Fifteen chains of rules might have been enough.
But Lin Fan wasn’t entirely sure. After all, this was the first time he had ever used them, and he couldn’t be certain whether they would suffice. Still, to be safe, he had to prepare thoroughly.
“Brother Feng, where is the sect’s treasure vault? Take me there immediately—it’s urgent,” Lin Fan said hurriedly.
Though Xin Feng didn’t know why Lin Fan was asking about the treasure vault, he trusted him completely and immediately led the way without hesitation. As they passed the bodies of their junior brothers, Xin Feng clenched his fists tightly.
“Junior brothers, I have an urgent matter to attend to now. When I return, I’ll make sure to give you a proper burial.”
…
“Brother Lin, we’re here. However, only the Sect Leader can open this vault. This stone door, forged from celestial Xuan stone, cannot be destroyed by any means. Without the Sect Leader’s presence, no one can enter…” Before Xin Feng could finish speaking, his eyes widened in shock at the scene unfolding before him.
“Crack…”
At that moment, the stone doors developed spiderweb-like fractures, emitting a sharp cracking sound. With a deafening boom, the massive stone door shattered into pieces and scattered to the ground.
“Brother Feng, what did you just say?” Lin Fan turned around and asked casually.
“Nothing,” Xin Feng muttered in disbelief, shaking his head numbly.
Lin Fan stepped into the treasure vault. Inside, it shimmered with dazzling treasures—an accumulation of thousands of years of heritage from the Jiuxiao Sect. The treasure essence had even condensed into a tangible form, giving birth to a Treasure Spirit.
The Treasure Spirit appeared as an old man, but its aura was weak, as if it had suffered a grave injury.
Though Lin Fan had never seen a Treasure Spirit before, he had read about them in the sect’s ancient records. Every powerful sect with a long history would eventually give rise to a Treasure Spirit deep within its vault. These spirits were formed from the accumulated essence of countless treasures over time. Their sole purpose was to nurture and enhance all kinds of treasures.
Looking around the vault, Lin Fan’s expression subtly changed. It seemed as though someone had looted the place—only some weapons and lower-grade treasures remained.
“Who are you?” the weakened Treasure Spirit finally spoke.
“You’re the sect’s Treasure Spirit?” Xin Feng stared at the spirit floating in midair, astonished. “But why is your aura like this?”
“I can sense their auras on you,” the Treasure Spirit replied. “I was gravely wounded by the current Sect Leader. He took away a large portion of the treasures. I can feel that his aura has been overtaken by something evil.”
At this moment, Lin Fan wasn’t particularly concerned about the Treasure Spirit. With the vault nearly emptied, what treasures could he offer for the ritual?
Suddenly, the Treasure Spirit circled around Lin Fan.
“I am the Treasure Spirit, formed from treasure essence. I can see through all things. I know what you need for your ritual—take these…”
Without further explanation, the old Treasure Spirit soared into the air and opened its mouth. One after another, treasures poured out like a waterfall.
“This is all I have left. The rest have been stolen,” the Treasure Spirit said as treasures rained down from its mouth, slightly easing Lin Fan’s disappointment.
“I must rest now. I hope you succeed. Without treasures to sustain me, I will eventually fade away,” the old Treasure Spirit murmured sadly, curling up in a corner.
Lin Fan gazed at the Treasure Spirit, his thoughts muddled. Finally, he sighed. “Brother Feng, we must hurry.”
“Understood,” Xin Feng nodded, then turned to the Treasure Spirit. “Treasure Spirit Elder, wait for our return.”
Outside the hall, Lin Fan looked at the treasures before him. Each one was priceless, treasures that any martial cultivator would covet.
The disciples of Jiuxiao Sect stood at a distance, watching their senior brother Lin with curiosity, wondering what he was planning to do.
Xin Feng himself was also puzzled. He knew what a ritual offering was—it was a secret technique akin to exchanging treasures for power.
At that moment, Lin Fan, standing at the center, spoke.
“Offering.”
“The technique of the Kunpeng’s descent—the physical manifestation of Kunpeng.”
With a roar, Lin Fan unleashed his aura, causing the surrounding spiritual energy to tremble violently.
