Chapter 41: Are You Scared Yet?

A Chiyan Beast was quickly devoured entirely by the group. Martial artists consumed a lot of energy, and even Han Mengmeng, a girl, ate one of the back legs before finally feeling full.

“Let’s go. It’s getting late. I hope we can reach the Great Yan Empire before sunset,” Lin Fan stood up and said.

“Alright, Senior,” Zang Tianhao nodded. During the process of dividing and eating the Chiyan Beast, no one spoke, and Zang Tianhao remained on high alert around Lin Fan without asking anything. To Zang Tianhao, the more he asked, the more dangerous it would become.

Along the way, Zang Tianhao kept Han Mengmeng behind them, not allowing her to get close. If anything happened later, he could buy time for her to escape.

During the journey, the others also consciously quickened their pace, hoping to reach the Great Yan Empire sooner.

As for the appearance of the mysterious expert, none of them felt excitement. They didn’t think that meeting an expert meant gaining some benefit. For them, just surviving was already good enough.

In this forest, countless people had died—those were all bloody lessons.

Lin Fan also noticed that these people intentionally kept their distance from him. However, Lin Fan didn’t take it to heart. As long as they could reach the Great Yan Empire, it would be fine. As for the rest, he didn’t really care.

The two martial arts techniques, “Reversing the Heavens” and “Black Tiger Steals the Heart,” no longer provided Lin Fan with experience from ordinary martial artists.

Especially “Black Tiger Steals the Heart,” even Ni Mantian, a martial artist at the eighth stage of enlightenment, couldn’t grant him any experience anymore, let alone others.

Could it be that “Black Tiger Steals the Heart” was actually superior to “Reversing the Heavens?”

“Stop…”

As Lin Fan and the others passed through a narrow gorge flanked by steep cliffs, a group of unidentified individuals suddenly surrounded them from both front and back.

“Hand over your belongings and leave this woman here. The rest of you can go,” a burly man in black armor stepped forward carrying a Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade, exuding a fierce aura.

The man was bald, with a twisted scar running from his forehead down to his jawline, grotesque and menacing.

The massive blade he wielded was black on one side and sharp on the other, with a tiger’s head carved into the handle, fierce and terrifying.

When Zang Tianhao saw the man with the massive blade, his expression immediately changed.

“Qu Xiangge of the Tiger Gate Blade.”

“Hehe, you’ve got good eyesight,” Qu Xiangge swung his blade sideways, producing a sharp whistling sound. “Since you’re so perceptive, hand over your things and the woman, then you can leave.”

“Qu Xiangge, you and I are both students of Tianfu Academy…” Zang Tianhao recognized him.

He was a notorious bandit affiliated with the Tianfu Academy, a disgrace to the institution.

“Don’t give me that crap,” Qu Xiangge roared furiously. He raised his blade and slashed, sending a powerful arc of blade energy toward one of Zang Tianhao’s companions.

The person turned pale with fear, drenched in cold sweat at the sudden attack. He tried to raise his sword in defense, but the blade arc was overwhelmingly fierce and forceful, making it seem impossible to resist.

“Qu Xiangge, you dare…” Zang Tianhao was shocked. He hadn’t expected Qu Xiangge to actually attack.

Qu Xiangge had once been a student at Tianfu Academy but was expelled after suffering unjust treatment. He then became an outlaw, a stain on the academy’s reputation. Many experts from Tianfu Academy had tried to eliminate this disgrace, but since Qu Xiangge had hidden himself deeply, he had remained safe and sound all along.

Now, this blade arc rushing forth was something even Zang Tianhao himself couldn’t confidently claim he could withstand.

A Crimson Flame Beast was quickly devoured by the group, as martial artists expend a great deal of energy. Even Han Mengmeng, the young woman, had to eat an entire hind leg to feel full.

“Let’s go, it’s getting late. I hope we can reach the Great Yan Dynasty before sunset,” Lin Fan said as he stood up.

“Alright, senior,” Zang Tianhao nodded. During the process of sharing the Crimson Flame Beast, no one spoke, and Zang Tianhao remained vigilant of Lin Fan, refraining from asking too many questions. For Zang Tianhao, the more he asked, the more dangerous it became.

