The next day, as the sun rose in the east and purple mist drifted from the horizon, on the mountain peak of the Tenth Sect Leader of Holy Sect, a colossal hundred-meter-long vessel floated in midair. It blotted out the sky and radiated a majestic aura, its entire body shimmering with light. Unknown runes covered its surface, forming a complex formation.
Lin Fan was deeply intrigued by the vessel. He couldn’t figure out what kind of mechanism allowed it to float in the air—it was truly baffling.
“Yao Elder, this mission to slay the ferocious beast is entrusted to you.”
“Yes, Senior Elder.”
…
Stepping aside, Lin Fan observed the leading elder, Elder Yao. He sensed a chilling aura emanating from the man, a subtle yet unmistakable sense of danger.
A Small Heaven Realm High-level cultivator.
Twenty inner sect disciples were departing on this mission.
Among them, Lin Fan recognized one—Zong Hentian—while others were unfamiliar to him.
In Lin Fan’s eyes, however, all inner sect disciples were outstanding prodigies, full of vigor and brilliance.
Standing among them, Lin Fan appeared rather ordinary.
As Lin Fan was observing the inner sect disciples, they were also scrutinizing him.
They didn’t recognize him, as none of them had ever seen him within the inner sect before. Although this mission was led by Elder Yao, among the disciples, Senior Brother Zong held the highest rank.
Although the primary objective was to slay the beast, the secondary goal was to compete with other sects. Thus, the chosen disciples were among the sect’s top fighters.
“Yao Elder, besides slaying the beast, there is another matter—protect Lin Junior Brother well.” Elder Wuya needed to make this clear. While slaying the beast was important, protecting Lin Fan was even more so.
“Yes, Elder.” Elder Yao was momentarily surprised but then looked at Lin Fan, beginning to understand.
“Alright, let’s depart.” At that moment, Elder Wuya called out. The inner sect disciples soared into the air and boarded the vessel.
Lin Fan watched as his juniors flew up one by one, and he grew anxious. “Damn it, I can’t fly!”
But in front of all these juniors, how could he lose face? So, with a determined leap, he shot up like a cannonball and landed on the vessel.
Elder Wuya shook his head with a bitter smile. He didn’t know what would happen on this journey, but there shouldn’t be too much danger. The Sect Leader must have left some safeguards for Lin Fan.
Although there might be some hardships, danger should be avoidable.
Standing on the vessel, Lin Fan looked around with interest, reaching out to touch the ship.
*Ding! Congratulations on discovering the Qingming Battle Vessel.*
*Qingming Battle Vessel: Forged from Celestial Xuan Crystal Stones and the bones of a Flying Winged Three-Headed Jiao.*
…
At this moment, the inner sect disciples watched Lin Fan poking around the vessel like a country bumpkin, secretly mocking him. One disciple asked, “Brother, I’ve never seen you before. Which group are you from?”
Although the inner sect had many disciples, those with talent were well known. This unfamiliar figure piqued their curiosity about his background.
Lin Fan understood the disciple’s intention immediately and smiled. “Junior Brother, you’re mistaken. I am Lin Fan, Sect Leader of the Nameless Peak, Saint Devil Sect. By seniority, you should call me Uncle.”
This statement shocked the inner sect disciples who were sitting cross-legged around him.
As inner sect disciples, they were well aware of all sect affairs. They knew the Sect Leader had gifted the Nameless Peak to someone else, though they hadn’t paid much attention to it, as it was unrelated to them.
But now, they were surprised to find that this person was actually the one who had received the Sect Leader’s favor.
Upon hearing this, the disciple frowned slightly, then turned away without further conversation.
Among the inner sect disciples, especially the prodigies, calling someone “Uncle” casually was unthinkable—especially someone they viewed as having merely benefited from extraordinary luck and elevated status through the Sect Leader’s favor.
“Hey, Junior, why are you silent now?” Lin Fan teased the disciple.
Just then, the Qingming Battle Vessel slightly trembled and began to ascend. Lin Fan stopped pestering the disciple and leaned against the vessel, gazing at the scenery below.
Higher and higher it climbed, the landscape below shrinking. This was the first time Lin Fan had seen the entire Holy Sect from above.
So beautiful…
The massive peaks gradually diminished to shadows. The higher they ascended, the greater the pressure became, until a green light enveloped the vessel.
“We’re only a day’s journey from the Misty Snow Peak. The Snow King Lion, a Small Heaven Realm beast, is a descendant of the ancient凶兽, the Furious Heaven Snow Lion. It is extremely powerful and must not be confronted directly,” Elder Yao stepped out from the vessel’s control room and announced.
“Elder Yao, the Snow King Lion’s power increases within the Snow Peak. With our current cultivation, we may not be a match,” Zong Hentian said.
Lin Fan nodded in agreement. He knew that beast-type creatures were naturally stronger than humans. At equal cultivation levels, beasts would dominate.
If things went wrong, Lin Fan had already decided—he would hide and flee without hesitation.
However, the sect wouldn’t send disciples to their deaths without reason. There must be a rationale behind this mission.
“Indeed, normally that would be the case,” Elder Yao replied calmly. “However, according to intelligence, the Snow King Lion recently gave birth, leaving its power at less than half. Our mission is to capture its cub.”
That wouldn’t be easy.
Although the Snow King Lion itself was valuable, its cub was even more precious. If the Holy Sect wanted it, other sects would certainly not back down.
This would likely become a fierce battle among sects.
“The Snow King Lion itself isn’t the main concern. What we must be wary of are the other sects, especially Heaven-Sealing Sect,” Zong Hentian said with a dark expression.
He hadn’t forgotten the Heaven-Sealing Sect prodigy who had destroyed Tianyu Junior Brother’s foundation.
Now, Tianyu’s fate was unknown.
“Senior Brother, are you referring to Ling Ao, one of Heaven-Sealing Sect’s Three Great Prodigies?” a disciple asked.
“Exactly. If you encounter him, be extremely cautious,” Zong Hentian warned. Even if they fought again, he wasn’t sure he could escape alive.
But this time, it wasn’t within a forbidden zone. That person probably wouldn’t kill disciples from other sects outright.
Feeling the tense atmosphere, Lin Fan chuckled. “Fellow Juniors, the martial cultivation path is about seizing life from the heavens. Before we face a fierce battle, I’ve prepared some pills for you. If danger arises, just throw these pills at your enemies. They might help.”
Lin Fan took out his special pills and distributed several to each disciple.
“Huh? What kind of pill is this? I’ve never seen it before.”
“Throw it at the enemy? What use would that be?”
…
The inner sect disciples were puzzled, unsure of the pills’ purpose.
“Thank Lin Junior Uncle properly!” Elder Yao suddenly spoke up.
Before departure, Elder Wuya had specifically instructed him to protect this person, speaking with unusual seriousness. That meant Lin Fan must hold a high position within the sect.
Seeing the inner sect disciples’ dismissive attitude toward Lin Fan, Elder Yao decided to intervene.
At Elder Yao’s command, the disciples dared not object and all called out “Lin Junior Uncle.” Some didn’t take the pills seriously, while others pocketed them, thinking they might try them if danger arose.
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