boom, boom, boom…”
A deep bell toll echoed through the Linglong Sword Pavilion, causing many disciples to look around in confusion, unsure of what was happening.
“Master, come quickly! Senior Sister Ni is in critical condition!” A group of disciples landed hurriedly on the ground, shouting towards the main hall.
As a strictly regulated sect, the Linglong Sword Pavilion naturally does not allow disciples to barge into the main hall so recklessly. However, given the severity of the situation, the disciples could not afford to care about protocol.
For the past two days, they had traveled day and night without a moment’s rest, all to return as quickly as possible. Senior Sister Ni’s life force was fading rapidly, and if not for the life-sustaining elixirs, she would have already perished.
At that moment, the space within the main hall rippled slightly, and a figure appeared.
It was difficult to discern whether the figure was male or female, as their face was obscured, like a pool of murky water.
“Master, Senior Sister Ni…”
“Supreme Sword Intent, what exactly happened? Summon the elders from each peak,” the Sect Master of Linglong said without further explanation, his expression changing as he clearly found the situation challenging. He then pulled Ni Mantian into the void and disappeared.
The disciples exchanged glances, not daring to linger, and immediately set off to summon the elders from each peak.
…
Meanwhile, Lin Fan was blissfully unaware of the trouble he had caused, continuing his journey northward as if on a vacation.
Along the way, Lin Fan marveled at the wonders of nature, encountering many strange plants.
However, what left the deepest impression on him was the abundance of fierce beasts in the area.
Huh!
There’s someone ahead.
Lin Fan’s expression changed as he stopped in his tracks. He had just heard voices ahead. Along the way, he had noticed many human-like footprints, leading him to believe that the Great Yan Empire was near.
Hiding in the shadows, Lin Fan watched as a group of people worked together to kill a beast. He had encountered one of these beasts before, and while it was formidable, this group of seemingly skilled individuals managed to take it down.
Five men and three women, all at the second level of the Innate Realm. If it were a one-on-one fight, this second-level Golden-Horned Beast could easily slaughter them.
After the battle, the group rested, gutting the beast and removing its horn, which they placed in a bag. They then set up camp and started a fire to roast the beast, clearly planning to feast on it.
“Hey, everyone!” Lin Fan, seeing that they were all at the second level of the Innate Realm, felt no fear. Besides, he was a bit hungry and thought it would be a good idea to join them for some food. He also wanted to travel with them, as their matching attire suggested they were from the same place, making it easier for him to blend in.
It was a win-win situation—getting food and a ride to his destination.
“Who’s there?” The eight of them, having just settled down, were startled by the approaching voice and immediately drew their weapons, on high alert.
Seeing that it was just one person, they relaxed slightly, but remained cautious. In the Sunset Forest, one could encounter all sorts of people, and not all of them had good intentions.
Lin Fan smiled at their nervousness. “Don’t worry, I’m not a bad guy.”
“Hmph, a bad guy wouldn’t admit to being a bad guy,” said a girl in a red robe, gripping her sword tightly.
“Brother, we don’t welcome you here. Please leave,” said one of the men.
Lin Fan looked at the man, noticing that the other seven remained silent, indicating that this man held some authority among them.
Lin Fan smiled slightly. “Is the Great Yan Empire ahead?”
“Thirty miles forward, and you’ll reach the Great Yan Empire,” said Zang Tianhao, eyeing Lin Fan warily. The fact that this stranger appeared in the Sunset Forest without any weapons suggested he was no ordinary person.
They had come here as a team to hunt the Crimson Flame Beast, and after the hunt, they planned to feast on its delicious meat before leaving.
“Thanks. But I’m a bit hungry, and it looks like you’re preparing something tasty. I won’t stand on ceremony—let’s eat together,” Lin Fan said, stepping forward without hesitation.
“Stop right there, or I won’t be polite,” Zang Tianhao said sternly.
“Why so selfish? We should help each other out here,” Lin Fan replied.
“Brother Zang, why waste words on him? He looks shifty-eyed and untrustworthy. Let’s take him down first,” said Han Mengmeng in the red robe. As soon as she finished speaking, her sword danced in the air, creating ripples before thrusting towards Lin Fan’s arm.
“One Sword to Conquer the City.”
Han Mengmeng, at the second level of the Innate Realm, was quite skilled with the sword. Her blade, covered in true essence, glowed with a red light, exuding a sharp and fierce aura.
Lin Fan was indignant. Shifty-eyed? He, with his pure and kind face, was being called shifty-eyed?
“Clang…”
“Girls shouldn’t be so quick to resort to violence,” Lin Fan said, standing still as he caught Han Mengmeng’s sword with his left hand, looking somewhat helpless.
“This…”
Zang Tianhao stared in disbelief. This man had caught Han Mengmeng’s sword with his bare hand? How?
“Senior, please show mercy,” Zang Tianhao quickly called out.
“Nine Turns of the Path.”
Seeing her sword caught, Han Mengmeng became furious. Her body suddenly spun, attempting to twist Lin Fan’s hand off.
Lin Fan shook his head slightly.
Well, this was a good opportunity to test out his “Flower-Touching Finger Technique.”
He released the sword, his fingers gently twirling as if caressing a flower, brushing against Han Mengmeng’s blade.
“Clink…”
With a crisp sound, Han Mengmeng’s sword shattered into pieces, falling to the ground.
“Ding, congratulations! ‘Flower-Touching Finger Technique’ experience +10.”
