Night Ambush

Lin Fan advanced his Sword Control Technique to the Novice stage, giving him a certain boost in combat power.

He didn't stop there. Out of caution, he spent another forty years of his lifespan to advance the Blood Gathering Art from Minor Accomplishment to Great Accomplishment.

The effects of the Blood Gathering Art became even more astonishing, several times stronger than before.

Lin Fan noticed that his aura seemed to have completely blended into his surroundings, with very little fluctuation emanating from him.

"This cultivation method for concealing one's aura seems even more incredible than I imagined."

Lin Fan's eyes lit up.

Previously, in Demon Calling Valley, Lin Fan had used the Blood Gathering Art to conceal his presence and observe various demonic beasts from a short distance.

Now, he could clearly feel that with the current capabilities of the Blood Gathering Art, even if a highly perceptive demonic beast were right beside him, it would be difficult for it to detect his aura.

"Why is the blood mist from the bottom of the cliff rising up?"

"It's daytime!"

Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted from downstairs.

Lin Fan followed the sound to the first floor of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion.

The Menial Disciples, who had been engrossed in copying texts, were now looking out the window in panic. They saw a thick blood mist drifting up from the direction of the cliff bottom, carried by the whistling cold wind.

"It's blood mist," Lin Fan murmured.

Under normal circumstances, the blood mist would remain gathered at the bottom of the cliff and only rise up Blackwood Cliff at night, once every few days.

But today was unusually strange; it had appeared in broad daylight.

In the past, when Lin Fan was a Menial Disciple in the Hidden Scripture Pavilion, he had once ventured into the blood mist and discovered the existence of Bloodthirsty Demonic Worms.

Could it be that besides the Bloodthirsty Demonic Worms, there was something even more terrifying within the blood mist?

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

"What are you all standing around for? Get back to your seats and copy the books!"

A sharp reprimand cut through the air.

Zhao Wang, his face stern, berated the Menial Disciples.

Seeing him, the Menial Disciples scattered like startled birds, immediately returning to their seats to resume their copying work.

Lin Fan looked at Zhao Wang and said, "Senior Brother."

"Don't worry. It's daytime, the blood mist can't possibly rise up."

"But tonight might be troublesome. I expect many Menial Disciples will die again. Those beasts at the bottom of the cliff are getting bolder."

Zhao Wang looked out at the drifting blood mist, his expression grave.

"Senior Brother, what exactly is down at the bottom of the cliff?" Lin Fan asked curiously.

He had tried to probe Zhao Wang about it before, but the latter had been tight-lipped, only saying that it was very dangerous below Blackwood Cliff. However, he had refused to elaborate on the specifics of the danger.

"Do you really want to know?"

Zhao Wang looked at Lin Fan.

Lin Fan nodded slightly, quite curious about what lay beneath Blackwood Cliff.

"Do you know about Demon Cultivators?"

"Demon Cultivators? Are they demonic beasts?"

Zhao Wang shook his head and said slowly, "Demonic beasts are one thing, but Demon Cultivators are far more terrifying."

"Anything in heaven and earth can become a demon. Some plants and creatures, if they survive long enough, can absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to become spirits or demons."

"The bottom of Blackwood Cliff connects to a Demon Vein Desolate Land, where some troublesome Demon Cultivators have emerged. They can not only absorb human essence and blood but also seize the bodies of cultivators. They are extremely dangerous."

"Senior Brother, so you're saying the blood mist is caused by the Demon Cultivators from the bottom of the cliff?" Lin Fan asked, taken aback.

"More or less."

Zhao Wang nodded and continued, "It's very dangerous down there. I heard the sect even sent people to encircle and suppress the beasts before, but they all failed without exception."

Lin Fan's expression shifted. To be able to trouble the Blood Demon Sect to such an extent, one could imagine how formidable the Demon Cultivators at the bottom of the cliff were.

"But don't worry. Those beasts at the bottom of the cliff can only move at night, and there's a formation set up below Blackwood Cliff. The major ones can't get out."

Zhao Wang gestured for Lin Fan not to worry.

The existence of Demon Cultivators actually benefited Blackwood Cliff to some extent, reducing the labor costs for guarding the Menial Disciples.

"I didn't want to tell you this before because I was afraid it would scare you."

