The group of individuals from various races who came to rescue the ascenders were no weaklings themselves. In particular, the white-robed man wielding the sword possessed cultivation far surpassing even the leader of the ancient clan.
Clearly, this rescue mission no longer seemed to face any major issues.
However, what puzzled Lin Fan was a nagging doubt—if every time an ascender arrived, the ancient clans were always slaughtered by others, that seemed just too damn suspicious to be real.
“This doesn’t add up. Even if the ancient clans were foolish, they wouldn’t possibly allow the Great Thousand Races to succeed every single time,” Lin Fan muttered to himself while hiding in the shadows, carefully observing the situation ahead.
“Hmm, these ancient clans seem unusually calm,” Lin Fan noticed as he studied the expressions on the faces of the ancient clan members. Unlike the panic he had witnessed when he first ascended and the Great Thousand Races had ambushed them, these ancient clans appeared composed, as if everything were under their complete control.
“I know that person—Bai Yichen from the Sword Realm. He’s extremely powerful, at the peak of the Azure Heaven realm,” Xia Zehua remarked, watching the scene unfold.
Lin Fan opened the wanted list and searched for the name. He was indeed surprised by the ranking.
Although not among the very top, Bai Yichen still ranked over six hundred thousand places higher than Lin Fan’s several million. Clearly, there was a massive gap between them.
“It looks like we won’t have much to do here. Bai Yichen’s sword techniques are peerless. Even among the Sword Clan, he’s already renowned. Lin Ge, shall we retreat or just watch?” Mu Liang asked.
The group of rescuers from various races were all quite skilled, especially the white-clad swordsman, whose cultivation level surpassed that of the Ancient Clan leader.
It seemed that this rescue mission would proceed without major issues.
However, what puzzled Lin Fan was that if every time a new ascendant arrived, the Ancient Clan members were slaughtered, it would seem too staged.
“Something’s off. Even if the Ancient Clan is foolish, they wouldn’t let the myriad races succeed every time,” Lin Fan thought to himself, carefully observing the situation ahead.
“Hmm, these Ancient Clan members seem unusually calm,” Lin Fan noticed their composed expressions, unlike the panic he had seen when he first ascended and encountered an ambush by the myriad races. They appeared as if everything was under control.
“That man, I know him. Bai Yichen from the Sword Realm, a formidable expert at the peak of the Qingtian level,” Xia Zehua commented on the situation ahead.
Lin Fan opened the bounty list and searched, only to be shocked by Bai Yichen’s ranking.
Though not at the very top, his rank was in the six hundred thousands, far superior to Lin Fan’s position in the tens of millions.
“It seems we won’t be needed this time. Bai Yichen’s swordsmanship is unparalleled, even renowned within the Sword Clan. Brother Lin, should we retreat or stay and watch?” Mu Liang asked.
“Let’s watch…” Lin Fan replied, feeling a bit indignant.
Renowned? When I grow stronger, I will surely surpass such fame.
The ascendants trapped in the prison cells were unaware of what was happening, but seeing rescuers arrive, they were overjoyed.
Especially when they sensed the powerful aura emanating from these rescuers, their spirits were lifted.
In the lower realms, they were top-tier overlords, naturally arrogant. But now, seeing that each rescuer was far stronger than them, they felt a sudden sense of loss.
…
“It’s starting… it’s starting,” Mu Liang whispered.
Bai Yichen’s sword gleamed with divine light, his unparalleled sword intent dominating the heavens and earth, far surpassing Lin Fan’s, not even in the same league.
“This doesn’t make sense…” Lin Fan was puzzled as he watched the myriad races slaughter so effortlessly.
Of course, Lin Fan didn’t wish for the Ancient Clan to annihilate them, but the situation was too smooth.
Perhaps he was overthinking it. Maybe the Ancient Clan really was that foolish, not just pretending.
“Buzz…”
At that moment, the entire void trembled violently, and even Lin Fan and his companions felt the surge of energy.
“It’s here…” Lin Fan’s expression turned serious. As he had suspected, the Ancient Clan would not repeat their previous mistake.
Suddenly, the distant sky darkened, and thick black clouds filled the void. Within the dark clouds, a spatial rift appeared.
A vast and desolate aura surged from the rift, accompanied by a resonant bell-like sound that echoed through the void.
“Haha, finally, I’ve been waiting for you.”
A dark figure emerged from the rift, a member of the Ancient Clan far more powerful than the others.
