"Hehe, Imperial Scion Lin, sorry you had to see that!"
"That little interruption gave you a fright. Please, come inside!"
"I'll arrange for our top courtesan to soothe your spirits!"
The master of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion looked at Lin Fan with an embarrassed smile. Without a trace of a Great Emperor's imposing presence, he looked like an ordinary tavern keeper as he winked and gestured for Lin Fan to enter.
"All right..."
Lin Fan nodded, and the pavilion master soon led him to an extravagantly luxurious private room.
However, Lin Fan had only just sat down. Before his seat was even warm, while he was still thinking of ordering, rumbling came from outside, along with the cultivators' clamorous cries of surprise.
"Holy shit, the secret realm opened early!"
"Go, go, go!"
Lin Fan wore a peculiar expression. Was it really so hard to have a meal, drink some wine, and pick up a girl? He laughed. "Perhaps Xiao Huohuo and the Drunken Immortal Pavilion master clashing triggered it!"
He looked out the window, and a magnificent scene filled his vision.
An enormous immortal gate had appeared in the sky, seemingly leading to another world. Amid its hazy mists, another vast world was reflected.
The Primordial Chaos Realm!
Countless cultivators rode swords, strode through the air, or rode demonic beasts, turning into streaks of divine light as they raced into the immortal gate.
They sought only to enter the secret realm first and secure more opportunities.
Before Lin Fan could leave, he heard the Drunken Immortal Pavilion master's cursing outside the door. "Of all the times it could open, it had to open now! Damn it, just trying to ruin my business, huh?!"
"Hahaha, no matter. I've felt your hospitality!"
Lin Fan could not help laughing. He waved regretfully and said, "Once the secret realm closes, I'll come here and drink until I'm thoroughly drunk!"
Only, who knew whether he regretted missing the Drunken Immortal Pavilion's fine wine or its top courtesan?
Hearing Lin Fan's words, the Drunken Immortal Pavilion master changed his expression again, giving him a knowing look as he chuckled. "Then it's a promise, Imperial Scion. I'll await your visit with fine wine and delicious dishes! I'll save the courtesan queen for you!"
As they walked, the Drunken Immortal Pavilion master led Lin Fan downstairs.
But as they passed the private room opposite, more than a dozen young men emerged, as though they had deliberately been waiting for him. All wore embroidered robes and splendid garments, looking like men of extraordinary backgrounds, each with an exceptional bearing.
Hmm?
Lin Fan felt a bone-piercing chill coming from the dozen or so young men. With a casual glance, he recognized their origins: imperial clans such as the Wang Clan and Luo Clan.
"Oh, isn't this the Lin Clan's imperial scion?"
The prodigies looked at Lin Fan arrogantly, gazing down upon all living beings as though they thought nothing of him, a cold gleam flashing through all their eyes.
"Hahaha, you're only in the Pill Condensation Realm, yet you dare enter the Primordial Chaos Realm!"
A man from the Wang Clan sneered. "Once you're in the Primordial Chaos Realm, you won't have any elders protecting you! Any random demonic beast there is a fourth- or fifth-tier beast comparable to the Spirit Sea or Heavenly Dipper realms. It could casually slap a Pill Condensation Realm cultivator to death!"
"You... wouldn't even fill a demonic beast's belly!"
With that, he burst out laughing. The dozen or so men exchanged looks, mocking smiles curling their lips. Their meaning was self-evident.
They clearly looked down on Lin Fan, a Pill Condensation Realm cultivator.
Though the world hyped up how monstrous Lin Fan was, they thought nothing of it.
No matter how monstrous this brat was, wasn't he still only in the Pill Condensation Realm?
What waves could he possibly stir up before them?
The dozen or so imperial clan members present were all Heavenly Dipper Realm prodigies, including some who were invincible among their peers. Naturally, they brimmed with confidence.
For Heavenly Dipper Realm cultivators like them, never mind killing a Pill Condensation Realm ant-even joining forces to slay a Purple Palace Realm cultivator would be child's play.
Killing Lin Fan would take no more than crushing him with a finger.
Even if this brat could fight above his realm, in their eyes, he was merely a slightly bigger ant.
"Ah..."
The next instant, their laughter died. Their expressions froze in disbelief.
A purple-gold divine gleam flashed through Lin Fan's eyes. For some unknown reason, the Heavenly Dipper Realm man who had spoken first screamed and fell to the floor with a thud, peacefully dropping off to sleep.
Lin Fan smiled disdainfully. "Whose dog was left off its leash to bite people? And so rude, too-dropping straight off to sleep?"
The sight startled all the young imperial clan members.