Along the way, Zang Tianhao made sure Han Mengmeng stayed behind, keeping her at a distance. If anything were to happen, he could buy time for her to escape.

The others also quickened their pace, eager to reach the Great Yan Dynasty as soon as possible.

The appearance of a mysterious expert didn’t excite them; they didn’t expect to gain any benefits from him. For them, just surviving was enough.

In this forest, countless people had died, and those were bloody lessons.

Lin Fan noticed that the group was intentionally keeping their distance from him, but he didn’t mind. As long as they reached the Great Yan Dynasty, he had no other concerns.

The techniques “Reversing the Universe” and “Black Tiger Steals the Heart” could no longer provide him with experience, especially “Black Tiger Steals the Heart.” Even Ni Mantian, who had reached the eighth level of the Divine Realm, couldn’t help him gain experience, let alone others.

Could it be that “Black Tiger Steals the Heart” was more advanced than “Reversing the Universe”?

“Stop…”

As Lin Fan and the others passed through a treacherous path flanked by cliffs, a group of unidentified people surrounded them from both ends.

“Hand over your belongings and leave the woman behind. The rest of you can go,” a burly man clad in black armor said menacingly as he stepped forward, carrying a Five Tiger Severing Gate Blade.

The man was bald, with a scar that twisted grotesquely from his forehead down to his jaw.

The blade he held was black with a white edge, and the hilt was carved with a ferocious tiger’s head.

Zang Tianhao’s expression changed when he saw the man with the blade.

“Tiger Gate Blade Qu Xiangge.”

“Haha, you have a good eye,” Qu Xiangge said as he swung his blade, creating a whooshing sound. “It’s good to have a good eye. Leave your things and the woman, and you can scram.”

“Qu Xiangge, we’re both students of the Tianfu Academy…” Zang Tianhao knew Qu Xiangge.

Qu Xiangge was a notorious bandit in the Great Yan Dynasty, a disgrace to the Tianfu Academy.

“Don’t waste my time,” Qu Xiangge roared, swinging his blade. A blade aura shot out, targeting one of the people beside Zang Tianhao.

The man, terrified by the sudden blade aura, broke into a cold sweat. He tried to raise his sword to block it, but the aura was too fierce, making it seem impossible to defend against.

“Qu Xiangge, how dare you…” Zang Tianhao was shocked. He hadn’t expected Qu Xiangge to actually attack.

Qu Xiangge had once been a student of the Tianfu Academy but left due to unfair treatment, becoming a bandit. Many experts from the academy had tried to eliminate this disgrace, but Qu Xiangge had hidden himself well, remaining unscathed.

The blade aura that came rushing was something even Zang Tianhao wasn’t sure he could withstand.

Just as Zang Tianhao prepared to fight for his life, he saw an ordinary hand reach out and block the fierce blade aura.

Zang Tianhao’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. How was this possible?

Lin Fan looked at Qu Xiangge. At the fourth level of the Innate Realm, his cultivation was decent, one level higher than Lin Fan’s. But Lin Fan felt that Qu Xiangge was just wasting time.

“Senior…” The man who had thought he was about to die looked at Lin Fan with gratitude. If it weren’t for the senior’s intervention, he would have died under that blade aura.

Qu Xiangge’s blade technique was fierce, and even someone at the same level as him wouldn’t last long in a fight.

“Who are you?” Qu Xiangge asked warily, looking at Lin Fan. He had observed Zang Tianhao and his group when they entered the Sunset Forest, but now there was an extra person. What was going on?

Lin Fan glanced at Qu Xiangge, an idea forming in his mind. He then turned to Zang Tianhao, “You go ahead. I’ll catch up later.”

Lin Fan didn’t want Zang Tianhao and the others to stay; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to fully unleash his power.

“Senior, you…” Zang Tianhao looked at Lin Fan apologetically. He had been suspicious of the senior earlier, but now the senior was letting them go first, staying behind to face the bandits alone.

“As a senior, it’s only natural to let the juniors go first. That’s my usual way of handling things,” Lin Fan said with his hands behind his back, exuding righteousness.

At that moment, the sky seemed to clear, and all impurities were exposed before Lin Fan’s righteous words.

Han Mengmeng, who had harbored some resentment towards Lin Fan earlier, now looked at him with admiration.