“Fifteen chains of rules—offering.”
In an instant, Lin Fan flung out the fifteen chains of rules. The long chains glowed with radiant light, each brimming with supreme power.
The chains twisted like dragons ascending to the heavens, vanishing into the void above.
“Roar…”
A beastly cry echoed through the sky.
The disciples of Jiuxiao Sect turned pale. The aura descending from the rift in the void was overwhelmingly powerful, as if some monstrous creature were about to emerge.
Then, a massive head appeared from the rift.
What kind of bird was this?
Everyone gazed in shock. The bird’s beak alone was thousands of feet long. Its head blotted out the sky, casting a shadow over the entire Jiuxiao Sect.
It was Lin Fan’s first time seeing the Kunpeng, and even he was stunned by its majestic form.
However, this was no time for admiration. At the moment, only a third of the Kunpeng’s body had emerged—far from enough.
“Countless treasures—offering.”
The pile of treasures on the ground soared into the sky. Lin Fan could feel the connection to the mysterious presence growing stronger.
“That’s a Starstone!”
One sharp-eyed disciple spotted one of the treasures and gasped in shock. The Starstone was said to be a fragment of a fallen star from the cosmos, containing boundless stellar energy.
“That’s a Heavenfruit! It only ripens once every three hundred years. Consuming it grants immediate attainment of the Lesser Heaven Realm!”
…
One after another, dazzling treasures vanished into the void.
The disciples watched in heart-wrenching disbelief. Each treasure was a priceless artifact, yet they knew the monstrous creature summoned by Senior Brother Lin must serve a vital purpose, so they swallowed their cries of protest.
The Kunpeng’s presence grew stronger.
“Rip…”
Suddenly, the sky seemed to tear apart. A pair of pitch-black wings emerged from the massive rift, stretching out with terrifying magnitude.
The disciples of Jiuxiao Sect were completely stunned. The wings stretched endlessly, covering the entire sky.
“How is this possible…” Lin Fan’s heart sank. Even with so many treasures offered, the summoning still wasn’t complete.
What should he do?
If this continued, the Kunpeng’s physical manifestation would retreat due to time constraints.
Xin Feng, watching helplessly, finally shouted in desperation.
“Brother Lin, I still have six chains of rules!” Xin Feng trembled as six chains of principles flew forth from his body. These were the elders’ final gifts.
“Brother Lin, these chains were bestowed upon me by the elders. They do not truly belong to me, and retaining them will impede my future cultivation. I hereby offer them to you.”
Lin Fan looked at Xin Feng, gratitude in his eyes.
“Six chains of rules—offering.”
In an instant, a large portion of the Kunpeng’s body emerged.
Almost there… almost there.
A piercing cry rang out. The Kunpeng’s body was nearly fully manifested, with only the final sliver still stuck in the rift.
“How is this possible…” Xin Feng stared in disbelief. With so many treasures offered, how could the summoning still not be complete?
Lin Fan was equally frustrated. “Damn it, who the hell is overseeing this ritual? If I ever find out, I’ll beat the hell out of them.”
As everyone stood helpless, Lin Fan gritted his teeth.
“Screw it—I’m going all in.”
“Left arm—offering.”
Snap!
In an instant, Lin Fan’s left arm shattered, blood spraying everywhere.
When it came to ruthlessness, Lin Fan could swear no one in this world could match him.
“Brother Lin…” Xin Feng stared in shock. He had never expected Lin Fan to volunteer his own body for the ritual. This… this was simply beyond comprehension.
The disciples of Jiuxiao Sect were equally stunned into silence.
Boom!
At that moment, the colossal Kunpeng fully emerged into the world.
A magnificent creature, floating in the void.
“Brother Feng, let’s go!” Lin Fan roared, flying toward the Kunpeng’s back.
With a flap of its wings, it soared upward for ninety thousand miles.
“Regenerate the severed limb!”
Lin Fan connected with the sacred Wutong Tree to regenerate his arm. But suddenly, his eyelid twitched. Maybe he should hold off on regeneration for now. After being this ruthless with himself, if the sect didn’t offer some compensation, it would truly be unforgivable.
Time to play the victim—nobody could outdo him at that.
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