Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Powerful One from the Realm of Spirits

At the end of the ancient era, chaos reigned across heaven and earth. The humans and demons waged ceaseless war, leaving corpses strewn across the land. Eventually, the demons were defeated, suppressed by the mightiest among the human race, and sealed deep within the abyss beneath the earth. By rights, their imprisonment should have been unbreakable, yet the current state of the Celestial Martial Domain was anything but, a circumstance so peculiar it defied explanation.

Even stranger, during the demon uprising, there were those who slaughtered their own kin, a stark contrast to the unity and shared hatred against the common enemy that had defined the past. Lin Fan pondered over this with endless confusion, but he was merely a minor figure in the Body Refinement stage; whatever secrets existed lay far beyond his reach, leaving him to make wild guesses in solitude.

“Elder, rest assured. Though the Heaven Capital Sect is not the ruler of the Celestial Martial Domain, we can still preserve peace in our corner. As long as I am here, I will never allow those villains to harm you.”

Lin Fan spoke with unwavering resolve. He detested those who relied on their cultivation to bully the weak; whenever he encountered such people, he showed no mercy.

“What bold words! I’d like to see who is so arrogant as to spout such nonsense here.”

A cold snort echoed through the air, the booming voice seeming to come from nowhere. Instantly, everyone in the tavern dropped to their knees, begging for mercy.

“Who dares to play tricks here? Do you think nothing of the Heaven Capital Sect?”

Lin Fan sneered, stepping out of the tavern; he feared that if a fight broke out, innocents would be caught in the crossfire.

“Heaven Capital Sect? Your sect is beset with troubles—do you still have the strength to mind our affairs? Don’t think you can rely on your sect’s prestige. If you truly are one of them, you should know the current climate. For a mere disciple to meddle in our business is nothing short of courting death.”

The voice was elusive, as if floating without anchor, impossible to grasp.

“If you truly possessed true power, you wouldn’t be hiding now. Come out at once!”

Lin Fan snorted again, his aura radiant. He struck out, and a Kunpeng soared, its massive form blotting out the sky with a triumphant cry.

Although Lin Fan used only a fraction of his strength, it was more than enough to dominate among those at the eighth level of Body Refinement.

Space trembled. Forced out, a figure appeared, shrouded in a black robe and hovering in midair.

Yet the aura he exuded was merely that of the eighth level of Body Refinement—he must have used some kind of artifact.

“You dare, boy?”

The black-robed figure trembled with fury; Lin Fan’s sudden attack had left him flustered, nearly struck.

“What is there I dare not? Since you chose to commit evil here, you must be prepared to pay the price.”

Lin Fan’s expression was cold. He had already sensed that there were no other black-robed figures within the city; he planned to capture this one and uncover the secrets of their group.

With a sudden step, his hand swept forth, fingers splayed, grabbing for the man’s shoulder.

“That black robe on you is quite remarkable. Though it’s no treasure, it’s rare enough—likely crafted by a master of the Celestial Realm. It lets you hover briefly and use spatial illusions to hide your presence. But your strength is too lacking; it’s insignificant.”

Lin Fan’s voice was icy as he moved, towering like a mountain, awe-inspiring and invincible, enough to shatter the enemy’s courage.

The black-robed man’s face changed dramatically. Mist radiated from his body, and he summoned a giant ferocious wolf, knowing Lin Fan’s power and deploying his deadliest technique at once.

“What kind of technique is this? To summon another life? No, it’s not alive.”

Lin Fan frowned, sensing something extraordinary. The wolf before him seemed utterly real, even pulsing with life.

But Lin Fan was no longer the lowly servant he once was; his understanding of the Dao had deepened, and he could see the subtle distinctions.

“So, you’re from the Ghost Domain. What I don’t understand is why someone from the Ghost Domain would appear in the Celestial Martial Domain. Do you have some grand conspiracy, or have you joined forces with the abyssal demons?”

Lin Fan rambled, hoping to tease information from the black-robed man.

“Hmph, you want to know why I’m here? Too bad—I won’t fall for your tricks. Withdraw!”

The black-robed man’s eyes flashed, seeing through Lin Fan’s scheme instantly—he would not be deceived.

Lin Fan had underestimated his opponent; he would gain no information here.

“I offered you a chance to live, but no matter. Once I capture you, I’ll surely extract something useful. You won’t escape.”

Lin Fan remained calm, his skin thick with experience. He unleashed the power of Three Elephants, shaking the heavens.

Seven colossal stars hovered in the air, and Lin Fan strode like a sovereign among them, his killing intent earth-shattering.

He stamped down, his foot like a mountain crushing the boundless earth.

The black-robed man coughed blood, sent flying—he was no match for Lin Fan.

Immediately, Lin Fan reached out, his hand descending like a curtain of heaven. The black-robed man could not escape; Lin Fan seized him firmly.

Crack, crack—the black-robed man’s body twisted, bones trembling and colliding, the sound chilling to the core.

“Did you think this would let you escape punishment? The Heaven Capital Sect has plenty of ways to torment the likes of you.”

Lin Fan’s voice grew colder, his expression more terrifying; his anger was genuine.

“To think I’d encounter such a gifted disciple here! It seems the Heaven Capital Sect has produced extraordinary figures lately. I am truly old now, and you are indeed courageous. But fail the mission, and you must pay the price—go and die!”

From the distant sky, a deafening voice thundered, like millions of war drums pounding, threatening to rupture the eardrums.

“You—you—”

The black-robed man’s face twisted in horror, his throat rasping; he hadn’t expected such coldness from his own side.

A dazzling golden light descended from the heavens, sweeping out in all directions—a formidable expert had struck with a killing blow.

“What a terrifying killing intent!”

Lin Fan’s eyelids twitched; he flashed away, not daring to linger. If he moved too slowly, even he would suffer grave injuries.

The golden light slashed down, stretching hundreds of feet. With a thunderous roar, the brilliant gold cleaved the earth, leaving a trench dozens of feet deep and hundreds long, where the black-robed man’s body was utterly obliterated.

“This—is this the technique of the Meridian Condensation Realm?”

Lin Fan was shocked; he hadn’t expected a Meridian Condensation expert to appear, and it seemed they belonged to the Ghost Domain.