Just as they had thought!
Wang Xun and the others exchanged glances, revealing cold sneers as though they had seen through Lin Fan's thoughts.
They acted decisively. Delay would only invite complications.
More than a dozen prodigies erupted simultaneously, as though even heaven and earth changed color. Profound Qi surged out of their bodies like raging ocean waves, gushing forth and converging into a vast, dazzling radiance that poured into the Blazing Fire Four-Directions Formation.
Only Xiang Yunjie remained where he stood without acting, seemingly disdainful. Yet those from the imperial clans said nothing. They alone were enough to deal with Lin Fan.
"What you saw just now was merely one form of the Blazing Fire Four-Directions Formation!"
"Let us show you the true form of the Blazing Fire Four-Directions Formation. Although we cannot unleash its full power, it is more than enough to snuff out someone in the Spirit Sea Realm like you."
With a roar from Wang Xun, the profound Qi of more than a dozen prodigies poured in. Intricate formation patterns lit up one after another, erupting with blinding firelight.
Screech! Screech!
Roar! Roar!
As this powerful profound Qi poured in, the Blazing Fire Four-Directions Formation was instantly driven to its limit! Raging flames soared skyward, forming a wall of fire dozens of zhang high and painting the surrounding space crimson.
The scorching heat warped the very air, as though it would burn everything to ashes.
As several earth-shaking bestial roars rang out, a Vermilion Bird, a phoenix, a lion, and a fire dragon appeared, bathed in flames. The four ferocious beasts took their places in the four directions, their savage might and searing flames filling the entire formation.
Screech! Roar!
The four ferocious beasts roared furiously, spewing torrents of flame.
Billowing fire surged toward Lin Fan like a primordial beast, as though it would devour everything and burn him to ashes. At the sight, Wang Xun and the others from the imperial clans revealed cruel smiles.
"Ah..."
"No... it hurts!"
The sea of fire instantly engulfed Lin Fan, and his agonizing screams rang out.
Yet no one saw that as Lin Fan said those words, his face... actually bore a look of comfort!
That was right-comfort!
Without giving anything away, he activated the Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Art and absorbed the power contained within the formation.
Meanwhile, outside the formation, Wang Xun and the others all revealed cruel smiles upon seeing the sea of fire swallow Lin Fan. Even then, they refused to stop.
They unleashed a frenzied barrage at Lin Fan!
The dozen-odd prodigies kept up their assault for a quarter of an hour. Only when they could no longer sense the slightest trace of Lin Fan's presence did they finally stop, panting for breath. They gazed excitedly into the formation, muttering to themselves.
"He's dead, right?"
"He's dead. I can't sense the slightest trace of him. He's absolutely dead!"
"Exactly. Even someone in the Purple Mansion Realm would be burned to ashes after enduring an assault like this for so long, let alone someone in the Spirit Sea Realm!"
"Hmph, this is what happens to anyone who offends our Wang Clan!"
They had snuffed out a monstrous genius and avenged their great grudge. The excitement in their eyes could not be concealed.
Yet just as Wang Xun and the other imperial-clan prodigies were rejoicing...
A familiar voice came from within the formation. Cold and contemptuous, with a hint of disappointment, it sent a jolt through everyone present.
"I waited all this time, and this is all you've got?"
"And you call yourselves imperial-clan prodigies? How laughable!"
"What can you do besides scratch this Imperial Scion's itch? How disappointing!"
Hearing that familiar voice, Wang Xun and the others felt as though they had been struck by lightning. They stared at the formation in disbelief, trying to make out what was happening inside.
Yet the next moment, their eyes widened as though they had seen a ghost in broad daylight. They cried out incredulously, "Impossible! How could you still be alive?!"
A figure slowly emerged, bathed in raging flames. Wherever he passed, the flames parted before him. Like an emperor amid the fire, his figure gradually became clear before everyone's eyes.
Who else could it be but Lin Fan?
Seeing Lin Fan walk out without a scratch made Wang Xun and the others knit their brows tightly.
A Half-Sage-level formation, powered by more than a dozen Heavenly Dipper Realm prodigies, could instantly kill even a Purple Mansion Realm expert. Yet now it could do nothing to a mere Spirit Sea Realm cultivator?
Utterly absurd!
They quickly reacted, concluding that Lin Fan had a trump card. They refused to believe that a lowly Spirit Sea Realm cultivator could endure such a terrifying attack and survive.
