CHAPTER 279: CHAPTER 0276: AREN’T YOU STATING THE OBVIOUS?

Lin Fan intercepted the crazed old man’s final strike with his own body.

If it truly landed, then the Wind Demon would undoubtedly die, not even leaving a single hair behind.

This was the last thing Lin Fan wanted to see.

Also the thing he was most strongly unwilling to accept.

To the Wind Demon, he thought someone had come to save him, but when he saw that familiar face, he almost coughed up old blood and fainted on the spot.

It was only his strong demeanor as a formidable expert that kept him upright.

Buzz!

The crazed old man withdrew his hand in time. The Blood Pool hovered in the air, some distance away from Lin Fan, yet the overwhelming force still swept over him. Fortunately, Lin Fan’s physique was strong enough to resist.

"Dad, that was dangerous!" the crazed old man exclaimed in alarm.

It was a good thing he held back his strike.

Otherwise, the consequences of that attack would have been unimaginable.

"Son, well done. Dad is proud of you," Lin Fan praised. Hearing his father’s compliment, the crazed old man’s face lit up with joy, beaming radiantly like a child proud of earning a gold star in kindergarten, his chest puffed out, filled with smug pride wherever he went.

At this moment.

The Wind Demon could no longer be bothered to move. He had been smashed so badly by the crazed old man that his blood and energy were boiling, his mana was disordered, and one of his arms had been broken. His injuries were severe—so much so that even as a True Immortal Realm expert, recovery seemed impossible.

"Do you have anything you’d like to say to me? I’m the kind of person who likes to give others opportunities. I’m willing to give you time to say your parting words," Lin Fan said, feeling quite pleased.

How many True Immortal Realm experts was this now that he had slain?

He couldn’t really remember.

But every single True Immortal Realm expert was like a treasure trove.

You’d never know what they might drop, but they never failed to impress.

"I was wrong."

The Wind Demon lowered his head. Faced with crushing power, he bowed his proud head, simply begging to live. True Immortal Realm experts, in their prime, chain-react with explosive glory, but once crushed, it turns out they’re just like ordinary people—afraid of death.

The higher one’s cultivation, the more they dread death.

This is a truth that remains eternal, no matter the circumstances.

[Wind Demon: Ninth Level True Immortal Realm.]

[Possible drops: Eighth Grade Metal Spirit Root, Eighth Grade Wood Spirit Root, 120,000 years of mana...]

[Note: I don’t want to die.]

The potential drops were plentiful.

A True Immortal Realm expert was terrifying beyond description.

The drops would not be as simple as one might imagine.

Their cultivated Immortal Techniques were numerous.

"No, you’re not wrong. The mistake was choosing to seek me out. What was the Old Corpse Demon thinking, sending you here? Didn’t he consider you might meet a terrible end in this place?" Lin Fan remarked.

The Wind Demon was speechless, muttering to himself in his heart: If it weren’t for this crazed old man...

You think you’d be able to defeat me?

But what’s done is done; there’s no way out now.

"Can you spare me?" the Wind Demon asked bluntly.

He genuinely didn’t want to die.

Lin Fan shook his head. "No."

Sure enough, the merciless rejection obliterated the Wind Demon’s hope of survival. Now, in this moment, he truly didn’t know what to do. He believed escape was no longer possible.

Standing off to the side, eyeing him like a tiger hunting prey, was the old man—by far the most terrifying presence here.

The slightest move would likely result in a gruesome death.

At this moment, Lin Fan deliberated on something.

He pondered how exactly to deal with his opponent—whether he should suppress him within the Universe Tripod and force him to cultivate Immortal Techniques, or simply kill him outright.

After a moment’s reflection.

He decided killing him was still the better option.

Killing a True Immortal expert was no easy feat. When you encounter one, you must strike them down; keeping them alive invariably leads to trouble.

Spreading his fingers wide, he condensed the Hell Spear, aiming it at the Wind Demon, his expression dark with malice.

The Wind Demon’s expression turned fearful. "Don’t kill me, or the Sect Hierarch definitely won’t let you go."

"Whatever request you have, just say it—I believe I can meet your demands."

"Spare me. I’ve cultivated to this point with great difficulty. Killing a True Immortal Realm expert will result in karmic consequences—you’ll be ending one of heaven and earth’s favored children. You won’t meet a good end."

Thwack!

"You talk too much."

With one strike, Lin Fan pierced through the Wind Demon’s mouth, disdainful of how he kept rambling incessantly from start to finish without stopping.

The Wind Demon clutched his throat, screaming miserably. The sensation of a "deep thrust" was far from pleasant.

His eyes bulged wide, bloodshot and grim, his expression vicious as though roaring—except the blood bubbling up from his throat made his words utterly incomprehensible.

Curses!

Curses!

The Wind Demon cursed Lin Fan with his life. From the void, a strange, mystical force descended upon Lin Fan, but as it touched his body, the Ancestor Dragon aura rippled outward, shattering the peculiar force.

Fwip!

Lin Fan pierced through the Wind Demon’s head. His Divine Soul tried to escape, but Lin Fan immediately pressed it back into his body, fully annihilating both soul and flesh.

"Dead."

With the Wind Demon’s death, Lin Fan couldn’t help but feel curious—what would he drop?

He was quite expectant.

[Acquired Great Divine Skill: Great Sun Fire Calamity.]

[Acquired Spirit Root: Eighth Grade Earth Spirit Root.]

[Acquired Great Divine Skill: Earth Erupting Demon Lotus.]

[Acquired Elixir: Eighth Grade Transformational Holy Immortal Pill.]

