Chapter Forty-Seven: Undercurrents

"Your ambition is vast," Yunxi observed, fixing her gaze on Lin Fan for a moment before speaking. "The name Divine Court is far too aggressive; once word spreads, it will surely cause tremendous upheaval. Besides, the Divine Son Alliance will never allow you to grow powerful."

"You must also understand that cultivation is about advancing with courage and focus, free from distractions. Your current temperament makes it difficult to reach the end." Yunxi’s considerations were far-reaching, and she was not wrong; being entangled in too many mundane affairs does indeed affect one's cultivation.

"Senior Sister, you must have seen it today as well. It’s not that I wish to become embroiled in secular matters, but rather that some are deliberately opposing me." Lin Fan took a deep breath, his expression betraying a hint of discomfort.

"In truth, it is I who have implicated you. But you should know that the establishment of the Divine Court is a matter of great consequence—a thunderbolt within Tiandu Sect." Yunxi naturally understood the causes and effects; otherwise, she would not have repeatedly lent her support.

"Senior Sister has shown me kindness as immense as a mountain, her lifesaving grace is beyond any repayment. There’s no need to speak further of it, and certainly no need to mention being implicated." Lin Fan shook his head, his words sincere. Had Yunxi not intervened, he would have perished at Cheng Yu’s hands, and would not be here today. The debt of gratitude was truly overwhelming.

"Mm, I simply never expected you would possess such fortune. That day, I unwittingly aided a hidden dragon. I can faintly sense you harbor great secrets, but I won’t ask; that is your own destiny." Yunxi nodded, continuing, "As for the Divine Court you propose, I agree to join. You are the Divine Lord. My condition is simple, though I won’t state it now; you will understand in time."

Yunxi was enigmatic; she hadn’t even inquired about the disciples Lin Fan recruited. But by now, Lin Fan no longer cared—he had obtained the answer he desired.

"Thank you, Senior Sister." Lin Fan said no more, leaving everything unsaid. He knew that from this day, the Divine Court would formally take shape.

"There’s no need for such courtesy between us. One day, you will understand everything." Yunxi waved her hand dismissively. "One does not visit the Three Treasures Hall without reason; you must have come to see me for something important."

Lin Fan’s face rarely showed a trace of embarrassment, but he was no ordinary person; his temperament had long transcended the mundane. "Senior Sister’s guess is correct. I do have urgent matters." His expression grew serious as he spoke slowly.

"After parting ways with Senior Sister and the others that day, I arrived at a small city. There, I encountered a strong practitioner from the Ghost Domain—and before I came here, I met others from the Ghost Domain as well." Lin Fan spoke concisely, without embellishment. He believed the mere mention of the Ghost Domain would be enough to cause alarm.

"Are you certain?" As expected, Yunxi’s previously calm demeanor was immediately disturbed, her brows furrowing. The Tianwu Domain and Ghost Domain had been at war for years, rarely intersecting. Moreover, Ancient Crimson City was far from the border of either domain; logically, there should be no Ghost Domain people here, especially with the Demon Clan now emerging.

"I would not speak carelessly. I saw it with my own eyes," Lin Fan declared firmly, unwilling to joke about such things.

"This matter is of great importance and needs to be reported to our sect as soon as possible." Yunxi’s temperament was decisive; hearing the Ghost Domain mentioned, she instantly sensed something amiss. Given the involvement of two major domains, even as the Tiandu Sect Divine Maiden, she dared not shoulder it alone.

"I await your instructions, Senior Sister." Lin Fan nodded. Everything was unfolding as he hoped. If nothing went wrong, his next step would be to meet the overlords of the Celestial Realm.

"In these past days, the Celestial Realm overlords have been striving to repair the spatial transfer channels. Even I will need some effort to see them. For now, I’ll inform Elder Chu Yunji and we’ll await further notice." Yunxi was not overly anxious. Though the Ghost Domain matter was significant, it was not urgent. The human strongholds were solid, enough to continue their stalemate with the Demon Clan.

"Moreover, tomorrow I will establish the Divine Maiden's authority, and the name of the Divine Court can be made known. I want to see just how many within Tiandu Sect are not aligned with the Divine Son Alliance."

A vast aura swept forth, Yunxi’s gaze sharp as lightning, piercing the heavens. The entire Lanxin Hall trembled, unable to withstand such overwhelming pressure.

"Senior Sister—what realm has she reached? This aura is much stronger than before. Has she made great progress in her cultivation recently?"

Lin Fan's body trembled, his eyes filled with disbelief. He had reached the ninth level of physical refinement, yet Yunxi still appeared as a mountain beyond reach.

Meanwhile, a tide began to sweep slowly through the entire human stronghold.

"What? You're saying the Divine Maiden Yunxi of Tiandu Sect is going to raise her banner?"

"That's unlikely. I know Yunxi—she’s always kept a low profile, focused solely on comprehension, never involved in sect power struggles."

The message that Yunxi had summoned all Tiandu Sect disciples had somehow spread throughout the human stronghold, sparking a storm of rumors. The disciples of Tiandu Sect were anxious, while other forces in Tianwu Domain watched from the sidelines, not intending to interfere.

"Why is it impossible? The title Divine Maiden means supreme status—she outranks all true disciples within Tiandu Sect. I think Yunxi is about to establish her own faction and vie for the position of Sect Master. If she succeeds, she’ll be the first female Sect Master in Tiandu Sect’s history, enough to be recorded in the annals."

Someone spoke, believing they had glimpsed the truth.

"It’s possible, but as far as I know, Yunxi is forming the Divine Court—but she isn’t its lord. That title belongs to someone named Lin Fan."

Others stepped forward, offering contradictory opinions.

"Exactly—Yunxi isn’t even the lord of the Divine Court, so what is the purpose of raising her banner? Is it merely to oppose the Divine Son Alliance?"

Voices surged from all sides, but the Lanxin Hall—the epicenter—remained silent, fueling even more speculation.

That day, Lin Fan’s former status as a menial disciple began to spread, thanks to those with ulterior motives. This dealt a huge blow to the Divine Court’s reputation.

"So Lin Fan is just a servant boy—I thought he was some big shot. Now it’s clear: Yunxi is using him as a figurehead, while she controls everything from behind the scenes."

"I was suspicious before, but Yunxi chose a menial disciple; truly an unusual choice. Ahaha!"

As Lin Fan’s identity became widely known, reactions were swift and varied. Contemptuous voices abounded, a wave of derision crashing toward him.

Time passed, and before anyone realized it, the next day arrived—the day Yunxi had summoned all to pay their respects…