Chapter 203: The Temple of Tuodi

Inside the room.

Gong Bingye’s delicate face blushed slightly as she let Lin Fan hold her arm. Her heart pounded with anticipation. Was *that* about to happen between them?

Though Gong Bingye had never experienced it herself, she had heard whispers about it. The maids sometimes spoke in hushed tones, and out of curiosity, she had secretly listened in.

It would hurt, there would be blood, and it could even lead to the creation of life.

At this thought, her fair and refined face flushed even deeper, and her eyes shimmered with a soft, flowing light.

“Alright, there’s no one else here, and no one will disturb us,” Lin Fan said as he pulled her into a room. Though this was a shop, it also had a resting area. Here, he could ask his questions without fear of being overheard.

Gong Bingye, hearing this, trembled slightly. A mixture of nervousness and hesitation stirred within her.

Would he be captivated by her beauty, her grace, when she undressed and revealed her fair skin?

Gazing at Lin Fan’s back, she gently extended her slender hand, intending to help him remove his clothes. This man before her held an exalted status, and for her own happiness and the future of the Gong family, she should take the initiative.

Inside the room.

Gong Bingye’s delicate face flushed slightly as she allowed Lin Fan to pull her arm, her heart pounding with anticipation. Was it finally going to happen? She had never experienced it herself, but she had overheard the maids whispering about it in secret, driven by curiosity.

It would be painful, there would be blood, and perhaps even the creation of life.

At the thought, Gong Bingye’s fair and exquisite face turned even redder, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“Alright, there’s no one else here, and no one will disturb us,” Lin Fan said as he led Gong Bingye into a room. Although it was a shop, it also had a resting area. Here, he wouldn’t have to worry about being overheard when he asked his questions.

Hearing this, Gong Bingye’s delicate body trembled slightly, a mix of nervousness and hesitation.

Undressing, revealing her fair and beautiful skin, would he be captivated by her?

Gong Bingye looked at Lin Fan’s back and gently extended her slender hand, intending to help him undress. This man, with his lofty status, was her key to happiness and the future of the Gong family. She should take the initiative.

“Where did you get this fragment?” Lin Fan suddenly asked, holding up the Supreme Fragment.

Gong Bingye, who had been prepared, was momentarily stunned. Her outstretched hand quickly retracted, and the look of infatuation on her face instantly returned to normal.

So, it was all in her imagination.

At this moment, Gong Bingye felt utterly embarrassed, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the ground. Fortunately, he hadn’t noticed.

“Sir, this fragment was left behind by my ancestors. As for where it came from, I don’t know,” Gong Bingye said with a composed expression, pretending as if nothing had happened.

Lin Fan sighed in resignation. He hadn’t held much hope before coming here. If the Gong family knew where it came from, they would have already collected all the token fragments.

“Never mind. I’ll take care of this fragment for now. But I’m not the type to take others’ things without reason. If you ever need anything, you can come to the Holy Sect and find me,” Lin Fan said with a righteous air, as if everything was perfectly justified.

Gong Bingye couldn’t help but laugh softly. She found the man’s personality quite amusing. The fragment had been taken by force, yet he claimed he didn’t take others’ things casually. It sounded so strange.

“What, you don’t believe me?” Hearing her laughter, Lin Fan felt that she was doubting him. Who was he? The sixth-generation sect master of the Holy Demon Sect of the Nameless Peak in the Holy Sect. His word was his bond; he never joked around.

“I believe you, sir,” Gong Bingye said softly, her tied-up hair exuding a feminine charm. Her eyes, which seemed to shimmer with spring water, gazed affectionately at Lin Fan.

Every blink and smile was irresistibly alluring.

“Good. I’m not the type to make empty promises. Keeping this fragment with you is no good. I’ll take care of it for your safety. If you ever need anything, come to the Holy Sect. I always keep my word,” Lin Fan said.

“I will remember your words, sir,” Gong Bingye replied, knowing that this matter couldn’t be rushed. It would have to be approached slowly.

“Alright, I’ll take my leave now. No need to see me off,” Lin Fan said, flicking his sleeve, his hands behind his back, and strode out with his head held high.

