Chapter 698: I Was Raised on Fear.

Lin Fan never expected that this old man could be so despicable and so deeply scheming. In a moment of carelessness, he had been completely tricked.

“Kid, the roads I’ve walked are beyond your imagination. Naturally, when I was young, I was extraordinarily talented. But you managed to outwit me to this extent, so you have every reason to be proud. You’re definitely going to be my disciple, and under my guidance, you will surpass your master, as the saying goes,” said Feng Qingzi, who was extremely satisfied. The more he looked at this young man, the more pleased he became.

Cultivation relies not only on talent but also on intelligence. Many gifted fools know nothing but cultivation itself, lacking any wisdom, and usually meeting bad ends.

Among the countless races of the Great Thousand World, there are countless prodigies. But as the saying goes, “Survivors are kings”—those who live to the end are the ultimate winners.

Lin Fan rolled his eyes. Why did this sentence sound so familiar?

“Proud enough,” wasn’t that exactly what he had said to others before? Yet in this current situation, Lin Fan could only sigh helplessly.

At this moment, Lin Fan released the bald monk from the Celestial Furnace, wondering whether the monk had gone mad after being locked up for so long.

“Ah, finally out! Did the cultivator escape? He who sees the loot gets a share—we must divide the spoils properly,” said the venerable Sakyamuni, who had been quietly thinking while imprisoned in the Celestial Furnace.

This was actually Feng Qingzi’s storage ring! The treasures inside must be immense. Obtaining even a fraction would mean becoming rich overnight.

However, when he saw Lin Fan’s strange expression, Sakyamuni’s face suddenly changed, his heart skipping a beat. He instinctively glanced sideways, and in an instant, Feng Qingzi’s figure abruptly appeared before his eyes.

Recalling what he had just said, Sakyamuni felt an ominous premonition.

“Cough, cough! Lin, how could you take Master Feng Qingzi’s storage ring? That’s immoral. We must return the storage ring to Master Feng Qingzi. Oh! Master Feng Qingzi, so you’re here! Truly, the heavenly net is wide, yet it lets nothing through!” Sakyamuni thought of what he had just said and felt his heart sink, desperately trying to salvage the situation.

“Bald monk, don’t pretend. Though you’re a Buddhist, you’re damn despicable,” Lin Fan said, already accustomed to the monk’s habit of saying one thing to people and another to ghosts.

This time, he had simply been defeated, but for Lin Fan, accepting this so easily was impossible.

“Old man, I don’t accept it. If you’ve got guts, let’s do another test,” Lin Fan thought quickly. No matter what happened today, he had to leave. To make him become a disciple? In all of heaven and earth, no one had that capability.

“Oh? What kind of test now?” Feng Qingzi smiled calmly. Having been tricked once, he wouldn’t fall for it again. In his view, this kid was extremely cunning.

“It’s simple. See this brick in my hand? Let me hit you once. If you don’t spit blood, I lose,” Lin Fan said, pulling out his ultimate weapon—the Number Nine Big Red Brick.

Lin Fan never expected the old man to be so cunning and deceitful, with such deep schemes that he got trapped in an instant.

“Kid, the paths I’ve walked are beyond your imagination. In my youth, I was exceptionally talented. Yet, you’ve managed to toy with me to this extent, which is something to be proud of. I am determined to take you as my disciple. Under my guidance, you will surpass even me.” Feng Qingzi was thoroughly satisfied, growing more pleased with the young man before him.

Cultivation relies not just on talent but also on wit. Those with extraordinary talent but no brains, who only focus on cultivation, usually meet a bad end.

In the vast universe, there are countless races and innumerable talented individuals. But as the saying goes, “The last man standing is the true winner.”

Lin Fan rolled his eyes, thinking, “Why does this sound so familiar?”

“Proud enough? Isn’t that what I used to say to others?” Lin Fan sighed helplessly at the current situation.

At this moment, Lin Fan released the bald monk from the Heaven and Earth Furnace. After being confined for so long, he wondered if the monk had gone mad.

“Ah, finally out! Did you escape, benefactor? Since we’re both here, let’s split the spoils.” Sakyamuni, after being trapped in the Heaven and Earth Furnace, had been quietly contemplating for a long time.

This was Feng Qingzi’s storage ring! The treasures inside must be immense. If he could get even a fraction, he would be rich.

