The Upper Realm!
The heavens, once shattered by Lin Fan's fist, had been mended. Yet, upon the seemingly flawless sky, a fissure remained, invisible to the naked eye. A strange aura seeped from this crack. It wasn't harmful, nor did it taint the world. It was simply an unfamiliar energy, belonging to another realm, its strangeness stemming solely from its contrast with the familiar.
Listen closely.
Whispers emerged from beyond the fissure.
"When shall we enter this realm?"
"Not yet, not now. This realm has a guardian. We must wait for his decline; that will be the opportune moment to invade."
"Are we afraid?"
"No, not fear, but precaution."
These voices, faint and concealed, had been observing for a long time. Now, with the passage opened, a slight push would be enough to shatter the barrier completely.
Qianyuan Sect.
In front of a house.
Lin Fan played frisbee with Xiao Huang, his small yellow dog. Xiao Huang frolicked in the courtyard, agile and lively, belying his age of several hundred years. Anyone witnessing this scene would smile with warmth. It was a truly heartwarming sight.
Xiao Huang returned the frisbee to Lin Fan. Stroking the dog's head affectionately, Lin Fan asked softly, "Xiao Huang, do you know how old you are?" He wanted Xiao Huang to have some awareness of his own age.
Xiao Huang tilted his head, looking at his master quizzically.
The meaning was clear.
Am I old?
When Lin Fan first adopted Xiao Huang, he had prepared himself to say goodbye after a dozen years or so. He never expected Xiao Huang to live so long, showing no signs of aging, not even a single ailment.
Lin Fan smiled. "It's alright, we still have a long time together."
If Old Zhang were here, he would surely become good friends with Xiao Huang. Old Zhang would definitely count every hair on Xiao Huang's body.
Day after day, year after year.
Qianyuan Sect flourished as if it were blessed by some divine power. It had long become the leading sect, unmatched by any other. Even if other sects wanted to compete, they simply lacked the ability.
Fortunately, Qianyuan Sect held no animosity towards other sects and had no intention of annexation. They focused on their own development and maintaining the peace of the cultivation world.
Any sect that dared to compare itself to Qianyuan Sect was simply delusional.
Damn it.
They're totally cheating.
How can a sect be so terrifying? They even have someone beyond the Great Emperor Realm. He clearly left, but shamelessly returned. It's just too much.
So unfair.
It almost makes me want to cry.
Lin Fan would spend his days playing frisbee with Xiao Huang and gazing at the sky, searching, trying to sense the presence that prevented him from leaving.
Now, watching Xiao Huang urinating by a tree in the distance, he murmured to himself, "Xiao Huang, I can't stay with you any longer."
With these words, his perception expanded, his mind spreading like a vast net, enveloping the heavens and penetrating the Upper Realm. The will of the Upper Realm, freed by Lin Fan, sensed this formidable power.
There was no resistance, only acceptance. The barrier lowered, allowing the probing force to scan everything.
A moment later.
"Found it."
Lin Fan opened his eyes, his figure vanishing instantly.
Xiao Huang, finished relieving himself, ran back, eager to continue playing. But he found no one there. He barked anxiously, hoping his master would reappear.
No more hide-and-seek.
I just want to play frisbee.
The Upper Realm.
Lin Fan stood at the edge of the barrier, extending a hand and gently touching the imperceptible fissure.
Instantly, the crack widened.
To the naked eye, it appeared as pure darkness, but a terrifying aura erupted, sweeping across the realm.
Ha Lin, in seclusion, abruptly opened his eyes and vanished from Qianyuan Sect.
The fissure continued to expand, from the width of a finger to several meters, rapidly spreading until it formed a passage.
Then, voices echoed.
"The passage is open."
"Guardian, have you finally shown yourself?"
"He is truly a young guardian, but can he stop us alone?"
The passage, initially dark, began to shimmer with distant lights, as if countless terrifying entities were surging towards this realm.
Gradually, the darkness within the passage dissipated, revealing a boundless cosmos of stars. Giants the size of planets emerged, alongside beasts of equal scale, roaring ferociously.
The will of the Upper Realm trembled.
"What terrifying beings are these?"
It felt fear and unease. Even as the will of the realm, it was powerless against these monstrous entities. Even the Saint Emperor, who had once controlled it, seemed like a mere child in comparison.
"Bai Bai," Ha Lin appeared beside Lin Fan. A single glance into the passage sent shivers down his spine, shaking his unwavering Dao Heart.
Just one look was enough to unsettle his very being.
Truly terrifying.
Lin Fan said, "I can sense it..."
Ha Lin looked at his uncle in confusion. Sense what? Why not say it?
Lin Fan remained silent. He could sense powerful beings in the vast distance, not just powerful in his estimation, but truly powerful. Yet, he had to return.
He missed them too much.
He yearned for Old Zhang and his wife.
Sparring with strong opponents was something he enjoyed, but compared to the people he loved, it ultimately held less importance.
Throughout these long years, though Lin Fan had been constantly reading, his natural comprehension meant he was cultivating every moment, his strength growing beyond control. This was his greatest worry; his unstoppable growth made it difficult to find worthy opponents.
If he had to say, the Dragon God and the Little Buddha had been good matches.
But now... it was hard to say.
