"What is this?"
Zhuang Tianxing felt a moment of confusion, followed by a terror so profound it would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Boom!
With the appearance of the Demon Subduing Seal, the world turned gray. This was a technique Lin Fan had never used before, a secret skill obtained from a dream. He unleashed it now only because his opponent had gone too far, instinctively resorting to this deadly move.
Its true power was unknown.
It was a furious strike, indiscriminate and unrestrained, its unimaginable might shaking the heavens and earth.
"You overestimate yourself! What can you do to me?"
Zhuang Tianxing roared in fury, his voice echoing across the wilderness. His hair stood on end as he slammed his palms downwards, golden energy swirling around him, forming a massive golden bell.
A protective technique.
Impervious to all evils, it shielded him completely, neutralizing any attack. It was a shockingly powerful physical defense method.
Standing behind Zhuang Tianxing, Zhuang Xiao and the others, who had been terrified, felt a wave of relief wash over them as they witnessed the techniques their elder unleashed. This was the culmination of his lifelong learning, his ultimate power.
They knew Lin Fan was strong, but the feeling their elder gave them now was truly formidable. They believed he could definitely withstand the attack.
But in that very instant,
Zhuang Tianxing's expression shifted rapidly.
"No…"
A blinding light engulfed everything, obscuring what was happening. Trees were uprooted, the earth rumbled, and cracks spiderwebbed across the ground, forming bottomless chasms.
The entire Changbai Mountain felt the violent tremors.
Countless faces paled, unsure of what was happening. The earthquake was fierce, and a terrifying aura pressed down on them. Though its source was unknown, the omnipresent pressure made their hearts tremble, as if facing the most terrifying event imaginable.
Then,
The light dissipated, and the world returned to calm. The clouds in the sky scattered, revealing a clear blue expanse, like the most beautiful fairyland.
"Sneaking up on someone is despicable," Lin Fan said.
He intended for his opponent to hear him, but upon seeing the scene before him, his expression changed, surprise filling his features as if he hadn't realized he was the cause.
"Are you still alive…?"
Lin Fan stared at the barren wasteland, lost in thought. He hadn't intended for this to happen, but he didn't understand how it had come to this.
No one answered. Silence reigned.
Even Zhuang Xiao and the others, who had been standing nearby, had vanished without a trace.
A low groan broke the silence.
"There's a sound."
Lin Fan's face lit up with relief. He hadn't wanted to harm his opponent. Even though the sneak attack was despicable, he was willing to give him a chance to redeem himself.
Zhuang Tianxing lay in the distance, his body mangled and his lower half missing. Blood gurgled from his wounds, staining the ground a shocking, horrifying crimson.
His eyes were vacant, devoid of their former brilliance, now dull and lifeless. From the peak of his power, he had fallen into a living hell in the blink of an eye.
Why?
How could this happen? It shouldn't have been like this. He was filled with unwillingness, a deep, gnawing resentment.
His life force ebbed away.
His breath grew weaker.
His vision blurred, and the light before him dimmed. In the haze, he saw someone standing beside him.
"Is it hope?"
Zhuang Tianxing hallucinated, seeing angels with fluttering wings. A holy light enveloped him, bringing a warm sensation.
These were mere illusions.
His injuries were too severe. He was on the verge of death, and in this liminal space between life and death, something strange occurred.
Gradually,
His vision cleared.
"How are you?" Lin Fan crouched beside him, guilt evident in his voice. "I didn't mean to do this. You see, you surprised me with your attack, and I was angry, so I retaliated. But I didn't know the technique I used was so powerful. I've never used it before, and I didn't know it would be this devastating. Do you believe me?"
His words were sincere, his expression serious.
Zhuang Tianxing finally saw who stood before him. His lifeless eyes widened, a flicker of recognition returning.
His blood flowed rapidly, accelerating the bleeding.
Lin Fan's nose twitched, catching the heavy scent of blood.
"How can I stop the bleeding? Right, wrapping it with cloth should work. But your lower half is gone… I can't bandage that."
He muttered to himself, his words causing Zhuang Tianxing's blood pressure to spike. The suppressed rage within him surged, but when he opened his mouth to curse, a torrent of blood gushed out.
Seeing this, Lin Fan felt even more remorseful.
"Can you still talk?" Lin Fan asked.
After a moment…
"I guess you can't. Your injuries are serious, but there's still hope. I have a good friend, my best friend. He's an amazing acupuncturist. He can save you."