But when he saw Lin Fan’s strange expression, Sakyamuni’s face suddenly changed, his heart skipped a beat, and he couldn’t help but glance to the side. In that instant, Feng Qingzi’s figure appeared before him.

Remembering what he had just said, Sakyamuni felt a sense of foreboding.

“Ahem! Benefactor Lin, how could you take Feng Qingzi’s storage ring? That’s unethical. We must return it to him. Ah! Master Feng, you’re here! Truly, the heavens are just and never miss a thing.” Sakyamuni, recalling his earlier words, felt utterly crushed and tried desperately to salvage the situation.

“Bald monk, stop pretending. You may be from the Buddha clan, but you’re as shameless as they come.” Lin Fan was used to the monk’s habit of saying one thing to a person’s face and another behind their back.

This time, he had to admit defeat, but Lin Fan wasn’t the type to give up so easily.

“Old man, I’m not convinced. Let’s have another test.” Lin Fan’s mind raced. No matter what, he had to leave today. No one in the world had the right to take him as a disciple.

“Oh? Another test?” Feng Qingzi smiled faintly. Having been tricked once, he wouldn’t fall for it again. In his eyes, this kid was too cunning.

“Simple. See this brick in my hand? Let me hit you with it. If you don’t spit blood, I lose.” Lin Fan pulled out the 95 Red Brick, his last resort.

As for techniques like “Black Tiger Steals the Heart” or “True Essence Destruction Kick,” Lin Fan thought it best not to use them. If he caused physical harm to the old man, there was no telling if the old man wouldn’t come after him with a vengeance.

If he ended up with another troublemaker like the bald monk by his side, it would be a tragedy.

“Why should I let you hit me?” Feng Qingzi didn’t sense any magical energy from the brick, but he didn’t underestimate Lin Fan. The kid was as crafty as they come, a match for himself.

“Are you scared?” Lin Fan was certain that if the old man let him hit him once, he would definitely collapse. But the key was, if the old man refused, there was nothing he could do.

“Kid, you’ve already lost,” Feng Qingzi said.

“I’m not convinced,” Lin Fan shouted.

“Whether you’re convinced or not, you’ve lost,” Feng Qingzi replied.

“I’m just not convinced,” Lin Fan shook his head, refusing to admit defeat.

“Master, I’m convinced. Please take me as your disciple,” Sakyamuni was on the verge of tears. One was unwilling to become a disciple, while the other desperately wanted to, but the master didn’t favor him. Who could understand this pain?

“Your talent is too poor. I’m not interested,” Feng Qingzi, irritated by Lin Fan, didn’t spare Sakyamuni any face, leaving the monk heartbroken and squatting on the ground, drawing circles.

“Old man, why are you insulting the bald monk? Even if his talent isn’t great, you shouldn’t be so blunt.”

Hearing Lin Fan speak up for him, Sakyamuni was deeply grateful. But upon hearing the latter part of the sentence, his heart ached even more.

“My talent isn’t great? How could that be? I’ve cultivated for a hundred years and reached this level. In the world, who can compare to me?”

“Kid, I’ll ask you one last time. Are you convinced or not?”

“Hmph, not convinced. I’d rather die than admit it,” Lin Fan stubbornly said.

“Fine, very well. In that case, I won’t bother with you anymore,” Feng Qingzi said, then left.

“Hey, old man, if you’re leaving, at least remove this barrier,” Lin Fan was baffled. He didn’t know what the old man was up to. If he was leaving, he should at least take the barrier with him. Otherwise, how was he supposed to leave?

“Damn it, one misstep and I’m stuck. I’ve been around for so long, but I’ve never suffered such a loss,” Lin Fan cursed inwardly. But in an instant, he felt a surge of joy. “Wait, the old man’s two storage rings are still in my hands. Haha, he must be senile to forget such important things.”

“Bald monk, stop pretending. The old man’s gone. We need to figure out how to remove this barrier. Once we’re out, I’ll share some treasures with you,” Lin Fan said.

“Benefactor, are you serious?” Sakyamuni’s eyes lit up at the mention of treasures, and he was filled with energy once more.

“Of course,” Lin Fan felt he was being quite generous. He would pick out some lesser treasures for the bald monk, fulfilling his promise.

At that moment, the void trembled. In the distance, a force that suppressed the soul tore through the void and approached.

“Human, I’ve finally found you,” thunder rumbled, dark clouds churned, and a pair of evil eyes, like celestial orbs, radiated boundless light, suppressing the heavens and earth.