A roar of fury caused the imprisoned ascendants to bleed from their orifices, their spirits shattered.
“So strong…” Even from such a distance, Lin Fan felt his blood boiling.
“This is going to be a tragedy,” Lin Fan sighed, realizing these people were likely doomed.
“Early stage of the Huangtian level.”
Such a realm was beyond Lin Fan’s ability to challenge; the gap was too vast, making any attempt futile.
The Xuanhuang Realm was not like the Ancient Sage Realm.
In the Xuanhuang Realm, the will of heaven and earth was strong, but it paled in comparison to the Ancient Sage Realm.
Lin Fan’s ability to fight beyond his level was already extraordinary, but to leap three minor realms and a major threshold was nothing short of delusional.
…
On the battlefield, Bai Yichen’s expression changed abruptly. He hadn’t expected a Ancient Clan commander to appear.
Moreover, this Ancient Clan member’s strength surpassed his own by a large margin.
“Everyone, retreat,” Bai Yichen said with a determined yet worried expression, his seven-foot sword radiating sword intent, blocking the path.
“Bai Yichen of the Sword Clan, you’ve slaughtered countless of our kind, your crimes are heinous. Daring to come here today is nothing but seeking death,” the Ancient Clan commander stepped forward, his powerful aura erupting, “This place is already surrounded by an inescapable net. No one leaves.”
Suddenly, the canyon echoed with roars as a large group of Ancient Clan members surrounded it, forming a siege.
The once-excited ascendants now looked on in despair.
Though their wills were strong, their last glimmer of hope was fading. Falling into the hands of these dark, ugly creatures would surely lead to a grim fate.
…
“Brother Lin, let’s retreat. There’s no saving this now,” Mu Liang said, his earlier excitement completely gone.
The disparity in strength was too great. Charging in now wouldn’t be bravery, but foolishness.
“Brother Lin, there’s really no chance,” Xia Zehua added.
Lin Fan heard the words of the “Justice Squad,” but as he watched the scene unfold, he felt an indescribable emotion.
Yet, even with this feeling, given his current strength, there was no hope. Charging in would be suicide.
“The concept of ‘righteousness’ is so strange. Who the hell came up with it?” Lin Fan thought.
In the Xuanhuang Realm, he was a righteous youth, always ready to draw his sword against injustice.
Facing overwhelming odds, he would still exude an aura of defiance, earning admiration.
But now, standing by and watching people die felt like a blow to his character.
Yet, how could he save them?
This question stumped Lin Fan.
On the battlefield, Bai Yichen was retreating step by step, barely holding on.
Though swordsmen were known for their defiance, being overpowered so quickly was rather pitiful.
“Brother Lin, let’s go. A gentleman seeks revenge even after ten years. We’ll have our chance to slay these Ancient Clan members one day. For now, retreating isn’t cowardice, but a way to preserve our strength,” Xia Zehua comforted, thinking Lin Fan was hesitant due to pride.
“Right, Brother Lin, the captain is correct. We all know you’re fearless, but the gap in strength is too vast. Charging in now would be suicide,” Mu Liang added.
“Quiet…” Lin Fan waved his hand.
The current situation was a rare opportunity. As the saying goes, fortune favors the bold. Missing this chance would mean losing it forever.
“Wait…” Suddenly, Lin Fan had a brilliant idea.
A plan that could kill two birds with one stone.
“Renowned, huh? Once this young master grows stronger, I’ll definitely be even more awe-inspiring. I’ll surpass that so-called ‘renown’ by far.”
The ascenders trapped within the prison had no idea what was happening. However, upon realizing they were being rescued, they naturally felt overjoyed.
Especially when they sensed the immense auras radiating from the rescuers, their spirits surged.
In the lower realms, they had been supreme overlords, proud and arrogant. But now, each of the rescuers was far more powerful than them, leaving the ascenders feeling unexpectedly disheartened.
—
“It started! It started!” Mu Liang whispered excitedly.
Bai Yichen’s sword radiated divine light, and his peerless sword intent slashed across heaven and earth. Compared to Lin Fan’s sword intent, it was vastly superior—on a completely different level.
“This isn’t right…” Lin Fan thought to himself, puzzled by how easily the Great Thousand Races were defeating the ancient clans.
Of course, Lin Fan didn’t hope for the rescuers to be wiped out by the ancient clans, but the battle was going far too smoothly.
Could it be that he had overthought everything? Were those ancient clans genuinely stupid, not pretending to be?
