Chapter 542: The Realm of Despair

At this moment, Lin Fan smiled calmly. This outcome had been expected all along. However, under such circumstances, he naturally had to maintain his imposing presence.

The most important thing was his demeanor—the supreme aura of a legendary expert must be perfectly displayed. How could he possibly allow these Great Thousand Race beings to simply come and grovel at his feet?

At this moment, Lin Fan gently raised his hand. An inexplicable, awe-inspiring aura radiated from him, instantly silencing the entire area.

All the beings of the Great Thousand Race gazed longingly at the awe-inspiring figure hovering in the sky.

In the Ancient Sage Realm, among the Great Thousand Race, how many could dare to act like this Human Emperor—waving their hand and annihilating millions of the Ancient Race?

Gu Xiao, staring at the human in the sky, was filled with boundless fury. Dammit, it was simply infuriating.

He, Gu Xiao, was the son of a Wei King, a true supreme being of the Ancient Race. On the day of his birth, golden light had descended from heaven, blessing him with divine favor.

He was destined to become a supreme ruler seated beneath the Ancient Race’s highest throne. Now, a mere wretched being from the Great Thousand Race dared to humiliate him in front of so many Great Thousand Race beings. How could he possibly endure such an insult?

Hate—boundless hatred surged within him.

“Human, Lin Fan…” Gu Xiao’s expression twisted with rage as he gritted his teeth and roared, “You despicable Great Thousand Race wretch! Daring to insult the noble Ancient Race, you deserve to die!”

Lin Fan looked at Gu Xiao, a cold smirk forming on his lips. Yet inwardly, he was already thinking about how to kill this guy.

Earlier, when he had claimed that a Half-Step Divine Heaven expert was like an ant, it had been nothing more than bravado. Naturally, he couldn’t kill Gu Xiao with a single palm strike. If he truly wanted to slay him, he would likely have to pay a certain price.

At this moment, the Great Thousand Race beings were gazing at him in reverence. He couldn’t afford to lose his momentum. When the fight began, he would lure Gu Xiao far away and slowly wear him down.

He was quite satisfied with this plan—this was exactly what he would do.

“Ahh!”

Just then, a sharp, mournful, and despairing scream suddenly echoed from afar.

“Long Xuan, you deceived me!”

“You said you would never leave me!”

“Why did you lie to me?”

Despair Marquis, his small frame trembling, now held Long Xuan in his arms. His usually expressionless yet adorable face twisted into a hideous grimace.

The black fur-lined robe draped over his body was now soaked in blood, his pale hands drenched in crimson.

Despair Marquis, normally devoid of emotion, now had tear-filled, icy eyes—like a helpless child, pitiful and lost.

“Ahh…” A furious roar erupted as a terrifying power suddenly exploded from Despair Marquis, more horrifying than doomsday itself.

Lin Fan, seeing this, also changed expression. Divine Heaven First Order—yet at this moment, a surge of pitch-black despair power erupted forth.

And Despair Marquis’s strength surged in an instant. Within moments, he had ascended to the Divine Heaven Second Order.

“This is impossible!” Lin Fan furrowed his brows in disbelief.

A sharp sound tore through the air as the black despair force transformed into a mist, covering the heavens and earth, engulfing the entire Despair City.

This despair force surpassed all others, transcending space and time. Everything, absolutely everything, came to a halt under its influence.

Gu Xiao, at this moment, was completely stunned. He had known Despair Marquis was strong, reaching the Divine Heaven First Order, but now his power had surged to the Second Order.

Earlier, he had thought that even if Despair Marquis recklessly tried to kill him, he could still escape. But now, he felt uncertain.

Retreat!

Without hesitation, Gu Xiao transformed into a streak of light and shot outward, but in an instant, he was blocked by a mass of despair mist.

“Long Xuan, why did you deceive me…”

Boom!

A jet-black beam illuminated the heavens and earth, completely sealing off Despair City.

“Ding, Despair Marquis has collapsed, entering the Despair Domain of Despair Marquis.”

At this moment, Lin Fan heard the system’s prompt, his expression instantly turning blank. What the hell was going on?

All around was pitch black, not even his hand was visible before his eyes. At the same time, Lin Fan frowned, sensing an inexplicable force entwining around him.

“Ding, detecting Despair Marquis’s Despair Force. Do you wish to refine it?”

“Refine.”

Without hesitation, Lin Fan made his choice. Despair Marquis had collapsed, and this Despair Domain he had created was undoubtedly meant to kill everyone.

Now that the system could refine it, naturally, he would do so.

At this moment, Lin Fan heard wave after wave of screams—mad, agonized cries.

Listening carefully, they were indeed the screams of the Great Thousand Race beings.

“This is Despair Marquis’s Despair Domain! Everyone, guard your hearts! Absolutely do not let this despair force seep in!”

…

Lin Fan didn’t know who had spoken, but the voice likely belonged to someone from the Six Sects.

“Damn, it’s gone too far again,” Lin Fan muttered internally, slightly panicking. Every time, trouble found him.

What made Lin Fan even more speechless was how Despair Marquis had cultivated.

A few months ago, he had only been at the peak of the Immortal Heaven Realm. Now, he had already reached the Divine Heaven First Order, and in the moment of collapse, he had even broken through to the Divine Heaven Second Order.

Even taking pills couldn’t be this intense.

With the system’s refinement, this despair force was naturally no longer a concern.

Now, the main priority was to escape, and perhaps kill Gu Xiao and this so-called Despair Marquis.

Just then, Lin Fan noticed a flickering light ahead. He didn’t know what it was, but for him, any strange phenomenon might be a way out.

Without hesitation, Lin Fan immediately sprinted toward the light.

As he reached the light, the scene suddenly changed.

The surroundings were no longer dark but bright, as if he had entered a small village.

“Xiguang, come chase me!”

“Brother Long, wait for me. I can’t run anymore.”

Two children ran past Lin Fan, laughing and playing.

“Are these Long Xuan and Despair Marquis when they were young?” Lin Fan looked around in astonishment, his heart pounding with curiosity at this strange place.

Then, the scene shifted.

“He’s a bastard! Kill him!” In the village, a group of Dragon Clan members bound a child to a pillar, their expressions filled with anger and disgust.

The scene changed again.

“My name is Long Xuan. What’s yours?” A boy, chewing on a piece of grass, stood in front of another child who had his head buried between his knees. He extended his hand with a bright smile.

“Xiguang.” The pale-faced child, his eyes filled with fear and helplessness, answered timidly.

Lin Fan watched the unfolding scenes, his surroundings shifting again.

“Brother Long, promise me you won’t leave me ever again, okay?” Xiguang said, his eyes filled with hope.

“Okay, I’ll never leave you, little Guang.”

…

“Brother Long, where did you go…” In the village, Xiguang aimlessly searched, his eyes filled with fear.

…

“Kill him! He’s a bastard, a mixed-blood Ancient Race bastard!”

“Brother Long, you said you wouldn’t leave me. You lied to me…” Bound to the pillar, Xiguang screamed in grief and despair.

…

“Do you feel despair? Do you need power? Do you need the power to destroy everything?” In the darkness, a pair of evil eyes watched everything unfold.

“All have betrayed me. I need power.”

The village was engulfed in flames, and everyone perished…

Scene after scene passed like a slideshow, until the child who had killed the entire village walked away.

Decades later, a handsome young man returned from a sect, gazing sorrowfully at the ruined village before him.

“Where did you go, little Guang? I now possess great power, strong enough to protect you. But where have you gone…”