Look Twice

"Agreed to the advance payment."

Lin Fan said without hesitation.

Soon, a portion of the insights from the "Advanced Demonic Arts" surged into his mind out of thin air.

A scene reappeared, showing a young man with a similar appearance to Lin Fan practicing sword techniques.

However, it was completely different from last time. His swordplay was extremely slow, and his seemingly simple and ordinary moves seemed to contain some kind of intangible momentum.

As he thrust his sword out, the sword's energy was like a viper's tongue, and a powerful, astonishing aura enveloped the entire area.

"This is... Sword Intent!"

"Resonating with the surrounding environment using Sword Intent to speed up the refinement and absorption of spiritual energy from heaven and earth!"

Lin Fan understood.

He confirmed that no one was around and immediately took out the Azure Gavel Sword, practicing according to the movements of the young man in the scene.

Lin Fan's sword followed his will. Although his moves were slow, they seemed to blend with heaven and earth unconsciously.

A casual sword strike out seemed to carry the momentum of rivers.

At this moment, the spiritual energy from heaven and earth around him surged toward Lin Fan at an astonishing speed.

He seemed to have transformed into a furnace, continuously refining and absorbing spiritual energy.

Lin Fan originally had only one strand of internal breath. Now, with the influx of energy, the second strand of internal breath quickly condensed, followed by the third.

With three strands of internal breath formed and coiled in Lin Fan's dantian, his entire body felt filled with power.

Lin Fan quickly summoned his panel to check the changes in himself.

[Name: Lin Fan]
[Lifespan: 1365]
[Talent: Pre-emptive Dao Fruit]
[Realm: Meridian Condensing Realm (Second Grade)]
[Cultivation Method: Advanced Demonic Arts (Novice), Blood Gathering Art (Proficient), Talisman Secret Tome (Proficient)]

"After stagnating for so long, I can finally improve my cultivation again."

Lin Fan's expression relaxed slightly.

The improvement in his strength made him feel incredibly secure.

This was the brutal Blood Demon Sect, where even formal disciples could perish at any moment if they made the slightest mistake.

In such a harsh environment, one's own strength was the greatest source of confidence.

"Zhao Wang mentioned before that the 'Intermediate Demonic Arts' was a condensed version of the 'Advanced Demonic Arts.' It seems that's mostly the case now."

"As expected of a demonic sect. They go to great lengths to restrict their disciples by tampering with their cultivation methods."

Lin Fan's expression shifted slightly as he muttered to himself.

By pre-emptively obtaining the Novice level of the "Advanced Demonic Arts," Lin Fan's cultivation had improved to a certain extent.

However, he did not stop there. Out of caution, he consumed another thirty years of his lifespan to advance the "Blood Gathering Art" from Proficient to Minor Accomplishment.

The higher Lin Fan's cultivation became, the greater the risk of exposure.

After completing all this, Lin Fan no longer lingered. He went to the restaurant, picked up the prepared meals, and brought them back to the mountain.

"It smells so good."

Zhou Wanqing blinked her beautiful eyes, staring intently at the food being heated on the stove, occasionally swallowing her saliva.

She was both happy and hungry. After being abducted to the demonic sect for so long, she could finally eat a hot meal today.

Grain Abstinence Pills could stave off hunger, but they were tasteless.

Wang Yuyao was also in a great mood. Being able to taste the flavors of the mortal world here was a rare and precious thing.

Seeing that the heat was almost right, Lin Fan reached out to lift the pot lid.

The two women were not idle; they helped to bring the dishes out, and soon the stone table was laden with delicacies.

"Brother Lin, you try first."

Zhou Wanqing was very considerate. She picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks and intimately offered it to Lin Fan's mouth.

Seeing her happy expression, Lin Fan found it difficult to refuse her kindness and instinctively opened his mouth to eat.

But in the next second, Zhou Wanqing's grip faltered, and a fatty piece of pork belly fell onto the table.