“Buzz…”
At that moment, the entire void trembled violently, and even Lin Fan and the others felt the disturbance.
“He’s here…” Lin Fan’s expression darkened. As he had suspected, this time, the ancient clans would definitely not be as easily defeated as last time.
Suddenly, the distant sky darkened. A vast expanse of black clouds gathered in the void, and within the pitch-black storm clouds, a spatial rift abruptly tore open.
A boundless, desolate aura surged out from that rift, accompanied by a deep, thunderous sound echoing through the heavens.
“Hahahaha! Finally, you’ve come. I’ve been waiting for you for a long time!”
A pitch-black figure emerged from the spatial rift. This ancient clan warrior was far more powerful than the others.
With a single roar of fury, the imprisoned ascenders were sent reeling, blood pouring from their mouths and eyes, their souls nearly shattered.
“So strong…” Even from such a distance, Lin Fan could feel his blood boiling.
“This is going to end badly,” Lin Fan sighed. These people were likely going to perish here.
“Huang Tian realm, early stage.”
Such a cultivation level was so far beyond Lin Fan’s reach that he didn’t even consider fighting. The gap was simply too vast.
The Xuan Huang World was nothing compared to the Ancient Saint World.
Although the will of heaven in Xuan Huang was formidable, it was likely less than a ten-thousandth of that in the Ancient Saint World.
Lin Fan had already astonished the world by defeating opponents one level above him. But now, to cross three minor realms and even a major threshold? That was nothing short of a fantasy.
—
At that moment, Bai Yichen’s expression changed abruptly. He hadn’t expected an ancient clan commander to appear this time.
Moreover, this ancient clan warrior was an entire cultivation level higher than himself.
“Everyone, retreat first!” Bai Yichen’s usually resolute face showed a hint of concern. His seven-foot-long sword, wrapped in swirling sword intent, blocked off the entire escape route.
“Bai Yichen of the Sword Clan has slaughtered countless ancient clan warriors and committed heinous crimes. Daring to come here this time is nothing but seeking your own deaths,” the ancient clan commander declared as he stepped forward, his powerful aura erupting. “This place has been surrounded by an inescapable net. Not a single one of you will leave.”
Instantly, the canyon echoed with deafening roars as hordes of ancient clan warriors surrounded the area, forming a deadly encirclement.
The ascenders, who had been filled with excitement moments ago, now fell into despair.
Though their wills were strong, their last hope was vanishing. To fall into the hands of these dark, hideous beings meant certain doom.
—
“Lin Ge, we should retreat now. There’s no saving them anymore,” Mu Liang said, his earlier excitement completely gone as he looked at the ancient clan warriors.
The gap in strength was just too great. Charging in now wouldn’t be bravery—it would be sheer stupidity.
“Lin Xiong, there really is no chance,” Xia Zehua added.
Lin Fan listened to the words of the “Justice Squad,” but watching the scene unfold, a strange feeling stirred in his chest.
Still, even with that feeling, with his current strength, there was no hope at all. Charging in would only mean certain death.
Why did the words “righteousness” and “justice” feel so strange now? Who the hell had come up with such a concept?
In the Xuan Huang World, he had been a model citizen, always ready to help those in need and fight against injustice.
Even when facing overwhelming odds, he had still stood tall, earning admiration and respect.
Now, watching this unfold and doing nothing felt like a betrayal of his principles.
But how could he possibly help?
This question left Lin Fan stumped.
On the battlefield, Bai Yichen was retreating step by step, barely holding on.
Although sword cultivators were known for their indomitable spirit, being defeated so quickly after entering the fight was still pitiful.
“Lin Xiong, let’s go. A gentleman can wait ten years to avenge a wrong. One day, we will personally slay these ancient clans. For now, we’re no match for them. Retreating isn’t cowardice—it’s about preserving our strength,” Xia Zehua said, seeing Lin Fan hesitate, assuming he was reluctant to leave and lose face.
“That’s right, Lin Ge. The captain is absolutely right. We all know you’re not afraid to die, but the gap is just too wide. Charging in now would be suicide,” Mu Liang added.
“Quiet…” Lin Fan waved his hand.
Looking at the current situation, this was a rare opportunity. As the saying went, great rewards came from great risks. Missing this chance might mean never getting another.
“Wait…” Suddenly, an idea struck Lin Fan like a lightning bolt. He had just thought of a brilliant plan.
A plan that could even achieve two goals at once.
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