The sun had begun its slow descent, casting hues of orange and red across the rugged peaks of the Desolate Mountains. Lin Fan pressed onward, his body still aching from the battle with the Rock Armored Bear, but his heart burned with renewed purpose. With each step, he felt the faint pulse of the Blazing Sun Ascension Art within him, its fiery energy a constant reminder of his newfound strength.
But Lin Fan knew better than to let his guard down. The Desolate Mountains were unyielding, and even with the powerful cultivation technique in his grasp, danger was always lurking.
As he rounded a narrow path between two cliffs, Lin Fan's sharp instincts kicked in. He stopped abruptly, his eyes narrowing as he caught the faint sound of voices carried by the wind.
"Search this area! That waste couldn't have gone far!"
Lin Fan's expression darkened. The voices were unmistakable—they belonged to the Lin family.
Moments later, a group of three figures emerged from the shadows of the cliffs. Leading them was a middle-aged man in Lin family elder robes, his stern face exuding authority and disdain. Behind him stood two younger men, both wearing the uniforms of Lin family guards.
"Lin Fan," the elder said coldly, his gaze sweeping over Lin Fan with a mixture of contempt and faint surprise. "So you're still alive. I must admit, you've exceeded my expectations."
Lin Fan stood his ground, his expression calm but his eyes sharp. "Elder Lin. I didn't think the Lin family would waste their precious resources sending people to track down a so-called 'discarded waste.'"
The elder's face twisted slightly, but his voice remained calm. "Watch your tongue. I am here under orders from the Patriarch himself. Hand over whatever treasures you've obtained in the mountains, as well as the technique you've been practicing, and perhaps the Lin family will show you some mercy."
"Mercy?" Lin Fan's lips curled into a mocking smile. "The same mercy you showed me when you cast me out like trash? The same mercy that left me to die in these mountains? Spare me your hypocrisy."
One of the younger guards stepped forward, glaring at Lin Fan with disdain. "You ungrateful dog! If it weren't for the Lin family, you wouldn't even be alive right now! Elder Lin is giving you a chance—don't be so ignorant!"
Lin Fan's eyes flashed with cold fury, but his voice remained steady. "A chance? Don't make me laugh. I suppose that's why you brought two guards, just in case I didn't 'cooperate.'"
The elder's expression hardened. "Lin Fan, I'll give you one last chance. Surrender what you've found, or face the consequences."
Lin Fan took a step forward, his aura surging as the fiery energy of the Blazing Sun Ascension Art flared within him.
"You think you can take what's mine?" Lin Fan said, his voice cold and unyielding. "Come and try."
The younger guard, furious at Lin Fan's defiance, charged forward. His spiritual energy surged as he shouted, "You'll regret this, waste!"
But Lin Fan didn't flinch. As the guard's fist flew toward him, Lin Fan sidestepped effortlessly, his movements swift and precise. With a single strike, Lin Fan's flaming fist connected with the guard's chest, sending him flying backward with a cry of pain.
The second guard hesitated, his confidence shaken by the overwhelming strength Lin Fan had displayed. But the elder barked out an order, "Attack together! He's just a first-stage Qi Refining cultivator!"
The two guards lunged at Lin Fan in unison, their spiritual energy combining into a coordinated assault. Yet Lin Fan remained calm, his movements fluid as he dodged their attacks with ease.
The flames of the Blazing Sun Ascension Art surged around Lin Fan's fists as he countered, each strike burning with intense heat. Within moments, both guards were sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain, their uniforms scorched and tattered.
Lin Fan turned his gaze to the elder, his voice calm but menacing. "Is that the best the Lin family can do? I expected more."
The elder's expression darkened. He hadn't expected Lin Fan to grow this strong in such a short time. But as an elder of the Lin family, he couldn't back down now.
"You've truly outdone yourself, Lin Fan," the elder said, his tone icy. "But don't think you can stand against the Lin family just because of a small opportunity. You're still nothing more than a bug beneath our feet."
The elder raised his hand, and a powerful surge of spiritual energy erupted around him. The ground beneath his feet cracked as his aura filled the air, far surpassing that of the guards Lin Fan had just defeated.
Lin Fan's expression remained calm, but his body tensed. He could feel the elder's strength—it was at the peak of the Qi Refining Stage, far above his current level.
Even so, Lin Fan refused to back down. The flames within him burned hotter, and he clenched his fists as he prepared to fight.
But just as the elder was about to attack, a sudden burst of spiritual energy erupted in the distance. Both Lin Fan and the elder turned their heads, their gazes locking onto the source of the disturbance.
A figure emerged from the shadows, her presence commanding and cold. She was dressed in elegant robes, her long black hair flowing behind her as her sharp eyes scanned the scene.
"Elder Lin," the woman said, her voice calm but filled with authority. "I think that's enough. The Patriarch didn't send you here to die."
The elder's expression shifted, his aura retracting as he bowed his head slightly. "Miss Su, I didn't expect you to intervene."
Lin Fan's eyes narrowed as he recognized the woman. It was Su Xue Rou, his former fiancée.
Su Xue Rou's gaze shifted to Lin Fan, her expression unreadable. "Lin Fan, you've certainly surprised me. I didn't think you'd still be alive, let alone capable of defeating the Lin family's guards."
Lin Fan's eyes burned with quiet fury, but he kept his tone calm. "What do you want, Su Xue Rou? Come to laugh at the 'waste' you threw away?"
Su Xue Rou's lips curled into a faint smile, but her eyes remained cold. "Laugh? No. I came to see for myself how far you've fallen—or how far you've risen."
Lin Fan clenched his fists, the flames of the Blazing Sun Ascension Art flaring faintly around him. "You'll regret everything, Su Xue Rou. Every insult, every slight. I will take back everything that was stolen from me—and more."
Su Xue Rou's smile didn't waver, but a flicker of something—perhaps unease—passed through her eyes. Without another word, she turned and left, her elegant figure disappearing into the shadows.
The elder and the two guards followed reluctantly, but not before the elder cast one last glare at Lin Fan. "This isn't over," he said coldly.
Lin Fan watched them go, his heart burning with hatred and determination.
"This world thinks it can crush me," Lin Fan said softly, his voice steady. "But I will rise higher than anyone ever thought possible. And when I do, they'll all bow before me."
With the flames of his cultivation burning brighter than ever, Lin Fan continued his journey, his vow of revenge etched deeply into his soul.