Gong Bingye watched Lin Fan’s retreating figure, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Touching her body and then leaving without a second thought? It wasn’t that easy.

Moreover, he had taken her family’s heirloom fragment. No matter what, he couldn’t escape.

Gong Bingye was perceptive. She could discern a person’s character from their actions and words.

If Lin Fan had been a ruthless and cruel man, Gong Bingye wouldn’t have dared to provoke him, no matter how confident she was. But now, it was hard to say.

There were still many rogue cultivators outside. When they saw Lin Fan emerge, they were all stunned, unable to believe their eyes.

How could he have come out so quickly? And judging by his expression, he seemed quite pleased with himself, as if something had just happened. But it was all too fast.

Ah, it must be because of Miss Gong. With her innate charm and stunning beauty, any man would succumb to her alluring figure in no time.

Gong Bingye stepped out of the room, her mind already made up. As she was about to leave the shop, she gently pinched her fair, jade-like cheeks, giving them a slight blush.

She also let down her tied-up hair, letting the silky strands cascade down her back like a waterfall, and then walked out the door.

“Miss Gong is here!” someone in the crowd exclaimed.

When the onlookers saw Gong Bingye’s appearance, they were even more convinced of their earlier thoughts. They looked at the departing figure with envy and jealousy.

Another peerlessly beautiful maiden had been deflowered.

Gong Bingye gazed into the distance with affectionate eyes, her slender hand resting on the counter, her pitiful demeanor even more captivating.

…

Lin Fan felt a bit disappointed that he hadn’t gained any useful information, but he wasn’t in a hurry. There was still plenty of time. He was determined to search the entire Eastern Spirit Continent if necessary to find those fragments.

Sha Dulong and the others had already prepared the carriages. Although they weren’t luxurious, they were practical.

Lin Fan took out the leather map he had obtained from Liu Yiyuan and showed it to Sha Dulong.

“Let’s head in this direction,” Lin Fan said, waving his hand to begin the journey.

Three days later.

“Sir, we’ve arrived,” Sha Dulong’s distinctive voice came from outside.

Lin Fan had been in a state of cultivation for the past three days, beginning to comprehend the “One Finger Extinction.” There was still much to delve into, and his skill experience had increased significantly, but he was still far from leveling up.

It seemed that powerful skills took a long time to level up.

Lin Fan stepped out of the carriage. Along the way, they hadn’t encountered any major dangers, aside from a few reckless beasts. There had been no real trouble.

The ruins before them were the location marked on the leather map.

The surrounding trees were dense, blocking out the sky and making the area seem eerie and terrifying.

“Sir, this is the Tuodi Temple. It’s been abandoned for hundreds of years,” Sha Dulong said, having lived in the area for a long time and knowing some of its history.

The temple was strange, with only a roof exposed above ground, and no other structures behind it. It seemed as if the temple was tilted into the ground, and it was unclear how large it was inside.

Lin Fan examined the Tuodi Temple. At the entrance, there were some toppled stupas, and inside, it was pitch black, impossible to see anything.

“Sha Dulong, come with me. The rest of you, stay outside,” Lin Fan ordered.

“Prepare the torches.”

…

Gong Bingye, fully prepared for what she thought was about to happen, froze. Her outstretched hand quickly retracted, and the dreamy expression on her face vanished instantly.

So it was all just her imagination.

In that moment, Gong Bingye felt so embarrassed she wished she could vanish into a crack in the ground. Fortunately, he hadn’t noticed.

“Lord, this fragment has been passed down from my ancestor. As for where exactly it came from, I don’t know,” Gong Bingye replied calmly, pretending nothing had happened.

Lin Fan sighed helplessly. Truthfully, he hadn’t held much hope coming here. If the Gong family had known where the fragment came from, they would have already gathered all the pieces of the token.

“Fine. I’ll keep this fragment for now. But I’m not the kind of person who takes things from others without reason. If you ever need help, come find me at the Holy Sect,” Lin Fan said solemnly, his expression unwavering, as if he were speaking a great truth.

Gong Bingye couldn’t help but laugh softly. She found his personality quite amusing. After all, he had essentially taken the fragment by force, yet now he claimed not to take things from others. It sounded quite strange.