One man reached out to check his breathing, and his expression immediately changed. He could detect no breath at all. He looked at Lin Fan in shock before finally turning to the three men at the head of their group, his expression ugly. "Wang Song is d-dead!"
The three leaders' expressions remained unchanged. They had clearly guessed the outcome.
Anyone could see that Lin Fan had dealt the killing blow.
Yet, despite being illustrious Heavenly Dipper Realm prodigies, none of them had seen how Lin Fan attacked. It was utterly humiliating.
Only the three leaders had discerned a clue. Wang Kunlong of the Wang Clan, Luo Tianci of the Luo Clan, and Feng Wuhen of the Feng Clan were all prodigies on the Heavenly Pride Ranking, hailed as the strongest Heavenly Dipper Realm prodigies in their three imperial clans.
The Wang Clan prodigies desperately wanted to step forward and kill Lin Fan, but their leader had not spoken, and they did not want to offend the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
The other young men all turned furious gazes on Lin Fan. "Lin Fan, how dare you commit murder in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion!"
Suppressing his anger, Wang Kunlong cupped his hands toward the pavilion master beside Lin Fan. "Lin Fan killed a member of our Wang Clan inside the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, breaking your rules!"
"I, Wang Kunlong, implore the Drunken Immortal Pavilion senior to step in, suppress this brat, and hand him over to our Wang Clan! Our Wang Clan will surely reward you handsomely in the future!"
"Senior of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, please suppress this brat!"
The imperial clan prodigies all cupped their hands toward the Drunken Immortal Pavilion master, cold smiles curling their lips.
Facing their murderous gazes, Lin Fan was not flustered at all. Since he had been able to kill the Wang Clan prodigy, the Drunken Immortal Pavilion master had naturally allowed him to do so. What the hell did he have to fear?
[Ding! The host instantly killed a Heavenly Dipper Realm prodigy above his own realm. This qualifies as villainous behavior. Awarded 3,000 Villain Points.]
The reward was small, but better than nothing.
Lin Fan looked at the pavilion master.
A trace of surprise flashed through the Drunken Immortal Pavilion master's eyes, and he feigned astonishment. "Hmm? What murder? Who did Young Master Lin kill? Why didn't I see it? Didn't this lad simply fall asleep?"
"If you intend to cause trouble in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, don't blame me for showing no mercy!" As he spoke, a terrifying divine gleam flashed through his previously smiling eyes.
Wang Kunlong's expression darkened. "Senior, what do you mean by this? Are you going to ruin the Drunken Immortal Pavilion's reputation?"
The young imperial clan members looked utterly baffled. Lin Fan had clearly killed someone, so how had they become the ones causing trouble?
Feng Wuhen of the Feng Clan and Luo Tianci of the Luo Clan exchanged glances, each seeing shock in the other's eyes. How could they fail to see that the Drunken Immortal Pavilion master was siding with Lin Fan?
"Hmm?"
Pfft!
The next instant, Wang Kunlong spat out a mouthful of blood, disbelief written across his face.
The pavilion master said coldly, "It isn't your place, junior, to tell me how to conduct myself. Do you really think the Wang Clan can pressure my Drunken Immortal Pavilion? This is merely a lesson. If you dare disrespect me again, don't blame me for showing no mercy."
"Scram!"
Not daring to utter another word, Wang Kunlong bitterly swallowed a mouthful of blood. He swept a cold glance over Lin Fan, looking at him as though he were already dead. Finally, the dozen or so men left in disgrace.
After they entered the immortal gate, a cold voice rang out. "Hmph, the Drunken Immortal Pavilion can protect you for a time, but once you're inside the secret realm, let's see what tricks you have left!"
The corner of Lin Fan's mouth curled upward. Interesting!
It seemed the Wang Clan was determined to succeed and had spared no expense to snuff him out in the Primordial Chaos Realm.
Lin Fan wanted to test just how strong he was, too.
Ever since rebuilding his foundation, he had never attacked with his full strength. Even he did not know how powerful he was. This was the perfect opportunity to test it!
"Imperial Scion Lin, would you like me to send someone..."
The pavilion master had no other reason; he simply did not want the Drunken Immortal Pavilion to lose a potential major customer.
"No need!"
Before he could continue, Lin Fan raised a hand to interrupt him. "If I can't even handle a few third-rate fellows, how will I sweep through Archaic in the future?"
Laughing heartily, Lin Fan departed, shooting into the Primordial Chaos Realm like a streak of light, with Ji Kun following behind him.
Only the Drunken Immortal Pavilion master remained, momentarily lost in thought. Then a crafty merchant's smile appeared, his fat quivering wildly. "Hehe, I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"