Chapter 8

Rage churned in Lin Fan's heart; in his eyes, only killing intent remained.

A mere little demon dared speak so wildly.

The Ghost Sheep Demon Sage's eyes flared wide with fury, demonic qi surging skyward around him.

"Who exactly are you?"

The Great Demon of Taiyi Realm's voice trembled; the starlight filling the heavens made its soul quake.

"A dying thing has no need for so many words."

True Sun Fire erupted from Lin Fan's fingertips, the blazing flames burning the heavens. The Demon Race who touched the firelight were reduced to ash in an instant.

"This is... the Demon Emperor Secret Technique!"

"Run!"

"Ask the Demon Sage to act!"

The Blood-Colored Embroidered Ball swept across the sky, and the fleeing Demon Race burst apart one after another.

"You're courting death!"

The Ghost Sheep Demon Sage struck in fury, Great Luo Pressure shattering mountains and rivers for a thousand miles.

"Today, the Demon Race shall be annihilated."

Lin Fan drew upon the Myriad Stars, and the Power of Stars of a million stars descended upon him. The Milky Way hung upside down, illuminating his ice-cold facial expression.

Lin Fan seemed to transform into the vast cosmos itself, the aura around him climbing wildly and violently.

He drove the Power of Stars within his body and the Law of Strength. The two powers merged and gathered, and as he threw out a punch, the heavens ** trembled, boundless Immortal Light sweeping across the eight wilds.

Ghost Sheep's massive demon body was blasted backward by the strike, and the surviving Demon Race in the distance were horrified to the point of despair.

"How can this be?"

"Lord Ghost Sheep is a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal!"

"A Primordial Unity Golden Immortal can actually clash head-on with a Zenith Heaven through the fleshly body alone? This simply overturns all understanding."

Ghost Sheep's body cracked like a tortoise shell, demon blood spraying. Fear surfaced in the scarlet eyes with which he glared at Lin Fan, yet he showed no cowardice. He let out a sinister cold laugh, monstrous killing intent erupting, and revealed his several-thousand-zhang crimson true body; when his sky-covering wings spread open, the clear sky for ten thousand miles abruptly darkened.

"Lightning Illumination!"

As the furious shout rang out, a vast vortex split open in the firmament, and million-zhang purple lightning transformed into savage thunder dragons that lunged down to kill. A Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal commanded the power of laws, and the law of destruction contained within these thunder dragons was the true lethal killing move.

Lin Fan brought out the Xuan Yuan Water Control Banner to protect his body, while at the same time using the Great Star Arts to draw upon the stars of the heavens. Hundreds of millions of Primordial Stars resonated and sent down starlight, transforming into an Immortal Slaying Sword Formation that spanned heaven and earth. Brilliant star radiance swept forth like sharp blades, forming a blood-colored purgatory centered on Ghost Sheep.

His demon body was cut open by starlight with countless cracks, and Ghost Sheep let out a shrill wail: "Lord Demon Sage, save me!" He tried to flee, only to discover he had long since fallen into the cage of the star formation, and could only send a divine thought to Guiche for help.

Monstrous flames of hatred ignited in Lin Fan's eyes, and the tragic state of the human tribes flashed through his mind. He drew upon the law of stars and condensed one hundred thousand sword rays; Ghost Sheep's screams instantly tore across the sky.

Flesh was carved away inch by inch.

Meridians, bones, and sinews all snapped into shattered pieces.

Ghost Sheep's face was twisted savagely, and he only begged for a swift death.

The demon masses peeping from afar felt chills through their entire bodies, as if standing at the edge of an abyss.

That greedy gaze had long since vanished, leaving only terror toward Lin Fan.

This small figure was actually more vicious and ferocious than the Demon Race.

There had been tens of thousands of demons, with Primordial Unity Golden Immortals among them, and even the weakest were Golden Immortals.

Yet before half a day had passed, they had been slaughtered to the last, not one left alive.

Such casualties had only appeared during the ancient decisive battle between the Witches and Demons.