“What? You don’t believe me?” Lin Fan asked, hearing her laughter. He felt she was doubting him. Who did she think he was? He was the sixth Patriarch of the Nameless Peak of the Holy Devil Sect of the Holy Sect. Every word he spoke was as solid as a nail—never a joke.

“I believe you, my Lord,” Gong Bingye replied softly, her coiled hair exuding a delicate charm. Her eyes, brimming with emotion, gazed at Lin Fan with tenderness.

With every glance and smile, she exuded an irresistible allure.

“I’m not the kind of person who speaks without meaning. Keeping this fragment on your person brings no good. I’m doing this to protect you. If anything happens in the future, come to the Holy Sect—I keep my promises,” Lin Fan continued.

“I’ll always remember your words, my Lord,” Gong Bingye replied, knowing that rushing things wouldn’t work. She would have to take it slowly.

“Alright then. I’ll be taking my leave. No need to see me off,” Lin Fan said, flicking his sleeve and walking out proudly with his hands behind his back.

Gong Bingye watched his back disappear, a faint smile forming on her lips.

Touching a girl like that, then just wiping your mouth and leaving? Not so fast.

And stealing a family heirloom? No way she’d let him off the hook that easily.

Gong Bingye had a sharp mind. From his actions and words, she could already tell a lot.

If Lin Fan had been a cruel and ruthless man, she wouldn’t have dared to provoke him, no matter how confident she was. But now, things were uncertain.

Outside, many wandering cultivators were still gathered. When they saw Lin Fan exit, their faces showed shock and disbelief.

He came out so quickly! And judging by his expression, he looked quite satisfied, as if something had just happened. But how could it have happened so fast?

Ah, right! It must be because of Miss Gong—her natural charm and stunning beauty. Any man would find it hard to last long when faced with her alluring figure.

When Gong Bingye finally emerged from the room, she already had a plan in mind. As she stepped toward the shop’s exit, she gently pinched her fair cheeks, giving them a slight rosy hue.

She also let down her long, silky hair, letting it cascade down her back before walking outside.

“Miss Gong is coming out!” someone in the crowd exclaimed.

Seeing Gong Bingye’s appearance, the crowd became even more convinced of their assumptions. They looked at the retreating figure of Lin Fan with a mixture of envy and jealousy.

Another beautiful maiden had lost her innocence.

Gong Bingye gazed into the distance with a tender expression, her slender hand resting on the counter beside her, her delicate demeanor making her even more enchanting.

…

Though Lin Fan hadn’t obtained any useful information, he wasn’t particularly upset. He still had time. He was determined that if he scoured the entire Dongling Continent, he would find the remaining fragments.

Sha Dulong and the others had already prepared carriages. Though not luxurious, they were practical.

Lin Fan took out the leather map he had taken from Liu Yi Yuan and showed it to Sha Dulong.

“Let’s go. Head in this direction,” Lin Fan commanded, waving his hand as they began their journey.

Three days later.

“Lord, we’ve arrived,” Sha Dulong’s distinctive voice came from outside.

During the three-day journey, Lin Fan had spent most of his time cultivating and beginning to grasp the technique “One Finger of Annihilation.” He still needed to delve deeper into it, but his experience had increased significantly. Still, he was far from leveling up.

It seemed that powerful techniques all required a slow and painstaking process to improve.

Now stepping out of the carriage, Lin Fan found that the journey had been uneventful, aside from a few encounters with foolish beasts.

Before them lay the ruins marked on the leather map.

The area was surrounded by dense trees, their thick canopies blocking out the sunlight, casting an eerie and ominous atmosphere.

“Lord, this is the Tuo Di Temple. It has been abandoned for hundreds of years,” Sha Dulong explained. Having lived in the area for a long time, he was familiar with many local legends.

The temple was strange—only a single eave protruded from the ground, and the rest of the structure seemed to be buried at an angle beneath the earth, its true size unknown.

Lin Fan examined the ruins. At the entrance, several collapsed stupas lay scattered, and beyond them, darkness swallowed everything.

“Sha Dulong, you’re coming in with me. The rest of you, stay outside and guard the perimeter,” Lin Fan ordered.

“Prepare torches.”

…