"It's been too long since I used chopsticks, I'm a bit out of practice."

"I'll get you another piece."

Zhou Wanqing exclaimed "Oh no!" apologetically.

But Lin Fan suddenly raised his hand to stop her.

Zhou Wanqing was bewildered, and Wang Yuyao beside her also wore a look of confusion.

Lin Fan stared at the fatty meat that had fallen onto the table, his expression growing serious. He spoke, "Stop eating. This dish is poisoned."

The two women followed Lin Fan's gaze and saw that the table where the fatty meat had landed was being visibly corroded.

If Lin Fan had swallowed it just now, even a cultivator would have had a large hole corroded in them!

What terrifying poison.

"This..."

Zhou Wanqing was stunned.

"There's poison..."

Wang Yuyao was lost and helpless.

Lin Fan sighed and said, "It should be remnants from the Prince's Mansion..."

As he spoke, Lin Fan got up and walked out.

He picked up the poisoned food and went directly to find Zhao Wang. This matter had to be resolved promptly, otherwise, who knew what trouble would arise next time.

That night.

Zhao Wang, bringing Lin Fan, Feng Ling, Wang Biao, and others, rushed to the marketplace at the foot of the mountain.

The marketplace was already in chaos, with several people already poisoned to death.

Zhao Wang waved his hand, ordering the Blackwood Cliff disciples to surround the entire restaurant, and then they stormed in to capture the culprits.

After a fierce battle, two of the three cooks died, and the remaining one was captured by Zhao Wang in time.

With a face full of stubble, he declared passionately, "I, Cui Wuyuan, have not betrayed Prince Guangling's kindness. You scions of the demonic path are destined for a terrible end."

After speaking, he let out a hearty laugh. Before Zhao Wang could react, he suddenly bled from all seven orifices and died.

Zhao Wang frowned but had no intention of stopping. He ordered his men to continue the search, even apprehending the restaurant's manager and all the waiters.

Without any wasted words, he directly used the Soul Searching Technique.

Not long after, the restaurant manager and the waiters became imbeciles. Not much valuable information could be extracted from them.

"These remnants of the princes dare to cause trouble in my Blood Demon Sect. They are truly seeking their own destruction."

Zhao Wang snorted coldly and directly ordered the entire restaurant to be razed.

Over a dozen lives, including a magnificent restaurant, vanished into thin air overnight.

Witnessing this scene, Lin Fan couldn't help but shiver.

His original intention was for Zhao Wang to find the remnants of the Prince's Mansion, but he hadn't expected the latter to slaughter over a dozen lives so indiscriminately.

At this moment, Wang Biao suddenly stepped forward and asked Zhao Wang, "Senior Brother Zhao, these remnants of the princes are seeking revenge for those princes. What happened to those princes?"

"Their whereabouts are unknown. The New Emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty is hunting them, but there are also rumors that they have all fled to the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect."

Zhao Wang said indifferently.

Wang Biao nodded, then smiled obsequiously, "Senior Brother Zhao, the cauldron the sect arranged for me last time is barely breathing. Can you arrange another one for me?"

"It can be male or female."

"Once you've handled the Spirit Beast Garden matter, I can apply to the sect for you," Zhao Wang said after some thought.

Then, he looked at Lin Fan and proactively asked, "Junior Brother Lin, do you want one? If you do, I can arrange one or two good-looking descendants of the princes, even more tender than your previous one."

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother, but I don't need one for now," Lin Fan shook his head.

Wang Biao glanced at Lin Fan and chuckled, "Junior Brother Lin was famous for being a tender-hearted protector of women even when he was a handyman."

Lin Fan didn't take the bait. He maintained a certain distance from people like Wang Biao who were desperately trying to climb the ladder.

Hearing Lin Fan refuse Zhao Wang's offer, Feng Ling, on the other hand, looked at Lin Fan a couple of times.