"Don't doubt me. We used to live in Qingshan Mental Hospital. Back then, I was pursuing cultivation, trying all sorts of dangerous methods. But I always survived, not because I'm resilient, but because Old Zhang's acupuncture is truly remarkable. Let me tell you…"
Worried that Zhuang Tianxing wouldn't believe him, Lin Fan began recounting his past, detailing Old Zhang's miraculous abilities. He went into great detail, and it took quite some time…
"Gah… gah…" Zhuang Tianxing's face turned red as he struggled to speak. But with each struggle, his injuries worsened, his anger intensifying, blood rushing to his head. Finally, he could no longer hold on. His eyes rolled back, fixed in a furious glare, and he breathed his last.
He was gone.
His soul departed for the Western Paradise.
Liberated, he was finally free from this beautiful world that everyone yearned for.
Lin Fan, having finally finished his story about Old Zhang, looked at Zhuang Tianxing, intending to ask if he wanted to try the acupuncture.
But he found Zhuang Tianxing staring at him with wide, unseeing eyes.
The light in his eyes faded, like artificial orbs.
Lin Fan touched Zhuang Tianxing's face… It was cold.
"How could this happen? Why couldn't you hold on a little longer? I could have taken you back with my speed."
He felt immense regret. He hadn't been fast enough.
"Sigh!"
Lin Fan shook his head, truly remorseful. He hadn't wanted this to happen, but he could forgive himself. Sparring had its risks, and losing control momentarily was understandable.
After figuring this out,
He no longer felt guilty. His mood improved.
As for Zhuang Xiao and the others, whether they were dead or alive didn't concern him. He hadn't fought them directly. Perhaps they had sensed the danger and left early.
This thought further brightened his mood.
He hadn't done anything wrong.
He was happy.
Then, Lin Fan walked around Zhuang Tianxing's body, searching within a radius of several dozen meters, as if looking for something.
"What a pity, I can't find it."
He wanted to find Zhuang Tianxing's lower half, but unfortunately, despite searching for a long time, he couldn't find it. With martial virtue in mind, he dug a grave for Zhuang Tianxing.
A long while later,
Lin Fan stood before the mound of earth and said solemnly, "Although you were a despicable fellow, your strength was considerable. However, your martial virtue was lacking. I didn't want to spar with you, and your death was an accident. I could have taken you to Old Zhang, and you might have lived. But you didn't hold on long enough."
"Sigh!"
Our Lin Fan possessed a compassionate heart. He was too sentimental, too kind. Even though his opponent's actions were despicable, he could still offer a gesture of goodwill, forgiving his vile behavior in death.
No one knew what had truly transpired.
But they all felt the terror.
The pressure had been immense, like the sky was falling, a deep sense of helplessness engulfing everyone.
"There are other strong individuals here…"
Lin Fan looked up at the vast, blue sky, feeling invigorated.
"If only I had some wine."
He muttered to himself, longing for the taste of alcohol. It was truly delightful.
With a leap,
He followed the scent of a powerful presence in the distance.
As treasures continued to appear on Changbai Mountain,
More and more Starry Sky realm cultivators arrived.
Not just Mu Hao and his group, but various powerful Starry Sky clans who had set their sights on this location.
And now,
It's time to introduce a powerful Starry Sky clan.
They had traversed the vast cosmos, their origins ancient and formidable. Even Mu Hao and the others regarded them with caution.
By the Heavenly Lake,
A middle-aged man stood with his hands clasped behind his back, surrounded by numerous powerful cultivators. These cultivators were merely followers. Their arrival had already scared away all the surrounding creatures with their overwhelming aura.
The middle-aged man was startled by the earlier commotion. It had been truly earth-shattering, the tremors spreading far and wide. However, he didn't know who had been fighting, assuming it was a natural geological event.
"My Lord, I've investigated the situation. The Starry Sky clans currently active here are the Mu Clan, the Zhuang Clan, and the Wu Clan. Among them, Wu Sheng of the Wu Clan has obtained an opportunity and his strength has soared. He also has connections with the locals," a man reported respectfully.
Although the man was middle-aged, he was handsome, but a murderous aura lurked between his brows. He was undoubtedly ruthless and had taken countless lives.
"These clans send their juniors here for training, thinking it's an experience, but they don't realize they're courting death. Now that I'm here, everything here will be mine."
"Come out, you who hides in the water. If you don't come out, don't blame me for forcing you out."
The man's gaze was like fire, his eyes fixed on the water's surface. The intensity of his stare caused steam to rise from the lake. If the White Jiao didn't emerge, it seemed he would evaporate the entire Heavenly Lake.