Suddenly, from within the boundless stars of the passage, a giant roared with laughter, the sound waves shattering nearby stars. A massive hand reached out, crushing planets in its path.
"Guardian, I will crush you!"
Standing behind Lin Fan, Ha Lin's pupils were filled with the image of the approaching hand. His body trembled, his mind reeling. In the face of mortal danger, the mind often becomes acutely clear. But his clarity told him only one thing: Don't move, don't resist. Let them slaughter you.
There was no chance of survival.
Only death awaited.
Lin Fan raised a hand, striking out with a single palm.
"Demon Subduing Seal!"
BOOM!
The planet-sized giant, crushed by an unimaginable force, crumbled and screamed, dissolving into cosmic dust, floating silently in the dark expanse.
The giant's demise had no effect on the other unknown creatures.
Gradually, they drew closer, crossing the starry void, as if about to emerge from the passage.
Lin Fan took a deep breath.
His fingers clenched.
He was gathering his power.
This next punch would be his strongest, his most devastating blow ever.
Ha Lin and the will of the realm sensed the power emanating from Lin Fan.
They retreated.
Their eyes widened in shock.
"Guardian, surrender quietly."
"Conquer this insignificant realm."
Countless terrifying creatures roared and howled.
Lin Fan's power reached its peak. He unleashed a punch into the passage. Time seemed to freeze, everything solidified. In an instant, an invisible shockwave rippled outwards from his fist, spreading through the vast cosmos.
No one knew what had happened.
Only when the stars floating in the cosmos began to shatter under an unseen force did they realize the terrifying power contained within Lin Fan's punch.
A beast the size of a sun, ferocious and terrifying, suddenly froze. In the blink of an eye, it exploded, its fragmented flesh, each piece the size of a star, scattering through space.
This was just the tip of the iceberg.
The other creatures suffered the same devastating fate.
Screams echoed.
Someone cried out.
"A forbidden power, a forbidden land! Run, run away!"
"What is in that realm? Why would such a terrifying being be born there?"
"No..."
"We are the eternal, forbidden creatures! Why are we being destroyed?"
The once noisy passage fell silent.
Ha Lin and the will of the realm stared in disbelief.
Was this something a human could do?
Ha Lin wondered why his father, 'Ha Ha,' had known such a terrifying being.
He was so ordinary.
Not even a sect disciple.
Lin Fan stood calmly before the passage, his gaze fixed on the distant depths.
He thought to himself, Strong ones, we will fight again someday.
In the end, he did not step into the passage to seek out those who might pique his interest.
Some unseen will seemed to influence the passage.
The open fissure began to shrink, eventually sealing shut, closed forever, never to open again.
"It's over," Lin Fan said.
Ha Lin asked, "Is this what Bai Bai was worried about?"
Lin Fan wanted to tell Ha Lin that he didn't care about these beings. He only wished to spend more time with Xiao Huang, to see him off personally. But Xiao Huang was simply too resilient.
He could wait no longer.
He had to unleash his full perception, to find and resolve this looming threat.
Qianyuan Sect.
Lin Fan returned. Xiao Huang, smelling his scent, ran over, pawing at his master's leg.
Ha Lin stood beside them, still reeling from what he had witnessed, stunned and dazed. Perhaps he would never forget that scene.
Lin Fan crouched down, stroking Xiao Huang's fur.
He cupped the dog's head in his hands, their foreheads touching.
"Xiao Huang, I can't stay with you any longer. I have to go back. There are people I can't leave behind. You must live a good life."
Lin Fan spoke softly.
His words were filled with reluctance.
Xiao Huang didn't bark, but looked at his master quietly. Fear and panic flickered in his eyes, as if he knew his master was about to leave him.
"Woof..."
Xiao Huang whimpered softly.
Lin Fan turned to the last page of his book...
"Ha Lin, take care of Xiao Huang for me. He's a very important companion. I hope he'll always be happy."
Ha Lin wanted to say something.
But he saw his uncle look up at the sky.
Mission: Complete!
Note: You, who left behind a legend, will become a nightmare in the hearts of some beings...
Reward: Control of the realm's will.
Next arrival: November 1st!
Return!
Under the astonished gazes of everyone present, Lin Fan's body began to dissipate.
Xiao Huang's eyes widened. He lunged towards the spot where his master had vanished, but grasped only air.
"Woof! Woof!"
Xiao Huang spun anxiously, then, as if remembering something, he dashed towards his master's house. He pushed open the door, searching for his master's figure.
He hoped to find his master sitting at his desk, reading as usual, but the desk was empty.
He ran back to the original spot, hoping his master had reappeared.
But he was still gone.
Gradually, the entire sect watched the little yellow dog running back and forth, seemingly tireless, his barks echoing through the grounds.
After a long while, Xiao Huang, exhausted, collapsed where Lin Fan had disappeared, his ears drooping, his eyes dim with despair.
Ha Lin knew Xiao Huang had been with his uncle for a long time.
Their bond was deep.
He knew Xiao Huang was in pain.
Ha Lin couldn't let his uncle down. He crouched beside Xiao Huang, stroking his head.
"Xiao Huang, your master is still here, just somewhere else. I know you understand me. If you want to see your master again, cultivate with me."
"We will surely meet again someday."
Xiao Huang, initially listless, lifted his head at Ha Lin's words.
His dim eyes regained a spark of light.
Woof...