Look Twice

"Agreed to pre-empt it."

Lin Fan said without hesitation.

Very soon, part of the insights into the "Advanced Demonic Arts" surged into his mind out of nowhere.

A scene appeared once more. A young man whose appearance resembled Lin Fan's was holding a sword and continuing to practice sword techniques.

But unlike last time, his swordsmanship was extremely slow. The seemingly simple and ordinary movements seemed to contain some invisible force.

When he thrust out his sword, the sword force was like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, and an astonishingly imposing aura enveloped the entire area.

"This is... Sword Intent!"

"Resonating with the surrounding environment through Sword Intent, accelerating the refinement and absorption of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy!"

Lin Fan came to a realization.

After confirming that no one was nearby, he immediately took out the Azure Gavel Sword and began practicing according to the movements of the youth in the scene.

Lin Fan's sword moved as his heart willed. Although the movements appeared slow, they seemed to merge with Heaven and Earth in an invisible way.

With a casual upward sweep, it seemed to carry the force of rivers and streams.

At that very moment, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy all around began surging toward Lin Fan at an astonishing speed.

He seemed to have transformed into a furnace, endlessly refining and absorbing the Spiritual Energy.

Lin Fan had originally possessed only one strand of Internal Breath. Now, as energy poured in, a second strand of Internal Breath quickly condensed, followed by a third.

The three strands of Internal Breath took shape and coiled within Lin Fan's dantian, making his entire body seem filled with power.

Lin Fan quickly summoned the panel and inspected the changes within himself.

Name: Lin Fan

Lifespan: 1365

Talent: Pre-emptive Dao Fruit

Realm: Meridian Condensing Realm (Second Grade)

Cultivation Methods: Advanced Demonic Arts (Beginner), Blood Gathering Art (Proficient), Talisman Secret Tome (Proficient)

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

Lin Fan's expression relaxed slightly.

The increase in his strength made him feel incomparably secure.

This was the cruel Blood Demon Sect. Even Formal Disciples could lose their lives 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 previously mentioned that the 'Intermediate Demonic Arts' was a cut-down version of the 'Advanced Demonic Arts.' From the looks of it now, that's probably true."

"As expected of a Devil Dao Sect. To restrict their disciples, they tampered with the cultivation methods in all sorts of ways."

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

By pre-empting the "Advanced Demonic Arts" to the beginner stage, Lin Fan had gained a certain increase in cultivation.

But he did not stop pre-empting it. For the sake of caution, he consumed another thirty years of lifespan and pre-empted the "Blood Gathering Art" from the proficient stage to the minor accomplishment stage.

The higher Lin Fan's cultivation, the easier it was to increase the risk of exposure.

After finishing all this, Lin Fan did not linger. He went to the restaurant, picked up the prepared dishes, and brought them back up the mountain.

"What a wonderful smell."

Zhou Wanqing blinked her beautiful eyes and stared fixedly at the food heating over the brazier, swallowing from time to time.

She was both happy and ravenous. After being abducted to the Devil Dao Sect for so long, she could finally eat a hot meal today.

The Grain Abstinence Pill could stave off hunger, but it was tasteless.

Wang Yuyao was also in an excellent mood. Being able to taste the flavors of the mortal world here was an extremely rare thing.

Seeing that the food was heated sufficiently, Lin Fan reached out to lift the pot lid.

The two women did not remain idle. They helped carry out the dishes, and soon the stone table was covered with delicacies from land and sea.

"Brother Lin, you should try it first."

Zhou Wanqing was very considerate. She picked up a piece of meat and affectionately brought it to Lin Fan's mouth.

Seeing how happy she looked, Lin Fan could not bear to reject her kindness and instinctively opened his mouth to eat.

But in the next second, Zhou Wanqing failed to hold the chopsticks steady, and the greasy slice of pork belly fell onto the table.

"I haven't used chopsticks in too long. I'm a little rusty."

"I'll pick up another piece for you."

Zhou Wanqing let out an "Aiya" and said apologetically.

But Lin Fan suddenly raised his hand and stopped her.

Zhou Wanqing looked confused, while Wang Yuyao beside her was also full of puzzlement.

Lin Fan stared at the fatty meat that had fallen onto the table. His expression turned grave as he said, "Don't eat anymore. There's poison in the food."

The two women followed Lin Fan's gaze and saw that the tabletop beneath the fatty meat was visibly corroding, leaving a hole.

If Lin Fan had swallowed it just now, even a cultivator would have been corroded straight through by now!

What terrifying poison.

"This..."

Zhou Wanqing froze.

"There's actually poison..."

Wang Yuyao was at a loss.

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

As he spoke, Lin Fan rose and walked outside.

He picked up the poisoned food and went straight to find Zhao Wang. This matter had to be dealt with immediately; otherwise, there was no telling what might happen next time.

That night.

Zhao Wang brought Lin Fan, Feng Ling, Wang Biao, and the others and hurried to the Market Below the Mountain at the first opportunity.

The marketplace was already in complete chaos, and several people had been poisoned to death.

Zhao Wang waved his hand and ordered the Blackwood Cliff disciples to surround the entire restaurant before barging in to arrest the culprits.

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

His face was covered in stubble. He declared with righteous passion, "I, Cui Wuyuan, have not failed Prince Guangling's kindness. You Devil Dao wretches are destined to die horrible deaths."

With that, he threw his head back and laughed. Before Zhao Wang could react, he suddenly bled from all seven orifices and died.

Zhao Wang furrowed his brow but had no intention of stopping. Instead, he ordered his men to continue the search, even capturing the restaurant manager and all the workers.

Without wasting a word, he directly cast the Soul Searching Technique.

Before long, the restaurant manager and workers had all become idiots, and no valuable information could be extracted from them.

"These remnants of the Feudal Princes dared to run to my Blood Demon Sect and act recklessly. They truly brought about their own destruction."

Zhao Wang snorted coldly and directly ordered his men to destroy the entire restaurant.

More than a dozen lives, along with an imposing restaurant, vanished into nothing overnight.

Watching this scene, Lin Fan could not help shivering.

His original intention had been for Zhao Wang to root out the remnants of the Feudal Prince's Mansion, but he had not expected Zhao Wang to wantonly slaughter more than a dozen people.

At that moment, Wang Biao suddenly stepped forward and asked Zhao Wang, "Senior Brother Zhao, these remnants of the Feudal Princes are all taking revenge for those Feudal Princes. What happened to those few Feudal Princes?"

"None know whether they live or die. They're being hunted by the New Emperor of Great Jin, though there are also reports that they all fled to the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect."

Zhao Wang answered indifferently.

Wang Biao nodded, then put on a fawning smile and said, "Senior Brother Zhao, the furnace slave the sect arranged for me last time has only one breath left. Could you arrange another one for me?"

"Male or female, either is fine."

"Once you've dealt with the matter at the Spirit Beast Garden, I can help you apply to the sect." Zhao Wang thought for a moment before answering.

Then he looked at Lin Fan and took the initiative to ask, "Junior Brother Lin, do you want one too? If you do, I can arrange one or two descendants of the Feudal Princes with decent looks. They'll be even more delicate-skinned and tender than the one you had before."

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

Wang Biao cast a glance at Lin Fan and chuckled. "Junior Brother Lin was already famous for cherishing beautiful women back when he was a menial servant."

Lin Fan did not take up his words. Toward someone like Wang Biao, who desperately clawed his way upward, he also maintained a certain distance.

Hearing Lin Fan reject Zhao Wang's offer, Feng Ling instead took two extra looks at Lin Fan.