Lin Fan suddenly sensed something, his cold eyes like lightning.

The swarms of demons trembled and tried to flee, but the World-Purifying Divine Light had already pierced through the air and arrived.

The demons were annihilated in an instant, without even time to wail.

Only a single breath remained in Ghost Sheep.

Lin Fan put away the White Lotus, opened his palm to reveal a Grotto-Heaven, and detained him back to the human race.

All around the tribe, a mournful wind whimpered, and heaven and earth grieved together.

A sobbing, plaintive yin wind swept across the blood-colored land.

"Greetings, Holy Venerable!"

The Innate Human led the crowd to kneel in welcome, tears scattering over the yellow sand.

Seeing the surviving clansmen among the corpses, Lin Fan felt as if his chest were blocked.

As the Primordial Creation Scripture circulated, ten-thousand-zhang rosy light shone everywhere.

Creation Spiritual Breath descended like sweet rain, sinking into the scorched earth.

Destruction and bloodshed all turned into spring mud.

The wounds of the kneeling crowd fully healed, and vitality surged within them.

Any drifting remnant soul that encountered this fortune, so long as a single breath of flesh and blood remained, could be gathered back together.

After being nourished by the Creation Spiritual Breath, those mutilated bodies quickly regrew flesh and blood, and the shattered souls were restored to their former state.

Thank you for your grace, Holy Venerable!

The Holy Venerable is benevolent!

Watching their loved ones miraculously revive, the crowd was caught between grief and joy. Some embraced and wept, while others lay on the ground, kowtowing without cease. Yet the greater number of those who had suffered Annihilation of Form and Spirit could never be brought back.

Thinking of their kin who had died such miserable deaths, many sank to their knees and buried their heads deep against their chests. Their whole bodies trembled, their tattered clothes soaked through with tears, yet they never uttered a word. Others beat their chests and stamped their feet, letting out heart-rending wails, as if driven mad.

Lin Fan gently raised his hand, and countless burial mounds rose from the earth. Before each grave stood a stone stele, its inscription glimmering faintly beneath the setting sun.

By now, the ghost goat was barely breathing, its scab-covered body twitching without stop. Lin Fan stomped it heavily underfoot and pressed its head down to kneel before the stone stele. The ghost goat's eyes were filled with shame, fury, and confusion, and it was in such agony that it wished it could die at once.

No matter how hard it tried, it could not understand it. This fellow who looked like a mere child was only at the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal realm, so why did he possess such terrifying strength? Its own dignified Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal fleshly body was actually as fragile as thin paper before him.

Evil creature, you dare!

A furious shout suddenly came from beyond the ninth heaven, and Guiche Demon Sage was seen tearing through the air to arrive. Seeing his beloved son covered in blood and kneeling before the graves, Guiche's eyes turned crimson. Most of those slaughtered earlier had been elite troops under his command, and now the heir he valued most had suffered such humiliation. Even if he recovered, his vitality would be greatly damaged.

In his towering rage, Guiche condensed a heaven-covering giant palm and pressed it down toward Lin Fan, the pressure of a quasi-sage making heaven and earth change color. Cold sweat seeped from Lin Fan's back, yet he did not retreat an inch—behind him were tens of millions of surviving humans. If he backed down, all living beings would suffer a calamity that blotted out the sky.

Inside Wa Huang Palace, Nuwa, who was cultivating, suddenly opened her eyes. Killing intent burst from her cold phoenix eyes, and with a sweep of her sleeves, she had already crossed the endless void.

Courting death!

With a light lift of her fair hand, vast holy might washed across the eight directions. Guiche was sent flying backward like a kite with its string cut, his Primordial Spirit nearly collapsing.

The peerless figure above the firmament left Guiche's courage and gall split apart. His knees went weak, and he prostrated himself on the ground in kowtow.

He had not even formed killing intent, yet he had startled Wa Huang's true body into descending. What connection did this young child have with Wa Huang, to be so favored by her?

Guiche, do you seek death?

A cold gleam flashed in Nuwa's eyes.

Empress, please see clearly, today was purely a misunderstanding...

