Chapter Forty: The Stronghold

The divine manifestation wielded its powers to confront the enemy independently, while Lin Fan himself rushed toward Li Qi. With a single hand, he conjured the form of a dragon’s claw and seized Li Qi’s shoulder in an iron grip.

“Speak. What is the Ghost Domain plotting?”

Lin Fan’s voice was cold as his hand tightened, crushing Li Qi’s shoulder.

“Aah…” Li Qi broke out in a cold sweat, crying out in pain.

“You’ve colluded with the demon race and slaughtered your own kin. If this were exposed, the Ghost Domain would be ruined in an instant. What could possibly drive you to defy the world so recklessly?”

Lin Fan understood the gravity of consorting with outsiders; he could not fathom what motive was so great as to compel the Ghost Domain into such actions.

“Haha, this is the tide of fate—do you understand? The demon race is destined to rise. The Ghost Domain is merely ahead of the rest.”

Li Qi howled, his whole body trembling.

“Enough nonsense. Tell me what you know.”

Lin Fan frowned, breaking Li Qi’s leg.

“Cough… I’ll tell you this: your end is near. Chaos will engulf the world, and the demon race is about to emerge.”

Li Qi’s voice abruptly ceased. His body convulsed, then exploded in a shower of blood and flesh.

“Damn it!”

Lin Fan’s figure appeared, and if he hadn’t reacted in time, he’d have been caught in the blast—injury would have been the least of his worries.

By now, the battle was drawing to a close. Lin Fan’s divine manifestation swept through the demon race like a storm, leaving corpses strewn everywhere—though only demons littered the ground.

“Die!”

Lin Fan thrust his spear, nailing the last demon. His divine manifestation dissipated, merging back into his body.

“Devour!”

A vast power surged forth. In half a quarter of an hour, all corpses and blood vanished from the ground—Lin Fan had consumed the remains. The effect was inferior to the power of the Netherworld, but it was better than nothing.

“The Ghost Domain’s conspiracy remains a mystery. Their ambitions must be great. I’ll report this to the sect’s elders—that should count as a significant achievement.”

Lin Fan pondered for a moment, then let it go. Matters involving two domains and two races were beyond his reach.

Considering the time, Lin Fan made his way toward the spatial teleportation channel, already rehearsing his explanation in his mind. As for the long spear, he had no intention of returning it to Shen Yan.

Half an hour later, Shen Yan and his group appeared.

“Lin Fan, why are you here? Where are the demons?” Shen Yan asked, surprised as he looked around.

“I’m not sure what happened. I didn’t encounter any demons along the way—I just arrived here directly.”

Lin Fan shook his head, wearing an innocent expression. This was the excuse he had prepared: profess ignorance—better to say less than risk saying too much.

“That’s for the best. You’re unharmed, and I can’t be blamed for anything.”

Shen Yan eyed Lin Fan suspiciously, but Lin Fan’s composure was far beyond his own, so he saw no flaws.

“In that case, you can return Senior Brother Shen’s artifact. It was merely lent to you, so now that the matter is resolved, it should be returned.”

Xiang Yang stepped forward at just the right moment, asking Lin Fan to hand over the long spear. But Lin Fan had already decided to keep it for himself and would not surrender it.

“Senior Brother Shen has already gifted me the spear. I will cherish it and honor both the weapon and his reputation.”

Lin Fan laughed off the request, prompting everyone to frown; even Chen Daolin gave Lin Fan another look, though his attention remained fixed on the spear.

“Haha, of course. I would never take back something I’ve given.”

Shen Yan’s face twitched, surprised at Lin Fan’s audacity. Yet, with so many people present, he couldn’t say more and had to pretend to be magnanimous.

Still, he resolved to demand the spear back from Lin Fan when no one else was around.

“Let’s head to the human stronghold and join the main force as soon as possible.”

Shen Yan said no more. Raising his hands, he summoned dazzling divine lights that flooded the heavens like a vast ocean—he was activating a rune.

This was a rune crafted specifically for spatial teleportation by a distinguished figure; Shen Yan’s identity was evidently remarkable.

A massive formation appeared, and the overwhelming divine light enveloped Lin Fan and the others. After several breaths, their figures vanished from the original spot.

At that moment, a shimmering radiance arose and condensed into a human form—it was Li Qi.

He had used a secret technique to destroy his physical body and escape with his soul—a well-known tactic in the Ghost Domain. Lin Fan, lacking experience, had been fooled.

“Someone has already uncovered the Ghost Domain’s plots. I can’t wait any longer—I must inform the Ghost Prince. This man must die!”

Li Qi cast a resentful glance at the teleportation formation where Lin Fan and the others had departed. In a blink, his figure vanished, presumably to deliver his report.

Lin Fan had no knowledge of any of this. When he arrived, he found himself standing in a massive plaza.

“Another batch of humans has arrived via teleportation. Register them quickly—war is imminent, and we can’t afford to fuss over these newcomers.”

A voice boomed across the plaza, laden with immense authority—a sign that a powerful cultivator in the Condensed Vein Realm was speaking.

Lin Fan suddenly felt his entire body immobilized, as if every secret was exposed.

“No demon spies detected—let them pass!”

Lin Fan looked toward a distant platform, where a figure sat with long hair, handsome features, and a not-so-slender physique radiating terrifying power.

“What a formidable figure—far stronger than that elder from the Ghost Domain. This stronghold is astonishing; such a powerful individual is merely overseeing the teleportation channel.”

Lin Fan was awed, nearly speechless.

“That’s Mo Shifeng, the thirty-sixth core disciple of Tiandu Gate. His strength is at the fifth level of the Condensed Vein Realm, and it’s rumored he’s slain demons of the sixth level.”

Shen Yan glanced at Lin Fan, proudly introducing him.

“Truly a peerless talent—unmatched in his generation.”

Lin Fan sighed and spoke aloud.

“Well, you all must have acquaintances here. Let’s part ways.”

Shen Yan apparently had urgent matters, so he proposed they separate.

Everyone agreed—after all, everyone knew someone, and surviving such chaos meant it was only right to reconnect with friends.

Ouyang Ruoxuan and Wang Qing also took their leave. Their families held influence in the Tianwu Domain, and with the demon uprising, their clans likely had powerful members present—probably in this stronghold.

“I should first find Gu Renfeng and the others, then use them to reach Senior Sister Yunxi.”

Lin Fan quickly made up his mind. The Ghost Domain’s schemes could not be delayed; only with Yunxi’s introduction would he have a chance to meet the distinguished figures of the Heaven and Human Realm.