The senior’s words had touched her heart. In her eyes, the senior’s figure had grown immensely, and a dazzling light almost blinded her.

“Senior, I’m sorry. I doubted you earlier…” Zang Tianhao said apologetically.

Lin Fan waved his hand, “It’s fine. If a senior can’t even be this tolerant, then he doesn’t deserve to be called a senior. Go on, I’ll catch up soon,” Lin Fan said calmly.

“Yes, let’s go…” Zang Tianhao didn’t hesitate, leading the group away immediately.

Qu Xiangge wanted to chase after them, but seeing the mysterious man standing still, he held his breath, not daring to move.

After Zang Tianhao and the others left, Lin Fan looked at Qu Xiangge and smiled, “Well, I think it’s time for me to go too.”

Qu Xiangge was stunned for a moment, then reacted, “Bastard, you’re playing with me. Take this!”

“Five Tiger Severing Strike!”

Qu Xiangge roared, leaping into the air. The fierce blade force tore through the air with a crackling sound.

Lin Fan glanced sideways, and with a flick of his finger, he struck the back of Qu Xiangge’s hand holding the blade. Qu Xiangge felt a strange sensation, a mix of numbness and pleasure, but then a sharp pain shot through his hand, causing him to drop the blade, which fell into Lin Fan’s grasp.

In an instant, Lin Fan kicked out, sending Qu Xiangge sprawling to the ground.

“Boss, are you okay?” The surrounding underlings rushed forward.

Qu Xiangge waved his hand, gritting his teeth as he got up, “Good, it seems I need to show my true skills for you to know who Qu Xiangge really is.”

Lin Fan looked at Qu Xiangge and then laughed coldly.

“What are you laughing at?” Qu Xiangge, seeing the other man laughing, felt his anger boil over, wanting to tear him apart.

“What am I laughing at? I’m laughing at you all kneeling and surrendering to me,” Lin Fan roared, raising the Tiger Gate Blade and slashing it towards himself.

Qu Xiangge was stunned, thinking the man had gone mad, trying to commit suicide with his own blade.

His Tiger Gate Blade was a top-tier weapon, almost a divine weapon, capable of cutting through anything. Many experts had fallen victim to it.

But the next second, Qu Xiangge and his men were dumbfounded.

The blade shattered into three pieces as soon as it touched Lin Fan’s body, falling to the ground.

“My Tiger Gate Blade…” Qu Xiangge stared in disbelief at the broken blade on the ground.

“Kneel and surrender if you don’t want to die, or this blade will be your fate,” Lin Fan bellowed with full force.

In Lin Fan’s eyes, fighting was too troublesome. He simply slashed himself with the blade to show them who was boss.

At that moment, Qu Xiangge realized the man before him was incredibly powerful.

The Tiger Gate Blade was no ordinary weapon. How could a mere mortal body withstand it, let alone shatter it into three pieces?

“Senior… spare us!”

Qu Xiangge immediately knelt down, and the other underlings followed suit.

Qu Xiangge was a man of insight. He never thought there could be someone so ruthless in the world, willing to slash himself and destroy his own blade.

At that moment, Lin Fan laughed, a bright and cheerful laugh…

Zang Tianhao’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. How was this possible?

Lin Fan looked at Qu Xiangge. He was at the fourth stage of innate cultivation, his cultivation level was decent, one stage higher than Lin Fan’s. But Lin Fan felt that this guy was just wasting his time.

“Senior…” The person who had thought he was about to die just moments ago looked at Lin Fan with deep gratitude. If it hadn’t been for the senior’s intervention, he would have perished under that blade arc.

Qu Xiangge’s blade techniques were fierce and powerful, even among martial artists at the same innate fourth stage, few dared to claim they could withstand him for long.

“Who are you?” Qu Xiangge eyed Lin Fan warily. He had observed Zang Tianhao’s group of eight when they entered the Sunset Forest. Now, with an additional person, what was going on?

Lin Fan looked at Qu Xiangge, his mind turning with thoughts. Then he glanced at Zang Tianhao. “You all go ahead first. I’ll catch up with you later.”

Lin Fan didn’t want Zang Tianhao and the others to stay here. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to fully unleash his abilities.

