Playing the Lute to a Cow

Lin Fan stood in the void like a sovereign, looking down upon the world. His silhouette was unfathomable, his black hair danced lightly, every strand crystalline, and he carried a bearing far beyond his years.

Whoosh!

The next moment, he took another step. Everything around him seemed to shift like revolving stars, mountains and rivers transforming as he returned to his original position.

"As expected of the Human Race Supreme Speed Divine Ability. Only a handful in our sect are qualified to cultivate it, yet the young master has already reached the point of crossing four or five hundred zhang in a single step. Truly astonishing." Elder Yu was awed.

"What's most terrifying is the young master's talent. Without using a Precious Art, he killed an entire group of Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators with his physical body alone. Even those from the Western Sect couldn't compare... terrifying indeed!"

Granny Xihua marveled. Now she understood why Lin Fan paid Shi Yi no mind. He truly had no need to-his own strength was enough to look down upon all other prodigies!

"More rats?" Lin Fan suddenly glanced toward a distant corner, but paid it little attention. He soon withdrew his gaze, showing no intention of attacking again.

"What astonishing instincts..." Shi Ziteng's heart trembled, his eyebrows twitching wildly.

At the same time, he let out a soft breath, relieved that he had not acted like those stupid pigs, unable to restrain themselves from attacking, and had only watched from afar.

"I thought Shi Yi's talent was monstrous enough. To think there's an even greater monster in this world!"

"Princess, those two children only arrived in the imperial capital today. They probably aren't from the Desolate Region, but from an immortal great sect beyond it," the bronze-skinned middle-aged man whispered.

"Isn't that even better? Strong enough talent and powerful enough backing. If I can befriend them and gain their help, my chances will be even greater!" The Stone Kingdom's Ninth Princess smiled, rose, and walked outside with graceful steps.

Meanwhile, Lin Fan stretched and waved at the dumbfounded Yue Chan, grinning. "Wifey, have you been bewitched by your husband's heroic bearing?"

At those words, Yue Chan rolled her eyes in exasperation. He truly could not stay serious for even three seconds before turning back into a scoundrel.

Still, she had to marvel at his strength. She lagged far behind him, having only reached eight Heavenly Passages so far. It would take her at least another seven or eight months to reach the Heavenly Passage Extreme Realm and advance to the Spirit Transformation Realm.

"Where are we going now?" Yue Chan asked. Dressed in spotless white and wearing a veil, she possessed a hazy, elusive beauty.

"To temper ourselves, of course." As Lin Fan spoke, two somewhat familiar figures approached them along the broad street.

The Stone Kingdom's Ninth Princess wore red, resembling a blazing flame that stood out brilliantly on the street.

Especially striking were her long, luminous white legs, smooth and glowing, flawless and pristine. They appeared and disappeared beneath her skirt, stirring the heart.

"Little brother, little sister, we meet again." The Ninth Princess smiled sweetly, her voice gentle. None of her overbearing manner from the auction remained; now she seemed more like a friendly older girl from next door.

"Huh, little chili pepper, did you change your nature? That... affected voice really throws me off," Lin Fan teased. He had known all along that someone was watching them from a tall building.

"You..." At his words, dark lines seemed to gather across the Ninth Princess's luminous forehead.

If she had not been trying to keep the other princes from noticing her too soon, she would not have wanted to act this way either, pretending to be a spoiled, willful princess every day.

But she soon calmed herself. A gentle smile remained on her pretty face as she said, "What happened earlier was a misunderstanding. I offer my apologies. Might I have the honor of inviting you both for a drink?"

Yet Lin Fan refused without a second thought. "No time. I still prefer you arrogant and unruly. You're more entertaining that way."

The Ninth Princess ground her teeth. Flames almost seemed to shoot from her pert nostrils, and veins nearly bulged across her smooth forehead. This little brat's words were utterly infuriating.

"Pfft!"

Beside him, Yue Chan covered her mouth and snickered. Sure enough, she was not the only one who found him infuriating. He treated everyone this way.

Don't get angry. Don't get angry! The Ninth Princess lightly patted her modest chest, forcing herself to stay calm. After all, she had offended him first.