Guiche explained in panic.

His heart felt as if a ten-thousand-jun boulder had dropped onto it.

Your crime cannot be pardoned.

Hunyuan Power swept past, and in an instant Guiche's form and spirit dispersed, not even half a wisp of remnant soul left behind.

Your Majesty Eastern Emperor, save me!

A shrill howl tore through the sky.

Nuwa teleported to Lin Fan's side and held him tightly in her arms. Only after carefully checking and confirming that he was unharmed did her hanging heart finally settle.

From now on, you are not to go out on your own.

She gazed at Lin Fan, her eyes full of pained tenderness.

I will respectfully obey Sister's teachings.

Lin Fan answered obediently.

Warmth surged through his heart. This sister truly had not doted on him for nothing.

Suddenly, an Auspicious Cloud descended to the ground. It was none other than Laozi, who had been searching for the Kongtong Seal. Looking at the Demon Race corpses piled like mountains throughout the human territory, he could not help but sigh softly:

Junior Sister, the Dao Ancestor once said that the calamity is fierce and dangerous. We should not interfere.

Now you have forcefully entangled yourself in karma. I fear it may invite misfortune.

Senior Brother worries too much. This Palace has her own plans.

Nuwa's tone was resolute.

Guiche had dared to harm her Lin Fan; he already deserved ten thousand deaths. As for karmic consequences and sin, when had she ever taken them to heart?

Laozi silently lowered his eyes, then suddenly turned his gaze to Lin Fan, his expression changing abruptly:

This young friend is...

My Younger Brother, Lin Fan.

Nuwa held his little hand and answered calmly.

Regret appeared on Laozi's face.

He saw that this child's entire body was naturally formed with Dao charm, profound and extraordinary.

As if he were an Incarnation of the Great Dao.

Though he had only the cultivation of a Primordial Unity Golden Immortal, he was unfathomably deep, and it was difficult to see through his foundation. Even Laozi, who had always been pure of heart and scant of desire, could not help but feel admiration arise.

Unexpectedly, he was actually Nuwa's Biological Brother. It was truly a pity.

As if understanding something, Laozi turned his head and asked Nuwa:

Junior Sister, did you sense the Kongtong Seal Appears here?

Nuwa looked slightly taken aback, then answered calmly:

"The Kongtong Seal? I have never heard of it."

Laozi's expression instantly showed disappointment.

Even with Nuwa's power as a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin, she had sensed nothing at all. Could it be that this treasure had truly vanished without a trace?

At that moment, a flash of inspiration lit Lin Fan's eyes:

"Was it a golden seal engraved with the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, seas, and sacred peaks?"

Laozi shuddered violently and seized Lin Fan's wrist in urgency:

"That is exactly it! Could it be in your possession?"

"How could it be with me?"

Lin Fan gestured vividly:

"When I passed by Shouyang Mountain just now, I suddenly saw the mountain split apart, golden light bursting forth, and a great seal leaping out with a thunderous boom. It was truly astonishing."

"What happened after that?" Laozi pressed impatiently.

Lin Fan recalled, "Two robed cultivators suddenly appeared, their facial expressions compassionate, yet with greed hidden beneath. The golden seal fell straight into their hands, and the two of them laughed wildly without end, saying that this object was destined for them. Their words were strange, and it was hard to tell what they truly meant."

With that, he pointed west. "Afterward, they fled in that direction."

"Destined for them?"

Laozi's expression changed abruptly, and he immediately thought of that pair of thick-skinned ** senior and junior brothers in the West. Those two had always been shameless; whenever they encountered an opportunity, they claimed it was destined for them. This time, they actually dared to lay hands on a supreme treasure of the Human Race...

The young Daoist's face turned cold at once. "The Kongtong Seal concerns this Humble Daoist's chance to prove the Dao, and you actually dared to make a ** snatch for it?"

Even though he had always practiced Purity and Non-Action, at this moment anger could not help but rise in his heart. Those two bastards, Jieyin and Zhunti!