"Senior Brother worries too much. Now that I understand the situation at the bottom of the cliff, I feel much more at ease."

"When I was a Menial Disciple here before, I was almost on edge every single day."

Lin Fan said with a smile.

He looked at the blood mist drifting at the bottom of the cliff, thinking to himself, "With the help of the Blood Gathering Art, if I sneak into the bottom of the cliff, I might be able to hide from the senses of those demon cultivators."

Of course, Lin Fan was just thinking about it. The bottom of the cliff was still too dangerous. Even if he could conceal his aura, there would be huge risks.

Why would he go down there for no reason? It was a waste of time.

But if he encountered a danger he couldn't resist, he could conceal his aura and hide at the bottom of the cliff.

This was a good way to avoid danger.

In the blink of an eye, another half a month passed.

That night, it snowed heavily.

In the cave dwelling, Lin Fan had Zhou Wanqing in his left arm and Wang Yuyao in his right. The three of them were covered by a single quilt, their six legs intertwined, all sleeping soundly.

Suddenly, the entire cave dwelling shook violently.

Lin Fan felt his whole body sway, and the two women beside him were startled awake.

Boom!

Another violent tremor.

The entire cave dwelling shook continuously. Fortunately, the walls were sturdy, otherwise, it would have collapsed into ruins long ago.

"Brother Lin, what's happening?"

"Lin Lang, I'm scared..."

Both women clutched Lin Fan's arm tightly, as if he were a life-saving straw.

Lin Fan was also confused. He quickly got dressed and ran outside.

The stone door opened, and Lin Fan looked in the direction of the tremors.

The next second, Lin Fan froze in place.

In the distance, the black sky was torn apart, and streaks of terrifying sword energy crisscrossed, as if to cleave the heavens and earth apart. Terrible sounds like thunder continued to erupt.

Lin Fan's eyesight was astonishing. Even through the night, he could see a lot. This was not a terrifying celestial phenomenon, but a battle between many cultivators.

On several main peaks, powerful experts were fighting, their energy fluctuations spreading out like vast ocean waves in all directions.

"What... what happened!"

Lin Fan was somewhat bewildered. Had someone attacked the Blood Demon Sect!

This was the Blood Demon Sect! A renowned great sect of the demonic path!

"Sword energy, and flying swords... the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect is attacking!"

Soon, Lin Fan reacted.

He turned and rushed back into the cave dwelling.

The two women looked out of the cave dwelling anxiously, wrapped in their quilts. Lin Fan rushed back immediately, threw the hanging clothes to them, and said, "Hurry and put them on."

"Brother Lin..."

"Put them on first."

The two women exchanged glances and quickly put on their clothes.

At this moment, Lin Fan's thoughts raced. "There's a chaotic battle outside. You two stay in the cave dwelling for now."

"If someone knocks on the door, and it's someone from the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, cry and say you are cauldrons and ask them to take you away from the Demonic Sect."

"If it's someone from the Demonic Sect, tell them I've gone out to fight and that you are hiding in the cave dwelling."

Lin Fan spoke quickly.

The two women were not foolish and quickly understood what was happening.

After instructing them, Lin Fan grabbed the Azure Gavel Sword and hurried out of the cave dwelling.

"Brother Lin..."

"Lin Lang..."

The two women called out simultaneously.

Lin Fan paused.

Zhou Wanqing said, "Come back alive."

Wang Yuyao's pretty face was complex, and she also said softly, "Don't die."

Lin Fan didn't reply, just nodded. Then, with elegant steps, he rushed into the night.

He activated the Blood Gathering Art to conceal his fluctuations.

Lin Fan didn't run around randomly. Instead, he immediately headed for the Hidden Scripture Pavilion. With the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect attacking the Blood Demon Sect, every place was filled with danger. However, there was a relatively safe place: the Demon Vein Desolate Land below the cliff of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion.

He moved very fast, almost instantly covering a long distance.

But even so, he was intercepted.

Two flying swords descended from the sky, cutting off Lin Fan's path.

A man in white emerged from the darkness first, smiling, "Interesting. Your aura is contained. If we hadn't been waiting here, we wouldn't have been able to find this little brat from the Demonic Sect."

A woman emerged from the snow, snorting, "Senior brother, this person is a bit strange. Let's kill him together."

Lin Fan's scalp tingled as he felt the killing intent wash over him.