It was only natural for the distinguished Imperial Scion of the Lin Clan to have a few trump cards!
But so what if he could withstand one attack? What if the bombardment never stopped?
At that thought, Wang Xun bellowed, "Don't hold anything back! Attack with everything you've got! He can only have a few trump cards at most. Once he uses them up, if he can't escape the formation, he'll be dead for certain!"
Rumble!
At his words, the dozen-odd imperial-clan prodigies attacked again. Terrifying profound Qi poured into the formation, and its dreadful, destructive presence surged once more as torrents of fire engulfed Lin Fan.
Lin Fan stood as immovable as a mountain, his black hair whipping and snapping, his gaze looking down upon all directions.
Facing the surging flames, he unleashed his terrifying blood Qi, vast as an ocean. Not a single flame could touch him.
What a joke. Even the Nine-Nine Annihilation Divine Lightning could do nothing to Lin Fan. What did these paltry flames amount to?
He fully activated the Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Art. Unfortunately, having absorbed the previous wave of attacks, this one was no longer of any use to him beyond replenishing a little spiritual power. Disappointed, he said, "Do you have no other tricks?"
"How is this possible?!"
"He actually blocked it with his flesh alone without suffering a scratch!"
Seeing Lin Fan completely unharmed, Wang Xun and the others' pupils shook violently. They could scarcely believe it. Only then did they realize that Lin Fan had not relied on a trump card to withstand the formation-he was resisting it with his flesh alone!
Just as Lin Fan had said, they were merely scratching his itch!
How could someone in the Spirit Sea Realm possess such a terrifying physique?!
It was as though he was impervious to all arts!
A physique comparable to the Purple Mansion Realm, capable of suppressing all things.
After that, the dozen-odd imperial-clan prodigies unleashed several successive waves of attacks, yet still failed to injure Lin Fan.
This boy absolutely could not be allowed to live!
Seeing that they still could not harm so much as a hair on Lin Fan's head, Wang Xun and the others' faces grew dark as stagnant water. Even Wang Teng of the Wang Clan back in his day could not compare to such a physique.
"No matter. So what if we can't kill him?"
"This is a Half-Sage-level formation. With all of us working together, even a Quasi-Saint couldn't break it. As long as we keep him trapped until the great prodigies of our clans return, this boy will die for certain!"
The killing intent in their eyes grew increasingly dense and tangible as they secretly notified the others to come.
The prodigies of the three clans: Wang Kunlong of the Wang Clan, Luo Tianci of the Luo Clan, and Feng Wuhen of the Feng Clan.
Even one of them would be enough to kill that little bastard of the Lin Clan.
Yet Lin Fan had still not appeared after they waited two and a half days. As it happened, the core region began spewing forth essence, and the prodigies of the various orthodoxies all headed there to seize opportunities.
After waiting here for a day without seeing Lin Fan, those prodigies from the three clans had headed to the core region.
Otherwise, how could Lin Fan still be standing safely inside the formation?!
The other imperial-clan prodigies nodded to themselves, appalled by the extent of Lin Fan's monstrous talent and filled with wariness. No wonder their clans' Great Emperors had ordered them to kill this boy at any cost!
He was already this monstrous in the Spirit Sea Realm. If he truly grew to maturity and broke through to realms such as Sage or Quasi-Emperor, what then?
Who would dare contend with him for the imperial throne?
The Lin Clan already had Lin Dong, the Unfettered Sword Emperor. None of the clans wanted another monstrous genius to emerge from the Lin Clan!
Only Xiang Yunjie's eyes lit up. A glimmer of fighting spirit flashed in his gaze as he looked at Lin Fan, his vast physical blood Qi churning as though he could hardly wait to fight him. He muttered to himself.
"Interesting..."
"You're qualified to be my opponent!"
From beginning to end, Xiang Yunjie had never made a move. He only hoped to fight Lin Fan fairly. It was plain to see that he was a martial fanatic!
Lin Fan glanced at the exhausted Wang Xun and the others and said in disappointment, "It seems you have no other tricks left. In that case, this Imperial Scion can't be bothered to keep up this act with you! A pity those three fellows are missing!"
As he spoke, his gaze turned piercing, and his presence abruptly surged like a sword about to leave its sheath, incomparably sharp and shooting straight into the clouds!
No more pretending. Time to lay his cards on the table!