“My Floating Sword!” Han Mengmeng looked at the fragments on the ground, her face pale, her eyes slightly red, as if on the verge of tears.
“Senior, please calm down. We were blind to your true strength. Please don’t take it to heart,” Zang Tianhao said hurriedly.
When traveling, one must never confront someone stronger than themselves. It’s better to back down when necessary.
“Apologize to the senior immediately,” Zang Tianhao urged. Anyone who could catch a sword with their bare hand must have a high level of physical cultivation, far beyond what they could handle.
Han Mengmeng glanced at Lin Fan, then at her broken sword, and reluctantly muttered, “I’m sorry.”
…
“It’s fine. Meeting is fate. Let’s get that meat roasting, and after we eat, we’ll head out together,” Lin Fan said without hesitation, sitting down on a nearby rock and gesturing for the others to start cooking.
Lin Fan was in high spirits. Not only had he just robbed two Divine Realm experts, but he had also played the role of a senior in front of this group.
Indeed, there were many joyful things to experience outside the sect.
Zang Tianhao breathed a sigh of relief and sat down beside Han Mengmeng. Although this man hadn’t done anything outrageous yet, Zang Tianhao remained uneasy.
“Hey, why are you traveling with a horse?” Lin Fan asked, noticing a horse grazing under a tree.
“Senior, that’s a Lustful Scent Horse. It’s a unique breed that can attract lone male beasts with its scent. If the attracted beast is too powerful, we can hide and avoid it,” Zang Tianhao explained honestly.
“Oh, so this horse is prone to cheating,” Lin Fan remarked, finding it quite a peculiar animal.
“Yes, that’s why Lustful Scent Horses are common and not particularly valuable,” Zang Tianhao said.
“Quite a strange creature. If we run out of food, we could always butcher it,” Lin Fan said, encountering such a horse for the first time.
“Senior, this horse isn’t edible. Its meat is so foul that even beasts can’t stomach it.”
“Oh, so even beasts find it repulsive.”
“Senior, the meat is ready.”
…
Han Mengmeng, at the Second Stage of Innate cultivation, wielded a decent sword technique. Her blade, coated in true energy, radiated red light and exuded fierce momentum.
Lin Fan couldn’t help but feel indignant at this moment. What did she mean by “suspicious and sly-eyed”? His appearance was pure and kind-hearted, yet she described him this way.
“Clang…”
“A lady shouldn’t attack at the first disagreement,” Lin Fan stood still, holding the sword’s blade with his bare left hand, saying helplessly.
“This…”
Zang Tianhao’s eyes widened in disbelief at the sight before him. This person had actually used bare flesh to grip Han Mengmeng’s sword. This… this…
“Senior, please show mercy!” Zang Tianhao was startled and shouted immediately.
“Path of Nine Turns.”
Seeing her sword gripped, Han Mengmeng’s fury surged. Her body suddenly spun, attempting to twist Lin Fan’s hand and break it.
Lin Fan shook his head slightly.
Fine, he might as well test the “Flower-Plucking and Chrysanthemum-Stroking Finger Technique.”
At this moment, he released the blade, his fingers gently rotating like plucking a flower, stroking Han Mengmeng’s sword.
“Clink…”
With a crisp sound, Han Mengmeng’s sword shattered into pieces, falling to the ground.
“Ding! Congratulations, the ‘Flower-Plucking and Chrysanthemum-Stroking Finger Technique’ has gained +10 experience.”
“My Floating Willow Sword!” Han Mengmeng stared at the fragments on the ground, her face changing, eyes reddening, clearly heartbroken.
“Senior, please calm down. We failed to recognize your greatness. Please don’t take offense at our rudeness,” Zang Tianhao hurriedly said.
When traveling, encountering someone stronger, one must never confront directly. One must know when to yield.
“Hurry and apologize to the Senior!” Zang Tianhao urged again. Someone capable of gripping the Floating Willow Sword barehanded must have an extremely high body cultivation realm—definitely not someone they could provoke.
Han Mengmeng glanced at Lin Fan, then at her broken sword, finally reluctantly uttering,
“I’m sorry.”
…
“It’s nothing. Meeting is fate. Let’s hurry up and cook the meat. After eating, we’ll travel together,” Lin Fan said casually, sitting down on a nearby stone and gesturing for the others to start roasting the meat.
At this moment, Lin Fan felt quite cheerful. He never expected that right after leaving the sect, he had not only robbed two experts at the Divine Entry realm but also played the role of a senior in front of a group of people.
Indeed, since leaving the sect, there had been so many enjoyable things.
Zang Tianhao exhaled in relief, then sat beside Han Mengmeng. Although the person hadn’t done anything excessive yet, Zang Tianhao still felt uneasy.
“Hey, why are you traveling with a horse?” Lin Fan noticed a horse grazing under a tree nearby and curiously asked.
“Senior, this is a Lust-Scent Mare, a unique type of horse. Its special scent can attract solitary male fierce beasts. If the attracted beast proves too strong, we can hide in the shadows without being noticed,” Zang Tianhao answered truthfully.
“Oh, so this horse is easy to cuckold?” Lin Fan found this animal quite peculiar.
“Yes, therefore Lust-Scent Mares are common and not considered valuable creatures,” Zang Tianhao explained.
“Still a fascinating creature. If food runs out, I suppose it could be slaughtered for meat.”
“Senior, this horse cannot be eaten. Its meat, naturally filled with lust scent, is even distasteful to fierce beasts.”
“Oh, so even beasts despise it.”
“Senior, the meat is ready.”
…
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