[Acquired Item: Spirit Detection Treasure.]

[Acquired Skill: Array Formation (Mastery Level).]

Lin Fan’s expression remained emotionless—not because the Wind Demon’s drops were bad. Though his mana hadn’t exploded, the current drops were objectively excellent.

Two Great Divine Skills greatly bolstered his overall strength.

What surprised him most was discovering the Wind Demon’s level in Array Formation had reached mastery.

Instantly.

Countless previously unknown insights flooded his mind, all concerning arrays.

Mastery wasn’t the highest level; even more advanced levels existed.

But with this proficiency now, it was already quite sufficient.

And now.

Lin Fan’s Spirit Root levels were impressive as well.

Sixth Grade Metal Spirit Root, First Grade Thunder Spirit Root, Eighth Grade Earth Spirit Root, Ninth Grade Water Spirit Root, Eighth Grade Fire Spirit Root, Sixth Grade Demon Spirit Root.

Aside from the rare Thunder Spirit Root.

The other Spirit Roots were all mid-to-high tier.

Especially the Ninth Grade Water Spirit Root—this topped them all.

If he used Immortal Techniques related to the Water Spirit Root, their power would naturally be exponentially stronger.

"Son, let’s go."

Lin Fan left swiftly with the crazed old man.

The Old Corpse Demon must already know about the Wind Demon’s death.

As for how furious he might be, that wasn’t Lin Fan’s concern.

The Old Corpse Demon sensed the shift. When his connection to the Wind Demon abruptly severed, he stood stunned—a moment of dazed disbelief, like the shock was so profound he failed to react.

After all, the Wind Demon’s strength was unquestionable.

True Immortal Realm cultivation.

Even if defeated.

Surely escape was an option?

But only momentarily stunned.

The Old Corpse Demon roared furiously, his voice shaking heaven and earth. Several other elders heard the Sect Hierarch’s enraged cries, their faces grim. They shared a special connection—as long as one was in peril, the others could sense it.

They couldn’t believe the Wind Demon had died.

...

Days later.

Lin Fan stayed in the Taiwu Immortal Sect for a while. By now, he had already overcome the Three Calamities, leaving only the Six Tribulations.

The Six Tribulations were not something one could control; they could arrive at any moment. At that point, fate itself imposed calamities upon you. Some spent centuries unable to pass even one Tribulation.

Many remained stuck at this realm for centuries; such cases were not unheard of.

Some sought refuge in Immortal sanctuaries, hoping to evade the Six Tribulations, but these calamities couldn’t be avoided. Only by charging forward and boldly confronting them could one escape their grasp.

"Master, someone’s here for you," Huang Jiujiu said, sweating after finishing his physical training.

During this time, Lin Fan had been refining the Mixed Element Golden Gourd, attempting to master its Innate Big Array and enhance his control over the treasure.

"Let them in."

Before long.

An elderly man hastily arrived—a familiar face, Zhang Zhenxian of Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

Before Lin Fan could say much.

Zhang Zhenxian anxiously pleaded, "Master Lin, please help us!"

The elder’s demeanor wasn’t one you’d expect for mundane matters. If it were simply identifying Divine Medicine, he wouldn’t look like this. Could it be...

"Zhang Zhenxian, I’ve mentioned it before—I won’t enter the Forbidden Land."

What need did he have to risk his neck entering the Forbidden Land? Wasn’t obtaining the Mixed Element Golden Gourd enough?

Did he not understand the dangers lurking there?

Had he no sense?

Any creature encountered within those depths was terrifying in the extreme. Lin Fan had no interest in facing those horrors. Life outside was delightful—dueling here and there, slaying formidable enemies, collecting loot—it was pure bliss.

"Master Lin, could we discuss everything at Heavenly Treasure Pavilion?" Zhang Zhenxian implored.

Lin Fan studied him for a moment, eventually nodding.

"Alright, I’ll accompany you for a look."

And so, the two departed Taiwu Immortal Sect, heading straight toward Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

Along the way, Lin Fan tried to get more information out of him about the situation, but Zhang Zhenxian couldn’t fully explain just yet. "Only upon arriving at the scene will everything become clear."

Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

"Master Lin."

"Master Lin."

Elders recognizing Lin Fan greeted him respectfully.

Though Lin Fan was young in age, his genuine abilities earned him utmost respect.

Mao Si had been waiting for Lin Fan and quickly stepped forward upon seeing him. "Master Lin, this way, please."

A courtyard.

The surroundings were heavily guarded. Lin Fan could sense the presence of many powerful experts concealed in the shadows, safeguarding the area.

Before long, he saw Huang Lier again. He couldn’t help teasing, "Fairy Huang, it’s been a while. Your radiance is still dazzling as ever."

But he noticed Huang Lier’s expression seemed haggard.

She didn’t react to Lin Fan’s flirtatious banter. Instead, upon seeing him, it was as though she had found a lifeline.

"Master Lin, I beg for your help this time," she pleaded.

Seeing her solemn demeanor, Lin Fan instantly felt a sense of foreboding—this wasn’t going to be good.

If it were a matter of good news, would she be acting like this?

Soon, under Huang Lier’s lead, Lin Fan entered the room. The moment he stepped inside, he caught the thick aroma of spiritual medicine in the air, as if he were inside a treasury.

There he saw a figure lying on the bed. If he remembered correctly, this should be Huang Lier’s father, the Pavilion Master of Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. But right now, the man was cloaked in thick mist—some sort of poison.

"What’s this?" Lin Fan asked. "If I’m not mistaken, he’s got a serious problem."

Obviously.

Would he be lying here if he weren’t?