“Senior, you…” Zang Tianhao looked at Lin Fan with some guilt. Earlier, he had still doubted the senior, but now the senior was letting them go ahead and staying behind alone to face this group of bandits.

“As a senior, it’s only natural to let the juniors go first. That’s always been my way of doing things,” Lin Fan said solemnly, his hands behind his back.

At that moment, the sky seemed to clear, and all impurities were exposed and dispelled by Lin Fan’s righteous and majestic words.

Han Mengmeng, who had previously harbored resentment toward Lin Fan, now looked at him with admiration.

The senior’s words had touched her heart. In Han Mengmeng’s eyes, the senior’s figure had become towering and magnificent, a dazzling light that almost blinded her.

“Senior, I’m sorry. I doubted you earlier…” Zang Tianhao said apologetically.

Lin Fan waved his hand. “It’s fine. If a senior can’t even have a little tolerance, then he wouldn’t deserve to be called a senior. Go now. I’ll catch up with you shortly,” Lin Fan said calmly.

“Yes, let’s go…” Without hesitation, Zang Tianhao led the others away immediately.

Qu Xiangge wanted to chase after them, but seeing the mysterious person standing still, he held his breath and dared not move recklessly.

After Zang Tianhao and the others had left, Lin Fan looked at Qu Xiangge and smiled slightly. “Alright, I think it’s time for me to go too.”

Qu Xiangge was momentarily stunned, then quickly recovered. “Damn you, trying to mock me. Take this!”

“Five Tigers Severing Slash!”

Qu Xiangge roared furiously, leaping into the air. The fierce blade energy tore through the air with a loud crackling sound.

Lin Fan glanced sideways, instantly activating the “Flower-Brushing and Chrysanthemum-Patting Finger,” and flicked Qu Xiangge’s blade-wielding hand. Immediately, Qu Xiangge’s expression changed. A tingling numbness surged through his palm, accompanied by a strange pleasure, but then a sharp pain coursed through it. His grip loosened, and the massive blade fell into Lin Fan’s hands.

In an instant, Lin Fan kicked out, sending Qu Xiangge crashing to the ground.

“Boss, are you alright?” His subordinates rushed forward immediately.

Qu Xiangge waved them off, enduring the pain as he climbed back to his feet. “Very well. It seems I must show you my true skills before you realize who Qu Xiangge really is.”

Lin Fan looked at Qu Xiangge and laughed coldly.

“What are you laughing at?” Seeing his opponent laughing, Qu Xiangge’s fury surged, and he felt an urge to tear the man apart.

“Laughing at what? I’m laughing at all of you kneeling and surrendering to me,” Lin Fan roared at that moment, grabbing the Tiger Gate Blade and bringing it down on himself.

Qu Xiangge was stunned, thinking his opponent had gone mad, actually attempting to commit suicide with his own Tiger Gate Blade.

His Tiger Gate Blade was a top-tier weapon, just short of being a mystical artifact, capable of cutting through anything. Countless experts had become victims of this blade.

But the next second, Qu Xiangge and the others were left in stunned disbelief.

As the blade touched Lin Fan’s body, it shattered into three pieces, falling to the ground.

“My Tiger Gate Blade…” Qu Xiangge stared blankly at the broken weapon on the ground.

“If you don’t want to die, all of you kneel and surrender to me right now, or this Tiger Gate Blade will be your fate,” Lin Fan exuded a fierce aura and roared.

In Lin Fan’s view, engaging in a duel was such a hassle. Just a single strike against himself was enough to make them fear him.

At that moment, Qu Xiangge finally understood. The person before him was powerful—extremely powerful.

The Tiger Gate Blade wasn’t an ordinary weapon. How could a mere mortal body withstand it? And yet, it had been shattered into three pieces.

“Senior… please spare my life.”

At that moment, Qu Xiangge lost his nerve and dropped to his knees on the ground with a thud.

The other henchmen followed suit, one after another, kneeling behind Qu Xiangge in quick succession.

Qu Xiangge was a man who knew how to read the situation. He never imagined that there existed such a terrifying person in the world who could destroy his Tiger Gate Blade with a single self-inflicted strike.

At that moment, Lin Fan smiled, a bright and radiant smile…