Chapter 381: What Are You Trying to Do?

The disciples who had come for the evaluation were utterly stunned. They had no idea what was happening. How could the Heaven-Offering Statue suddenly emit a deafening sound? And who was speaking just now? Could it be a ghost?

This voice echoed through the heavens and spread across the entire Holy Sect.

“…He’s back…”

On Nameless Peak, Zhang Erdou was contemplating whether he should go down the mountain to handpick some promising candidates. At that very moment, a voice rang out.

Zhang Erdou froze in place, staring in disbelief toward the distance, his eyes flickering with shock.

The voice was both familiar and strange, as if he hadn’t heard it in an eternity.

Was it just an illusion?

Zhang Erdou stood silently for a moment, then immediately dashed down the mountain.

“It’s the Sect Leader… it must be the Sect Leader!”

Right behind him came Tianyu, Feng Bu Jue, Zhiqiao, and others, all rushing down the mountain.

At the secluded cultivation site on Nameless Peak, a powerful aura suddenly surged. Then, a figure tore through the void, flying straight toward the Heaven-Offering Statue.

At that very moment, the Holy Sect erupted into chaos.

Yan Sect Leader, Wuya, the senior elders, inner sect disciples, and outer sect disciples all came out and rushed toward the Heaven-Offering Statue.

—

“Damn, how long have I been out? My head feels so fuzzy,” Lin Fan said, sitting inside the crystal coffin, gazing around. From his vantage point, he could see the entire view of the mountain below.

“Huh? How did I end up so high up?” Lin Fan scratched his head, confused.

“Chickie, wake up!” Lin Fan noticed Chickie lying nearby with his neck tilted and tongue out, so he picked him up and slapped him twice.

“Cock-a-doodle-doo…” Chickie opened his dazed eyes, still unaware of the situation.

Chickie jumped onto Lin Fan’s shoulder, sat down, and stared blankly at the sky and land before them, just like Lin Fan. It seemed as if they had just woken from a long slumber and their minds hadn’t fully rebooted yet.

Minute by minute, Lin Fan remained motionless inside the crystal coffin.

Everyone else had gathered below the Heaven-Offering Statue.

“Sect Leader… did Master really come back to life?” Zong Hentian asked, his body trembling, his eyes filled with hope.

Yan Sect Leader and the others stood there in stunned silence, completely baffled by the situation.

Zhang Erdou and the others clenched their fists tightly, waiting anxiously, though their excitement was barely containable.

“Is it really you, Sect Leader?” Zhang Erdou cried out, tears welling in his eyes.

“Teacher…” Zhiqiao shouted from below.

—

“Everyone, calm down and wait a moment,” Yan Sect Leader finally spoke, stepping forward as if to shield everyone behind him.

The senior elders did the same. Though their hearts were filled with longing, they couldn’t ignore how strange the situation was.

Lin Fan had definitely died—they had confirmed it themselves. Yet now he was alive, sitting there motionless. It was beyond bizarre.

—

Inside the crystal coffin, Lin Fan’s mind gradually cleared.

“I was only supposed to fake my death for ten days… but how long has it really been? And am I really on top of the Heaven-Offering Statue?” Lin Fan ran his hands over the crystal coffin, looked at the massive statue, and heard the voices from below. Then he stood up and leapt straight down from the statue.

Everyone stared at the familiar figure descending before them, their excitement rising.

Yan Sect Leader stood still, his expression calm on the surface, but his heart was pounding.

Lin Fan said nothing, simply gazing at the crowd before him.

Familiar faces filled his vision.

Zhang Erdou looked even more sleazy than before.

Feng Bu Jue had matured, though his eyes were oddly bloodshot.

Zhiqiao had grown taller.

Wait, who was that? Oh, right, one of his disciples—her name was You Jiuling.

—

At that moment, everyone held their breath, filled with anticipation.

The inner and outer sect disciples clenched their fists tightly. It must be Master, it must be!

Those who had come from all corners of the land for the evaluation were stunned. What was going on? Why did that guy look exactly like the statue?

—

Lin Fan looked at the crowd, puzzled. Why wasn’t anyone speaking? Did they not recognize him anymore?

Sigh. Guess he had to greet them first.

These people really didn’t respect heroes enough, but well, his heart was big. He loved them all, so he’d forgive them just a little.

“Hey everyone, long time no see…” Lin Fan waved and finally spoke.

But the moment Lin Fan said those words, something terrifying happened.

“Ahh! It’s Master! It’s really Master!”

“Only Master would say something like that. A whole year has passed, and I never thought I’d see Master smile again!”

“I always said Master couldn’t die! How could someone as powerful as Master perish?”

“I dreamed of Master every night, alive and well. I knew it—I just knew it!”

At that moment, the inner and outer sect disciples were overwhelmed with emotion, tears streaming down their faces.

“Sect Leader…” Zhang Erdou, Mie Qiongqi, and others rushed forward and tightly embraced Lin Fan.

“Sect Leader, I’ve missed you so much!” Zhang Erdou wrapped his arms around Lin Fan, sobbing uncontrollably, snot and tears flowing, his heart nearly exploding with joy. He puckered his lips and tried to kiss Lin Fan’s face.

Lin Fan listened to the voices around him and was stunned when he heard the word “year.” He hadn’t expected that his fake death had lasted an entire year.

Looking at their faces, Lin Fan felt a pang of guilt.

But he decided to keep those feelings hidden—only he and Chickie needed to know.

So, without realizing it, he had become someone so deeply cherished by so many.

Perhaps his journey to grow stronger wasn’t just about revenge anymore—it was about protecting these people, these smiles, which must never be lost.

Lin Fan felt as if he had gained a new understanding, but the moment he saw Zhang Erdou’s expression, he snapped.

“What the hell are you doing, Erdou?!”

“Sect Leader, as long as you’re alive, you can beat me every day and I’ll still be happy,” Zhang Erdou struggled, still trying to kiss Lin Fan.

“Erdou, how did you become like this? Are you even the same Erdou I knew?”

“Mie Qiongqi, Feng Bu Jue, what are you two trying to do? Don’t get too carried away…” Being hugged by three grown men, Lin Fan was genuinely scared.

“Sect Leader, we just missed you so much… it’s been a whole year…”

Hearing that, Lin Fan’s lips curled slightly into a smile. “Alright, I’m back now. You guys, go on, I need to see my beloved disciples.”

“Teacher…”

Lin Fan scooped Zhiqiao into his arms and gently patted her head. “You’ve grown taller.”

Zhiqiao, eyes red, wrapped her arms around Lin Fan’s neck and clung to his shoulder.

You Jiuling stood off to the side, watching her senior sister with envy. She had only met her teacher once—would he even remember her?

“Jiuling, why don’t you come over and hug your teacher?” Lin Fan waved at her.

You Jiuling froze, then her delicate face lit up with a radiant smile. She ran over joyfully.

“Teacher…”

Lin Fan held one in each arm and burst into laughter.

This feeling was simply wonderful.

What a happy old master he was.

For Zhang Erdou and the others, the Sect Leader’s return meant they had their pillar of strength back.

Gong Bingye stood silently among the crowd, quietly wiping the corner of her eye.