Two little ones, around three years old, toddled across the padded floor under a maid's watchful eye, their short legs wobbling as they occasionally let out sweet, clear burbles of laughter.
When they saw Lin Fan enter, their glossy dark eyes lit up, and they reached their chubby little hands toward him.
Lin Fan bent down and carefully held out his hands, letting their tiny palms clasp his large ones.
Lin Fan did not tell his family that the masked Astral Force Expert who had saved the entire Azure Elixir Sect at the mountain gate moments earlier had been him.
As long as the family who loved him, and whom he loved, remained safe and sound, he could devote himself to cultivation with peace of mind.
At the Azure Elixir Sect's front mountain gate.
Even now, the scene remained grim and ravaged.
Smoke and dust covered the ground, and shocking bloodstains soaked the bluestone steps-some from the Azure Elixir Sect, others from Blackstone Valley.
The thousand-odd unconscious Blackstone Valley disciples, all securely bound, gradually began to stir. As soon as they opened their eyes, they saw Azure Elixir Sect disciples staring at them with hatred written across their faces.
Then they remembered that all four of their late transforming force realm experts had fallen. The remaining Blackstone Valley disciples instantly turned ashen, their bodies going cold. Not a trace remained of the swaggering arrogance they had shown while plundering earlier.
They slumped to the ground, trembling, and obediently bowed their heads as the Azure Elixir Sect disciples forced them to their knees.
Although the Azure Elixir Ancestor's injuries had been temporarily stabilized after the fierce battle, his face remained deathly pale, without a hint of color.
But this was not yet the time to retire and rest. Forcing his battered