Jin Xuan's brow twitched slightly.
Qing Sha, standing beside him, suddenly chuckled, " The Lin Clan? Could it be the son of Lin Dong Unfettered Sword Emperor of the Imperial Lin Clan?"
What a coincidence!
He slung the halberd over his shoulder, revealing a meaningful smile, "His father caused such a huge mess at the Emperor Pass back then, but now his son is making a name for himself in the Three Thousand Provinces. It's just the right time for the son to pay for the father's sins?"
Jin Xuan did not laugh.
He was silent for a moment, then spoke, his tone calm, as if stating a major event that had already occurred. "Very well, we at Emperor Pass haven't settled the debt with the Unfettered Sword Emperor of Freedom yet. Now that his son has taken what that lord wanted, that's perfect, let's settle it all at once."
"Wait for him to come."
He paused, then looked deeper into the forty-fourth level. "If he comes, we'll teach him a lesson on behalf of his father, showing him what it means to be wary of the Emperor Pass."
"What do you mean by 'there are always people better than you'?"
Soon, news of the forty-fourth level spread like wildfire at the level's entrance.
"People from the Emperor Pass are here to ambush the Lin Clan son?"
"It's not about blocking him, it's about waiting for him to come, and then taking back the Purifying Lotus Immortal Flame."
"And what's with this talk about sons paying for their fathers' debts... What exactly did his father, Lin Dong, do back in the Emperor Pass?"
"I don't know, but it sounds pretty serious."
"Will Lin Fan still dare to come?"
"If he doesn't dare to come, is he still Lin Fan?"
Discussions rose and fell.
But everyone knows that if Lin Fan really comes, the forty-fourth level will likely be a bloodbath.
Meanwhile, level 42
Lin Fan was unaware that the people from the Emperor Pass were already waiting for him at the forty-fourth pass.
He is on his way to level 42.
This is an area even more eerie than the Demon God Secret Realm.
The sky was dark purple, without the sun, only a thick layer of black clouds pressing down on the top, with occasional flashes of dark red lightning from the depths of the clouds illuminating the distorted landscape below.
The earth was charred black...
As if it had been burned countless times by a great fire, thick black mist gushed from the cracks, viscous and heavy, carrying an ancient, decaying, and unsettling aura.
"This place is a battlefield left over from the great war of the Immortal Ancient Era."
Ji Kun stood behind Lin Fan and explained in a low voice, "The descendants of the dark creatures and the natives of the Immortal Ancient Era were deliberately left here by the powerful figures of the Three Thousand Provinces as a training ground."
"Why?" Gu Chen frowned.
"So that future generations of the Three Thousand Provinces will remember just how brutal that battle was."
Ji Kun's voice deepened. "It is said that at the end of the Immortal Ancient Era, countless dark creatures poured out from the cracks and devoured half of the Immortal Realm."
"Although the Three Thousand Provinces were separated, the shadow of that war has always remained."
"These dark creatures were left behind so that future generations of the Three Thousand Provinces would forever remember that only by becoming stronger and fighting their way out can they survive."
Gu Chen was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Indeed, it should be remembered."
Lin Fan remained silent.
He simply stared at the dense darkness ahead, his gaze calm.
Dark Matter?
He knew it all too well.
He had once devoured the remains of Chaos Demon God Demon God Secret Realm, shattered the Gate of Darkness of the Dark Clan, and harvested the Son of Fortune of the An Yuan like leeks several times over. These Dark Matter meant nothing to him...
Let's go.
He stepped into the dark area.
Gu Chen and Tian Ye followed closely behind, and Ji Kun swallowed hard and followed along as well.
Dark Matter surged and billowed in.
As if they were alive, they climbed up the three people's ankles, trying to burrow into the gaps in their skin and devour their life force.
But wherever Lin Fan walked, the Dark Matter automatically retreated.
The thin layer of Chaos Qi surrounding him was like an invisible furnace, evaporating and refining the approaching Dark Matter inch by inch, turning it into strands of pure primordial power that nourished his dantian.
Tian Ye followed behind, his eyes slightly gleaming.
The faded ancient divine patterns on his right arm twitched slightly upon contact with the lingering aura of the Dark Matter, as if they were reviving.
"This place... is beneficial to the Ancient God Body Refining Art?"
He said it in a low voice.
Lin Fan didn't turn his head. "After the Dark Matter is refined, it becomes pure primordial power. The Ancient God Body Refining Art is a method to refine all things and strengthen oneself. Do you think it has any benefits?"
Tian Ye paused for a moment, then smiled.
He didn't ask any more questions, but simply quickened his pace, following closely behind Lin Fan.
The dark area in level 42 is wider than I expected.
Along the way, they encountered many dark creatures.
Some resemble ancient apes, their bodies covered in jet-black scales, their claws like knives, and when they pounce, they are so fast that they leave only afterimages.
Some resembled withered human figures.
Enveloped in black mist, they emitted low, unintelligible growls as they surged forward in droves.
Others are former prodigies who were corrupted by darkness and transformed into monsters, still bearing traces of their former cultivation techniques, and their attacks are imbued with a twisted power of law.
But these things were nothing compared to Lin Fan.
He didn't use his sword a second time throughout the entire attack.
When the first dark ancient ape pounced, he simply raised his hand and casually pointed out.
A dark golden sword light burst forth from his fingertips, piercing through the ancient ape's chest, and black blood splattered a meter high.
"Next."
He continued walking forward.
Tian Ye dealt with the remaining survivors behind him, Gu Chen brought up the rear, and Ji Kun trembled in the middle.
The three of them pushed straight through.
Lin Fan was immune to Dark Matter; in fact, he felt a bit nauseous.
At the end of the forty-second level is a precipice made of black boulders. Above it floats a pale golden portal, the entrance to the forty-third level.
Lin Fan stood on the edge of the cliff and glanced back at the Dark Matter area that was slowly closing in behind him.
"Good."
He clicked his tongue. "Much easier than that time in the Demon God Secret Realm."
Tian Ye stepped forward, the ancient god patterns on his right arm now much brighter than before, the pale golden luster particularly striking in the darkness. "Imperial Prince, refining this dark area will enhance my Ancient God Body Refining Art."
"That's perfect." Lin Fan patted him on the shoulder. "If there are similar scenes later, absorb as much of it as possible, don't waste it."
Tian Ye paused for a moment, then nodded.
Gu Chen, carrying the broken halberd, walked to Lin Fan's side and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, news has come from the forty-fourth level."
"Um?"
"Three people have arrived at the Emperor Pass and are waiting for you at the forty-fourth pass. They spread the word that the Purifying Lotus Immortal Flame is something their lord wants, and that... the trouble your father caused at the Emperor Pass back then is now yours to pay for."
Lin Fan paused for a moment.
He stood before the portal of light, his face expressionless, and remained silent for a moment.
Then he laughed, "Interesting."
He stepped into the portal. "I really don't know what trouble my father got into back then at the Emperor Pass... Let him try and see if he can handle it."