Chapter 398: He’s Back

The next day, in the desolate wastelands, the climate was harsh, with yellow sands and violent storms being commonplace.

The sacred Wutong tree, having recovered throughout the previous day, had already regained its strength and, according to Huang Ling’er, had entered its second stage of development.

Lin Fan could clearly sense the changes brought forth by the Wutong tree.

Its speed of absorbing the primordial essence of heaven and earth had increased significantly, and the life force contained within had at least multiplied several times compared to before.

Within Lin Fan’s inner world,

The Wutong tree’s roots resembled coiled dragons, tightly entwining around Lin Fan’s inner world.

This inner world was like a miniature universe, with boundless skies above and endless depths below.

“Thank you for your help today. If you believe the time is right, feel free to tell me what you require,” Lin Fan said, gazing at Huang Ling’er.

“Hmm, although the Wutong tree is said to be the supreme sacred tree in heaven and earth, it is still a sapling and cannot endure greater damage. Otherwise, even I won’t be able to help,” Huang Ling’er warned.

She was also deeply curious about Lin Fan’s experience—what exactly had happened to bring the Wutong tree to such a state.

If not for the ancient life elixir left behind from ancient times, whether the Wutong tree could recover at all would have been uncertain.

“I understand,” Lin Fan nodded. Though a sapling, the Wutong tree could generate life force on its own, but its current abilities were limited, and its growth was slow. It would require careful cultivation before it could fully mature.

However, what puzzled Lin Fan was the question of what exactly the Wutong tree required as nourishment. Even Huang Ling’er didn’t know—an unfortunate reality indeed.

As she watched Lin Fan vanish into the distance, Huang Ling’er’s eyes gleamed with longing, while also revealing deep concern for this world.

Leaving the desolate wastelands, Lin Fan hovered in midair, lost in thought.

Should he first visit his sect, or head directly toward the barrier?

This question was worth pondering.

Yet, as soon as he thought of returning to Cangling Continent, his heart burned with anticipation.

Once, he had been driven away like a coward, humiliated and helpless. Now, his power had grown to an extraordinary level. He was determined to make those people pay.

“No, the more I think about it, the less I can wait. I should go straight to Cangling Continent. Revenge should not wait until morning. Two years have already passed—how can I wait any longer?” Lin Fan muttered to himself.

With his current cultivation level, it would take ten days to cross over to the other side of the barrier—an equivalent of spanning half of Dongling Continent.

Fortunately, his current strength had reached the peak of the Heaven-Defying Realm; otherwise, it would have taken months to reach his destination.

In an instant, Lin Fan’s figure vanished into the void once more, heading westward.

Ten days later,

As Lin Fan gazed at the scene before him, a faint smile appeared on his face—he had finally arrived.

Before him stood a radiant curtain of light stretching from earth to sky, blocking the path ahead. This was the barrier created by the Supreme Sovereign long ago.

Without the Sovereign’s Token, it was impossible to pass through.

The barrier shimmered with dazzling light as Lin Fan gently extended his hand to touch it.

“Beep, heavenly barrier detected. Cannot pass through.”

Lin Fan then took out the Sovereign’s Token, and at that moment, the situation changed.

“Beep, Sovereign’s Token detected. Would you like to cross over to Cangling Continent or dismantle the heavenly barrier?”

Lin Fan was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected such a reaction. According to the Sovereign’s instructions, activating the token would allow him to pass through.

Yet now, upon taking out the token, the system had directly issued a prompt—an outcome Lin Fan hadn’t anticipated.

Truly, the system lived up to its name, possessing formidable capabilities.

Based on the Sovereign’s words, Lin Fan had some understanding—if the beings on the other side were indeed as terrifying as described, he would not dare to act recklessly, claiming he could slay gods and Buddhas alike.

Now, since he didn’t need the Sovereign’s help, he could learn the Sovereign’s martial techniques on his own.

Lin Fan was also afraid—if he activated the Sovereign’s Token and learned the techniques, the Sovereign’s divine consciousness might dissipate, and with it, the token itself might vanish.

Without the Sovereign’s Token, even if he reached Cangling Continent, how would he return?

No matter what, Lin Fan wasn’t ready to take that risk yet. He would wait until all matters were resolved before activating the token.

“Cross over,” Lin Fan said calmly, fully prepared.

In an instant, a radiant light enveloped Lin Fan, pulling him into the barrier before his figure vanished from Dongling Continent.

…

On Cangling Continent,

Within a dense forest, the air was thick with killing intent, sending chills down one’s spine.

Two groups of figures clashed violently—one fleeing, the other in pursuit.

The group in front bore grievous wounds, each leap spraying droplets of blood into the void.

“Junior brothers and sisters, I’ll draw them away. You take this chance to escape. No matter what, survive,” a young man shouted, sword in hand, his eyes burning with fury toward those chasing behind.

“No, Senior Brother (Gege), let’s escape together!”

“Escape together? We’ll all die if we do…”

Before the young man could finish, a cold ray of light shot from the distance, filled with deadly intent and surging with power, directly heading toward one of the disciples.

The fleeing disciple, seeing the beam of light, was immediately filled with terror.

But in that split second, the young man abruptly changed direction, instantly shielding his junior brother.

“Senior Brother (Gege)!”

Seeing his senior brother block the attack, the disciple was shocked, then filled with fear.

The beam struck the young man’s back with a metallic clang.

“It’s fine. Don’t lose focus. Keep running,” the young man said, feeling the immense force but still managing to stand firm.

Seeing their senior withstand the attack with sheer physical might, the disciples were stunned, though they had grown somewhat accustomed to it.

Gazing at the distant sword, the young man exhaled in relief, his thoughts drifting.

“Master, you’ve saved me again.”

…

They continued their frantic escape, running endlessly, knowing that stopping meant certain death.

“Junior brothers and sisters, don’t look back. I’ll cover your retreat,” the young man said.

“Senior Brother Cao…”

“No more words. You must survive.”

At that moment, the young man abruptly halted, inhaled deeply, and with a determined gaze, faced the approaching pursuers. Sword in hand, he stood alone, ready to block them all.

“Hmph, finally too exhausted to run?” The pursuers instantly surrounded him, sneering.

“You, of Hunyuan Sect, dare to call yourselves righteous sects, yet you commit such atrocities—wiping out entire sects!” the young man roared.

“Heh, you’re just a remnant of the Chi Hong Sect. Do you really think you can stop us? A fool’s dream. Attack!” the leader of the Hunyuan Sect waved his hand coldly.

The young man inhaled deeply. “Even if I die today, I’ll take you all with me.”

Surrounded, the young man was soon overwhelmed. If not for his physical endurance, he wouldn’t have lasted this long.