Lin Fan frowned, then waved his hand. “Damn it, old man, you’re trying to scare me again. I grew up with this kind of stuff; I’m not afraid.”

“Feng Qingzi, we have an agreement. You dare to enter my domain? Are you trying to break our pact?”

The deafening roar shook the heavens, and the clouds rolled like waves.

“Is this for real?” Lin Fan’s heart skipped a beat, and he felt a sense of foreboding.

But he quickly dismissed the feeling, convinced it was just another one of the old man’s tricks.

Boom!

A bolt of lightning split the heavens, and a colossal figure appeared between the sky and earth.

At that moment, the world fell silent.

All things bowed as if a king had descended.

When Lin Fan saw the figure in the distance, his face changed dramatically.

“Holy crap, is this for real?”

…

If he had someone like the bald monk as an enemy nearby, that would be a tragedy.

“Why should I let you hit me?” Feng Qingzi asked. He sensed no magical fluctuations from the brick but didn’t underestimate Lin Fan. This kid was sly, almost as sly as himself.

“Are you scared?” Lin Fan retorted confidently. He was sure that if the old man let him strike once, he’d definitely drop dead. But the key was, if the old man refused to be hit, he’d be helpless.

“Kid, you’ve already lost,” Feng Qingzi said.

“I don’t accept it!” Lin Fan shouted.

“You don’t accept it, but you must,” Feng Qingzi replied.

“I just won’t accept it!” Lin Fan tossed his head defiantly.

“Senior, I accept. Please take me as your disciple,” at this moment, Sakyamuni nearly cried. One person refused to become a disciple, while another desperately wanted to be taken in—but was rejected. Who could understand this pain?

“Your talent is too poor; I’m not interested,” Feng Qingzi, now impatient, bluntly refused Sakyamuni, leaving the monk deeply hurt and immediately sulking on the ground, drawing circles.

“Old man, why insult the bald monk? Even if his talent isn’t great, you shouldn’t say it so directly.”

Hearing Lin Fan defend him, Sakyamuni felt grateful. But when he heard the second half of the sentence, his heart was even more wounded.

How could his talent be poor?

He had cultivated for a hundred years to reach his current realm. How many in heaven and earth could rival him?

“Kid, I’ll ask you one last time: do you accept or not?”

“Hmph! I don’t accept, not even in death!” Lin Fan stubbornly replied.

“Fine, very well. If that’s the case, I won’t interfere with you anymore,” Feng Qingzi said and immediately left.

“Hey, old man, you can leave, but you must remove this barrier first!” Lin Fan was momentarily stunned. He didn’t know what the old man was up to. If he left, shouldn’t he remove the barrier too? Otherwise, how was he supposed to leave?

“Damn! One misstep leads to eternal regret. I’ve roamed the martial world for so long, yet I’ve never suffered such a big loss,” Lin Fan inwardly cursed. But suddenly he brightened, “Right! The two storage rings of the old man are still in my hands. Haha! He must be suffering from senility, forgetting to take back such an important item.”

“Bald monk, stop pretending. The old man’s gone. We must figure out how to remove this barrier. After we leave, I’ll give you a share of the treasures,” Lin Fan said.

“Really?” Upon hearing the word “treasures,” Sakyamuni immediately brightened, regaining his energy.

“Of course.” Lin Fan thought himself quite generous. Later, he would give the monk some lesser treasures, fulfilling his promise.

Just then, the void trembled. From the distant horizon came a suppressing force, tearing through space and piercing through.

“Human, I’ve finally found you,” thunder crackled, dark clouds rolled, and a pair of evil eyes, like celestial eyes, burst with infinite brilliance, suppressing the heavens and earth.

Lin Fan furrowed his brows and waved his hand dismissively. “Damn it, old man, are you here to scare me again? I was raised by scares—I’m not afraid of you!”

“Feng Qingzi, keeping to himself, why have you come to my territory? Do you intend to break our agreement?”

Roaring sounds rumbled deafeningly, and the clouds in the sky rolled like waves.

“Could it be real?” Hearing this, Lin Fan’s heart sank, sensing something ominous.

But he quickly shook off this ominous feeling. In his mind, it must be another trick by the old man.

Boom!

A bolt of lightning split the heavens, and a giant figure appeared between heaven and earth.

In that moment, the world fell silent.

All things submitted, as if a king had descended.

When Lin Fan saw the distant figure, his expression suddenly changed drastically.

“What the hell? Is this real?”