"Little brother, I sincerely want to invite you for a drink and apologize. I can also compensate you for your losses at the auction house."

"I've received your apology. Forget the drink. I have things to do. Goodbye!" With that, Lin Fan turned and pulled Yue Chan away without lingering.

He could not be bothered to get entangled with someone he would have little to do with in the future. Besides, this Ninth Princess of the Stone Kingdom was clearly a schemer, and he had no desire to deal with her.

Watching Lin Fan walk away, the Ninth Princess stamped her foot in anger. No one had ever rejected her so bluntly before. It was maddening.

Sometimes, after playing a willful princess for too long, she naturally slipped into the role. Some of her habits inevitably changed, and she became easily angered.

Seeing his princess rebuffed, the bronze-skinned middle-aged man said, "Princess, shall I go and..."

Suddenly, a powerful pressure descended. His heart pounded violently, and he felt as though he had fallen into a frozen hell. He immediately shut his mouth, not daring to say another word.

The Ninth Princess naturally noticed her attendant's strange behavior and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

Before long, the pressure vanished. The man exhaled heavily, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and answered, "Just now, I felt a powerful pressure, like what I feel in His Majesty's presence."

The Ninth Princess was startled. "You mean..."

"Those two children have a powerful expert protecting them. That was a warning not to harbor any designs on them," the bronze-skinned middle-aged man said with profound apprehension.

In that fleeting instant, he had felt as though he had wandered along the boundary between life and death. It was terrifying. Even with his Inscription Realm strength, he had felt utterly powerless.

Outside the Stone Kingdom's Imperial City.

"Young master, that girl clearly harbors ulterior motives. Shall I teach her a lesson? Even with the Stone Kingdom's Human Emperor in the capital, I'm confident I can capture her and bring her here." A vicious glint flashed in Granny Xihua's eyes.

"No need. She's merely a princess of the Lower Realm. I don't consider her worth worrying about." Lin Fan shook his head and stopped her. He was not so petty.

Besides, he would encounter plenty of such incidents in the future. He could not beat up everyone he met, could he? Even if it did not exhaust him to death, the annoyance would kill him!

Granny Xihua sighed. "Young master, you're simply too kind."

Beside them, Yue Chan was speechless. Granny was truly telling barefaced lies just to flatter him.

This fellow had nothing whatsoever to do with kindness. Had she not seen him tearing his enemies apart with his bare hands earlier? He was more savage than anyone.

Lin Fan showed neither pleasure nor displeasure at her flattery. "All right. Next, Granny and Elder Yu can wander around the Desolate Region on your own. You don't need to follow the holy maiden and me while we temper ourselves."

At that, Granny Xihua and Elder Yu were both startled and urged, "Young master, you mustn't! If anything happened to you, we couldn't bear the responsibility..."

"What could happen? Forget a Venerable-even if a Divine Fire Realm cultivator comes, I can blast them to death with a Forbidden Artifact." Lin Fan waved a hand.

Finally, utterly fed up, he threatened to kill them outright with a Forbidden Artifact if they kept following him. He was ferociously adamant, and even said he would make life difficult for them afterward.

The two froze, unsure whether to laugh or cry, and could only leave helplessly.

Crack!

The sound of shattering space rang out. Lin Fan activated a spatial Magical Artifact, traversing the void and taking Yue Chan straight to the Stone Kingdom's Western Frontier.

He did not want too many people learning about the Supreme Hall's legacy.

After the two left, Granny Xihua complained, "Old Yu, why didn't you help persuade him? You just let the young master and holy maiden leave like that. What if something happens?"

Elder Yu sighed. Xihua truly had a one-track mind and could not grasp the deeper meaning. He explained, "The young master clearly has matters he doesn't want us knowing about, so he only took the holy maiden. Besides, this gives the two of them time alone to develop their feelings. What would it look like if we trailed behind them?"

"What's wrong with that? We can simply pretend we can't see or hear anything, can't we?" Granny Xihua retorted.

Elder Yu said no more. There was nothing to discuss with an old virgin like her. Explaining was a waste of time-playing the lute to a cow.