He did not doubt Lin Fan's words. The two of them had never met, and besides, this child was only at the age of wearing his hair in tufts—what reason would he have to deceive him? Moreover, Lin Fan had never seen the Two Sages of the West at all, yet he had described them so vividly and lifelike. If he had not seen them with his own eyes, how could he have made them sound so real?

Unable to care about anything else, Laozi immediately mounted an Auspicious Cloud and headed straight for the West.

After the old man left, the child who looked as if he had been carved from powder and jade tugged at Nuwa's sleeve. "Sister, that white-bearded old grandpa was so strange."

Nuwa lightly tapped his forehead and scolded, "No nonsense. Senior Brother Laozi is the foremost of the Sanqing, and even the Dao Ancestor praised him for his profound fortune." Then she lowered her voice again. "Did that seal truly fall into Jieyin and the others' hands?"

The child suddenly widened his innocent eyes. "What seal?"

"Didn't you just describe it so vividly..."

"So Sister was asking about that~" Lin Fan smiled slyly, his eyelashes trembling. "I made it all up on the spot."

Nuwa was instantly stunned, both annoyed and amused, and pulled this naughty child into her arms to knead and squeeze him. That performance just now, so full of expression and color, had nearly made even her believe it. When had this little slippery fellow trained such ability? If Laozi found out **, he would probably be so furious he fell backward.

"So where exactly is the treasure?"

Like performing a magic trick, the child pulled something from his sleeve and waved it before Nuwa's eyes. "Right here!"

Smiling, Lin Fan took out a glittering golden seal and tossed it lightly in his hand a few times.

Sunlight shone on the seal, and within it, the flowing Golden Light of Merit could faintly be seen. Phantom images of Mountains, Rivers, Lakes, and Seas drifted across the face of the seal.

Nuwa focused and examined it closely, discovering that this seal was actually tightly connected to the Human Race's veins of destiny.

Thoughtfully, she looked towards Lin Fan:

"Why did you deceive Senior Brother Laozi just now?"

Lin Fan toyed with the Kongtong Seal and answered casually:

"If he used this to become a sage, I'm afraid we wouldn't have any good days ahead."

Nuwa's eyes widened slightly:

"How would you know that?"

She had indeed perceived that Laozi was seeking this seal for his chance to prove the Dao.

Lin Fan gently tossed the Kongtong Seal up and caught it again:

"This Human Race Destiny Treasure can help one establish a teaching and prove the Dao. Taiqing bears the Merit of World Creation; he is only missing a catalyst."

Seeing that Nuwa still looked puzzled, he could not help shaking his head:

"My silly Sister, do you know how much scheming can be hidden in the four words 'Purity and Non-Action'?"

Nuwa stared at her younger brother's composed expression and suddenly felt that she could no longer see through this younger brother who was always grinning cheekily.

When the sky-filling Demon Race slaughtered all living beings, he had clearly sensed it, yet because he feared becoming entangled in the tribulation, he had only watched from afar and refused to intervene.

Did she still remember? He had only just advised her not to become involved in the tribulation of heaven and earth, so as to avoid being stained by karma.

If he was already like this now, then what would he be like after proving the Dao?

In the end, what he sought was nothing more than the destiny of the Human Race. How could he care about whether the Human Race lived or died?

Nuwa's mind shook violently at these words.

She had never expected that Lin Fan could analyze Laozi's Dao so thoroughly.

Such insight was truly astonishing.

Thinking it over carefully, that was indeed the truth.

Laozi's Daoist arts were said to be natural and inactive, yet in truth, there was nothing they would not do.

Never mind the Human Race—in his eyes, all living things in the world were nothing but ants.

Nuwa gazed at Lin Fan and asked, "Then, in your view, little brother, what should Sister do?"

Seeing that Nuwa had finally understood, Lin Fan smiled in relief and presented the Kongtong Seal.

"Sister, if you holds this seal and founds the Human Teachings, you will be able to preside over the Human Race Destiny."

Nuwa immediately understood.

He wanted her to cut off Laozi's opportunity.